Print medium handling system including cockle ribs to control pen-to-print medium spacing during printing

摘要

A printer mechanism to control pen-to-print medium spacing during printing is described. The preferred embodiment of the mechanism includes a printhead and an adjacent platen, the printhead and the platen defining a print zone therebetween. The platen includes ribs adapted for contacting a lower surface of the print medium such that the print medium bends downwardly between the ribs, thereby reducing uncontrolled bending of the print medium in the print zone. The ribs preferably extend parallel to a direction of travel of the print medium and may be positioned adjacent a transition zone, the transition zone facilitating a smooth transition of a leading edge of the print medium onto the ribs.