Patent ID: 6955487
Filing Date: 2005-10-18
Classification: B41J

Abstract:
1. A printer comprising: a sheet-holding block which can hold a plurality of printing sheets in a stack; a picking-up block for picking up the printing sheets held in the sheet-holding block one at a time; a transporting block for transporting the printing sheets picked up by the picking-up block; a printing block for performing printing on the printing sheets transported by the transporting block; and a sheet-discharging block for discharging the printing sheets that have been subjected to printing at the printing block; wherein the sheet-holding block comprises a sheet-receiving plate, and movable holding means disposed opposing the sheet-receiving plate, such that said printing sheets are disposed between the sheet-receiving plate and the movable holding means, and wherein the movable holding means can be moved towards or away from the sheet-receiving means, such that said printing sheets are held in tension, thereby avoiding or reducing deformation of said sheets; and wherein, when the printing sheets held in the sheet-holding block are picked up by the picking-up block, the moveable holding means is moved in a direction opposite to the sheet-receiving plate and wherein, when the printing sheets held in the sheet-holding block are not being picked up by the picking-up block, the moveable holding means is moved toward the sheet-receiving plate and thereby holds the printing sheets in tension, wherein the sheet-receiving plate has a roller provided thereat that contacts the printing sheets held in the holding block, wherein the printing sheets are transported from the sheet-holding block to the sheet-discharging block with their surfaces faced horizontally, and wherein the holding means holds at least two locations of the printing sheets that are separated in the direction in which the printing sheets are transported, and wherein the size of the holding means in the vertical direction is equal to or greater than the widths of the printing sheets in the vertical direction.