Patent ID: 6493018
Filing Date: 2002-12-10
Classification: B41J

Abstract:
A wide format thermal printer for printing a multicolor graphic product onto a printing sheet in separate color planes and responsive to a controller and machine readable data representative of the graphic product, comprising:a workbed including a platen, said workbed having a worksurface for supporting the printing sheet, said worksurface containing a print axis and printing sheet translation axis perpendicular to the print axis; a pair of translatable clamps each movable between clamped and unclamped conditions relative to the printing sheet supported on said worksurface, and each extending across the workbed in the direction of the print axis from a first end to second end, the clamps for translating the printing sheet in the direction of the printing sheet translation axis, the first ends being mechanically coupled to one another and the second ends being mechanically coupled to one another such that the clamps are substantially fixedly spaced from one another in the direction of the printing sheet translation axis; at least one actuator coupled to the clamp pair for translating the clamp pair in the direction of the printing sheet translation axis between first and second positions; a thermal printhead having an array of thermal printing elements extending parallel to the printing sheet translation axis; donor sheet means including a supply shaft for rotationally engaging a supply roll of the donor sheet, a take-up shaft for rotationally engaging a take-up roll for winding thereon donor sheet that has been drawn from the supply roll and interposed between the thermal printhead and the printing sheet, and a take-up motor rotationally coupled to the take-up shaft, said shafts and rolls mounted with said thermal printhead for translation parallel to the print axis therewith; said thermal printhead being translatable parallel to the print axis for printing on the printing sheet in print swaths extending parallel to the print axis in an area between the clamps by pressing the donor sheet against the printing sheet and selectively energizing the thermal printing elements; and means for securing the printing sheet to the workbed when printing on the printing sheet and releasing the printing sheet from the workbed when translating the printing sheet.