Patent ID: 7985032
Filing Date: 2011-07-26
Classification: B41J

Abstract:
1. A platen retaining structure, comprising: a frame; a head mounted on the frame for performing a processing operation on a sheet material; a platen mounted on the frame and facing the head for supporting the sheet material by sandwiching the sheet material when the sheet material is to be processed by the head, the platen having a shaft portion; a notch formed in the frame for retaining the shaft portion of the platen at a retaining position during a processing operation of the sheet material by the head, the notch being notched from the retaining position toward an exterior of the frame; a pawl formed on the frame for regulating movement of the shaft portion of the platen in advancing and escaping directions with respect to the notch; first urging means for urging the head against the platen; a release arm engaged with the shaft portion of the platen and mounted to undergo movement with respect to the frame; and second urging means for urging the release arm and moving the release arm along with movement of the head away from the platen against an urging force of the first urging means, and for causing the platen to apply a pressing force in a direction in which the shaft portion of the platen escapes from the notch, an urging direction of the second urging means being set as a direction in which the second urging means applies a pressing force to the shaft portion of the platen through the release arm when an urging force applied by the platen through the head from the first urging means is released to thereby move the shaft portion of the platen from the notch.