Patent ID: 6742948
Filing Date: 2004-06-01
Classification: B41J

Abstract:
An apparatus for flattening a substrate against a surface of a platform, said apparatus comprising:one or more left-sided guides positionable with respect to said platform, each having a generally flat, top left protrusion positioned generally parallel to said surface; one or more right-sided guides positionable with respect to said platform, each having a generally flat, top right protrusion positioned generally parallel to said surface; and one or more z-motion units, each coupled to a respective one of said guides, able to move said guides in a direction perpendicular to said surface, wherein at least one of said guides is movable in a direction perpendicular to said surface so that its respective protrusion is positionable above, below or at said surface and when said substrate is on said platform one of said left-sided guides and one of said right-sided guides are positionable so that their respective protrusions lie above said substrate.