Patent ID: 6261008
Filing Date: 2001-07-17
Classification: B41J

Abstract:
A platen mechanism, comprising:a guide wall for guiding a recording medium to a print head;a platen, confronting the print head and rotatably provided about a shaft which extends substantially in parallel to said guide wall, for supporting the recording medium to the print head, the platen comprising:a support member projected from said guide wall and confronting the print head to support the recording medium to said print head when said platen is at a first rotational position;a guide member substantially continuous to said guide wall to smoothly guide the recording medium when said platen is at a second rotational position; anda platen drive mechanism to selectively rotate said platen to one of said first and second rotational positions; andan urging member disposed upstream of said platen which urges the recording medium apart from said print head and supports the recording medium at a predetermined distance from said print head in cooperation with said support member of said platen, wherein said guide member of said platen is positioned apart from said urging member when said platen is at said second rotational position.