Patent ID: 7250959
Filing Date: 2007-07-31
Classification: B41J

Abstract:
1. A thermal printer comprising: a receiver medium path shaped to guide a receiver medium for movement in a forward direction from an urge roller to a print line, the print line being between a printhead and a platen with said platen being adapted to controllably position the receiver medium during printing by the printhead and with said receiver medium path further shaped to guide the receiver medium to return to the urge roller after printing; a stop surface positioned to block reverse movement of the receiver medium; a motor operable to cause the urge roller to urge movement of the receiver medium through the receiver medium path in the forward direction; and a processor operable to cause the urge roller to move the receiver medium through the receiver medium path in the forward direction until a trailing edge of the receiver medium is moved to a point in the receiver medium path where reverse movement of the receiver medium causes the receiver medium to locate against the stop surface, said processor then enabling the receiver medium to travel in the reverse direction to engage the stop surface wherein the receiver medium path guides the receiver medium along a path of known length from the stop surface to the print line; said processor further being operable to start printing after the receiver medium is positioned against the stop surface so that the print line is located at a known distance from a trailing edge of the receiver medium when printing is started.