Patent ID: 6679602
Filing Date: 2004-01-20
Classification: B41J

Abstract:
A holddown for a hard copy apparatus, comprising:a platen having an upper surface and a downstream edge; an inkjet operatively positioned relative to the platen and spaced apart from the upper surface, the inkjet having a downstream edge and the inkjet and the platen defining a printzone therebetween; multiple vacuum zones in the platen arranged in a side-by-side array, each vacuum zone comprising a recess in the upper surface opening to said downstream edge; a back wall and opposed side walls having upper surfaces that are coplanar with the platen upper surface, and each vacuum zone defining a floor having a step between the back wall and the downstream edge, said step spaced downstream from said downstream edge of said inkjet, and said step defining a first floor portion having a first floor level extending from the back wall to the step and a second floor portion having a second floor level extending from the step to the downstream edge; wherein the distance from the first floor level to the platen upper surface is greater than the distance from the second floor level to the platen upper surface; port in each vacuum zone; a vacuum source fluidly communicating with each port.