Patent ID: 6908190

Claim:
A platen device for holding a workpiece in an ink-jet printer operable to perform a printing operation on a printing surface of the workpiece, said platen device being movable into a printing area in which a printing head is operated to deliver an ink onto said printing surface for thereby forming an image on said printing surface, said platen device comprising: a platen arranged to permit said workpiece to be placed on said platen such that a printing portion of said workpiece having said printing surface is in direct contact with a surface of said plate; a space-defining structure partially defining an accommodating space which is provided below said platen to accommodate non-printing portions of said workpiece which extend from said printing portion outwardly of said platen; a base on which said platen is fixedly disposed; and a frame structure cooperating with said platen to hold said workpiece while applying a tension to said printing portion of said workpiece; wherein said frame structure includes an outer frame pivotally connected to said base at one end of said base, such that said outer frame is pivotable so that said frame structure is pivotable between an open position and a closed position, said frame structure further including an inner frame disposed inside said outer frame and pivotable relative to said outer frame, said frame structure and said platen being positioned relative to each other such that said inner frame comes into contact with said printing portion of said workpiece when said frame structure is pivoted to said closed position.