Information printing methods and apparatus

Claim 2

In a method of printing information from a print head employing a preferred print gap on a sheet of material, the improvement comprising in combination the steps of: providing a circular platen with a first peripheral portion having a first radius and a second peripheral portion having a second radius exceeding said first radius; mounting said circular platen for rotation about an axis adjacent said print head; providing a sheet transport path for conveyance of said sheet past said print head; providing in said sheet transport path a sheet entry gap between said platen and said print head by moving said first peripheral portion about said axis into first proximity to said print head; entering said sheet in said sheet transport path and in said entry gap between said platen and said print head; maintaining said sheet transport path free of any obstruction during entry of said sheet in said sheet transport path and sheet entry gap; providing said preferred print gap from said print head relative to said entered sheet by moving said second peripheral portion about said axis into second proximity to said print head at said entered sheet, said second proximity being smaller than said first proximity; printing said information with said print head onto said sheet at said print gap; and continuing to maintain said sheet transport path free of any obstruction above and below said print gap as seen transversely to the direction of transport of said sheet, and maintaining for all portions of said sheet transport path above and below said print gap a width greater than the width of said print gap throughout entry of said sheet into said print gap and during said printing of information onto said sheet.

Claim 3

A method as claimed in claim 1, including the step of: selectively rotating said circular platen about said axis to provide first said entry gap and then said print gap.

Claim 4

A method as claimed in claim 1 or 2, including the steps of: rotating said circular platen and moving said entered sheet along with said rotating platen during printing of said information with said print head.

Claim 5

A method as claimed in claim 1 or 2, including the steps of: rendering said second peripheral portion susceptible to inking; inking said susceptible second peripheral portion; and transferring ink from said inked second peripheral portion to said sheet at said print gap with said print head.

Claim 6

A method as claimed in claim 4, including the step of: rotating said circular platen and moving said entered sheet along with said inked second peripheral portion during said transferring of ink.

Claim 7

In a method of printing information from a print head employing a preferred print gap on a sheet of material, the improvement comprising in combination the steps of: providing a circular platen with a first peripheral portion having a first radius for providing a sheet entry gap and a second peripheral portion having a second radius exceeding said first radius for providing said preferred print gap from said print head relative to said sheet, said print gap being narrower than said sheet entry gap; mounting said circular platen for rotation about an axis adjacent said print head; providing a sheet transport path for conveyance of said sheet past said print head; providing in said sheet transport path said sheet entry gap between said platen and said print head wider than said print gap by moving said first peripheral portion about said axis into first proximity to said print head; entering said sheet in said sheet transport path and into said wider entry gap between said first peripheral portion of the platen and said print head; maintaining said sheet transport path free of any obstruction during entry of said sheet in said sheet transport path and sheet entry gap; guiding said sheet through said wider entry gap partially past said print head; providing said narrower print gap from said print head relative to said entered sheet by moving said second peripheral portion about said axis into second proximity to said print head at said entered sheet, said second proximity to said print head being smaller than said first proximity; printing said information with said print head onto said sheet at said print gap; and continuing to maintain said sheet transport path free of any obstruction above and below said print gap as seen transversely to the direction of transport of said sheet, and maintaining for all portions of said sheet transport path above and below said print gap a width greater than the width of said print gap throughout entry of said sheet into said print gap and during said printing of information onto said sheet.

Claim 8

In a method of printing information from a print head employing a preferred print gap on a sheet of material, the improvement comprising in combination the steps of: providing a circular platen with a first peripheral portion having a first radius for providing a sheet entry gap and a second peripheral portion having a second radius exceeding said first radius for providing said preferred print gap from said print head relative to said sheet, said print gap being narrower than said sheet entry gap; mounting said circular platen for rotation about an axis adjacent said print head; providing a sheet transport path for conveyance of said sheet past said print head; providing in said sheet transport path said sheet entry gap between said platen and said print head wider than said print gap by moving said first peripheral portion about said axis into first proximity to said print head; entering said sheet in said sheet transport path and into said wider entry gap between said first peripheral portion of the platen and said print head; maintaining said sheet transport path free of any obstruction during entry of said sheet in said sheet transport path and sheet entry gap; guiding said sheet through said wider entry gap partially past said print head; providing said narrower print gap from said print head relative to said entered sheet by moving said second peripheral portion about said axis into second proximity to said print head at said entered sheet, said second proximity to said print head being smaller than said first proximity; printing said information with said print head onto said sheet at said print gap; and continuing to maintain said sheet transport path free of any obstruction above and below said print gap as seen transversely to the direction of transport of said sheet, and maintaining for all portions of said sheet transport path above and below said print gap a width greater than the width of said print gap throughout entry of said sheet into said print gap and during said printing of information onto said sheet.

Claim 9

A method as claimed in claim 6, including the step of: selectively rotating said circular platen about said axis to provide first said entry gap and then said print gap.

Claim 10

A method as claimed in claim 6 or 7, including the steps of: rotating said circular platen and moving said centered sheet along with said rotating platen during printing of said information on said sheet.

Claim 11

A method as claimed in claim 6 or 7, including the steps of: rendering said second peripheral portion susceptible to inking; inking said susceptible second peripheral portion; and selectively transferring ink from said inked second peripheral portion to said sheet at said print gap to print said information on said sheet.

Claim 12

A method as claimed in claim 9, including the step of: rotating said circular platen and moving said entered sheet along with said inked second peripheral portion during said transferring of ink.

Claim 13

In an apparatus for printing information from a print head employing a preferred print gap on a sheet of material, the improvement comprising in combination: a circular platen including a first peripheral portion having a first radius and a second peripheral portion having a second radius exceeding said first radius; means for mounting said circular platen for rotation about an axis adjacent said print head; means providing a sheet transport path for conveyance of said sheet past said print head; means for providing in said sheet transport path a sheet entry gap between said platen and said print head by moving said first peripheral portion about said axis into first proximity to said print head; means for entering said sheet in said sheet transport path and in said entry gap between said platen and said print head; said means for providing said sheet entry gap include means for providing sequentially first said sheet entry gap and then said preferred print gap from said print head relative to said entered sheet by moving after said first peripheral portion said second peripheral portion about said axis into second proximity to said print head, smaller than said first promixity; said apparatus includes means connected to said print head for causing said print head to print said information onto said sheet at said print gap; and said means providing said sheet transport path include means for maintaining said sheet transport path free of any obstruction during entry of said sheet in said sheet transport path and sheet entry gap and for continuing to maintain said sheet transport path free of any obstruction above and below said print gap as seen transversely to the direction of transport of said sheet, and maintaining for all portions of said sheet transport path above and below said print gap a width greater than the width of said print gap throughout entry of said sheet into said print gap and during said printing of information onto said sheet.

Claim 14

In an apparatus for printing information from a print head employing a preferred print gap on a sheet of material, the improvement comprising in combination: a circular platen including a first peripheral portion having a first radius and a second peripheral portion having a second radius exceeding said first radius; means for mounting said circular platen for rotation about an axis adjacent said print head; means providing a sheet transport path for conveyance of said sheet past said print head; means for providing in said sheet transport path a sheet entry gap between said platen and said print head by moving said first peripheral portion about said axis into first proximity to said print head; means for entering said sheet in said sheet transport path and in said entry gap between said platen and said print head; said means for providing said sheet entry gap include means for providing sequentially first said sheet entry gap and then said preferred print gap from said print head relative to said entered sheet by moving after said first peripheral portion said second peripheral portion about said axis into second proximity to said print head, smaller than said first promixity; said apparatus includes means connected to said print head for causing said print head to print said information onto said sheet at said print gap; and said means providing said sheet transport path include means for maintaining said sheet transport path free of any obstruction during entry of said sheet in said sheet transport path and sheet entry gap and for continuing to maintain said sheet transport path free of any obstruction above and below said print gap as seen transversely to the direction of transport of said sheet, and maintaining for all portions of said sheet transport path above and below said print gap a width greater than the width of said print gap throughout entry of said sheet into said print gap and during said printing of information onto said sheet.

Claim 15

Apparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein: said means for providing sequentially said sheet entry gap and said print gap include means coupled to said circular platen for selectively rotating said platen about said axis.

Claim 16

Apparatus as claimed in claim 11, including: means coupled to said circular platen for rotating said platen; and means for moving said entered sheet along with said rotating platen during printing of said information with said print head.

Claim 17

Apparatus as claimed in claim 11, 12 or 13, wherein: said second peripheral portion has a surface susceptible to inking; said apparatus includes means for inking said susceptible surface; and said means connected to said print head include means for selectively transferring ink from said inked surface to said sheet.

Claim 18

In apparatus for printing information from a print head employing a preferred print gap on a sheet of material, the improvement comprising in combination: means for providing for said sheet sequentially a sheet entry gap and said preferred print gap from said print head relative to said sheet, said print gap being narrower than said entry gap, including a circular platen including a first peripheral portion having a first radius for providing said sheet entry gap wider than said print gap and a second peripheral portion having a second radius exceeding said first radius for providing said narrower print gap; means for mounting said circular platen for rotation about an axis adjacent said print head; means providing a sheet transport path for conveyance of said sheet past said print head; means for providing in said sheet transport path first said wider sheet entry gap between said platen and said print head by moving said first peripheral portion about said axis into first proximity to said print head; means for entering said sheet in said sheet transport path and into said wider entry gap between said first peripheral portion of the platen and said print head and for guiding said sheet through said wider entry gap partially past said print head before said narrower print gap is provided; means for providing said narrower print gap from said print head relative to said entered sheet by moving said second peripheral portion about said axis into said proximity to said print head at said entered sheet, said second proximity to said print head being smaller than said first proximity; means connected to said print head for causing said print head to print said information onto said sheet at said print gap; and said means providing said sheet transport path include means for maintaining said sheet transport path free of any obstruction during entry of said sheet in said sheet transport path and sheet entry gap and for continuing to maintain said sheet transport path free of any obstruction above and below said print gap as seen transversely to the direction of transport of said sheet, and maintaining for all portions of said sheet transport path above and below said print gap a width greater than the width of said print gap throughout entry of said sheet into said print gap and during said printing of information onto said sheet.

Claim 19

In apparatus for printing information from a print head employing a preferred print gap on a sheet of material, the improvement comprising in combination: means for providing for said sheet sequentially a sheet entry gap and said preferred print gap from said print head relative to said sheet, said print gap being narrower than said entry gap, including a circular platen including a first peripheral portion having a first radius for providing said sheet entry gap wider than said print gap and a second peripheral portion having a second radius exceeding said first radius for providing said narrower print gap; means for mounting said circular platen for rotation about an axis adjacent said print head; means providing a sheet transport path for conveyance of said sheet past said print head; means for providing in said sheet transport path first said wider sheet entry gap between said platen and said print head by moving said first peripheral portion about said axis into first proximity to said print head; means for entering said sheet in said sheet transport path and into said wider entry gap between said first peripheral portion of the platen and said print head and for guiding said sheet through said wider entry gap partially past said print head before said narrower print gap is provided; means for providing said narrower print gap from said print head relative to said entered sheet by moving said second peripheral portion about said axis into said proximity to said print head at said entered sheet, said second proximity to said print head being smaller than said first proximity; means connected to said print head for causing said print head to print said information onto said sheet at said print gap; and said means providing said sheet transport path include means for maintaining said sheet transport path free of any obstruction during entry of said sheet in said sheet transport path and sheet entry gap and for continuing to maintain said sheet transport path free of any obstruction above and below said print gap as seen transversely to the direction of transport of said sheet, and maintaining for all portions of said sheet transport path above and below said print gap a width greater than the width of said print gap throughout entry of said sheet into said print gap and during said printing of information onto said sheet.

Claim 20

Apparatus as claimed in claim 15, wherein: said sheet entry gap providing and print gap providing means include means coupled to said circular platen for selectively rotating said platen about said axis.

Claim 21

Apparatus as claimed in claim 15, including: means coupled to said circular platen for rotating said platen; and means for moving said entered sheet along with said rotating platen during printing of said information.

Claim 22

Apparatus as claimed in claim 15, 16 or 17, wherein: said second peripheral portion has a surface susceptible to inking; said apparatus include means for inking said susceptible surface; and said printing means include means for selectively transferring ink from said inked surface to said sheet.