Printer having a platen with resilient segments

Claim 2

A printer platen for alternatively providing a printer support surface for single sheets, multiple sheets or documents of varying thickness, comprising: an elongated support means for mounting other platen components thereto; first and second document contacting members overlying the support means and normally positioned in aligned spaced relation to each other; a third document contacting member overlying the support means normally positioned in intermediate aligned abutting relationship with the first and second document carrying members; a plurality of spring means, each connected between the support means and a respective document contacting member; means connected between the support means and the document contacting members for normally maintaining a continuous surface between all of the members; wherein the continuous surface is planar for a document of uniform thickness and further wherein the third member may yield relative to the first and second members for supporting the bulge of a document centerfold while first and second flat portions of a document are supported by the first and second members, in a manner permitting continuous line printing across the centerfold.

Claim 3

A printer platen comprising: a. an elongated support means for mounting other platen components thereto; b. a plurality of document contacting members resiliently mounted to the support means, each document contacting member having a generally channel shape positioned over the support means, the channel-shaped members being normally disposed in aligned abutting relationship with each other, the channel-shaped members including first and second members of substantially identical length and a third intermediately positioned foreshortened member; c. a plurality of resilient means mounted at a first end thereof to the support means, an opposite end of the resilient means respectively biasing each document contacting member; and d. fastener means connecting the document contacting members to the support means for maintaining the platen in an assembled condition, the fastener means normally maintaining a continuous surface between all of the members; e. wherein the continuous surface is planar for a document of uniform thickness and further wherein the third member may yield relative to the first and second members for supporting the bulge of a document centerfold while first and second flat portions of a document are supported by the first and second members, in a manner permitting continuous line printing across the centerfold.

Claim 4

A printer platen comprising: a. an elongated support means for mounting other platen components thereto; b. a plurality of document contacting members resiliently mounted to the support means, each document contacting member having a generally channel shape positioned over the support means, the channel-shaped members being normally disposed in aligned abutting relationship with each other, the channel-shaped members including first and second members of substantially identical length and a third intermediately positioned foreshortened member; c. a plurality of resilient means mounted at a first end thereof to the support means, an opposite end of the resilient means respectively biasing each document contacting member; and d. fastener means connecting the document contacting members to the support means for maintaining the platen in an assembled condition, the fastener means normally maintaining a continuous surface between all of the members; e. wherein the continuous surface is planar for a document of uniform thickness and further wherein the third member may yield relative to the first and second members for supporting the bulge of a document centerfold while first and second flat portions of a document are supported by the first and second members, in a manner permitting continuous line printing across the centerfold.