IP Library › Granted Patent US 9,056,487
Granted Patent B2
US 9,056,487 · App. 14/258,697 · Granted Jun 16, 2015

Printing method for reducing printer artifacts

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,056,487
App. No.
14/258,697
Filed
Apr 22, 2014
Granted
Jun 16, 2015
Kind
B2
Art Unit
2853
USPC
347/171
Abstract

A printing method comprising a printhead and rollers for printing. A page of a print job is printed which causes depressions in the non-printed side of the print medium. The print medium is heated to reduce the depressions before printing the non-printed side.

Claims (22)

1. A method of printing comprising the following steps in order:

using a drive roller to position a two-sided medium in a printer;

printing on a first side of the medium using the printer;

smoothing a second side of the medium; and

printing on the second side of the medium using the printer.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of smoothing comprises heating the second side of the medium while the medium remains in the printer.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the step of heating comprises compressing the medium against a heated surface.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the step of compressing comprises using a heated roller.

5. The method of claim 3 wherein the step of compressing comprises compressing the medium between at least two rollers, wherein at least one of the rollers is the heated surface.

6. The method of claim 3 wherein heating is caused by passing an electric current through the heated surface.

7. The method of claim 6 further comprising passing the electric current through the heated surface while the medium is being compressed against the heated surface.

8. The method of claim 6 wherein the step of compressing comprises compressing the medium between at least two rollers, wherein at least one of the rollers is the heated surface.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the drive roller creates depressions in at least one side of the medium and the step of smoothing reduces a size of the depressions in the medium.

10. A method of printing comprising the following steps in order:

using a drive roller to advance a two-sided medium from a supply roll in a printer;

printing on a first side of the medium using the printer;

retracting the medium toward the supply roll;

smoothing a second side of the medium; and

printing on the second side of the medium using the printer.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the step of smoothing comprises heating the second side of the medium while the medium remains in the printer.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the step of heating comprises compressing the medium against a heated surface.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein the step of compressing comprises compressing the medium between at least two rollers, wherein at least one of the rollers is the heated surface.