Print Medium Having A Ribbed Structure

Abstract

A print medium comprising a planar film including a printing surface and a ribbed structure defining a plurality of ribs which extend from a first end of the planar film to an opposing end of the planar film. The plurality of ribs restrict curling in a first direction of the print medium and facilitate rolling of the print medium in an orthogonal direction.

1 . A print medium comprising a planar film including a printing surface and a ribbed structure defining a plurality of ribs which extend from a first end of the planar film to an opposing end of the planar film, wherein the plurality of ribs restrict curling in a first direction and facilitate rolling in an orthogonal direction.  
   
   
       2 . The print medium according to  claim 1 , in which the planar film is of a plastics material.  
   
   
       3 . The print medium according to  claim 1 , in which the ribbed structure is of a polymeric material.  
   
   
       4 . The print medium according to  claim 1 , wherein each rib includes a substantially semi-circular cross-section.  
   
   
       5 . The print medium according to  claim 4 , wherein a pitch of the each rib is approximately 200 micrometers.  
   
   
       6 . The print medium according to  claim 1 , wherein the print medium is provided is a roll of the planar film.  
   
   
       7 . The print medium according to  claim 6 , wherein the roll of planar film is for a digital camera including a printhead which is capable of printing on the printing surface.  
   
   
       8 . The print medium according to  claim 1 , wherein the ribbed structure includes fibers.  
   
   
       9 . The print medium according to  claim 8 , wherein the fibers are extruded polymer strands.  
   
   
       10 . The print medium according to  claim 9 , the extruded polymer strands is drawn annealed polyethylene napthalate.  
   
   
       11 . The print medium according to  claim 1 , wherein the ribs are substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the print medium.  
   
   
       12 . The print medium according to  claim 1 , wherein the ribbed structure form a corrugated surface opposite to the printing surface.  
   
   
       13 . A method of manufacturing the print medium according to  claim 1 , wherein the method includes extruding a plastic material between a pair of rollers, wherein one of the rollers includes a serrated surface to form the ribbed structure.  
   
   
       14 . A method of manufacturing the print medium according to  claim 1 , wherein the method includes layering a first film surface on a second film surface, wherein one of the first film surface and the second film surface includes the ribbed structure, and wherein the first film surface integrally binds to the second film surface to form the print medium.  
   
   
       15 . The method according to  claim 14 , wherein the method includes gluing the first film surface to the second film surface.  
   
   
       16 . The method according to  claim 14 , wherein the method includes heat fusing the first film surface and the second film surface.  
   
   
       15 . A method of manufacturing the print medium according to  claim 1 , wherein the method includes: 
 heat treating a polymer material to form a viscous material;    compressing a fibrous material into the viscous material, wherein the viscous material subsequently cools, the fibrous material is integral with the polymer material to form the print medium.    
   
   
       16 . The method according to  claim 15 , wherein the method includes using a roller to compress the fibrous material into the viscous material.  
   
   
       17 . The method according to  claim 16 , wherein the method includes drawing the fibrous material from a plurality of spools.  
   
   
       18 . The method according to  claim 17 , wherein the fibrous material is drawn from the plurality of spools over a roller, wherein a layer of heated print media is applied to the fibrous material withdrawn from the spools.  
   
   
       19 . The method according to  claim 19 , wherein the method includes rolling the print media according to the orthogonal direction into a print media roll.