Platen

A platen (or platten) is typically a flat metal (or earlier, wooden) plate pressed against a medium (such as paper) to cause an impression in letterpress printing. Platen may also refer to a typewriter roller which friction-feeds paper into position below the typebars or print head.

Other applications

Office equipment

In office copiers and scanners, the platen is a flat glass surface on which operators place papers or books for scanning. The platen is also called the flatbed. Platens are also used in some printers, such as the Dot-matrix printer.

Manufacturing and research

In manufacturing, a platen is a flat plate of a press utilized in laminate, plastic and forest product industries . A platen is typically heated with oil, water, steam or electricity and is used in the production of furniture, tires, gaskets, particle board, composite heaters and plywood. In high frequency welding products, platens are used to put lines on PVC binders and folders down the spine lines.

In metal forming processes, a platen is the component that houses the mold for forging the required shape. The platen tends to be the heaviest and strongest part of the press due to the massive forces that it has to withstand. A platen for a 5000 ton press can weigh anything up to 350 tons.Fact|date=February 2008

Platens are utilized in impact testing in research; a specimen is crushed between platens.

The platen also refers to the fixed part of a linear motor.