A head loading device includes a print head for ejecting ink from a print position adjacent to a paper sheet to print an image with the ink, and an elevator for moving the print head upward from the print position at the time of non-printing and downward to the print position at the time of printing. The head loading device further includes a three-point support mechanism for supporting, at three points, the print head moved to the print position by the elevator to hold the print head at a preset distance from the paper sheet.
A inkjet type printer has a media feed roller and a printhead that prints near to where the roller engages the print media, so providing better printhead to media gap control. Preferably the printhead prints less than twice the roller radius from the line of engagement.
A printing path arrangement for an inkjet type printer is provided in which a printing path is defined between print media feed rollers so that the print media is tensioned and unsupported through the printing path and a printing mechanism of the printer prints less than twice the upstream roller radius from the line of engagement of the upstream roller with the print media, so as to provide better printhead to media gap control.
A modular printhead assembly includes a chassis. A pair of feed rollers is mounted on the chassis to feed print media along a feed path. A pair of printhead module sets is mounted on the chassis and positioned on respective sides of the feed path and adjacent the feed rollers. Each set includes a plurality of serially arranged printhead modules oriented to print on both sides of the print media.
An ink jet printer includes a housing that defines a print media entrance opening and a print media exit opening. A support frame is arranged in the housing between the openings. A print media feed roller assembly is mounted on the frame proximal the entrance opening and a print media exit roller assembly is mounted on the frame proximal the exit opening. A print engine is mounted on the frame downstream of and adjacent to the feed roller assembly. A belt-loading mechanism is mounted on the frame and is interposed between the print engine and the exit roller assembly to load an initial portion of a sheet of print media between the roller assemblies prior to a printing operation to be carried out by the print engine.
