Patent ID: 7249904
Filing Date: 2007-07-31
Classification: B41J,B65H

Abstract:
1. A modular printer that comprises a frame; a housing in which the frame is housed, the housing having an operatively upper and an operatively lower cover and defining a print media inlet at one end between the covers and a print media outlet at an opposite end between the covers; an inlet roller assembly mounted on the frame proximate the print media inlet for feeding a sheet of print media into the housing; a pair of opposed inkjet printhead assemblies mounted on the frame downstream of the inlet roller assembly to define a printing zone between the printhead assemblies, the inlet roller assembly being configured to feed the sheet of print media between the printhead assemblies; an exit roller assembly mounted on the frame proximate the print media outlet to feed the sheet of print media from the outlet; and a print media conveying mechanism positioned downstream of the printhead assemblies to convey a leading edge of the sheet of print media from the inlet roller assembly to the exit roller assembly prior to operation of the printhead assemblies; wherein the upper and lower covers of the housing have complementary engagement formations to permit a plurality of the modular printers to be stacked one on top of the other; wherein the complementary engagements are offset with respect to each other such that said plurality of modular printers may be stacked in an offset arrangement; wherein the inlet roller assembly comprises a pair of rollers, and the inkjet printhead assemblies are positioned proximate the pair of rollers and are shaped so that a distance between a point of contact of the pair of rollers with the sheet of print media and at least a leading edge of the printing zone for each printhead assembly is less than a radius of the rollers.