Patent ID: 6382850
Filing Date: 2002-05-07
Classification: B41J,B65H

Abstract:
An ink jet printer for making photographic prints, comprising:a) at least one paper supply for holding a supply of print paper; b) a sheet paper transport belt arranged to receive sheets of print paper from the at least one paper supply and transport the sheets through the printer; c) a back printer located between the at least one paper supply and the sheet paper transport belt for applying back prints to the print paper; d) a full print width color ink jet print head located over a first portion of the sheet paper transport belt for printing an image on a paper sheet; e) a paper support located under the ink jet print head, the paper support including grooves at the sides of the transport belt for collecting overspilled ink from the in jet print head; f) an image sensor located in front of the ink jet print head for detecting the leading edge of the cut paper sheet being transported under the print head; g) a controller responsive to the image sensor for controlling the print head to print an image that is slightly shorter and slightly wider than the paper sheet, thereby preventing overspill printing on the leading and trailing edges of the sheet, while allowing slight overspill printing on the sides of the sheet into the overspill collection grooves; h) a paper dryer located over a second portion of the sheet paper transport belt, the paper dryer including a source of flowing air for drying the image on the paper sheet; and i) a sheet trimming station located at the end of the sheet paper transport belt for trimming the leading and trailing edges of a sheet after drying.