Patent Publication Number: US-7717634-B1

Title: Trough support ribs

Description:
CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   None. 
   STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
   None. 
   REFERENCE TO SEQUENTIAL LISTING, ETC 
   None. 
   BACKGROUND 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention relates generally to media support structures, and more particularly to a media support structures which improve edge-to-edge printing. 
   2. Description of the Related Art 
   Digital photo printing has increased in popularity in recent years due to the increased popularity of digital cameras. Generally, digital cameras convert an optical image to a digital image through a charge-coupled device (CCD) image sensor or the like. The digital image may then be saved to an image memory for further data processing. In recent years digital camera features have improved significantly. For example, digital camera resolutions and memory storage capabilities have increased while prices for such features have steadily decreased, leading to increased digital camera sales. As a result of increased use of digital cameras, edge-to-edge photo printing has increased. Users desire developed pictures having the look, feel and size of photos developed by professional developers. 
   Manufacturers have developed various photo printers which print the digital images to media comparable to professionally developed photos. Current manufacturers have primarily utilized inkjet technology in order to obtain high quality photo prints. In conventional inkjet printers, there may be a carriage having one or more ink cartridges removably mounted therein. Each cartridge may utilize a printhead for directing ink to a media sheet passing adjacent thereto. The carriage unit is adapted to sweep the ink cartridge in a path of travel adjacent to the media, which is typically moved in a transverse or orthogonal direction to the carriage unit. As the printhead sweeps or scans adjacent the media, ink droplets are ejected onto the medium sheet which is typically supported from below by a platen. 
   In conventional inkjet printing, manufacturers have strived to avoid ink smearing on the underside of a media sheet. Smearing may occur when ink is misdirected onto printer components adjacent the feedpath and the media touches such component. One way of avoiding ink on printer components is to form margins. Accordingly, conventional printers inhibit ejection of ink onto the leading, trailing, and side edges of the medium sheet. This creates sheet margins, and in turn, protects the upper surface of the supporting platen from receiving ink droplets being ejected by the printhead. However, the advent of photo printing has led to a desire to print borderless images, which appear similar to professionally developed photographs. 
   Manufacturers have encountered difficulty in providing a detailed photo image up to the media edge, also known as edge-to-edge printing. As media leading edges and trailing edges pass through a print zone, the media tends to sag or bend, resulting in changing of the distance between the printhead and media making edge printing difficult. One manufacturer has employed the use of a trough filled with an absorbing foam for the sprayed ink. Projecting through the foam and extending from the bottom of the trough and centered between the two walls of the through is single row of a plurality of narrow column-like structures, each having a relatively broad rounded-over top. The column tops extend above the top of the foam and support the underside of the media during its travel through the print zone. One drawback with this approach is the width of the supports. The relatively large area of the support becomes an area where the sprayed ink can accumulate and possibly smudge the undersurface of the media. Also a large number of support columns are used along the length of the through increasing the chances of ink accumulation and smudging. 
   To ensure that there are no blank areas along the media edges and to compensate for positional errors, the printhead must also fire ink from nozzles which are slightly beyond the edge of the media. Thus, the printed area will include the edges of the media and eliminate blank areas therealong. However, since the media must be oversprayed to ensure printed ink along the edges, ink ejected from the nozzles spreads to areas where media does not exist and may adhere to the printer components generally adjacent the print zone, such as the platen or ribs. When a subsequent medium passes through this area, ink may be smudged on a surface of the media facing the platen or ribs. 
   Another difficulty which printer manufacturers have struggled with is maintaining a constant distance between the printhead and the media. This causes a change in distance between the printhead and the media being printed on and further results in decreased print quality especially along media edges. It is preferable that a gap between the nozzles of the printhead and the media must always be maintained constant since any change in distance may adversely affect photo print quality. However, due to the water content of ink, the media is subject to a phenomenon known as “cockle” consisting of swelling and expansion of the media during printing. When cockle occurs, the media forms bubbles and wrinkles and, as a result, the distance between the paper and printhead decreases in some areas. As a result, the distance between the printhead and media changes. The cockling of the media may also result in “vertical banding” because the bubble in the media may cause the ink dots to fall in positions offset from their correct position, e.g. all displaced toward the same side, leaving visible marks on the plot in the form of parallel lines. These issues also increase the difficulty of edge-to-edge printing. 
   Given the foregoing, it will be appreciated that an apparatus is needed which supports media moving through a print zone at a substantially constant distance from the printhead and also inhibits ink smearing on subsequent media. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention improves edge-to-edge printing by providing improved support structures. 
   According to a first embodiment, a trough support rib for improved edge-to-edge printing comprises a media feedpath extending in a first direction, a printhead reciprocally movable in a second direction, the second direction defining a print zone, an ink trough, at least one support rib beneath the print zone within the ink trough, the at least one support rib having an upper angled edge for engaging print media defined by two beveled surfaces, the rib further comprising a notch for removal of overspray ink to said ink trough. The ink trough further comprises an upstream wall, a downstream wall, and at least one trough floor extending between the upstream and downstream walls. The at least one support rib extends from the upstream wall of the trough. The notch further comprises a lower angled edge extending substantially parallel to the upper angled edge. The upper angled edge and said lower angled edge are angled upwardly from upstream to downstream along said media feedpath. The upper end of the upper angled edge defines a contact point for media along the media feedpath. The trough support rib further comprises a plurality of exit ribs downstream of the ink trough. The at least one support rib is offset from the plurality of exit ribs in the second direction to inhibit transfer of ink from the at least one support rib to the exit ribs. The at least one support rib is adapted to support at least a trailing edge of a media sheet passing over the ink trough. The at least one support rib is adapted to support a leading edge of the media sheet passing over the ink trough. 
   According to a second embodiment, in a print device having a media feedpath defining a first direction and a printhead reciprocally movable above an ink trough extending in a second transverse direction, at least one trough support rib, comprises an upper angled edge defined by two beveled surfaces, the at least one trough rib disposed in the trough, the at least one trough rib having a notch, the notch has a lower angled edge defined two beveled surfaces, the at least one trough rib being offset from at least one exit rib downstream of the trough. The at least one trough support rib further comprises a primary media support rib disposed upstream of the ink trough. The primary media support rib has a height greater than the upper angled edge of the at least one trough rib. The at least one exit rib has a height substantially equal to the primary media support. The at least one trough rib is a plurality of ribs. The plurality of ribs extend from an upstream wall of the ink trough. 
   According to a third embodiment, a trough support rib assembly comprises an ink trough having an upstream wall and downstream wall, a plurality of trough support ribs extending from an upstream wall of the ink trough, an upper tapered edge extending along each of the plurality of ribs in a media feed direction, the upper tapered edge being defined by beveled surfaces. An upstream portion of the trough support rib is connected to a primary media support rib upstream of the ink trough. The plurality of trough support ribs further comprises a notch and a lower tapered edges substantially aligned with the upper tapered edge. The lower tapered edges are each defined by first and second beveled surfaces. A primary media support rib is connected to the at least one of the trough support ribs, the primary media support ribs being upstream of the ink trough. The primary media support ribs further comprising a height which is greater than the upper tapered edge. The trough support rib assembly further comprises a plurality of exit ribs downstream of the ink trough. The trough support ribs are offset from the plurality of exit ribs to inhibit transfer of ink to the plurality of exit ribs. 
   According to a fourth embodiment, a print feed path having an ink trough and an ink trough support rib, comprises a print zone, a first rib disposed beneath the print zone for supporting media moving therethrough, the first rib having a first upper angled edge defined by first and second tapered surfaces, a second rib disposed beneath the print zone for supporting media moving therethrough having a second upper angled edge defined by first and second tapered surfaces, the first rib offset from the second rib in a first media feed direction and a second direction transverse to the first media feed direction. The first rib is substantially U-shaped. The first upper angled edge is disposed at one end of the first rib and a third upper angled edge is disposed at a second end of the first rib. The first upper angled edge and the third upper angled edge are aligned in the first media feed direction. The first rib further comprising at least one notch adjacent one of the first upper angled edge and the third upper angled edge. The at least one notch has tapered surfaces defining a lower edge. The at least one notch comprises a notch disposed on an upstream side of the first upper angled edge and a downstream side of the third upper angled edge. The ink trough support rib further comprises a notch on said second rib. The notch on the second rib further comprising a lower angled edge. The lower angled edge is longer than an upper angled edge of the second rib. 
   According to a fifth embodiment, in an print device for edge to edge printing having a media feedpath extending in a first direction, an ink trough support assembly comprises an ink trough disposed adjacent an inkjet carriage, the ink trough extending in a second direction transverse to the first direction, a first rib and a second rib disposed in the ink trough, the first rib having first and second upper angled edges defining upper contact points aligned in the first direction, the second rib having an upper angled edge disposed between the first and second upper edges of the first rib in the second direction, the first rib and the second rib providing support for media leading edge and trailing edge across the ink trough in the first media feed direction. The ink trough assembly further comprising the first rib and second rib being spaced apart in the second direction. The ink trough assembly further comprising the plurality of exit ribs downstream of the ink trough and a plurality of primary media support ribs upstream of the ink trough. The upper edge of the first and second rib is angled from an upper downstream position to a lower upstream position. The first rib is a plurality of ribs and the second rib is a plurality of ribs. The first and second ribs are equidistantly spaced in the second direction. The first and second ribs extend from an upstream wall of the ink trough. 
   According to a sixth embodiment, an ink trough support rib assembly comprises an ink trough disposed adjacent a print zone, a first plurality of ribs disposed in the ink trough having first and second upper angled edges, a second plurality of ribs disposed in the ink trough having a first upper edge, each of the second plurality of ribs equidistantly spaced between the first plurality of ribs in the scanning direction, each of the upper edges of the second rib disposed between the first and second upper edges of the first rib. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The above-mentioned and other features and advantages of this invention, and the manner of attaining them, will become more apparent and the invention will be better understood by reference to the following description of embodiments of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an all-in-one device including a printing component; 
       FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the all-in-one device of  FIG. 1  with a cut-away section depicting the printing components; 
       FIG. 3  is a perspective view of an alternative photo printer which performs edge-to-edge printing; 
       FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a first embodiment of an ink trough including support ribs of the present invention; 
       FIG. 5  is a perspective view of one the support ribs of  FIG. 4 ; 
       FIG. 6  is a top view of the first embodiment of the support ribs of  FIG. 4 ; 
       FIG. 7  is a first sequence side view of the embodiment of  FIG. 4 ; 
       FIG. 8  is a second sequence side view of  FIG. 7 ; 
       FIG. 9  is a third sequence side view of  FIG. 7 ; 
       FIG. 10  is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the present invention located in the media feedpath; 
       FIG. 11  is a perspective view of the second embodiment removed from the media feedpath; 
       FIG. 12  is a side view of the second embodiment of the present invention from the opposite side of  FIG. 11 ; 
       FIG. 13  is a side view of the second embodiment of the present invention; and, 
       FIG. 14  is a top view of the second embodiment of  FIG. 11 . 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
   It is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or of being carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. The use of “including,” “comprising,” or “having” and variations thereof herein is meant to encompass the items listed thereafter and equivalents thereof as well as additional items. Unless limited otherwise, the terms “connected,” “coupled,” and “mounted,” and variations thereof herein are used broadly and encompass direct and indirect connections, couplings, and mountings. In addition, the terms “connected” and “coupled” and variations thereof are not restricted to physical or mechanical connections or couplings. 
   In addition, it should be understood that embodiments of the invention include both hardware and electronic components or modules that, for purposes of discussion, may be illustrated and described as if the majority of the components were implemented solely in hardware. However, one of ordinary skill in the art, and based on a reading of this detailed description, would recognize that, in at least one embodiment, the electronic based aspects of the invention may be implemented in software. As such, it should be noted that a plurality of hardware and software-based devices, as well as a plurality of different structural components may be utilized to implement the invention. Furthermore, and as described in subsequent paragraphs, the specific mechanical configurations illustrated in the drawings are intended to exemplify embodiments of the invention and that other alternative mechanical configurations are possible. 
   The term image as used herein encompasses any printed or digital form of text, graphic, or combination thereof. The term output as used herein encompasses output from any printing device such as color and black-and-white copiers, color and black-and-white printers, and all-in-one devices that incorporate multiple functions such as scanning, copying, and printing capabilities in one device. Such printing devices may utilize ink jet, dot matrix, dye sublimation, laser, and any other suitable print formats. The term button as used herein means any component, whether a physical component or graphic user interface icon, that is engaged to initiate output. 
   Referring now in detail to the drawings, wherein like numerals indicate like elements throughout the several views, there are shown in  FIGS. 1-14  various aspects of trough support ribs. The apparatus provides trough ribs for supporting media spanning the ink trough, improving edge-to-edge printing as well as minimizing contact with the media. The ribs further enhance movement of ink overspray to an ink trough. 
   Referring initially to  FIG. 1 , an all-in-one device  10  is shown having an ADF scanner portion  12  and a printer portion  20 , depicted generally by the housing. The all-in-one device  10  is shown and described herein, however one of ordinary skill in the art will understand upon reading of the instant specification that the present invention may be utilized with a stand alone printer, copier, or other printing device utilizing a media feed system. The peripheral device  10  further comprises a control panel  11  having a plurality of buttons for making selections. The control panel  11  may include a graphics display to provide a user with menus, choices or errors occurring with the system. 
   Still referring to  FIG. 1 , extending from the printer portion  20  is an input tray  22  at the rear of the device  10  and an exit tray  24  extending from the front of the device  10  for retaining media before and after a print process, respectively. A media feedpath  21  ( FIG. 2 ) extends between the input tray  22  and output tray  24 . The printer portion  20  may include various types of printing mechanisms including a dye-sublimation or an ink jet printing mechanism. For ease of description, the exemplary printer portion  20  is an inkjet printing device. 
   Referring now to  FIG. 2 , an interior cut-away perspective view of the all-in-one device  10  is depicted. With the interior shown, the printing portion  20  includes a carriage  26  having a position for placement of at least one print cartridge  28 .  FIG. 2  depicts two print cartridges  28  which may be, for instance, a color cartridge for photos and a black cartridge for text printing. Also two color cartridges may also be used. As one skilled in the art will recognize, the color cartridge may include three inks, i.e., cyan, magenta and yellow inks. The second color cartridge, if used, would contain more dilute versions of these three colors. Alternatively, in lower cost machines, a single cartridge may be utilized wherein the three inks, i.e., cyan, magenta and yellow inks are simultaneously utilized to provide the black for text printing or for photo printing. During advancement media moves from the input tray  22  to the output tray  24  in a substantially L-shaped media feedpath  21  beneath the carriage  26  and cartridges  28 . As the media moves into a printing zone, the media moves in a first, Y-direction as depicted and the carriage  26  and the cartridges  28  move in a second, X-direction which is transverse to the movement of the media M. 
   Referring again to  FIG. 1 , the scanner portion  12  generally includes an ADF scanner  13 , a scanner bed  17  and a lid  14  which is hingedly connected to the scanner bed  17 . Beneath the lid  14  and within the scanner bed  17  may be a transparent platen for placement and support of target or original documents for manually scanning. Along a front edge of the lid  14  is a handle  15  for opening of the lid  14  and placement of the target document on the transparent platen (not shown). Adjacent the lid  14  is an exemplary duplexing ADF scanner  13  which automatically feeds and scans stacks of documents which are normally sized, e.g. letter, legal, or A4, and suited for automatic feeding. Above the lid  14  and adjacent an opening in the ADF scanner  13  is an ADF input tray  18  which supports a stack of target media or documents for feeding through the auto-document feeder  13 . Beneath the input tray  18 , the upper surface of the lid  14  also functions as an output tray  19  for receiving documents fed through the ADF scanner  13 . 
   Referring now to  FIG. 3 , an alternative photo printer  110  is depicted which may also utilize the trough support ribs of the present invention. The photo printer  110  comprises a printer portion or component, depicted generally as  120 . The upper front surface of the photo printer  110  may utilize a control panel  111  having a plurality of control buttons as well as an LCD screen for displaying photos to be printed. The control buttons may also be utilized to format the photos within the LCD display prior to printing. The photo printer  110  comprises an input tray  122  near the rear surface of the printer  110 . The input tray  122  is substantially vertical and receives a plurality of media M therein. The output area  124  is substantially horizontal so that a media feedpath (not shown) extending through the printer  110  is substantially L-shaped. It should be noted however, that in either of the embodiments of  FIGS. 1-3 , alternative media feedpath shapes may be utilized, such as, for example, a C-shaped path. 
   Referring now to  FIG. 4 , a perspective view of a media feedpath  21  is depicted near a print zone along the interior of the printing component  20 . It should be noted that the printing component  20  and media path  21  of the all-in-one device is discussed herein but such printing device could alternatively be a photo printer or any other inkjet printer which performs edge-to-edge printing and therefore is not limited to the all-in-one device depicted in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . The media path  21  is depicted as having a media feed direction Y which corresponds to the media feed direction Y in  FIG. 2 . Disposed along the media feedpath  21 , is an ink trough  30 . The ink trough  30  is substantially rectangular in shape having a longer dimension in the X-direction ( FIG. 2 ) and a shorter dimension in the Y-direction. The X-dimension is at least the length of the scanning distance of carriage  26  to catch ink over-spray. The Y-dimension is at least substantially equal to at least the length of a printhead of the cartridge  28 . The ink trough  30  comprises an upstream wall  32  which extends in a substantially vertical direction. Opposite the upstream wall  32  is a downstream wall  34  which also extends substantially vertically to partially define the ink trough  30 . The terms upstream and downstream are directional descriptors with respect to the Y-direction. Extending between the upstream wall  32  and downstream wall  34  is a floor  36 . The floor  36  is substantially horizontal and extends between the lower edges of the upstream and downstream walls  32 ,  34  to define a volume which forms the ink trough  30 . Downstream from the ink trough  30  are a plurality of parallel exit ribs  70 . The exit ribs extend at various lengths in the Y-direction. The exit ribs  70  function to support the media which has passed through the print zone and nears the exit rollers of the print device. 
   Within the ink trough  30  are a plurality of ribs  40 . Each of the ribs  40  extend from the upstream wall  32  downstream in the Y-direction into the ink trough  30 . The ribs  40  are connected along a lower surface to the floor  36  of the ink trough  30 . The ribs  40  are therefore aligned in the X-direction and support the media M as the leading edge and trailing edge pass over the ink trough  30  which is generally disposed beneath the print zone. 
   Referring now to  FIG. 5 , a perspective view of one rib  40  is depicted in the ink trough  30 . The rib  40  extends from the upstream wall  32  and into the trough  30  along the floor  36 . The rib  40  has a first wall  42  and a second opposed wall  44 . The walls  42 ,  44  extend upwardly from the floor  36  and along the upstream wall  32 . The first and second walls  42 ,  44  are generally substantially U-shaped with the upstream sides having a height which is slightly greater than the downstream sides. The downstream side of the rib  40  comprises an upper tapered edge  46 . The upper tapered edge  46  is defined by a first tapered surface  48  and a second tapered surface  50 . The upper tapered edge  46  provides less exposed surface area than a flat surface along the upper portion of the rib  40  thereby decreasing the transfer of overspray ink from the rib  40  to the medium M passing above the rib  40 . Since the edge  46  also has a taper, the uppermost downstream side of the rib  40  acts as a contact point rather than a larger contact surface area and further minimizes the transfer of ink overspray from the rib  40  to the media M passing above. 
   The upper tapered edge  46  is higher at a downstream position than an upstream position which minimizes a contact with the media as the media passes above the rib  40 . The upstream side of the rib  40  is connected to a primary support rib  80 . The media M stays in contact with the primary support rib. More specifically, the taper of the edge  46  enhances movement of the ink overspray downward along the tapered edge  46  and into the trough  30 . Further, the overspray ink also moves down the first and second tapered surfaces  48 ,  50 . Thus, ink movement is directed away from the upper tapered edge  46  which decreases the possibility of ink smear affecting a medium M passing above the rib  40 . 
   Moving downward from the uppermost position of the tapered edge  46 , the rib  40  steps down defining a notch  52 . The notch  52  comprises a lower tapered edge  54 . The lower tapered edge  54  is parallel to the upper tapered edge  46  and extends in the Y direction or the media feed direction. Like the upper tapered edge  46 , the lower tapered edge  54  is also higher at a downstream end than an upstream end. The edge  54  is defined by a first lower tapered surface  56  and a second lower tapered surface  58  ( FIG. 7 ). The edge  54  provides less surface area for overspray ink to engage. The notch  52  may receive overspray of ejected ink directly or may receive ink which runs from the first and second tapered surfaces  48 ,  50  or from the upper tapered edge  46 . The lower tapered surfaces  56 ,  58  direct movement of the ink from the rib  40  down the walls  42 ,  44  and into the ink trough  30  and therefore also inhibit ink smear. 
   Referring now to  FIG. 6 , a top view of the ink trough  30  is depicted within the media feedpath  21 . Within the ink trough  30  are the plurality of support ribs  40 . Downstream of the plurality of ribs  40 , in the media feed direction Y, are a plurality of exit ribs  70 . The top view clearly depicts that the ribs  40  are each offset from the exit ribs  70  in the X-direction. Thus, the ribs  40  are not aligned with the exit ribs  70  in the Y-direction. This offset design inhibits transmission of any ink which contaminates the support ribs  40  from being transferred to the exit ribs  70 . Specifically, if ink contaminates the support ribs  40  and is transferred to a subsequent sheet of media M, the medium will pass over the exit ribs  70 . However, because of the offset any ink transferred from a rib to the medium will not contaminate the exit rib  70 . 
   Referring now to  FIGS. 7-9 , a sequence of side views depicts a leading edge of the medium M traveling in the media feed direction Y through the print zone and over the ink trough  30  and depict the ink trough  30  and trough support rib  40  from the opposite side depicted in  FIG. 5 .  FIGS. 7-9  also show the ink trough  30  adjacent the print cartridge  28 . The medium M is moving in the Y direction along the media feed path  21 . At point A, the leading edge of the medium M is engaging the trough support ribs  40  as the media M enters the print zone. 
     FIG. 8  depicts the media M continuing to move in the feedpath  21 , along the feeding direction Y. The trailing portion of the media M is supported by the primary media support rib  80 . The leading edge of the media M is supported by the exit ribs  70 . The media M is spanning the ink trough  30  from the exit ribs  70  to the primary support ribs  80 . The media M is not contacting the support rib  40  since the upper edge  46  of rib  40  does not extend to the height of primary support rib  80  and exit rib  70 . As shown in  FIG. 8 , the medium M is supported near the trailing edge and leading edge and maintains a substantially constant distance from the print cartridge  28 . 
   Referring now to  FIG. 9 , the medium M is advanced further along the feed direction Y so that at point A the trough support rib  40  is supporting the medium M closer to the trailing edge as the media is directed through the print zone beneath the print cartridge  28 . The media forward of the trailing edge is supported at the exit ribs  70  since the trailing edge is supported by the support rib  40 , the distance between the print cartridge  28  and the medium M changes only slightly. Since the trailing edge is supported, the media M do not drop into the ink trough  30  or away from the print cartridge  28  any distance which will adversely affect print quality. The design allows for maintaining high print quality near the edge of the medium M. 
   Referring now to  FIG. 10 , a second embodiment of the trough support ribs are depicted. A mid-frame  290  is shown in perspective view comprising a plurality of components including an ink trough  230 . A media feedpath  221  is depicted as extending in a direction parallel to the upper surface of the mid-frame  290 . Adjacent the upstream ribs  291  is a feed roller  292  which is driven by a transmission (not shown) and a driving source (not shown) such as a motor. The feed roller  292  in combination with an opposing roller not shown forms a nip through which media is directed into the print zone immediately downstream of the feed roller  292  along the media feedpath  221  and above the ink trough  230 . Immediately upstream of the ink trough  230  are a plurality of primary media support ribs or cockle ribs  280 . The ribs  280  extend along the mid-frame  290  adjacent the feed roller  292  in the direction of the media feedpath  221  up to and including an upper edge portion of the ink trough  230 . Downstream of the ink trough  230  are a plurality of transition ribs  271 . The transition ribs  271  raise the edge of the media up to a height of the plurality of exit ribs  270  downstream of the transition ribs  271 . The transition ribs  271  include an upper curved surface which is lower at an upstream end and raises toward a downstream end adjacent the upstream ends of the exit ribs  270 . The transition ribs  271  aid in inhibiting media jams which would occur if the leading edge of the media passing through the media feedpath  221  and engage the exit ribs  270  without being elevated. However, one skilled in the art should recognize that the transition ribs  271  may or may not be necessary depending on the height of the ink trough  230  and primary media support ribs  280  in relation to the height of the exit ribs  270 . 
   Referring now to  FIG. 11 , a perspective view of the ink trough  230  is depicted removed from the surrounding mid-frame  290  ( FIG. 10 ). At an upstream end of the ink trough  230  is an upstream wall  232 . Along an upper edge of the upstream wall  232  are a plurality of primary media support ribs  280 . The primary media support ribs  280  are an extension of the ribs along the mid-frame  290  ( FIG. 10 ). Opposite the upstream wall  232  is a downstream wall  234 . Extending between the upstream and downstream walls  232 ,  234  is a floor  236  which, in part, generally form a volume defining the ink trough  230 . Extending along the upper surface of the downstream wall  234  of the ink trough  230  are a plurality of exit transition ribs  271 . The exit transition ribs  271  have a curved upper surface which raises the leading edge of the media to a height necessary to inhibit media jams as a media leading edge engages the exit ribs  270  ( FIG. 10 ). Extending from the floor  236  of the ink trough  230  are a plurality of first ribs  240  and second ribs  260 . 
   Referring now to  FIG. 12 , a side view of the ink trough  230  is shown which depicts the shapes of the ribs  240 ,  260 . The first rib  240  comprises a substantially U-shaped body  242 . For rib  240 , on the upstream side and downstream side of the feedpath  221  are angled upper edges  246  and  243 , respectively, which are angled from a lower upstream end to an upper downstream end and thereby form a point at the downstream end of each edge  246 ,  243 . The upstream angled upper edge  246  is defined by an upper tapered surface  248  and opposed surface  249  ( FIG. 13 ). The downstream angled upper edge  243  is defined by upper tapered surface  245  and opposite surface  247  ( FIG. 13 ). At the upper downstream end of the downstream angled upper edge  243  is a notch  253  comprising an angled lower edge  255  defined by a lower tapered surface  257  and opposite lower tapered surface  256 . On the opposite (upstream) side of the U-shaped body  242  a notch  252 , is defined between the angled upper edge  246  and the upstream wall  232  of the ink trough  230 . The notch  252  comprises an angled lower edge  254  which is angled from a lower upstream end to an upper downstream end. The lower edge  254  is defined by a lower tapered surface  258  and opposite surface  259  ( FIG. 13 ). The U-shaped body  242  extends from the upstream wall  232  to the downstream wall  234  and along the floor  236  of ink trough  230 . The plurality of first ribs  240  are spaced along the length of the ink trough  230 . 
     FIG. 12  also depicts the second rib  260 . The second rib  260  is defined by a body  262  extending from the upstream wall  232  of the ink trough  230  and is disposed between each of the first ribs  240  within the ink trough  230 . The body  262  extends from the upstream wall  232  and upwardly from the floor  236 . The second rib  260  comprises an angled upper edge  264  which is angled from a lower upstream end to an upper downstream end of the edge. The uppermost end of the upper edge  264  has a height which is substantially equal to the highest points of the angled upper edges  243 ,  246  of the first rib  240 . The angled upper edge  264  is defined by an upper tapered surface  265  and opposed tapered surface  266  ( FIG. 13 ). Upstream of the angled upper edge  264  is a notch  263  extending from the upstream wall  232 . The angled lower edge  267  is defined by a lower tapered surface  268  and opposite tapered surface  269  ( FIG. 13 ). The angled lower edge  267  is longer than the angled upper edge  264  and extends to the upstream wall  232 . Each of the tapered surfaces of the first and second ribs  240 ,  260  aid in moving oversprayed ink away from the upper edges and lower edges of the ribs  240 ,  260 . This inhibits ink from transferring to the rear surface of the media. The height of the uppermost points of the upper edges of ribs  240 ,  260  are less than the primary media support ribs  290  and exit transition ribs  271 . Thus, the media moving across feedpath  221  will only engage the first and second ribs  240 ,  260  as the leading edge and trailing edge of the media M extends over the ink trough  230 . 
   The upper edge  246  and lower edge  254  of the first rib  240  are aligned in the media feed direction and substantially parallel to one another. The upper edge  243  and lower edge  255  are aligned but not parallel. As a result the first ribs  240  are somewhat symmetrical about a vertical axis. Likewise, the upper and lower edges  264 ,  267 , respectively, of the second ribs  260  are aligned and substantially parallel to one another. 
   Referring now to  FIG. 13 , the ink trough  230  is depicted from the opposite side as is shown in  FIG. 12 . Also depicted is the print cartridge disposed above the ink trough  230  and the media M being directed along the feedpath  221  by a feed roll  292  and a pinch roller assembly  294  having a pinch roller therein  296 . Downstream of the ink trough  230 , the exit transition ribs  271  are depicted adjacent the exit rib  270 . 
   Referring now to  FIG. 14 , a top view of the mid-frame  290  is depicted. As shown, the ink trough  230  comprises the plurality of ribs  240 ,  260  alternately disposed therein in the x-direction or carriage scan direction. The ribs  240 ,  260  are equidistantly spaced across the trough  230 . However, one or more ribs  240 ,  260  may not be spaced apart equally due to limitations of feedpath width and necessary spacing dimensions not being equally divisible. Such spacing supports the leading edge and trailing edge of the media substantially equally across the print zone and the ink trough  230  below. As shown in  FIGS. 12 and 14 , the second ribs  260  are offset in the media feed direction or y-direction with respect to ribs  240 . Due to such offset, the upper edge  264  of second rib  260  is disposed between the upper edges  243 ,  246  of first rib  240 . 
   As previously indicated, the media leaving and trailing edges need support as they move across the ink trough  230 . The spacing of the ribs  240 ,  260  in the x-direction and offset in the y-direction provides improved support across the ink trough  230 . The contact point of the upper edge  264  is positioned between the contact points of the upper edges  243 ,  246 . As shown by the three dashed lines, three lines of point support are provided to the leading and trailing edges of the media as they traverse the trough  230 . Such design improves support of media leading and trailing edges for improved edge to edge printing. 
   The foregoing description of several methods and an embodiment of the invention has been presented for purposes of illustration. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise steps and/or forms disclosed, and obviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. It is intended that the scope of the invention be defined by the claims appended hereto.