Patent ID: 7673983

Claim:
An inkjet printer which comprises a print zone and an inkjet printhead for printing on a substrate in the print zone, a supply unit for storing and delivering the substrate for printing, and a transport unit for transporting the substrate from the supply unit to the print zone, the supply unit containing at least one substrate holder, each holder containing a roll on which a substrate web is wound, the substrate holder being operatively connected to a sensor for detecting the end of the web in the substrate holder corresponding to the sensor, the transport unit having a first transport means for engaging and transporting the substrate emerging from the supply unit and a downstream, second transport means for further transporting and positioning the substrate in the print zone, and a guide element rotatably mounted and positioned substantially perpendicular to the transport direction for guiding the substrate from the first to the second transport means said guide element having three axes of rotation with the resulting control of the lateral position of the substrate for ensuring accurate and flexible guiding of the substrate from the first to the second transport means, and said guide element being rotatable about an axis corresponding to the center line of the shaft of the guide element, about an axis perpendicular to the axial direction of the guide element whereby the guide element makes a pivotable movement in a direction perpendicular to the transport direction of the substrate, and about an axis which extends parallel to a bisector of the angle over which the substrate is conveyed from the first transport means to the second transport means, and wherein the printer is provided with a control unit to determine, after a sensor detects the end of the web of the substrate, which image still to be printed can be completely imaged on the substrate without the end of the web passing the first transport means in the downstream direction.