Patent ID: 7140793

Claim:
An imaging apparatus for printing on a sheet of print media in a print zone, said sheet of print media being transported in a sheet feed direction through said print zone, comprising: a mid-frame for supporting said sheet of print media in said print zone; a unitary carrier support frame positioned above said mid-frame, said unitary carrier support frame defining a first guide member and a second guide member, wherein a longitudinal extent of each of said first guide member and said second guide member is in a direction substantially perpendicular to said sheet feed direction; a printhead carrier having a first bearing member for engaging said first guide member, and a second bearing member for engaging said second guide member; a gear rack, wherein a longitudinal extent of said gear rack is in said direction substantially perpendicular to said sheet feed direction; and a carrier motor attached to said printhead carrier, said carrier motor being coupled to a gear that engages said gear rack of said unitary carrier support frame, wherein said gear rack is positioned upstream, in relation to said sheet feed direction, to said first guide member and said second guide member.