Patent ID: 8616671

Claim:
Apparatus for printing a multi-channel image on a web receiver, comprising: a) a plurality of printing modules arranged in sequence along a feed path of the receiver and spaced apart from the feed path, each adapted to produce on the receiver a separation image corresponding to one channel of the multi-channel image; b) a movable transport for the web receiver, the transport including a take-up roll around which the receiver is entrained and a cutter arranged downstream of the take-up roll for selectively cutting the web receiver, wherein: i) the transport is operative in a first state to traverse from the leading printing module to the trailing printing module; ii) the take-up roll is operative in the first state to retain the receiver in position with respect to the transport; and iii) the take-up roll is operative in a second state to draw the receiver across the transport; and c) a controller adapted to perform the following steps in order: operate the transport and take-up roll in the first state and activate one or more of the printing modules in sequence to print a first portion of the image; once the transport traverses to bring the web receiver into operative arrangement with the plurality of printing modules, operate the take-up roll in the second state and activate one or more of the printing modules to print a second portion of the image; and cause the cutter to cut the web receiver to provide a cut sheet bearing the printed image.