Patent ID: 7144095

Claim:
An inkjet printer which comprises a support structure; an ink reservoir arrangement mounted on the support structure; an array of printhead chips defining a stationary pagewidth printhead mounted on the ink reservoir arrangement to receive ink from the ink reservoir arrangement, a sealing arrangement being defined about the array; an ink transfer roller that is rotatably mounted on the support structure operatively with respect to the array of printhead chips so that the printhead chips can carry out a printing operation on the transfer roller as the transfer roller rotates; a retaining mechanism that is mounted on the support structure to bear against the ink transfer roller, a sheet of print medium being receivable between the retaining mechanism and the transfer roller so that ink printed on the transfer roller is transferred to the sheet of print medium as the transfer roller rotates; and a feed mechanism mounted on the support structure for feeding the sheet of print medium between the ink transfer roller and the retaining mechanism, wherein the ink reservoir arrangement is operatively arranged to, during a printing operation, maintain a spaced relationship of the array of printhead chips and the transfer roller, and, during a non-printing operation, place the array of printhead chips against the transfer roller so that the printhead chips are sealed by the sealing arrangement and transfer roller.