Modular Printer With Printheads Proximate Feed Roller Nip

Abstract

A modular printer which has a pair of opposed printhead assemblies for duplexed printing. Print media is fed along a print media path extending between the printhead assemblies. Each printhead assembly has pinch rollers to feed the print media along the print media path. Each printhead assembly also includes a printhead module configured to eject ink onto the print media. The printhead module defines a curved end portion in which the pinch rollers are received. The printhead is located at the end of the curved end portion proximal to the nip of the pinch roller.

1 . A modular printer comprising:
 a pair of opposed printhead assemblies;   a print media path extending between the printhead assemblies such that the printhead assemblies perform duplex printing on print media fed along the print media path; wherein,   each of the print head assemblies comprise:   a pinch rollers for feeding the print media along the print media path; and   a printhead module for ejecting ink onto the print media, the print head module defining curved outer portion in which the pinch rollers are received and the printhead is mounted proximate the nip between the pinch rollers.   
   
   
       2 . A modular printer as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein each printhead assembly comprises another printhead module defining another arcuate end portion in which the first-mentioned printhead module is received. 
   
   
       3 . A modular printer as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein each printhead module defines a plurality of ink galleries for storing respective types of ink. 
   
   
       4 . A modular printer as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein each printhead module further comprises an air channel adjacent the printhead for feeding air to the printhead. 
   
   
       5 . A modular printer as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the pinch rollers comprise a drive roller coupled to a motor and an idler roller driven to drive roller. 
   
   
       6 . A modular printer as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein each of the printhead modules is substantially J-shaped. 
   
   
       7 . A modular printer as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising a chassis with the printhead modules mounted at one end of the chassis and fastening means which enables a plurality of like modular printers to be fastened together to form a stack.