Ink jet printer that incorporates an ink distribution assembly

1. An inkjet printer which comprises

a pagewidth printhead assembly that defines a plurality of ink passages so that the printhead assembly can be supplied with ink;

an ink conduit structure that is connected to the printhead assembly, the ink conduit structure defining a plurality of converging ink conduits that are in fluid communication with respective ink passages;

a ink distribution structure that is connected to the ink conduit structure, the ink distribution structure defining a plurality of ink ducts, each ink duct being in fluid communication with a respective set of ink conduits; and

a number of inlet ports arranged on the ink distribution structure, each inlet port being in fluid communication with a respective ink duct.

2. An inkjet printer as claimed in claim 1 , in which the pagewidth printhead assembly includes a number of printhead chips that are positioned to span a width of a printing path.

3. An inkjet printer as claimed in claim 1 , in which the ducts of the ink distribution structure are positioned on an outer side of the ink distribution structure, the ink distribution structure further defining a plurality of transitional ducts positioned on an opposed inner side of the structure, each transitional duct being in fluid communication with a corresponding duct and said respective set of ink conduits.

4. An inkjet printer as claimed in claim 3 , in which the ink conduit structure is in the form of a stack of sheets, each sheet having a plurality of openings and inwardly directed channels defined therein, the openings and channels being dimensioned and positioned so that, when the sheets are in the stack, the openings and channels together define the converging ink conduits.

5. An inkjet printer as claimed in claim 4 , in which each sheet is a micro-molded structure.

6. An inkjet printer as claimed in claim 4 , in which the openings and channels are dimensioned and positioned so that the ink conduit structure defines a plurality of sets of inlet openings, each set of inlet openings corresponding to an ink of a particular color and being in fluid communication with a transitional duct and a respective ink conduit, each conduit terminating at a slot which is in fluid communication with a respective ink passage.

7. An inkjet printer as claimed in claim 1 , which includes a cover member that is engaged with the ink distribution structure to close the ink distribution structure, the cover member defining the inlet ports.