Printing zone with closely located printhead and media
View Patent ↗A printing zone arrangement for an inkjet printer of the type having an inkjet type printing mechanism comprising at least one nozzle for printing ink onto at least one surface of print media is provided. The printing zone arrangement comprises first and second sets of opposed rollers that engage opposite sides of print media to define a printing zone therebetween. The print media is engaged by the rollers so that it is tensioned and unsupported through the printing zone. The printing zone is arranged adjacent the printing mechanism of the printer so that the nozzle of the printing mechanism is between 0.5 mm and 3 mm from the respective print media surface.
1. A method of printing using an inkjet printer, said printer comprising:
a first set of opposed rollers that engage opposite sides of print media located therebetween; and
a second set of opposed rollers that engage opposite sides of print media located therebetween, the first and second sets of rollers defining a printing zone therebetween and engaging the print media so that the print media is tensioned and unsupported through the printing zone,
an inkjet printing mechanism positioned in the printing zone and having at least one nozzle for printing ink onto at least one surface of the media, said at least one nozzle being between 0.5 mm and 3 mm from the respective print media surface,
said method comprising the steps of:
(a) feeding the print media from the first set to the second set of rollers; and
(b) printing onto at least one surface of the print media using said printing mechanism.
2. A method according to claim 1 wherein at least one roller of the first set of rollers has an effective outside radius of R 1 , and is located adjacent the printing mechanism so that the printing mechanism, in use, prints material onto the at least one surface of the print media within 2R 1 of the line of engagement of the first set of rollers with the print media.
3. A method according to claim 2 wherein the first set of rollers are located adjacent said printing mechanism so that the printing mechanism, in use, prints material onto the media within R 1 of the line of engagement.
4. A method according to claim 1 wherein the print media is continuous.
5. A method according to claim 2 , wherein both rollers of the first set of rollers have an effective outside radius of R 1 .