Inkjet printer with laterally displaceable capping mechanism

1. A printer comprising:

(a) a pagewidth printhead assembly having—

(i) at least one pagewidth printhead and

(ii) a plurality of nozzles located along the at least one printhead and arranged in use to deliver ink onto print media as it is transported past the at least one printhead, and

(b) a capping mechanism having—

(i) at least one capping member having a length corresponding substantially to that of the at least one printhead,

(ii) a first actuating mechanism arranged to move the at least one printhead in an arcuate direction from a first to a second position and

(iii) a second actuating mechanism arranged to move the at least one capping member in a lateral direction relative to the at least one printhead to effect nozzle capping engagement of the of the at least one printhead when the at least one printhead is in the second position.

2. The printer as claimed in claim 1 wherein the at least one capping member is formed effectively as a one-piece member.

3. The printer as claimed in claim 1 wherein the at least one capping member comprises conjoined capping member portions having an aggregate length corresponding substantially to that of the at least one printhead.

4. The printer as claimed in claim 1 wherein the at least one capping member comprises a body portion formed from a rigid material and a capping portion having a) an integrally formed elastomeric material lip portion and b) a cavity surrounded by the lip portion, and wherein the lip portion is peripherally configured to surround the nozzles collectively.

5. The printer as claimed in claim 1 wherein the printheads are disposed in confronting relationship when in the first position.

6. A printer according to claim 1 , wherein the capping member comprises:

a) a lip portion that is formed integrally with a body portion; and

b) a cavity surrounded by the lip portion, the lip portion being peripherally configured to surround the nozzles on the at least one printhead, and the body portion having a length corresponding substantially to that of the at least one printhead.

7. A printer comprising:

(a) a pagewidth printhead assembly having—

(i) two opposed pagewidth printheads and

(ii) a plurality of nozzles located along each of the printheads and arranged in use to deliver ink onto print media as it is transported past the printheads, and

(b) a capping mechanism having—

(i) two capping members located adjacent respective ones of the printheads and having a length corresponding substantially to that of the printheads,

(ii) first actuating mechanisms arranged to move the respective printheads in an arcuate direction from a first to a second position and

(iii) second actuating mechanisms arranged to move the capping members rectilinearly in a lateral direction relative to the respective printheads to effect nozzle capping engagement of the respective printheads when the respective printheads are in the second position.

8. The printer as claimed in claim 7 wherein each of the capping members is formed effectively as a one-piece member.

9. The printer as claimed in claim 7 wherein each of the capping members comprises conjoined capping member portions having an aggregate length corresponding substantially to that of the respective printheads.

10. The printer as claimed in claim 7 wherein each of the capping members is formed from an elastomeric material and has a body portion, an integrally formed lip portion and a cavity surrounded by the lip portion, and wherein the lip portion is peripherally configured to surround the nozzles collectively.

11. The printer as claimed in claim 7 wherein the printheads are disposed in confronting relationship when in the first position.