Print engine incorporating a quartet of printhead modules arranged in pairs
View Patent ↗A print engine is provided for a printer. The print engine includes a pair of opposed print head assemblies between which a print media path is defined and which is configured to perform duplex printing on print media fed along the print media path. Each print head assembly includes a pinch roller which can feed the print media along the print media path. Each print head assembly also includes a pair of printhead modules, in turn, each including a printhead configured to eject ink onto the pinched and fed print media. The ink is ejected onto a printing zone of the print media which is located proximal to the pinching zone of the pinch rollers.
1. A print engine for a printer, the print engine comprising a pair of opposed print head assemblies us between which a print media path is defined and which are configured to perform duplex printing on print media fed along the print media path, each print head assembly comprising:
a pinch roller which can feed the print media along the print media path; and
a pair of printhead modules each comprising a printhead configured to eject ink onto the pinched and fed print media, wherein each printhead module defines an arcuate end portion in which one of the pinch rollers is received, the ink being elected onto a printing zone of the print media which is located proximal to a pinching zone defined by the pinch rollers.
2. A print engine as claimed in claim 1 , wherein each printhead module defines an air channel adjacent each printhead for feeding air to the printhead from an air hose.
3. A print engine as claimed in claim 1 , wherein each printhead module is substantially J-shaped.
4. A print engine as claimed in claim 1 , wherein a first one of the pinch rollers is coupled to a motor and the other pinch roller is driven by the first pinch roller via a set of gears.
5. A print engine as claimed in claim 1 , wherein each printhead module defines a plurality of ink galleries for storing respective types of ink.
6. A printer comprising a print engine as claimed in claim 1 , the printer comprising a chassis with the print engine mounted at one end of the chassis and fastening means which enables a plurality of printers to be fastened together to form a stack.
7. A printer comprising a print engine as claimed in claim 1 , the printer comprising a chassis with the print engine mounted at one end of the chassis and fastening means which enables a plurality of printers to be fastened together to form a stack.