Inkjet printer assembly with a controller for detecting a performance characteristic of a printer cartridge

1. An inkjet printer assembly comprising:

a cartridge having an integrated pagewidth printhead integrated circuit (IC);

a cradle configured to receive the cartridge such that the printhead IC is adjacent a media feed path;

a driven mechanism configured to maintain the printhead and to feed print media through the media feed path, the drive mechanism including an air compressor for providing compressed air directed to keep the printhead IC clear of debris, and a motor to feed the print media; and

a controller operatively connected to the cartridge and configured to determine a performance characteristic of the cartridge and to control operation of said driven mechanism and printhead IC in response to the determined performance characteristic of the cartridge, wherein

the motor includes a transmission assembly having a direct drive coupling from a spindle of the motor to an impeller of the air compressor and a worm-gear and cog transmission of a media transport assembly, and

the transmission assembly further includes a drive shaft arranged to engage and disengage with a roller upon rotation of the drive shaft in first and second directions respectively.

2. The printer assembly of claim 1 , wherein the cartridge includes an authentication IC storing the performance characteristic of the cartridge, said IC connectable to the controller to facilitate communication of the performance characteristic to the controller.

3. The printer assembly of claim 2 , wherein the controller is configured to determine performance characteristics including a number of printing inks present in the cartridge.