Abstract: An apparatus for adjusting a spacing between a printhead and a print medium in a printer is provided. The printhead is mounted in a carriage which is slidable along a guiding rod. The apparatus includes a first and second assembly for adjusting a position of a first and second portion of the carriage, respectively. The second assembly includes a camshaft attached to and slidable with respect to the carriage, one or more cams attached to the camshaft, and a bushing member. A first surface of the bushing member abuts a predefined profile of the cam, and a second surface of the bushing member abuts the guiding rod. The sliding of the camshaft with respect to the carriage causes a distance between the bushing member and the camshaft to vary according to the predefined profile of the cam. Accordingly, the spacing between the printhead and the print medium is adjusted.

Abstract: A sheet separator comprises an advancing roller driven to rotate to move a sheet forwards along a sheet path, and a reversing roller driven to rotate to move a sheet backwards along the path. The reversing roller and advancing roller are mounted adjacently and are relatively moveable between a pinched position and a separated position. The reversing roller has a torque limiter for allowing the reversing roller to slip and counter-rotate with the advancing roller when friction applied by the advancing roller on the pinched reversing roller exceeds a preset value. Overriding means mounted therein allows a sheet to pass over a roller when the rollers are separated and to remain idle when the rollers are pinched.

Abstract: A duplex system for an inkjet printer having a printhead for printing a media sheet is disclosed. The duplex system includes a front duplex module and a back duplex module detachably coupled to the front duplex module. The front duplex module includes a first roller assembly for advancing the media sheet to the printhead along a simplex media path and a second roller assembly disposed along the simplex media path for handling the media sheet.

Abstract: An inkjet printhead squeegee is split on one side so that its wiping force on a printhead is highest on the front stroke and much lighter on the backstroke when the surface is dry. Alternatively, the split can be arranged so that the front stroke is light enough to leave the printhead wet, and then the backstroke is much firmer to completely squeegee the printhead dry. The result is high pressure strokes on a dry printhead are avoided.

Abstract: A mobile, color printer capable of printing on letter-size plain paper and standard-size photo paper has a fold-up paper feeder that acts as a cover during travel. Such also serves as a storage tray for several sheets of paper to allow automatic feeding from a vertical stack. A slotted door hinged to the back of the printer, and under the hinges for the fold-up paper feeder/cover, can be flipped up or down. In the down position, a slot on the right side guides the user to feed in photo paper in the correct location. In the up position, letter-size plain paper has full-width access to the printing mechanism, and a sliding adjustable guide on the left allows letter, A4, and other size papers to be lightly corralled on both sides.

Abstract: A printer comprises an inkjet printhead capping assembly that raises up on an elevator to seal the printheads between uses. Such sealing prevents drying of the ink on the printhead nozzles that would otherwise cause clogging and poor operation. The elevator rides up and down on four ramps located at each corner of a cap carriage platform. A rack and pinion gear pushes pins riding on each ramp laterally to translate into the needed up and down elevator motion.