Abstract: A dual nip release mechanism includes: a rigid actuator body including a tail portion with a handle and a pivotally-mounted head portion having a nose member extending therefrom; a rocker arm pivotally mounted about a rocker arm shaft, the rocker arm having a proximal end for engagement with part of the nose member and a distal end engaged with a first shaft; and legs hingedly connected to the tail portion, each leg having a foot engaged with a second shaft and a heel for camming engagement with a fixed plate. During use, actuation of the handle causes simultaneous movement of the first and second shafts from a nip closed position to a nip open position via pivoting of the rocker arm and simultaneous camming engagement of the heel with the fixed plate.

Abstract: A printer includes: a printhead; a platen positioned below the printhead for supporting print media conveyed along a media feed direction through a print zone, the platen defining a particle-collection slot upstream of the print zone relative to the media feed direction; and a vacuum chamber in fluid communication with the particle-collection slot. An upper surface of the platen has a plurality of raised ribs extending along the platen in the media feed direction and a dam wall extending across the platen transverse to the ribs. The dam wall is positioned at a downstream side of the particle-collection slot and the ribs extend towards the dam wall from an upstream side of the particle-collection slot.

Abstract: A printer includes: a platen having an ink-collection slot extending across its width; a wick bar received in the ink-collection slot, wherein an upstream gap and a downstream gap are defined at either side of the wick bar relative to a media feed direction; a printhead positioned over the wick bar; and a vacuum chamber in fluid communication with the ink-collection slot. The wick bar has a wick surface sloped upwards from the upstream gap towards the downstream gap.

Abstract: A printer includes: a first fixed printhead; a second fixed printhead positioned downstream of the first printhead relative to a media feed direction; a fixed platen for supporting print media; an input roller assembly positioned upstream of the first printhead, the input roller assembly comprising a pair of input rollers having a first nip force N1; an output roller assembly positioned downstream of the second printhead, the output roller assembly comprising a pair of output rollers having a second nip force N2; and an intermediary roller assembly positioned between the first and second printheads, the intermediary roller assembly comprising a pair of intermediary rollers having a third nip force N3. The nip forces satisfy the relationship N1>N2>N3 for optimal printing results.

Abstract: A printer having a media width printhead; a media path from a media input area to the printhead; a door hingedly mounted to a body of the printer which can be opened to expose the media path a media diverter mounted to the door such that when the door is in a closed position the door and the diverter define guiding portions of the path, the diverter being pivotally mounted to the door so that the diverter pivots out of the way upon opening of the door; and a displacement mechanism configured to retract the diverter with the opening movement of the door and to reposition the diverter for media guiding with the closing movement of the door.

Abstract: A media clearance mechanism for a printer, the media clearance mechanism having a door hingedly mounted to a body of the printer which can be opened to expose a media width of a media path to a media width printhead of the printer; a media diverter mounted to the door such that when the door is in a closed position the door and the diverter define guiding portions of the path, the diverter being pivotally mounted to the door so that the diverter pivots out of the way upon opening of the door; and a displacement mechanism configured to retract the diverter with the opening movement of the door and to reposition the diverter for media guiding with the closing movement of the door.

Abstract: A printer having a media width printhead; a media path from a media input area to the printhead; a door hingedly mounted to a body of the printer which can be opened to expose the media path a media diverter mounted to the door such that when the door is in a closed position the door and the diverter define guiding portions of the path, the diverter being pivotally mounted to the door so that the diverter pivots out of the way upon opening of the door; and a displacement mechanism configured to retract the diverter with the opening movement of the door and to reposition the diverter for media guiding with the closing movement of the door.

Abstract: A media clearance mechanism for a printer, the media clearance mechanism having a door hingedly mounted to a body of the printer which can be opened to expose a media width of a media path to a media width printhead of the printer; a media diverter mounted to the door such that when the door is in a closed position the door and the diverter define guiding portions of the path, the diverter being pivotally mounted to the door so that the diverter pivots out of the way upon opening of the door; and a displacement mechanism configured to retract the diverter with the opening movement of the door and to reposition the diverter for media guiding with the closing movement of the door