| abstract |
PCT No. PCT/US96/04818 Sec. 371 Date Dec. 3, 1996 Sec. 102(e) Date Dec. 3, 1996 PCT Filed Apr. 10, 1996 PCT Pub. No. WO96/32290 PCT Pub. Date Oct. 17, 1996A modular high volume digital color printing system uses a drop on demand printing mechanism. Each of plural printing modules contains two heads to allow simultaneous printing of both sides of the paper. Bi-level page image memories are provided. The pages to be printed can be altered by changing the contents of the bi-level page memories. The heads are supplied with ink by a gravity feed mechanism from a single ink reservoir for each color. Paper transport into and out of a printing module is achieved by a modular conveyor belt. Blank paper to be printed is supplied on a roll mounted on a frame with wheels to allow it to be simply rolled into or out of the printing module. The paper roll is at floor level, with the paper transport mechanisms being mounted above the roll. The modularity of the system allows all of the sheets in a color publication to be printed and collated simultaneously. |