Ink jet printer with inclined rows of jet drop streams

An ink jet printer for selectively depositing drops from a plurality of jet drop streams along associated print lines on a moving print receiving medium to produce collectively a print image thereon, comprising:

• print head means for generating a plurality of jet drop streams directed at said moving print receiving medium, said jet drop streams being arranged in a row which is inclined with respect to the direction of movement of said print receiving medium,
• means for selectively charging drops in each of said jet drop streams,
• means for providing a plurality of drop deflecting electrical fields, each of said plurality of jet drop streams passing through an associated one of said fields, said fields extending in a direction substantially perpendicular to the direction of movement of said print receiving medium, thereby deflecting the drops in each of said jet drop streams into a catch trajectory or into a selected one of a plurality of print trajectories, deflection of said drops being in a direction substantially perpendicular to the direction of movement of said print receiving medium, and
• means for catching drops in each jet drop stream which are deflected into a catch trajectory whereby the drops in said print trajectories are deposited along print lines on said print receiving medium and drops in said catch trajectories are prevented from striking said print receiving medium.