Ink supply system for an ink jet printer

An ink jet printer comprising:

• first and second carriage portions movably mounted on a guide rod, said first carriage portion being adapted to receive at least one ink jet cartridge, and said second carriage portion being mounted to said guide rod by first and second side plates positioned adjacent to corresponding first and second ends of said first carriage portion, said second carriage portion being pivotably mounted on the guide rod between but not rigidly attached to the first and second side plates.

A method of making an ink jet printer comprising:

• providing a first carriage portion comprising side plates adapted to slidably mount on a guide rod;
• mounting said first carriage portion on a guide rod using said side plates;
• mounting a second carriage portion which is separate from said first carriage portion between said side plates.

A device for use in an ink jet printer for mitigating ink drop placement error caused by the weight of various carriage components, said device comprising:

• first and second carriage portions, said first carriage portion being configured to receive a plurality of ink jet cartridges, and said second carriage portion being configured to couple to a cable chain adapted to support ink supply tubing;
• wherein said first and second carriage portions are non-rigidly coupled such that they are substantially coupled in linear motion along a common axis, and substantially de-coupled in rotational movement about said axis;
• a plurality of ink outlets attached to said second carriage portion, wherein said outlets comprise valves, and wherein said valves comprise actuators, said valves being disposed such that two valves are opened and closed by a single actuator.

A device for use in an ink jet printer for mitigating ink drop placement error caused by the weight of various carriage components, said device comprising:

• first and second carriage portions, said first carriage portion being configured to receive a plurality of ink jet cartridges, and said second carriage portion being configured to couple to a cable chain adapted to support ink supply tubing;
• wherein said first and second carriage portions are non-rigidly coupled such that they are substantially coupled in linear motion along a common axis, and substantially de-coupled in rotational movement about said axis;
• wherein said printer comprises a support structure, and wherein said second carriage portion is adapted to be rotationally supported by a wheel in contact with a portion of the support structure.