Printhead protection device for direct-to-paper continuous-feed inkjet printer

A printer comprising:

• at least one printhead configured to eject ink onto media as the media passes by the at least one printhead;
• a detector configured to generate an electrical signal indicative of an increase in a height that is present in a portion of the media before the portion of the media reaches the at least one printhead;
• a vacuum source configured to pull the portion of the media having the increase in height away from the at least one printhead as the portion of the media passes the at least one printhead;
• and
• a controller operatively connected to the detector and the vacuum source, the controller being configured to operate the vacuum source to pull the portion of the media having the increase in height away from the at least one printhead and increase a gap distance between the at least one printhead and the portion of the media having the increase in height for a time period determined with reference to a time at which the detector generates the electrical signal indicative of the increase in the height in the portion of the media and a speed at which the media is passing by the at least one printhead and then deactivate the vacuum source to increase a gap distance between the at least one printhead and the media following the portion of the media having the increase in height.