Media handling in an ink-jet printer having guide ribs

DETAILED DESCRIPTION What is claimed is: 1.
A print medium support mechanism for supporting a sheetlike print medium in a printer's print zone, comprising: an upper print media guide; the upper print media guide having a plurality of ribs positioned relative to the print zone to contact and support the print medium upstream of a print zone from above, the ribs being spaced from each other to contact the print medium only at spaced transverse intervals across the print medium; a lower print media guide downstream from the upper print media guide to contact and support the print medium from below.
2.
A support mechanism as recited in claim 1, the upper print media guide comprising an extending portion that inclines downwardly to terminate at a lower support edge, the extending portion having notches that form the ribs.
3.
A support mechanism as recited in claim 1, the lower print media guide having a plurality of ribs that contact the print medium from beneath.
4.
A support mechanism as recited in claim 1, the ribs including outer ribs and central ribs, the outer ribs being lower than the central ribs to bow the print medium downwardly at each of its transverse edges as it enters the print zone.
5.
A print medium support mechanism for supporting a sheetlike print medium in a printer's print zone, comprising: at least one drive roller positioned upstream from the print zone of the printer to feed a sheetlike print medium into the print zone; an upper print media guide positioned upstream from the print zone; the upper print media guide having a plurality of ribs positioned relative to the print zone to contact and support the print medium upstream of a print zone from above, the ribs being spaced from each other to contact the print medium only at spaced transverse intervals across the print medium; a lower print media guide downstream from the upper print media guide to contact and support the print medium from below.
6.
A support mechanism as recited in claim 5, the upper print media guide comprising an extending portion that inclines downwardly to terminate at a lower support edge, the extending portion having notches that form the ribs