A printer includes: an inkjet printhead having a row of printhead chips; a platen having a spittoon slot, the spittoon slot having a length corresponding to a length of the printhead and a width extending between an upstream sidewall and a downstream sidewall of the platen; a roller positioned in the spittoon slot between the upstream and downstream sidewalls for receiving ink spitted from the printhead, a rotation mechanism for rotating the roller; and a scraper positioned for scraping received ink from the roller. A diameter of the roller is less than the width of the spittoon slot, and an upper roller surface is relatively closer to the printhead than an upper surface of the upstream sidewall and/or the downstream sidewall.