Increased manual access spaces are provided even within a more compact printer for the movement or removal of printer components such as paper path baffles to be moved for the removal of jammed sheets and/or other hand or tool insertions by printer users and/or repair personnel. This is provided by automatically reducing the normal operating space occupied or required by at least one operative printer component during a machine shutdown in or near such desired manual access areas. In particular, by replacing at least part of at least one of the present rigid space-consuming air ducts or manifolds in a printer with a collapsible portion adjacent to at least one paper path jam clearance area or other desired manual access area which at least partially collapses upon printer shutdowns removing power from the blower for that air duct to substantially increase unobstructed manual access.