Patent ID: 9132660
Filing Date: 2015-09-15
Classification: B41J

Abstract:
1. A method for maximizing print production efficiency, comprising: printing one or more print jobs using a printing system, the printing system comprising a print head carriage which carries a first set of one or more print heads, a first set of one or more alignment adapters each having a corresponding aperture through which respective nozzles of respective print heads mounted therein are exposed, each alignment adapter configured to adjustably hold its corresponding mounted print head in an adjusted position within its corresponding aperture, the first set of alignment adapters having precision mounting features configured to engage corresponding cooperating precision mounting features of the print head carriage and which are configured to align the alignment adapter in a predetermined position relative the print head carriage, the printing system further comprising a printing apparatus configured to receive a print substrate on which an image is to be printed and which controls relative movement between the print head carriage and the print substrate to effect printing of the image onto the substrate; during printing of the one or more print jobs using the printing system, pre-aligning one or more print heads to a second set of one or more alignment adapters having corresponding apertures configured to receive and adjustably hold within the corresponding apertures the respective one or more print heads so as to expose the nozzles through the apertures and to adjust the respective print heads within the corresponding apertures so as to align the nozzles of the respective adjustably held print heads to a known position relative to one or more features of the corresponding alignment adapters, the second set of alignment adapters having first precision mounting features configured to engage corresponding cooperating second precision mounting features of the print head carriage, the first precision mounting features and the second precision mounting features configured to ensure precise alignment of the second set of alignment adapters in corresponding predetermined positions relative to the print head carriage; halting printing production by the printing system; removing the first set of print heads and corresponding first set of alignment adapters from the print head carriage; engaging the precision mounting features of the second set of alignment adapters with corresponding cooperating precision mounting features of the print head carriage to align the second set of alignment adapters with pre-aligned print heads mounted thereon to the print head carriage; and resuming printing production by the printing system.