Abstract:
A pallet assembly for use in simultaneously printing multiple articles of manufacture. The assembly includes a pallet having a support surface, a carrier mountable onto the pallet and conforming with the pallet surface features (e.g., individual article of manufacture platforms) such that individual articles of manufacture may be place on the support surface(s) of the pallet yet the carrier substantially covers the remaining areas of the top surface of the pallet to protect the pallet from unintentional application of ink by the printer. The carrier also includes supports which allow a carrier loaded with articles of manufacture to be lifted off of the pallet and carried away for further processing. The assembly may also include a positioner which is mountable over the carrier on the pallet. The positioner operates as a jig for aligning each of the articles of manufacture in proper position on the support surface of the pallet.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to printing of images onto articles of manufacture, and more particularly to a novel pallet with carrier and positioner for simultaneously printing images onto multiple articles of manufacture, and associated techniques for combining individual images to be printed onto respective articles of manufacture loaded on the novel pallet into a single print file for simultaneous printing onto the multiple articles of manufacture by a printer. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Various methods of direct printing of images or graphic designs onto textiles and various other non-paper substrates exist. In the industrial setting, an article on which an image is to be printed, for example an item of apparel such as a t-shirt, is typically loaded and secured onto a pallet such that the print surface of the article is secured in place. Typical industrial printers are designed for processing and printing only a single image file at a time. Consequently, prior art pallets have been designed for printing on a single substrate (e.g., a single sheet of paper, foam, fabric, etc.) at a time. Industrial printers, however, typically allow for a large print area. For example, an industrial printer may be configured to print an image of a square meter or more. However, oftentimes the article of manufacture to be printed on is much smaller than the print area that the printer is capable of printing, and thus much of the total print time is spent in loading the article onto the printer pallet and subsequently removing it from the pallet after the printing is complete. It would therefore be desirable to load multiple smaller articles onto a pallet and have the printer print respective desired images onto each of the loaded articles of manufacture during the printing of a single print file in order to reduce the total amount of time spent in loading and unloading the articles of manufacture from the printer pallet. 
     One difficulty in simultaneously printing multiple articles of manufacture that fit within the print area that the printer is capable of printing is the complexity involved in precisely positioning the articles of manufacture such that the respective image printed on each of the respective articles of manufacture is accurately aligned on the articles of manufacture in the precise position on the article of manufacture that the image is supposed to appear. Any misalignment of an article of manufacture on the printer pallet results in misplacement of the image on the article of manufacture, and can also result in the application of ink on areas of the article of manufacture and/or pallet where ink should not be. Residual ink on the pallet due to ink overspray from misalignment of the articles of manufacture can result in the transfer of ink or ink dust to subsequent items placed on the pallet. 
     Another reason that multiple items are typically not simultaneously printed is the complexity of instructing the printer exactly where to print each image on each article of manufacture on the pallet. As previously mentioned, printers generally print one image file at a time. Thus, to print multiple items simultaneously, each respective image to be printed onto each respective article of manufacture must be combined into one large combination image file, which can then be sent to the printer for simultaneous printing on the items Loaded on the pallet. Building the combination image file, however, is not an easy task, as it involves both knowledge of the precise position of each article of manufacture on the pallet and the precise position of the printable area of each article of manufacture to be loaded onto the pallet, and knowledge of the mapping of pixels in the combination image file to the physical points on the pallet. 
     Yet a further complication in having the printer print multiple articles of manufacture at the same time is that even if the printer can be instructed, via the single image file that it receives, to print image content only on certain areas of the articles of manufacture on the pallet, the printing process generally results in at least some ink overspray (i.e., ink sprayed or splattered beyond the intended area of the printed image), which, depending on the placement of the image on the article of manufacture, can end up being applied to the pallet itself. When ink is deposited on the pallet, the ink can be transferred to subsequent sets of articles of manufacture loaded onto the pallet, either as wet ink or ink dust. This unintentionally transferred ink or ink dust can render flaws on subsequent articles of manufacture printed on the pallet. 
     Accordingly, it would be desirable to have available techniques for printing multiple articles of manufacture on a printer that prints one image at a time that also minimizes the aforementioned problems. 
     SUMMARY 
     Embodiments of the invention are directed at a printer pallet with removable tray for supporting simultaneous printing of multiple separate articles of manufacture, and may include a positioner for assisting in the precise placement of articles onto the pallet. 
     In accordance with one embodiment of the invention, a pallet assembly for supporting printing of multiple articles of manufacture by a printer is provided. The pallet assembly comprises: a pallet comprising a pallet base having a top surface, and a plurality of platforms protruding from the top surface of the base and separated by channels, each platform comprising a support surface having an area of predefined dimensions for supporting an article of manufacture; and a carrier comprising a carrier base having a plurality of apertures, each aperture corresponding to a respective one of each of the platforms and having aperture dimensions only slightly greater than the corresponding predefined dimensions of the support surface of the corresponding platform, such that when the carrier is properly installed on the pallet, each of the platforms fits substantially conformingly within a corresponding respective aperture of the carrier, thereby exposing only the support surfaces of the platforms through the respective apertures, wherein the carrier base otherwise substantially covers the top surface of the pallet base and channels. 
     In accordance with another embodiment of the invention, a method for simultaneously printing multiple articles of manufacture in a printer designed to print a single image file is provided. The method comprises the steps of: mounting a pallet on a printer transport mechanism of the printer, the pallet comprising a pallet base having a top surface, and a plurality of platforms protruding from the top surface of the base and separated by channels, each platform comprising a support surface having an area of predefined dimensions for supporting an article of manufacture; installing a carrier into proper position on the pallet the carrier comprising a carrier base having a plurality of apertures, each aperture corresponding to a respective one of each of the pallet platforms and having aperture dimensions only slightly greater than the corresponding predefined dimensions of the support surface of its corresponding platform on the pallet, such that when the carrier is property installed on the pallet each of the platforms fits substantially conformingly within a corresponding respective aperture of the carrier, thereby exposing only the support surfaces of the platforms through the respective apertures, wherein the carrier base otherwise substantially covers the top surface of the pallet base and channels; placing an article of manufacture on each of the platforms; and causing the printer to print the combined image file such that the respective individual images are printed onto the respective articles of manufacture loaded on the platforms. 
     It is an advantage of the invention that the carrier is removable from the pallet as it allows an entire set of printed articles to be easily transported to and from the printer, for example, for transport to a drying unit or other post-printing processing. Another advantage of the removable aspect of the carrier is that it allows the carrier to be removed and cleaned without having to dismount the entire pallet from the printer&#39;s transport base. When mounted onto the pallet, a carrier that is fully populated with articles to be printed completely covers the top surfaces of the pallet within the printable area of the printer, thereby preventing any ink from being applied to the pallet itself during printing. Thus, any ink that is not applied to the articles themselves is applied to the carrier, which is preferably fabricated using a material that is easily cleaned. 
     These and other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be better understood with reference to the accompanying drawings, description and claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1A  is a side view of a digital image printer for printing digital images directly onto an article of manufacture; 
         FIG. 1B  is a top view of the digital image printer of  FIG. 1A ; 
         FIG. 1C  is a top view of a digital image printer and separate drying unit; 
         FIG. 2A  is a top-down view of an exemplary embodiment of a mouse pad; 
         FIG. 2B  is a side view of the mouse pad of  FIG. 2A ; 
         FIG. 3A  is an exploded perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a mouse pad pallet assembly; 
         FIG. 3B  is an exploded side view of the mouse pad pallet assembly of  FIG. 3A ; 
         FIG. 4A  is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a mouse pad pallet; 
         FIG. 4B  is a top-down view of the mouse pad pallet of  FIG. 4A ; 
         FIG. 4C  is a side view of the mouse pad pallet of  FIGS. 4A and 4B ; 
         FIG. 5A  is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a mouse pad carrier configured to be used with the mouse pad pallet of  FIGS. 4A-4C ; 
         FIG. 5B  is a top-down view of the mouse pad carrier of  FIG. 5A ; 
         FIG. 5C  is a side view of the mouse pad carrier of  FIGS. 5A and 5B ; 
         FIG. 6A  is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a mouse pad positioner configured to be used with the mouse pad pallet of  FIGS. 4A-4C  and carrier of  FIGS. 5A-5C ; 
         FIG. 6B  is a top-down view of the mouse pad positioner of  FIG. 6A ; 
         FIG. 6C  is a side view of the mouse pad positioner of  FIGS. 6A and 6B ; 
         FIG. 7A  is a perspective view of a pallet assembly wherein the carrier is mounted on the pallet; 
         FIG. 7B  is a top-down view of the pallet assembly of  FIG. 7A ; 
         FIG. 7C  is a side view of the of the pallet assembly of  FIGS. 7A and 7B ; 
         FIG. 8A  is a perspective view of a pallet assembly wherein the carrier is mounted on the pallet and the positioner is mounted over the carrier; 
         FIG. 8B  is a top-down view of the pallet assembly of  FIG. 8A ; 
         FIG. 8C  is a side view of the of the pallet assembly of  FIGS. 8A and 8B ; 
         FIG. 9A  is a perspective view of a pallet assembly wherein a carrier which also operates as a positioner is mounted on the pallet; 
         FIG. 9B  is a top-down view of the pallet assembly of  FIG. 9A ; 
         FIG. 9C  is a side view of the of the pallet assembly of  FIGS. 9A and 9B ; 
         FIG. 10  is a perspective view of a carrier loaded with mouse pads being removed from the pallet; 
         FIG. 11  is a combination image file template for use in simultaneously printing multiple articles of manufacture loaded onto the pallet assembly of  FIGS. 3A-3B ; 
         FIG. 12  is a diagram illustrating the correspondence between slots in the combination image file template and areas of a loaded pallet assembly; 
         FIG. 13  is a diagram illustrating the mapping of pixels in the combination image file template to points on a loaded pallet assembly; 
         FIG. 14  is a diagram illustrating an individual image having a desired print area and a bleed area; 
         FIG. 15  is a diagram illustrating relative misalignment between a mouse pad loaded on a pallet assembly and an actual print area of an individual printed thereon; 
         FIG. 16  is a diagram illustrating another example of relative misalignment between a mouse pad loaded on a pallet assembly and an actual print area of an individual printed thereon; 
         FIG. 17  is a system diagram of a combination image file generation system; 
         FIG. 18  is a flowchart of a method for creating individual images for placement in a combination image file template such that the individual images are sized to the desired print area plus a desired amount of bleed area; 
         FIG. 19  is a diagram illustrating creation of an individual with desired amount of bleed area by addition of a white stroke around the perimeter of a transparent overlay; 
         FIG. 20  is a flowchart illustrating a method for creating a combination image file given a set of individual images sized to a desired print area plus a desired amount of bleed area; and 
         FIG. 21  is a flowchart illustrating a method of simultaneously printing multiple articles of manufacture. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     It will be understood that while the discussion herein describes an embodiment of the invention in the field of preparation of customized printed mouse pads, the invention is not so limited and is relevant to preparation and simultaneous printing of multiple articles of manufacture, where the articles of manufacture may be any object capable of being printed on by a printer, and in particular a printer pallet supporting multiple separate articles of manufacture, which may include a removable tray and a positioner for assisting in the precise placement of articles onto the pallet. 
       FIGS. 1A and 1B  illustrate a digital image printer  100  for printing digital images directly onto an article of manufacture such as a mouse pad. The printer  100  includes a printing table  102  having a pallet  104  mounted thereon for holding an article of manufacture  110 . The printer  100  also includes an array of inkjet print heads  106  and a drying unit  108 . The printing table  102  is mounted on a conveyance system  112  which conveys the printing table  102  along a pre-determined path past the operative ends of the print heads  106  and the drying unit  108 . The conveyance system  112  may be any automated or manual means for conveying the printing table  102  along the pre-determined path. For example, in one embodiment the conveyance system  112  is an automated conveyor belt system under the control of a computer program. In another embodiment, the conveyance system  112  is a set of rollers over which the printing table slides when manually guided by a human operator. 
     A controller  114  is coupled to the printer  100  for causing printing of a digital image on the article of manufacture  110  on the pallet  104  as the printing table  102  passes the print heads  106 . For a color image, the printing of the image is achieved by placing ink drops at different adjacent sites as discreet, physically non-mixed drops. The ink composition used must prevent the drops from “bleeding” on the applied media. In the illustrated embodiment, the image is printed by an array of color printing heads  114 . The image is printed using subtractive primary colors: Cyan, Yellow, Magenta, and Black (CYMK), for example, using transparent ink. When printing on dark colored apparel, a layer of white ink may first be printed prior to printing the CYMK process. The printing may require a single pass of the article of manufacture  110  past the printheads  106 , or series of passes, to complete the printing of the image on the article of manufacture  110 . After the printing process is complete, the controller  114  may cause the printing table  102  to convey the article of manufacture  110  on the pallet  104  past a drying unit  108  to dry the ink on the article of manufacture  110 . 
       FIGS. 1A and 1B  show an embodiment of the printer  100  which includes the drying unit  108  and shares the same transport system  112  to pass the article of manufacture through the drying unit  108 . Alternatively, as illustrated in  FIG. 1C , the drying unit  108  may be an independent unit, requiring an operator (human or other means) to remove the printed article of manufacture  110  from the printer  100 , transport the printed article of manufacture  110  to the independent drying unit  108 , and to cause the printed article of manufacture  110  to be inserted into the drying unit  108  for drying. 
       FIGS. 2A and 2B  depict an exemplary mouse pad  200 . As shown, the mouse pad  200  comprises a substrate  201  and a printable surface  202 . In one embodiment, the shape of the mouse pad  200  is rectangular with rounded corners. However, it will be appreciated that the shape of the mouse pad can be any desired 2-dimensional shape and that the shape of the mouse pad is not limited to that illustrated. In an embodiment, the substrate  201  of the mouse pad is rubber and the printable surface is a cloth or other fabric that is adhered to the rubber substrate. In an embodiment, the dimensions of the mouse pad are 235 mm by 195 mm by 3 mm. 
       FIGS. 3A-3B  together illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a novel pallet assembly  300 , including a pallet  310  for multiple articles of manufacture with carrier  330  and positioner  350 . In the illustrative embodiment, the pallet assembly  300  is designed for articles of manufacture in the form of mouse pads  200 , for example as shown in  FIGS. 2A and 2B . The pallet  310  may be mounted on the printing table  102  in a printer  100  such as that shown in  FIGS. 1A ,  1 B, and  1 C and used to print respective images onto the printable surfaces  202  of the respective mouse pads  200 . 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 3A-3B , the pallet assembly  300  includes a pallet  310 , a carrier tray  330 , and a positioner  350 . As best shown in  FIGS. 4A-4C , the pallet  310  comprises a base  312  and has a top surface  311  which supports articles of manufacture to be printed. The base  312  of the pallet  310  is generally in the form of a large flat surface, such as a slab or plate. In an embodiment, the dimensions of the base  312  are, for example only and not limitation, 490 mm by 615 mm and 24 mm thick. In an embodiment, the pallet  310  is constructed of Aluminum or other metal, but may alternatively be fabricated using any hard and durable material such as, but not limited to, fiberglass, thermosetting plastic, etc. 
     In an embodiment, the top surface  311  of the pallet  310  may simply be one large smooth flat contiguous surface with no particular demarcations indicating where to place articles of manufacture. 
     In the illustrative embodiment, however, and for reasons that will become apparent hereinafter, the pallet  310  includes a plurality of platforms  314  (shown as  314   a ,  314   b ,  314   c ,  314   d ,  314   e ,  314   f ) protruding upward from the top surface  311  of the base  312  such that the horizontal surface (referred to herein as “top surface”  315 ) of the platforms are raised above the surface level of the pallet base  312 . Each platform  314  supports one article of manufacture of a particular type. For example, in the illustrative embodiment, the article of manufacture is a mouse pad  200 , and the pallet  310  includes six mouse pad platforms  314   a ,  314   b ,  314   c ,  314   d ,  314   e , and  314   f . (Of course, in other embodiments, there may be more or fewer such platforms, the number generally being determined based on the size of the printable area that the printer is capable of printing and the size of the articles of manufacture). 
     Each platform  314  has a top surface  315  that supports an article of manufacture (such as a mouse pad  200 ) placed thereon during the printing process to secure and expose the desired print area of the article of manufacture  200  in a consistent position and orientation. The pallet configuration requires articles of manufacture  200  to be placed in designated places and positions (as determined by the platforms), thereby fixing the positions of the articles of manufacture  200  on the pallet  330 , and consequently fixing the positions of the print areas of the articles of manufacture  200  relative to the entire printable area that the printer  100  is capable of printing. This simplifies the image pixel mapping process in that each individual image to be printed on each corresponding article of manufacture  200  always maps to a predetermined set of points on the top surface  311  of the pallet  330 . 
     In the illustrative embodiment, each platform  314  comprises four quadrants  316  separated by open channels  318 . In an embodiment, the channels  318  criss-cross the platform  314  into four quadrants  316  of equal size. In an embodiment, the channels  318  are 12 mm wide. The depth of the channels  318  measured from the top surface  315  of the platform  314  is, for example only and not limitation, approximately 8 mm. The reason for the channels  318  passing through the platforms  314  is to allow portions of the carrier  330 , called “support bars”, as discussed subsequently, to rest within the channels  318  while still allowing the mouse pads  200  to sit flat upon the top surface  315  of the platforms  314 . 
       FIGS. 5A-5C  show an exemplary carrier  330  to be used with the pallet  310 . The carrier  330  is generally a flat sheet of hard durable ink-resistant material having a plurality of apertures  331 , each corresponding to a respective one of each of the platform sections  316  (i.e., platform quadrants). The shape and size of the each aperture  331  conforms substantially to the shape and size of the top surface  315  of its corresponding pallet platform section  316  such that when the carrier  330  is properly installed on the pallet  310 , each of the platform sections  316  fits substantially conformingly within a corresponding respective aperture  331  of the carrier  330  yet otherwise substantially covers the entire top surface  311  of the pallet  310 , thereby exposing only the top surfaces  315  of the pallet platforms  314  therethrough. Carrier sections  332  that correspond to platform channels  318  are referred to herein as support bars  332 , as their function is to support the articles of manufacture  200  when the carrier  330  is removed from the pallet  310  such that the articles of manufacture  200  do not fall out of the carrier  330  during transport. Carrier sections  334  that fit around the perimeters of the platforms  314  as a whole are referred to herein as frame sections  334 . The shapes of the apertures  331  substantially conform to corresponding shapes of the platform sections  316  of the pallet  310  such that when the carrier  330  is installed over the pallet  310 , the support bars  332  lie within the platform channels  318  and the carrier frame sections  334  lie within the channels  319  formed between and around the platforms  314  of the pallet  310 . 
     In an embodiment, the carrier dimensions are at least 570 mm by 695 mm by 4 mm thick. Thus, the dimensions of the surface of the carrier  330  that lies parallel to the plane of the print surface of the pallet are larger than the dimensions of the top surface  311  of the pallet  310 . In an embodiment, the width of the support bars  332  which fit into the platform channels  318  is 10 mm, and the width of the frame sections  334  which fit between the individual platforms, or pallet channels  319 , of the pallet  310  is 20 mm. Noticeably, the width of the support bars  332  which fit into the platform channels  318  is only slightly smaller (e.g., 2 mm) than the width of the platform channels  318 , and the width of the frame sections  334  which fit into the pallet channels  319  between the individual platforms  314  of the pallet  310  is only slightly smaller (e.g., 4 mm) than the width of the corresponding channels  319  between the individual platforms  314  of the pallet  310 . The dimensions of the apertures  331 , support bars  332 , and frame sections  334  and the outside dimensions of the carrier  330  are all designed to allow the carrier  330  to be easily installed over the pallet to expose the top surfaces  315  of the platform sections  316  while still ensuring that substantially all of the remaining surface area of the pallet  310  which form the channels  318  and  319  is covered by the carrier  330  to prevent ink from accumulating in the any of the channels of the pallet  310 . That is, when the carrier  310  is installed properly over the pallet  310 , only the top surfaces of the pallet platforms are exposed therethrough. Since all of the exposed top surfaces  315  of the platforms  314  will be covered by articles of manufacture during printing, and the carrier  330  otherwise covers the remaining top surfaces of the pallet  310 , no ink (or at least very little ink) can accumulate on the pallet  310  itself. In an embodiment, the carrier  330  is constructed of a hard durable plastic that is resistant to the type of ink to be applied to the articles of manufacture, making the carrier  330  easily washable or otherwise cleanable, such as, but not limited to, Polyamide and Polyester resin on a fiberglass matt, but may alternatively be fabricated using any hard durable easily-cleanable material such as thermosetting plastic. 
     In one embodiment, the carrier  330  may be formed as a single flat sheet of material, or base  335 , with the apertures  331  positioned to accommodate the platform quadrants  316  as previously described. However, if the thickness of the carrier  330  is less than the depth of the support channels  318 , it is possible that the mouse pad  200  will not lie completely flat in the areas of the support channels  318  due to lack of direct support underneath the mouse pad  200  in these areas. Accordingly, in one embodiment, the support bars  332  of the carrier  330  are configured to protrude above the plane of the base  335  of the carrier  330 . That is, the top horizontal surface of the support bars  332  are raised above the surface level of the carrier base  335 . The height of the top surface of the support bars  332  above the top surface of the base  335  of the carrier  330  is preferably equal to the difference between the depth of the support channels  318  and the thickness of the carrier base  335 . This ensures that when the carrier  330  is installed over the pallet  310  such that the top surfaces  315  of the platform quadrants  316  are exposed through the apertures  331  of the carrier  330 , the top surfaces of the support bars  332  of the carrier  330  lie flush with the top surface  315  of the platforms  314  of the pallet  310 . This is best illustrated in  FIG. 7C , which shows a side cross-sectional view of a carrier  330  with reinforced support bars  335  protruding above the plane of the top surface of the carrier base  335 . The perspective view and top-down views are shown in  FIGS. 7A and 7B  for reference. Thus, when a mouse pad  200  is placed on the platform  314 , the mouse pad  200  is completely supported at all points thereunder, either by the pallet platform quadrants  316  or the carrier support bars  332 . 
     In one embodiment, the carrier  330  is implemented with a flat base  335  having apertures  331  corresponding to each of the platform quadrants  316 . For each set of support bars  332  corresponding to one of the platforms  314  of the pallet  310 , a support plate  338  is attached, as best illustrated in  FIG. 5B . Each support plate  338  comprises a frame  339  and matching criss-crossed support bars  340  to form four apertures  342  substantially the size and shape of the four respective platform quadrants  316 . The thickness of the support plate  338  is preferably the difference between the depth of the support channels  318  on the pallet and the thickness of the carrier base  335 . 
     Once the carrier  330  is installed over the pallet, for example as shown in  FIGS. 7A-7C , the articles of manufacture  200  may be placed onto each platform  314 using visual alignment. For example, in an embodiment, the outer dimensions of the platforms  314  may be configured to exactly match the outer dimensions of the mouse pad  200  that will be supported thereon. In this case, a print operator may place a mouse pad  200  on each platform  314  and visually align each mouse pad  200  directly over its respective platform  314  so that there is no overhang in any direction. 
     Alternatively, the pallet assembly  300  may include a positioner  350 , shown best in  FIGS. 3A ,  3 B, and  8 A- 8 C, which is placed over the carrier  330  on the pallet  310  and used to quickly position articles of manufacture  200  in precise alignment on respective platforms  314  of the pallet  310 .  FIGS. 6A-6C  illustrate an exemplary positioner  350  to be used with the pallet  310  and carrier  330 . The positioner  350  is generally a flat sheet of hard durable material such as Aluminum or plastic having apertures  352  corresponding to each platform  314  on the pallet  310  and having dimensions that substantially conform to the outer perimeter of the particular type of article of manufacture  200  to be placed on each platform. In the illustrative embodiment where the articles of manufacture are mouse pads  200 , the dimensions of each of the apertures  352  of the positioner  350  are substantially the dimensions of the mouse pads  200  to be positioned therein, plus a small amount of wiggle room (e.g., a few or less mm) to allow the mouse pads  200  to be easily placed within the aperture  352  in its correct orientation and then to allow the positioner  350  to be pulled up and removed while allowing the mouse pads  200  to remain in place on the platforms  314  without being disturbed by the removal of the positioner  350 . In an embodiment, the pallet  310  includes holes  322  which connect to a vacuum system (not shown) which is activated to secure the articles of manufacture  200  in place once they are aligned and to prevent any further movement of the articles of manufacture  200  during the printing process. 
     In an embodiment, the dimensions of the positioner  350  are 620 mm by 750 mm by 4 mm thick, slightly larger than those of the carrier  330  to allow the positioner  350  to be handled at its outside edges without touching the carrier  330 . The added surface area can therefore operate as inherent handles for removing the positioner  350  from the carrier  330  without unintentionally pulling the carrier off the pallet  310  along with the positioner  350 . In an embodiment the dimensions of each of the positioner apertures is 242 mm by 198 mm, only 5 mm greater along each dimension than the corresponding dimensions of the mouse pads  200  to be seated therein. The positions of the apertures  352  and the outside dimensions of the positioner  350  are all designed to allow the positioner  350  to be easily installed in place over the pallet  310  and carrier  330  such that only the platform surfaces  315  of the pallet  310  are exposed therethrough, and easily removed from the carrier  330  without disturbing either the mouse pads  200  resting on the platforms  314  or the carrier  330 . In an embodiment, the positioner  350  is constructed of a hard durable material, such as Aluminum or another metal or plastic material. 
     In operation, the pallet  310  is mounted on the printing table  102  or other such printer transport mechanism. Generally, the pallet  310  will be fixedly mounted to the printing table  102 , either directly or via an intervening pallet base  325 , using bolts or other attachment means so that the pallet  310  cannot move relative to the transport mechanism  102 . When a batch of articles of manufacture  200  is to be printed, the carrier  330  is mounted onto the pallet  310  in a position such that the platforms  314  are exposed through the apertures  331  of the carrier  330 . The positioner  350  is then mounted onto the carrier  330 , again such that the platforms  314  are exposed through the apertures  331 ,  352  of both the carrier  330  and the positioner  350 , respectively. An operator then places articles of manufacture  200  onto each of the exposed platforms  314  using the edges  353  of the apertures  352  of the positioner  350  as an alignment guide. In an embodiment, the combined thicknesses of the carrier  330  and positioner  350  is greater than the depth of the frame section channels  319  such that top surface of the positioner  350  lies on a plane above the plane of the top surface  315  of the platforms  314 . This allows the operator to utilize the edges  353  of the positioner apertures  352  as a physical guide (like a jig) when placing the mouse pads  200  on the platforms  314  and within the positioner apertures  352 . To be properly placed, the mouse pad  200  must be placed, with its printable surface  2020  facing up, such that it fits entirely within an aperture  352  of the positioner  350 . Thus, to ensure accurate placement, the size and shape of the apertures  352  in the positioner  350  should closely match the size and shape of the articles of manufacture  200  to be positioned therewith. Placement of the mouse pads  200  on the pallet platforms  314  within the positioner apertures  352  is therefore similar to placement of a wooden or foam puzzle piece into a puzzle base. 
     Handles (not shown) may be affixed to the carrier  330  and/or the positioner  350  to facilitate placement of the carrier  330  and positioner  310  onto the pallet  310  and subsequent removal of the positioner  350  and carrier  330  therefrom. Alternatively, handles may be fabricated integral to the carrier  330  and/or the positioner  350 , for example by creating one or more additional apertures along one or more edges of the carrier  330  and/or positioner  350  which may serve as handles. 
     In order to facilitate and further ensure accurate placement of the carrier  330  and/or the positioner  350  onto the pallet  310 , the pallet  310  may include one or more alignment pins  326  protruding perpendicularly from the top surface  311  of the pallet  310 . Such alignment pins  326  should be placed along the frame sections  319  so as not to interfere with the print surface  315  of the platforms  314 . When alignment pins  326  are used, the carrier  330  and/or the positioner  350  should include matching apertures  346 ,  356  on the carrier  330  and positioner  350 , respectively, through which the pin(s)  326  are inserted when the carrier  330  and/or the positioner  350  are lowered into position over the pallet  310 . Such alignment techniques are well-known in the art. 
     While the preferred embodiment of the pallet assembly includes the removable positioner  350 , in an alternative embodiment, alignment of the mouse pads on the pallet platforms  314  is accomplished using one or more visual alignment indicators. For example, in one embodiment the carrier could include an inscribed line or set of lines indicating where the edges of the mouse pad should align on the carrier  330 . One disadvantage of this embodiment is that the visual indicator(s) may become obscured should there be any ink overspray onto the alignment indicators. 
     In an alternative embodiment, the carrier  330  itself can also operate as a positioner. As best shown in  FIGS. 9A-9C , the thickness of the carrier base  335  may be configured to be greater than the depth of the support channels  318  such that the edges of the carrier apertures  331  extend above the top surface  315  of the platforms  314 , allowing the operator to utilize the aperture edges as a jig in placing the mouse pads  200  on the platforms  314 . 
     In another alternative embodiment, platforms may be configured with physical alignment assists, such as corner guides mounted at each corner of each platform. In this embodiment, the operator need only ensure that each of the four corners of the mouse pad align within a respective corner guide on the platform. However, the corner guides are likewise subject to ink overspray, which may soil subsequent mouse pads that are mounted on the same pallet platform. Even when the ink dries between each use of the pallet, dry ink is subject to turning into ink dust, which then smudges subsequently mounted mouse pads. Yet other alignment mechanisms or indicators may be also be implemented. 
     Variations of the illustrated pallet assembly  300  may be implemented without departing from the scope of the claimed invention. For example, the shapes of the mouse pads may not be rectangular but rather some other shape. The shape of the pallet platforms may be configured to match the shape of the articles of manufacture to be printed. Likewise the shapes of the apertures in the carrier and positioner can be similarly shaped to match that of the articles of manufacture to be printed. Furthermore, the articles of manufacture to be printed may not be mouse pads at all, but rather some other article of manufacture. Additionally, the material from which each of the pallet, carrier, and positioner is made may vary from that described in the illustrative embodiments. 
     The pallet assembly  300  described herein ensures accurate positioning and alignment of articles of manufacture on a printer pallet. The pallet assembly is important, among other reasons, because it ensures that the desired print area for the image to be printed on each article of manufacture is guaranteed to be within a respective predetermined area on the pallet allowing for a predetermined amount of tolerance. This is important because the combination image file that incorporates each of the individual images to be printed on the respective articles of manufacture loaded on the pallet must be designed such that each respective individual image is placed in the combination image file such that when the combination image file is printed, each individual image is printed on the desired print area of a respective article of manufacture on the pallet. 
       FIG. 11  illustrates an example combination image file template  400  having one slot  401   a ,  401   b ,  401   c ,  401   d ,  401   e ,  401   f  (generally referred as  401 ) corresponding to each platform  314   a ,  314   b ,  314   c ,  314   d ,  314   e ,  314   f  on the pallet  310 . Each respective slot  401   a ,  401   b ,  401   c ,  401   d ,  401   e ,  401   f  is configured to receive image content to be printed only on an article of manufacture mounted on its corresponding platform  314   a ,  314   b ,  314   c ,  314   d ,  314   e ,  314   f . Image content (referred to herein as an “individual image”) to be printed on a given article of manufacture is inserted into the respective slot  401  of the combination image file template  400  that corresponds to the particular pallet platform  314  on which the article of manufacture is to be loaded. 
     Thus, as illustrated in  FIG. 12 , individual image  402   a  is inserted into slot  401   a  corresponding to the particular platform  314   a  on which a mouse pad  200   a  is to be loaded. The individual image  402   a  will therefore be printed only on the mouse pad  200   a  loaded on platform  314   a , and not on the other mouse pads. Similarly, individual image  402   b  is inserted into slot  401   b  corresponding to the particular platform  314   b  that another mouse pad  200   b  is to be loaded. The individual image  402   b  will be printed only on the mouse pad  200   b  loaded on platform  314   b  and not the other mouse pads on the pallet  310 . Similarly, respective individual images  402   c ,  402   d ,  402   e ,  402   f  inserted in respective slots  401   c ,  401   d ,  401   e ,  401   f  will be printed only on the mouse pads  200   c ,  200   d ,  200   e ,  200   f  loaded on respective platforms  314   c ,  314   d ,  314   e ,  314   f.    
     In the case, as with mouse pads  200 , that the pallet  310  and carrier  350  is designed such that the articles of manufacture do not actually touch each other when loaded on the pallet assembly  300 , in an embodiment the individual images  402   a ,  402   b ,  402   c ,  402   d ,  402   e ,  402   f  inserted into each of the corresponding slots  401   a ,  401   b ,  401   c ,  401   d ,  401   e ,  401   f  of the combination image file template  400  are sized so as not to completely fill its corresponding slot, leaving white or transparent pixels in the portion of the slot not covered by the individual image. Since the printer does not print transparent pixels (and/or may be configured not to print white areas of the image), no ink will be applied to the loaded pallet assembly in the areas not containing image content, or in areas of the articles of manufacture that are not intended to be covered by image content. This is desirable so as to prevent ink from being applied on areas of the articles of manufacture that should not have image content, and also, in the case where the image content is to completely cover the exposed surface of the articles of manufacture, to reduce the amount of ink applied to the carrier  330  rather than the articles of manufacture. For example, in the case of mouse pads  200  where each individual image is to cover the entire top surface  202  of the mouse pad, it is desirable to have white or transparent pixels which correspond to the frame sections of the carrier  330  so as to reduce the amount of ink applied to the carrier. Accordingly, in an embodiment, the individual images  402   a ,  402   b ,  402   c ,  402   d ,  402   e ,  402   f  may be sized smaller than the slots  401   a ,  401   b ,  401   c ,  401   d ,  401   e ,  401   f  and centered within the slot when inserted into a slot. (As described below, the individual images  402   a ,  402   b ,  402   c ,  402   d ,  402   e ,  402   f  may include a bleed area which may result in the individual images completely filling the corresponding slots  401   a ,  401   b ,  401   c ,  401   d ,  401   e ,  401   f ). 
     As further explanation, each pixel in the combination image file template  400  (and also each pixel in the resulting combination image file  500  (see  FIG. 17 ) generated by inserting individual images  402   a ,  402   b ,  402   c ,  402   d ,  402   e ,  402   f  into each of the individual slots  401   a ,  401   b ,  401   c ,  401   d ,  401   e ,  401   f  of the template  400 ) must map to a point on the pallet assembly  300 . Thus, the pixels in each individual image  402   a ,  402   b ,  402   c ,  402   d ,  402   e ,  402   f  in the combination image file  400  must map to corresponding points on the pallet  310 , and preferably to points which coincide with a desired print area on an article of manufacture  200  loaded on the pallet  310  above the corresponding points on the pallet  310 .  FIG. 13  illustrates an example combination image file template  400  and how pixels in the combination image file template  400  map to points on a loaded pallet assembly  300 . While every pixel in the image file  400  does actually map to a point on the pallet assembly  310 / 330 , for ease of illustration only a few pixels A, B, C, D in image file  400  are shown mapped to points a, b, c, d on the pallet assembly  310 / 330 . Noticeably, some pixels A, B, C map to points on the pallet  310  on which a mouse pad  200  is loaded, while other pixels D map to points on the pallet assembly  310 / 330  (specifically carrier  330 ) which is not covered by a mouse pad. 
     Since some pixels in the combination image file template  400  will not map to a point on an actual article of manufacture but instead to a point on the frame section of the carrier  330 , the positioning of each individual image  402   a ,  402   b ,  402   c ,  402   d ,  402   e ,  402   f  in its corresponding slot  401   a ,  401   b ,  401   c ,  401   d ,  401   e ,  401   f  of the combination image file template  400  must be implemented such that all or most of the pixels of the individual images  402   a ,  402   b ,  402   c ,  402   d ,  402   e ,  402   f  in the combination image file template  400  map to corresponding points of respective loaded articles of manufacture on the pallet assembly  310 / 330 . 
     In the illustrative embodiment, each individual image  402   a ,  402   b ,  402   c ,  402   d ,  402   e ,  402   f  is intended to occupy the entire surface area of the respective mouse pad  200   a ,  200   b ,  200   c ,  200   d ,  200   e ,  200   f  on which is it printed. Thus, the individual images  402   a ,  402   b ,  402   c ,  402   d ,  402   e ,  402   f  are positioned within their respective slots  401   a ,  401   b ,  401   c ,  401   d ,  401   e ,  401   f  such that the pixels at the edges of the individual images  402   a ,  402   b ,  402   c ,  402   d ,  402   e ,  402   f  map to edge points on corresponding mouse pads  200   a ,  200   b ,  200   c ,  200   d ,  200   e ,  200   f  (or, if implemented to points on the pallet assembly that correspond to bleed edges, which are discussed hereinafter). 
     In an alternative embodiment, each individual image  402   a ,  402   b ,  402   c ,  402   d ,  402   e ,  402   f  is intended to be printed on only a designated portion of the surface area of the respective mouse pad  200   a ,  200   b ,  200   c ,  200   d ,  200   e ,  200   f  on which is it printed. Thus, pixels in the combination image file template  400  which correspond to edge pixels of the individual images may map to internal points on corresponding mouse pads. 
     In yet another alternative embodiment, each individual image  402   a ,  402   b ,  402   c ,  402   d ,  402   e ,  402   f  is intended to occupy the entire surface area of the respective article of manufacture (e.g., mouse pad  200   a ,  200   b ,  200   c ,  200   d ,  200   e ,  200   f ) on which is it printed and further extend a few pixels beyond the surface area of the respective mouse pads in order to ensure that if the alignment of the article of manufacture is off by a few pixels, the entire print surface area of the article of manufacture will still be covered by the image. Thus, in the illustrative embodiment, pixels in the combination image file template  400  which correspond to edge pixels of the individual images  402   a ,  402   b ,  402   c ,  402   d ,  402   e ,  402   f  map to points on the frame sections  334  of the carrier  330 . Note that this type of printing results in overspray of ink onto the frame sections  334  of the carrier  330 . However, since the carrier  330  is fabricated using an ink-resistant material, the carrier  330  can be cleaned between print operations. Alternatively, the carrier  330  may be fabricated using a material that allows the ink to adhere to the carrier  330  yet dry completely when the ink is dried in the drying unit  108  such that it does not result in undesirable ink dust that can be transferred to subsequently loaded mouse pads  200 . Also to be noted is that the carrier  330  completely protects the pallet  310  from ink deposits. 
     When the respective individual images  402   a ,  402   b ,  402   c ,  402   d ,  402   e ,  402   f  are to be printed to cover at least a portion of the edges of the article of manufacture, the image to be printed may be sized to print an area slightly larger than the desired print area to accommodate any slight misalignment between the actual position of the print area printed by the printer and the actual physical position of the desired print area on the article of manufacture loaded on the pallet  310 . The portion of the image that maps (at least theoretically) to points on the pallet or article of manufacture that lie outside the desired print area on the article of manufacture is referred to herein as the “bleed area”. Adding a bleed area to the image to be printed ensures that the relevant edge(s) of the article of manufacture are fully covered by the image as expected. For example, when the article of manufacture is a mouse pad and the mouse pad is intended to be fully covered by an image, an image having dimensions slightly larger than the mouse pad (the excess dimensions generating the bleed area of the image) may be printed onto the mouse pad such that if the printer is misaligned with the pallet, or the mouse pad is slightly misaligned on the platform, or if there is any tolerance error in the printer setup or manufacture, the image still covers the entire mouse pad, resulting in a more aesthetically pleasing product. Were a bleed area not implemented in the image to be printed, any misalignment might cause a strip along one or more edges of the mouse pad to not get printed, which depending on the contrast between the base color of the mouse pad surface and the actual content of the image printed thereon, may in some instances be very noticeable and detract from the aesthetic quality of the mouse pad. 
     One disadvantage of implementing a bleed area in an image to be printed is that ink is applied outside the area of the mouse pad on portions of the carrier  330 . While the carrier  330  is preferably implemented with an ink-resistant material in order to reduce transfer of ink from one use of the carrier  330  in a print operation to the next, nonetheless it would be desirable to be able to adjust the amount of bleed once the alignment characteristics of the printer  100  and pallet assembly  300  relative to one another are known. That is, once a pallet  310  has been attached to the print transport mechanism  102  (and therefore will not change from one print operation to the next (at least for one type of articles of manufacture, such as mouse pads  200 )), and a couple or few print operations have completed, a print operator may determine that the printer  100  and pallet assembly  300  combination consistently result in printed images that are within a particular tolerance that is less than the default tolerance (defined by the bleed area). It would be desirable to allow the operator to change a parameter that adjusts the amount of bleed area. This would allow the operator to reduce the bleed area and therefore utilize less ink and reduce total production costs when it is determined that the printer and pallet assembly combination consistently requires a relatively narrower bleed. Conversely, when the bleed area is set to a narrower (relative to the default bleed width) or no width, such an adjustment tool would allow the operator to increase the bleed width to a wider width if either the operator or an automated monitoring system such as a statistical process control identifies a drift towards requiring more bleed. 
       FIG. 14  illustrates an individual image  402  sized to print a bleed area  405  with width b around the perimeter  404  of the actual desired print area  403 . As illustrated, the individual image  402  includes a portion of the image  403  having dimensions that match the desired print area that should be printed on the mouse pad  200 . The individual image  402  also includes a bleed area  405  characterized by a contiguous strip of width b around the entire perimeter  404  of the desired print area  403 . Thus, if the dimensions of the mouse pad  200  are x by y, the dimensions of the desired print area are also x by y, and the dimensions of the individual image  402  placed in the slot  401  are (x+2b) by (y+2b). For example, if the mouse pad dimensions are 235 mm by 195 mm, the dimensions of the individual image (desired print area plus bleed area) are 245 mm by 205 mm. 
       FIG. 15  shows a portion of a loaded pallet assembly  310 / 330  and illustrates how the bleed area  405  of the individual image  402  ensures complete coverage of the mouse pad  200  when printed. (Note that the bleed area  405  is not to scale with the desired print area  203 —it is shown enlarged in the illustration to assist in its description). As illustrated in  FIG. 15 , there is a relative misalignment between the physical position of the mouse pad  200  and the actual print area of the printed individual image  402 . That is, there is a relative misalignment in the x dimension in the amount of dx, and there is a relative misalignment in the y dimension in the amount of dy. However, because the individual image  402  includes a bleed area  405  that is greater in width than the misalignment error, the printed image still entirely covers the mouse pad. If the individual image did not include the bleed area  405 , portions  205  of the mouse pad  200  (indicated by cross-hatching in  FIG. 15 ) would not have received image coverage, which would have reduced the aesthetic quality of the product. 
       FIG. 16  illustrates another misalignment example wherein the relative misalignment between the physical position of the mouse pad  200  and the actual print area of the printed individual image  402  is very small. In this case, the bleed area  405  is large compared to the portions  205  of the mouse pad  200  (indicated by cross-hatching in  FIG. 15 ) that would not have received image coverage, and therefore the width b of the bleed area could have been much smaller while still allowing the bleed area to achieve its purpose. If the relative misalignment error dx, dy were seen to be consistently lower than the bleed width b, then the bleed width b could be reduced to reduce the amount of ink utilized and applied to the carrier  330 . 
     According to one aspect of the invention, an ink bleed adjustment tool is provided that allows adjustment of the width of the bleed during the generation of the combination image file  500  to be sent to the printer  100  and printed as a single file onto the loaded pallet assembly  300 . 
       FIG. 17  is a block diagram of a combination image file generating system  600  which generates a combination image file for printing by a printer such as printer  100  which prints a single image file at a time. The combination image file generating system  600  includes a processor  601  and computer readable storage memory  602  that includes program memory  603  which stores computer readable program instructions that together implement a combination image file generation tool  610 , and data memory  604  that retains a combination image file template  400  and a plurality of base images  605   a ,  605   b ,  605   c ,  605   d ,  605   e ,  605   f . The program memory  603  also includes computer readable program instructions that together implement an ink bleed adjustment tool  620  that is utilized by the combination image file generation tool  610  to set the width b of the bleed area for base images  605   a ,  605   b ,  605   c ,  605   d ,  605   e ,  605   f  that are combined with the combination image file template  400  to generate a combination image file  500  to be printed by the printer  100  on a loaded pallet assembly  300  such that individual images  402   a ,  402   b ,  402   c ,  402   d ,  402   e ,  402   f  are printed on desired print areas of articles of manufacture  200   a ,  200   b ,  200   c ,  200   d ,  200   e ,  200   f  loaded on the pallet assembly  300 . 
     The combination image file generating system  600  includes data input means  608 , such as a computer keyboard, mouse, graphical user interface, communications interface, etc., which allows a print operator to input one or more ink bleed parameter values associated with the desired amount of bleed to be printed around the desired print areas. The ink bleed adjustment tool  620 , under control of the processor  601 , converts the received ink bleed parameter(s) to one or more ink bleed settings. The combination image file generation tool  610  and ink bleed adjustment tool  620  together sizes the base images  605   a ,  605   b ,  605   c ,  605   d ,  605   e ,  605   f  so that the pixels map to the size of a desired print area plus the desired amount of bleed when printed. The resized images are the individual images  402   a ,  402   b ,  402   c ,  402   d ,  402   c ,  402   f  that are then placed into the combination image file template  400  by the combination image file generation tool  610 . Once all of the individual images  402   a ,  402   b ,  402   c ,  402   d ,  402   e ,  402   f  are place in the desired positions in the combination image file template  400  such that the individual images  402   a ,  402   b ,  402   c ,  402   d ,  402   e ,  402   f  will be printed onto the desired print areas of the articles of manufacture loaded on the pallet assembly  300 , the file is converted (if necessary) and saved as a postscript file, namely the combination image file  500 , that can then be sent to the printer  100  for printing as a single file, but resulting in simultaneous printing of each of the individual images  402   a ,  402   b ,  402   c ,  402   d ,  402   e ,  402   f  onto the desired print areas of the articles of manufacture loaded onto the pallet assembly  300 . Once printed, the multiple articles of manufacture can be transported directly on the carrier  330  of the pallet assembly  300  by lifting the carrier  330  up off the pallet  310  and transporting the loaded carrier  330  to the drying unit  108 . 
     In one embodiment, the printer  100  is a Kornit 931NDS, manufactured by Kornit Digital Ltd. having offices in the United States and Israel, and includes two independent printer transport mechanisms and two independent print head assemblies so that two independent print runs can be operated simultaneously. In an embodiment, the drying unit  108  is a Calmat Triple E oven, manufactured by Calmat, having headquarters in Holland, includes twin conveyor belts for simultaneously drying two lines of loaded carriers. In an embodiment, the temperature inside the drying unit is between 160° C. and 175° C. The maximum temperature and drying time may vary according to the type of article of manufacture. For example, in the case of a rubber substrate  201  in a mouse pad  200 , the maximum temperature and drying time is restricted according to the melting properties of the rubber. 
       FIG. 18  is a flowchart illustrating an exemplary method  700  for creating the individual images  402   a ,  402   b ,  402   c ,  402   d ,  402   e ,  402   f  prior to placement in the combination image file template  400  such that the individual images  402   a ,  402   b ,  402   c ,  402   d ,  402   e ,  402   f  are sized to the desired print area plus the desired amount of bleed area. The method assumes a default ink bleed width, b default , for example 5 mm (but it is to be understood that the default ink bleed width could be any width so long as the resulting bleed will not be printed on any adjacent article of manufacture on the pallet. The default ink bleed width can be adjusted (reduced) by an amount equal to an ink bleed adjustment setting, b adjustment . During initialization, the ink bleed adjustment setting, b adjustment , may be set to zero such that the ink bleed width added to the desired display area in the individual image will be the default ink bleed width (e.g. b=b default −b adjustment =5 mm−0=5 mm). 
     Turning now to the steps of the method  700 , the dimensions, x by y, of the desired print area of an individual image  402  (which may be any of  402   a ,  402   b ,  402   c ,  402   d ,  402   e ,  402   f ) to be inserted into the template  400  is obtained (step  701 ). The default ink bleed width, b default , and ink bleed adjustment setting, b adjustment , are also obtained (step  702 ). The ink bleed adjustment setting, b adjustment , can be obtained in one of several ways. In one embodiment, the user can enter a desired bleed width b desired , and the processor can calculate the adjustment setting b adjustment  as b adjustment =b default −d desired . In another embodiment the user can enter the adjustment b adjustment  directly. 
     The dimensions of the individual image  402  are then set to the dimensions of the desired print area plus the default bleed area, e.g. (x+2*b default ) by (y+2*b default ) (step  703 ). If the dimensions of the selected base image  605  (i.e., one of base images  605   a ,  605   b ,  605   c ,  605   d ,  605   e ,  605   f ) is not already equal to the dimensions of the individual image  402 , the selected base image  605  is sized to the dimensions of the individual image  402  (step  704 ). For example, if the base image  605  has dimensions that are larger than the dimensions of the individual image  402 , the base image  605  may be cropped to fit the dimensions of the individual image  402  and then saved as the corresponding individual image  402  that is to be inserted into the combination image file template  400  (step  705 ). Alternatively, the base image  605  could be reduced in size, while still retaining its aspect ratio, and then cropped if necessary such that the dimensions of the resized image equals the dimensions of the individual image  402 , while still fully filling the area of the individual image  402  with image content (step  706 ). If the base image  605  has dimensions that are smaller than the dimensions of the individual image  402 , the base image  605  may be enlarged to fit the dimensions of the individual image  402  and then saved as the corresponding individual image  402  that is to be inserted into the combination image file template  400  (step  707 ). In an embodiment, the base image  605  could be enlarged while still retaining the original aspect ratio of the base image  605 , and then cropped if necessary such that the dimensions of the enlarged image equals the dimensions of the individual image  402 , while still filly filling the area of the individual image  402  with image content (step  708 ). 
     Once the base image  605  is sized to fit the dimensions of the individual image  402 , a determination is made (in step  709 ) as to whether an adjustment is required to the bleed area (i.e., whether b adjustment  is non-zero). If an adjustment (i.e., reduction) to the bleed area is required (i.e., b adjustment  is non-zero), then a white frame having a width equal to the difference between the default bleed width, b default , and the desired bleed width, b desired , (i.e., the value of b adjustment ) is inserted around inside perimeter of the individual image (step  710 ). 
     In an embodiment, as illustrated in  FIG. 19 , this may be accomplished by creating (step  711 ), overlaying and centering a transparent image container  406  of the same size as the individual image over the image container of the individual image (step  712 ), and specifying the boundary perimeter  406  of the transparent container as a white stroke  408  having a stroke width double the size of b adjustment  (step  713 ). Since only the portion of the content inside the transparent image container  406  implementing the individual image is printed, the portion of the stroke  408  lying outside the perimeter  407  is not printed. The portion of the stroke  408  lying on and inside the perimeter  407  of the combined individual image whites out any image content lying thereunder, essentially operating like a matte in a framed picture. Because the stroke  408  whites out portions of the bleed area, ink will not be applied to the pallet assembly  300  in areas of these whited-out portions of the bleed area. Thus, the amount of ink used is reduced, reducing the overall cost of printing. Of course, the ink bleed adjustment should only be utilized when it is determined that the printing characteristics of the particular printer and pallet assembly combination require less bleed than the default bleed, but it allows the printer operator to control the width of the bleed over multiple print runs using the same pallet assembly  300 . Alternatively, the bleed characteristics of the printer and pallet assembly combination  300  can be automatically monitored, for example by taking optical measurements of the actual relative misalignment and automatically adjusting the ink bleed adjustment setting, b adjustment , to efficiently match the actual relative misalignment. 
     In an alternative embodiment of step  710 , once the base image  605  is sized to the dimensions of the individual image (having dimensions equal to the desired print area plus default bleed area), the sized based image  605  can be cropped along each edge by an amount equal to the ink bleed adjustment setting, b adjustment  (step  714 ), and then the cropped version can then be centered inside the image container defining the individual image  402  (step  715 ). 
     The individual image  402  is saved and associated with the base image  605 . The method  700  is repeated for each base image  605  to be converted to an individual image  402  and inserted into a combination image file template  400  to be converted to a print-ready combination image file  500  and sent to the printer  100  for printing onto a pallet loaded with multiple articles of manufacture. 
       FIG. 20  is a flowchart illustrating an exemplary method for creating the combination image file  500  given a set of individual images  402   a ,  402   b ,  402   c ,  402   d ,  402   e ,  402   f  sized to the desired print area plus the desired amount of bleed area. As illustrated in  FIG. 20 , first, a combination image file template  400  is opened (step  801 ). The combination image file template  400  includes a number of slots  401   a ,  401   b ,  401   c ,  401   d ,  401   e ,  401   f , each corresponding to an area of the pallet assembly  330  on which a single article of manufacture is loaded. If one exists, an empty slot  401  is identified (step  802 ). An individual image  402   a ,  402   b ,  402   c ,  402   d ,  402   e ,  402   f  is identified for placement into an empty slot (step  803 ). The identified individual image  402  is inserted in a predetermined position into the identified slot  401  (step  804 ). In an embodiment, the identified individual image  402  is centered in the identified slot  401  (step  805 ). 
     In alternative embodiments, the identified individual image  402  is placed in a predetermined position (in the slot  401 ) that corresponds to a desired print area on an article of manufacture that is to be loaded in a predetermined position on the pallet that corresponds to the particular slot  401  (step  806 ). For example, if the individual image  402  is to printed only in the upper left hand corner of a rectangular article of manufacture, the individual image would be placed in an area of the slot whose pixels map to the upper left hand corner of the article of manufacture when the article of manufacture is loaded on the platform of the pallet that corresponds to the slot. Steps  802  through  804  are repeated until there are no more empty slots  401  identified in step  802  (identified in step  807 ). Once the combination image file template  400  is filled with individual images  402 , the filled combination image file template  400  is converted, if necessary, to a postscript or other such print-ready file  500  (step  808 ), and saved as a combination image file  500  that is ready to be sent to the printer  100  for printing (step  809 ), and sent to the printer  100  for printing (step  810 ). 
     In an embodiment, the combination image file template  400  is implemented in a .pdf format (from Adobe Systems), which is already a print-ready format, with each slot comprising an image container. Thus, individual images can be inserted into the image containers in the template file, and the template file can then simply be saved in the pdf format. 
     In an embodiment, each slot in the combination image file template  400  comprises an independent image container having dimensions the size of the slot  401 , and an individual image  402  can be inserted into the image container corresponding to a slot  401 . 
       FIG. 21  illustrates an exemplary method for simultaneously printing one or more images onto multiple articles of manufacture, for example using the printer  100  of  FIGS. 1A ,  1 B, or  1 C in conjunction with the carrier assembly  300  of  FIGS. 3A-3B . In this method, a pallet  310  implemented according to the principles of the invention, for example a pallet  310  implemented as in  FIGS. 3A-3B , is mounted on a printer transport mechanism (step  901 ). A carrier  330  configured to fit over the pallet  310  such that only the surfaces  315  of the platforms  314  are exposed through apertures  331  formed therein is positioned in alignment over the pallet  310  (step  902 ). Optionally, a positioner  350  configured to fit over the carrier  330  and pallet  310  combination such that only the surfaces  315  of the pallet platforms  314  are exposed through apertures  352  formed in the positioner  350  is positioned in alignment over the carrier  330  (step  903 ). Articles of manufacture  200  are then loaded onto the platforms  314  of the pallet  310  in alignment with the platforms  314  (step  904 ). When the positioner  350  is utilized, each article of manufacture  200  is fitted in alignment within a respective aperture  352  of the positioner  352  (step  905 ). The positioner  350  is then removed (step  906 ), leaving the articles of manufacture  200  loaded on each of the pallet platforms  314 . The carrier  330  remains in place. 
     The printer  100  receives a combination image file  500  containing individual images to be simultaneously printed onto respective mouse pads  200  loaded onto the pallet assembly  300  (step  907 ). In an embodiment each of the images printed onto each of the articles of manufacture  200  is combined into a single image file such that placement of the respective image in the image file corresponds to the placement of the corresponding article of manufacture on the pallet. Thus, given the combined image file, the printer prints all of the individual images onto the corresponding articles of manufacture through the printing of a single combination image file. In other words, the printer itself has no knowledge that it is printing onto multiple articles of manufacture versus printing onto one large print substrate. 
     The printer  100  prints the individual images contained in the combination image file  500  onto the multiple articles of manufacture  200  loaded on the pallet  310  (step  908 ). Upon completion of the print operation, the carrier  330  with printed mouse pads  200  loaded thereon can be removed from the pallet  310  by lifting the carrier  330  vertically such that the carrier apertures  331  clear the alignment pins  326  and platforms  314  (step  909 ). The loaded carrier  330  can then be transported to a drying unit  108  or other station for further processing (step  910 ). 
     The pallet assembly  300  and techniques for generating a combination image file that can be used in conjunction with the pallet assembly  300 , as described herein, have several advantages. First, multiple articles of manufacture may be simultaneously printed, resulting in savings of time and operator attention for loading and unloading articles of manufacture into the printer for printing. Second, any ink that strays from the articles of manufacture is applied to the carrier and not to the pallet. The carrier is made from an ink resistant material so that it may be easily cleaned, thereby preventing residual ink or ink dust from collecting on newly loaded articles of manufacture. Third, the carrier is removable, thereby allowing all of the loaded articles of manufacture to be simultaneously transported and reused in a drying unit  108 . Also, the positioner is removable so that it can be used to quickly place and align the articles of manufacture on the pallet and then removed to prevent any ink from transferring to the positioner, and thereby subsequently preventing transfer of ink or ink dust from printed article of manufacture to next loaded article of manufacture via the positioner. Additionally, if an ink bleed area is added to the images to be printed, the bleed area can be adjusted to minimize the amount of bleed when the relative misalignment between the printer and pallet assembly is small. 
     While an exemplary embodiment of the invention has been discussed, the described embodiment is to be considered as illustrative rather than restrictive. The scope of the invention is as indicated in the following claims and all equivalent methods and systems.