Patent ID: 8016413

Claim:
A method for automatically correcting misalignment between a plurality of columns of color ink jetting nozzle arrays of a color printhead during color printing with a hand held printer, comprising: determining a misdirection angle of motion of said plurality of columns of color ink jetting nozzle arrays relative to a desired direction of motion of said hand operated printer; determining for each of said plurality of columns of color ink jetting nozzle arrays a respective usable nozzles subset in a central nozzle portion of the nozzle arrays to be used in printing a swath and making unavailable for imaging during the color printing a plurality of reserve nozzles outside the central nozzle portion of the nozzle arrays, based on said misdirection angle; determining an amount of shifting of at least one of said respective usable nozzles subsets to adjust for non-perpendicularity of said color ink jetting nozzle arrays relative to said desired direction of motion, based on said misdirection angle; and shifting said respective usable nozzles subset for a respective column based on said amount determined, the shifting including allowing present imaging from at least one nozzle of the plurality of reserve nozzles earlier said made unavailable for imaging during the color printing and making unavailable for the present imaging at least one nozzle of the respectable usable nozzle subsets.