Patent ID: 8702186

Claim:
A method of operating an inkjet printer comprising: moving a housing from a first location to a second location, which is at a predetermined distance from a plurality of inkjets in an inkjet printing apparatus, the housing including a first ink receptacle, an outlet, and an inlet, the outlet and the inlet being fluidly connected to the first ink receptacle in the housing and the inlet facing the plurality of inkjets when the housing is in the second location to enable liquid ink to flow from the plurality of inkjets through the inlet to the first receptacle within the housing; applying air pressure to liquid ink in the printhead to expel the liquid ink through the plurality of inkjets substantially simultaneously; collecting the expelled liquid ink in the first ink receptacle; moving the first ink receptacle to the first location to enable the outlet of the housing to be in fluid communication with an ink supply so liquid ink in the first ink receptacle exits the first ink receptacle through the outlet and enters the ink supply; moving the housing to a third location to place a second inlet in the housing at the predetermined distance from a second plurality of inkjets in the inkjet printing apparatus, the second inlet being fluidly connected to a second ink receptacle in the housing; applying the air pressure to a second liquid ink in the printhead to expel the second liquid ink through the second plurality of inkjets substantially simultaneously; collecting the expelled second liquid ink in the second ink receptacle; and moving the housing to the first location to place an outlet fluidly connected to the second ink receptacle in fluid communication with a second ink supply to enable the second liquid ink in the second ink receptacle to exit the second ink receptacle through the outlet and enter the second ink supply.