Patent ID: 8668305

Claim:
A method to position print bars having print heads and respective protective cap bars provided to cover the associated print bars, said print bars being provided in a moveable printing unit, comprising the steps of: providing the respective protective cap bars such that they can be releasably coupled to their associated print bars; providing the print bars such that they can be moved independently of one another in said printing unit between a printing position in which a printing substrate can be printed and a transport position above the printing position; moving said printing unit with said print bars from an operating position overlying a printing location of said printing substrate to a park position not overlying said printing location of said printing substrate; with said printing unit in said operating position, printing said substrate at said printing location with print bars in said printing position and with said associated protective caps not coupled thereto, and for print bars in said transport position and which are not printing on said printing substrate providing the respective protective cap bars coupled to said associated print bars in said transport position; and locating in said park position the respective protective cap bars for those printing bars which are in said printing position.