Patent ID: 8170428

Claim:
A method for interchanging components between a failing printing module and a functioning printing module, said method comprising the steps of: providing a printing assembly ( 100 ) that includes a plurality of printing modules (M 1 -M 4 ) that each include a specific toner color, wherein a first printing module (M 2 ) is failing and at least one second printing module (M 1 ) is functioning; determining a toner use demand for the specific toners included in the plurality of printing modules (M 1 -M 4 ); and swapping a location the first printing module (M 2 ) with the location of the at least one second printing module (M 1 ) and swapping the toner included in the first printing module (M 2 ) with the toner included in the second printing module (M 2 ) when the determining indicates that the first printing module (M 2 ) has a toner use demand that is substantially greater than the toner use demand of the at least one second printing module (M 1 ).