Testing method and configurations for multi-ejector system

Abstract

Methods for testing proper operation of drop ejection units in a multi-ejector system are provided to determine whether the drop ejectors have been properly filled and/or the ejectors are emitting fully formed droplets. The methods include testing the ejectors prior to drop ejection. In this method, a priming system is used wherein fluid received by the priming system is ejected onto a test substrate to allow a scanner to determine the existence of the fluids at selected locations. The selected locations are correlated to the drop ejection units to determine which ejection units do not have biofluid or sufficient biofluid. A further method allows for ejection prior to printing, on a test substrate wherein testing for both the fullness of the ejector units as well as proper emission of the ejectors of droplets may be tested. The ejectors after being primed, eject the biofluids which are then scanned and correlated to each individual ejector. A further method provided is a laser scattering method wherein a laser beam is interposed between the drop emission path of the ejectors. Laser detection then determines whether a correlated drop ejector is properly emitting droplets.