Gas enclosure systems and methods utilizing an auxiliary enclosure

A method for the automated maintenance of an industrial printing system, the method comprising:

• maintaining an inert gas environment in a gas enclosure;
• said gas enclosure defining a total enclosure volume, the gas enclosure comprising:
• a printing system enclosure defining a first volume of the total gas enclosure volume, the printing system enclosure housing a printing system, the printing system comprising a substrate support apparatus to support a substrate and a printhead assembly to deposit organic material on a substrate supported by the substrate support apparatus in the printing system enclosure;
• an auxiliary enclosure defining a second volume of the total gas enclosure volume adjacent the printing system enclosure;
• and
• a first sealable opening allowing access between the printing system enclosure and the auxiliary enclosure;
• wherein for maintaining an inert environment in the printing system enclosure, when the first sealable opening is opened, the auxiliary enclosure is maintained in an inert environment;
• positioning a handler proximal to the first sealable opening between the printing system enclosure and the auxiliary enclosure;
• removing a component part of the printhead assembly using the handler;
• and
• moving the removed component part to the auxiliary enclosure using the handler.