Method and apparatus for load-locked printing

A printing system, comprising:

• a print-head chamber configured to be placed in flow communication with an inert gas source to supply inert gas to an interior of the print-head chamber, the print-head chamber being configured to isolate the interior of the print-head chamber to maintain an inert gas environment within the interior of the print-head chamber;
• a first opening in the print-head chamber, the first opening sized and positioned to permit passage of a substrate from a first environment external the print-head chamber through the first opening and into the print-head chamber;
• a first partition arranged to selectively open and close the first opening, wherein when the first opening is closed by the partition, the interior of the print-head chamber is sealed from the first environment external the print-head chamber;
• a print-head within the print-head chamber;
• a floatation system within the print-head chamber, wherein the floatation system comprises a gas-bearing surface to floatingly support the substrate in the print-head chamber;
• at least one transport mechanism to move the substrate through the opening into the interior of the print-head chamber;
• and
• one or more controllers operably coupled to the floatation system, the first partition, the transport mechanism, and the print-head, wherein the one or more controllers are configured to:
• identify a position of the substrate along a path of transport of the substrate through the printing system;
• identify an alignment of the substrate relative to a predetermined alignment, the alignment being chosen from a translational alignment, a rotational alignment, a magnification alignment, and a combination thereof;
• operate the first partition to control opening and closing of the first opening based on the identifying of the position of the substrate;
• operate the transport mechanism to transport the substrate into the print-head chamber through the opening;
• operate the print-head to deposit a material on the substrate based on identifying the position of the substrate relative to the print-head in the print-head chamber and based on the identifying the alignment of the substrate, and
• operate the floatation system to floatingly support the substrate at a controlled height above the gas bearing surface while operation of the print-head is being controlled.