Method and apparatus for jet health preservation in cut sheet aqueous inkjet systems

An inkjet printing system comprising:

• a media transport system configured to move a print media substrate through a printing zone of the printing system in a process direction;
• a printhead mounting plate spaced vertically apart from the media transport system, wherein the printhead mounting plate comprises (i) a first surface, (ii) a second surface, and (iii) one or more frames configured to receive one or more printheads at the first surface, respectively, wherein the second surface is vertically adjacent to the media transport system;
• a retractable printhead shield disposed between the second surface of the printhead mounting plate and the media transport system, wherein the retractable printhead shield has a width that is greater than or equal to a width of the one or more frames;
• and
• a linear actuator coupled to the retractable printhead shield and configured to slide the retractable printhead shield under the one or more frames in a direction perpendicular to the process direction.