Apparatus and methods for servicing 3D printers
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A service station for maintaining a plurality of printheads in a three-dimensional printer, the service station comprising:
- a cleaning station;
a discharge station; and
a capping station.
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Abstract
The invention relates to apparatus and methods for producing three-dimensional objects and auxiliary systems used in conjunction with the aforementioned apparatus and methods. The apparatus and methods involve 3D printing and servicing of the equipment used in the associated 3D printer.
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Citations
54 Claims
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1. A service station for maintaining a plurality of printheads in a three-dimensional printer, the service station comprising:
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a cleaning station;
a discharge station; and
a capping station. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. An apparatus for cleaning a printhead, the apparatus comprising:
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at least one nozzle for spraying a cleaning fluid towards a printhead face of the printhead; and
a wiper disposable in close proximity to the printhead face for removing excess cleaning fluid from the printhead face. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
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35. A method of cleaning a printhead, the method comprising the steps of:
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positioning a printhead face of the printhead relative to at least one nozzle;
operating the at least one nozzle to spray cleaning fluid towards the printhead face; and
causing relative movement between a wiper and the printhead to pass the wiper in close proximity to the printhead face to remove excess cleaning fluid, wherein the wiper defines a notch configured and located on the wiper to correspond to a location of a jet nozzle array on the printhead face to prevent the wiper from contacting the jet nozzle array. - View Dependent Claims (36, 37, 38, 39)
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40. An apparatus for cleaning a printhead used in a three-dimensional printer, the apparatus comprising:
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a sealing cap defining a cavity and capable of engagement with a printhead face of the printhead;
a cleaning fluid source in communication with the cap for cleaning the printhead face; and
a vacuum source in communication with the cap for removing used cleaning fluid and debris. - View Dependent Claims (41, 42, 43)
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44. A method of cleaning a printhead used in a three-dimensional printer comprising the steps of:
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engaging a printhead face of the printhead with a sealing cap defining a cavity;
drawing a vacuum in the cavity; and
introducing a cleaning fluid into the cavity and into contact with the printhead face. - View Dependent Claims (45, 46, 47)
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48. A method of determining a condition of a printhead in use in a three-dimensional printer, the method comprising the steps of:
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acquiring a data value for at least one operational parameter of the printhead; and
comparing the data value to a threshold value, the relationship of the data value to the threshold value indicative of the condition of the printhead. - View Dependent Claims (49, 50, 51, 52)
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53. A method of determining a condition of a printhead in use in a three-dimensional printer, the method comprising the steps of:
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counting droplets dispensed by the printhead; and
determining a percentage of the droplets that were dispensed over previously unprinted pixels. - View Dependent Claims (54)
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Specification