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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25-47. -47. (canceled)
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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