Apparatus and methods for servicing 3D printers
First Claim
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1. An apparatus for cleaning a printhead, the apparatus comprising:
- at least one nozzle for spraying a cleaning fluid towards a printhead face of the printhead;
a wiper disposable in close proximity to the printhead face for removing excess cleaning fluid from the printhead face; and
a splash guard for isolating a printhead face and preventing cleaning fluid from migrating beyond the printhead face, wherein the splash guard comprises an open position, a sealed position, and a sealing lip that circumscribes the printhead face when in the sealed position, and the splash guard is actuated from the open position to the sealed position by contact with a printhead.
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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
12 Claims
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1. 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; a wiper disposable in close proximity to the printhead face for removing excess cleaning fluid from the printhead face; and a splash guard for isolating a printhead face and preventing cleaning fluid from migrating beyond the printhead face, wherein the splash guard comprises an open position, a sealed position, and a sealing lip that circumscribes the printhead face when in the sealed position, and the splash guard is actuated from the open position to the sealed position by contact with a printhead. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. 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 (9, 10, 11, 12)
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Specification