Xerox Corporation

Annie Liu

Frank Berkelys Tamarez Gomez

David S Derleth

Matthew D Savoy

Elizabeth Crossen

Christopher Douglas Atwood

Kelly J Burton

Timothy Patrick Foley

Chu-Heng Liu

Paul J McConville

Douglas K Herrmann

Jason Mathew LeFevre

Joseph M Ferrara, Jr

Stephen Bradley Williams

Sean P Lillis, Jr

A printing system treats the surface of three-dimensional objects to be printed to improve the printing of the articles of manufacture. The system includes a surface treatment module that is positioned to part of the printing process and to treat the object surfaces prior to the surfaces being printed. The treatment of the surfaces within the module include operating an abrasive device to remove material from an object surface and to apply solvent to the object surface to clean the surface.

System for preparing three-dimensional (3D) objects for surface printing

What is disclosed is an object holder for securely retaining a 3-dimensional object while it is being printed in a direct-to-object print system and a direct-to-object print system configured to use various embodiments of the object holder of the present invention. In one embodiment, the object holder comprises a frame configured to slideably traverse a support member positioned parallel to a plane formed by at least one printhead configured to eject marking material on to a surface of an object. A flexible belt is positioned around an inside of the frame to form a circle. One end of the belt is fixed to the frame. An opposite end of the belt passes through an opening in a side of the frame. Pulling the belt through the opening tightens the belt encircled around the object in the frame. A lock prevents the belt from loosening after it has been pulled tight.

Object holder for a direct-to-object printer

What is disclosed is system which facilitates the application of a mark to a surface of an object in a direct-to-object print system and a direct-to-object print system configured to use various embodiments of the present marking system. The present marking system comprises a camera for capturing an image of an object retained by an object holder configured to slideably traverse a support member positioned to be parallel to a plane formed by at least one printhead configured to eject in onto a surface of the object. A processor receives an image of an object held and communicates the image to a display. A mark to be printed on the object is retrieved and overlaid on the object in the image. A location of the overlaid mark is determined and communicated to a controller which causes the printhead to print the mark on the object at the location.

System for applying a mark to an object in an object holder of a direct-to-object printer

What is disclosed is an object holder for securely retaining an object while it is being printed in a direct-to-object print system and a direct-to-object print system configured to use various embodiments of the object holder of the present invention. In one embodiment, the object holder comprises a shuttle mount configured to slideably traverse a support member positioned parallel to a plane formed by at least one printhead configured to eject marking material on to a surface of an object. A memory foam is attached to the shuttle mount. A vacuum pump is used to withdraw a volume of air through a hole in the memory foam such that, a difference in air pressure causes an object to be pressed against the face of the memory foam causing the foam to partially deform to the object's shape.

A locating pin that is configured to be connected to a dockable member in a printer includes a shaft, first and second ends, and a conical member. The first end has a surface forming a partial ellipsoid and the conical member has a base aligned with the surface of the first end and a tip extending from the surface of the first end. The shaft is configured to engage the dockable member along a portion of the shaft between the second end and the first end.

Docking device with locating pin and receptacle for dockable members in a printer

A disconnect fitting adapted for use with a phase changing composition including a fitting base having a first fitting base end, a second fitting base end and a fitting base opening therebetween, a pin capture disposed within the fitting base opening, a displaceable pin secured within the pin capture, a fitting socket having a first fitting socket end, a second fitting socket end, a fitting socket opening therebetween, the second fitting socket end secured to the second fitting base end, and a valve at least partially disposed within the fitting socket opening. When the displaceable pin is in an unloaded condition, the displaceable pin extends in a direction of the second fitting base end, and when the displaceable pin is in a loaded condition, the displaceable pin is compressed in a direction of the first fitting base end. The pin capture permits passage of the phase changing composition through the fitting base opening when the displaceable pin is in the unloaded condition or the loaded condition. The disconnect fitting permits a secure connection of the fitting base and the fitting socket regardless of the state the material when the base and socket are disconnected.

Quick disconnect single shutoff fitting for phase changing material

A printing system includes a housing, a track supported by the housing, and a cart which rides along the track. The printing system also includes print heads which eject material onto the cart. To prevent material from inadvertently accumulating on the track and the housing, the cart also includes a wiper configured to wipe the material from at least a portion of the housing. The printing system also includes at least one collection tray configured to direct and/or collect the material wiped from the housing. The printing system further includes a coating applied to outer surfaces of at least some of the elements of the housing, the track, and the cart to further prevent the material from inadvertently accumulating on the track and the housing. The coating can be a siloxyfluorocarbon coating.

Coating for precision rails and a system for cleaning precision rails in three-dimensional object printing systems

A printing system for forming three-dimensional objects includes two laterally spaced rails, each of the rails have an internal cavity extending through the rail along a longitudinal axis. The printing system further includes two heating devices, one heating device is connected to the internal cavity of one of the two laterally spaced rails and the other heating device is connected to the internal cavity of the other of the two laterally spaced rails to enable each heating device to heat a surface of the rail in which the heating device is positioned. The printing system further includes a platform configured to move along the laterally spaced rails. The printing system also includes at least one of a pair of scrapers, wiper pads, and wiper blades mounted to the cart.

System for cleaning cart drive components in three-dimensional object printing systems

An apparatus detects inoperative inkjets during printing of three-dimensional objects. The apparatus includes an optical sensor with a predetermined focal plane. The optical sensor is moved to a position that enables the sensor to generate image data of material drops ejected by a group of inkjets in a single row of a printhead. These image data are analyzed to detect inoperative inkjets to enable printhead maintenance at appropriate times to maintain the operational status of the inkjets in the printhead. The optical sensor is moved along a length and width of the printhead to enable the sensor to generate image data of all the inkjets that eject material from the printhead.

System for detecting inoperative inkjets in three-dimensional object printing using a digital camera and strobe light

An apparatus detects inoperative inkjets during printing of three-dimensional objects. The apparatus includes an optical sensor that generates measurements of a height, a diameter, and a position for test dots formed on a substrate with material ejected from a printhead. These measurements are analyzed to detect inoperative inkjets to enable printhead maintenance at appropriate times to maintain the operational status of the inkjets in the printhead.

System for detecting inoperative inkjets in three-dimensional object printing using an optical sensor and movable test substrates

A maintenance system for maintaining a scalable printhead array comprises: a pair of tracks disposed in parallel and on opposite sides of a printhead array; a shaft extending between the tracks and configured to engage with each track to move along the tracks; a plurality of maintenance modules mounted in series along the shaft between the tracks and configured to move along the tracks with the shaft to perform maintenance operations on a plurality of printheads of the printhead array, the tracks being configured to guide the shaft and the plurality of maintenance modules along a path from a resting position to an operating position the printhead array and from which at least one of the plurality of maintenance modules performs a maintenance operation on at least one printhead of the printhead array; and an actuator configured to move the shaft along the tracks.

Scalable printhead array maintenance

An apparatus detects inoperative inkjets during printing of three-dimensional objects. The apparatus includes a roll of substrate that extends to a take up roller. A printhead prints a test pattern on a portion of the substrate pulled from the roll and the portion with the test pattern is moved opposite a digital camera. The digital camera generates data of the test pattern on the substrate and these data are analyzed to identify inoperative inkjets in the printhead.

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Webster, NY, United States of America

Annie Liu