Xerox Corporation

Matthew Ryan McLaughlin

James Lawton Giacobbi

Victoria Lynn Warner

James J Spence

Frank Berkelys Tamarez Gomez

Donald Richard Fess

Paul Michael Fromm

Jack T LeStrange

Mark A Adiletta

Michael J Linder

Rachel Lynn Tanchak

Richard Alan Campbell

David R Kretschmann

Alex Scott Brougham

Dennis N Muck

Wayne C Powley

A three-dimensional object printer comprises a platen, a gantry positioned above the platen, an ejector head positioned on the gantry, a sensor, and a controller. The controller is configured to operate the ejector to eject at least one drop of material toward the platen at an upper build level and determine process and cross-process differentials between a fiducial and the at least one drop of material deposited on the upper build surface. The controller is also configured to determine an ejector head shift in a process direction and a cross-process direction associated with each of the plurality of build levels based at least in part on the determined process and cross-process differentials and a number of build levels between the base build level and the upper build level.

Three-dimensional (3D) object printing system that compensates for misregistration

Devices include an inkjet printhead having nozzles and a transport item adjacent the nozzles. The transport item includes vacuum openings adapted to maintain print media on the transport item. The transport item moves the print media in a processing direction. The transport item also includes a jetting area lacking the vacuum openings. The jetting area is elongated and is oriented perpendicular to the processing direction. The nozzles are controlled to eject ink to the jetting area when the nozzles are aligned with the jetting area.

Vacuum transport having jetting area allowing periodic jetting of all nozzles

A method, non-transitory computer readable medium, and apparatus for automatically adjusting a feeder tray of a printing device are disclosed. For example, the method receives a signal to initiate a feeder tray adjustment routine, wherein the feeder tray adjustment routine determines an amount of lateral adjustment of the feeder tray to eliminate a lateral input error of a print media that is fed to a registration subsystem of the printing device, activates a mechanism to adjust a lateral position of the feeder tray by the amount that is determined, and feeds subsequent print media through the registration subsystem for printing an image on the subsequent print media.

Adjustment of feeder trays to correct alignment error of print media in a registration subsystem

A direct-to-object printer includes a vaporizer to attenuate the effect of oxygen inhibition on the curing of non-aqueous ultraviolet (UV) marking material ejected onto the surface of an object printed by the printer. The vaporizer includes a heating element to form a vapor from a solution of solvent and particulate and a pressurized air source to direct the vapor toward the object to enable a portion of the vapor to condense on the object. The condensed vapor forms a barrier that attenuates the effect of oxygen inhibition on the curing of non-aqueous UV marking material.

System and method for attenuating oxygen inhibition of ultraviolet ink curing on an image on a three-dimensional (3D) object during printing of the object

An apparatus detects inoperative inkjets during printing of three-dimensional objects. The apparatus includes a reversible thermal substrate that changes optical density in areas where material drops are ejected onto the substrate. An optical sensor generates image data of the substrate after material drops are ejected onto the substrate and these image data are analyzed to identify inoperative inkjets.

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

A printer detects inoperative inkjets during printing of three-dimensional objects. The printer includes an area where a printhead ejects material in a predetermined pattern and a profilometer is operated to measure the ejected material in the area. The measurements are used to identify inoperative inkjets or inkjets that operate errantly.

System for detecting inoperative inkjets in three-dimensional object printing using a profilometer and predetermined test pattern printing

An inkjet printer is configured to purge printheads in the printer and clean the purged ink from the printheads. The inkjet printer includes a purge tray configured with a wiper to remove a substantial portion of the purged ink from the faces of the printheads without contacting the printheads. A wiper module rotates wipers through a reservoir of cleaning fluid prior to contacting the printheads to facilitate removal of the remaining purged ink from the printheads as the printheads move past the wiper module to return to a printing position.

Method and apparatus to clean printheads in an inkjet printer

An apparatus detects inoperative inkjets during printing of three-dimensional objects. The apparatus uses a light source to illuminate an area below a printhead and a digital camera to generate image data of drops of material ejected by inkjets in the printhead. The image data of the ink drops passing through the field of view of the camera are analyzed to identify inoperative inkjets in the printhead.

System for detecting inoperative inkjets in three-dimensional object printing using an optical sensor having an adjustable focus

A method for assisting the threading of a media web in a continuous feed printer has been developed. The method includes generating an electrical signal that corresponds to a level of tension applied by a media web to a roller positioned along a media path in a printer as the media web travels over the roller. A controller activates at least one actuator to rotate a roller positioned along the media path in response to identifying that the level of tension exceeds a predetermined threshold to facilitate threading of the media web through the printing device.

System and method for threading a web through a printing device

A modular roll bar assembly for use in a continuous web imaging device includes a plurality of roll bars, a support frame configured to operatively support the plurality of roll bars such that the plurality of roll bars define a web path having a non-linear shape with an entrance end and an exit end, the entrance end being configured to receive a substantially continuous web of substrate material, the plurality of roll bars being configured to guide the continuous web past the exit end, and a temperature control system having a source of thermally controlled air that is configured to supply air at a predetermined temperature and velocity, and a plenum positioned in the support frame that is configured to guide the thermally controlled air from the source to the plurality of roll bars to heat or cool the plurality of roll bars to a predetermined temperature.

Modular roll bar assembly with temperature control system for heating or cooling web

A continuous web inversion system used in a continuous web imaging device includes a first, a second, and a third turn bar. The web moves over the three turn bars to invert the web for duplex printing. The second and third turn bars are operatively connected to one another for translation in a plane and a driver is operatively connected to one of the second and third turn bars to translate the bars in the plane. A sensor is configured to generate a signal indicative of a lateral position of the continuous web exiting the third turn bar. The driver adjusts a position of the third turn bar with reference to the signal generated by the sensor.

Media inversion system for a continuous web printer

A modular roll bar assembly for use in a continuous web imaging device includes a plurality of roll bars and a support frame configured to operably support the plurality of roll bars such that the plurality of roll bars define a web path having a non-linear shape with an entrance end and an exit end. The entrance end is configured to receive a substantially continuous web of substrate material, and the plurality of roll bars is configured to guide the continuous web past the exit end. A load cell is operably coupled to the support frame and configured to generate a signal indicative of a down force applied to the support frame. A controller is operably coupled to the load cell to receive the signal and to correlate the down force applied to the support frame indicated by the signal to a tension measurement value for the continuous web.

Modular web roller assembly

A continuous web inversion system for use in a continuous web imaging device includes a first turn bar positioned to receive a substantially continuous web moving in a first direction with a first surface facing in a printing direction and to flip the web and direct it in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. A second turn bar is positioned to receive the continuous web from the first turn bar to flip the web and direct it in a third direction opposite the first direction. A third turn bar is positioned to receive the continuous web from the second turn bar to flip the web and direct it in the first direction with a second surface of the web facing in the printing direction. The second and the third turn bars are coupled together and supported for translation along an axis perpendicular to the first direction. A sensor is configured to generate a signal indicative of a lateral position of the continuous web exiting the third turn bar. A driver is operably coupled to at least one of the second and the third turn bars to adjust a position of the third turn bar along the axis based on the signal.

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Rochester, NY, United States of America

Matthew Ryan McLaughlin