Granted Patent B2

US 9,597,840 · App. 14/692,847 · Granted Mar 21, 2017

Abstract

Claims (49)

1. A three-dimensional object printing system comprising:

a first track;

a platform that is operable to move along the first track in a process direction;

an ejector head positioned opposite a first portion of the first track;

a second track that is coupled to the first track at a position prior to the platform reaching the ejector head and that is configured to selectively couple to the first track at a position that is in the process direction after the platform passes the ejector head; and

a controller configured to:

operate the platform to move along the second track to the position where the second track and the first track are coupled to enable the platform to move along the first track in the process direction past the ejector head;

operate the platform to perform an operation on the ejector head; and

operate the platform to move to the position where the first track selectively couples to the second track after the platform passes the ejector head in the process direction to enable the platform to return to the second track.

2. The printing system of claim 1 , the platform further comprising:

a tray configured to receive material ejected by the ejector head.

3. The printing system of claim 2 further comprising:

a receptacle positioned opposite a second portion of the second track, the receptacle being configured to remove material from the tray of the platform.

4. The printing system of claim 3 , the receptacle further comprising:

a vacuum source configured to produce a vacuum proximate to the tray of the platform to remove material from the tray when the platform is positioned on the second portion of the second track opposite the receptacle.

5. The printing system of claim 3 , the tray further comprising:

a drain that enables liquefied material to exit the tray; and

the receptacle includes a heater element configured to liquefy material within the tray when the platform is positioned on the second portion of the second track opposite the receptacle to enable liquefied material to exit the tray via the drain into the receptacle.

6. The printing system of claim 3 , the receptacle being further configured to house a reagent that is configured to (i) liquefy material in the tray, or (ii) solidify material in the tray; and

the controller being further configured to dispense the reagent into the tray to enable removal of liquefied or solidified material from the tray.

7. The printing system of claim 1 , the second track further comprising:

a portion configured to support a plurality of wheels and the platform during a time period in which the platform is unused.

8. The printing system of claim 1 further comprising:

another platform that includes a surface configured to receive material to form a three-dimensional object, and that is operable to move along the first track;

wherein the controller is further configured to:

operate the other platform to move along the first track in the process direction past the ejector head; and

operate the ejector to eject material onto the surface of the other platform to form a three-dimensional object.

9. The printing system of claim 8 further comprising:

a switch configured to selectively couple the first track to the second track at the position past the ejector head in the process direction; and

the controller being further configured to coordinate movement of the platform along the first track with movement of the other platform along the first track by selectively actuating the switch, selectively operating the platform, and selectively operating the other platform.

10. The printing system of claim 1 , the platform further comprising:

a surface configured to receive material to form a three-dimensional object.

11. The printing system of claim 1 , the platform further comprising:

a wiper configured to wipe the ejector head at a position opposite the ejector head.

12. The printing system of claim 1 , the platform further comprising:

a covering member configured to cover the ejector head when the platform is opposite the ejector; and

an actuator configured to move the covering member to cover the ejector head during a time period in which the ejector head is unused when the platform is positioned opposite the ejector head.

13. A maintenance system for a three-dimensional object printing device comprising:

a first track;

a platform operable to move along the first track in a process direction;

an ejector head positioned opposite a first portion of the first track;

a second track that is coupled to the first track at a position prior to the platform reaching the ejector head and that is configured to selectively couple to the first track at a position that is in the process direction after the platform passes the ejector head;

a disposal unit positioned opposite a second portion of the second track; and

a controller configured to:

operate the platform to move along the second track to the position where the second track and the first track are coupled to enable the platform to move along the first track in the process direction past the ejector head;

operate the platform to perform an operation on the ejector head;

operate the platform to move to the position where the first track selectively couples to the second track after the platform passes the ejector head

in the process direction to enable the platform to return to and move along the second track; and

operate the disposal unit to remove three-dimensional print media from the platform.

Assignments (8)