Printhead unit assembly for use with an inkjet printing system
View Patent ↗Features for various embodiments of a self-contained printhead unit, including an on-board fluidic system, quick-coupling electrical and pneumatic interfacing, in conjunction with the features of various embodiments of a kinematic mounting and air bearing clamping assembly, as well as contactless integration to a waste assembly, together provide for the ready interchangeability of a plurality of printhead units in a printing system during a printing process, while at the same time preventing cross-contamination of a plurality of end-user selected inks contained in each of a plurality of printhead units.
1. A method for printing using an industrial printing system comprising:
filling a bulk reservoir with an ink for supply to a primary dispensing reservoir, wherein the bulk reservoir and the primary dispensing reservoir are assembled in a printhead unit further comprising;
a fluidic manifold block assembly configured to provide fluidic distribution and control between the primary dispensing reservoir and the bulk reservoir;
a pneumatic manifold block assembly configured to provide pneumatic control of the primary dispensing reservoir; and
at least one printhead, wherein the fluidic manifold block assembly is configured to provide fluidic distribution and control between the primary dispensing reservoir and the at least one printhead;
mounting the printhead unit to the industrial printing system;
maintaining a target volume in the primary dispensing reservoir to maintain a constant head pressure between the primary dispensing reservoir and the at least one printhead;
applying a partial vacuum over the primary dispensing reservoir to offset the constant head pressure maintained in the primary dispensing reservoir over the printhead assembly; and
printing a substrate with the ink from the printhead unit.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the bulk reservoir is filled with a volume of the ink sufficient to provide a continuous supply of during a printing process.
3. The method claim 1 , wherein industrial printing system is enclosed in a gas enclosure and the method further comprises controlling the process environment for the enclosed printing system.
4. The method of claim 3 , wherein controlling the process environment for the enclosed printing system comprises providing a controlled gas environment.
5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the controlled gas environment for the enclosed printing system is an inert gas environment.
6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the inert gas environment is a nitrogen environment.
7. The method of claim 4 , wherein the controlled gas environment for the enclosed printing system is clean dry air.
8. The method of claim 4 , wherein controlling the process environment for the enclosed printing system comprises removing reactive gaseous species from the controlled gas environment to a specified level.
9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the specified level for removing reactive species is 0.1 ppm or lower for each species.
10. The method of claim 3 , wherein controlling the process environment for the enclosed printing system comprises providing a low-particle environment for the enclosed printing system.
11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the low-particle environment meets ISO 14644 Class 3 clean room standards.
12. The method of claim 1 , wherein printing the substrate further comprises supporting the substrate during printing using a gas floatation table.
13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the supporting the substrate using the floatation table comprises floating the substrate using an inert gas.
14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the inert gas is nitrogen.
15. The method of claim 1 , wherein printing the substrate with the ink from the printhead unit further comprises forming a thin film on the substrate.
16. The method of claim 1 , wherein printing the substrate comprises printing an OLED substrate.
17. The method of claim 1 , wherein printing the substrate comprises printing a glass substrate.
18. The method of claim 1 , wherein printing the substrate comprises printing a polymeric substrate.
19. A method for printing using an industrial printing system comprising:
controlling the fluid communication in a two-stage ink reservoir system housed within a printhead assembly, wherein the two-stage ink reservoir system comprises:
a fluidic manifold block assembly configured to provide fluidic distribution and control between a primary dispensing reservoir and a bulk reservoir;
a pneumatic manifold block assembly configured to provide pneumatic control of the primary dispensing reservoir; and
at least one printhead, wherein the fluidic manifold block assembly is configured to provide fluidic distribution and control between the primary dispensing reservoir and the at least one printhead;
positioning the printhead assembly relative to a substrate with a motion system configured to control the relative motion between the printhead assembly and the substrate;
maintaining a target volume in the primary dispensing reservoir to maintain a constant head pressure between the primary dispensing reservoir and the at least one printhead; and
printing a substrate with the ink from the printhead unit.
20. The method of claim 19 , further comprising before the step of printing, applying a partial vacuum over the primary dispensing reservoir to offset the constant head pressure maintained in the primary dispensing reservoir over the printhead assembly.