Pin-actuated printhead

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016339635-A1
Application number	US-201514717560-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	May 20, 2015
Priority date	May 20, 2015
Publication date	Nov 24, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A pin actuated printhead includes an orifice through which a material is ejected, a chamber to hold the material to be ejected, a channel connecting the chamber to the orifice, and an actuated pin, to enter the orifice and to eject the material from the orifice. The printhead is configured to eject a material with a viscosity of 10,000 cP or more at an elevated temperature.

First claim

1 . A pin actuated printhead, comprising:
a plurality of orifices through which a material is ejected; at least one chamber to hold the material to be ejected; a plurality of channels connecting the chamber to the orifices; and a plurality of actuated pins, to enter the orifices and to eject the material from the orifices, wherein, the printhead is configured to eject a material with a viscosity of 10,000 cP or more at an elevated temperature.

2 . The printhead of claim 1 wherein, in a first open position, each of the actuated pins allows material to enter into the orifice, and wherein in a second closed position, each of the actuated pins blocks material in the channel from entering the respective orifice while simultaneously entering the orifice and ejecting the material therewith.

3 . The printhead of claim 2 , wherein a duration of time of each of the actuated pins in the first open position determines a volume of the material ejected.

4 . The printhead of claim 2 , wherein each orifice is configured to eject a drop of material with a diameter between 100 μm and 300 μm.

5 . The printhead of claim 2 , wherein in the closed position, each of the actuated pins protrudes past a plane defining an outer surface of the orifice.

6 . The printhead of claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of pin chambers to guide a movement of the actuated pins.

7 . The printhead of claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of actuator modules to move the actuated pins.

8 . The printhead of claim 7 , wherein the actuator modules comprise one of an electromagnetic actuator and a piezo-electric actuator.

9 . The printhead of claim 8 , wherein the material is an engineering polymer with a viscosity of 50,000 cP or more at 200° C.

10 . The printhead of claim 9 , wherein the at least one chamber is configured to hold the material under pressure.

11 . The printhead of claim 10 , wherein the at least one chamber is configured to hold the material at a pressure between 50 psi and 150 psi.

12 . The printhead of claim 9 , wherein the at least one chamber is configured to hold the material at an elevated temperature of 100° C. or more.

13 . The printhead of claim 1 , wherein the at least one chamber comprises a plurality of chambers, each one connected to a plurality of orifices, and wherein each of the plurality of chambers provides material to each of the plurality of orifices.

14 . The printhead of claim 13 , where said plurality of chambers hold a plurality of different materials, each chamber providing material to a plurality of orifices.

15 . The printhead of claim 7 , wherein the actuator modules are spaced apart from the chamber, orifices, and material so as to enable heating of the chamber, orifices and material to a temperature that is higher than that of the actuator modules.

16 . The printhead of claim 1 , where said plurality of pins comprise a metallic wire.

17 . The printhead of claim 1 , where said plurality of pins are coated with a low adhesion coating to facilitate the separation of the ejected material from the tip of the pins.

18 . The printhead of claim 7 , wherein the plurality of actuated pins have a stepped configuration and the pin chambers are configured to engage the stepped configuration of the actuated pins to stop a movement of the actuated pins.

19 . The printhead of claim 7 , wherein the plurality of actuated pins has a stepped configuration and the pin chambers are configured to engage the stepped configuration of the actuated pins to provide a seal.

20 . The printhead of claim 7 , wherein the actuator module comprises a plurality of actuator modules, and the orifice comprises a plurality of orifices, each orifice associated with an actuator module, and the plurality of actuators are spaced apart from one another at a distance that is greater than a spacing between their associated orifices.

21 . The printhead of claim 3 , wherein the timing of each actuated pin is controlled such that the drops ejected by each actuated pin are of a consistent size.

22 . The printhead of claim 2 , wherein a duration of time of the actuated pin in the first open position is controlled such that drops ejected can be varied in size.

23 . The printhead of claim 1 , where said printhead is spaced apart from a surface receiving the ejected material such that the ejected material becomes airborne when traveling from said orifices to said receiving surface.

24 . The printhead of claim 1 , where said printhead is spaced close to a surface receiving the ejected material such that the pins carry said ejected material to said receiving surface.

25 . The printhead of claim 7 , where said actuators drive the plurality of pins through one of a lever arm or flexure, which amplifies the motion of said actuators.

Assignees

• Xerox Corp

Inventors

• Nystrom Peter J
• Mandel Barry P
• Hays Andrew W
• Ma Jun
• Mantell David Allen
• Redding Gary D
• Gulvin Peter M

Classifications

• B29C64/112 Primary

  using individual droplets, e.g. from jetting heads · CPC title

• B29C64/20

  Apparatus for additive manufacturing; Details thereof or accessories therefor · CPC title

• B29C64/209 Primary

  Heads; Nozzles · CPC title

• B29C67/0007 Primary

  Manufacturing coloured articles not otherwise provided for, e.g. by colour change · CPC title

• B33Y30/00

  Apparatus for additive manufacturing; Details thereof or accessories therefor · CPC title