SYSTEM ARCHITECTURE FOR PRINTHEAD CLEANING USING MOBILE MAINTENANCE CARTS

摘要

A maintenance system for a three-dimensional printer includes a platform configured to move along a first track. An ejector head is positioned opposite a first portion of the first track. A second track is coupled to the first track at a first position prior to the ejector head, and is selectively coupled to the first track after the ejector head at a second position. A controller is configured to operate the platform to move along the second track to the first position along the first track and past the ejector head, operate the platform to perform an operation on the ejector head, and operate the platform to move along the first track to the second position to enable the platform to return to the second track.

主权项

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; andoperate 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.