Gas enclosure systems and methods utilizing an auxiliary enclosure

摘要

The present teachings disclose various embodiments of a gas enclosure system can have a gas enclosure that can include a printing system enclosure and an auxiliary enclosure. In various embodiments of a gas enclosure system of the present teachings, a printing system enclosure can be isolated from an auxiliary enclosure. Various systems and methods of the present teachings can provide for the ongoing management of a printing system by utilizing various embodiments of isolatable enclosures. For example, various measurement and maintenance process steps for the management of a printhead assembly can be performed in an auxiliary enclosure, which can be isolated from a printing system enclosure of a gas enclosure system, thereby preventing or minimizing interruption of a printing process.

主权项

1. A gas enclosure system comprising:
a gas enclosure comprising:
a printing system enclosure defining a first volume, the printing system enclosure being operably coupled to an environmental control system, the environment control system being configured to provide a controlled processing environment for the first volume;an auxiliary enclosure defining a second volume, the auxiliary enclosure being operably coupled to the environmental control system, the environmental control system being configured to provide a controlled processing environment for the second volume;wherein the gas enclosure has a first sealable opening allowing access between the printing system enclosure and the auxiliary enclosure and a second sealable opening allowing access to the auxiliary enclosure from the exterior of the gas enclosure; an industrial printing system housed within the printing system enclosure comprising:
a printhead assembly comprising at least one printhead device;a substrate support apparatus for supporting a substrate; anda motion system for the relative positioning of the printhead assembly with respect to the substrate; and a handler located in the gas enclosure, wherein the location of the handler is proximal the first opening to enable the handler to perform operations requiring movement between the printing system enclosure and the auxiliary enclosure; and a printhead management system housed within the auxiliary enclosure.