# US 12,005,645 B2 · Printhead cleaning device for a 3D printer, 3D printer comprising a printhead cleaning device, use of the printhead cleaning device and method for cleaning a printhead of a 3D printer > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,005,645 B2 - Document ID: US12005645B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/614,476 - Filed: 2020-05-26 - Published: 2022-07-21 - Granted: 2024-06-11 - Earliest claimed: 2019-05-27 - Assignees: The ExOne Company - Applicants: ExOne GmbH - Inventors: Christian Heufelder; Carmen Brockmeier; Katrin Stalla; Edmund Klundt; Roland Ladewig - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12005645B2 ## CPC - B29C 64/30: Auxiliary operations or equipment - B22F 10/14: by jetting of binder onto a bed of metal powder - B22F 12/53: Nozzles - B29C 64/165: using a combination of solid and fluid materials, e.g. a powder selectively bound by a liquid binder, catalyst, inhibitor or energy absorber - B29C 64/209: Heads; Nozzles - B29C 64/35: Cleaning - B33Y 40/00: Auxiliary operations or equipment, e.g. for material handling - B41J 2/16532: {by applying vacuum only} - B41J 2/16552: {using cleaning fluids} - B22F 2999/00: Aspects linked to processes or compositions used in powder metallurgy - B33Y 30/00: Apparatus for additive manufacturing; Details thereof or accessories therefor - B29C: SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING (making preforms B29B11/00; making laminated products by combining previously unconnected layers which become one product whose layers will remain together B32B37/00 - B32B41/00) - B22F: WORKING METALLIC POWDER; MANUFACTURE OF ARTICLES FROM METALLIC POWDER; MAKING METALLIC POWDER (making alloys by powder metallurgy C22C); APPARATUS OR DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR METALLIC POWDER - B33Y: ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING, i.e. MANUFACTURING OF THREE-DIMENSIONAL [3D] OBJECTS BY ADDITIVE DEPOSITION, ADDITIVE AGGLOMERATION OR ADDITIVE LAYERING, e.g. BY 3D PRINTING, STEREOLITHOGRAPHY OR SELECTIVE LASER SINTERING - B41J: TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS ## Abstract Disclosed is a print head cleaning device for a 3D printer configured to build a component in layers by means of binder jetting, the print head cleaning device comprising a cleaning agent feeding device having an elongated output opening and configured to output liquid cleaning agent through the elongated output opening, and a suction device having an elongated suction gap and configured to suction fluid through the elongated suction gap, wherein a longitudinal axis of the elongated output opening and a longitudinal axis of the elongated suction gap are arranged at an angle to each other. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A print head cleaning device for a 3D printer configured to build a component in layers by means of binder jetting, the print head cleaning device comprising: a cleaning agent feeding device comprising an elongated output opening and configured to output liquid cleaning agent through the elongated output opening, and a suction device comprising an elongated suction gap and configured to suction fluid through the elongated suction gap, wherein a longitudinal axis of the elongated output opening and a longitudinal axis of the elongated suction gap are arranged at an angle to each other, wherein the angle is in the range of 20° to 60°. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The print head cleaning device for a 3D printer according to claim 1, wherein the angle is in the range of 30 to 50°. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The print head cleaning device for a 3D printer according to claim 1, wherein the cleaning agent feeding device comprises an elongated recess which opens into the elongated output opening and in which a plurality of nozzles are arranged, each configured to output liquid cleaning agent. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The print head cleaning device for a 3D printer according to claim 3, wherein the plurality of nozzles are arranged in at least one row that is parallel to the longitudinal axis of the elongated output opening. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The print head cleaning device for a 3D printer according to claim 1, wherein the elongated output opening is surrounded by a groove. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The print head cleaning device for a 3D printer according to claim 1, wherein the suction device comprises a recess which is covered by a cover so as to form the suction gap. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The print head cleaning device for a 3D printer according to claim 6, wherein the cover is detachably attached to the print head cleaning device. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The print head cleaning device for a 3D printer according to claim 1, wherein the suction device comprises a recess which is in fluid communication with the suction gap and in the bottom of which one or more suction openings are provided for applying a vacuum. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The print head cleaning device for a 3D printer according to claim 1, further comprising an inclined surface extending between the elongated output opening and the elongated suction gap and which is inclined upwardly in the direction from the elongated output opening to the elongated suction gap. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The print head cleaning device for a 3D printer according to claim 9, wherein the inclined surface is configured to be substantially triangular in shape. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The print head cleaning device for a 3D printer according to claim 1, wherein the suction gap has a width of less than or equal to 5 mm. ### Claim 12 (depends on 3) The print head cleaning device for a 3D printer according to claim 3, wherein the nozzles each have at least one nozzle orifice for outputting liquid cleaning agent, the diameter of which is in a range from 1 to 5 mm, and/or wherein in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the elongated output opening a nozzle density and/or nozzle orifice density is in a range from 5 to 35 nozzles or nozzle orifices per 10 cm. ### Claim 13 (depends on 6) The print head cleaning device (10) for a 3D printer according to claim 6, wherein the cover has a curved portion. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The print head cleaning device for a 3D printer according to claim 1, wherein the angle is in the range of 35° to 45°. ### Claim 15 (depends on 6) The print head cleaning device for a 3D printer according to claim 6, wherein the cover comprises a cover plate or a cover strip. ### Claim 16 (depends on 8) The print head cleaning device for a 3D printer according to claim 8, wherein the one or more suction openings comprise three suction openings. ### Claim 17 (depends on 9) The print head cleaning device for a 3D printer according to claim 9, wherein the slope is in a range of 2 to 3%. ### Claim 18 (depends on 11) The print head cleaning device for a 3D printer according to claim 11, wherein the suction gap has a width of less than or equal to 1.5 mm. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) The print head cleaning device for a 3D printer according to claim 1, wherein the longitudinal axis of the elongated output opening and the longitudinal axis of the elongated suction gap are configured to be in a plane facing nozzle orifices of a print head of the 3D printer during cleaning.