US 12,589,586 B2 · Post-print vacuum degassing

Abstract

A degassing chamber for degassing a material located on a workpiece, comprises a vacuum source and a vacuum reservoir in fluid communication with the vacuum source, a secondary chamber, a port valve which is movable between an open position to allow passage of a workpiece therethrough between the exterior of the degassing chamber and the secondary chamber and a closed position in which the port valve is fluidly sealed, and a reservoir valve which is movable between an open position to provide fluid communication between the secondary chamber and the vacuum reservoir and a closed position in which the reservoir valve is fluidly sealed. The degassing chamber may be provided subsequent to a printing machine in a production line, and has particular application for degassing silicone material when producing fuel cells.

Claims8

Dependent claims

A production line for the production of workpieces, comprising a printing machine and a degassing chamber separate to the printing machine for degassing a material located on a workpiece, the degassing chamber located within the production line so as to receive a workpiece after it has been printed by the printing machine, and wherein the degassing chamber comprises:

a vacuum source for creating at least a partial vacuum, and
a vacuum reservoir in fluid communication with the vacuum source such that the at least partial vacuum may be produced and maintained within the vacuum reservoir,
a secondary chamber,
a port valve which is movable between an open position to allow passage of a workpiece therethrough between the exterior of the degassing chamber and the secondary chamber and a closed position in which the port valve is fluidly sealed, and
a reservoir valve which is movable between an open position to provide fluid communication between the secondary chamber and the vacuum reservoir and a closed position in which the reservoir valve is fluidly sealed.

2 more elements

A degassing chamber for degassing a material located on a workpiece, comprising:

a vacuum source for creating at least a partial vacuum, and
a vacuum reservoir in fluid communication with the vacuum source such that the at least partial vacuum may be produced and maintained within the vacuum reservoir,
a secondary chamber,
a port valve which is movable between an open position to allow passage of a workpiece therethrough between the exterior of the degassing chamber and the secondary chamber and a closed position in which the port valve is fluidly sealed,
a reservoir valve which is movable between an open position to provide fluid communication between the secondary chamber and the vacuum reservoir and a closed position in which the reservoir valve is fluidly sealed,
a processing region in which the material of the workpiece may be degassed, and
a transport mechanism configured to move the workpiece from the exterior of the degassing chamber and position it within the processing region, wherein the processing region is located within the secondary chamber, and the reservoir valve comprises a valve plate having a throughbore, the valve plate being movably mounted so as to be movable between an open position in which the throughbore aligns with an opening provided in an outer wall of the vacuum reservoir and/or the secondary chamber, and a closed position in which the throughbore is unaligned with the opening.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Post-print vacuum degassing

Life of this patent

Post-print vacuum degassing

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims8