Device for providing multiple surface treatments to three-dimensional objects prior to printing and system using the device
AssigneeXerox Corporation
InventorsJack T. LeStrange, Anthony S. Condello, Mandakini Kanungo, Peter J. Knausdorf
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A surface treatment system includes a holder configured to secure an object within the holder and a surface treatment device that is configured to treat a surface of the object within the holder with two types of surface treatments. The device is capable of producing a plasma or a flame at its nozzle for surface treatment. By controlling the materials supplied to the device and the way in which is operated, either a flame or plasma is produced. Thus, the surface treatment system is capable of treating a wide range of materials for printing by a direct-to-object printer.
Claims19
An object surface treatment system comprising:
- a holder configured to secure an object within the holder;
- and
- an object surface treatment device configured to produce both a plasma and a flame, but not both simultaneously;
- a plurality of sources configured to supply a plurality of substances to the object surface treatment device;
- and
- a controller operatively connected to the plurality of sources for the object surface treatment device, the controller being configured to pneumatically couple each source to the object surface treatment device independently of the other sources in the plurality of sources to operate the object surface treatment device for treatment of the surface of the object with the plasma alone, the flame alone, or both the plasma and the flame independently of each other.
An object surface treatment system comprising:
- a holder configured to secure an object within the holder;
- a surface treatment device configured to produce both a plasma and a flame, but not both simultaneously, to treat a surface of the object within the holder with a flame alone, a plasma alone, or both a plasma and a flame independently of each other;
- a support member to which the surface treatment device is mounted;
- an actuator operatively connected to the surface treatment device;
- a plurality of sources configured for connection to the surface treatment device;
- a controller operatively connected to the actuator and the plurality of sources, the controller being configured to operate the actuator to move the object surface treatment device along the support member to a position opposite the object in the holder, to pneumatically couple each source in the plurality of sources to the object surface treatment device independently of the other sources in the plurality of sources, and to operate the object surface treatment device for treatment of the surface of the object with the plasma alone, the flame alone, or both the plasma and the flame independently of each other.
An object surface treatment device comprising:
- a housing with at least one wall forming an internal chamber, a portion of the wall forming a nozzle that fluidly communicates with the internal chamber;
- an electrode that extends into the internal chamber of the housing;
- an igniter positioned adjacent the nozzle;
- a first input in the housing to enable a source of combustible substance to be operatively connected to the internal chamber of the housing;
- a second input in the housing to enable a source of a plasma gas to be operatively connected to the internal chamber of the housing;
- and
- a third input in the housing that enables a high voltage source to be operatively connected to the electrode.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.