Bulk Ink Bags for 3-Dimensional Printing
AssigneeImpossible Objects, Inc.
InventorsRobert Swartz, Leonard Wanger, John Bayldon, Drew Marschner, Michael Rohrer, Gintaras Vaisnys, Giovanni Meier
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A bulk ink bag system in a composite-based additive manufacturing process (CBAM) keeps the inkjet heads (cartridges) on printers filled to the proper level of fluid at all times while the process runs. The system includes gravity fed fluid delivery without requiring pumps; is simple to connect and disconnect to system plumbing; has the ability to change ink bags without interrupting the print job or introducing air bubbles into the ink supply; and has the ability to disconnect partially used bags and reconnect them later.
Claims8
A system to allow fluid bag changing in a composite-based additive manufacturing (CBAM) system without disruption comprising:
- a scale configured to measure fluid bag weight;
- a hook attached to the scale;
- at least one fluid bag having a quick-disconnect, self-sealing nozzle, the fluid back in fluid communication with one or more ink cartridges;
- a gravity fed de-bubbling device in fluid communication with the fluid bag, the de-bubbling device having a sight constructed to determine an amount of air in the system.
A gravity feed fluid delivery system in a composite-based additive manufacturing (CBAM) process that allows seamless fluid bag changing comprising:
- a hook constructed to hang a fluid bag, the hook attached to a load cell configured to measure and monitor bag weight;
- a self-sealing nozzle attached the fluid bag at a bottom location;
- wherein, the self-sealing nozzle is constructed to be attached to, and disconnected from, tubing that is in fluid communication with one or more ink cartridges without tools and without leaking;
- and the load cell is configured to indicate an amount of fluid in the fluid bag;
- whereby, fluid bags, full, empty, or partially full can be connected and disconnected from the system without disrupting operation of the CBAM process.
A method of preserving an ink level in a composite-based additive manufacturing (CBAM) process without disrupting the process comprising:
- providing a hook attached to a load cell constructed to hang a fluid bag;
- providing a quick-disconnect, self-sealing nozzle on the fluid bag;
- disconnecting tubing from the quick-disconnect, self-sealing nozzle when the amount of fluid in the bag is less than a predetermined amount;
- replacing the fluid bag with a second full fluid bag;
- reconnecting the quick-disconnect, self-sealing nozzle to the tubing.
A method of preserving an ink level in a composite-based additive manufacturing (CBAM) process without disrupting the process comprising:
- (a) attaching a fluid bag containing fluid to a CBAM system via a quick-disconnect nozzle;
- (b) continually removing air bubbles in the fluid with a de-bubbling device as fluid is extracted from the fluid bag;
- (c) continually determining weight of the fluid bag while fluid is being extracted from it;
- (d) signaling when the weight of the bag indicates it is nearing empty;
- (e) detaching the quick disconnect nozzle;
- (f) repeating steps (a)-(f).
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.