US 2023/0398735 A1 · PRINTING ASSEMBLIES AND METHODS FOR USING THE SAME

Abstract

A printing assembly (150) is provided including a manifold assembly including an inlet manifold (210) including an inlet reservoir (238) and an inlet port (266), and an outlet manifold (212) including an outlet reservoir (286) and an outlet port (310). A valve is provided at each of the inlet port of the inlet manifold and at the outlet port of the outlet manifold. The valve is operable between an open position for permitting the flow of material through the port and a closed position for preventing the flow of material through the port. The printing head includes a housing and print heads provided within the housing and in fluid communication with the inlet reservoir via the inlet port and the outlet reservoir via the outlet port. The valves are independently operable to control a flow of material from the inlet reservoir to the print heads, and from the print heads to the outlet reservoir, respectively.

Claims26

Dependent claims

A printing assembly comprising:

a manifold assembly comprising:
an inlet manifold comprising an inlet reservoir and a plurality of inlet ports;
an outlet manifold comprising an outlet reservoir and a plurality of outlet ports;
a plurality of inlet valves within the inlet manifold;
a plurality of outlet valves within the outlet manifold;
and
a printing head comprising:
a housing;
and
a plurality of print heads provided within the housing, each of the plurality of print heads in fluid communication with the inlet reservoir via a corresponding one of the plurality of inlet ports and the outlet reservoir via a corresponding one of the plurality outlet ports,
wherein each of the plurality of inlet valves and the plurality of outlet valves is independently operable to permit or prevent a flow of binder material from the inlet reservoir to a corresponding one of the plurality of print heads, and from a corresponding one of the plurality of print heads to the outlet reservoir, respectively.

8 more elements

A method for circulating binder material through a printing assembly, the method comprising:

providing a manifold assembly comprising:
an inlet manifold comprising an inlet reservoir and a plurality of inlet ports;
an outlet manifold comprising an outlet reservoir and a plurality of outlet ports;
a plurality of inlet valves within the inlet manifold;
and
a plurality of outlet valves within the outlet manifold, each of the plurality of inlet valves and the plurality of outlet valves is independently operable;
delivering binder material to the inlet manifold or the outlet manifold from at least one binder reservoir;
receiving binder material from the inlet manifold or the outlet manifold at the at least one binder reservoir;
and
applying a pressure differential across the inlet manifold and the outlet manifold, the pressure differential controllable based on operation of each of the plurality of inlet valves and the plurality of outlet valves.

7 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Printing assemblies and methods for using the same

Life of this patent

Printing assemblies and methods for using the same

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims26