US 12,330,417 B2
Printer with gas extraction of printing fluid from printing nozzle
Lai Yu Leo Tse, Ann Arbor, MI (US); Ethan John McMillan, Grand Haven, MI (US); and Kira Barton, Ann Arbor, MI (US)
Assigned to The Regents of the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI (US)
Filed by The Regents of the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI (US)
Filed on Dec. 22, 2022, as Appl. No. 18/086,905.
Application 18/086,905 is a continuation of application No. 16/901,556, filed on Jun. 15, 2020, granted, now 11,548,277.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/873,033, filed on Jul. 11, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2023/0122430 A1, Apr. 20, 2023
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. B41J 2/06 (2006.01); B05B 5/025 (2006.01); B41J 2/175 (2006.01); B41J 2/45 (2006.01); B41J 2/045 (2006.01)
CPC B41J 2/06 (2013.01) [B05B 5/0255 (2013.01); B41J 2/175 (2013.01); B41J 2/04576 (2013.01); B41J 2/04581 (2013.01); B41J 2202/02 (2013.01); B41J 2202/04 (2013.01); B41J 2202/15 (2013.01)] 19 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A printer, comprising:
a print head including a printing nozzle, an extraction gas nozzle, and an electrode, the printer being configured to selectively generate an electric field between the electrode and a substrate and to selectively discharge an extraction gas from the extraction gas nozzle such that the extraction gas flows along a tip of the printing nozzle,
wherein the printer is operable to deposit printing fluid extracted from the printing nozzle onto the substrate in:
a gas-extraction mode, in which no voltage is supplied to the electrode so that the electric field is not generated and the extraction gas is pressurized in the extraction gas nozzle and discharged from the extraction gas nozzle to extract the printing fluid from the printing nozzle;
an e-jet mode, in which the extraction gas is not discharged from the extraction gas nozzle and a voltage is supplied to the electrode so that the electric field is generated to extract the printing fluid from the printing nozzle; and
an e-assisted mode, in which the extraction gas is pressurized in the extraction gas nozzle and discharged from the extraction gas nozzle and a voltage is supplied to the electrode so that the electric field is generated and the printing fluid is extracted from the printing nozzle.