US 12,447,534 B2
Printer jetting mechanism and printer employing the printer jetting mechanism
David K. Biegelsen, Portola Valley, CA (US); and Jeng Ping Lu, Fremont, CA (US)
Assigned to XEROX CORPORATION, Norwalk, CT (US)
Filed by XEROX CORPORATION, Norwalk, CT (US)
Filed on Sep. 27, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/449,028.
Prior Publication US 2023/0095803 A1, Mar. 30, 2023
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. B29C 64/112 (2017.01); B22F 12/53 (2021.01); B29C 64/135 (2017.01); B29C 64/209 (2017.01); C23C 4/123 (2016.01); C23C 4/18 (2006.01); B33Y 30/00 (2015.01)
CPC B22F 12/53 (2021.01) [C23C 4/123 (2016.01); C23C 4/185 (2013.01); B33Y 30/00 (2014.12); B81B 2201/036 (2013.01); B81B 2201/052 (2013.01)] 32 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A three-dimensional (“3D”) printer, comprising:
an ejector device comprising a substrate and a plurality of ejector conduits on the substrate, the ejector conduits being arranged in an array, each ejector conduit comprising:
a first end positioned to accept a print material,
a second end comprising an ejector nozzle, the ejector nozzle comprising a first electrode and a second electrode, and
a passageway for allowing the print material to flow from the first end to the second end, at least one surface of the first electrode being exposed in the passageway and at least one surface of the second electrode being exposed in the passageway;
a current pulse generating system in electrical connection with the first electrode and the second electrode of each one of the plurality of ejector conduits;
a magnetic field source proximate the second end of each one of the plurality of ejector conduits so as to generate a flux region disposed within the ejector nozzle of each one of the plurality of ejector conduits during operation of the 3D printer; and
a positioning system for controlling the relative position of the ejector device with respect to a print substrate in a manner that would allow the print substrate to receive the print material jettable from the ejector nozzle of each one of the plurality of ejector conduits during operation of the 3D printer.