Method for magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) printhead/nozzle reuse
US11999165B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 27, 2022 |
| Grant date | Jun 4, 2024 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 26, 2042 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB41J2202/04
- WIPO fieldTextile and paper machines
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A method for operating a printer can include draining a print material from a printer, placing a sacrificial metal into the printer, ejecting the sacrificial metal from a nozzle of the printer, and cooling to printer to a temperature that is below a melting point of the print material and the sacrificial metal. The print material can be or include aluminum and the sacrificial metal can be or include tin. The print material can be drained from the printer when the print material is in molten form, for example, from about 600° C. to about 2000° C. The sacrificial metal can be ejected from the nozzle at a temperature above the melting point of the sacrificial metal but below the melting point of the print material, for example, below about 300° C. The method can reduce or eliminate cracking of various printer structures such as the nozzle during a shutdown or cooling of the printer.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.