Patent ID: 7597420
Filing Date: 2009-10-06
Classification: B05C,B22F,B29C,B33Y,B41J,H05K,Y02P,Y10S,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A volume element (voxel) printing system for printing a three-dimensional object, the system comprising: a first printhead group having a plurality of first printheads configured to print a first voxel layer on a substrate; at least one second printhead group having a plurality of second printheads downstream from the first group, the second group configured to print a subsequent voxel layer on at least part of the first layer, said second printheads being reconfigurable as backup printheads for the first printheads in case of failure; a conveyor to operatively convey the substrate past the printhead groups; and a control system to control and monitor the printhead groups and the conveyor, and to dynamically reconfigure the second printheads if failure of a first printhead is detected.