Patent ID: 9073374
Filing Date: 2015-07-07
Classification: B29C,B33Y,B41J

Abstract:
1. A printer for forming objects comprising: an electrically conductive substrate having a surface; a printhead configured to eject non-conductive ink through inkjets in the printhead onto the surface of the electrically conductive substrate; an electrically conductive member; an electrical current sensor operatively connected to the electrically conductive member, the electrical current sensor being configured to generate an electrical signal in response to electrical current being detected in the electrically conductive member; a substrate transport configured to move the electrically conductive substrate between a first position opposite the printhead and a second position opposite the electrically conductive member; an actuator operatively connected to the electrically conductive member, the actuator being configured to move the electrically conductive member towards the electrically conductive substrate when the electrically conductive substrate is in the second position; and a controller operatively connected to the printhead, the substrate transport, and the actuator, the controller being configured to operate the printhead to eject ink onto the surface of the electrically conductive substrate with reference to a predetermined pattern, to operate the substrate transport selectively, to operate the actuator to move the electrically conductive member a predetermined distance towards the electrically conductive substrate, to receive the signal generated by the electrical current sensor, and to detect inoperative inkjets in the printhead with reference to the signal received from the electrical current sensor and the predetermined pattern.