Waste disposal for 3d printing

Abstract

Additive manufacturing or 3D printing produces considerable quantities of waste ink or resin during the course of additive manufacture. The waste ink is a hazardous substance and must be collected and disposed of accordingly. The present embodiments provide a waste ink collection device that collects the waste ink from the printing process, or from head cleaning and other incidental operations, stores the waste and cures it. The waste ink is thus rendered safe for conventional disposal. A waste ink disposal cartridge collects the waste ink and carries out curing.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A cartridge for receiving waste ink from an additive manufacturing device; the cartridge comprising a distribution head, a curing source and a container, wherein the distribution head comprises an inlet pipe and an array of drip points distributed over said cartridge, wherein said drip points are respectively surrounded by shielding to protect from direct irradiation from said curing source; and said curing source comprises a plurality of radiation locations arranged around said container. 
     
     
         2 . The cartridge of  claim 1 , wherein said drip points comprise sharp terminations for droplet formation. 
     
     
         3 . The cartridge of  claim 1 , further comprising drip-directing shovels below each of said drip points and within said shielding. 
     
     
         4 . The cartridge of  claim 1 , further comprising a second curing source within said distribution head for curing ink remaining in said distribution head when said cartridge is full. 
     
     
         5 . The cartridge of  claim 1 , comprising a level detector to detect filling of said cartridge. 
     
     
         6 . The cartridge of  claim 1 , wherein said curing source comprises a bank of light emitting diodes. 
     
     
         7 . The cartridge of  claim 6 , wherein said second curing source comprises a bank of light emitting diodes. 
     
     
         8 . The cartridge of  claim 1 , wherein said curing source is located lengthwise along said cartridge towards one side. 
     
     
         9 . The cartridge of  claim 1 , wherein said drip points comprise shielding against curing energy from said source, to protect waste ink from being cured prior to dripping from said drip points. 
     
     
         10 . The cartridge according to  claim 9 , wherein said shielding comprises hoods surrounding each drip point. 
     
     
         11 . The cartridge according to  claim 1 , further comprising a dispensing shovel below each drip point to direct dripping.