Gas enclosure systems and methods utilizing an auxiliary enclosure

Abstract

A method for maintenance of a printing system includes maintaining an inert gas environment in a printing system enclosure housing the printing system, and placing an auxiliary enclosure in flow communication with the printing system enclosure through a sealable opening. While the auxiliary enclosure and the printing system enclosure are in flow communication, the method further includes moving a part between the printing system enclosure and the auxiliary enclosure using a handler positioned proximate the sealable opening, the part being related to maintenance of the printing system. During the moving, the auxiliary enclosure is maintained to have an inert gas environment.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for maintenance of a printing system, the method comprising:
 maintaining an inert gas environment in a printing system enclosure housing the printing system;   placing an auxiliary enclosure in flow communication with the printing system enclosure through a sealable opening; and   while the auxiliary enclosure and the printing system enclosure are in flow communication:
 moving a part between the printing system enclosure and the auxiliary enclosure using a handler positioned proximate the sealable opening, the part being related to maintenance of the printing system, 
 wherein during the moving, the auxiliary enclosure is maintained to have an inert gas environment. 
   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein moving the part related to maintenance of the printing system between the printing system enclosure and the auxiliary enclosure comprises:
 removing the part from the printing system, and   moving the part removed from the printing system from the printing system enclosure to the auxiliary enclosure.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the sealable opening is a first sealable opening, and the method further comprises:
 closing the first sealable opening between the printing system enclosure and the auxiliary enclosure;   with the first sealable opening closed, placing the auxiliary enclosure in flow communication with an exterior of the auxiliary enclosure through a second sealable opening thereby exposing the auxiliary enclosure to a non-inert gas environment at the exterior of the auxiliary enclosure; and   removing the part removed from the printing system from the auxiliary enclosure through the second sealable opening to the exterior of the auxiliary enclosure.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , further comprising:
 placing a replacement part for the printing system into the auxiliary enclosure while the second sealable opening is opened;   closing the second sealable opening; and   recovering a gas environment of the auxiliary enclosure to an inert gas environment,   wherein removing the part removed from the printing system from the auxiliary enclosure is performed before or after placing the replacement part in the auxiliary enclosure.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein closing the first sealable opening comprises closing the first sealable opening using a structural closure. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the structural closure comprises at least one of a door, a window, or a gate. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein closing the first sealable opening comprises closing the first sealable opening using a dynamic closure comprising at least one of a pressure differential or a gas curtain provided at the first sealable opening. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein closing the first sealable opening comprises closing the first sealable opening using a combination of a structural closure and at least one of a pressure differential or a gas curtain provided at the first sealable opening. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein closing the second sealable opening comprises closing the second sealable opening using a structural closure. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the structural closure comprises at least one of a door, a window, or a gate. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein closing the second sealable opening comprises closing the second sealable opening using a dynamic closure comprising at least one of a pressure differential or a gas curtain provided at the second sealable opening. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein closing the second sealable opening comprises closing the second sealable opening using a combination of a structural closure and at least one of a pressure differential or a gas curtain provided at the second sealable opening. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 retrieving a replacement part for the printing system using the handler; and   inserting the replacement part into the printing system using the handler,   wherein the retrieving and inserting the replacement part are performed after at least one of removing the part from the printing system and moving the part removed from the printing system to the auxiliary enclosure.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein a volume of the auxiliary enclosure ranges from 1% to 5% of a combined volume of the auxiliary enclosure and the printing system enclosure. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the printing system is configured to print a substrate having a size of from about generation 3.5 to about generation 10. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the printing system is configured to print a substrate having a size of from about generation 5 to about generation 8. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein maintaining the inert gas environment in at least one of the printing system enclosure and the auxiliary enclosure comprises maintaining the inert gas environment using at least one gas selected from nitrogen and a noble gas. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein maintaining the inert gas environment in at least one of the printing system enclosure and the auxiliary enclosure comprises maintaining each of water and oxygen levels of 1 ppm or less. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein maintaining the inert gas environment in at least one of the printing system enclosure and the auxiliary enclosure comprises controlling water and oxygen each at levels of 100 ppm or less. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein, during the moving, the inert gas environment maintained in the auxiliary enclosure is different from the inert gas environment maintained in the printing system enclosure. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein, during the moving, the inert gas environment maintained in the auxiliary enclosure is the same as the inert gas environment maintained in the printing system enclosure. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the part is a consumable part of the printing system. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the part comprises at least one of a replacement part of the printing system, a part to clean the printing system, and a part to receive waste ink from the printing system. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein moving the part using the handler comprises at least one of mechanically grasping, mechanically clamping, and vacuum-assisted retention of the part. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising moving the auxiliary enclosure into a position proximate the printing system enclosure prior to placing the auxiliary enclosure in flow communication with the printing system enclosure. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising exhausting particulate matter generated by a bundle of cables away from the printing system.