Device for building a multilayer structure with storage container or filling container movable along the dispensing container

• US 10,059,058 B2
• Filed: 04/17/2013
• Issued: 08/28/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 06/22/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Voxeljet AG
• Original Assignee: Voxeljet AG
• Inventors: Hartmann, Andreas Dominik, Schmid, Dominik
• Primary Examiner(s): Del Sole, Joseph S
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen, Thu Khanh T
• Application Number:
  US14/405,236
• Publication Number:
  US 20150110910A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,959 Days
• Field of Search: 425 77, 425 78, 425344-355, 141 71, 141250, 141280, 141284
• CPC Class Codes: B22F 12/224 for motion along a direction within the plane of a layer
• CPC Class Codes: B22F 12/52 Hoppers
• CPC Class Codes: B22F 3/003 Apparatus, e.g. furnaces in general F27B
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 64/153 using layers of powder being selectively joined, e.g. by selective laser sintering or melting
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 64/165 using a combination of solid and fluid materials, e.g. a powder selectively bound by a liquid binder, catalyst, inhibitor or energy absorber
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 64/205 Means for applying layers
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 64/255 Enclosures for the building material, e.g. powder containers
• CPC Class Codes: B33Y 30/00 Apparatus for additive manufacturing; Details thereof or accessories therefor
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 10/25 Process efficiency

Abstract

The invention relates to a device (1) for building a layer body (2) from a plurality of superimposed layers of free-flowing material, in particular particulate material, on a building platform (3) in a build space (4), the layers being solidified and joined to each other in locally predetermined areas, so that at least one layer body (2) is formed by the solidified and joined areas of the layers, including an elongated discharge container (5), which is movable back and forth over the build space (4]) in at least one discharge direction and which has at least one discharge opening (6) from which the free-flowing material is dischargeable in individual superimposed layers during the movement of the discharge container (5), it being possible to supply the discharge container (5) with free-flowing material from a filling device with at least one storage or filling container (10) having at least one outflow opening (11) by vertically covering the at least one outflow opening (11) of the storage or filling container (10) with an elongated feed opening (12) of the discharge container (5).

The invention provides that the storage or filling container (10) has a shorter extension than the discharge container (5), viewed in the longitudinal direction of the discharge container (5), and the storage or filling container (10) is controllable relative to the discharge container (5), viewed in the longitudinal direction of the discharge container (5), in such a way that the outflow opening (11) of the storage or filling container (10) is guided along the feed opening (12) at least once from one end thereof to the other end thereof.

Claims

1. A device for building a layer body from a plurality of individual superimposed layers of a free-flowing material, in particular a particulate material, the layer body on a building platform in a build space, the layers being solidified and joined to each other in locally predetermined areas resulting in solidified and joined areas, so that at least one layer body is formed by the solidified and joined areas of the layers, the device including an elongated discharge container, which is movable back and forth over the build space in at least one discharge direction and which has at least one discharge opening from which the free-flowing material is dischargeable in individual superimposed layers during the movement of the discharge container, it being possible to supply the discharge container with free-flowing material from a filling unit with at least one storage or filling container having at least one outflow opening by vertically covering the at least one outflow opening of the storage or filling container with an elongated feed opening of the discharge container, characterized in that

a. the storage or filling container has a shorter extension than the discharge container, viewed in a longitudinal direction of the discharge container;

and

b. the device includes a drive unit for moving the storage or filling container along the longitudinal direction of the discharge container from one end of the feed opening to an other end of the feed opening while filling the discharge container by transferring the particulate material from the outflow opening of the storage or filling container to the feed opening of the discharge device.

2. The device of claim 1, characterized in that the storage or filling container is controlled along a discharge route extending between a starting position at the one end of the feed opening of the discharge container and a reversing position at the other end of the feed opening of the discharge container.

3. The device of claim 2, characterized in that the at least one outflow opening of the storage or filling container is disposed at a level which essentially lies at a fill level to be attained for the free-flowing material in the discharge container, in order for the at least one outflow opening to be closed at the current position of this at least one outflow opening on the discharge route when the free-flowing material already discharged into the discharge container along a section of the discharge route already traveled reaches the fill level to be attained.

4. The device of claim 2, characterized in that the starting position of the storage or filling container is a filling position at which the storage or filling container is fillable or refillable with free-flowing material with the aid of a filling unit.

5. The device of claim 2, characterized in that a closing member is disposed in the area of the reversing position of the storage or filling container in such a way that the closing member closes the outflow opening when the at least one outflow opening of the storage or filling container is positioned over the closing member, in order to prevent an outflow of free-flowing material from the storage or filling container past the feed opening of the discharge container in the reversing position.

6. The device of claim 2, characterized in that the storage or filling container, which is movable relative to the discharge container, is filled, dimensioned and/or controlled in such a way that the discharge container is fillable up to a fill level to be attained, based on a single one-way trip from the starting position to the reversing position, based on a single round trip from the starting position to the reversing position and back or based on multiple trips along the discharge route.

7. The device of claim 1, characterized in that the feed opening of the discharge container extends over the entire length of the discharge container.

8. The device of claim 1, characterized in that the storage or filling container is disposed in a stationary manner, viewed in the discharge direction of the discharge container, and the discharge container is able to pass under the storage or filling container.

9. The device of claim 1, characterized in that the storage or filling container is movable together with the discharge container, viewed in the discharge direction of the discharge container.

10. The device of claim 9, characterized in that the storage or filling container is positioned relative to the discharge container, viewed in the vertical direction, in such a way that a level of the at least one outflow opening of the storage or filling container is disposed under a level of an upper edge of the feed opening of the discharge container.

11. The device of claim 1, characterized in that the storage or filling container has a hopper-shaped cross section, wherein at least one outflow opening being disposed on an end of the hopper.

12. The device of claim 1, characterized in that the outflow of free-flowing material from the storage or filling container into the discharge container takes place with the aid of at least one of the following units, individually or in combination:

a) a unit for generating pressure and/or vibrations in the free-flowing material stored in the storage or filling container for the purpose of placing the free-flowing material from a non-flowing state into a flowing state, in which it is able to flow through the at least one outflow opening, by introducing pressure and/or vibrations;

b) a unit for either opening or closing the at least one outflow opening of the storage or filling container;

c) a unit for activating and deactivating a suction acting upon the free-flowing material stored in the storage or filling container, in such a way that

c1) when the suction is activated, the free-flowing material is prevented, on the one hand, by a sieve-like or fabric-like structure, from flowing out in the direction of the suction and, on the other hand, from flowing out through the at least one outflow opening;

c2) when the suction is deactivated, the free-flowing material stored in the storage or filling container flows out through the at least one outflow opening;

d) a rotary feeder unit.

13. The device of claim 1, characterized in that the storage or filling container is guided relative to the discharge container along a linear guide and is driven by driving means.

14. The device of claim 1, characterized in that a cleaning device for the discharge opening of the discharge container is attached to the storage or filling container movable relative to the discharge container.

15. The device of claim 3, wherein the starting position of the storage or filling container is a filling position at which the storage or filling container is fillable or refillable with free-flowing material with the aid of a filling unit;

and

wherein a closing member is disposed in the area of the reversing position of the storage or filling container in such a way that the closing member closes the outflow opening when the at least one outflow opening of the storage or filling container is positioned over the closing member, in order to prevent an outflow of free-flowing material from the storage or filling container past the feed opening of the discharge container in the reversing position.

16. The device of claim 15, wherein the storage or filling container, which is movable relative to the discharge container, is filled, dimensioned and/or controlled in such a way that the discharge container is fillable up to a fill level to be attained, based on a single one-way trip from the starting position to the reversing position, based on a single round trip from the starting position to the reversing position and back or based on multiple trips along the discharge route;

and wherein the feed opening of the discharge container extends over the entire length of the discharge container.

17. The device of claim 16, wherein the storage or filling container is disposed in a stationary manner, viewed in the discharge direction of the discharge container, and the discharge container is able to pass under the storage or filling container.

18. The device of claim 16, wherein the storage or filling container is movable together with the discharge container, viewed in the discharge direction of the discharge container.

19. The device of claim 18, wherein the storage or filling container is positioned relative to the discharge container, viewed in the vertical direction, in such a way that a level of the at least one outflow opening of the storage or filling container is disposed under a level of an upper edge of the feed opening of the discharge container.

20. The device of claim 16, wherein the storage or filling container has a hopper-shaped cross section, the at least one outflow opening being disposed on the end of the hopper.

21. A method of producing a layer body comprising steps of:

repeatedly applying layers of a particulate material from a discharge container of a discharge unit onto a build surface;

solidifying and joining the particulate material in locally predetermined areas to form the layer body; and

refilling the discharge container with the particulate material by moving a filling container along an extended fill opening of the discharge unit while material flows from an outflow opening of the filling container into only a portion of the fill opening of the discharge unit;

wherein the moving of the filling container allows the entire filling container to be filled.