Material manipulation in three-dimensional printing
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An apparatus for printing at least one three-dimensional object, comprising:
- an enclosure configured to accommodate the three-dimensional object during printing;
a vertically translatable platform configured to support the at least one three-dimensional object during printing of the at least one three-dimensional object, which platform is disposed in the enclosure;
a compressed gas source configured to flow a gas in a direction;
a material reservoir having (i) at least one first wall that encloses a first volume configured to hold a first atmosphere having (A) a gas content different from an ambient atmosphere and (B) a first pressure, and (ii) a first material port disposed in the at least one first wall and configured to facilitate transport of a pre-transformed material therethrough, which material reservoir is operatively coupled to the enclosure and is configured to facilitate supply of the pre-transformed material to the enclosure to print the at least one three-dimensional object;
a bulk reservoir configured to hold a second atmosphere having (a) a second pressure above the first pressure and (b) a gas content different from an ambient atmosphere, which bulk reservoir comprises a second material port, a gas port, and at least one second wall that encloses a second volume configured to accommodate the pre-transformed material,a storage container comprising a gas storage inlet, which storage container is configured to operatively couple to the first material port of the material reservoir;
a sieve assembly comprising a sieve inlet port, which sieve assembly is disposed between the bulk reservoir and the material reservoir;
which compressed gas source is operatively coupled to the bulk reservoir through the gas port to facilitate pressurized conveyance of the pre-transformed material from the bulk reservoir through the second material port to the first material port at least in part against a gravitational field; and
one or more controllers that are operatively coupled to the compressed gas source, which one or more controllers are configured to;
(i) direct pressurized transport of the pre-transformed material from the bulk reservoir to the material reservoir against the gravitational field, wherein the pressurized transport comprises transport through the sieve inlet port for sieving at least part of the pre-transformed material,(ii) direct addition of the pre-transformed material to the material reservoir through the first material port, which first material port is configured to accept pre-transformed material from the storage container during printing of the three-dimensional object; and
(iii) direct flow of the gas from the compressed gas source through the gas storage inlet of the storage container to establish a third atmosphere that has (I) a third gas content that is different from an ambient atmosphere and (II) a third pressure.
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Abstract
The present disclosure provides three-dimensional (3D) printing systems, apparatuses, software, and methods for the production of at least one requested 3D object. The 3D printer includes a material conveyance system, filtering system, and unpacking station. The material conveyance system may transport pre-transformed material against gravity. The 3D printing described herein comprises facilitating non-interrupted material dispensing through a component of the 3D printer, such as a layer dispenser.
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Citations
31 Claims
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1. An apparatus for printing at least one three-dimensional object, comprising:
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an enclosure configured to accommodate the three-dimensional object during printing; a vertically translatable platform configured to support the at least one three-dimensional object during printing of the at least one three-dimensional object, which platform is disposed in the enclosure; a compressed gas source configured to flow a gas in a direction; a material reservoir having (i) at least one first wall that encloses a first volume configured to hold a first atmosphere having (A) a gas content different from an ambient atmosphere and (B) a first pressure, and (ii) a first material port disposed in the at least one first wall and configured to facilitate transport of a pre-transformed material therethrough, which material reservoir is operatively coupled to the enclosure and is configured to facilitate supply of the pre-transformed material to the enclosure to print the at least one three-dimensional object; a bulk reservoir configured to hold a second atmosphere having (a) a second pressure above the first pressure and (b) a gas content different from an ambient atmosphere, which bulk reservoir comprises a second material port, a gas port, and at least one second wall that encloses a second volume configured to accommodate the pre-transformed material, a storage container comprising a gas storage inlet, which storage container is configured to operatively couple to the first material port of the material reservoir; a sieve assembly comprising a sieve inlet port, which sieve assembly is disposed between the bulk reservoir and the material reservoir; which compressed gas source is operatively coupled to the bulk reservoir through the gas port to facilitate pressurized conveyance of the pre-transformed material from the bulk reservoir through the second material port to the first material port at least in part against a gravitational field; and one or more controllers that are operatively coupled to the compressed gas source, which one or more controllers are configured to; (i) direct pressurized transport of the pre-transformed material from the bulk reservoir to the material reservoir against the gravitational field, wherein the pressurized transport comprises transport through the sieve inlet port for sieving at least part of the pre-transformed material, (ii) direct addition of the pre-transformed material to the material reservoir through the first material port, which first material port is configured to accept pre-transformed material from the storage container during printing of the three-dimensional object; and (iii) direct flow of the gas from the compressed gas source through the gas storage inlet of the storage container to establish a third atmosphere that has (I) a third gas content that is different from an ambient atmosphere and (II) a third pressure. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A method for printing at least one three-dimensional object, comprising:
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(1) providing an apparatus comprising; an enclosure configured to accommodate the three-dimensional object during printing; a vertically translatable platform configured to support the at least one three-dimensional object during printing of the at least one three-dimensional object, which platform is disposed in the enclosure; a compressed gas source configured to flow a gas in a direction; a material reservoir having (i) at least one first wall that encloses a first volume configured to hold a first atmosphere having (A) a gas content different from an ambient atmosphere and (B) a first pressure, and (ii) a first material port disposed in the at least one first wall and configured to facilitate transport of a pre-transformed material therethrough, which material reservoir is operatively coupled to the enclosure and is configured to facilitate supply of the pre-transformed material to the enclosure to print the at least one three-dimensional object; a bulk reservoir configured to hold a second atmosphere having (a) a second pressure above the first pressure and (b) a gas content different from an ambient atmosphere, which bulk reservoir comprises a second material port, a gas port, and at least one second wall that encloses a second volume configured to accommodate the pre-transformed material, a storage container comprising a gas storage inlet, which storage container is configured to operatively couple to the first material port of the material reservoir; a sieve assembly comprising a sieve inlet port, which sieve assembly is disposed between the bulk reservoir and the material reservoir; which compressed gas source is operatively coupled to the bulk reservoir through the gas port to facilitate pressurized conveyance of the pre-transformed material from the bulk reservoir through the second material port to the first material port at least in part against a gravitational field; and one or more controllers that are operatively coupled to the compressed gas source, which one or more controllers are configured to; (i) direct pressurized transport of the pre-transformed material from the bulk reservoir to the material reservoir against the gravitational field, wherein the pressurized transport comprises transport through the sieve inlet port for sieving at least part of the pre-transformed material, (ii) direct addition of the pre-transformed material to the material reservoir through the first material port, which first material port is configured to accept pre-transformed material from the storage container during printing of the three-dimensional object; and (iii) direct flow of the gas from the compressed gas source through the gas storage inlet of the storage container to establish a third atmosphere that has (I) a third gas content that is different from an ambient atmosphere and (II) a third pressure; and (2) using the apparatus for printing the at least one three-dimensional object. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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Specification