METHOD AND DEVICE FOR APPLYING FLUIDS

• US 20120094026A1
• Filed: 12/16/2011
• Published: 04/19/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 02/19/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Voxeljet AG
• Original Assignee: Voxeljet GmbH
• Inventors: Ederer, Ingo, Kashani-Shirazi, Kaveh
• Granted Patent: US 9,463,488 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 427/356
• CPC Class Codes: B05C 19/04 the particulate material being projected, poured or allowed to flow onto the surface of the work B05C19/02 takes precedence; involving spraying or electrostatic projection B05B B05C19/005 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B05C 19/06 Storage, supply or control of the application of particulate material; Recovery of excess particulate material
• CPC Class Codes: B05D 1/26 performed by applying the liquid or other fluent material from an outlet device in contact with, or almost in contact with, the surface
• CPC Class Codes: B22F 10/14 by jetting of binder onto a bed of metal powder
• CPC Class Codes: B22F 12/22 Driving means
• CPC Class Codes: B22F 12/57 Metering means
• CPC Class Codes: B22F 12/60 Planarisation devices; Compression devices
• CPC Class Codes: B22F 12/90 Means for process control, e.g. cameras or sensors
• CPC Class Codes: B22F 3/004 Filling molds with powder feeding material to presses in general B30B15/302
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 41/12 Spreading-out the material on a substrate , e.g. on the surface of a liquid
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 41/52 Measuring, controlling or regulating
• 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 64/343 Metering
• CPC Class Codes: B33Y 30/00 Apparatus for additive manufacturing; Details thereof or accessories therefor
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 10/25 Process efficiency

Abstract

This document describes a process and a device for applying fluids, specifically particle material, on an area to be coated, which is viewed in forward moving direction of the coater, chat fluid is applied on the area to be coated and then a levelling element is run over the applied fluid, whereby the fluid is led from a metering system provided with an opening, which oscillates when applying the fluid. The opening shall be designed in such a way that when the metering system is at a standstill this is closed by forming an angle of repose of the fluid.

Claims

1. A process for the application of a fluid on an area to be coated comprising:

metering the fluid through an opening in a metering system;

applying the fluid on the area to be coated; and

levelling the fluid applied on the area using a levelling element,

wherein the metering system performs an oscillation at least when applying the fluid, and

wherein the opening is closed when the metering system is at a standstill by the fluid forming an angle of repose in the opening;

wherein the opening is located above the leveling element on a wall of the metering system that is perpendicular to the area to be coated, which is located below the metering system.

2. The process of claim 1, wherein the oscillation features horizontal or/and vertical components or/and essentially takes place according to the type of rotation.

3. The process of claim 1, wherein the levelling element is designed as a blade, which oscillates with the metering system.

4. The process of claim 1, wherein the levelling element is designed as a rotating roller, whose rotary motion is positioned against the forward direction of the coater.

5. The process of claim 1, wherein a metering quantity of the fluid is always smaller than a residue volume of the fluid available in the metering system.

6. The process of claim 1, wherein the levelling element sets an amount of the fluid vertically to the area to be coated.

7. The process of claim 1, wherein a layer composition of the area to be coated takes place by repeated application of the fluid

8-18. -18. (canceled)

19. A process for the application of a fluid including a particle material, comprising the steps of:

a) metering the fluid through an opening in a metering system;

b) oscillating the metering system while the fluid is being metered;

c) levelling the applied fluid and

d) closing the opening in the metering system when the metering system is at a standstill by an angle of repose of the fluid.

20. The process of claim 19, wherein the oscillating step includes horizontal oscillating, vertical oscillating, rotational oscillating, or any combination thereof.

21. The process of claim 19, wherein the step of leveling is performed using a blade that oscillates with the metering system.

22. The process of claim 19, wherein the step of levelling is performed by a rotating roller.

23. The process of claim 19, wherein the amount of fluid being metered is smaller than a residual amount of fluid in the metering system.

24. The process of claim 19, wherein the oscillating is performed by eccentric driven rocker.

25. The process of claim 20, wherein the step of leveling is performed using a blade that oscillates with the metering system.

26. The process of claim 20, wherein the step of levelling is performed by a rotating roller.

27. The process of claim 25, wherein the oscillating is performed by eccentric driven rocker.

28. The process of claim 26, wherein the oscillating is performed by eccentric driven rocker.

29. The process of claim 19, wherein the metering system comprises:

a. an oscillatable rocker having an external wall;

b. an inclined sheet opposite the rocker forming a container between the rocker and the inclined sheet; and

c. a leveling element located below the container and being connected to the inclined sheet;

wherein the opening is formed above the levelling element and below the oscillatable rocker so that the leveling element prevents the fluid from being vertically applied

30. The process of claim 29, wherein the opening is located in the container so that the opening is perpendicular to a build platform located below the device.

31. The process of claim 30, comprising breaking down the angle of repose formed in the opening when the vibration mechanism is activated.