Powder Spreader
First Claim
1. A powder spreader comprising:
- a) a flexible strip;
b) a motor-driven first roll; and
c) a transportable nose guide;
wherein as the nose guide is transported longitudinally across a support surface behind a pile of deposited powder the first roll causes the strip to move over the nose guide to provide lift to the powder of the pile and to distribute the pile of powder in the form of a powder layer upon the support surface.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Powder spreaders suitable for use with layered manufacturing processes are disclosed in which a strip of flexible material of a width which spans the powder bed is used to spread, level, and, optionally, compact deposited powder to form a layer of the powder bed. The strip surface moves relative to the deposited powder it is spreading as the working portion of the strip, i.e., the portion of the strip that is in contact with the powder, traverses across the powder bed so that it can provide lift to the powder in front of it and, optionally, compaction to the powder below it. The working portion of the strip can be configured to have its leading and trailing surface contours to be different from one another, and, optionally, to have these contours and its bottom edge contour be independently adjustable. Layered manufacturing systems comprising such powder spreaders are also disclosed.
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Citations
29 Claims
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1. A powder spreader comprising:
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a) a flexible strip; b) a motor-driven first roll; and c) a transportable nose guide; wherein as the nose guide is transported longitudinally across a support surface behind a pile of deposited powder the first roll causes the strip to move over the nose guide to provide lift to the powder of the pile and to distribute the pile of powder in the form of a powder layer upon the support surface. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A layered manufacturing process system comprising:
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a) a process controller; b) a powder delivery system; c) a printer; d) a support surface; and e) a powder spreader having i) a flexible strip; ii) a motor-driven first roll; and iii) a transportable nose guide; wherein as the nose guide is transported longitudinally across a support surface behind a pile of deposited powder the first roll causes the strip to move over the nose guide to provide lift to the powder of the pile and to distribute the pile of powder in the form of a powder layer upon the support surface; wherein the process controller is operably connected to the powder delivery system, the printer, the support surface, and the powder spreader to control the layered manufacturing system to form a three dimensional article. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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Specification