Three-dimensional Printing System and Equipment Assembly
First Claim
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1. ) A three-dimensional printing equipment assembly comprising:
- a) a three-dimensional printing build system comprising;
a conveyor system adapted to conduct plural build modules;
plural build modules engaged with the conveyor system, wherein the build modules are adapted to receive and temporarily retain powder from a powder layering system; and
at least one build station comprising;
1) at least one powder layering system adapted to form incremental powder layers within build modules; and
2) at least one printing system adapted to apply a liquid according to a predetermined pattern to incremental powder layers within build modules;
wherein the conveyor system repeatedly transports the build modules from the at least one powder layering system to the at least one printing system to form a three-dimensionally printed bed comprising one or more three-dimensionally printed articles in the build modules; and
the equipment assembly excludes a printing system adapted to apply liquid to the powder according to a polar coordinate algorithm.
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Abstract
A three-dimensional printing system and equipment assembly for the manufacture of three-dimensionally printed articles is provided. The equipment assembly includes a three-dimensional printing build system, an optional liquid removal system and an optional harvester system. The build system includes a conveyor, plural build modules and at least one build station having a powder-layering system and a printing system. The equipment assembly can be used to manufacture pharmaceutical, medical, and non-pharmaceutical/non-medical objects. It can be used to prepare single or multiple articles.
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Citations
30 Claims
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1. ) A three-dimensional printing equipment assembly comprising:
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a) a three-dimensional printing build system comprising; a conveyor system adapted to conduct plural build modules; plural build modules engaged with the conveyor system, wherein the build modules are adapted to receive and temporarily retain powder from a powder layering system; and at least one build station comprising;
1) at least one powder layering system adapted to form incremental powder layers within build modules; and
2) at least one printing system adapted to apply a liquid according to a predetermined pattern to incremental powder layers within build modules;wherein the conveyor system repeatedly transports the build modules from the at least one powder layering system to the at least one printing system to form a three-dimensionally printed bed comprising one or more three-dimensionally printed articles in the build modules; and
the equipment assembly excludes a printing system adapted to apply liquid to the powder according to a polar coordinate algorithm. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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23. ) A three-dimensional printing equipment assembly comprising:
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a) a three-dimensional printing build system comprising; a conveyor system adapted to conduct plural build modules and comprising positioning-controller and plural build module engagements; plural build modules engaged with the conveyor system, wherein the build modules are adapted to receive and temporarily retain powder from a powder layering system, and wherein a build module comprises an incrementally height adjustable platform, an optional build plate disposed above the platform, and one or more sidewalls defining a cavity within which the platform the optional build plate can be disposed; and at least one build station comprising;
1) at least one powder layering system adapted to form incremental powder layers within the cavity of build modules and comprising at least one powder fill head, at least one powder spreader and at least one powder reservoir; and
2) at least one printing system adapted to apply a liquid according to a predetermined pattern to incremental powder layers within build modules and comprising at least one liquid feed system and at least one print head adapted to deposit liquid according to a predetermined pattern onto incremental layers of powder in a build module;wherein the conveyor system is adapted to repeatedly transport the plural build modules from the at least one powder layering system to the at least one printing system that employs Cartesian coordinate-based printing and not a radial or polar coordinate printing, and the conveyor system conducts the plural build modules along a planar circuitous path; and wherein;
a) the at least one build station is incrementally height adjustable with respect to the build modules, whereby the vertical space between the build module and the build station can be adjusted by one or more increments; and
/or b) the build station is vertically fixed with respect to the build modules and a build platform within a build module is vertically height adjustable with respect to the build module so that the vertical distance between the build station and the build module remains the same during a print lap or print cycle;whereby the three-dimensional printing build system forms a three-dimensionally printed bed comprising one or more three-dimensionally printed articles, and optionally loose powder that has not been printed upon; b) at least one bed transfer system adapted to transfer three-dimensionally printed beds, one or more at a time, away from the three-dimensional printing build system, wherein the printed beds are with or without their corresponding build plates and/or build modules c) at least one liquid removal system adapted to remove liquid from one or more incremental powder layers onto which the liquid has been applied and/or from the three-dimensionally printed bed; and d) at least one harvesting system adapted to separate loose powder from one or more three-dimensionally printed articles in a three-dimensionally printed bed. - View Dependent Claims (24)
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30. ) A three-dimensional printing equipment assembly comprising:
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a) a three-dimensional printing build system comprising; a conveyor system adapted to conduct plural build modules; plural build modules engaged with the conveyor system, wherein the build modules are adapted to receive and temporarily retain powder from a powder layering system; and at least one build station comprising;
1) at least one powder layering system adapted to form incremental powder layers within build modules; and
2) at least one printing system adapted to apply a liquid according to a predetermined pattern to incremental powder layers within build modules;wherein the conveyor system comprises plural attachments adapted to removeably retain the plural build modules, and the attachment comprises plural one or more metal links with cam followers or comprises wheels, plates and/or bearings attached to a build module and mounted on a rail system upon which the build module is conducted, and the conveyor system repeatedly transports the build modules from the at least one powder layering system to the at least one printing system to form a three-dimensionally printed bed comprising one or more three-dimensionally printed articles in the build modules; and
the equipment assembly excludes a printing system adapted to apply liquid to the powder according to a polar coordinate algorithm.
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Specification