METHOD AND DEVICE FOR CONVEYING PARTICULATE MATERIAL DURING THE LAYER-WISE PRODUCTION OF PATTERNS
First Claim
1. An apparatus for the manufacture of a three dimensional object in layers comprisingi) a device for conveying a particulate material during the manufacture of the object in layers, wherein the devise comprisesa) a reservoir,b) a spreader unit, andc) a plurality of particulate material conveying systems including a first particulate material conveying system and a second particulate material conveying system;
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whereinthe first particulate material conveying system conveys the particulate material from the reservoir to the spreader;
the spreader is adapted for spreading the particulate material onto the build platform; and
the second particulate material conveying system conveys excess particulate material that was fed to the spreader back to the reservoir;
so that at least the reservoir and the spreader unit are contained in a closed conveying circuit.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention relates to apparatus, devices and methods for conveying particulate material during the manufacture of patterns in layers, wherein powder is conveyed out of a reservoir into a spreader unit and, if applicable, excess powder fed to the spreader unit is again conveyed back into the reservoir and wherein this conveying takes place in a closed conveying circuit.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. An apparatus for the manufacture of a three dimensional object in layers comprising
i) a device for conveying a particulate material during the manufacture of the object in layers, wherein the devise comprises a) a reservoir, b) a spreader unit, and c) a plurality of particulate material conveying systems including a first particulate material conveying system and a second particulate material conveying system; - and
ii) a build platform on which the object is built; wherein the first particulate material conveying system conveys the particulate material from the reservoir to the spreader; the spreader is adapted for spreading the particulate material onto the build platform; and the second particulate material conveying system conveys excess particulate material that was fed to the spreader back to the reservoir; so that at least the reservoir and the spreader unit are contained in a closed conveying circuit. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. An apparatus for the manufacture of a three dimensional object in layers comprising
i) a first device for conveying a particulate material during the manufacture of the object in layers, wherein the devise comprises a) a reservoir, b) a spreader unit, and c) a plurality of particulate material conveying systems including a first particulate material conveying system and a second particulate material conveying system, wherein the particulate material conveying system comprises screw conveyors; -
ii) a build platform on which the object is built; and iii) a second device for selectively imprinting a binder on a layer of the particulate material; wherein the first device includes a junction for introducing new particulate material into the reservoir; the first particulate material conveying system conveys the particulate material from the reservoir to the spreader; the spreader is adapted for spreading the particulate material onto the build platform; and the second particulate material conveying system conveys excess particulate material that was fed to the spreader back to the reservoir; so that at least the reservoir and the spreader unit are contained in a closed conveying circuit. - View Dependent Claims (18)
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19. An apparatus for the manufacture of a three dimensional object in layers comprising
i) a first device for conveying a particulate material during the manufacture of the object in layers, wherein the devise comprises a) a reservoir, b) a spreader unit, and c) a plurality of particulate material conveying systems including a first particulate material conveying system and a second particulate material conveying system, wherein the particulate material conveying systems comprises at least one conveyor belt; -
ii) a build platform on which the object is built; and iii) a second device for selectively imprinting a binder on a layer of the particulate material; wherein the first device includes a junction for introducing new particulate material into the reservoir; the first particulate material conveying system conveys the particulate material from the reservoir to the spreader; the spreader is adapted for spreading the particulate material onto the build platform; and the second particulate material conveying system conveys excess particulate material that was fed to the spreader back to the reservoir; so that at least the reservoir and the spreader unit are contained in a closed conveying circuit. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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Specification