Three-dimensional Printing System and Equipment Assembly
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A three-dimensional printing equipment assembly comprising:
- a) a three-dimensional printing build system comprising;
a conveyor system that conducts plural build modules along a circuitous path;
plural build modules engaged with the conveyor system, wherein the build modules receive and temporarily retain powder from a powder layering system, and wherein a build module comprises an incrementally height adjustable platform, a removable build plate disposed above the platform, and one or more sidewalls defining a cavity within which the platform the build plate are disposed; and
at least one build station comprising;
1) at least one powder layering system that forms incremental powder layers within build modules; and
2) at least one printing system that applies 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 that deposits liquid according to a predetermined pattern onto incremental layers of powder in a build module;
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.
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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
83 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 that conducts plural build modules along a circuitous path; plural build modules engaged with the conveyor system, wherein the build modules receive and temporarily retain powder from a powder layering system, and wherein a build module comprises an incrementally height adjustable platform, a removable build plate disposed above the platform, and one or more sidewalls defining a cavity within which the platform the build plate are disposed; and at least one build station comprising;
1) at least one powder layering system that forms incremental powder layers within build modules; and
2) at least one printing system that applies 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 that deposits liquid according to a predetermined pattern onto incremental layers of powder in a build module;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. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 38, 39, 40, 66)
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41. A method for the preparation of three-dimensionally printed articles with an equipment assembly, the method comprising:
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a) initiating operation of a three-dimensional printing build system comprising; a conveyor system that conducts plural build modules along a circuitous path; plural build modules engaged with the conveyor system, wherein the build modules receive and temporarily retain powder from a powder layering system; and at least one build station comprising;
1) at least one powder layering system that forms incremental powder layers within build modules; and
2) at least one printing system that applies a liquid according to a predetermined pattern to incremental powder layers within build modules;b) with the conveyor system, repeatedly transporting 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.
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72. A three-dimensional printing equipment assembly comprising:
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a) a three-dimensional printing build system comprising; a modular conveyor system; plural build modules engaged with the conveyor system; a build plate loading region, wherein build plates are loaded onto build modules; at least one build station comprising a build region comprising a powder dispensing region, wherein powder is dispensed into build modules, and a printing region, wherein printing fluid is dispensed onto the powder in the build modules; and a powder recovery region, wherein powder is removed from one or more surfaces of the build modules; and b) one or more liquid removal systems; and c) a bed transfer system comprising a bed transfer region wherein three-dimensionally printed beds are transferred, one or more at a time, away from the three-dimensional printing build system to the one or more liquid removal systems; wherein the conveyor system that conducts the plural build modules along a circuitous path through the build plate loading region, build region, printing region, powder recovery region and bed transfer region. - View Dependent Claims (73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79)
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80. 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 receive and temporarily retain powder from a powder layering system; and at least one build station comprising;
1) at least one powder layering system that form incremental powder layers within build modules; and
2) at least one printing system that applies a liquid according to a predetermined pattern to incremental powder layers within build modules;wherein the conveyor system comprises plural attachments that removeably retain the plural build modules, and the attachment comprises plural one or more 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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81. A three-dimensional printing equipment assembly comprising:
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a modular conveyor system that conducts plural build modules along a circuitous path; plural build modules engaged with the conveyor system, wherein the build modules temporarily retain one or more three-dimensionally printed articles, and a build module comprises an incrementally height adjustable platform, a removable build plate disposed above the platform, and one or more sidewalls defining a cavity within which the platform the build plate are disposed; and at least one build station that forms one or more three-dimensionally printed articles on the plural build modules; wherein the conveyor system repeatedly transports the build modules through at least one build station. - View Dependent Claims (82, 83)
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Specification