APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING AN INTEGRALLY LAMINATED THREE-DIMENSIONAL OBJECT BY REPEATING FORMATION OF POWDER LAYER AND SOLIDIFIED LAYER

• US 20150321256A1
• Filed: 07/23/2015
• Published: 11/12/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 08/05/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd. (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd. (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: HIGASHI, Yoshikazu, YOSHIDA, Norio, ABE, Satoshi, FUWA, Isao, TAKENAMI, Masataka
• Granted Patent: US 9,724,758 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B05C 11/028 with a body having a large flat spreading or distributing surface
• 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 5/02 the liquid or other fluent material being discharged through an outlet orifice by pressure, e.g. from an outlet device in contact or almost in contact, with the work
• CPC Class Codes: B05C 9/14 the auxiliary operation involving heating or cooling
• CPC Class Codes: B22F 10/28 Powder bed fusion, e.g. selective laser melting [SLM] or electron beam melting [EBM]
• CPC Class Codes: B22F 12/44 characterised by the configuration of the radiation means
• CPC Class Codes: B22F 12/50 Means for feeding of material, e.g. heads
• CPC Class Codes: B22F 12/55 Two or more means for feeding material
• CPC Class Codes: B22F 2999/00 Aspects linked to processes or compositions used in powder metallurgy
• CPC Class Codes: B22F 3/003 Apparatus, e.g. furnaces in general F27B
• 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 64/329 using hoppers
• CPC Class Codes: B33Y 30/00 Apparatus for additive manufacturing; Details thereof or accessories therefor
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 10/25 Process efficiency

Abstract

An apparatus for producing a laminated object, includes a powder layer forming unit for forming a powder layer of a powdery material, a material supply unit for feeding the powdery material to the powder layer forming unit; and a solidified layer forming unit for forming a solidified layer by irradiating a light beam on a specified portion of the powder layer and sintering or melting the specified portion of the powder layer. The apparatus is configured to produce an integrally laminated three-dimensional object by repeating formation of the powder layer and formation of the solidified layer. The material supply unit includes a cartridge unit charged with the powdery material, the cartridge unit being configured to allow the powdery material to drop downwards.

Claims

1. An apparatus for producing a laminated object, comprising:

a powder layer forming unit configured to form a powder layer of a powdery material;

a material supply unit configured to feed the powdery material to the powder layer forming unit; and

a solidified layer forming unit configured to form a solidified layer by irradiating a light beam on a specified portion of the powder layer and sinter or melt the specified portion of the powder layer, the apparatus being configured to produce an integrally laminated three-dimensional object by repeating formation of the powder layer and formation of the solidified layer,

wherein the material supply unit comprises a cartridge unit charged with the powdery material, the cartridge unit being configured to allow the powdery material to drop downwards, and

wherein the powder layer forming unit comprises a powdery material storage unit, the material supply unit being configured to feed the powdery material charged in the cartridge unit to the powdery material storage unit.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a transportation unit configured to clamp and transport the cartridge unit.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the powdery material storage unit is configured to allow the cartridge unit to be partially or fully inserted thereinto.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the material supply unit is configured to feed the powdery material charged in the cartridge unit onto a base on which the power layer and/or the solidified layer is formed or a base frame surrounding the base.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the cartridge unit includes a plurality of cartridge units connectable to one another.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the cartridge unit is formed to have a downwardly tapering shape.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the cartridge unit has an inner surface and a spiral groove or a spiral protrusion formed on the inner surface thereof.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the cartridge unit has a bottom portion, the powdery material charged in the cartridge unit being dropped by opening the bottom portion.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the powder layer forming unit includes a needle portion for piercing the bottom portion of the cartridge unit.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the cartridge unit has a powder dispensing mouth through which to feed the powdery material, the powder dispensing mouth being openable and closable.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the cartridge unit is configured to allow the powder dispensing mouth to be opened when the cartridge unit is inserted into a powdery material storage unit.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the cartridge unit is configured to allow the powder dispensing mouth to be opened in synchronism with movement of the powder layer forming unit.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the cartridge unit has a screw installed therein.

14. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a drying unit for drying the powdery material charged in the cartridge unit.

15. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a vibration unit for vibrating the cartridge unit.

16. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the cartridge unit has an internal space charged with the powdery material and kept hermetically sealed.

17. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the cartridge unit is made of a reusable plastic material or a paper material with sealability.

18. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the cartridge unit includes a memory for storing components of the powdery material charged in the cartridge unit.

19. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the cartridge unit has a drum shape and the bottom portion is a sidewall of the drum-shaped cartridge unit, and wherein the drum-shaped cartridge unit is provided with a lid plate configured to slide along the sidewall thereof, thereby to open and close the powder dispensing mouth.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the lid plate is provided with a lid lever extending in the longitudinal direction of the drum-shaped cartridge unit, and the powder dispensing mouth is opened and closed by the lid lever.