PASSIVE Z-AXIS ALIGNMENT
First Claim
1. A robotic system for positioning along an x-axis, a y-axis, and a z-axis in three-dimensional space, the robotic system comprising:
- a controller;
a tool;
an x-positioning system including a first drive motor, a first drive gear, and a first mechanical system, the first drive motor responsive to signals from the controller to rotate the first drive gear, and the first mechanical system coupled to the first drive gear and configured to respond to rotation of the first drive gear by moving the tool along an x-axis;
a y-positioning system including a second drive motor, a second drive gear, and a second mechanical system, the second drive motor responsive to signals from the controller to rotate the second drive gear, and the second mechanical system coupled to the second drive gear and configured to respond to rotation of the second drive gear by moving the tool along a y-axis; and
a z-positioning system including a passive gear assembly responsive to a movement of the x-positioning system along the x-axis to move the tool along a z-axis when the y-positioning system is in a predetermined position along the y-axis.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A three-dimensional printer positions a tool such as an extruder in three-dimensional space using a passive, i.e., non-motorized, z-axis alignment technique that generates z-axis movement based upon motorized movements along another axis. In this manner, intermittent z-axis step movements such as those from layer to layer in a multi-layer fabrication process can be performed without the need for an additional, dedicated motor for z-axis movement. The passive system may employ a variety of different gearing techniques to convert x-axis or y-axis movements into a z-axis movement under various conditions. For example, the three-dimensional printing tool may move to a predetermined position along a first axis (e.g., an x-axis or y-axis) where a passive gear assembly engages a rack or the like. When in this predetermined position along the first axis, the tool can move along a second axis and create a resulting movement on a third axis (e.g., the z-axis).
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A robotic system for positioning along an x-axis, a y-axis, and a z-axis in three-dimensional space, the robotic system comprising:
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a controller; a tool; an x-positioning system including a first drive motor, a first drive gear, and a first mechanical system, the first drive motor responsive to signals from the controller to rotate the first drive gear, and the first mechanical system coupled to the first drive gear and configured to respond to rotation of the first drive gear by moving the tool along an x-axis; a y-positioning system including a second drive motor, a second drive gear, and a second mechanical system, the second drive motor responsive to signals from the controller to rotate the second drive gear, and the second mechanical system coupled to the second drive gear and configured to respond to rotation of the second drive gear by moving the tool along a y-axis; and a z-positioning system including a passive gear assembly responsive to a movement of the x-positioning system along the x-axis to move the tool along a z-axis when the y-positioning system is in a predetermined position along the y-axis. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method comprising:
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rotating a first drive gear of an x-positioning system of a tool thereby moving the tool along an x-axis, the x-positioning system including a z-positioning subassembly; rotating a second drive gear of a y-positioning system of the tool thereby moving the tool along a y-axis; positioning the y-positioning system into a predetermined position along the y-axis to engage the z-positioning subassembly for movement corresponding to movement of the x-positioning system along the x-axis, the z-positioning subassembly in communication with a passive gear assembly of a z-positioning system such that movement of the x-positioning system along the x-axis moves the tool along a z-axis when the y-positioning system is in the predetermined position; and rotating the first drive gear of the x-positioning system when the y-positioning system is in the predetermined position thereby moving the tool along the z-axis.
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19. A robotic system for positioning along an x-axis, a y-axis, and a z-axis in three-dimensional space, the robotic system comprising:
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a controller; a tool opposing a build platform; an x-positioning system including a first drive motor, a first drive gear, and a first mechanical system, the first drive motor responsive to signals from the controller to rotate the first drive gear, and the first mechanical system coupled to the first drive gear and configured to respond to rotation of the first drive gear by moving the tool along an x-axis; a y-positioning system including a second drive motor, a second drive gear, and a second mechanical system, the second drive motor responsive to signals from the controller to rotate the second drive gear, and the second mechanical system coupled to the second drive gear and configured to respond to rotation of the second drive gear by moving the tool along a y-axis; and a z-positioning system including a passive gear assembly responsive to a movement of the x-positioning system along the x-axis to move the build platform along a z-axis when the y-positioning system is in a predetermined position along the y-axis.
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20. (canceled)
Specification