SCALABLE THREE DIMENSIONAL PRINTING APPARATUS

• US 20180056544A1
• Filed: 08/29/2016
• Published: 03/01/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 08/29/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bruce A. Macallister, Gerald R. Northrup, Ghassan Al-Chaar, Megan A. Kreiger, Michael Patrick Case, William Jacob Wagner
• Original Assignee: Bruce A. Macallister, Gerald R. Northrup, Ghassan Al-Chaar, Megan A. Kreiger, Michael Patrick Case, William Jacob Wagner
• Inventors: Kreiger, Megan A., Case, Michael Patrick, Northrup, Gerald R., Al-Chaar, Ghassan, MacAllister, Bruce A, Wagner, William Jacob
• Granted Patent: US 11,273,574 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B28B 1/001 Rapid manufacturing of 3D objects by additive depositing, agglomerating or laminating of material selective deposition modelling of metallic powder B22F10/00; rapid manufacturing of 3D objects in general and in particular of plastics B29C64/00
• CPC Class Codes: B28B 3/20 wherein the material is extruded extrusion moulding of plastics B29C48/00
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 64/106 using only liquids or viscous materials, e.g. depositing a continuous bead of viscous material
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 64/236 for motion in a direction within the plane of a layer
• CPC Class Codes: B33Y 30/00 Apparatus for additive manufacturing; Details thereof or accessories therefor
• CPC Class Codes: E04G 21/04 Devices for both conveying and distributing concrete pumps F04

Abstract

A scalable three dimensional printing apparatus capable of movement along three axes includes a tractor assembly movable along a selectively extendable rail component. Wheels in the tractor assembly surround part of the rail component to enable movement of a gantry bridge in a longitudinal direction along the rails. A movable printing trolley moves horizontally along a gantry bridge and has a printing column which can move vertically. Because the gantry bridge, trolley, and printing column move orthogonally to each other, users may print in three dimensions. Selective extension of the rails allows a user to alter lengthwise printing scale.

Claims

1. A scalable three dimensional printing apparatus comprising

at least one tractor assembly movable along a selectively extendable runway assembly,

wherein said at least one tractor assembly comprises a plurality of tractor fixed wheels and a tractor motor connected to a tractor drive wheel,

wherein a portion of said selectively extendable runway assembly is located between said plurality of tractor fixed wheels and said tractor drive wheel,

wherein said plurality of tractor fixed wheels and said tractor drive wheel rotate while in contact with said selectively extendable runway assembly;

a movable printing trolley which moves along a gantry bridge; and

a printing column attached to said movable printing trolley.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said tractor motor is connected to said tractor drive wheel by a continuous loop connection.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said tractor motor is connected to said tractor drive wheel by a gearbox connection.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said tractor motor is directly connected to said tractor drive wheel.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said at least one tractor assembly further includes a rotational sensor mounted to a feedback wheel.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein said rotational sensor is connected to a machine controller.

7. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein said rotational sensor is a rotary measurement device selected from the group consisting of:

an encoder, a resolver, a synchro, a rotary variable differential transformer, and a rotary potentiometer.

8. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein a biasing mechanism is connected to said feedback wheel.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said biasing mechanism is selected from the group consisting of:

a spring tensioner, an additional wheel opposite said feedback wheel, a clamp, and any combination thereof.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said selectively extendable runway assembly includes a plurality of first runway rails connected end-to-end and a plurality of second runway rails connected end-to-end.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said gantry bridge is selectively replaceable.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said gantry bridge is supported by a plurality of gantry legs.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein each of said plurality of gantry legs has a telescoping configuration.

15. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said movable printing trolley comprises a trolley fixed wheel and a trolley motor connected to a trolley drive wheel, wherein a portion of said selectively replaceable gantry bridge is located between said trolley fixed wheel and said trolley drive wheel, wherein said trolley fixed wheel and said trolley drive wheel rotate while in contact with said selectively replaceable gantry bridge.

16. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said movable printing trolley further includes a plurality of column rollers surrounding said printing column.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein said plurality of column rollers is arranged in a plurality of planes surrounding said printing column.

18. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein said plurality of column rollers movably contact a plurality of roller interfaces on said printing column.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein each of said plurality of column rollers has a V-shaped surface groove, and each of said plurality of roller interfaces has an angled configuration.

20. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein each of said plurality of column rollers has a U-shaped surface groove, and each of said plurality of roller interfaces has a rounded configuration.

11. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein said plurality of first runway rails are connected end-to-end by at least one rail connector, and said plurality of second runway rails are connected end-to-end by at least one rail connector.