Optical molding apparatus and movable base device therefor

• US 5,009,585 A
• Filed: 12/18/1989
• Issued: 04/23/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 12/18/1989
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Mitsui Engineering & Shipbuilding Company Limited (Mitsui E&S Holdings Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Mitsui Engineering & Shipbuilding Company Limited (Mitsui E&S Holdings Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Horikiri, Kazuhito, Sato, Katsumo, Shirai, Junji, Nagamori, Shigeru, Hirano, Yoshinao, Murata, Katsuhide
• Primary Examiner(s): Housel, James C.
• Application Number:
  US07/451,760
• Time in Patent Office: 491 Days
• Field of Search: 425/112, 425/161, 425/162, 425/174.4, 425/375, 264/22, 264/1.4, 264/1.7, 264/250, 264/255, 264/308, 156/58, 156/59, 156/242, 156/272.2, 156/272.8, 156/273.3, 156/273.5, 156/275.5, 156/379.6, 156/538, 365/106, 365/107, 365/119, 365/120, 365/126, 365/127, 269/71, 118/695, 118/697, 118/620, 118/500, 427/54.1, 427/43.1
• US Class Current: 425/174.4
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 64/135 the energy source being concentrated, e.g. scanning lasers or focused light sources
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/17 Surface bonding means and/or assemblymeans with work feeding or handling means

Abstract

An optical molding apparatus is used for an optical molding method including the steps of radiating light onto a photocurable resin so as to cure the irradiated portion and laminating the cured objects. The apparatus comprises: a container provided with an aperture on a bottom surface or a side surface thereof; a base which is movably away from a surface of the aperture; a light radiation apparatus for radiating light into the container through the aperture; and a cured object holding plate which is freely mounted and dismounted from above the base. A movable base device for the optical molding apparatus comprises the base and an elevator erected on a peripheral edge of the container so as to lift and lower the base. The base is provided with a frame, one end thereof constituting a slide portion vertically moved along the elevator, a model holding plate removably mounted on the frame, frame supporting members with the base end sides thereof rotatably supported by the slide portion. The frame supporting members assume both a supporting state for supporting the frame when they are connected to the frame and an evacuated state when the connection is released and the free end sides are rotated upward.

Claims

1. An optical molding apparatus used for an optical molding method including the steps of radiating light onto a photocurable resin so as to cure the resin at an irradiated portion and laminating the cured portions to form an object, said apparatus comprising:

a container having an aperture in one of a bottom portion and a side portion thereof, and a light transmitting plate with an inner surface situated in said aperture;

a base which is movable away from the inner surface of said light transmitting plate, said base being composed of a square frame;

a light radiation apparatus for radiating light into said container through said light transmitting plate; and

a cured object holding plate which is mounted to and dismounted from above said base, said cured object holding plate being inserted into said frame.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said cured object holding plate is provided on a surface facing said light transmitting plate with a sheet material.

3. A movable base device for an optical molding apparatus having a container with an aperture for accommodating photocurable resin and a light transmitting plate situated in said aperture, said optical molding apparatus being used for an optical molding method including the steps of radiating light onto the photocurable resin so as to cure the irradiated portion and laminating the cured portion to form an object, said device comprising;

an elevator mountable onto a peripheral edge of said container; and

a base attached to the elevator and arrangable for facing the aperture in a bottom portion of the container for accommodating the photocurable resin,

said base being moved up and down by the elevator;

said base being provided with a frame, said frame being cantilever supported from the elevator, one end of the frame constituting a slide portion vertically moved along said elevator, a model holding plate removably mounted on said frame, at least one frame supporting member having one end rotatably connected to said slide portion for vertical rotation relative thereto, said frame supporting member having another end releasably connected to the cantilevered end of the frame said at least one frame supporting member assuming both a supporting state for supporting said frame when connected to said frame and an evacuated state when said at least one frame supporting member is released and said at least one frame supporting member is rotated upward.