Apparatus for making three-dimensional articles including moving build material reservoir and associated method
First Claim
1. An apparatus for making a three-dimensional article based upon article defining data, said apparatus comprising:
- a build material jetting head for dispensing build material in a plurality of droplets;
a first positioner for positioning said jetting head along a first direction;
a second positioner for positioning said first positioner along a second direction transverse to the first direction so that said jetting head is thereby positionable along the second direction for dispensing build material to facilitate construction of a three-dimensional article based upon article defining data;
a build material reservoir for containing liquid build material;
a flexible tube connecting said build material reservoir in fluid communication with said jetting head for delivering liquid build material from said build material reservoir to said jetting head;
said build material reservoir being mounted on said first positioner and movable therewith along the second direction to cause mixing of the liquid build material and so that said flexible tube need only flex to accommodate positioning of said jetting head along the first direction, but not along the second direction; and
docking means, cooperating with said first and second positioners, for selectively positioning said build material reservoir adjacent solid build material supply means which stores build material in solid form and for replenishing build material within said build material reservoir from said solid build material supply means.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A three-dimensional article making apparatus includes a first positioner for positioning a build material jetting head along a first direction, a second positioner for positioning the first positioner along a second direction so that the jetting head is effectively positionable along the second direction as well, and a build material reservoir being mounted on the first positioner so that a flexible connecting tube need only flex to accommodate positioning of jetting head along the first direction but not along the second direction. The jetting head may be a piezoelectric jet which operates by forming a negative meniscus at an orifice of jet between droplets. Accordingly, the build material reservoir may be mounted vertically relative to the piezoelectric jet to form the negative meniscus by negative head pressure. The apparatus preferably includes a solid build material supply mounted on an apparatus frame for storing build material in solid form. The first and second positioners may be used for selectively positioning the build material reservoir adjacent the solid build material supply to replenish build material within the build material reservoir. In addition, a build material level sensor may be provided for initiating replenishment of the build material reservoir responsive to a low level of build material. Related methods are also disclosed.
102 Citations
41 Claims
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1. An apparatus for making a three-dimensional article based upon article defining data, said apparatus comprising:
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a build material jetting head for dispensing build material in a plurality of droplets; a first positioner for positioning said jetting head along a first direction; a second positioner for positioning said first positioner along a second direction transverse to the first direction so that said jetting head is thereby positionable along the second direction for dispensing build material to facilitate construction of a three-dimensional article based upon article defining data; a build material reservoir for containing liquid build material; a flexible tube connecting said build material reservoir in fluid communication with said jetting head for delivering liquid build material from said build material reservoir to said jetting head; said build material reservoir being mounted on said first positioner and movable therewith along the second direction to cause mixing of the liquid build material and so that said flexible tube need only flex to accommodate positioning of said jetting head along the first direction, but not along the second direction; and docking means, cooperating with said first and second positioners, for selectively positioning said build material reservoir adjacent solid build material supply means which stores build material in solid form and for replenishing build material within said build material reservoir from said solid build material supply means. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. An apparatus for making a three-dimensional article based upon article defining data, said apparatus comprising:
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a platform upon which the three-dimensional article is constructed; a build material dispensing head for dispensing build material; a first positioner for positioning said dispensing head along a first direction relative to said platform; a second positioner for positioning said first positioner along a second direction transverse to the first direction; a build material reservoir mounted on said first positioner and movable therewith for containing liquid build material; a flexible tube connecting said build material reservoir in fluid communication with said dispensing head for delivering liquid build material from said build material reservoir to said dispensing head; a third positioner for positioning said platform relative to said dispensing head along a third direction transverse to both the first and second directions so that said dispensing head is positionable to construct a three-dimensional article based upon the article defining data; and docking means, cooperating with said first and second positioners, for selectively positioning said build material reservoir adjacent solid build material supply means which stores build material in solid form and for replenishing build material within said build material reservoir from said solid build material supply means. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. An apparatus for making a three-dimensional article based upon article defining data, said apparatus comprising:
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a frame; solid build material supply means mounted on said frame for storing build material in solid form; a build material dispensing head for dispensing build material; a first positioner for positioning said dispensing head along a first direction relative to said frame; a second positioner for positioning said first positioner along a second direction relative to said frame; a build material reservoir mounted on said first positioner and movable therewith for containing liquid build material; a flexible tube connecting said build material reservoir in fluid communication with said dispensing head for delivering liquid build material from said build material reservoir to said dispensing head; and docking means, cooperating with said first and second positioners, for selectively positioning said build material reservoir adjacent said solid build material supply means and for replenishing build material within said build material reservoir from said solid build material supply means. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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31. A method for making a three-dimensional article based upon article defining data, the method comprising the steps of:
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positioning a build material jetting head along a first direction using a first positioner; positioning the first positioner along a second direction so that the jetting head is also positioned along the second direction; supplying liquid build material from a build material reservoir, through a flexible tube, and to the jetting head, with the build material reservoir being mounted on the first positioner to cause mixing of the liquid build material and so that the flexible tube need only flex to accommodate positioning of the jetting head along the first direction, but not along the second direction; dispensing build material in a plurality of droplets from the jetting head as the jetting head is positioned along the first and second directions to facilitate construction of a three-dimensional article based upon the article defining data; selectively positioning the build material reservoir adjacent solid build material supply means for storing build material in solid form; and replenishing build material within the build material reservoir from the solid build material supply means. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37)
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38. An apparatus for making a three-dimensional article based upon article defining data, said apparatus comprising:
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a frame; solid build material supply means mounted on said frame for storing a build material in solid form; a build material jetting head for dispensing build material in a plurality of droplets; a first positioner for positioning said jetting head along a first direction relative to said frame; a second positioner for positioning said first positioner along a second direction transverse to the first direction so that said jetting head is thereby positionable along the second direction for dispensing build material to facilitate construction of a three-dimensional article based upon article defining data; a build material reservoir for containing liquid build material; a flexible tube connecting said build material reservoir in fluid communication with said jetting head for delivering liquid build material from said build material reservoir to said jetting head; said build material reservoir being mounted on said first positioner and movable therewith along the second direction to cause mixing of the liquid build material and so that said flexible tube need only flex to accommodate positioning of said jetting head along the first direction, but not along the second direction; and docking means, cooperating with said first and second positioners, for selectively positioning said build material reservoir adjacent said solid build material supply means and for replenishing build material within said build material reservoir from said solid build material supply means. - View Dependent Claims (39)
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40. An apparatus for making a three-dimensional article based upon article defining data, said apparatus comprising:
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a frame; solid build material supply means mounted on said frame for storing a build material in solid form; a platform mounted to said frame upon which the three-dimensional article is constructed; a build material dispensing head for dispensing build material; a first positioner for positioning said dispensing head along a first direction relative to said platform; a second positioner for positioning said first positioner along a second direction transverse to the first direction; a build material reservoir mounted on said first positioner and movable therewith for containing liquid build material; a flexible tube connecting said build material reservoir in fluid communication with said dispensing head for delivering liquid build material from said build material reservoir to said dispensing head; a third positioner for positioning said platform relative to said dispensing head along a third direction transverse to both the first and second directions so that said dispensing head is positionable to construct a three-dimensional article based upon the article defining data; and docking means, cooperating with said first and second positioners, for selectively positioning said build material reservoir adjacent said solid build material supply means and for replenishing build material within said build material reservoir from said solid build material supply means. - View Dependent Claims (41)
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Specification