Interchangeable container

• US 7,204,684 B2
• Filed: 09/23/2001
• Issued: 04/17/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/26/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Exone GMBH (Desktop Metal, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Alexander Kudernatsch, Bernhard Graf, Höchsmann, Rainer, Ingo Ederer
• Inventors: Höchsmann, Rainer, Ederer, Ingo, Graf, Bernhard, Kudernatsch, Alexander
• Primary Examiner(s): Davis; Robert
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ewald; Maria Veronica
• Application Number:
  US10/381,548
• Publication Number:
  US 20040026418A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,032 Days
• Field of Search: 425/174.4, 425/182, 425/375
• US Class Current: 425/174.4
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 64/259 Interchangeable
• CPC Class Codes: B33Y 80/00 Products made by additive manufacturing

Abstract

The invention relates to an interchangeable container (1) for a device used to construct models. Said container forms a substantially delimiting frame, into which a workpiece platform (2) that acts as a base can be inserted. The interchangeable container (1) contains a support (3) onto which the workpiece platform (2) is introduced.

Claims

1. A job box for a pattern building device comprising:

a workpiece platform;

at least one pair of spaced apart but connected opposing sidewalls, each sidewall having at least one vertically oriented recess defined therein, adapted for vertical positioning of the workpiece platform in the job box; and

a carrier that vertically moves within the plurality of sidewalls, the carrier being adapted for defining a seal, independent of any seal of the workpiece platform, for the at least one vertically oriented recess in each sidewall, wherein the carrier includes at least two separable pieces, each including at least one bearing surface and further wherein a sealing strip for the at least one vertically oriented recess in each sidewall is positioned at an interface region between the separable pieces, wherein a generally sinusoidal interface is defined in the interface region between the two separable pieces.

2. The job box according to claim 1, wherein the seal of the workpiece platform includes a spring loaded seal.

3. A job box for a pattern building device comprising:

a workpiece platform including a peripheral edge region;

at least one pair of spaced apart but connected opposing sidewalls, each sidewall having at least one vertically oriented recess defined therein, adapted for vertical positioning of the workpiece platform in the job box; and

a carrier that substantially abuts the sidewalls and that vertically moves within the plurality of sidewalls, wherein the peripheral edge region of the platform engages an opposing surface of the carrier, wherein the carrier includes a spring loaded seal, and wherein the carrier includes at least two separable pieces, each including at least one bearing surface and a sealing strip is positioned at an interface region between the separable pieces.

4. A job box for a pattern building device comprising:

a workpiece platform including a peripheral edge region;

at least one pair of spaced apart but connected opposing sidewalls; and

a carrier that substantially abuts the sidewalls and that vertically moves within the plurality of sidewalls, wherein the peripheral edge region of the platform engages an opposing surface of the carrier, wherein the carrier is mounted in sealing relation to the sidewalls by at least one seal that is defined by the carrier, wherein the carrier includes at least two separable pieces, each including at least one bearing surface and further wherein a sealing strip is positioned at an interface region between the separable pieces.

5. The job box according to claim 4, wherein the seal of the workpiece platform includes a spring loaded seal.