Three-dimensional object printing
First Claim
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1. A three-dimensional printing system to print a three-dimensional object, the system comprising:
- one or more printing heads;
two or more replaceable cartridge apparatuses storing building materials in a closed container and connectable via tubes to the one or more printing heads, the cartridge apparatuses providing building materials to said one or more printing heads to print said three-dimensional object;
two or more sensors that determine the status of building materials in said cartridge apparatuses;
a controller that receives data from said sensors and controls switching of building material supply from one replaceable cartridge to another; and
a valve matrix coupled to said two or more cartridge apparatuses, to control supply of building materials from said cartridge apparatuses to said printing heads,wherein upon lowering of the level of said building material in any one of said two or more cartridge apparatuses to a pre-determined amount, said valve matrix is adapted to automatically switch material sources.
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Abstract
Apparatus and method for controlling modeling material supply in a three-dimensional object-printing system (100). The apparatus may include one or more cartridges (180) containing modeling materials that may be connected via a set or matrix of valves (175) to the three-dimensional object printing system (100). Sensors (185) associated with the cartridges (180) may continuously or periodically monitor the status of the material within the cartridges. The controller receives data about the material presently available in each cartridge (180) and computes supply parameters for the available materials in the various cartridges (180).
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Citations
13 Claims
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1. A three-dimensional printing system to print a three-dimensional object, the system comprising:
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one or more printing heads; two or more replaceable cartridge apparatuses storing building materials in a closed container and connectable via tubes to the one or more printing heads, the cartridge apparatuses providing building materials to said one or more printing heads to print said three-dimensional object; two or more sensors that determine the status of building materials in said cartridge apparatuses; a controller that receives data from said sensors and controls switching of building material supply from one replaceable cartridge to another; and a valve matrix coupled to said two or more cartridge apparatuses, to control supply of building materials from said cartridge apparatuses to said printing heads, wherein upon lowering of the level of said building material in any one of said two or more cartridge apparatuses to a pre-determined amount, said valve matrix is adapted to automatically switch material sources. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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Specification