Apparatus and automated manufacturing device for producing a personalized 3D object

• US 8,150,145 B2
• Filed: 04/30/2010
• Issued: 04/03/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 01/27/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: CNCA Laser Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: CNCA Laser Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Lemelin, Guylain, Delisle, Sonya, Beauchamp, Dominique
• Primary Examiner(s): Mehta, Bhavesh
• Assistant Examiner(s): Drennan, Barry
• Application Number:
  US12/772,061
• Publication Number:
  US 20100332005A1
• Time in Patent Office: 704 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 382/154
• CPC Class Codes: B33Y 30/00 Apparatus for additive manufacturing; Details thereof or accessories therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B33Y 50/00 Data acquisition or data processing for additive manufacturing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/00 Commerce

Abstract

An apparatus for producing a personalized 3D object is disclosed. The apparatus, or kiosk, comprises a payment detector, a user input device and a display, an image acquisition system, calculators for calculating a 3D image, a manufacturing device and an exit for delivering the personalized 3D object to the user. The manufacturing device includes a loading device for loading blank 3D objects on a platform, which includes vertical storages and a rotatable tray disposed underneath having a slit therein for receiving the blank 3D objects. The rotatable tray is computer controlled to rotated between various operative positions for loading and unloading the 3D objects.

Claims

1. An automated manufacturing device for producing a personalized 3D object in a blank 3D object in view of a set of 3D data and of parameters selected by a user, comprising:

a platform for receiving the blank 3D object;

a sub-surface laser engraver for altering the blank 3D object on said platform in view of the set of 3D data and the parameters selected by the user, thereby producing the personalized 3D object;

a delivering device for delivering the personalized 3D object to the user; and

a loading device for loading a blank 3D object onto the platform, said loading device comprising;

At least one vertical storage for storing a plurality of said blank 3D objects in a vertically stacked arrangement, each vertical storage having a bottom opening allowing a lowermost one of the blank 3D objects in said vertical storage therethrough; and

A rotatable tray disposed underneath said vertical storage obstructively of said bottom opening, the rotatable tray having a slit therein sized to receive the lowermost one of the blank 3D objects from said vertical storage, said tray being computer controlled to rotate between an object-receiving position where the slit is aligned with the bottom opening of one of the at least one vertical storage to receive the lowermost one of the blank 3D objects therein, a loading position where the slit is positioned over said platform to load the blank 3D object thereon, and a delivering position where the slit collaborates with the delivering device.

2. The automated manufacturing device according to claim 1, further comprising a plate extending closely underneath the rotatable tray, said plate having a first opening therethrough in alignment with said platform, and a second opening therethrough in alignment with the delivering device.

3. The automated manufacturing device according to claim 1, wherein said slit extends radially from an outer edge of the rotatable tray.

4. The automated manufacturing device according to claim 3, comprising a plurality of said vertical storages, contiguously disposed in an arced arrangement.

5. The automated manufacturing device according to claim 3, wherein each of the at least one vertical storage has a vertical slot extending along a length thereof and facing away from a center of rotation of said rotatable tray.

6. The automated manufacturing device according to claim 1, wherein the delivering device comprises a drop chute.

7. An apparatus for producing a personalized 3D object, comprising:

a payment detector configured to detect whether a payment has been received;

a user input device and a display configured to allow a user to select parameters within a bank of parameters when a payment is received;

an image acquisition system configured to capture at least two images of a subject in view of the parameters selected by the user;

a first calculator configured to calculate a 3D image with said at least two images captured;

a second calculator configured to extract a set of 3D data from the 3D image; and

an automated manufacturing device according to claim 1.