Method and device for conveying particulate material during the layer-wise production of patterns

• US 9,469,074 B2
• Filed: 04/11/2014
• Issued: 10/18/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 10/21/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Voxeljet AG
• Original Assignee: Voxeljet AG
• Inventors: Ederer, Ingo, Hartmann, Andreas
• Primary Examiner(s): DILLON JR, JOSEPH A
• Application Number:
  US14/250,838
• Publication Number:
  US 20140202381A1
• Time in Patent Office: 921 Days
• Field of Search: 264/113, 425/375, 406/53, 406/77, 406/106, 406/164
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B05C 19/06 Storage, supply or control of the application of particulate material; Recovery of excess particulate material
• CPC Class Codes: B22F 10/10 Formation of a green body
• CPC Class Codes: B22F 10/73 of powder
• CPC Class Codes: B22F 12/60 Planarisation devices; Compression devices
• CPC Class Codes: B22F 2998/00 Supplementary information concerning processes or compositions relating to powder metallurgy
• CPC Class Codes: B22F 2998/10 Processes characterised by the sequence of their steps
• CPC Class Codes: B22F 3/003 Apparatus, e.g. furnaces in general F27B
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 64/141 using only solid materials
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 64/153 using layers of powder being selectively joined, e.g. by selective laser sintering or melting
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 64/165 using a combination of solid and fluid materials, e.g. a powder selectively bound by a liquid binder, catalyst, inhibitor or energy absorber
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 64/35 Cleaning
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 64/357 Recycling
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2105/251 Particles, powder or granules expandable particles B29K2105/046
• CPC Class Codes: B33Y 10/00 Processes of additive manufacturing
• CPC Class Codes: B33Y 30/00 Apparatus for additive manufacturing; Details thereof or accessories therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B33Y 40/00 Auxiliary operations or equipment, e.g. for material handling
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 10/25 Process efficiency

Abstract

The present invention relates to apparatus, devices and methods for conveying particulate material during the manufacture of patterns in layers, wherein powder is conveyed out of a reservoir into a spreader unit and, if applicable, excess powder fed to the spreader unit is again conveyed back into the reservoir and wherein this conveying takes place in a closed conveying circuit.

Claims

1. An apparatus for the manufacture of a three dimensional object in layers comprising

i) a device for conveying a particulate material during the manufacture of the object in layers, wherein the devise comprises

a) a reservoir,

b) a spreader unit, and

c) a plurality of particulate material conveying systems including a first particulate material conveying system and a second particulate material conveying system;

and

ii) a build platform on which the object is built;

wherein

the first particulate material conveying system conveys the particulate material from the reservoir to the spreader;

the spreader is adapted for being filled with the particulate material, releasing the particulate material while moving over the build platform, and spreading the particulate material over the build platform; and

the second particulate material conveying system conveys excess particulate material that was fed to the spreader back to the reservoir;

so that at least the reservoir and the spreader unit are contained in a closed conveying circuit.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein provision is furthermore made for an ejection system.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the reservoir is arranged below the spreader unit in a vertical at least during a filling process.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the particulate material conveying system comprises at least one conveyor belt.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the particulate material conveying system comprises screw conveyors.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the particulate material conveying system comprises a suction device for low pressure conveying.

7. The apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the ejection system comprises two covers comprising slits.

8. The apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the ejection system comprises two tubes located within one another and comprising boreholes, which are arranged so as to be offset.

9. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a provision is furthermore made for a junction for introducing a new particulate material into the reservoir.

10. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the reservoir is maintained in a fixed position and the spreader unit is movable relative to the reservoir.

11. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the build platform is movable in the vertical direction.

16. The apparatus of claims 1, wherein the build platform is movable in the vertical direction by a layer thickness of one of the layers.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the apparatus includes an ejection system for evenly refilling the spreader unit with the particulate material.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the ejection system includes a pair of tubes that rotate against one another two provide an opening for discharge of the particulate material into the spreader unit.

19. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the reservoir is maintained in a fixed position and the spreader unit is movable relative to the reservoir.

20. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the apparatus includes an opening for removing the particulate material from the apparatus.

21. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the apparatus includes an opening for recovering excess particulate material during a filling of spreader unit.

12. An apparatus for the manufacture of a three dimensional object in layers comprising

i) a first device for conveying a particulate material during the manufacture of the object in layers, wherein the devise comprises

a) a reservoir,

b) a spreader unit, and

c) a plurality of particulate material conveying systems including a first particulate material conveying system and a second particulate material conveying system, wherein the particulate material conveying system comprises screw conveyors;

and

ii) a build platform on which the object is built;

the first device includes a junction for introducing new particulate material into the reservoir;

the first particulate material conveying system conveys the particulate material from the reservoir to the spreader;

the spreader is adapted for carrying the particulate material, releasing the particulate material while moving over the build platform, and spreading the particulate material onto the build platform; and

the second particulate material conveying system conveys excess particulate material that was fed to the spreader back to the reservoir;

so that at least the reservoir and the spreader unit are contained in a closed conveying circuit.

13. The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein

the reservoir is maintained in a fixed position and the spreader unit is movable relative to the reservoir;

and

the build platform is movable in the vertical direction.

14. An apparatus for the manufacture of a three dimensional object in layers comprising

i) a first device for conveying a particulate material during the manufacture of the object in layers, wherein the devise comprises

a) a reservoir,

b) a spreader unit, and

c) a plurality of particulate material conveying systems including a first particulate material conveying system and a second particulate material conveying system, wherein the particulate material conveying systems comprises at least one conveyor belt;

ii) a build platform on which the object is built

the first device includes a junction for introducing new particulate material into the reservoir;

the first particulate material conveying system conveys the particulate material from the reservoir to the spreader;

the spreader is adapted for being filled with the particulate material, releasing the particulate material while moving over the build platform, and spreading the particulate material onto the build platform; and

the second particulate material conveying system conveys excess particulate material that was fed to the spreader back to the reservoir;

so that at least the reservoir and the spreader unit are contained in a closed conveying circuit.

15. The apparatus according to claim 14, wherein

the reservoir is maintained in a fixed position and the spreader unit is movable relative to the reservoir;

and

the build platform is movable in the vertical direction.