Installation for the layered construction of a shaped body, comprising a coating device cleaner

• US 9,616,620 B2
• Filed: 12/01/2010
• Issued: 04/11/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 12/02/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Exone GMBH (Desktop Metal, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Exone GMBH (Desktop Metal, Inc.)
• Inventors: Hoechsmann, Rainer, Mueller, Alexander
• Primary Examiner(s): Thomas, Binu
• Application Number:
  US13/513,559
• Publication Number:
  US 20130000553A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,323 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: B05C 19/04 the particulate material being projected, poured or allowed to flow onto the surface of the work B05C19/02 takes precedence; involving spraying or electrostatic projection B05B B05C19/005 takes precedence
• 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 10/14 by jetting of binder onto a bed of metal powder
• CPC Class Codes: B22F 10/28 Powder bed fusion, e.g. selective laser melting [SLM] or electron beam melting [EBM]
• CPC Class Codes: B22F 10/73 of powder
• CPC Class Codes: B22F 12/222 for motion along a direction orthogonal to the plane of a layer
• CPC Class Codes: B22F 12/53 Nozzles
• CPC Class Codes: B22F 12/55 Two or more means for feeding material
• CPC Class Codes: B22F 12/58 for changing the material composition, e.g. by mixing
• CPC Class Codes: B22F 2999/00 Aspects linked to processes or compositions used in powder metallurgy
• CPC Class Codes: B22F 3/005 Loading or unloading powder metal objects transport in general B65G
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 41/12 Spreading-out the material on a substrate , e.g. on the surface of a liquid
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 64/124 using layers of liquid which are selectively solidified
• 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: 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: B33Y 50/02 for controlling or regulating additive manufacturing processes
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 10/25 : Process efficiency

Abstract

A plant (100) for the layered construction of a molded body comprises a coating device (400) and a coating device cleaner (600). The coating device is movable horizontally across a construction field for applying a uniform layer of construction material to be solidified to the construction field and has an elongate metering shaft (410), at the lower side of which a longitudinal slot (412) is provided for outputting the construction material as the metering shaft (410) moves across the construction field. The coating device cleaner (600) is mounted on a construction frame (150) of the plant and serves for cleaning the metering shaft (410). The coating device cleaner (600) comprises an elongate wiper element (610) that is received under the metering shaft (410) of the coating device (400) at least in part in a construction material collection container (620).

Claims

1. Plant for the layered construction of a molded body by forming layers of construction material lying one upon another, on a construction field, and by selectively solidifying a partial area of the respective construction material layer prior to forming the next layer, comprising:

a coating device which is movable horizontally across the construction field for applying a uniform layer of the construction material to be solidified to the construction field, and comprises an elongate metering shaft, at the lower side of which a longitudinal slot is provided for outputting the construction material as the metering shaft moves across the construction field, and

a stationary coating device cleaner mounted on a construction frame of the plant below the coating device for cleaning the lower end and the longitudinal slot of the metering shaft, comprising an elongate wiper element that is received below the metering shaft of the coating device at least in part in a construction material collection container,

wherein the length of the wiper element is greater than or equal to the length of the metering shaft,

wherein the wiper element is supported rotatably and is rotatably drivable by a wiper element drive for making a relative motion between the wiper element and the metering shaft, and

wherein the coating device is moveable to the coating device cleaner, in order to wipe away construction material adhering to the lower side of the metering shaft and to wipe the longitudinal slot of the metering shaft, in order to remove obstructions.

2. Plant according to claim 1, wherein the wiper element is a brush.

3. Plant according to claim 1, further comprising a deflector plate which is arranged within the construction material collection container in such a manner that construction material that is stripped off the metering shaft by means of the wiper element is deflected by the deflector plate to the lower side of the construction material collection container.

4. Plant according to claim 1, wherein the construction material collection container leads to a reservoir.

5. Plant according to claim 4, wherein the reservoir comprises a lower output opening provided in an exterior wall of the plant housing, through which the construction material collected in the reservoir is capable of being removed.

6. Plant according to claim 5, wherein the output opening is formed above a reservoir outlet trough to which the reservoir leads.

7. Plant according to claim 1, wherein the elongate metering shaft is funnel-shaped in cross-section.

8. The plant according to claim 1, further comprising a controller configured such that, following a predetermined number of coating displacements or depending on a sensor signal which indicates whether it is necessary to clean the metering shaft, the controller controls a drive of the coating device in such a manner that the coating device is moved to the coating device cleaner, and controls the drive of the wiper element for making the relative motion.

9. The plant according to claim 4, wherein the reservoir comprises a storage funnel for excessive construction material.

10. The plant according to claim 5, wherein the construction material collected in the reservoir is capable of being removed by withdrawal by suction.