MATERIAL MANIPULATION IN THREE-DIMENSIONAL PRINTING
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An apparatus for printing at least one three-dimensional object, comprising:
- an enclosure configured to accommodate the three-dimensional object during printing;
a vertically translatable platform configured to support the at least one three-dimensional object during the printing, which platform is disposed in the enclosure;
a compressed gas source configured to flow a gas in a direction;
a material reservoir having at least one first wall that encloses a first volume configured to hold (i) a first atmosphere that has a gas content different from an ambient atmosphere and a first pressure, and (ii) a first material port disposed in the at least one first wall and configured to facilitate transport of a pre-transformed material therethrough, which material reservoir is operatively coupled to the enclosure and is configured to facilitate supply of the pre-transformed material to the enclosure to print the three-dimensional object; and
a bulk reservoir configured to hold a second atmosphere having a pressure above the first pressure and a gas content different from an ambient atmosphere, which bulk reservoir comprises a second material port, a gas port, and at least one second wall that encloses a second volume configured to accommodate the pre-transformed material, which compressed gas source is operatively coupled to the bulk reservoir through the gas port to facilitate pressurized conveyance of the pre-transformed material from the bulk reservoir through the second material port to the first material port at least in part against the gravitational field.
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Abstract
The present disclosure provides three-dimensional (3D) printing systems, apparatuses, software, and methods for the production of at least one requested 3D object. The 3D printer includes a material conveyance system, filtering system, and unpacking station. The material conveyance system may transport pre-transformed material against gravity. The 3D printing described herein comprises facilitating non-interrupted material dispensing through a component of the 3D printer, such as a layer dispenser.
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Citations
33 Claims
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1. An apparatus for printing at least one three-dimensional object, comprising:
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an enclosure configured to accommodate the three-dimensional object during printing; a vertically translatable platform configured to support the at least one three-dimensional object during the printing, which platform is disposed in the enclosure; a compressed gas source configured to flow a gas in a direction; a material reservoir having at least one first wall that encloses a first volume configured to hold (i) a first atmosphere that has a gas content different from an ambient atmosphere and a first pressure, and (ii) a first material port disposed in the at least one first wall and configured to facilitate transport of a pre-transformed material therethrough, which material reservoir is operatively coupled to the enclosure and is configured to facilitate supply of the pre-transformed material to the enclosure to print the three-dimensional object; and a bulk reservoir configured to hold a second atmosphere having a pressure above the first pressure and a gas content different from an ambient atmosphere, which bulk reservoir comprises a second material port, a gas port, and at least one second wall that encloses a second volume configured to accommodate the pre-transformed material, which compressed gas source is operatively coupled to the bulk reservoir through the gas port to facilitate pressurized conveyance of the pre-transformed material from the bulk reservoir through the second material port to the first material port at least in part against the gravitational field. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. An apparatus for printing at least one three-dimensional object, comprising:
one or more controllers that are operatively coupled to a compressed gas source, to a material reservoir, and to a bulk reservoir, which one or more controllers are configured to (i) direct the compressed gas source to flow a gas through a gas inlet port of the bulk reservoir to establish a first atmosphere that has a first gas content that is different from an ambient atmosphere and a first pressure, which first atmosphere is of an internal volume of the bulk reservoir;
(ii) facilitate pressurized transport of a pre-transformed material from the bulk reservoir to the material reservoir against a gravitational force, which material reservoir holds a second atmosphere that has a second gas content that is different from the ambient atmosphere and a second pressure lower than the first pressure, wherein pre-transformed material in the material reservoir is used for printing the three-dimensional object; and
(iii) direct vertically translating the platform that is configured to support the at least one three-dimensional object during the printing.- View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. A method of printing at least one three-dimensional object, comprising:
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(a) holding a first atmosphere in a first volume of a material reservoir which first atmosphere has a first gas content that is different from an ambient atmosphere, and a first pressure; (b) flowing compressed gas into a bulk reservoir to establish a second atmosphere that has a second gas content that is different from the ambient atmosphere and a second pressure greater than the first pressure; (c) flowing a pre-transformed material from the bulk reservoir to the material reservoir, which pre-transformed material in the material reservoir is used for printing the three-dimensional object; and (d) a vertically translating a platform supports the at least one three-dimensional object during the printing. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
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Specification