Method and device for switching a particulate material flow in the construction of models in layers
First Claim
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1. A system for production of three-dimensional models comprising:
- a workpiece platform for layer-wiser application of a particulate material;
a coating device for repeated application of layers of the particulate material to the workpiece platform; and
a filling device for filling the coating device with the particulate material, wherein the filling device includes a container having two opposing walls and an opening in the direction of the workpiece platform for feeding to the coating device, the opening not being sealed off from the environment around the filling device, the filling device includes a means for exposing the particulate material to vacuum and excess pressure for controlling the flow of the particulate material from the filling device, wherein the means for exposing the particulate material includes at least one connector to each of the opposing walls for i) providing vacuum from the opposing walls for forming a bridge of the particulate material between the two opposing walls and ii) providing excess pressure for destroying the bridge;
wherein the two opposing walls are flat and tapered inwardly, and the intersection of the opposing walls with the horizontal plane are parallel lines;
a length of the container is a multiple of a width of the container so that the opening of the container is long and narrow for filling the coating device across a length of the coating device.
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Abstract
The invention relates to a method for switching a particulate material flow in the construction of models in layers, wherein particulate materials are fed to a subsequent method step from a container having an opening in the direction of a workpiece platform. The particles in the container are exposed to a vacuum and to overpressure.
170 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A system for production of three-dimensional models comprising:
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a workpiece platform for layer-wiser application of a particulate material; a coating device for repeated application of layers of the particulate material to the workpiece platform; and a filling device for filling the coating device with the particulate material, wherein the filling device includes a container having two opposing walls and an opening in the direction of the workpiece platform for feeding to the coating device, the opening not being sealed off from the environment around the filling device, the filling device includes a means for exposing the particulate material to vacuum and excess pressure for controlling the flow of the particulate material from the filling device, wherein the means for exposing the particulate material includes at least one connector to each of the opposing walls for i) providing vacuum from the opposing walls for forming a bridge of the particulate material between the two opposing walls and ii) providing excess pressure for destroying the bridge; wherein the two opposing walls are flat and tapered inwardly, and the intersection of the opposing walls with the horizontal plane are parallel lines;
a length of the container is a multiple of a width of the container so that the opening of the container is long and narrow for filling the coating device across a length of the coating device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method for construction of models in layers comprising the steps of:
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forming a bridge of a particulate material in a container of a filling device by exposing the particulate material to a vacuum from two opposing walls of the container, wherein the opposing walls are flat and tapered inwardly and the intersection of the opposing walls with a horizontal plane are parallel lines; applying a first layer of the particulate material to a workpiece platform using a coating device; destroying the bridge by impacting the bridge with an excess pressure; feeding the particulate material from the filling device to the coating device for filling the coating device with the particulate material, and applying an additional layer of the particulate material over the first layer using the coating device; wherein the container of the filling device has an opening in the direction of the workpiece platform, the opening not being sealed off from the environment around the filling device, wherein the feeding of the particulate material from the filling device is controlled by exposing the particulate material in the container to the vacuum for forming the bridge and to the excess pressure for destroying the bridge; and wherein a length of the container is a multiple of a width of the container so that the opening of the container is long and narrow for filling the coating device across a length of the coating device. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification