Patent ID: 11883879
Assignee: ADDITIVE TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
Field: Materials, metallurgy (Chemistry)
Classification: CPC B | IPC B

Claim 0:
1. A 3D printer, comprising:
an ejector configured to receive a build material, wherein the ejector comprises a nozzle that is configured to eject the build material therefrom;
a valve positioned upstream from the nozzle, wherein the valve is configured to control flow of the build material into or through the ejector, wherein the valve comprises:
a cooler configured to cool the build material to below a melting point of the build material to form a solid plug to prevent the build material from flowing therethrough; and
a heater configured to re-heat the build material to above the melting point to allow the build material to flow therethrough, wherein the heater is positioned radially inward or radially outward from the cooler;

and
a substrate positioned below the nozzle, wherein the build material lands on the substrate and cools and solidifies thereon to form a 3D object.