Patent ID: 11897197
Assignee: ESSENTIUM IPCO, LLC
Field: Other special machines (Mechanical engineering)
Classification: CPC B | IPC B

Claim 14:
15. A three-dimensional printer for generating a printed component, the three-dimensional printer comprising:
a build substrate defining a surface that supports the printed component;
a print head defining a bottom portion and a tool head, wherein the tool head is located underneath the bottom portion of the print head;
a heated nozzle including a nozzle body, wherein the heated nozzle is configured to deposit a build material upon either the build substrate or the printed component;
a heated plate including one or more heating elements and a main body that defines an opening for receiving the nozzle body of the heated nozzle, wherein the one or more heating elements are configured to heat at least a portion of the heated plate to a predefined temperature, wherein a volume of hot air is created between the heated plate and the printed component when the heated plate is heated to the predefined temperature;
a vertically adjustable mounting fixture located beneath the tool head, wherein the vertically adjustable mounting fixture attaches the heated plate to the tool head and includes an adjustment assembly for adjusting a vertical distance measured between a lower surface of the heated plate and the surface of the build substrate;
one or more temperature sensors that monitor a temperature of the heated plate; and
a control module in electronic communication with the one or more temperature sensors and the one or more heating element, wherein the control module executes instructions to:
monitor the one or more temperature sensors for electronic signals indicating the temperature of the heated plate;
determine a current temperature of the heated plate based on the electronic signals from the one or more temperature sensors; and
instruct the one or more heating elements to increase, decrease, or maintain the temperature of the heated plate based on the current temperature of the heated plate.