Patent ID: 11865780
Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
Field: Other special machines (Mechanical engineering)
Classification: CPC B | IPC B

Claim 0:
1. An additive manufacturing apparatus comprising:
a feed module configured to operably couple with a first end portion of a foil;, a take-up module configured to operably couple with a second end portion of a foil;
at least one stage configured to hold one or more cured layers of a resin that form a component;
a radiant energy device positioned opposite to the at least one stage, the radiant energy device operable to generate and project radiant energy in a predetermined pattern;
an actuator configured to change a relative position of the at least one stage and the foil; and
an accumulator positioned between the feed module and the take-up module, the accumulator comprising:
a cavity defined by an accumulator housing;
a first guide positioned upstream of the cavity and downstream of the stage; and
a second guide positioned downstream of the cavity and downstream of the stage,
wherein the accumulator is configured to retain an intermediate portion of the foil within the cavity to allow a first portion of the foil upstream of the accumulator to move at a first speed and a second portion of the foil downstream of the accumulator to move at a second speed during a defined time period.