Patent ID: 9421715
Filing Date: 2016-08-23
CPC Classification: B28B,B29C,B29K,B33Y

Claim Text:
1. A printer for building a three-dimensional model by sequential deposition of a plurality of cross-sectional layers, the printer comprising: a material bed; a layer depositing mechanism for depositing a layer on the material bed; a thermal head movable relative to the material bed over the deposited layer; and a protective sheet in direct contact with the thermal head, wherein the thermal head generates thermal energy and comprises an array of selectively activatable heating elements arranged to transfer the thermal energy by conduction through the protective sheet to heat-treat a selectable area of green material in the deposited layer, and wherein the layer depositing mechanism includes a spreading element movable relative to the material bed for spreading a layer of flowable green material on the material bed.