Patent ID: 9409346
Filing Date: 2016-08-09
CPC Classification: B29C

Claim Text:
1. A three-dimensional printing apparatus comprising: a base including an opening; a tank placed on the base and storing a photo-curable resin in liquid form; an optical device disposed below the base and including at least a light source that emits light, the optical device being configured to irradiate the photo-curable resin inside the tank with the light emitted from the light source through the opening; a raisable and lowerable holder configured to lift the photo-curable resin that has been cured with irradiation of the light; a shutter configured to cover the opening in an openable and closable manner; a slide guide configured to guide sliding of the tank on the base so that the tank is slidable between a preparation position located outside of a region over the opening and an installation position located over the opening; and an interlocking device configured to open and close the shutter in conjunction with sliding of the tank on the base so that the shutter is opened when the tank is located over the entire opening, and the shutter is closed when the tank is not located over at least a portion of the opening; wherein the interlocking device includes: the interlocking device is configured to move the shutter in conjunction with sliding of the tank so that the interlocking device starts opening the shutter after the tank has slid to a position at which the tank is located over the entire opening, and finishes closing the shutter before the tank slides to a position at which the tank is not located over at least a portion of the opening.