Patent ID: 9724758
Date: 2017-08-08
CPC Classifications: B05C,B22F,B29C,B33Y,Y02P

Claim:
1. An apparatus for producing a laminated object, comprising: a powder layer forming unit configured to form a powder layer of a powdery material; a material supply unit configured to feed the powdery material to the powder layer forming unit; and a solidified layer forming unit configured to form a solidified layer by irradiating a light beam on a specified portion of the powder layer and sinter or melt the specified portion of the powder layer on a base and a base frame surrounding the outer circumference of the base, the apparatus being configured to produce an integrally laminated three-dimensional object by repeating formation of the powder layer and formation of the solidified layer, wherein the material supply unit comprises a cartridge unit charged with the powdery material, the cartridge unit being configured to allow the powdery material to drop downwards, wherein the powder layer forming unit includes a slide member which comprises a slide frame and a material storage frame, the material supply unit being configured to feed the powdery material charged in the cartridge unit to the material storage frame, and the slide member is arranged for sliding movement along an upper surface of the base frame, where the lower surface of the slide member makes contact with the upper surface of the base frame and the slide member moves along to bring the powdery material onto the base, where the slide member includes the slide frame which has a lower surface opening that has a greater surface area than an upper surface of the base; wherein the cartridge unit has a drum shape and has a powder dispensing mouth through which to feed the powdery material provided in a bottom portion thereof, the bottom portion being a sidewall of the cartridge unit and wherein the cartridge unit is provided with a lid plate configured to slide along the sidewall thereof to thereby, open and close the powder dispensing mouth.