Patent ID: 7074029
Filing Date: 2006-07-11
Classification: B29B,B29C,B33Y,Y02W

Abstract:
1. A material feed and waste system for a solid freeform fabrication apparatus used to from a three-dimensional object, the system comprising: means for delivering at least one container to a queue station, the container holding a discrete amount of at least a build material; removing said discrete amount of material from said container for delivery to said dispensing device. means for delivering at least a build material to at least one dispensing device; means for dispensing said discrete amount of material by said dispensing device in a layerwise fashion to form via a plurality of layers a three-dimensional object; means for normalizing the layers of the three-dimensional object wherein waste material is produced; means for depositing said waste material in a waste receptacle, wherein said means for depositing said waste material comprises: a. a waste material line for transporting said waste material to collect said waste material in an intermediate vessel, said intermediate vessel including a sealable bottom drain and a sealable atmospheric vent; and b. a level sensor in the intermediate vessel to sense when a pre-set amount of said waste material has been collected in the intermediate vessel in preparation for releasing from said intermediate vessel to said waste receptacle a measured amount of the collected waste material.