Patent ID: 7862320
Filing Date: 2011-01-04
Classification: B29C

Abstract:
1. A three-dimensional object forming apparatus forming a three-dimensional object by binding powder particles with a curable liquid, the apparatus comprising: a powder layer forming unit that spreads a powder to a uniform thickness to form a powder layer; a curable liquid election head electing the curable liquid to the powder layer, the curable liquid election head including an ejection nozzle through which the curable liquid is ejected; a sectional data producing device producing sectional data at each of a plurality of cross sections of an intended three-dimensional object according to shape data of the intended three-dimensional object; and a cross-sectional member forming section in which cross-sectional members are formed by ejecting the curable liquid to the powder layer from the curable liquid ejection head according to the sectional data and thus binding the powder layer, the cross-sectional member forming section including a permeation rate controller which is capable of varying the permeation rate of the curable liquid to the powder layer by shielding a portion of the bound powder layer and curable liquid from a means for curing the curable liquid using a shielding portion disposed in the cross-sectional member forming section, wherein the means for curing the curable liquid is a UV light emitting unit and wherein the permeation rate controller is disposed between the UV light emitting unit and the powder layer and comprises a retarding member which includes shutters which may be opened or closed varying amounts so as to control the amount of UV light that reaches the powder layer, and wherein the UV light emitting unit and the retarding member causes a first series of shutters to be opened so that the UV light cures the portion of the bound powder layer and curable liquid below the first series of shutters, while a second series of shutters located between the first series of shutters are closed so as to shield the UV light from the bound powder layer and curable liquid below the second series of shutters, such that the cured portion below the first series of shutters acts as a barrier so as to control the permeation of the curable liquid below the second series of shutters.