Source: http://www.google.com/patents/US7979152?ie=ISO-8859-1&dq=6,219,045
Timestamp: 2015-05-26 07:02:54
Document Index: 135407865

Matched Legal Cases: ['Application No. 2002', 'Application No. 2004', 'Application No. 2004', 'Application No. 2005', 'Application No. 2006', 'Application No. 2006']

Patent US7979152 - Apparatus and methods for handling materials in a 3-D printer - Google PatentsSearch Images Maps Play YouTube News Gmail Drive More »Sign inAdvanced Patent SearchPatentsA build chamber for use in a three-dimensional printer and adapted for receiving powder for producing three-dimensional objects. The build chamber includes a build surface for receiving the powder, with the build surface including a first plate defining holes and a second plate defining a plurality of...http://www.google.com/patents/US7979152?utm_source=gb-gplus-sharePatent US7979152 - Apparatus and methods for handling materials in a 3-D printerAdvanced Patent SearchPublication numberUS7979152 B2Publication typeGrantApplication numberUS 11/807,175Publication dateJul 12, 2011Filing dateMay 25, 2007Priority dateMay 26, 2006Fee statusPaidAlso published asCN101495294A, CN101495294B, EP2024168A2, EP2024168B1, EP2450177A1, EP2450177B1, US7828022, US7971991, US8185229, US20080006334, US20080006958, US20080047628, US20080060330, US20110211016, US20110233808, WO2007139938A2, WO2007139938A3Publication number11807175, 807175, US 7979152 B2, US 7979152B2, US-B2-7979152, US7979152 B2, US7979152B2InventorsThomas DavidsonOriginal AssigneeZ CorporationExport CitationBiBTeX, EndNote, RefManPatent Citations (115), Non-Patent Citations (17), Referenced by (3), Classifications (14), Legal Events (3) External Links: USPTO, USPTO Assignment, EspacenetApparatus and methods for handling materials in a 3-D printer
US 7979152 B2Abstract
A build chamber for use in a three-dimensional printer and adapted for receiving powder for producing three-dimensional objects. The build chamber includes a build surface for receiving the powder, with the build surface including a first plate defining holes and a second plate defining a plurality of openings spaced apart and offset from the plurality of holes in the first plate. The second plate is disposed below and spaced from the first plate.
1. A build chamber for use in a three-dimensional printer and adapted for receiving powder for producing three-dimensional objects, the chamber comprising:
a build surface for receiving the powder, the build surface comprising:
a first plate defining a plurality of spaced apart holes having a pitch; and
a second plate defining a plurality of openings spaced apart and offset from the plurality of holes in the first plate, the second plate disposed below and spaced from the first plate,
wherein the pitch corresponds to the space between proximate edges of adjacent holes.
2. The build chamber of claim 1 further comprising:
at least one wall at least partially circumscribing the build surface and at least partially defining the chamber;
a piston disposed below the build surface and adapted to the build chamber to move the build surface vertically relative to the at least one wall; and
an outlet coupled to the build chamber and disposed below the build chamber for removing unbound powder from the build chamber when a vacuum is applied.
3. The build chamber of claim 2, wherein the outlet is located in a plenum disposed below the build surface and is adapted to be coupled to a vacuum source to draw unbound powder out of the build chamber through the build surface.
4. The build chamber of claim 2 further comprising a cover disposable above the at least one wall to at least partially isolate the chamber from its environment.
5. The build chamber of claim 1, wherein the first plate and the second plate of the build surface are interchangeable with plates adapted for differing angles of repose.
6. The build chamber of claim 1, wherein the build surface further comprises at least one spacer disposed between the first plate and the second plate to maintain a fixed spacing between the plates.
7. The build chamber of claim 1 further comprising a vacuum source coupled to the outlet for fluidizing the powder.
8. The build chamber of claim 1, wherein the first plate and the second plate of the build surface are movable relative to one another.
9. The build chamber of claim 1 further comprising a mechanism for vibrating at least a portion of the build chamber.
10. The build chamber of claim 1, wherein the plurality of openings of the second plate are offset from the plurality of holes in the first plate by approximately 50% of the pitch.
11. The build chamber of claim 1, wherein the pitch is at least equal to 2(space between the plates)(cotangent of an angle of repose of the powder)+(diameter of holes).
12. The build chamber of claim 1, wherein the pitch is approximately equal to 2(space between the plates)(cotangent of an angle of repose of the powder)+(diameter of holes).
This application claims the benefit of and priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/808,721, filed on May 26, 2006, the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein. This application also incorporates herein by reference three U.S. patent application Ser. Nos. 11/807,325, 11/807,329 and 11/807,237, filed of even date herewith.
The present invention relates generally to the field of 3D printers and in particular to powder and waste handling systems therefore.
The systems and components described herein can be used with various 3D printers and related apparatus, such as those disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,902,441, 6,007,318, U.S. Patent Application No. 2002/0079601, U.S. Patent Application No. 2004/0012112, U.S. Patent Application No. 2004/0265413, U.S. Patent Application No. 2005/0280185, U.S. Patent Application No. 2006/0061613, and U.S. Patent Application No. 2006/0061318, the entire disclosures of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference.
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FergusonHopper loader for processing machinesUS20110233808 *Jun 7, 2011Sep 29, 2011Z CorporationApparatus and methods for handling materials in a 3-d printer* Cited by examinerClassifications U.S. Classification700/118, 141/98, 264/113, 700/119, 264/497, 156/284International ClassificationB29C67/02Cooperative ClassificationB29C67/0077, Y10T137/86187, B29K2105/251, B29C67/0096, B29C31/02European ClassificationB29C67/00R4B, B29C67/00R8FLegal EventsDateCodeEventDescriptionJan 12, 2015FPAYFee paymentYear of fee payment: 4Feb 16, 2012ASAssignmentOwner name: 3D SYSTEMS, INC., SOUTH CAROLINAFree format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:Z CORPORATION;REEL/FRAME:027716/0929Effective date: 20120206Sep 26, 2007ASAssignmentOwner name: Z CORPORATION, MASSACHUSETTSFree format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:DAVIDSON, THOMAS;REEL/FRAME:019877/0086Effective date: 20070802RotateOriginal ImageGoogle Home - Sitemap - USPTO Bulk Downloads - Privacy Policy - Terms of Service - About Google Patents - Send FeedbackData provided by IFI CLAIMS Patent Services