Patents Examined by Inja Song
  • Patent number: 11958253
    Abstract: The present invention relates to the use of a composition comprising isosorbide diglycidyl ether and a curing agent as a sacrificial support, to a sacrificial support comprising isosorbide repeating units, to methods for producing the sacrificial support of the invention and to uses of the sacrificial support of the invention for producing three-dimensional objects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: ELANTAS Europe S.R.L.
    Inventors: Paola Gherardi, Daniela Menozzi, Fabio Campanini, Ettore Fazio
  • Patent number: 11945166
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and devices for post-processing additively manufactured objects are disclosed herein. In some embodiments, a method includes receiving a plurality of additively manufactured objects on a rotor, the plurality of additively manufactured objects having excess material thereon. The method can include removing the excess material from the plurality of additively manufactured objects by rotating the plurality of additively manufactured objects via the rotor. The method can further include applying energy to the plurality of additively manufactured objects to cure a portion of each additively manufactured object while the plurality of additively manufactured objects are on the rotor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: Align Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Viswanath Meenakshisundaram, Srinivas Kaza, Chunhua Li, Lance Robert Pickens, Shawn Stromenger, Jun Sato, Siobhan O'Leary, Peter Webber, Brett E. Kelly, Jennifer Chavez
  • Patent number: 11939480
    Abstract: A sulfonated water-dispersible thermoplastic copolymer material for use as a support material in an additive manufacturing process is made by a method comprising providing a selected thermoplastic copolymer having an acid or an anhydride group; esterifying the acid group of the selected thermoplastic copolymer with a hydroxyl-functionalized sulfonate salt, or amidizing the acid group of the selected thermoplastic copolymer with an amine sulfonate salt, or imidizing the anhydride group of the selected thermoplastic copolymer with an amine sulfonate salt. The esterification, the amidization or the imidization results in a sulfonated water thermoplastic dispersible copolymer having a glass transition temperature suitable to provide an effective support during the additive manufacturing process and wherein the sulfonated water-dispersible thermoplastic copolymer will disperse in tap water in less than 1 hour.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: Stratasys, Inc.
    Inventor: William R. Priedeman, Jr.
  • Patent number: 11892770
    Abstract: An imprint system includes a replica mold manufacturing apparatus which manufactures a replica mold of a master mold by performing a first imprint process using the master mold, an imprint apparatus which performs a second imprint process using the replica mold, and a controller which controls a first imprint condition that is an imprint condition of the first imprint process and a second imprint condition that is an imprint condition of the second imprint process. The controller corrects the first imprint condition based on an overlay state between a pattern formed on a shot region by the second imprint process and the shot region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yosuke Murakami
  • Patent number: 11874046
    Abstract: A refrigerator has an ice maker. The ice maker has a longitudinal axis; a rotatable, stretchable ice cube tray having an upper face defining a plane offset from the longitudinal axis with openings for ice cubes and a bottom surface, and the upper face and the bottom surface being parallel to the longitudinal axis, the offset being at least a depth of an ice cube; and an axially mounted, rotatable cam with a convex surface, the cam is coaxial with the longitudinal axis and positioned between the longitudinal axis and the bottom surface of the tray, so that the convex surface is engageable with the bottom surface of the tray. Ice cubes are released by rotation of the cam as the convex surface outwardly flexes the tray.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignee: Electrolux Home Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Jose Carlos Trejo Olvera
  • Patent number: 11850796
    Abstract: The invention relates to a system for producing three-dimensional models. The system preferably includes a z-axis drive unit on a side of a build container that is coupled to a build platform for moving the build platform in a vertical direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: VOXELJET AG
    Inventors: Ingo Ederer, Daniel Günther
  • Patent number: 11794380
    Abstract: The present invention includes: an injection container unit; a lid member; and an ejection air supply section configured to press a foamed mixed material in the injection container unit with compressed air and thereby eject the foamed mixed material through an ejection port, the lid member being provided with a sealing body configured to deform when a fluid is injected and thereby make close contact with the inner circumferential surface of the injection container unit during the pressing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: SINTOKOGIO, LTD.
    Inventors: Takayuki Komiyama, Tomohiro Aoki
  • Patent number: 11796910
    Abstract: A template according to the present embodiment is a template used in a lithography process of a semiconductor manufacturing process. A first substrate includes a first face, a second face protruded from a portion of the first face, and a lateral face being a lateral face positioned between the second face and the first face and inclined with respect to the second face at a connection portion to the second face. A first material film is provided at least on the lateral face.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: Kioxia Corporation
    Inventors: Kosuke Takai, Shingo Kanamitsu, Noriko Sakurai
  • Patent number: 11776833
    Abstract: An imprint method is provided. The method includes exercising an imprint head along a preconditioning trajectory before contacting the imprint head with a formable material on a substrate, followed by performing imprinting on the formable material after exercising the imprint head. The exercise of the imprint head along the preconditioning trajectory may be performed after the imprint head has been idled for a predetermined period of time. The exercise of the imprint head along the preconditioning trajectory may also be performed for a duration decided based on expected throughput requirements and tools used for the imprinting process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Nilabh K. Roy
  • Patent number: 11776840
    Abstract: A chuck for retaining a superstrate or a template. The chuck comprises a geometric structure formed on a surface of the chuck. The geometric structure includes at least one of a rounded edge portion and a roughened surface portion, such that an intensity variation of light transmitting through the geometric structure and an area of the chuck adjacent to the geometric structure is reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Nilabh K. Roy, Mario Johannes Meissl, Seth J. Bamesberger, Ozkan Ozturk, Byung-Jin Choi
  • Patent number: 11767387
    Abstract: Copolymers for use in a digital manufacturing process, in particular support materials for use in a digital manufacturing process comprising such copolymers. More particularly, the invention is directed to a copolymer, a support material based on the the copolymer, the use of the copolymer in a digital manufacturing process, a method for preparing the copolymer and a method for building a 3D-model by using a support material comprising the copolymer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2023
    Assignee: ISQUARED AG
    Inventors: Christoph Jung, Gerhard Maier, Jürgen Stebani, Jan-Michael Stepper
  • Patent number: 11746016
    Abstract: In various exemplary embodiments, the present disclosure provides a process for the conversion of certain polymers into diamond and diamond-like materials using laser pulse annealing. The process includes transforming the polymer to carbon, melting the carbon and quenching the carbon melt into to form Q-carbon, diamond, and/or graphene. The process can be applied to a polymer film such as a polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) tape. An object can be coated with the polymer film which can then be converted to Q-carbon, diamond, and/or graphene using laser pulse annealing. A process is also provided for making a three-dimensional object using a combination of, for example, 3D printing the polymer and converting each layer of polymer into Q-carbon, diamond and/or graphene.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: NORTH CAROLINA STATE UNIVERSITY
    Inventor: Jagdish Narayan
  • Patent number: 11685079
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus for dispensing and curing of liquid media, comprising a supply system comprising at least one reservoir for the liquid medium, a nozzle for ejecting the liquid medium into a mould (10) and/or onto a workpiece and means (22) connecting the nozzle and the reservoir; and a microwave system (16,18) which comprises a microwave source (16) for producing microwave radiation for irradiating the liquid medium in an irradiation zone (20) in the supply system, wherein the irradiation zone (20) is arranged between the reservoir and the nozzle. The apparatus further comprises a displacement assembly for translating and/or rotating the nozzle with respect to the mould (10) and/or the workpiece in a controlled manner. According to further aspects, the invention also relates to a system and a method for dispensing and curing of liquid media.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: RAMPF HOLDING GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Frank Duersen, George Sollner, Juergen Penker, Utz-Volker Jackisch
  • Patent number: 11685080
    Abstract: A mold for forming a flange of a wind turbine blade comprising a first flange portion including a plurality of lamina and having a generally planar shape and a second perpendicular flange including a plurality of lamina. A plurality of copper wires are disposed within the lamina for conducting heat delivered from a base portion through the first and second flange portions. The mold is free of fluid conduits with the flange portions moveable relative to the base portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: TPI Composites, Inc.
    Inventors: Jim Hannan, Andrew McDonald
  • Patent number: 11685811
    Abstract: A high temperature resistant polyimide film and its preparation method. The present invention relates to a polyimide film and its preparation method and solves the problems of honeycomb's and skin panel's core adhesive-polyimide film with insufficient heat resistance, no climbing of bonding core structure and adhesive fillet formation. The high temperature resistant polyimide film is made by polyimide solution, inorganic filler modifier and interface coupling agent by the steps of: under specific temperature and stirring conditions, adding inorganic filler modifier and interface coupling agent to polyimide solution, stirring to obtain the adhesive agent; filtering and degassing the adhesive agent, casting to a stainless steel drum with carrier cloth and release paper to obtain a self-supporting film; then heating and annealing to obtain the final polyimide film. The present invention is applied to high temperature resistant polyimide film and its preparation method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Inventors: Changwei Liu, Wanbao Xiao, Chunyan Qu, Dezhi Wang, Kai Xu, Bo Wang, Hongfeng Li, Hao Feng, Yueyu Guan, Haidong Yang, Haimin Wang, Yang Zhang, Cheng Du, Dongpeng Zhou
  • Patent number: 11679542
    Abstract: A method for forming an article includes providing a sheet of material, optionally conditioning the sheet with a surface of a roller, forming the sheet to provide a web, and separating an article from the web to provide the article. An apparatus adapted to form the article from a sheet is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: Berry Global, Inc.
    Inventors: Jonathan Eickhoff, Ryan Dewig, Jeffrey A. Mann, Roy E. Ackerman, Dan Eichelberger, Holden W. Barnes, Zachary L. Baughman, Kody A. Chapman, Daniel O. Davis
  • Patent number: 11667090
    Abstract: A method for thermoforming an article includes extruding a sheet of material, conditioning the sheet with a roller, thermoforming the sheet to provide a web, and cutting the web to provide the article.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: Berry Global, Inc.
    Inventors: Jonathan Eickhoff, Ryan Dewig, Jeffrey A. Mann, Roy E. Ackerman, Dan Eichelberger, Holden W. Barnes, Zachary L. Baughman
  • Patent number: 11667082
    Abstract: An apparatus for manufacturing a three-dimensional object by a layer-by-layer solidification of building material at the points corresponding to the cross-section of the object to be manufactured in a respective layer. The apparatus includes a process chamber in which the object is to be built up layer by layer by selectively solidifying layers of a building material in a build area, a gas supply device, and a recirculating air filter device, wherein the apparatus comprises a pressure stabilization device configured to keep the pressure in the process chamber substantially constant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: EOS GmbH Electro Optical Systems
    Inventors: Georg Fey, Martin Heugel, Sebastian Friedel, Dominik Wolf, Alexander Schilling, Philip Ströbel
  • Patent number: 11667060
    Abstract: A hydraulic advancement/postponement assembly is operably coupled to a first ejector plate and to a second ejector plate. The hydraulic advancement/postponement assembly includes a first hydraulic cylinder having a first housing defining a first volume and a first piston, the first housing connected to the first ejector plate and the first piston connected to a fixed element. The hydraulic advancement/postponement assembly includes a second hydraulic cylinder disposed in fluid communication with the first hydraulic cylinder, the second hydraulic cylinder having a second housing defining a second volume and a second piston, the second housing connected to the first ejector plate and a second piston connected to the second ejector plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: NyproMold Inc.
    Inventor: Tuan H. Nguyen
  • Patent number: 11603434
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a thermoplastic resin composition enabling easy control of the weight average molecular weight of a thermoplastic resin used in a soluble three-dimensional modeling support material, the support material having sufficient strength even when used in the manufacture of a three-dimensional object by an FDM system 3D printer, being less colored with excellent appearance quality, and having a high dissolution speed in neutral water and quickly removable from a precursor of the three-dimensional object without using a strong alkaline aqueous solution; and the thermoplastic resin having dicarboxylic acid monomer units derived from a dicarboxylic acid component and having a proportion of an aromatic dicarboxylic acid monomer unit derived from a sulfonic acid group and/or sulfonate group-containing aromatic dicarboxylic acid component in the dicarboxylic acid monomer units of 10 mol % or more; the method including mixing an organic salt compound represented by formula (I): (R1—SO3?)nXn+??(I
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2023
    Assignee: Kao Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroki Sawada, Tadanori Yoshimura, Tomoya Tsuboi, Jouji Hirai, Akihiro Onoue