Patents Examined by Lawrence D Hohenbrink, Jr.
  • Patent number: 11590700
    Abstract: A three-dimensional printing system for fabricating or manufacturing a three-dimensional article includes a support plate, a resin containment structure, an actuator, a light engine, a support tray coupled to a movement mechanism, and a controller. The resin containment structure is supported by the support plate and includes a lower substructure that is moveably coupled to an upper substructure. The upper substructure defines an upper central opening that is closed by a transparent sheet. The lower substructure defines a lower central opening that is closed by a transparent plate. The actuator is affixed to the support plate and configured to rotate the upper substrate about the hinge between a (1) a raised position in which the transparent plate contacts and supports the transparent sheet and (2) a lowered position in which the transparent plate is out of contact with the transparent sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignee: 3D SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventor: David Sabo
  • Patent number: 11584070
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a three-dimensional shaped object, which is a method of shaping a three-dimensional shaped object using a cutting tool configured to cut a first length in a cutting direction, includes: a first portion shaping step of stacking a shaping material to shape a first portion having a length in the cutting direction shorter than the first length; a first portion cutting step of cutting the first portion in the cutting direction by the cutting tool; and a second portion shaping step of stacking the shaping material to couple to a first end surface of the first portion in a direction opposite to the cutting direction, and to shape a second portion having a length in the cutting direction shorter than that of the first portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Kenta Anegawa, Daizo Aoyagi
  • Patent number: 11584067
    Abstract: Systems and method for additive manufacturing with humidity compensation are provided. A first reservoir for activator, a second reservoir for binder, and a third reservoir for build material to be deposited within a build box by way of one or more deposit devices are provided. A controller receives data indicating ambient humidity level from a humidity sensor and commands a control device associated with the first reservoir to adjust an amount of activator removed from the first reservoir based on the ambient humidity level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Inventor: Mark Lamoncha
  • Patent number: 11577468
    Abstract: Disclosed is a 3-D printing apparatus. The apparatus includes an ink output module including an ink supply unit having an ink for forming an electrode portion, electrolyte or packaging portion received therein and an ink discharge unit coupled to the ink supply unit; a driving unit having the ink output module mounted thereon to move the ink output module in an X, Y, Z axis direction with respect to a substrate where a supercapacitor or secondary battery will be formed; a dispenser connected to the ink supply unit to supply gas having controlled pressure to the ink supply unit through a gas supply tube and to supply the ink within the ink supply unit through the ink discharge unit; and a controller controlling the output of the ink by transmitting a control command for fabricating the supercapacitor or the secondary battery to the dispenser and the driving unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: KOREA INSTITUTE OF ENERGY RESEARCH
    Inventors: Jung Joon Yoo, Jeong Hun Baek, Yong Il Kim, Ha Na Yoon, Bo Yun Jang, Jong Huy Kim
  • Patent number: 11571850
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a building platform (100) for building up a workpiece (200) in layers or continuously by stereolithography, comprising: a rear illumination device (101-1) for illuminating a layer (103-n) from a rear side; a photosensor (105) for detecting a light intensity of a light from a front illumination device (101-2) through the layer (103-n) and/or a material and/or a deflecting mirror; and a control device (107) for activating the rear illumination device (101-1) when the detected light intensity of the front illumination device (101-2) is above a predetermined threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2023
    Assignee: Ivoclar Vivadent AG
    Inventor: Hendrik John
  • Patent number: 11554549
    Abstract: The technology disclosed relates to high utilization of donor material in a writing process using Laser-Induced Forward Transfer. Specifically, the technology relates to reusing, or recycling, unused donor material by recoating target substrates with donor material after a writing process is performed with the target substrate. Further, the technology relates to target substrates including a pattern of discrete separated dots to be individually ejected from the target substrate using LIFT.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2023
    Assignee: Mycronic AB
    Inventors: Torbjorn Sandstrom, Gustaf Martensson, Mats Rosling
  • Patent number: 11554364
    Abstract: A method of forming a catalyst is provided herein. The method comprises combining a binder, a support, and an active metal to form a slurry composition. The method further comprises applying the slurry composition using an additive manufacturing process to form a green part. The method further comprises exposing the green part to heat at a temperature of from about 10° C. to about 150° C. to form the hardened part. The method further comprises applying a ceramic-based coating material to the hardened part to form the catalyst.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2023
    Assignee: UT-BATTELLE, LLC
    Inventors: Xianhui Zhao, James W. Klett, Soydan Ozcan, Halil Tekinalp, Justin Figley
  • Patent number: 11548214
    Abstract: A three-dimensional shaped object manufacturing method for shaping a three-dimensional shaped object. The three-dimensional shaped object manufacturing method includes a first step of shaping a first partial shaped object corresponding to a first partial path and a second partial shaped object corresponding to a second partial path in accordance with shaping data including path data and discharge amount data; a second step of measuring a first gap indicating a gap between the first partial shaped object and the second partial shaped object; and a third step of executing an adjustment processing of adjusting, based on a difference between the first gap and a second gap determined based on the shaping data and corresponding to the first gap, a discharge amount in a third partial path which is one of the plurality of paths and along which the discharge unit moves after the first partial path and the second partial path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Satoshi Yamazaki
  • Patent number: 11534958
    Abstract: An endless-fibre-reinforced plasticate is described for the additive manufacture of endless-fibre-reinforced plastic components. A plastic material is introduced via a first filling opening into a single-screw extruder and is melted. A mass flow dmF/dt of dry, endless fibre strands is introduced via a second filling opening into the single-screw extruder, impregnated with plastic melt and discharged as fibre-reinforced plasticate. Remote from the second filling opening with regard to conveying, the screw of the single-screw extruder is configured that the fibre strands are discharged substantially undamaged. The mass flow dmF/dt is kept in a first mass flow target ratio to a mass flow dmS/dt of plastic melt discharged from the single-screw extruder, or the mass flow dmF/dt is kept in a second mass flow target ratio to a mass flow dmP/dt of fibre-reinforced plasticate discharged from the single-screw extruder, the exiting endless fibre strands are substantially completely impregnated with plastic melt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Assignee: KRAUSSMAFFEI TECHNOLOGIES GMBH
    Inventors: Maximilian Schadhauser, Stefan Schierl
  • Patent number: 11534968
    Abstract: A nozzle according to one embodiment has an inner surface and an outer surface, and is provided with a first passage through which an energy ray passes, and a second passage that is provided between the inner surface and the outer surface, and through which powder and fluid pass. The second passage includes a second open end on one end thereof in a first direction. A first surface that is one of the inner surface and the outer surface includes a first edge on one end thereof in the first direction. A second surface that is the other one of those includes a second edge on one end thereof in the first direction, and is distanced from the first edge toward the first direction. The fluid ejected from the second open end flows along the second surface, and separates at the second edge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Assignees: Technology Research Association for Future Additive Manufacturing, Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Kikai Kohuchiki Kichs
    Inventors: Hiroshi Ohno, Satoshi Tsuno, Mitsuo Sasaki, Tomohiko Yamada, Yasutomo Shiomi, Shimpei Fujimaki
  • Patent number: 11518086
    Abstract: Additive manufacturing devices and methods for the same are provided. The additive manufacturing device may include a stage configured to support a substrate, a printhead disposed above the stage, and a targeted heating system disposed proximal the printhead. The printhead may be configured to heat a build material to a molten build material and deposit the molten build material on the substrate in the form of droplets to fabricate the article. The targeted heating system may be configured to control a temperature or temperature gradient of the droplets in a flight path interposed between the printhead and the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: PALO ALTO RESEARCH CENTER INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Patrick Y. Maeda, Joanne L. Lee
  • Patent number: 11511494
    Abstract: A manufacturing installation for the additive manufacturing of components, each provided with at least one material overhang, has at least one building platform on which the particular component can at least partially be additively manufactured. In order to reduce the material consumption and the time to produce additively manufactured components, the manufacturing installation has at least one preferably electrically controllable support device with at least one movable support arm for the at least temporary holding of at least one support element, arranged on the support arm, during the additive manufacture of the particular component above the building platform.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Guenter Hans Grosch, Andreas Kuske, Bas van den Heuvel, Richard Fritsche, Wilbert Hemink, Rainer Lach
  • Patent number: 11511076
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a catheter shaft includes the steps of forming an inner layer of a first polymeric material, forming a plait matrix layer including a second polymeric material about the inner layer, and forming an outer layer of a third polymeric material about the plait matrix layer. The plait matrix layer includes a braided wire mesh partially or fully embedded within the second polymeric material, which is different from at least one of the first polymeric material forming the inner layer and the third polymeric material forming the outer layer. The second polymeric material has a higher yield strain and/or a lower hardness than at least the first polymeric material, and preferably both the first and the third polymeric materials. The first polymeric material and the third polymeric material may be different or the same. The catheter shaft may be formed by stepwise extrusion, co-extrusion, and/or reflow processes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Assignee: St. Jude Medical, Atrial Fibrillation Division, Inc.
    Inventors: Xiaoping Guo, Richard E. Stehr
  • Patent number: 11485068
    Abstract: A manufacturing method for a shaped object for manufacturing the shaped object used as a parts when creating a three-dimensional object assembled by combining multiple parts, where the shaped object including a surface region, an end region, and an inner region is shaped. A surface colored portion, which is a portion to be colored in the surface region, is formed, so that a light entering from a side opposite to the inner region is reflected by the inner region to an outside of the shaped object. And, an end colored portion, which is a portion to be colored in the end region, is formed to have a light reflectivity higher than that of the surface colored portion using a coloring material and a light reflective material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: MIMAKI ENGINEERING CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Kenji Harayama
  • Patent number: 11485090
    Abstract: An apparatus, a system, and a method for improvements in fused filament fabrication (FFF). Characteristics of a filament may be measured during production of the filament and the characteristics stored in a memory for retrieval by a 3D printer. The 3D printer adjusts print settings as necessary based on the measured characteristics, thereby resulting in better print quality.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: JABIL INC.
    Inventors: Scott Klimczak, Darin Burgess, Randy Crockett
  • Patent number: 11485056
    Abstract: A method for preventing detachment of a three-dimensional object from a printing tray of a printing apparatus is disclosed. The method includes printing a carpet of building material below and around the base of a three-dimensional object to be printed; and printing said three-dimensional object. The portions of the carpet that protrude out of the boundaries of the base of the three-dimensional object are coated with one or more layers of support material to help keep the carpet flexible and adhesive in texture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: STRATASYS LTD.
    Inventor: Eduardo Napadensky
  • Patent number: 11478986
    Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods are provided for producing a 3d-printable prepolymerized material. A device can include a reactor having a body including a housing having an exterior, and interior cavity, an input end, and an output end opposite of the input end, the output end comprising an opening, a loading hopper operably connected to the interior cavity of the housing, an auger supported within the interior cavity of the housing, a driving motor operably connected to the body configured to drive the auger; and a light emitting unit operably connected to the exterior of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2022
    Assignee: Mighty Buildings, Inc.
    Inventors: Denis Indyk, Aleksander Trushin, Galina Nazarova, Vladislav Ridosh, Vasilii Korshikov
  • Patent number: 11473218
    Abstract: A modified ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer fiber includes an ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer containing 0.1 to 10 mol % of a modified component and 5 to 55 mol % of ethylene, and has a crystallinity of 25% to 50%.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: KURARAY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shoji Onogi, Hitoshi Nakatsuka, Shinya Kawakado, Takayuki Ikeda
  • Patent number: 11465362
    Abstract: An additive manufacturing method includes providing a polymeric material and changing a cooling rate of the polymeric material by adding a second material to the polymeric material. The additive manufacturing method also includes providing the polymeric material and the added second material to an additive manufacturing apparatus and depositing the polymeric material, having the changed cooling rate, with the additive manufacturing apparatus at a deposition rate that is based at least in part on the changed cooling rate of the polymeric material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: THERMWOOD CORPORATION
    Inventor: Kenneth J. Susnjara
  • Patent number: 11446861
    Abstract: A method for producing a three-dimensional object comprising computing a sequence of back-projections describing the three-dimensional object to be formed from different orientation angles of the object, defining a sequence of patterns of light using the back-projections, and irradiating with each of the patterns of light at the respective corresponding orientation angle. According to the defined sequence, a photoresponsive material is capable of altering its material phase, upon irradiation by light, thereby creating a three-dimensional distribution of alterations within the photoresponsive medium which physically reproduces the three-dimensional object, thereby creating the three-dimensional object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Assignee: Ecole PolyTechnique Federale de Lausanne (EPFL)
    Inventors: Damien Loterie, Paul Delrot, Christophe Moser