Patents Examined by Leo B. Tentoni
  • Patent number: 11027254
    Abstract: Methods and systems for manufacturing a mixed-metal part by preparing a mixed-metal sol-gel as a feed material and using an additive manufacturing technique to form the mixed-metal part from the mixed-metal sol-gel feed material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignee: Consolidated Nuclear Security, LLC
    Inventors: Vincent E. Lamberti, Roland D. Seals, Patrick K. Moehlen
  • Patent number: 11027487
    Abstract: Provided is a method of making a coated object, which may include stereolithographically producing a green intermediate object from a dual cure polymerizable resin, the intermediate object containing uncured polymerizable material therein; then, optionally cleaning the green object; then, in any order: coating at least one surface portion of the object with a particulate material; and heating the object sufficiently to further cure the object; the coating and/or heating steps carried out under conditions in which uncured polymerizable material sweats (or exudes) to the surface of said object, and wherein the uncured polymerizable material contacts the particulate material, polymerizes, and bonds the particulate material to the surface of the object during the coating and/or heating steps. Also provided is a coated object produced by the method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignee: CARBON, INC.
    Inventors: R. Griffin Price, Raymond C. Pederkoff, Matthew S. Menyo
  • Patent number: 11020909
    Abstract: A method of producing a cellular structure via an additive manufacturing technique includes the steps of: providing a feedstock material to an additive manufacturing printer device; dispensing the feedstock material from the printer device; and controlling the dispensing of the feedstock material to form at least one layer of the cellular structure according to a first predetermined gradient. In some aspects, the cellular structure comprises an array of cells surrounded, respectively, by walls, and arranged to create a non-uniform relative density and/or cell geometry across a width and/or a height of the cellular structure. An article of manufacture produced by such methods includes a cellular structure configured to produce a controlled collapse with selectable dynamic stiffness characteristics by altering the distribution and geometry of cells within the cellular structure, while being able to maintain a substantially similar static stiffness characteristic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignee: University of Tennessee Research Foundation
    Inventors: Brett Gibson Compton, Michael James Goin, Hesam Shams, Oleg Shylo
  • Patent number: 11020896
    Abstract: A method of printing a three-dimensional (3D) object and a support construction for the 3D object includes depositing a model material, layer-by-layer, on a fabrication platform, to print a first portion of the 3D object, and depositing a support material, layer-by-layer on the fabrication platform, to print the support construction, wherein, in a predetermined number of the deposited layers, the model material and the support material are deposited such that a gap is formed between a surface of the first portion of the 3D object and a surface of the support construction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignee: STRATASYS LTD.
    Inventors: Daniel Dikovsky, Eduardo Napadensky, Shai Hirsch, Evgeni Levin, Yoav Bressler
  • Patent number: 11013580
    Abstract: Provided is a method of manufacturing a dental cord. The method including: producing a spinning solution by dissolving a fiber-moldable hydrophobic polymer material in a solvent; spinning the spinning solution to obtain a polymer nanofiber web composed of nanofibers and including three-dimensional micropores; laminating the polymer nanofiber web to obtain a polymer membrane; slitting the polymer membrane to obtain a nanofiber tape yarn; hydrophilic-treating the nanofiber tape yarn to obtain a hydrophilic-treated nanofiber tape yarn; plying and twisting the hydrophilic-treated nanofiber tape yarn with a covered yarn to obtain a nanofiber multiple yarn; and impregnating the nanofiber multiple yarn with a hemostatic agent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Assignee: AMOGREENTECH CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Chan Kim, Seung Hoon Lee, Song Hee Koo, Ji Hyun Lee
  • Patent number: 11014302
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus for additive manufacturing pertaining to high efficiency, energy beam patterning and beam steering to effectively and efficiently utilize the source energy. In one embodiment recycling and reuse of unwanted light includes a source of multiple light patterns produced by one or more light valves, with at least one of the multiple light patterns being formed from rejected patterned light. An image relay is used to direct the multiple light patterns, and a beam routing system receives the multiple light patterns and respectively directs them toward defined areas on a powder bed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Assignee: SEURAT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: James A. DeMuth, Francis L. Leard, Erik Toomre
  • Patent number: 11014268
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention are directed to methods, devices, and compositions for 3D printing of piezoelectric devices. The piezoelectric devices can be used for sensor applications using poly(vinylidene) fluoride (PVDF) and BaTiO3 (BTO) nanocomposites through in-situ electric poling 3D printing process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Assignee: THE BOARD OF REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS SYSTEM
    Inventors: Tzu-Liang Tseng, Yirong Lin, Hoejin Kim
  • Patent number: 11014299
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus of forming a three-dimensional object, wherein the method includes providing a carrier and an optically transparent member having a build surface, said carrier and said build surface defining a build region therebetween; filling said build region with a polymerizable liquid, continuously or intermittently irradiating said build region with light through said optically transparent member to form a solid polymer from said polymerizable liquid, continuously or intermittently advancing (e.g.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Assignee: Carbon, Inc.
    Inventors: Bob E. Feller, David Moore, John R. Tumbleston, Ronald Troung, Kyle Laaker
  • Patent number: 11014028
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method for preparation and activation of a super hydrophobic electret nanofibrous filter material for cleaning PM2.5, comprising the steps as follows: (1) dissolving polymer powders and resin into a corresponding solvent so as to prepare a polymer solution, then stirring on a magnetic stirrer and standing for use; (2) in order to reinforce the electrostatic effect of the fiber, before preparing the polymer solution, adding in organic electret nanoparticles into the solvent, then oscillating with an ultrasonic oscillator; (3) in order to reinforce the super hydrophobic effect of the filter, spraying a low surface energy solution on the prepared nanofiber with a designed nozzle to carry out modification.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Inventors: Lizhi Zhang, Aibing Bao, Rongrong Cai
  • Patent number: 11014292
    Abstract: A hybrid method of additive manufacturing is provided. The method includes providing a powder material and fusing, by a first heat source, a portion of the powder material to form a three-dimensional structure. The three-dimensional structure can define a fill region at least partially filled with the powder material. The method further includes fusing, by a second heat source, the powder material in the fill region. Fusing the powder material in the fill region can solidify the powder material in the fill region and fuse the powder material to the three-dimensional structure for forming a solid object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventor: Thierry Marchione
  • Patent number: 11007707
    Abstract: The invention provides a method for manufacturing a 3D item (1) by means of 3D printing. The method comprises the step of depositing, during a printing stage, 3D printable material (201) to provide 3D printed material (202), wherein the 3D printable material (201) comprises a core-shell filament (320) comprising (i) a core (321) comprising a core material (1321) having one or more of a core glass temperature Tg1 and a core melting temperature Tm1 and (ii) a shell (322) comprising a shell material (1322) having one or more of a shell glass temperature Tg2 and a shell melting temperature Tm2, wherein one or more of the shell glass temperature Tg2 and the shell melting temperature Tm2 is lower than one or more of the core glass temperature Tg1 and the core melting temperature Tm1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Assignee: SIGNIFY HOLDING B.V.
    Inventors: Rifat Ata Mustafa Hikmet, Paulus Albertus Van Hal
  • Patent number: 11007297
    Abstract: A system for forming twisted or aligned electrospun fibers has been developed. The collector for the electrospun fibers is capable of rotation. In some instances, fibers are formed between two collectors, at least one of which rotates to twist the fibers into a multifilament bundle with increased strength. In a second embodiment, a cylindrical collector rotates, and charged polymer jet uniformly coats the surface of the collector. When a drum collector rotates at a high speed, electrospun fibers align and form an array. Optionally, different active agents can be included in the electrospinning solutions to form fiber constructs with different strengths and controlled release profiles, providing a reproducible method to generate complexed structures based on electrospun fibers and controlled drug delivery profiles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Assignee: THE JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Kunal S. Parikh, Himat Patel, Justin Hanes
  • Patent number: 11007673
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing bulked continuous carpet filament which, in various embodiments, comprises: (A) grinding recycled PET bottles into a group of flakes; (B) washing the flakes; (C) identifying and removing impurities, including impure flakes, from the group of flakes; (D) adding one or more color concentrates to the flakes; (E) passing the group of flakes through an extrusion system while maintaining the pressure within the extrusion system below about 25 millibars; (F) passing the resulting polymer melt through at least one filter having a micron rating of less than about 50 microns; and (G) forming the recycled polymer into bulked continuous carpet filament that consists essentially of recycled PET.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Assignee: Aladdin Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventor: Thomas R. Clark
  • Patent number: 11001002
    Abstract: A method for the additive manufacturing of a closed-cell porous matrix is described herein. A powder-bed, additive manufacturing process is used to create a piece with partially-closed cavities filled with unfused powder. Vacuum, negative pressure, positive pressure, or solvent is used to evacuate the powder from the cavities. Finally, a fresh layer of powder is used to cover the opening of the cavity and the powder is fused on top to close the opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA
    Inventor: Lawrence Kulinsky
  • Patent number: 11001048
    Abstract: Methods are disclosed for making articles (2) by three-dimensional printing. The methods include three-dimensional printing a build powder mixture which includes a first material powder and a second material powder to form a printed article and subsequently heating the printed article to a temperature at which a sufficient amount of the second material powder melts to enable it to infiltrate throughout the interstices between the first material powder particles so that the article (2) achieves a room temperature relative density of at least 85 percent of its theoretical density, the theoretical density being the density the article (2) would have if it contained no porosity. The first material powder has a melting temperature, melting temperature range, or dissociation temperature which is higher than the melting temperature or melting temperature range of the second material powder and the first material powder has no more than a limited amount of solubility in the second material powder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: The ExOne Company
    Inventor: Michael J. Orange
  • Patent number: 11001945
    Abstract: A thermoplastic filament comprising multiple polymers of differing flow temperatures in a regular geometric arrangement, and a method for producing such a filament, are described. Because of the difference in flow temperatures, there exists a temperature range at which one polymer is mechanically stable while the other is flowable. This property is extremely useful for creating thermoplastic monofilament feedstock for three-dimensionally printed parts, wherein the mechanically stable polymer enables geometric stability while the flowable polymer can fill gaps and provide strong bonding and homogenization between deposited material lines and layers. These multimaterial filaments can be produced via thermal drawing from a thermoplastic preform, which itself can be three-dimensionally printed. Furthermore, the preform can be printed with precisely controlled and complex geometries, enabling the creation of monofilament and fiber with unique decorative or functional properties.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army
    Inventors: Eric D. Wetzel, Larry R. Holmes, Jr., Ricardo X. Rodriguez, Patrick M. Toal, Jr.
  • Patent number: 11001047
    Abstract: Techniques for integrating a machine-readable matrix with a component of a mechanical structure using three-dimensional (3-D) printing are disclosed. Such techniques include generating at least one data model representing the component, and projecting a matrix pattern identifying one or more features of the component onto a selected surface portion of the component to produce a modified data model for use as an input to a 3-D printer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: Divergent Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald J. Christian, John Russell Bucknell
  • Patent number: 11001000
    Abstract: In a three-dimensional printing method example, a pre-treatment coating is formed on a part precursor by applying and drying, alternatingly: a polycation solution including a chloride ion and a polyanion solution including a sodium ion to form at least two layers. An ink is selectively deposited on the pre-treatment coating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Sterling Chaffins, Kevin P. DeKam
  • Patent number: 10995436
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing a nonwoven fabric from fibres, wherein the fibres are spun by means of at least one spinneret, are cooled and then deposited on a collection device to form a nonwoven web. The nonwoven web undergoes hot fluid bonding during at least two consecutive bonding steps. In a first bonding step, the surface of the nonwoven web is subjected to a hot fluid and, in a second bonding step, the surface of the nonwoven web is also subsequently subjected to a hot fluid and, in addition and at the same time, surface pressure is exerted on the nonwoven web.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignees: REIFENHAEUSER GMBH & CO. KG MASCHINENFABRIK, MANN + HUMMEL GMBH
    Inventors: Claudio Cinquemani, Detlef Frey, Stefan Orendt, Thomas Pemsel
  • Patent number: 10994475
    Abstract: Methods of layerwise fabrication of a three-dimensional object, and objected obtained thereby are provided. The methods are effected by dispensing at least a first modeling formulation and a second modeling formulation to form a core region using both said first and said second modeling formulations, an inner envelope region at least partially surrounding said core region using said first modeling formulation but not said second modeling formulation, and an outer envelope region at least partially surrounding said inner envelope region using said second modeling formulations but not said first modeling formulation; and exposing said layer to curing energy, thereby fabricating the object, The first and second modeling formulations are selected such they differ from one another, when hardened, by at least one of Heat Deflection Temperature (HDT), Izod Impact resistance, Tg and elastic modulus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: Stratasys Ltd.
    Inventors: Avraham Levy, Diana Ravich, Lior Zonder, Gil Shelef, Cesar M. Manna