Patents Examined by Leo B. Tentoni
  • Patent number: 10906243
    Abstract: An additive lathe integrates the advantages of additive manufacturing (also called 3d printing) with the cylindrical motion of a lathe to reduce material waste, print times, and increase creative potential. A post-processing system allows for an improved surface finishing on parts. The additive lathe no longer prints in cartesian (X, Y, Z) coordinates as other 3D printers and instead prints using cylindrical (R, Theta, Z) coordinates. The traditional bed or build plate is replaced with a horizontal cylindrical starter bar, on which 3D printed material is deposited along and around the bar. Essentially, the additive lathe works like a conventional lathe, but in reverse. Instead of taking a cylinder and slowly removing material as the part spins, the additive lathe adds material along and around the bar iteratively building up the part. The finishing mechanism allows for the creation of a smooth outer finish on printed parts while still in the printer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Inventor: Elizabeth Silvestro
  • Patent number: 10906238
    Abstract: Shape memory polymer (SMP) epoxies and composites, and methods of manufacturing the same, are provided. A three-dimensional (3D) printing technique can be used to fabricate a pure thermoset SMP epoxy. A cryogenic sprayer assisted extrusion type 3D printing method can be used to print SMP epoxies and composites of an SMP epoxy and a nanomaterial additive, such as graphene nanoplatelets (GNP).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Assignee: The Florida International University Board of Trustees
    Inventors: Arvind Agarwal, Tony Thomas, Adeyinka Idowu, Benjamin Boesl
  • Patent number: 10899070
    Abstract: An object of the invention is to provide a filament for a material extrusion-type three-dimensional printer, which filament contains an aromatic polyester resin, and which overcomes the shortcomings of a filament for a material extrusion-type three-dimensional printer that is composed of an ABS resin. Provided is a filament for a material extrusion-type three-dimensional printer, the filament including an aromatic polyester resin containing 50 mol % or more of aromatic dicarboxylic acid units, and 3 mol % or more of isophthalic acid units, with respect to the total amount of dicarboxylic acid units. The aromatic polyester resin preferably has a melt flow rate (230° C., 2.16 kgf) of 7 g/10 min or more, and an intrinsic viscosity of 0.80 dL/g or less.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI CHEMICAL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kosei Yamashita, Shigeyuki Furomoto
  • Patent number: 10895020
    Abstract: A method for generating a electro spun fiber medical implant including determining dimensions of a portion of anatomy of a patient corresponding to the electro spun fiber medical implant via medical imaging, generating a model of the portion of the anatomy based on the dimensions, the model including one or more solid areas and one or more void areas encompassed within the one or more solid areas, inverting the model to generate a mandrel model, the mandrel model generated based on the one or more void areas, generating the mandrel based on the mandrel model, the mandrel including at least one electrically conductive material therein, and applying an electro-spinning process to the mandrel to generate the electro spun fiber medical implant which circumscribes the mandrel, wherein the mandrel is removable from within the electro spun fiber medical implant after a disassembly process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2021
    Assignees: CHILDREN'S NATIONAL MEDICAL CENTER, RESEARCH INSTITUTE AT NATIONWIDE CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL, NANOFIBER SOLUTIONS LLC
    Inventors: Axel Krieger, Narutoshi Hibino, Jed Johnson, Justin Opfermann, Carolyn Cochenour Dorgan, Christopher K. Breuer
  • Patent number: 10889100
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method (100) for producing an image structure (12) according to an image specification (20), in particular for a letterpress process and/or intaglio printing process, characterized in that the following steps are carried out: a) providing a base (10) for receiving the image structure (12), b) producing an image structure (12) on the base (10) so that an image layer (11) is formed on the base (10) by means of the image structure (12).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2021
    Assignee: Windmöller & Hölscher KG
    Inventors: Martin Krümpelmann, Frank Gunschera, Björn Weidmann
  • Patent number: 10888407
    Abstract: A composite implant device for use in a medical application, comprising a synthetically-derived mesh that mimics particular critical aspects of a biologically-derived mesh. The composite implant device can be used for the reinforcement and reconstruction of tissues within the body and can be comprised of a majority of synthetic components and minority of naturally-derived components which mimic the structure and function of a naturally-derived mesh.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2021
    Assignee: POLY-MED, INC.
    Inventors: Seth Dylan McCullen, Clayton Joseph Culbreath, Michael Aaron Vaughn, Michael Scott Taylor
  • Patent number: 10883195
    Abstract: A method produces an acrylic fiber bundle that are cleaned in one or more washing baths including an inflow portion and an outflow portion for a cleaning solution; at least one of the washing baths is a counterflow washing bath in which the cleaning solution flows into from the inflow portion located at a lower stream side position of a traveling direction of coagulated thread bundles, and flows out from the outflow portion located at an upper stream side position of the traveling direction of the coagulated thread bundles; and an average of coefficients of variation CV of linear speeds of the cleaning solution in the inflow portion of the counterflow washing bath is 0.30 or less, and an average of coefficients of variation CV of linear speeds of the cleaning solution in the outflow portion of the counterflow washing bath is 0.30 or less.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2021
    Assignee: Toray Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Masaki Nakano, Kengo Hayashida, Hirotada Endo
  • Patent number: 10882250
    Abstract: An additive manufacturing system enables continual production of three-dimensional objects without operator intervention. The system is configured to form an object on a planar member, rotate the planar member 180° to enable gravity to move the object from the planar member to an object transport, which carries the object to a receptacle for storage and later processing. The opposite side of the planar member is then available for manufacture of another object and the planar member is again rotated following manufacture of the object so it can be removed and carried to the receptacle. The alternating formation of objects on opposite sides of the planar member continues until a predetermined number of objects has been made. The planar member can include one or more heaters to heat the surface on which an object is formed to facilitate release of the object once the planar member has been rotated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2021
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventor: Christopher D. Blair
  • Patent number: 10875249
    Abstract: A machine (1) for the additive manufacture of a component (2) by complete or partial selective melting of a powder comprises: a working chamber (100); a sleeve (3) having a top opening (4) opening into the working chamber (100), and having a vertical central axis (5), a support plate (6) intended to accept the component (2) in the process of being manufactured, a device (7) for actuating the translational movement of the support plate (6) inside the sleeve (3) along the vertical central axis (5) of the sleeve (3), and a component (2) extraction system (8) comprising a container (9), the extraction system (8) further comprising at least one closure plate (12) that is able to move in order to close the bottom opening (15) of the container (9), and the attachment between the support plate (6) and the actuating device (7) being of the removable type.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Assignee: AddUp
    Inventors: Jean-Pierre Nicaise, Gilles Walrand
  • Patent number: 10870241
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing a support structure in the form of a hybrid component with a base structure and with at least one reinforcement structure, having the following steps: producing the at least one reinforcement structure for each base structure, wherein the at least one reinforcement structure, in particular all of the reinforcement structures, is/are made of a composite material comprising fibers and a matrix using a pultrusion and/or extrusion process, and connecting the at least one reinforcement structure to the base structure such that the at least one reinforcement structure is connected to the base structure in a connection position, and the base structure together with the at least one reinforcement structure forms the support structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2020
    Assignee: 9T LABS AG
    Inventors: Martin Eichenhofer, Florian Eichenhofer
  • Patent number: 10864676
    Abstract: Methods for manufacturing articles of footwear are provided. In various aspects, the methods comprise utilizing additive manufacturing methods with foam particles. In some aspects, the disclosed methods comprise selectively depositing a binding material on foam particles in a target area such that the binding material coats at least a portion of defining surfaces of the foam particles with the binding material. The binding material is then cured to affix foam particles in the target area to one another. In various aspects, the disclosed methods can be used to manufacturer articles with sub-regions that differential levels of affixing between the foam particles, and thereby resulting in sub-regions with different properties such as density, resilience, and/or flexural modulus. This abstract is intended as a scanning tool for purposes of searching in the particular art and is not intended to be limiting of the present disclosure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2020
    Assignee: Nike, Inc.
    Inventors: Jay Constantinou, Harleigh Doremus, Luis Folgar, Brandon Kvamme, Denis Schiller
  • Patent number: 10857728
    Abstract: In an example, a print device comprises: a heat pump (102) to extract heat from a fluid source to produce cooled fluid and to transfer the heat from the fluid source to heat a print material (108), wherein the cooled fluid is used to cool a component (106) of the print device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2020
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Juan Manuel Zamorano, David Soriano Fosas, Noel Liarte
  • Patent number: 10851476
    Abstract: A method for producing a pleatable textile object having electrostatically charged fibres, and to a pleatable textile object is described. At least two separate dies are used, one for the production of finer fibres and one for the production of coarser fibres, using a melt spinning process. At least the first die, which is used to produce the coarser fibres, has concentric orifices. The finer and coarser fibres are mixed at least in sections during the process and are also charged electrostatically with the aid of a polar liquid. The textile object can be used to make filters with a quality factor in excess of 0.2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2020
    Assignee: Groz-Beckert KG
    Inventors: Ralph Berkemann, Fabian Stauss, Frank Endriss, Andreas Tulke
  • Patent number: 10843396
    Abstract: A system for additively manufacturing a composite part is disclosed. The system may include a vat configured to hold a supply of resin, and a build surface disposed inside the vat. The system may also include a print head configured to discharge a matrix-coated continuous reinforcement onto the build surface, and an energy source configured to expose resin on a surface of the matrix-coated continuous reinforcement to a cure energy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2020
    Assignee: Continuous Composites Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth Lyle Tyler, Ryan C. Stockett
  • Patent number: 10828824
    Abstract: A direct inkjet printing system for fabricating a part by an additive manufacturing process includes an ink delivery system operative to circulate the ink, a printhead associated with the ink delivery system, the printhead operative to dispense ink from the ink delivery system through a plurality of nozzles and based on a defined pattern, a building table for receiving the dispensed ink one layer at a time based on the defined pattern, wherein the part is formed from a plurality of layers of the ink dispensed from the printhead and a drying station operative to perform a drying process on layers of the ink dispensed from the printhead on a per layer basis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2020
    Assignee: Stratasys Ltd.
    Inventor: Yehoshua Sheinman
  • Patent number: 10828828
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a part includes printing a layer of 3D printable material, positioning a layer of interlay material on the layer of 3D printable material, and printing another layer of 3D printable material on the layer of interlay material. A manufactured part includes a base layer of 3D printable material and a plurality of pairs of alternating layers disposed on the base layer of 3D printable material. Each pair of the plurality of pairs includes a layer of interlay material and another layer of 3D printable material printed on the layer of interlay material. The layers of interlay material provide at least one property to the manufactured part not provided by the layers of 3D printable material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2020
    Assignee: FLEX LTD.
    Inventors: Zohair Mehkri, Anwar Mohammed, David Geiger, Murad Kurwa, Jesus Tan
  • Patent number: 10828826
    Abstract: A method of forming the body portion of a three-dimensional object from a polymerizable liquid by the process of continuous liquid interface printing is described. The body portion has a plurality of contiguous segments, and the process includes advancing a carrier for the object away from a build surface while irradiating a build region between the carrier and build surface in a pattern of advancing and irradiating defined by an operating mode. In the present invention, the operating mode is changed at least once during the formation of the body portion for different contiguous segments of the body portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2020
    Assignee: Carbon, Inc.
    Inventors: Prescott Sutter, Clarissa Gutierrez, David Shirvanyants, David Moore, John Tumbleston
  • Patent number: 10821668
    Abstract: An additive manufacturing apparatus that includes a vat configured to receive a radiant-energy-curable resin and a method for using the vat. A floor defines at least a first portion and a sump wherein the first portion is above the sump. The first portion defines a build surface, at least some of which is transparent. A stage is positioned facing the build surface and is configured to hold a stacked arrangement of one or more cured layers of the radiant-energy-curable resin. One or more actuators are operable to change the relative positions of the vat and the stage. A radiant energy apparatus is positioned adjacent to the vat opposite to the stage and is operable to generate and project radiant energy on the radiant-energy-curable resin through the floor of the vat in a predetermined pattern. The additive manufacturing apparatus also includes a cleaning apparatus operable to transfer debris from the build surface to the sump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Mary Kathryn Thompson
  • Patent number: 10821667
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus of forming a three-dimensional object includes providing a carrier and an optically transparent member having a build surface. The carrier and the build surface define a build region therebetween. The method further includes 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; applying a reduced pressure and/or polymer inhibitor-enriched gas to the polymerizable liquid through the optically transparent member to thereby reduce a gas content of the polymerizable liquid; and continuously or intermittently advancing (e.g., sequentially or concurrently with said irradiating step) said carrier away from said build surface to form said three-dimensional object from said solid polymer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: Carbon, Inc.
    Inventors: Bob E. Feller, David Moore, John R. Tumbleston, Ronald Truong, Kyle Laaker
  • Patent number: 10821659
    Abstract: A method for fabricating a composite object with a computer-controlled apparatus, and the apparatus therefor. The comprises a reservoir containing liquid, curable first material, means to selectively solidify the first material and means to selectively deposit a second material. The method involves the steps of selectively depositing portions of the second material, and selectively solidifying portions of the first material, such that the solidified portions of the first material and the deposited portions of the second material form the composite object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: LAING O'ROURKE AUSTRALIA PTY LIMITED
    Inventor: James Bruce Gardiner