Patents Examined by Mary Lynn F. Theisen
  • Patent number: 11273598
    Abstract: A system for recoating a powder bed includes a build platform holding a powder bed and an electrode assembly including an electrode and an insulating shield. A voltage supply produces a high voltage alternating current and communicates with the powder bed and the electrode. The electrode assembly is positionable over the powder bed, such that when the electrode assembly is over the powder bed, the shield is between the electrode and the powder bed's top surface. The voltage supply produces a high voltage alternating current that creates an alternating electric field between the electrode and the powder bed that causes the powder of the powder bed top surface to oscillate in a region between the shield and the bed and then reposition themselves on the bed such that the top layer of the powder bed is smoother than it was prior to when the powder particles began oscillating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2022
    Assignee: Powder Motion Labs, LLC
    Inventor: Connor L. Coward
  • Patent number: 11273599
    Abstract: A device for manipulating particles includes a rotating screen on which a particle structure can be formed and at least one scraper. At least one support element supports the screen at the scraper. The device further includes a particle reservoir and a blower, which is located inside the screen and under the reservoir and which blows a gas in order to fluidize the particles present in the reservoir.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2022
    Assignee: AEROSINT SA
    Inventors: Matthias Hick, Kevin Eckes, Colin Guillaume, Antoine Deblire, Charles-Edouard Moens De Hase
  • Patent number: 11273605
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a device for protecting a print head (100) during layer-by-layer manufacture of a shaped part (103) using the binder jetting process, in which a plurality of elements required for preserving print head function act, and are housed, in a space which is partially sealed off by a gap seal (800).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2022
    Assignee: VOXELJET AG
    Inventors: Daniel Günther, Christian Wehrmann, Wolfgang Mühlbauer
  • Patent number: 11267197
    Abstract: Examples of recoater carriages in an additive manufacturing system are described. In one case, a recoater carriage assembly has an elongate powder build material spreader, such as a roller, to spread powder build material in use. The recoater carriage assembly has a recoater carriage to support the spreader. The spreader is to engage and to disengage from the recoater carriage by movement of the spreader non-concentrically to a longitudinal axis of the spreader.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Jordi Gimenez, Gerard Mosquera, Joaquim Brugue
  • Patent number: 11261567
    Abstract: A device and a method for the production of a fiber mat is suitable in particular for use in the production of packaging board or fibrous construction elements, from a fibrous source material. The method includes providing the fibrous source material, low-water processing of the fibrous source material in an airflow into raw material including individual fibers and/or fiber bundles, forming of the individual fibers and/or fiber bundles in the airflow by a dry forming method into a fiber mat in such a way that a spatial or three-dimensional structure is formed by the fiber mat and consolidation of the formed fiber mat. The specific volume of the fiber mat is greater than 1.6 cm3/g, in particular greater than 2 cm3/g, preferably greater than 3 cm3/g, and the fiber mat thickness ?1 mm, in particular ?1.5 mm, preferably ?2 mm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: Voith Patent GmbH
    Inventors: Martin Kemper, Heiko Held, Cordts Monteiro Wagner, Thomas Martin
  • Patent number: 11254055
    Abstract: Some examples include methods of operating an additive manufacturing machine including generating thermal energy with a thermic source including a warming source and a fusing source, each of the warming and fusing sources having a major axis longitudinally extending in a y-axial direction above a build zone, the build zone to contain a build material and a fusing agent, moving the thermic source in a x-axial direction orthogonal to the y-axial direction over the build zone at a constant velocity, delivering a first substantially uniform heat flux from the warming source and a second substantially uniform heat flux from the fusing source to cause portions of the build material that the fusing agent is disposed on to form a layer of a three dimensional object, and continuously generating thermic energy from the thermic source during a build process of the three dimensional object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventor: Arthur H. Barnes
  • Patent number: 11247273
    Abstract: An additive manufacturing plate (10) comprises a main body (32), this main body (32) taking the form of a panel, and the main body (32) comprising an upper face on which the components are manufactured directly. The additive manufacturing plate comprises a stiffener (12) that is independent of the main body (32) and secured to the lower face (34) of the main body, this stiffener (12) taking the form of a panel (36) and the panel (36) being hollowed out but only through a part of its thickness (E36). The stiffener (12) makes it possible to avoid excessive deformations of the additive manufacturing plate during the manufacturing process and is reusable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2022
    Assignee: COMPAGNIE GENERALE DES ETABLISSEMENTS MICHELIN
    Inventor: Albin Effernelli
  • Patent number: 11235391
    Abstract: A device for manufacturing a three-dimensional shaped object includes a table on which a layer of granulated powder is stacked, a layer formation portion that forms the granulated powder on the table into a layer having a predetermined thickness, a compression unit configured to compress the layer to crush the granulated powder in a formation region of a three-dimensional shaped object in the layer, and a binder applying unit that forms a shape of the three-dimensional shaped object by applying the binder to only a region corresponding to the surface region of the three-dimensional shaped object, in the formation region in the layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2022
    Inventor: Yasutoshi Hideshima
  • Patent number: 11230031
    Abstract: A non-carbohydrate polyhydroxy component(s) is used in a binder composition to facilitate manufacture of wood particle boards.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2022
    Inventor: Richard Hand
  • Patent number: 11230052
    Abstract: The invention relates to an additive production method involving the production of a layer of geometrically compact particles, having the following steps: a) providing a particle layer depositing arrangement, comprising a first and a second semi-chamber, wherein a partition separates the first semi-chamber from the second semi-chamber, and the partition is permeable for a dispersion medium and impermeable for particles dispersed in the dispersion medium; b) providing a particle dispersion comprising the dispersion medium and particles dispersed therein in the first semi-chamber, the particle dispersion being distributed substantially homogenously in the first semi-chamber; c) generating a pressure gradient between the first and the second semi-chamber such that the pressure gradient in the first semi-chamber causes a particle dispersion flow directed towards the partition; and d) depositing a particle aggregate material comprising geometrically compact particles on the partition by transporting a dispersion a
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2022
    Assignee: Bundesrepublik Deutschland, vertreten durch den Bundesminister fuer Wirtschaft und Energie, dieser vertreten durch den Praesidenten der Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und—pruefung (BAM)
    Inventors: Jens Günster, Andrea Zocca, Cynthia Wirth, Thomas Mühler
  • Patent number: 11225022
    Abstract: A build material dispensing device may include a material spreader to spread an amount of build material along a build platform, and at least one hopper for dispensing the build material. The at least one hopper dispenses a plurality of doses of the build material in front of the progression of the material spreader as the material spreader is moved over the build platform.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2022
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Mike Rode, John Geile, Pierre J. Kaiser, Wesley R. Schalk, Arthur H. Barnes
  • Patent number: 11220041
    Abstract: The invention comprises methods, systems, and devices for angular printing of slab-like inclined portions. Each printed portion overlaps the immediately preceding portion and in combination, the portions form a horizontal structure, such as a roof, floor, a formation of coupled slabs, and others. The horizontal structure may be designed based on desired shape and also based on the setting properties of the printing material. The inclined portions are strong enough to withstand the weight of the structure, so long as guidelines are followed for the required length of inclined portions based on the setting properties of the printing material. The strength of the resulting structure is maximized via the inclined structure making up each layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2022
    Inventors: Anna Chen-Iun-Tai, Sergey Nefedov
  • Patent number: 11214004
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a build compartment used in 3D printing systems based on powder beds. The build compartment is the volume in a 3D printing apparatus where 3D objects are formed by successive consolidation of thin layers of powder. The build compartment is designed with at least two vertical wall structures movable in relation to each other. The movable wall structures are at least partly overlapping in the movable direction, providing self-sealing for a variable volume for enclosing powder. Contrary to other available designs, this solution does not need a compressible sealing material, for example an elastomer, a textile felt or a braided rope, to prevent powder leakage from the build compartment. The advantages are more reliable sealing and no risk of contamination of the powder by debris from sealing material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2022
    Assignee: FREEMELT AB
    Inventor: Ulf Ackelid
  • Patent number: 11207828
    Abstract: A three-dimensional printer comprising means for build material, a printer carriage and a curtain. The means for depositing the build material deposits same on a printing zone and/or on one or more build material layers deposited on the printing zone. The printer carriage is to move along a first axis over the printing zone and comprises means for treating the build material. The curtain is attached to a first side of the printer carriage with a first side of the curtain and/or configured to move along with the printer carriage such that the curtain covers at least an area of the print zone, wherein the area varies dependent on the moving of the printer carriage over the print zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2021
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Juan Manuel Zamorano, Luis Ortega, Sergio De Santiago
  • Patent number: 11207733
    Abstract: A device is provided for conveying additive manufacturing container/tray assemblies or additive manufacturing trays, the conveying device including at least two chambers for conveying an additive manufacturing container/tray assembly, each conveying chamber including at least one opening allowing the entry/exit of an additive manufacturing container/tray assembly, and each opening being provided with a door for closing the conveying chamber in a sealed manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2021
    Assignee: COMPAGNIE GENERALE DES ETABLISSEMENTS MICHELIN
    Inventors: Benoît Pourcher, Christophe De Lajudie, Gilles Walrand, Frédéric Pialot, Christian Geay
  • Patent number: 11207758
    Abstract: A method of fabricating a polishing layer of a polishing pad includes successively depositing a plurality of layers with a 3D printer, each layer of the plurality of polishing layers deposited by ejecting a pad material precursor from a nozzle and solidifying the pad material precursor to form a solidified pad material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2021
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Rajeev Bajaj, Barry Lee Chin, Terrance Y. Lee
  • Patent number: 11192301
    Abstract: It is disclosed a 3D printing system and a build material spreading method for a 3D printer that comprises: moving a spreader in a first pass in a first direction over a pile of build material at a first separation distance from a dosing surface thereby sweeping a first amount of build material; modify the first separation distance by the distance adjustment unit to a second separation distance; and moving the spreader in a second pass in a second direction towards the build surface to sweep a second amount of build material in a direction towards the build surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventor: Brent Ewald
  • Patent number: 11186035
    Abstract: In an example implementation, a method of forming a three-dimensional (3D) part includes spreading a layer of build material over a print bed, and heating the layer of build material during each of multiple consecutive carriage passes over the print bed to maintain printed portions of the build material above a melting temperature for the duration of the consecutive carriage passes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2021
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Arthur H. Barnes, Wesley R. Schalk, Matthew A. Shepherd
  • Patent number: 11179890
    Abstract: An additive manufacturing device includes a table that supports an additive manufactured object, and a manufacturing unit including a first nozzle that is movable with respect to the table and a second nozzle that is movable with respect to the table and also movable with respect to the first nozzle. The manufacturing unit discharges powder from at least one of the first nozzle and the second nozzle, and emits an energy beam from at least one of the first nozzle and the second nozzle to melt or sinter the powder to additively manufacture the object supported on the table.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignee: TOSHIBA KIKAI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yuta Suzuki, Shuhei Honma, Yasushi Fukase, Shimpei Fujimaki
  • Patent number: 11179887
    Abstract: A method (300) of fabricating an object by additive manufacturing comprises providing (310) a layer of polymeric material (100), said polymeric material (100) being in particulate form, and comprising linear polymer chains, selectively depositing (320) a reactive liquid (200) onto the layer of particulate polymeric material (100), said reactive liquid (200) comprising reactive units (210a) which are monomeric units, linear oligomeric units, linear polymeric units, or combinations thereof, wherein said reactive units (210a) have two or fewer reactive groups, and allowing (330) linear polymeric chains in said layer of polymeric material (100) to react with reactive units in said reactive liquid (200) so as to form extended polymeric chains that are linear, so as to provide a shaped layer of linear polymer. These steps (310, 320, 330) are repeated as required to form the object from successive shaped layers of linear polymer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignee: The University of Nottingham
    Inventors: Christopher John Tuck, Belén Begines Ruiz, Yinfeng He, Ricky Darren Wildman, Richard James Mackenzie Hague