Patents Examined by Nicholas J Chidiac
  • Patent number: 11969944
    Abstract: The invention discloses a 3D printer based on liquid-solid chemical reaction deposition and operating methods thereof, comprising a sealed forming chamber, a powder container, a forming container, a powder spreading mechanism, and a three-axis linkage mechanism in the sealed forming chamber. The three-axis linkage mechanism moves a nozzle in the sealed forming chamber according to a movement path planning of a control system of the 3D printer. A liquid supply device is provided outside the sealed forming chamber. The liquid supply device contains a gel-like reactant. The nozzle is a liquid nozzle. The liquid nozzle communicates with the liquid supply device through a following conduit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: SOUTH CHINA UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Yongqiang Yang, Yuchao Bai
  • Patent number: 11951678
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method for manufacturing a 3D printing structure, the method including: producing a molded body by performing 3D printing on paste including printing powder in a coagulation bath including a hydrogel; hardening the molded body produced in the coagulation bath; and removing the hydrogel in the coagulation bath. A method for manufacturing a 3D printing structure, which is provided according to an aspect of the disclosure, does not require printing of a separate support, and thus it is possible to save time and costs. A post-processing process for removing a support is not required. Thus, a process is further simplified, and there is no risk of damage to a structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: KOREA INSTITUTE OF MATERIALS SCIENCE
    Inventors: Yeong-jin Choi, Hui-suk Yun, Hong-hyun Park
  • Patent number: 11945156
    Abstract: A three-dimensional printing apparatus includes a liquid tank capable of accommodating a photosensitive liquid. The liquid tank includes a film, a plurality of side walls, a plate and a motor. The film has a workpiece curing area. The plurality of side walls surrounds the film. The plate is capable of supporting the film and having at least one fluid tunnel extending from a first surface of the plate contacting the film to a second surface of the plate. The motor is connected to the liquid tank to incline the liquid tank. A gap is formed between the plat and one of the plurality of side walls of the liquid tank, and the film is communicated with an outside space via the gap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: YOUNG OPTICS INC.
    Inventors: Li-Han Wu, Chien-Hsing Tsai, Chao-Shun Chen, Tsung-Yu Liu
  • Patent number: 11939713
    Abstract: A plant (1) for the production of spunbonded nonwoven (8), comprising a spinning solution production (3), a spinning system (2), a device (6) for the delivery of coagulation liquid, at least one conveying device (7, 9) for depositing the spunbonded nonwoven (8), and a collecting device (13) for the spunbonded nonwoven (8), wherein at least one discharge device (14) is provided between the device (6) for the delivery of coagulation liquid and the collecting device (13) for the spunbonded nonwoven (8).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: LENZING AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Ibrahim Sagerer-Foric, Markus Malzner, Martin Lichtenthal
  • Patent number: 11911962
    Abstract: A three-dimensionally shaped article production member is a member used in a three-dimensionally shaped article production apparatus for producing a three-dimensionally shaped article by stacking a layer formed using a composition containing particles. The member is placed on a stage and comes in contact with the layer, and has a portion provided with pores in a contact surface with the layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Eiji Okamoto, Shinichi Nakamura, Koki Hirata
  • Patent number: 11872754
    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 10, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignee: Powder Motion Labs, LLC
    Inventor: Connor L. Coward
  • Patent number: 11865616
    Abstract: In one example, a decaking system for 3D printing includes a platform to support multiple green parts in unbound powder surrounding the green parts, a decaking tool to remove unbound powder from around the green parts, a camera to photograph green parts on the platform as unbound powder is removed from around the green parts, and a controller operatively connected to the camera. The controller is programmed to detect a pattern of light intensity in the photographs and, in response to a determination a detected pattern matches a reference pattern, modulate or stop the decaking tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Jorge Diosdado Borrego, Michel Georges Encrenaz, Sergio Puigardeu Aramendia, Rocio Munoz Moreno
  • Patent number: 11845127
    Abstract: A system to apply uniform layers of metal powder, the system includes: a conductive roller with a dielectric coating, the conductive roller biased at a first voltage; a powder supply to contain a metal powder biased at a second voltage, the powder supply to provide the metal powder to the conductive roller to form a uniform layer of metal powder on the dielectric coating of the conductive roller; a deposition area to receive the uniform layer of metal powder from the conductive roller, the deposition area biased at a third voltage, wherein the metal powder is transferred across an air gap from the conductive roller to the deposition area by electrostatic attraction of the metal powder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2023
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Thomas Anthony, Seongsik Chang, Keith Edward Moore
  • Patent number: 11845201
    Abstract: A method of configuring an additive-manufacturing machine comprises a chamber, a platform, movable inside the chamber and comprising a build-plane surface, and a laser, having a laser focal plane within the chamber. The method comprising steps of flowing a gas within the chamber in accordance with a first set of process parameters and identifying a value of a flow characteristic of the gas at a predetermined point in the laser focal plane while flowing the gas within the chamber in accordance with the first set of process parameters. The method also comprises additively manufacturing a test coupon using the laser while flowing the gas within the chamber in accordance with the first set of process parameters, wherein the test coupon has a test-coupon peripheral surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2023
    Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANY
    Inventors: Eric M. Chapman, Cory C. Cunningham, Troy A. Haworth, Dana Alexander Henshaw, Matthew Thomas Hollinger, Ashley Marie Jones, Kevin Michael Mejia, Christopher Perez, Russell William Waymire
  • Patent number: 11845224
    Abstract: An additive manufacturing system for extraction of impurities in additive manufacturing material, the system including an additive manufacturing machine for manufacturing a part using additive manufacturing material. The system may additionally include a conductive plate adjacent to the additive manufacturing material. The system can further include an energy source for distributing an electric charge through the conductive plate adjacent to the additive manufacturing material. Distributing the electric charge through the conductive plate can attract impurities from the additive manufacturing material to the conductive plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2023
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventor: Nathan D. Hiller
  • Patent number: 11826971
    Abstract: A system for infusing liquid resin into a sheet of fibrous material comprises a tool and a permeable media layer, configured to have the sheet therebetween. The system further comprises a non-permeable bladder, configured to be sealed to the tool about the sheet of fibrous material and the permeable media layer such that the sheet of fibrous material and the permeable media layer are sealed between the non-permeable bladder and the tool. The system additionally comprises an inlet, selectively fluidically coupleable with the permeable media layer to deliver liquid resin to the permeable media layer. The system also comprises an outlet, selectively fluidically coupleable with the permeable media layer to create a pressure differential across the non-permeable bladder. The system further comprises a permeability control valve, selectively operable to adjust the permeability of the permeable media layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Richard W. Roberts, Kursat Sezai
  • Patent number: 11806787
    Abstract: An additive manufacturing apparatus of the disclosure includes: a supply port that supplies an inert gas to a chamber; a supply nozzle which is attached to the supply port and releases two layers of airflow having different speeds toward the window; and a discharge port that discharges the inert gas from the chamber. The supply nozzle has: a first nozzle member having an inlet surface connected to the supply port; a net-like member which has a plurality of through holes and is attached in a manner of covering a portion of a lower part of an outlet surface of the first nozzle member; and a second nozzle member that is attached to the upper side of the outlet surface of the first nozzle member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: Sodick Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Shuichi Kawada
  • Patent number: 11759862
    Abstract: In one example, a process for loading a build material powder supply container for 3D printing includes, with a floor of the supply container at or near a top of the supply container, dispensing build material powder into a loading chamber surrounding the top of the supply container and on to the floor, compacting powder in the loading chamber, and lowering the floor with the compacted powder into the supply container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Jorge Diosdado Borrego, David Chanclon Fernandez, Pablo Antonio Murciego Rodriguez
  • Patent number: 11745424
    Abstract: According to some aspects, degradation of material in a sintering additive fabrication process may be mitigated or avoided by fabricating parts within a chamber that includes one or more thermal breaks. The thermal break may be implemented using a variety of structures, but generally allows material in the chamber close to the surface to be maintained at different temperatures than the material further from the surface. For instance, as a result of the thermal break, parts located within the material of the chamber that were formed earlier during fabrication may be kept cooler to avoid damage to the parts yet the upper surface (sometimes called the “build surface”) of unconsolidated material may be heated enough so as to require minimal additional energy exposure to trigger consolidation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: Formlabs, Inc.
    Inventors: Robb Morgan, Luke Plummer, Christopher Auld
  • Patent number: 11733676
    Abstract: In an example, a method includes receiving, by at least one processor, object model data, the object model data describing at least part of an object to be generated in additive manufacturing. Pattern data is also received, wherein the pattern data describes a pattern of variable opacity intended to be formed internally to the object. Object generation instructions for generating an intermediate layer of the object comprising the pattern of variable opacity may be determined by at least one processor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company. L.P.
    Inventors: Pol Fornos Martinez, Sergio Puigardeu Aramendia, Ismael Fernandez Aymerich
  • Patent number: 11731200
    Abstract: The lamination molding apparatus includes an irradiator, a processing device, a cooling device, and an inert gas supply source. The irradiator irradiates a laser beam or an electron beam to a material layer to form a solidified layer. The processing device includes a processing head for holding a tool, and a processing head driver for moving the processing head in at least a horizontal direction. The cooling device is arranged in the processing head and cools a solidified body formed by laminating the solidified layers to a cooling temperature. The cooling device includes a cold gas discharger having a cold gas discharge port for discharging a cold gas being an inert gas having a temperature equal to or lower than the cooling temperature, and discharging the cold gas toward the solidified body. The inert gas supply source supplies the inert gas to the cold gas discharger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: Sodick Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shuji Okazaki, Naoto Nakamura, Shuichi Kawada
  • Patent number: 11717987
    Abstract: Compactor (100) for the “granulation” of plastic materials, the compactor (100) comprising a first zone or unit (101) for loading and distribution capable of being loaded with plastic material and distributing the plastic material loaded to other zones and/or units of the compactor (100); a second zone or unit (104) comprising a perforated spinneret (110) and at least one compacting roller (105) installed external to the spinneret (110), where the material is “granulated” by “sinterization” deriving from its forced passage through the perforations of the spinneret (110) under the action of the at least one roller (105); a third zone or unit for the forced feeding of the material, being provided at the at least one roller (105) comprising at least one rotating feeder auger (111) housed at least partially in a tubular housing (113).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: WEBSPHERE IT & SOFT SOLUTIONS SRL
    Inventor: Maria Giovanna Gamberini
  • Patent number: 11712840
    Abstract: An apparatus for additively manufacturing a three-dimensional object formed by successive layerwise selective irradiation and consolidation of build material layers by at least one energy beam in a build area of the apparatus is provided, along with methods thereof. The apparatus may comprise a first build material supply device configured to supply an amount of build material to a first build material application device; wherein the first build material application device is configured to apply an amount of build material in the build area of the apparatus; and a second build material supply device configured to supply an amount of build material to a second build material application device, wherein the second build material application device is configured to apply an amount of build material to the supply area of the first build material supply device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2023
    Assignee: Concept Laser GmbH
    Inventor: Domenik Braunroth
  • Patent number: 11707789
    Abstract: The disclosure provides machines for manufacturing three-dimensional components by selectively solidifying powdery build-up material with a process beam in a process chamber, and methods of making the machines. The machine includes a machine base frame, wherein the machine base frame has a machine frame and a supporting frame which is attachable thereto, wherein the supporting frame accommodates at least one process chamber or at least one construction cylinder, and at least one interface is formed between the supporting frame and the machine frame, by which interface the supporting frame is held with respect to the machine frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2023
    Assignee: TRUMPF SISMA S.R.L.
    Inventors: Guglielmo Cavalcabo, Alessio Guzzonato
  • Patent number: 11684979
    Abstract: An additive manufacturing device is an additive manufacturing device manufacturing an additively manufactured article by melting or sintering layered powder by partially applying energy to the powder. The additive manufacturing device includes a powder holding unit holding the layered powder, a heating unit preheating the powder held by the powder holding unit, a reflection unit where a reflective film including a reflective surface is disposed, the reflective surface reflecting radiant heat radiated from an object including at least one of the powder and the additively manufactured article to the powder holding unit side, and a reflective surface update unit disposing a new reflective surface in the reflection unit by moving the reflective film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: IHI CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masashi Mouri, Masato Yamada, Yuki Kozue