Patents Examined by Ryan M Ochylski
  • Patent number: 11701824
    Abstract: A plasticizing apparatus for plasticizing a material to form a molten material includes a screw having a groove formed face, in which a groove portion in a spiral shape to be supplied with the material is formed, and a first heating portion heating the material, and a barrel having a screw opposed face, which is a face opposed to the groove formed face, and in which a sending-out hole for sending out the molten material is formed at a center, and a second heating portion heating the material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignee: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Manabu Watanabe
  • Patent number: 11685118
    Abstract: Techniques are described for consistently moving powder from a hopper into a trough for subsequent delivery into a build area of an additive fabrication system. A powder delivery apparatus may comprise a hopper, a trough, and a doser. The doser may be configured to rotate about an axis and may include a recess that, when the doser is rotated about the axis, travels into and out of the hopper and into and out of the trough. As a result, when powder is present in the hopper, the recess may carry powder from the hopper to the trough when the doser rotates. The trough and doser may be configured so that when the trough contains the desired amount of powder for recoating, the doser does not transfer additional material from the hopper into the trough. As a result, the amount of powder in the trough may be self-regulating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: Formlabs, Inc.
    Inventors: Luke Plummer, Maria Rosa Ruiz, Carlos Ruiz-Vargas, Robert Morgan, Joseph Johnson, Connor Evans
  • Patent number: 11679560
    Abstract: According to one aspect there is provided an apparatus for generating a three-dimensional object. The apparatus may include a first agent distributor to selectively deliver a coalescing agent onto portions of a layer of build material, a second agent distributor to selectively deliver a coalescence modifier agent onto portions of the layer of build material, and a controller to control the first and second distributors to selectively deliver each of the agent and the coalescence modifier onto the layer of build material in respective patterns derived from data representing a slice of a three-dimensional object to be generated, in which when energy is applied to the layer of build material, the build material coalesces and solidifies to form a slice of the three-dimensional object in accordance the patterns and the three-dimensional object has mechanical object properties that are related to the patterns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: HEWLETT-PACKARD DEVELOPMENT COMPANY, L.P.
    Inventors: Alejandro Manuel De Pena, Esteve Comas Cespedes, Luis Baldez
  • Patent number: 11648720
    Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the production of articles, exemplarily a plastic article, by means of an extruder (1) to which a first plastic composition of a first main component and at least one associated minor component is supplied from a first group of dosing stations (21, 24). According to the invention, during the production time of a first production order there is prepared a second group of dosing stations (31, 33) at the extruder for a second production order for which a second plastic composition of a second main component and at least one associated minor component that is different from the first plastic composition has to be supplied to the extruder. After completion of the first production order it is reset to the second production order by terminating the supply of the first plastic composition by closing a first shut-off device (8) and starting the supply of the second plastic composition by opening a second shut-off device (8?).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: X-PER EXTRUDER PERFORMANCE GMBH
    Inventor: Jens Schramm
  • Patent number: 11648727
    Abstract: An expanding tool comprising: an actuator comprising a cylindrical housing that defines an actuator housing cavity; a primary ram disposed within the actuator housing cavity, the primary ram defining an internal primary ram cavity; a secondary ram disposed within the internal primary ram cavity; a cam roller carrier coupled to a distal end of the secondary ram; a drive collar positioned within a distal end of the actuator housing cavity; a roller clutch disposed within an internal cavity defined by an inner surface of the drive collar; a shuttle cam positioned between the roller clutch and a distal end of the primary ram; an expander cone coupled to the primary ram; and an expander head operably coupled to the drive collar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: Milwaukee Electric Tool Corporation
    Inventors: Corey Dickert, Alex Huber, Jarrod Kotes, Will Didier, Ian Zimmermann
  • Patent number: 11648352
    Abstract: A laminated gasket (13) to be used for a medical syringe is provided, which includes a main body (14) made of an elastic material, and a film (15) provided on a surface of the main body (14). The gasket (13) has a circumferential surface portion (17) to be brought into contact with an inner peripheral surface (16) of a syringe barrel (11) of the syringe. The gasket (13) further includes a projection (22) provided on a surface portion of the film (15) present in the circumferential surface portion (17) as extending circumferentially of the gasket. The projection (22) has a height of not less than 15 ?m and not greater than 55 ?m and a width of not less than 30 ?m and not greater than 75 ?m. With this arrangement, the laminated gasket is excellent in sealability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: SUMITOMO RUBBER INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroaki Nakano, Yuki Sakashita, Yoshikazu Masuyama
  • Patent number: 11584075
    Abstract: The invention relates to a seal system (100, 200, 300) for an installation (400) for producing a three-dimensional workpiece by means of an additive layer manufacturing method, the seal system (100, 200, 300) comprising: a first seal (102), which is configured to seal an intermediate space (116) at a first periphery (108) between a process chamber inner wall (110) and a powder-material-supporting plate assembly (112) in a process chamber (410) of the installation (400); and a second seal (104), which is configured to seal the intermediate space (116) at a second periphery (114) between the process chamber inner wall (110) and the powder-material-supporting plate assembly (112) in the process chamber (410) of the installation (400), the first seal (102) being spaced apart from the second seal (104) such that, when the intermediate space (116) is sealed between the process chamber inner wall (110) and the plate assembly (112) by means of the first seal (102) and the second seal (104), a channel (106) is formed
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Inventors: Eduard Gieser, Christian Mueller, Daniel Kopschinski
  • Patent number: 11577467
    Abstract: An apparatus for additively manufacturing three-dimensional objects formed of successive layerwise consolidation of layers of a build material which can be consolidated by an energy beam. The apparatus may include a determination device confirmed to determine at least one parameter of the energy beam for a specific build material, wherein the determination device comprises at least one determination base body arrangeable or arranged in a beam guiding plane, in particular a build plane; and a tempering unit confirmed to temper the determination base body. Determination devices, along with methods, are also provided for determining at least one parameter of an energy beam of an apparatus for additively manufacturing three-dimensional objects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: CONCEPT LASER GMBH
    Inventors: Stephan Hunze, Jens Junge, MariaTheresia Scherr
  • Patent number: 11579338
    Abstract: A unitary radome layer assembly is provided and includes a first nanocomposite formulation and a second nanocomposite formulation. The first and second nanocomposite formulations are provided together in a unitary radome layer with respective distribution gradients.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: RAYTHEON COMPANY
    Inventors: Catherine Trent, Gary A. Frazier
  • Patent number: 11577465
    Abstract: A system for monitored additive manufacturing of an object, comprising a manufacturing unit], designed for additive manufacturing of the object based on metal-containing manufacturing material in a manufacturing volume, wherein the object is built up by repeated layer-by-layer provision of the manufacturing material in defined quantity and accurately-positioned forming of the provided manufacturing material. The system moreover comprises an optical checking unit having at least one projector and two cameras and a control and processing unit. The manufacturing volume comprises an optical transmission region, the projector and cameras—are arranged outside the manufacturing volume in a fixed position relationship and are aligned in such a way that respective optical axes extend through a respective transmission region, by means of the projector, a projection can be generated on a manufacturing area and at least a common part of the manufacturing area on which the projection can be overlaid can be captured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: HEXAGON TECHNOLOGY CENTER GMBH
    Inventors: Thomas Jensen, Zheng Yang, Johan Stigwall
  • Patent number: 11577453
    Abstract: An additive manufacturing system has a light permeable base, a build carrier for holding a workpiece and a light source which is arranged to emit light through the light permeable base. The light permeable base and the build carrier are positionable relative to each other in a build dimension in which the workpiece is built up. The system further has a resin vat in which the light permeable base forms a wall portion thereof. The system further comprises a plurality of resin supplies for supplying different light hardenable resins in direct contact with each other in said vat. The system facilitates the rapid manufacturing of a dental restoration having a color gradation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: Malte Korten, Helmar Mayr, Gioacchino Raia, Bernhard Hofmann, Adrian Eckert
  • Patent number: 11577470
    Abstract: Provided is a three-dimensional shaping apparatus in which surface of a three-dimensional shaped object can be prevented from being roughened. The three-dimensional shaping apparatus that shapes a three-dimensional shaped object by stacking layers of a material includes: a stage; a discharge unit that has a nozzle surface in which a nozzle hole is formed; a moving unit that is configured to change a relative position between the stage and the nozzle surface; and a control unit that is configured to control the moving unit. The control unit drives the moving unit such that a relation between a gap G between the nozzle surface and the stage or the layer of the material when the material is discharged from the discharge unit and an outer diameter Dp of the nozzle surface satisfies a following relation (1). Dp?20×G+0.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Inventors: Manabu Watanabe, Eiji Okamoto, Akihiko Tsunoya, Koji Fujimori, Kazuhide Nakamura
  • Patent number: 11578244
    Abstract: The invention provides shape-stable products for storing and releasing thermal energy, based on thermoplastic polymer compositions containing organic phase change materials (PCM) incorporated into a polymer matrix, the products withstanding multiple melting-crystallization cycles of the PCM while maintaining their shape, dimensions, and the thermal energy storage capacity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: CARMEL OLEFINS LTD.
    Inventors: Michael Shuster, Michael Gishboliner, Rotem Shemesh
  • Patent number: 11572972
    Abstract: A CIPP liner feeder system for efficiently feeding CIPP liner into an air inversion unit. The CIPP liner feeder system generally includes a feed roller attached to an air inverter unit that is adjustable to a first position for feeding a CIPP liner into the air inverter unit from the front or a second position for feeding a CIPP liner into the air inverter unit from the rear. A motor is connected to the feed roller to rotate the feed roller in a first direction when the feed roller is in the first position and a second direction when the feed roller is in the second position. A connecting structure is attached to the air inverter unit for connecting to a lifting/lowering structure of a tractor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2023
    Assignee: Subsurface, Inc.
    Inventor: Brandon Gregory Strom
  • Patent number: 11566104
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for continuous production of partly crystalline polycondensate pellet material, comprising the steps of forming a polycondensate melt into pellet material; separating the liquid cooling medium from the pellet material in a first treatment space, wherein the pellets after exit from the first treatment space exhibit a temperature TGR, and crystallizing the pellet material in a second treatment space, wherein in the second treatment space fluidized bed conditions exist, and in the second treatment space the pellets are heated by supply of energy from the exterior by means of a process gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2023
    Assignee: POLYMETRIX AG
    Inventors: Andreas Christel, Brent Allan Culbert
  • Patent number: 11565350
    Abstract: Laser processing of hard dielectric materials may include cutting a part from a hard dielectric material using a continuous wave laser operating in a quasi-continuous wave (QCW) mode to emit consecutive laser light pulses in a wavelength range of about 1060 nm to 1070 nm. Cutting using a QCW laser may be performed with a lower duty cycle (e.g., between about 1% and 15%) and in an inert gas atmosphere such as nitrogen, argon or helium. Laser processing of hard dielectric materials may further include post-cut processing the cut edges of the part cut from the dielectric material, for example, by beveling and/or polishing the edges to reduce edge defects. The post-cut processing may be performed using a laser beam with different laser parameters than the beam used for cutting, for example, by using a shorter wavelength (e.g., 193 nm excimer laser) and/or a shorter pulse width (e.g., picosecond laser).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2023
    Assignee: IPG PHOTONICS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jeffrey P. Sercel, Marco Mendes, Rouzbeh Sarrafi, Joshua Schoenly, Xiangyang Song, Mathew Hannon, Miroslaw Sokol
  • Patent number: 11554551
    Abstract: An assembly for calibrating a head system of a power radiation source of an additive manufacturing apparatus comprises: a calibration plate comprising a plurality of reference marks, and a firing medium made of at least one material that is sensitive to the radiation of the source, this medium leaving visible the reference marks of the calibration plate when it is in place on the latter, characterized in that the firing medium comprises a plurality of windows that are distributed so as to be superposed with the various reference marks of the calibration plate and to leave said marks visible when the firing medium is in place on the calibration plate. There is also a method for calibrating such a system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2023
    Assignee: ADDUP
    Inventors: Alexandre Roblin, Jean-Pierre Nicaise, Ivan Novikoff
  • Patent number: 11541457
    Abstract: Devices, systems, and methods for monitoring a powder layer in additive manufacturing are disclosed. A method of monitoring a powder layer includes receiving image data corresponding the powder layer supported by a powder bed within a build chamber from imaging devices, determining leading and trailing regions of interest located adjacent to a leading end and a trailing end of the moving powder distributor, respectively, the leading and trailing regions of interest moving according to movement of the moving powder distributor, selecting at least one point located in the leading region of interest from the image data, determining first characteristics of the point, when the point is located within the trailing region of interest, determining second characteristics of the point, and comparing the first characteristics to the second characteristics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignee: Arcam AB
    Inventors: Björn Löfving, Kristofer Karlsson
  • Patent number: 11534961
    Abstract: A system and method of monitoring a powder-bed additive manufacturing process using a plurality of energy sources is provided. A layer of additive powder is deposited on a powder bed and is fused using a first energy source, a second energy source, or any other suitable number of energy sources. The electromagnetic energy emissions at a first melt pool are monitored by a melt pool monitoring system and recorded as raw emission signals. The melt pool monitoring system may also monitor emissions from the powder bed using off-axis sensors or from a second melt pool using on-axis sensors, and these emissions may be used to modify the raw emission signals to generate compensated emission signals. The compensated emission signals are analyzed to identify outlier emissions and an alert may be provided or a process adjustment may be made when outlier emissions exceed a predetermined signal threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventor: Scott Alan Gold
  • Patent number: 11518099
    Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for producing an object by means of additive manufacturing, comprising a process chamber for receiving a bath of material which can be solidified by exposure to electromagnetic radiation; a support for positioning the object in relation to the surface level of the bath of material; and a solidifying device for solidifying a selective layer-part of the material on the surface level by means of electromagnetic radiation. Furthermore optical control device is provided with a focus unit in an optical pathway of the electromagnetic radiation of the solidifying device, and arranged for controlling at least the focus of the electromagnetic radiation emitted by the solidifying device on the surface level. According to the invention, the optical control device comprises a sensor element arranged for detecting a measure for the accuracy of the focus of the electromagnetic radiation and a focus correction lens element that is arranged to be movable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: ADDITIVE INDUSTRIES B.V.
    Inventors: Mark Herman Else Vaes, Steef Willem Denteneer, Erwin Wijn