Patents Examined by Timothy Kennedy
-
Patent number: 11975480Abstract: Apparatus (1) for additively manufacturing three-dimensional objects (2) by means of successive layerwise selective irradiation and consolidation of layers of a build material (3) which can be consolidated by means of an energy beam (6, 6?) generated via an irradiation device (4), wherein the irradiation device (4) comprises at least one beam guiding unit (7, 7?) that is adapted to guide the energy beam (6, 6?) across a build plane (9) in which build material (3) is applied to be irradiated, wherein the at least one beam guiding unit (7, 7?) is arranged behind a point of impact (20) of the energy beam (6, 6?) in the build plane (9), in particular all possible points of impact (20), with respect to a streaming direction (16) of the gas stream (13) streaming over the build plane (9).Type: GrantFiled: February 21, 2019Date of Patent: May 7, 2024Assignee: Concept Laser GmbHInventor: Jürgen Werner
-
Patent number: 11975463Abstract: Embodiments relate to a pre-fabricated attachment for fabricating custom objects. In one embodiment, a system includes a mold and a pre-fabricated attachment. The mold includes a physical model of a dental arch of a patient and one or more first features. An orthodontic aligner is to be formed over the physical model. The pre-fabricated attachment includes one or more second features configured to removably attach to the one or more first features. The pre-fabricated attachment further includes a traceability component configured to be used to determine one or more identifiers corresponding to the mold. The pre-fabricated attachment further includes a handling component configured to be secured by a robot or person to transport the mold and pre-fabricated attachment during production of the orthodontic aligner. The pre-fabricated attachment may be reused.Type: GrantFiled: December 10, 2020Date of Patent: May 7, 2024Assignee: AlignTechnology, Inc.Inventors: Gabor Lukacs, Jack Shaw, Alexey Kalinichenko, Arthur George Butz, Mehdi Mojdeh, Enrique Soltero Borrego
-
Patent number: 11975485Abstract: The disclosure is of and includes at least an apparatus, system and method for a print head for additive manufacturing. The apparatus, system and method may include at least two proximate hobs suitable to receive and extrude therebetween a print material filament for the additive manufacturing; a motor capable of imparting a rotation to at least one of the two hobs, wherein the extrusion results from the rotation; a dynamic force adjustment capable of exerting force on one of the two hobs to urge the force-receiving hob toward the other of the two hobs; and a controller communicatively connected with the dynamic force adjustment and capable of controlling the force exertion thereof.Type: GrantFiled: August 2, 2021Date of Patent: May 7, 2024Inventors: Scott Klimczak, Luke Rodgers, Darin Burgess
-
Patent number: 11970867Abstract: A spackling tool for spreading and smoothing spackling includes a main planar flat blade made of a thin resilient material. The blade is substantially rectangular in shape with left and right side edges and front and rear edges. In one embodiment, a left blade is formed by bending the material forming the main blade upwardly at an angle of substantially 90° and a right blade is formed in substantially the same way at the right side edge of the main blade. A handle is secured to the rear edge of the main blade at the midpoint thereof and extends away from the main blade in substantially the same plane as the main blade. In a second embodiment, the left and right blades are hinged to the main blade so that the angle between them and the main blade can be adjusted.Type: GrantFiled: October 19, 2020Date of Patent: April 30, 2024Inventor: Andrew A. DeSanto
-
Patent number: 11969940Abstract: An additive manufacturing apparatus includes a nozzle body discharging a powder and a carrier gas from an opening, a powder supply supplying the powder and the carrier gas to the nozzle body, a flow rate adjuster provided in a supply path of the powder supply to cause a part of a flow of the carrier gas containing the powder to flow into a branch flow path branching from the supply path to adjust a flow rate of the carrier gas containing the powder to be supplied to the nozzle body, and the branch flow path connected to the flow rate adjuster. The branch flow path is connected to a flow path leading to the nozzle body and has a separator for separating the powder and the carrier gas. The carrier gas separated from the powder by the separator is supplied to the nozzle body through the branch flow path.Type: GrantFiled: September 5, 2019Date of Patent: April 30, 2024Assignees: DMG MORI CO., LTD.Inventor: Masakazu Soshi
-
Patent number: 11969941Abstract: Provided is a binder jetting 3D printer capable of continuous printing, wherein a box assembly is supplied by a horizontal movement guide means, a 3D object is built with binder jetting within a build box, and the box assembly in which the 3D object is built is withdrawn, thereby printing 3D objects continuously. In particular, provided is a binder jetting 3D printer capable of continuous printing, wherein a box assembly including a powder supply box and a build box is simplified by integrating the boxes and a lifting and lowering process of a supply plate and of a build plate is facilitated, thereby reducing the time taken for a 3D printing process and thus improving productivity.Type: GrantFiled: June 22, 2021Date of Patent: April 30, 2024Assignee: KLABS.INCInventors: Won Hyo Kim, Do Young Kim
-
Patent number: 11969942Abstract: Component carrier for an additive manufacturing device, wherein the component carrier comprises a construction surface, on which a component to be manufactured is disposed during the operation of the manufacturing device, wherein the component carrier comprises a sealing surface which radially surrounds the construction surface, and method for post-processing a component manufactured according to an additive manufacturing process using such a component carrier.Type: GrantFiled: February 28, 2020Date of Patent: April 30, 2024Assignee: DENTSPLY SIRONA INC.Inventors: Christian Schmidt, Thomas Hasenzahl
-
Hot bed deformation tolerance structure for large-sized continuous fiber high-temperature 3D printer
Patent number: 11969943Abstract: A hot bed deformation tolerance structure for a large-sized continuous fiber high-temperature 3D printer is provided. Size changes caused by thermal expansion of a hot bed are compensated through motion coordination of a secured hot bed support assembly and a motion device, especially for an aluminum alloy material. A Z-direction motion structure of this structure is fixedly mounted with a frame and works at room temperature. A compensation motion module is fixedly mounted with a Z axis and incompletely secured with the hot bed support assembly, and works at room temperature with the Z axis. The hot bed support assembly is incompletely secured and partially in a high-temperature chamber, with a maximum working temperature of 300° C. The hot bed support assembly retains motion redundancy in a direction of thermal expansion deformation, tolerates thermal deformation through a linear motion module, and compensates for metal deformation through horizontal motion coordination.Type: GrantFiled: December 12, 2023Date of Patent: April 30, 2024Assignee: NANJING UNIVERSITY OF AERONAUTICS AND ASTRONAUTICSInventors: Yiwei Chen, Jinghua Zheng, Zhongde Shan, Wenzhe Song, Congze Fan, Hao Zhang -
Patent number: 11964438Abstract: A three-dimensional molding method in which both a support material 2 and a test piece 3 are separately joined to partial regions of a part to be produced 1, which is molded by dispersion of a powder by traveling of a squeegee and sintering of the powder by irradiation of a laser beam or an electron beam, or the test piece 3 is separately joined to a plurality of the support materials 2, or the test piece 3 is joined to a partial region of the part to be produced 1 to mold the support material 2 and the test pieces 3 in the same step.Type: GrantFiled: September 29, 2023Date of Patent: April 23, 2024Assignee: Matsuura Machinery CorporationInventor: Makoto Ichimura
-
Patent number: 11958237Abstract: A three-dimensional (3D) printing system for preparing an object made at least partially of an expanded polymer including: a printing device for transporting and depositing a strand of expanded polymer including a blowing agent onto a surface and a 3D movement device for adjusting the position of the printing device in a predefined matrix allowing deposit of the strand of expanded polymer at a predetermined time and precise position within the matrix, the printing device includes: a feed section, a transporting section, a surface melting section, and a terminal printing head section for depositing the expanded polymer strand onto the surface, and all of sections have the same inner diameter, and the surface melting section including a solid-state welding element, a laser beam, a generator of hot gas or liquid and/or a generator of heat.Type: GrantFiled: August 21, 2019Date of Patent: April 16, 2024Assignee: SULZER MANAGEMENT AGInventors: Stephen Shields, Daniele Tammaro, Ulla Trommsdorff, Claudio Walker
-
Patent number: 11957276Abstract: An ice cream scoop having a heat transfer fluid with a high specific heat and a fluid stirring device, having: at least one scoop body, which includes a scoop portion with high thermal conductivity and a handle portion that is connected to the scoop portion along the length direction, wherein the handle portion is formed with at least one cavity in communication with the scoop portion; a heat transfer fluid filled in the cavity, the heat transfer fluid having a specific heat higher than that of the scoop portion; at least one group of heat sink fins connected with the cavity, the group of heat sink fins being disposed along the length direction opposite the scoop portion; and at least one fluid stirring device, which is at least partially extended into the cavity so as to facilitate convection of the fluid along the length direction.Type: GrantFiled: January 27, 2022Date of Patent: April 16, 2024Inventor: Hao Howard Chiu
-
Patent number: 11951686Abstract: A method for manufacturing a three-dimensional shaped object includes: a plasticizing step of plasticizing at least a part of a shaping material containing a thermoplastic resin to generate a plasticized material; a fiber introducing step including at least one of a step of introducing a covered fiber material, which is a fiber material covered with a covering material, into the plasticized material after being discharged from the nozzle opening, and a step of introducing the covered fiber material into the shaping material or the plasticized material before being discharged from the nozzle opening; and a shaping step of shaping a three-dimensional shaped object including the covered fiber material.Type: GrantFiled: February 23, 2022Date of Patent: April 9, 2024Assignee: Seiko Epson CorporationInventors: Eiji Okamoto, Akihiko Tsunoya
-
Patent number: 11945157Abstract: A method for producing a component layer-by-layer includes: providing two or more resin handling assemblies, each including a resin support which has at least a portion which is transparent, each resin support defining a build surface located in a build zone of the respective assembly; executing a build cycle, including: depositing on each build surface radiant-energy-curable resin, the resin on each build surface being a unique material combination; positioning a stage relative to one of the build surfaces to define a layer increment; selectively curing the resin using applied radiant energy so as to define a cross-sectional layer of the component; separating the component from the build surface; cleaning at least one of the component and the stage; and repeating the cycle, for a plurality of layers, wherein at least one of the layers is cured in each of the build zone. Apparatus is described for carrying out the method.Type: GrantFiled: October 25, 2022Date of Patent: April 2, 2024Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Meredith Elissa Dubelman, Christopher Barnhill, Xi Yang, Mary Kathryn Thompson
-
Patent number: 11945162Abstract: The disclosure is of and includes at least an apparatus, system and method for a print head for additive manufacturing. The apparatus, system and method may include at least two proximate hobs suitable to receive and extrude therebetween a print material filament for the additive manufacturing; a motor capable of imparting a rotation to at least one of the two hobs, wherein the extrusion results from the rotation; a dynamic force adjustment capable of exerting force on one of the two hobs to urge the force-receiving hob toward the other of the two hobs; and a controller communicatively connected with the dynamic force adjustment and capable of controlling the force exertion thereof.Type: GrantFiled: December 17, 2019Date of Patent: April 2, 2024Inventors: Scott Klimczak, Luke Rodgers, Darin Burgess
-
Patent number: 11938679Abstract: A three-dimensional (3D) printing system includes a resin vessel, a fabrication subsystem, a waste collection subsystem, and a controller. The resin vessel is configured to contain photocurable resin. The fabrication subsystem is configured to form the 3D article with layer-by-layer selective curing of the photocurable resin. The fabrication subsystem includes a build plate, a build plate support structure, and a vertical movement mechanism. The waste collection subsystem is attached to the build plate support structure and configured to capture partially polymerized resin as the build plate support structure moves in an upward direction. The controller is configured to (a) operate the vertical movement mechanism to translate the build plate support structure to a lower position and (b) operate the vertical movement mechanism to raise the waste collection subsystem up through the resin and to a position at which partially polymerized resin can be unloaded from the waste collection subsystem.Type: GrantFiled: June 24, 2022Date of Patent: March 26, 2024Assignee: 3D SYSTEMS, INC.Inventors: Andrew Enslow, Darold Tejero Lazatin
-
Patent number: 11926096Abstract: According to some aspects, an additive fabrication device and a build platform suitable for use within an additive fabrication device are provided. The build platform may include a build surface on which material may be formed by the additive fabrication device when the build platform is installed within the additive fabrication device. According to some embodiments, the build platform may include a flexible build layer and at least one removal mechanism configured to be actuated to apply a force to the flexible build layer. Such actuation may cause the flexible build layer to deform, thereby enabling separation of material adhered to the build surface from the build platform. According to some embodiments, the build platform may comprise a restorative mechanism that acts to return the flexible build layer to a flat state so that subsequent additive fabrication may form material on a flat build surface.Type: GrantFiled: January 25, 2021Date of Patent: March 12, 2024Assignee: Formlabs, Inc.Inventors: Craig Broady, Gurshan Deol, Gagandeep Singh
-
Patent number: 11911955Abstract: Disclosed herein are embodiments of a system for use in additive manufacturing methods. The system can comprise a first container, and a first fluid and a second fluid forming a fluid-fluid interface within the first container. The first fluid is between the fluid-fluid interface and the transparent portion of the first container and configured to remove oxygen from the second fluid at the fluid-fluid interface to facilitate polymerization of a monomeric component in the second fluid. The system can also comprise a circulation system configured to circulate the first fluid through the first container such that the first fluid flows between the fluid-fluid interface and the inner surface of the transparent portion of the first container.Type: GrantFiled: December 3, 2020Date of Patent: February 27, 2024Assignee: Triad National Security, LLCInventors: Kyle Cluff, Matthew Lee, Nicholas Parra-Vasquez, Matthew Crall
-
Patent number: 11904614Abstract: The present invention generally relates to the printing of materials, using 3-dimensional printing and other printing techniques, including the use of one or more mixing nozzles, and/or multi-axis control over the translation and/or rotation of the print head or the substrate onto which materials are printed. In some embodiments, a material may be prepared by extruding material through print head comprising a nozzle, such as a microfluidic printing nozzle, which may be used to mix materials within the nozzle and direct the resulting product onto a substrate. The print head and/or the substrate may be configured to be translated and/or rotated, for example, using a computer or other controller, in order to control the deposition of material onto the substrate.Type: GrantFiled: August 26, 2020Date of Patent: February 20, 2024Assignee: Kornit Digital Technologies Ltd.Inventor: Travis Alexander Busbee
-
Patent number: 11897195Abstract: A process to cure and/or modify the surface of a three dimensional (3D) printed part comprising the steps of immersing a three dimensional (3D) printed part, containing reactive moieties, into a liquid bath at an elevated temperature to effect polymerization of the reactive moieties of the 3D printed part to provide a cured 3D printed part is described. The liquid bath can further contain reactive molecules that can react with the surface of the 3D printed part to provide a coating which alters the surface characteristics of the 3D printed part.Type: GrantFiled: November 17, 2022Date of Patent: February 13, 2024Assignee: AZUL 3D, INC.Inventor: David Alan Walker
-
Patent number: 11891342Abstract: Method for manufacturing a composite material part includes injecting a slurry containing a refractory ceramic particle powder into a fibrous texture, draining the liquid from the slurry that passed through the fibrous texture and retaining the refractory ceramic particle powder inside said texture so as to obtain a fibrous preform loaded with refractory ceramic particles, and demoulding of the fibrous preform. The method includes, after demoulding the fibrous preform, checking the compliance of the demoulded fibrous preform. If the preform is noncompliant, the method also includes, before a sintering, immersing the demoulded fibrous preform in a bath of a liquid suitable for decompacting the refractory ceramic particles present in the fibrous preform, and additionally injecting a slurry containing a refractory ceramic particle powder into the fibrous preform present in the mould cavity.Type: GrantFiled: October 4, 2019Date of Patent: February 6, 2024Assignees: SAFRAN AIRCRAFT ENGINES, SAFRANInventors: Ludovic Philippe Liais, Nicolas Droz, Michaël Podgorski