Patents by Inventor Brian S. Smiddy
Brian S. Smiddy has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Publication number: 20240100773Abstract: A system for additive manufacturing includes a nozzle configured to translate along a first axis, a second axis perpendicular to the first axis, and a third axis orthogonal to the first and second axes, wherein the nozzle is operably coupled to: an extruder having an outlet and including a screw disposed within a barrel, and a pump having an inlet and an outlet. The inlet is coupled to the extruder, and the outlet is in fluid communication with the nozzle. The system also includes a controller configured to adjust a speed of the pump with respect to a speed of the screw to apply a target pressure at the outlet of the extruder.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 5, 2023Publication date: March 28, 2024Applicant: Thermwood CorporationInventors: Kenneth J. SUSNJARA, Nicolas Vote, Robert Gaesser, Brian S. Smiddy, Scott G. Vaal
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Patent number: 11872752Abstract: A system for additive manufacturing includes a nozzle configured to translate along a first axis, a second axis perpendicular to the first axis, and a third axis orthogonal to the first and second axes, wherein the nozzle is operably coupled to: an extruder having an outlet and including a screw disposed within a barrel, and a pump having an inlet and an outlet. The inlet is coupled to the extruder, and the outlet is in fluid communication with the nozzle. The system also includes a controller configured to adjust a speed of the pump with respect to a speed of the screw to apply a target pressure at the outlet of the extruder.Type: GrantFiled: February 24, 2023Date of Patent: January 16, 2024Assignee: Thermwood CorporationInventors: Kenneth J. Susnjara, Nicolas Vote, Robert Gaesser, Brian S. Smiddy, Scott G. Vaal
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Patent number: 11833752Abstract: An additive manufacturing system may include a carrier, a set of rails coupled to the carrier, and a transition housing movably attached to the set of rails. The additive manufacturing system may include an extruder having an extruder barrel coupled to the transition housing, and a melt pump fixedly attached to the carrier. The melt pump may be in fluid communication with the extruder barrel. Additionally, the additive manufacturing system may include a nozzle in fluid communication with the melt pump, and a roller rotatable about the nozzle.Type: GrantFiled: June 23, 2021Date of Patent: December 5, 2023Assignee: Thermwood CorporationInventors: Kenneth J. Susnjara, Brian S. Smiddy, John Fuquay, Scott G. Vaal
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Publication number: 20230302721Abstract: An additive manufacturing apparatus an extruder configured to receive material, a work surface extending so as to define a plane for receiving one or more layers of the material, an applicator assembly secured at a downstream portion of the additive manufacturing apparatus, a nozzle connected to the applicator assembly, the nozzle being configured to receive the material from the extruder and deposit the material on the work surface, and an actuator configured to displace the work surface in a movement direction, wherein the movement direction forms an acute angle with the plane.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 8, 2023Publication date: September 28, 2023Applicant: Thermwood CorporationInventors: Kenneth J. SUSNJARA, Brian S. SMIDDY, Jonathan L. FUQUAY
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Publication number: 20230219285Abstract: An additive manufacturing apparatus includes a first vertically-extending support leg, a second vertically-extending support leg, and a gantry supported on the first and second support legs. The additive manufacturing apparatus also includes a work table movably supported beneath the gantry, a print head supported on the gantry, and a trim head supported on the gantry with the print head.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 22, 2023Publication date: July 13, 2023Applicant: Thermwood CorporationInventors: Kenneth J. SUSNJARA, Brian S. SMIDDY, John FUQUAY
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Publication number: 20230219296Abstract: A system for additive manufacturing includes a nozzle configured to translate along a first axis, a second axis perpendicular to the first axis, and a third axis orthogonal to the first and second axes, wherein the nozzle is operably coupled to: an extruder having an outlet and including a screw disposed within a barrel, and a pump having an inlet and an outlet. The inlet is coupled to the extruder, and the outlet is in fluid communication with the nozzle. The system also includes a controller configured to adjust a speed of the pump with respect to a speed of the screw to apply a target pressure at the outlet of the extruder.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 24, 2023Publication date: July 13, 2023Applicant: Thermwood CorporationInventors: Kenneth J. SUSNJARA, Nicolas VOTE, Robert GAESSER, Brian S. SMIDDY, Scott G. VAAL
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Patent number: 11628614Abstract: An additive manufacturing apparatus includes a first vertically-extending support leg, a second vertically-extending support leg, and a gantry supported on the first and second support legs. The additive manufacturing apparatus also includes a work table movably supported beneath the gantry, a print head supported on the gantry, and a trim head supported on the gantry with the print head.Type: GrantFiled: March 4, 2022Date of Patent: April 18, 2023Assignee: Thermwood CorporationInventors: Kenneth J. Susnjara, Brian S. Smiddy, John Fuquay
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Patent number: 11618209Abstract: An additive manufacturing apparatus an extruder configured to receive material, a work surface extending so as to define a plane for receiving one or more layers of the material, an applicator assembly secured at a downstream portion of the additive manufacturing apparatus, a nozzle connected to the applicator assembly, the nozzle being configured to receive the material from the extruder and deposit the material on the work surface, and an actuator configured to displace the work surface in a movement direction, wherein the movement direction forms an acute angle with the plane.Type: GrantFiled: March 24, 2022Date of Patent: April 4, 2023Assignee: Thermwood CorporationInventors: Kenneth J. Susnjara, Brian S. Smiddy, Jonathan L. Fuquay
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Patent number: 11607845Abstract: A system for additive manufacturing includes a nozzle configured to translate along a first axis, a second axis perpendicular to the first axis, and a third axis orthogonal to the first and second axes, wherein the nozzle is operably coupled to: an extruder having an outlet and including a screw disposed within a barrel, and a pump having an inlet and an outlet. The inlet is coupled to the extruder, and the outlet is in fluid communication with the nozzle. The system also includes a controller configured to adjust a speed of the pump with respect to a speed of the screw to apply a target pressure at the outlet of the extruder.Type: GrantFiled: June 13, 2022Date of Patent: March 21, 2023Assignee: Thermwood CorporationInventors: Kenneth J. Susnjara, Nicolas Vote, Robert Gaesser, Brian S. Smiddy, Scott G. Vaal
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Patent number: 11554538Abstract: An additive manufacturing apparatus includes a material container having a hollow interior configured to receive a material and an extruder connected below the material container to receive the material from the material container. The additive manufacturing apparatus includes a material removal device including an actuator configured to activate the material removal device to dislodge retained material from within the hollow interior of the material container and a drain passage configured to receive the dislodged material and guide the material to an exterior of the additive manufacturing apparatus.Type: GrantFiled: July 19, 2022Date of Patent: January 17, 2023Assignee: Thermwood CorporationInventors: Brian S. Smiddy, Scott G. Vaal
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Patent number: 11472108Abstract: An additive manufacturing apparatus includes a material container having a hollow interior configured to receive a material and an extruder connected below the material container to receive the material from the material container. The additive manufacturing apparatus includes a material removal device including an actuator configured to activate the material removal device to dislodge retained material from within the hollow interior of the material container and a drain passage configured to receive the dislodged material and guide the material to an exterior of the additive manufacturing apparatus.Type: GrantFiled: October 28, 2021Date of Patent: October 18, 2022Assignee: THERMWOOD CORPORATIONInventors: Brian S. Smiddy, Scott G. Vaal
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Publication number: 20220305729Abstract: A system for additive manufacturing includes a nozzle configured to translate along a first axis, a second axis perpendicular to the first axis, and a third axis orthogonal to the first and second axes, wherein the nozzle is operably coupled to: an extruder having an outlet and including a screw disposed within a barrel, and a pump having an inlet and an outlet. The inlet is coupled to the extruder, and the outlet is in fluid communication with the nozzle. The system also includes a controller configured to adjust a speed of the pump with respect to a speed of the screw to apply a target pressure at the outlet of the extruder.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 13, 2022Publication date: September 29, 2022Applicant: Thermwood CorporationInventors: Kenneth J. SUSNJARA, Nicolas VOTE, Robert GAESSER, Brian S. SMIDDY, Scott G. VAAL
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Patent number: 11383438Abstract: A system for additive manufacturing includes a nozzle configured to translate along a first axis, a second axis perpendicular to the first axis, and a third axis orthogonal to the first and second axes, wherein the nozzle is operably coupled to: an extruder having an outlet and including a screw disposed within a barrel, and a pump having an inlet and an outlet. The inlet is coupled to the extruder, and the outlet is in fluid communication with the nozzle. The system also includes a controller configured to adjust a speed of the pump with respect to a speed of the screw to apply a target pressure at the outlet of the extruder.Type: GrantFiled: August 6, 2021Date of Patent: July 12, 2022Assignee: THERMWOOD CORPORATIONInventors: Kenneth J. Susnjara, Nicolas Vote, Robert Gaesser, Brian S. Smiddy, Scott G. Vaal
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Publication number: 20220184881Abstract: An additive manufacturing apparatus includes a first vertically-extending support leg, a second vertically-extending support leg, and a gantry supported on the first and second support legs. The additive manufacturing apparatus also includes a work table movably supported beneath the gantry, a print head supported on the gantry, and a trim head supported on the gantry with the print head.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 4, 2022Publication date: June 16, 2022Applicant: Thermwood CorporationInventors: Kenneth J. SUSNJARA, Brian S. Smiddy, John Fuquay
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Patent number: 11298873Abstract: An additive manufacturing apparatus includes a first vertically-extending support leg, a second vertically-extending support leg, and a gantry supported on the first and second support legs. The additive manufacturing apparatus also includes a work table movably supported beneath the gantry, a print head supported on the gantry, and a trim head supported on the gantry with the print head.Type: GrantFiled: August 16, 2021Date of Patent: April 12, 2022Assignee: Thermwood CorporationInventors: Kenneth J. Susnjara, Brian S. Smiddy, John Fuquay
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Publication number: 20220040922Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure are drawn to additive manufacturing apparatus and methods. An exemplary additive manufacturing system may include an extruder, the extruder having an opening dimensioned to receive a material. The apparatus may also include an extruder output in fluid communication with the extruder, wherein the extruder output extends away from the extruder along a longitudinal axis. One or more heaters positioned along at least a portion of the extruder output may also be included, and, as the material passes through the extruder output, the one or more heaters may at least partially melt the material. The system may also include a gear pump in fluid communication with the extruder output for receiving the at least partially melted material, and a nozzle in fluid communication with the gear pump for depositing the at least partially melted material.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 27, 2021Publication date: February 10, 2022Applicant: Thermwood CorporationInventors: Kenneth J. SUSNJARA, Scott G. VAAL, Brian S. SMIDDY, Jonathan I. FUQUAY
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Patent number: 11241841Abstract: An additive manufacturing apparatus includes an extruder configured to receive a thermoplastic material and an applicator assembly downstream of the extruder, the applicator assembly including a nozzle for depositing the thermoplastic material as a plurality of layers. The additive manufacturing apparatus also includes a temperature sensor configured to detect a temperature of at least a portion of a deposited layer and a positioning assembly configured to change an angular position of the temperature sensor.Type: GrantFiled: March 12, 2021Date of Patent: February 8, 2022Assignee: Thermwood CorporationInventors: Kenneth J. Susnjara, Brian S. Smiddy, Jonathan I. Fuquay, Joshua A. Lough
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Patent number: 11220053Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure are drawn to an additive manufacturing system, which may include a nozzle having an inlet for receiving a flowable material and an outlet for depositing the flowable material. An applicator head may surround at least a portion of a proximal region of the nozzle. The applicator head may include a housing, a cooling inlet for receiving a coolant into the housing, a cooling outlet configured to allow the coolant to exit the housing, and an air inlet. A roller may be mounted on the applicator head to one side of the outlet of the nozzle. The roller may include an air outlet, wherein a flow path connects the air inlet and the air outlet so that air enters the air inlet and exits the air outlet. The roller may also include a plurality of holes located on an external surface of the roller.Type: GrantFiled: September 4, 2020Date of Patent: January 11, 2022Assignee: Thermwood CorporationInventors: Kenneth J. Susnjara, Scott G. Vaal, Brian S. Smiddy
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Publication number: 20210379818Abstract: An additive manufacturing apparatus includes a first vertically-extending support leg, a second vertically-extending support leg, and a gantry supported on the first and second support legs. The additive manufacturing apparatus also includes a work table movably supported beneath the gantry, a print head supported on the gantry, and a trim head supported on the gantry with the print head.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 16, 2021Publication date: December 9, 2021Applicant: Thermwood CorporationInventors: Kenneth J. SUSNJARA, Brian S. SMIDDY, John FUQUAY
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Publication number: 20210362412Abstract: A system for additive manufacturing includes a nozzle configured to translate along a first axis, a second axis perpendicular to the first axis, and a third axis orthogonal to the first and second axes, wherein the nozzle is operably coupled to: an extruder having an outlet and including a screw disposed within a barrel, and a pump having an inlet and an outlet. The inlet is coupled to the extruder, and the outlet is in fluid communication with the nozzle. The system also includes a controller configured to adjust a speed of the pump with respect to a speed of the screw to apply a target pressure at the outlet of the extruder.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 6, 2021Publication date: November 25, 2021Applicant: Thermwood CorporationInventors: Kenneth J. SUSNJARA, Nicolas Vote, Robert Gaesser, Brian S. Smiddy, Scott G. Vaal