Abstract: A method and apparatus for forming a three-dimensional article includes dispensing build material and thermally normalizing predetermined portions thereof at predetermined intervals during construction of the article. The thermal energy may be provided by a heated body advanced adjacent to or in contact with the surface portions. Thermal energy may also be supplied by a radiation source. The thermal normalization may be performed after a predetermined number of successive layers are dispensed. Related methods are also disclosed.

Abstract: A three-dimensional article making apparatus includes a build material dispenser for dispensing build material based upon the article defining data, and a deviation sensor for sensing a deviation during construction of the article. The apparatus may operate the build material dispensing means to adjust or recover for a sensed deviation during construction of the article. A portion of dispensed build material may be removed responsive to a sensed deviation. In addition, the deviation sensor may be operated a plurality of times during construction of the article, and a portion of dispensed build material may be removed down to a previous desired article portion. The deviation sensor may be provided by article formation deviation sensor, a build material dispenser sensor, an article defining data deviation sensor, and/or a build rate deviation sensor. The article deviation sensor may cooperate with a heated electrically conductive body used to periodically dimensionally normalize the article.

Abstract: A three-dimensional article making apparatus includes a build material dispenser positioned adjacent a platform for ejecting a plurality of droplets of build material; and dispenser positioners for relatively positioning the dispenser in five degrees of freedom with respect to the platform. Accordingly, the dispenser may be rotated and flipped to permit construction of a cantilevered portion of an article without requiring support material. The dispenser positioners include a Z-direction positioner for positioning the dispenser vertically relative to the platform, an X-Y positioner for positioning the dispenser in an X-Y planar direction relative to the platform, a flip angle positioner for rotatably positioning the dispenser relative to a generally horizontal axis, and a phi angle positioner for rotatably positioning the dispenser relative to a generally vertical axis.

Abstract: An apparatus for making a three-dimensional article based upon article defining data may be used to make a mold for the article and molding the article from the mold. Alternately, the apparatus may be used to make articles having filled or solid portions. The apparatus preferably includes a base, a processor for defining a mold skin for producing a mold for the three-dimensional article, and a build material dispenser for dispensing build material responsive to the processor to construct the mold skin extending outwardly from the base and defining at least one cavity. Solidifiable fill material is introduced into the cavity to form solid mold portions. The solid mold portions may be separated from the mold skin, and injection molding, for example, used to mold the three-dimensional article. The base preferably includes a thin plastic layer which is penetrable to permit introduction of the solidifiable fill material into the cavity.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for forming a three-dimensional article includes dispensing build material and thermally normalizing predetermined portions thereof at predetermined intervals during construction of the article. The thermal energy may be provided by a heated body advanced adjacent to or in contact with the surface portions. Thermal energy may also be supplied by a radiation source. The thermal normalization may be performed after a predetermined number of successive layers are dispensed. Related methods are also disclosed.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a processor for controlling a build material dispenser and a dispenser positioner to construct a three-dimensional article in successive layers based upon article defining data, and wherein the processor operates the dispenser to dispense a series of bursts of build material at a series of respective target positions as the dispenser is advanced along a predetermined path of travel. Each burst is defined by a plurality of droplets dispensed in relatively rapid succession so that the build material thereof combines at a respective target position. The build material dispenser is preferably a jet including a piezoelectric actuator for ejecting a droplet of build material responsive to a corresponding firing signal. Accordingly, the processor generates a predetermined number of firing signals for the piezoelectric actuator corresponding to a desired number of droplets in each burst. Method aspects of the invention are also disclosed.

Abstract: Color printing characterized by high color density and color contrast is provided by jetting an ink composition composed of an optically clear, phase change base material and a primary subtractive color dye which is soluble in the base material onto the surface of a printing medium to form a multiplicity of closely spaced color dots or spots arranged to define a line or character on the medium. Each dot consists of one or more well defined, optically clear, semitransparent color layers each of which has a different color so that the observed color of each dot is a true subtractive mixture of the colors in the layers. Specific ink compositions are also disclosed.

Abstract: Color printing characterized by high color density and color contrast is provided by jetting an ink composition composed of an optically clear, phase change base material and a primary subtractive color dye which is soluble in the base material onto the surface of a printing medium to form a multiplicity of closely spaced color dots or spots arranged to define a line or character on the medium. Each dot consists of one or more well defined, optically clear, semitransparent color layers each of which has a different color so that the observed color of each dot is a true subtractive mixture of the colors in the layers. Specific ink compositions are also disclosed.

Abstract: A sheet-feed mechanism (10) for a rotary print head (12) includes a track (16) that defines a paper path in the form of a partial circular annulus. Belts (40 and 42) carry tabs (36, 38, 72, and 74) that support the lower end of a paper sheet, and movement of the belt causes the tabs to raise the paper sheet as it is printed. A guide structure (60) keeps the paper sheet in the proper cylindrical shape until it has left the track, at which time a curved portion (67) of a cam post (66) urges the paper out so that it pops open to a flat shape and falls into a tray (70).

Abstract: Apparatus for use in a dot-matrix type impact printer for printing each line of characters and/or graphic data in a selective one of a plurality of character fonts and/or formats. In one preferred embodiment, a manual selection is made corresponding to either a normal or compressed spacing between adjacent dot columns by selection of a registration array from a group of such arrays. Dual-channel reading means cooperate with the registration arrays for determining the position of a print head as it moves across a print line and for enabling a plurality of print wires to be selectively impacted against the paper document whenever the print head is in proper registration as determined by the selected array. Spacing between registration slits of each array is uniform but is different as between arrays. The selected array may be changed either manually or remotely. Upon completion of the printing of a line, control logic means returns the printer to a "selected" format.