Patents by Inventor James Brough

James Brough 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).

  • Method and apparatus for 3D printing using a material feeder
    Patent number: 11904549
    Abstract: A felt gripper head contains two regions of felt material each on plates that slide and form a slight angle with respect to each other during engagement with a fibrous substrate material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: Impossible Objects, Inc.
    Inventors: James Brough, Robert Swartz, Nick Tarzian, Eugene Gore
  • Carbon fiber sheet separation with flickers for 3-dimensional printing
    Patent number: 11904532
    Abstract: A system and method for lifting substrate sheets off of a stack of porous sheets one at a time, even though the sheets tend to stick together. A felt tamp is lowered onto the stack of sheets, and as the tamp is raised, a set of edge flickers create a downward force on the corners of the top sheet. This causes the edges of the top sheet to bend downward slightly just enough to pry the second sheet loose from the top sheet. The tamp can then be further raised with only the top sheet adhering to the felt, and the lifted sheet can be deposited at the next station in the process. Periodically, a brush is used to renew the surface of the felt to prevent matting of the felt fibers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: Impossible Objects, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Swartz, James Brough, Eugene Gore
  • METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR 3D PRINTING USING A MATERIAL FEEDER
    Publication number: 20230042876
    Abstract: A felt gripper head contains two regions of felt material each on plates that slide and form a slight angle with respect to each other during engagement with a fibrous substrate material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2021
    Publication date: February 9, 2023
    Applicant: Impossible Objects, Inc.
    Inventors: James Brough, Robert Swartz, Nick Tarzian, Eugene Gore
  • Carbon fiber sheet separation with flickers for 3-dimensional printing
    Publication number: 20210229347
    Abstract: A system and method for lifting substrate sheets off of a stack of porous sheets one at a time, even though the sheets tend to stick together. A felt tamp is lowered onto the stack of sheets, and as the tamp is raised, a set of edge flickers create a downward force on the corners of the top sheet. This causes the edges of the top sheet to bend downward slightly just enough to pry the second sheet loose from the top sheet. The tamp can then be further raised with only the top sheet adhering to the felt, and the lifted sheet can be deposited at the next station in the process. Periodically, a brush is used to renew the surface of the felt to prevent matting of the felt fibers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2021
    Publication date: July 29, 2021
    Applicant: Impossible Objects, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Swartz, James Brough, Eugene Gore