Patents by Inventor James W. Comb

James W. Comb 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).

  • Patent number: 11241824
    Abstract: An additive manufacturing system comprising a transfer medium configured to receive the layers from a imaging engine, a heater configured to heat the layers on the transfer medium, and a layer transfusion assembly that includes a build platform, and is configured to transfuse the heated layers onto the build platform in a layer-by-layer manner to print a three-dimensional part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2022
    Assignee: Evolve Additive Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: James W. Comb, Steven A. Chillscyzn, William J. Hanson, J. Randolph Sanders, Michael W. Bacus
  • Publication number: 20200338825
    Abstract: A selective-deposition-based additive manufacturing system (10) includes a transfer medium (24) configured to receive the layers (22) from an imaging engine (12), a heater (72) configured to heat the layers (22) on the transfer medium (24), and a layer transfusion assembly (20) that includes a build platform (28), and is configured to transfuse the heated layers (22) onto the build platform (28) in a layer-by-layer manner to print a three-dimensional part (22). The transfusion assembly (20) includes a nip roller (320) configured to deform when transfusing the heated imaged layers (22) to reduce deformation of the layers (22).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2017
    Publication date: October 29, 2020
    Inventors: James W. Comb, Chris Counts
  • Publication number: 20200079008
    Abstract: A method for making a three-dimensional (3D) part with an electrostatographic based additive manufacturing system includes developing a first layer of a powder material using at least one electrostatographic engine, supporting the developed first layer on a transfer medium, adjusting a first layer thermal profile of the developed first layer with a first thermal flux device, adding thermal energy to a part thermal profile that includes a bonding region of previously accumulated layers of the 3D part, transfusing the developed first layer on the bonding region of the previously accumulated layers of the 3D part, and removing thermal energy from the part thermal profile. A transfusion temperature at a start of the transfusing step can be equal to or greater than a transfusion threshold temperature, where the transfusion temperature is an average of the first layer thermal profile and the part thermal profile in the bonding region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2019
    Publication date: March 12, 2020
    Inventors: Arun Chowdry, James W. Comb, Chris Counts, J. Samuel Batchelder
  • Patent number: 10576693
    Abstract: A print head assembly that includes a print head carriage and multiple, replaceable print heads that are configured to be removably retained in receptacles of the print head carriage. The print heads each include a cartridge assembly and a liquefier pump assembly retained by the cartridge assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Assignee: STRATASYS, INC.
    Inventors: William J. Swanson, J. Samuel Batchelder, Kevin C. Johnson, Timothy A. Hjelsand, James W. Comb
  • Publication number: 20190315114
    Abstract: A liquefier assembly (20) for use in an additive manufacturing system (10) to print three-dimensional parts (22), which includes an upstream pressure-generating stage (52) and downstream flow-regulating stage (52). The upstream pressure-generating stage (52) includes a drive mechanism (46), a liquefier configured (52) to melt a consumable material (48) receive from the drive mechanism (46) to produce a molten material in a pressurized state. The downstream flow-regulating stage (52) includes a gear assembly (52) having a casing assembly (64,66,68) and a pair of gears (74,76) disposed within the interior cavity (78,80) and engaged with each other to regulate a flow of the pressurized molten material (48) through the gear assembly (52) for controlled extrusion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2019
    Publication date: October 17, 2019
    Inventors: Timothy A. Hjelsand, Dana R. Hansen, James W. Comb, Jonathan B. Hedlund
  • Publication number: 20180370214
    Abstract: An additive manufacturing system comprising a transfer medium configured to receive the layers from a imaging engine, a heater configured to heat the layers on the transfer medium, and a layer transfusion assembly that includes a build platform, and is configured to transfuse the heated layers onto the build platform in a layer-by-layer manner to print a three-dimensional part.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2018
    Publication date: December 27, 2018
    Inventors: James W. Comb, Steven A. Chillscyzn, William J. Swanson, J. Randolph Sanders, Michael W. Bacus
  • Patent number: 9904223
    Abstract: An additive manufacturing system comprising a transfer medium configured to receive the layers from a imaging engine, a heater configured to heat the layers on the transfer medium, and a layer transfusion assembly that includes a build platform, and is configured to transfuse the heated layers onto the build platform in a layer-by-layer manner to print a three-dimensional part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: Stratasys, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven A. Chillscyzn, James W. Comb, William J. Hanson, J. Randolph Sanders, Michael W. Bacus
  • Patent number: 9885987
    Abstract: An additive manufacturing system comprising a transfer medium configured to receive the layers from a imaging engine, a heater configured to heat the layers on the transfer medium, and a layer transfusion assembly that includes a build platform, and is configured to transfuse the heated layers onto the build platform in a layer-by-layer manner to print a three-dimensional part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2018
    Assignee: Stratasys, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven A. Chillscyzn, James W. Comb, William J. Hanson, J. Randolph Sanders, Michael W. Bacus
  • Patent number: 9868255
    Abstract: A method and system for printing a three-dimensional part, which includes producing a developed layer of a part material with one or more electrophotography engines of an additive manufacturing system, transferring the developed layer from the one or more electrophotography engines to a transfer assembly of the additive manufacturing system sintering the developed layer at the transfer assembly to produce a sintered contiguous film, cooling the sintered contiguous film down to a transfer temperature, and pressing the cooled sintered contiguous film into contact with an intermediate build surface of the three-dimensional part with a low applied pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2018
    Assignee: Stratasys, Inc.
    Inventors: James W. Comb, J. Samuel Batchelder
  • Patent number: 9770869
    Abstract: A method and system for printing a three-dimensional part, which includes printing a plurality of successive layers of the three-dimensional part with the additive manufacturing system based on bitslices in a bitslice stack, measuring surface heights of the successive layers after each of the successive layers are printed, determining differences between the measured surface heights and predicted stack heights of the bitslices, identifying one or more topographical error regions based on the determined differences, and modifying the bitslice stack to compensate for the one or more topographical error regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2017
    Assignee: Stratasys, Inc.
    Inventors: James W. Comb, Zeiter S. Farah, J. Samuel Batchelder
  • Patent number: 9744730
    Abstract: A platen assembly for use in an additive manufacturing system, which includes a platen plate that is preferably secured to a gantry mechanism of the additive manufacturing system, and having a top surface, and one or more magnets secured to the platen plate and configured to generate one or more magnetic fields at the top surface of the platen plate. The platen gantry is configured to magnetically couple interchangeable and replaceable build sheets to the top surface of the platen plate due to the one or more generated magnetic fields, and where the magnetically-coupled build sheets are configured to receive the printed layers from the printing mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2017
    Assignee: Stratasys, Inc.
    Inventor: James W. Comb
  • Patent number: 9720363
    Abstract: An additive manufacturing system comprising a transfer medium configured to receive the layers from a imaging engine, a heater configured to heat the layers on the transfer medium, and a layer transfusion assembly that includes a build platform, and is configured to transfuse the heated layers onto the build platform in a layer-by-layer manner to print a three-dimensional part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: Stratasys, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven A. Chillscyzn, James W. Comb, William J. Hanson, J. Randolph Sanders, Michael W. Bacus
  • Publication number: 20170203506
    Abstract: A liquefier assembly for use in an additive manufacturing system to print three-dimensional parts, which includes an upstream pressure-generating stage and downstream flow-regulating stage. The upstream pressure-generating stage includes a drive mechanism, a liquefier configured to melt a consumable material receive from the drive mechanism to produce a molten material in a pressurized state. The downstream flow-regulating stage includes a gear assembly having a casing assembly and a pair of gears disposed within the interior cavity and engaged with each other to regulate a flow of the pressurized molten material through the gear assembly for controlled extrusion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 21, 2015
    Publication date: July 20, 2017
    Inventors: Timothy A. Hjelsand, Dana R. Hansen, James W. Comb, Jonathan B. Hedlund
  • Patent number: 9427838
    Abstract: A head tool changer for use with a deposition-based digital manufacturing system, the head tool changer comprising a tooling unit configured to retain a deposition head, a grip unit configured to engage with tooling unit and to relay electrical power to the tooling unit, and a master unit operably mounted to a gantry and configured to engage with the tooling unit and to relay electrical power to the tooling unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: Stratasys, Inc.
    Inventors: James W. Comb, Joseph E. Labossiere, Michael D. Bosveld, David G. Bocek, Max Peters
  • Publication number: 20160039146
    Abstract: A print head assembly that includes a print head carriage and multiple, replaceable print heads that are configured to be removably retained in receptacles of the print head carriage. The print heads each include a cartridge assembly and a liquefier pump assembly retained by the cartridge assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 20, 2015
    Publication date: February 11, 2016
    Inventors: William J. Swanson, J. Samuel Batchelder, Kevin C. Johnson, Timothy A. Hjelsand, James W. Comb
  • Patent number: 9168685
    Abstract: A print head assembly that includes a print head carriage and multiple, replaceable print heads that are configured to be removably retained in receptacles of the print head carriage. The print heads each include a cartridge assembly and a liquefier pump assembly retained by the cartridge assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2015
    Assignee: Stratasys, Inc.
    Inventors: William J. Swanson, J. Samuel Batchedler, Kevin C. Johnson, Timothy A. Hjelsand, James W. Comb
  • Publication number: 20150266242
    Abstract: A method and system for printing a three-dimensional part, which includes printing a plurality of successive layers of the three-dimensional part with the additive manufacturing system based on bitslices in a bitslice stack, measuring surface heights of the successive layers after each of the successive layers are printed, determining differences between the measured surface heights and predicted stack heights of the bitslices, identifying one or more topographical error regions based on the determined differences, and modifying the bitslice stack to compensate for the one or more topographical error regions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2014
    Publication date: September 24, 2015
    Inventors: James W. Comb, Zeiter S. Farah, J. Samuel Batchelder
  • Publication number: 20150266237
    Abstract: A method and system for printing a three-dimensional part, which includes producing a developed layer of a part material with one or more electrophotography engines of an additive manufacturing system, transferring the developed layer from the one or more electrophotography engines to a transfer assembly of the additive manufacturing system sintering the developed layer at the transfer assembly to produce a sintered contiguous film, cooling the sintered contiguous film down to a transfer temperature, and pressing the cooled sintered contiguous film into contact with an intermediate build surface of the three-dimensional part with a low applied pressure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2014
    Publication date: September 24, 2015
    Applicant: Stratasys, Inc.
    Inventors: James W. Comb, J. Samuel Batchelder
  • Patent number: 9108360
    Abstract: A gantry assembly for use in an additive manufacturing system, the gantry assembly comprising a first bearing shaft, a carriage slidably engaged with the first bearing shaft, and a second bearing shaft operably supported by the carriage, the second linear bearing extending along a second axis. The gantry assembly also comprises a tool-head mount slidably engaged with the second linear bearing, a drive belt secured to the tool-head mount, a first motor having a first drive shaft engaged with the drive belt, and a second motor having a second drive shaft engaged with the drive belt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2015
    Assignee: Stratasys, Inc.
    Inventors: James W. Comb, William J. Swanson, Jeffrey L. Crotty
  • Publication number: 20150145174
    Abstract: A platen assembly for use in an additive manufacturing system, which includes a platen plate that is preferably secured to a gantry mechanism of the additive manufacturing system, and having a top surface, and one or more magnets secured to the platen plate and configured to generate one or more magnetic fields at the top surface of the platen plate. The platen gantry is configured to magnetically couple interchangeable and replaceable build sheets to the top surface of the platen plate due to the one or more generated magnetic fields, and where the magnetically-coupled build sheets are configured to receive the printed layers from the printing mechanism.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2013
    Publication date: May 28, 2015
    Applicant: Stratasys, Inc.
    Inventor: James W. Comb