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).
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Publication number: 20150137401Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: November 25, 2014Publication date: May 21, 2015Inventors: James W. Comb, Joseph E. Labossiere, Michael D. Bosveld, David G. Bocek, Max Peters
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Patent number: 8926484Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: March 29, 2011Date of Patent: January 6, 2015Assignee: Stratasys, Inc.Inventors: James W. Comb, Joseph E. Labossiere, Michael D. Bosveld, David G. Bocek, Max Peters
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Patent number: 8718522Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: September 21, 2012Date of Patent: May 6, 2014Assignee: Stratasys, Inc.Inventors: Steven A. Chillscyzn, James W. Comb, William J. Hanson, J. Randolph Sanders, Michael W. Bacus
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Publication number: 20140120194Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: January 3, 2014Publication date: May 1, 2014Applicant: Stratasys, Inc.Inventors: William J. Swanson, J. Samuel Batchedler, Kevin C. Johnson, Timothy A. Hjelsand, James W. Comb
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Patent number: 8647102Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: December 21, 2011Date of Patent: February 11, 2014Assignee: Stratasys, Inc.Inventors: William J. Swanson, J. Samuel Batchelder, Kevin C. Johnson, Timothy A. Hjelsand, James W. Comb
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Publication number: 20130078013Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: September 21, 2012Publication date: March 28, 2013Applicant: STRATASYS, INC.Inventors: Steven A. Chillscyzn, James W. Comb, William J. Hanson, J. Randolph Sanders, Michael W. Bacus
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Publication number: 20130078073Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: September 23, 2011Publication date: March 28, 2013Applicant: STRATASYS, INC.Inventors: James W. Comb, William J. Swanson, Jeffrey L. Crotty
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Publication number: 20120164256Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: December 21, 2011Publication date: June 28, 2012Applicant: STRATASYS, INC.Inventors: William J. Swanson, J. Samuel Batchelder, Kevin C. Johnson, Timothy A. Hjelsand, James W. Comb
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Patent number: 8153182Abstract: A head mount for use in a digital manufacturing system, where the head mount comprises a first component supported by at least one gantry of the digital manufacturing system, and a second component configured to retain a deposition head of the digital manufacturing system, and to move relative to the first component in response to a load applied to the deposition head from a platform assembly of the digital manufacturing system.Type: GrantFiled: October 21, 2008Date of Patent: April 10, 2012Assignee: Stratasys, Inc.Inventors: James W. Comb, Troy M. Coolidge, Robert E. Styer
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Patent number: 8153183Abstract: A platform assembly for use in a digital manufacturing system, where the platform assembly comprises a deformable platform having a surface configured to operably receive a deposited material from a deposition head, and at least one mechanism configured to adjust at least a portion of the first surface to compensate for at least one vertical deviation from at least one horizontal axis that the deposition head is directed to move in.Type: GrantFiled: October 21, 2008Date of Patent: April 10, 2012Assignee: Stratasys, Inc.Inventors: Robert L. Skubic, James W. Comb
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Patent number: 7891964Abstract: A pump system comprising a delivery assembly configured to feed a solid material under operational power of a first drive motor, and a screw pump comprising a housing that at least partially defines a barrel of the screw pump, an extrusion tip secured to the housing at a first end of the barrel, a liquefier secured to the housing and intersecting with the barrel, and an impeller extending at least partially through the barrel. The liquefier is configured to receive the solid material fed from the delivery assembly, to at least partially melt the received solid material, and to direct the at least partially melted material to the barrel, and the impeller is configured to drive the at least partially melted material that is directed to the barrel toward the extrusion tip under operational power of a second drive motor.Type: GrantFiled: February 11, 2008Date of Patent: February 22, 2011Assignee: Stratasys, Inc.Inventors: Robert L. Skubic, James W. Comb, Jerome K. Grudem, Jr., William J. Swanson, John Samuel Batchelder, Steven M. Brose
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Publication number: 20100140849Abstract: A system for building a three-dimensional object based on build data representing the three-dimensional object, the system comprising an extrusion head configured to deposit a radiation-curable material in consecutive layers, where the radiation-curable material of each of the consecutive layers is in a self-supporting state, and a radiation source configured to selectively expose a portion of at least one of the consecutive layers to radiation in accordance with the build data.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 15, 2008Publication date: June 10, 2010Applicant: STRATASYS, INC.Inventors: James W. Comb, William R. Priedeman, JR.
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Publication number: 20100100222Abstract: A platform assembly for use in a digital manufacturing system, where the platform assembly comprises a deformable platform having a surface configured to operably receive a deposited material from a deposition head, and at least one mechanism configured to adjust at least a portion of the first surface to compensate for at least one vertical deviation from at least one horizontal axis that the deposition head is directed to move in.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 21, 2008Publication date: April 22, 2010Applicant: STRATASYS, INC.Inventors: Robert L. Skubic, James W. Comb
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Publication number: 20100100224Abstract: A head mount for use in a digital manufacturing system, where the head mount comprises a first component supported by at least one gantry of the digital manufacturing system, and a second component configured to retain a deposition head of the digital manufacturing system, and to move relative to the first component in response to a load applied to the deposition head from a platform assembly of the digital manufacturing system.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 21, 2008Publication date: April 22, 2010Applicant: Stratasys, Inc.Inventors: James W. Comb, Troy M. Coolidge, Robert E. Styer
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Patent number: 7680555Abstract: The present invention is a method for performing a calibration routine of a deposition device in a three-dimensional modeling machine that deposits a material to build up three-dimensional objects as directed by a controller on a substrate mounted on a platform. The method comprises generating a material build profile, which represents a three-dimensional structure at defined locations. A relative position of the material build profile is then determined. An expected build profile is identified and then compared to the determined relative position of the material build profile to identify any difference which represents an offset. The modeling system then positions the deposition device based upon the offset.Type: GrantFiled: April 3, 2006Date of Patent: March 16, 2010Assignee: Stratasys, Inc.Inventors: Benjamin N. Dunn, James W. Comb, Hans P. Erickson, Jason P. Wanzek
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Publication number: 20080213419Abstract: A pump system comprising a delivery assembly configured to feed a solid material under operational power of a first drive motor, and a screw pump comprising a housing that at least partially defines a barrel of the screw pump, an extrusion tip secured to the housing at a first end of the barrel, a liquefier secured to the housing and intersecting with the barrel, and an impeller extending at least partially through the barrel. The liquefier is configured to receive the solid material fed from the delivery assembly, to at least partially melt the received solid material, and to direct the at least partially melted material to the barrel, and the impeller is configured to drive the at least partially melted material that is directed to the barrel toward the extrusion tip under operational power of a second drive motor.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 11, 2008Publication date: September 4, 2008Applicant: Stratasys, Inc.Inventors: Robert L. Skubic, James W. Comb, Jerome K. Grudem, William J. Swanson, John Samuel Batchelder, Steven M. Brose
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Patent number: 7122246Abstract: Disclosed is a modeling filament for use as feedstock in a fused deposition modeling liquifier, and a method for manufacturing the filament. The diameter and standard deviation of the filament are controlled to meet various tolerance requirements of jam resistance, slip resistance, model strength, liquifier overflow prevention and hysteresis-free transient response. Standard deviation of the filament diameter is matched to a filament target diameter. The resulting filament is used to form high-quality models.Type: GrantFiled: February 2, 2005Date of Patent: October 17, 2006Assignee: Stratasys, Inc.Inventors: James W. Comb, William R. Priedeman, Jr., Paul J. Leavitt, Robert L. Skubic, John Samuel Batchelder
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Patent number: 6866807Abstract: Disclosed is a modeling filament for use as feedstock in a fused deposition modeling liquifier, and a method for manufacturing the filament. The diameter and standard deviation of the filament are controlled to meet various tolerance requirements of jam resistance, slip resistance, model strength, liquifier overflow prevention and hysteresis-free transient response. Standard deviation of the filament diameter is matched to a filament target diameter. The resulting filament is used to form high-quality models.Type: GrantFiled: April 17, 2002Date of Patent: March 15, 2005Assignee: Stratasys, Inc.Inventors: James W. Comb, William R. Priedeman, Jr., Paul J. Leavitt, Robert L. Skubic, John Samuel Batchelder
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Patent number: 6814907Abstract: An extrusion apparatus employs a method for controlling the output flow rate of a liquifier. The apparatus includes an extrusion head which moves along a predetermined tool path at an extrusion head velocity. The extrusion head carries a liquifier. The liquifier receives a solid element of a modeling material, heats the modeling material, and outputs a flow of the modeling material at an output flow rate. A material advance mechanism is employed to supply the solid element of modeling material to the liquifier at an input rate which controls the output flow rate. In order to control the output flow rate, an extrusion head velocity profile is determined based on the tool path. The input rate of modeling material to the liquifier is then controlled to produce an output flow rate of modeling material from the liquifier that is proportional to a current extrusion head velocity corresponding to the extrusion head velocity profile.Type: GrantFiled: December 18, 2001Date of Patent: November 9, 2004Assignee: Stratasys, Inc.Inventor: James W. Comb
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Patent number: 6547995Abstract: Disclosed are a method and apparatus for matching the extrusion rate of a liquifier which extrudes a flow of material to a predetermined target output rate. The present invention adjusts the volumetric rate of material going in to the liquifier to account for a predicted melt flow component of material being extruded from the liquifier. Compensating for the predicted melt flow results in reduced error in an extrusion profile produced by material deposited along a toolpath followed by the liquifier.Type: GrantFiled: September 21, 2001Date of Patent: April 15, 2003Assignee: Stratasys, Inc.Inventor: James W. Comb