Patents by Inventor Luke Rodgers

Luke Rodgers 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).

  • Publication number: 20250108560
    Abstract: An apparatus, system and method for limiting build plate expansion in a 3D print environment. The apparatus, system and method may include a decoupling leveler associated with mounts for a build plate in the print environment; and a plurality of adjustments passing substantially through and mounted within the decoupling leveler. The leveler may be decoupled from the mounts during heating and cooling of the print environment, and recoupled via a positional clamped by the plurality of adjustments during printing on the build plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2024
    Publication date: April 3, 2025
    Inventors: Scott Klimczak, Luke Rodgers, Darin Burgess
  • Patent number: 12252572
    Abstract: An additive manufactured condensation polymer article with improved build or Z direction strength may be formed by physically mixing or depositing thereon a chain extender that extends and chemically bonds the polymer chains within and between layers upon heating and fusing during the additive manufacturing process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2025
    Assignee: LUMAS Polymers LLC
    Inventors: Thomas Fry, Luke Rodgers, Zachary Peterson, Levi Loesch
  • Patent number: 12238868
    Abstract: A method of making a printed circuit board pallet is provided. The method of making the pallet illustratively includes the steps of: providing a base in a form of a polymer sheet stock; applying a fluid onto the base at selective locations where the pallet will be built-up to a three-dimensional form; depositing a polymer powder onto the base at the selective locations applied with the fluid; removing any excess amounts of the polymer powder not adhered to the fluid; and heating the pallet to fuse the polymer powder together and to the base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2023
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2025
    Inventors: Luke Rodgers, Erik Gjovik
  • Patent number: 12233605
    Abstract: The disclosed exemplary apparatuses, systems and methods provide a three-dimensional foam molding, produced via a layer-by-layer additive manufacturing process in which regions of respective layers of pulverant are selectively melted via introduction of electromagnetic energy. These apparatuses, systems and methods may include layers of the pulverant comprising at least thermoplastic polyurethane polymer (TPU) coated upon a sacrificial base particle, wherein the TPU is coated via one of spray drying and a fluidized vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2025
    Inventors: Nicholas Dippel, Luke Rodgers
  • Publication number: 20250058518
    Abstract: An apparatus, system and method of using ultrasonic energy for additive manufacturing. The apparatus, system and method may include comprising: a print bed of print material responsive to ultrasonic energy; and an ultrasonic print head suitable to deliver the ultrasonic energy to the print bed to thereby form the print material into a printed output according to a print plan that exerts control over the ultrasonic print head.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 15, 2023
    Publication date: February 20, 2025
    Inventor: Luke Rodgers
  • Patent number: 12226954
    Abstract: The disclosed exemplary apparatuses, systems and methods provide a three-dimensional shoe sole foam, produced via a layer-by-layer additive manufacturing process in which regions of respective layers of pulverant are selectively melted via introduction of electromagnetic energy. These apparatuses, systems and methods may include layers of the pulverant comprising at least thermoplastic polyurethane polymer (TPU) coated upon a sacrificial base particle, wherein the TPU is coated via one of spray drying and a fluidized vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2025
    Inventors: Nicholas Dippel, Luke Rodgers
  • Patent number: 12208568
    Abstract: An additive manufacturing apparatus, system, and method for kinematic-based heating of a print filament. The apparatus, system and method may include: a print nozzle suitable to deliver at least partially liquefied print material to form a print build responsive to motion control of the print nozzle in at least two axes by a kinematic controller; at least one heater about the print nozzle suitable to effectuate the at least partial liquefication of the at least partially liquefied print material; and a correlative interface between the kinematic controller and the at least one heater, wherein the correlative interface monitors upcoming ones of the motion control so as to anticipatorily actuate the at least one heater according to the upcoming ones of the motion control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2025
    Inventors: Scott Klimczak, Luke Rodgers, Darin Burgess
  • Patent number: 12180343
    Abstract: Polymer powders useful for additive manufacturing may be made by contacting carbon dioxide and a crystallizable polymer having at least one carbonyl, sulfur oxide or sulfone group; permeating the carbon dioxide into the polymer for a crystallizing time sufficient to induce crystallization forming an induced crystalized polymer; removing the carbon dioxide; and forming induced crystalized polymer particles having a D90 particle size of at most 300 micrometers and average particle size of 1 micrometer to 100 micrometers equivalent spherical diameter. The carbon dioxide is desirably supercritical carbon dioxide for at least a portion of the crystallizing time. The polymer powders upon heating during additive manufacturing may result in a polymer having less crystallinity or become amorphous.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2024
    Assignee: LUMAS Polymers LLC
    Inventors: Thomas George Gardner, Thomas Fry, Luke Rodgers
  • Patent number: 12172375
    Abstract: Apparatus, system and method having two hobs suitable to receive and extrude therebetween a print material filament for the additive manufacturing; a material guide suitable to receive the extruded print material filament; a heater element coupled to a transition point along the material guide distally from the at least two hobs, wherein the transition point comprises a partial liquefication of the print material within the material guide by the heater element to allow for printing of the partially liquefied print material; at least one peltier device at least partially about an upper aspect of the transition point and suitable to at least sink heat from the upper aspect of the transition point to thereby preclude partial liquefication of the print material above the upper aspect; and a print nozzle in fluid communication with the liquefied print material and suitable to print the liquefied print material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2024
    Inventors: Scott Klimczak, Luke Rodgers, Darin Burgess
  • Patent number: 12168321
    Abstract: An apparatus, system and method for limiting build plate expansion in a 3D print environment. The apparatus, system and method may include a decoupling leveler associated with mounts for a build plate in the print environment; and a plurality of adjustments passing substantially through and mounted within the decoupling leveler. The leveler may be decoupled from the mounts during heating and cooling of the print environment, and recoupled via a positional clamped by the plurality of adjustments during printing on the build plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2024
    Inventors: Scott Klimczak, Luke Rodgers, Darin Burgess
  • Publication number: 20240391168
    Abstract: An apparatus, system and method for providing a liquefier nozzle flexure to at least enable ironing of a 3D print, to thereby improve print quality. The apparatus, system and method may include: a controllable print head for providing the 3D print; a liquefier capable of liquefying deposit material for providing the 3D print; and the liquefier nozzle flexure mounted between the print head and the liquefier that allows a distance between the print head and the liquefier to vary when a resistance is encountered at a print nozzle tip.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2024
    Publication date: November 28, 2024
    Inventors: Scott Klimczak, Luke Rodgers, Darin Burgess
  • Patent number: 12139621
    Abstract: A polymer material suitable for three-dimensional printing that may include at least one of polyether block amide, thermoplastic polyurethane, and thermoplastic olefin. The polymer is formed through chemical precipitation forming a precipitated pulverulent polymer which possesses increased operating window characteristics selected from the group consisting at least one of a wider than typical range between and among the melting and recrystallization temperatures, a larger enthalpy upon melting, and a low volumetric change during recrystallization.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2023
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2024
    Inventors: Luke Rodgers, Erik Gjovik
  • Patent number: 12076921
    Abstract: An apparatus, system and method for providing a liquefier nozzle flexure to at least enable ironing of a 3D print, to thereby improve print quality. The apparatus, system and method may include: a controllable print head for providing the 3D print; a liquefier capable of liquefying deposit material for providing the 3D print; and the liquefier nozzle flexure mounted between the print head and the liquefier that allows a distance between the print head and the liquefier to vary when a resistance is encountered at a print nozzle tip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2024
    Inventors: Scott Klimczak, Luke Rodgers, Darin Burgess
  • Patent number: 12070901
    Abstract: The disclosure is of and includes at least an apparatus, system and method for a print head for additive manufacturing. The apparatus, system and method may include at least two proximate hobs suitable to receive and extrude therebetween a print material filament for the additive manufacturing; a motor capable of imparting a rotation to at least one of the two hobs, wherein the extrusion results from the rotation; a dynamic force adjustment capable of exerting force on one of the two hobs to urge the force-receiving hob toward the other of the two hobs; and a controller communicatively connected with the dynamic force adjustment and capable of controlling the force exertion thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2024
    Inventors: Scott Klimczak, Luke Rodgers, Darin Burgess
  • Publication number: 20240269924
    Abstract: The disclosure is of and includes at least an apparatus, system and method for a print head for additive manufacturing. The apparatus, system and method may include at least two proximate hobs suitable to receive and extrude therebetween a print material filament for the additive manufacturing; a motor capable of imparting a rotation to at least one of the two hobs, wherein the extrusion results from the rotation; a dynamic force adjustment capable of exerting force on one of the two hobs to urge the force-receiving hob toward the other of the two hobs; and a controller communicatively connected with the dynamic force adjustment and capable of controlling the force exertion thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 17, 2024
    Publication date: August 15, 2024
    Inventors: Scott Klimczak, Luke Rodgers, Darin Burgess
  • Patent number: 12041723
    Abstract: A method of making a printed circuit board pallet is provided. The method of making the pallet illustratively includes the steps of: providing a base in a form of a polymer sheet stock; applying a fluid onto the base at selective locations where the pallet will be built-up to a three-dimensional form; depositing a polymer powder onto the base at the selective locations applied with the fluid; removing any excess amounts of the polymer powder not adhered to the fluid; and heating the pallet to fuse the polymer powder together and to the base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2023
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2024
    Inventors: Luke Rodgers, Erik Gjovik
  • Patent number: 12005644
    Abstract: An additive manufacturing apparatus, system, and method. The apparatus, system and method are for a hybrid additive manufacturing print nozzle that may include a delivery conduit; an extruder capable of extruding print material through the delivery conduit; a high thermal mass heater about the delivery conduit proximate to the extruder; a low thermal mass heater about the delivery conduit distal from the extruder and proximate to an exit from the delivery conduit; and a controller capable of executing at least a print build using the print material, and of controlling both the high thermal mass heater and the lower thermal mass heater.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2024
    Inventors: Scott Klimczak, Luke Rodgers, Darin Burgess
  • Patent number: 11987000
    Abstract: The disclosure is of and includes at least an apparatus, system and method for a print head for additive manufacturing. The apparatus, system and method may include at least two proximate hobs suitable to receive and extrude therebetween a print material filament for the additive manufacturing; a motor capable of imparting a rotation to at least one of the two hobs, wherein the extrusion results from the rotation; a dynamic force adjustment capable of exerting force on one of the two hobs to urge the force-receiving hob toward the other of the two hobs; and a controller communicatively connected with the dynamic force adjustment and capable of controlling the force exertion thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2024
    Assignee: JABIL INC.
    Inventors: Scott Klimczak, Luke Rodgers, Darin Burgess
  • Patent number: 11975485
    Abstract: The disclosure is of and includes at least an apparatus, system and method for a print head for additive manufacturing. The apparatus, system and method may include at least two proximate hobs suitable to receive and extrude therebetween a print material filament for the additive manufacturing; a motor capable of imparting a rotation to at least one of the two hobs, wherein the extrusion results from the rotation; a dynamic force adjustment capable of exerting force on one of the two hobs to urge the force-receiving hob toward the other of the two hobs; and a controller communicatively connected with the dynamic force adjustment and capable of controlling the force exertion thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2024
    Inventors: Scott Klimczak, Luke Rodgers, Darin Burgess
  • Patent number: 11945162
    Abstract: The disclosure is of and includes at least an apparatus, system and method for a print head for additive manufacturing. The apparatus, system and method may include at least two proximate hobs suitable to receive and extrude therebetween a print material filament for the additive manufacturing; a motor capable of imparting a rotation to at least one of the two hobs, wherein the extrusion results from the rotation; a dynamic force adjustment capable of exerting force on one of the two hobs to urge the force-receiving hob toward the other of the two hobs; and a controller communicatively connected with the dynamic force adjustment and capable of controlling the force exertion thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Inventors: Scott Klimczak, Luke Rodgers, Darin Burgess