Means For Molding Powdered Metal Patents (Class 425/78)
  • Patent number: 11801557
    Abstract: Provided is a laminate molding method for additionally manufacturing a molded object on a table by use of metal powder. The laminate molding method includes: a metal powder layer forming step of forming a metal powder layer by supplying metal powder onto a table; a melting step of melting the metal powder layer by applying, to the metal powder layer, electromagnetic energy emitted from an electromagnetic energy source; a rotating step of rotating the electromagnetic energy source and the table relative to each other; and a table vertically moving step of vertically moving the table relative to the electromagnetic energy source. Gas is emitted from a gas emission port toward an outer side of the table, the gas emission portion being provided in generally a center of the table.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2023
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Shuai Zhang
  • Patent number: 11780004
    Abstract: Disclosed is a trolley sealing device for a flue gas circulation system of a sintering machine, including a cover body covering a top surface of a sintering machine trolley. A top end of the cover body is provided with communication assemblies, and the communication assemblies communicate an inner cavity of the cover body with an outside environment; two ends of the inner cavity of the cover body are fixedly connected with vertical adjusting sections respectively, and a sealing device is arranged between the vertical adjusting sections and two ends of the top surface of the sintering machine trolley; and the cover body includes a plurality of frameworks; the plurality of frameworks are arranged above the sintering machine trolley, the communication assemblies are arranged on the frameworks, and skins are fixedly connected with the frameworks; and thermal insulation layers are arranged outside the skins.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Inventors: Tingyu Zhu, Wenqing Xu, Chaoqun Li, Yang Yang
  • Patent number: 11752694
    Abstract: A method of selecting a scanning sequence of a laser beam in a selective laser solidification process, in which one or more objects are formed layer-by-layer by repeatedly depositing a layer of powder on a powder bed and scanning the laser beam over the deposited powder to selectively solidify at least part of the powder layers, includes determining an order in which areas should be scanned by: projecting a debris fallout zone that would be created when solidifying each area based on a gas flow direction of a gas flow passed over the powder bed; determining whether one or more other areas to be solidified fall within the debris fallout zone; and selecting to solidify the one or more other areas that fall within the debris fallout zone before solidifying the area from which the debris fallout zone has been projected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: RENISHAW PLC
    Inventor: Ben Ian Ferrar
  • Patent number: 11718025
    Abstract: An additive manufacturing machine is provided which can smooth out powdered material while preventing mechanical interference between a smoothing plate and a manufacturing box. The additive manufacturing machine has a support stage, a manufacturing box, and a powder feeder mechanism. The powder feeder mechanism feeds powdered material onto the support stage and smooths out the powdered material. The powder feeder mechanism has an arm portion, a guide mechanism, a connective portion, and a drive mechanism. The guide mechanism is secured to the manufacturing box and supports the arm portion such that it can move in a first direction. The connective portion is connected to the arm portion and transmits force to the arm portion only in the first direction. The drive mechanism is secured to a support member different from the manufacturing box and has a drive portion for moving the connective portion in the first direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: JEOL Ltd.
    Inventors: Shinichi Kitamura, Nari Tsutagawa, Tatsuo Naruse
  • Patent number: 11623282
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a methods, computer program products, program elements, and apparatuses for forming a three-dimensional article through successively depositing individual layers of powder material that are fused together so as to form the article. The method comprising the steps of providing at least one electron beam source emitting an electron beam for at least one of heating or fusing the powder material, where the electron beam source comprises a cathode and an anode, and varying an accelerator voltage between the cathode and the anode between at least a first and second predetermined value during the forming of the three-dimensional article.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Assignee: Arcam AB
    Inventors: Johan Nordkvist, Ulf Ackelid
  • Patent number: 11600516
    Abstract: A die ejection apparatus operable to eject a die from a support has at least two ejector components configured to lift a die located on the support. The ejector components are moveable to a position in which a lifting force is exertable by the ejector components on the support, so as to lift a die located on the support. Movement of the die ejector components is initiated towards the support, and a moment when each of the die ejector components reaches the position is determined. A height offset of each die ejector component relative to a height of another die ejector component is determined upon reaching the said position, and relative heights of the die ejector components are adjusted in dependence upon the evaluated height offset.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignee: ASMPT SINGAPORE PTE. LTD.
    Inventors: Chi Wah Cheng, Wan Yin Yau, Kwok Pun Law
  • Patent number: 11577310
    Abstract: A sintering press includes at least one upper punch and a lower punch, a powder reservoir for filling a female die of the sintering press with at least one powder material that can be sintered, and a female die for producing a green body using the powder material from the powder reservoir. A first punch of the upper punches and/or lower punches has a punch top which is off-center and asymmetric with respect to an axial axis of the sintering press and which can be moved in the female die. The first punch is asymmetric in shape between the punch top and the base, which shape at least reduces an axial tilting of the punch and a lateral drag of the punch top on an adjacent outer surface in the female die during insertion and extraction therefrom during a pressing step in the production of the green body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: GKN Sinter Metals Engineering GmbH
    Inventors: Rainer Schmitt, Robert Maassen, Eberhard Ernst, Hasim Tekines
  • Patent number: 11517984
    Abstract: This disclosure describes an additive manufacturing method that includes monitoring a temperature of a portion of a build plane during an additive manufacturing operation using a temperature sensor as a heat source passes through the portion of the build plane; detecting a peak temperature associated with one or more passes of the heat source through the portion of the build plane; determining a threshold temperature by reducing the peak temperature by a predetermined amount; identifying a time interval during which the monitored temperature exceeds the threshold temperature; identifying, using the time interval, a change in manufacturing conditions likely to result in a manufacturing defect; and changing a process parameter of the heat source in response to the change in manufacturing conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: SIGMA LABS, INC.
    Inventors: Lars Jacquemetton, Vivek R. Dave, Mark J. Cola, Glenn Wikle, R. Bruce Madigan
  • Patent number: 11458576
    Abstract: This disclosure describes an additive manufacturing method that includes monitoring a temperature of a portion of a build plane during an additive manufacturing operation using a temperature sensor as a heat source passes through the portion of the build plane; detecting a peak temperature associated with one or more passes of the heat source through the portion of the build plane; determining a threshold temperature by reducing the peak temperature by a predetermined amount; identifying a time interval during which the monitored temperature exceeds the threshold temperature; identifying, using the time interval, a change in manufacturing conditions likely to result in a manufacturing defect; and changing a process parameter of the heat source in response to the change in manufacturing conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Assignee: SIGMA LABS, INC.
    Inventors: Lars Jacquemetton, Vivek R. Dave, Mark J. Cola, Glenn Wikle, R. Bruce Madigan
  • Patent number: 11383448
    Abstract: A method is disclosed. The method may comprise obtaining, using a processor, design data representing an object to be generated in a fabrication chamber of an additive manufacturing apparatus. The method may further comprise determining, based on the design data, that a part of the object is to be generated within a predefined portion of the fabrication chamber. The method may further comprise responsive to said determining, generating, using a processor, data representing an ancillary element to be generated in the predefined portion between the part of the object and a wall of the fabrication chamber. An apparatus and a machine-readable medium are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Ismael Fernandez Aymerich, Sergio Puigardeu Aramendia, Pol Fornos Martinez
  • Patent number: 11338506
    Abstract: A lamination molding apparatus includes a chamber that covers a molding region, an irradiator that irradiates a material layer formed in the molding region with a laser beam or an electron beam and forms a solidified layer, a supply port that supplies an inert gas to the chamber, a discharge port that discharges the inert gas from the chamber, an inert gas supplier which is connected to the supply port and supplies the inert gas to the chamber, a fume collector, and an oxygen concentration adjustor. The fume collector has an inlet, a charging section, a collecting section, and an outlet. The oxygen concentration adjustor is connected between the discharge port and the charging section and supplies, to the fume collector, an adjusting gas having an oxygen concentration higher than an oxygen concentration of the inert gas which is discharged from the discharge port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2022
    Assignee: Sodick Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Katsutaka Muranaka
  • Patent number: 11338516
    Abstract: A build material recovery system for a three-dimensional (3D) printer can include a selective solidification device to create a 3D object using build material, a build processing device to separate the 3D object from unfused build material, a material separating and conditioning device to condition the unfused build material, and a material storage device to store the conditioned build material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2022
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Wesley R. Schalk, Justin M. Roman, Randall West, Robert Lawrence Winburne
  • Patent number: 11285535
    Abstract: A press-tool for manufacturing a cutting insert green body includes a first and a second punch movable along a first pressing axis. A first and a second die member are movable towards an end position. The first and the second die members are configured to form, in the end position, a die cavity. A core extends between and through the die cavity when the first and the second die member are in the end position. At least a first core portion is arranged to form the core, wherein the at least first core portion is arranged in the first or the second die member such that the at least first core portion is moved together with the first or the second die member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignee: SECO TOOLS AB
    Inventor: Dirk Sterkenburg
  • Patent number: 11273595
    Abstract: A method of additive layer manufacture includes the steps of successively depositing layers of fusible powder material in overlying relationship and introducing energy, such as by an electron beam, into each deposited layer to selectively melt material in the layer so as to fuse the melted material together and to already fused material of a layer thereunder in order to produce a three-dimensional solid article in successive cross-sectional layers. In order to monitor layer quality, structured light defining a fringe pattern is projected onto each deposited layer before and/or after melting of material in that layer and the fringe pattern on each layer is imaged from a perspective different from that of the projection so as to reveal disturbance of the pattern by topographical features of the layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2022
    Assignee: Reliance RG Limited
    Inventors: William Thomas Richardson, Ian Laidler, Liam Blunt
  • Patent number: 11267035
    Abstract: An integrated flattening, cutting, and collecting assembly includes a frame, a conveyor seat, and a processing rack. The processing rack is provided with a flattening cylinder and cutting cylinders, a flattening block cooperating with a steel sheet being conveyed by the conveyor seat, a cutting lift seat disposed beneath the cutting cylinders, the cutting lift seat being provided with a cutter and cutting pressing blocks, and wherein the distance between the two cutting pressing blocks is smaller than the length of the flattening block. In addition, the lower end of the cutter is disposed beneath the lower ends of the cutting pressing blocks, and this distance is the same as the thickness of the steel sheet being conveyed. The cutting pressing blocks can press and hold the steel sheet during cutting, while not affecting the cutting of the cutter, whereby the accuracy of the steel sheet cutting is greatly improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Assignee: DONGGUAN UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY
    Inventor: Chuan Li
  • Patent number: 11267214
    Abstract: Manufacturing hard-metal pressed articles includes providing a multi-part die comprising a plurality of lateral mold parts defining lateral surfaces of a cavity for the article. At least one of the plurality of lateral mold parts defines a portion of an upper side of the cavity. The lateral mold parts and at least two lateral punch parts are fed. At least two of the plurality of lateral mold parts are provided with a guide recess for one of the at least two lateral punch parts. A filling unit feeds an opening of the cavity which is filled with a hard-metal powder. At least one upper mold part is fed, which defines a portion of the upper side of the cavity. The lateral mold parts and the upper mold part are held to form the cavity. The powder is compressed with at least two lateral punch parts and the part demolded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Assignee: Horn Hartstoffe GmbH
    Inventors: Stefan Feistritzer, Dieter Hermes
  • Patent number: 11241737
    Abstract: Manufacturing a hard-metal pressed article includes providing a multi-part die, feeding at least one frontal mold part, feeding at least one transverse mold and locking the at least one frontal mold part and the at least one transverse mold part to define a cavity for the article. Feed directions of the at least one frontal mold part and the at least one transverse mold part are inclined. The at least one frontal mold part and the at least one transverse mold part define surfaces of the article. The resulting cavity includes at least one opening through which a punch is insertable. Next, a filling shoe is fed above an opening of the cavity and fills the cavity with a powder, and the powder is compressed with at least one punch. The feeding of the transverse mold part takes place along a feed direction that is parallel to the main pressing direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2022
    Assignee: Hom Hartstoffe GmbH
    Inventors: Stefan Feistritzer, Dieter Hermes
  • Patent number: 11214031
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides an oil hydraulic press including a support frame, at least one main cylinder assembly and at least one fixed die table. The at least one main cylinder assembly and the at least one fixed die table are disposed in the support frame. A pressing mechanism is formed between the at least one main cylinder assembly and the at least one fixed die table. The support frame is in an annular or ring-like shape and is configured for fixing the at least one main cylinder assembly and the at least one fixed die table. The main cylinder assembly and the fixed die table can be fixed by the support frame, which forms a ring-like structure, can be operated in one, two or multiple sets in parallel, and all can realize pressing manufacture. The oil hydraulic press has less components, reduced material consumption and low manufacturing cost.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2022
    Assignees: NINGBO DEMA INTELLIGENT MACHINERY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Xiangyi Dong
  • Patent number: 11207795
    Abstract: A mold apparatus to form a ceramic (or glass) includes a first mold portion having a first coefficient of thermal expansion and a second mold portion having a second coefficient of thermal expansion. In some embodiments, the first mold portion and/or the second mold portion are substantially immiscible with the ceramic material, such as silicon oxide, at a temperature greater than 600° C. In some embodiments, the first coefficient of thermal expansion and the second coefficient of thermal expansion are substantially similar to that of the glass or ceramic material. In some embodiments, the first coefficient of thermal expansion is different from the second coefficient of thermal expansion. In some embodiments, the first mold portion and the second mold portion contain a surface coating and a passivation layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2021
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey L. Mattlin, Abhijeet Misra, Herng-Jeng Jou, James A. Wright, James A. Yurko, Lei Gao, Weiming Huang, William A. Counts
  • Patent number: 11201526
    Abstract: A magnet embedded core is manufactured in a stable manner by preventing an excessive pressurizing force from being applied to the laminated iron core and performing the clamping with an appropriate pressurizing force so that the leakage of the resin out of the magnet insertion holes can be minimized, and the reduction in the geometric and dimensional precision of the laminated iron core may be suppressed. An electric die clamping device is used, such that a laminated iron core is placed on one of a fixed die and a moveable die and upon clamping by the die clamping device, the other of the fixed die and the moveable die is caused to abut onto an end surface of the laminated iron core to close openings of magnet insertion holes and pressurize the laminated iron core in a laminating direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2021
    Assignee: KURODA PRECISION INDUSTRIES LTD.
    Inventor: Osamu Fukuyama
  • Patent number: 11161315
    Abstract: A press machine has a body, a lower pressing assembly, and an upper pressing assembly. The body has a first driving device, a second driving device, at least one first supporting rod, and at least one second supporting rod. The at least one first supporting rod is rotatably connected to the first driving device. The at least one second supporting rod is rotatably connected to the second driving device. The lower pressing assembly is movably mounted with the at least one first supporting rod of the body. The upper pressing assembly is movably mounted with the at least one second first supporting rod of the body, and is able to move toward the lower pressing assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2021
    Assignee: Corex Materials Corporation
    Inventors: Shao-Chen Chiu, Cheng-Feng Yang
  • Patent number: 11148382
    Abstract: A plane plate for a pressing tool of a press; wherein the plane plate for activating a punch of the press by way of at least one lifting cylinder is displaceable along an axial direction; wherein the plane plate has a link to the at least one lifting cylinder, at least one cylindrical guiding face which for contacting a guide column is parallel with the axial direction, and a centrally disposed receptacle for contacting the punch or a punch holder of the press; wherein the plane plate in at least a first cross section which between the receptacle and the guiding face runs parallel with the axial direction and along a radial direction that runs so as to be perpendicular to the axial direction has at least a first region in which a wall thickness of the plane plate is continuously variable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignee: GKN Sinter Metals Engineering GmbH
    Inventors: Rainer Schmitt, Hasim Tekines, Robert Maassen
  • Patent number: 11141918
    Abstract: An additive manufacturing machine (910) includes a build unit (920) including a powder dispenser (906) having a hopper (904) for receiving a volume of additive powder (902). A powder supply system (1000) includes a powder supply source (940) and a conveyor (1024) for transporting dispensed additive powder (902) to the hopper (904). A supply sensing system (1060) monitors the additive powder (902) that is dispensed from the powder supply source (940) and transported to the hopper (904) and a hopper sensing system (1040) monitors the additive powder (902) within the hopper (904). Each of these systems includes one or more powder level sensors (1042, 1044, 1062), weight sensors (1050, 1064), and/or vision systems (1054, 1070) for monitoring the additive powder (902).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2021
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Justin Mamrak, MacKenzie Ryan Redding
  • Patent number: 11103924
    Abstract: The invention relates to a powder press, comprising a tool structure, which has a conical substructure having lower rams nested in each other, wherein each lower ram has a longitudinal extent, in particular a cylindrical longitudinal extent, which is guided in a die, wherein, in the case of at least two longitudinal extents of the lower rams, each longitudinal extent is adjoined by a conical enlargement, wherein the conical enlargements can be guided in each other, wherein the region of the conical enlargement has an inner wall and an outer wall, which expand conically and which are preferably longer than the longitudinal extent. The invention further relates to a method for operating a powder press and to a computer program product having computer program code means that can be executed on a computer system in order to perform the method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2021
    Assignee: GKN Sinter Metals Engineering GmbH
    Inventors: Rainer Schmitt, Eberhard Ernst
  • Patent number: 11072121
    Abstract: An additive manufacturing machine (10) comprises: a manufacturing chamber (12), the manufacturing chamber being formed by at least one working plane (20), a front wall (22), a rear wall (24), a left-hand lateral wall (26), a right-hand lateral wall, and an upper wall (30), at least one of these walls supporting a source of energy or heat (14); an inner skin (32) that is positioned inside the manufacturing chamber (12) in front of each wall of this chamber supporting the source of energy or heat (14) and at a non-zero distance from these walls so as to create a circulation volume (V) for a flow of gas (F); and a device (52) for generating the flow of gas (F) that is connected to the circulation volume (V).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2021
    Assignee: AddUp
    Inventor: Jean-Francois Sartori
  • Patent number: 11054348
    Abstract: A die arrangement for pressing, sintering or stamping comprising: a die body with a cavity extending from an opening at a first end of said die body to an opening at a second end of said die body, and one or more moving parts arranged around the opening at said first end of said die body, wherein each moving part is displaceable between a first position and a second position. The die body may be configurable to receive a die plunger at said second end of said die body, said plunger being displaceable within the cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: Specac Limited
    Inventors: Ian Gaskin, Matthew Cooper, Anthony Atkins, Richard Lock
  • Patent number: 10981323
    Abstract: An additive manufacturing apparatus includes a platform, a dispenser to deliver a plurality of layers of feed material, one or more light sources configured to emit a first light beam and a second light beam, and a polygon beam scanner including a rotatable mirror having a plurality of reflective facets to redirect the first light beam and the second light beam toward the platform to deliver energy to an uppermost layer of feed material. The mirror is positioned and rotatable such that motion of each facet of the plurality of reflective facets causes the first light beam to sweep along a first path on the uppermost layer and causes the second light beam to sweep along the first path following the first light beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2021
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey L. Franklin, Hou T. Ng, Nag B. Patibandla
  • Patent number: 10967626
    Abstract: A module for an additive manufacturing system includes a frame, a dispenser configured to deliver a layer of particles over a platen, an energy source to generate a beam to fuse the particles, and a metrology system having a first sensor to measure a property of the surface of layer before being fused and a second sensor to measure a property of the layer after being fused. The dispenser, first sensor, energy source and second sensor are positioned on the frame in order along a first axis, and the dispenser, first sensor, energy source and second sensor are fixed to the frame such that the frame, dispenser, first sensor, energy source and second sensor can be mounted and dismounted as a single unit from a movable support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Hou T. Ng, Raanan Zehavi, Nag B. Patibandla
  • Patent number: 10888108
    Abstract: Systems and methods for measuring tobacco for packaging in pouches are disclosed. A system includes a hopper structured and arranged to hold a granular material in a hopper cavity. The system also includes a measuring system including a measuring cavity and a tube that is slidable in the hopper cavity between a first position unaligned with the measuring cavity and a second position over and aligned with the measuring cavity. The measuring system is configured to continuously communicate a vacuum to the measuring cavity. The measuring system is configured to move a portion of the granular material from the hopper cavity to the measuring cavity when the tube is in the first position. The measuring system is configured to move the portion of the granular material from the measuring cavity to a pouch making machine using pressurized gas that overcomes the vacuum when the tube is in the second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2021
    Assignee: Altria Client Services LLC
    Inventors: Herbert C. Longest, Jarrod W. Chalkley, Tamika S. Murrell, Jeremy J. Straight, Travis M. Garthaffner, Leah A. Meyers, James D. Evans
  • Patent number: 10843264
    Abstract: A molding die includes a first die having a through-hole; a second die inserted into the through-hole and configured to be movable relative to the first die; and first and second punches configured to be insertable into the through-hole, wherein an undercut molding part is provided on the second die, and a molding target is compression-molded in a cavity surrounded by inner side walls of the through-hole, the second die, the first punch, and the second punch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2020
    Assignee: Diamet Corporation
    Inventors: Tsuneo Maruyama, Yoshiki Tamura, Hideo Sakai
  • Patent number: 10800100
    Abstract: A lamination molding apparatus includes a molding table, a molding table driver, and a chuck. The molding table includes a molding region and a temperature adjusting unit. In the molding region, a desired three-dimensional molded object is formed. The temperature adjusting unit has a heating unit with a heater, and a cooling unit with a cooler. The heating unit and the cooling unit are arranged to be stacked in a vertical direction. The molding table driver moves the molding table in the vertical direction. The chuck detachably fixes the temperature adjusting unit to the molding table driver at one fixing point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2020
    Assignee: Sodick Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shuji Okazaki, Katsutaka Muranaka
  • Patent number: 10766189
    Abstract: A container (140) for receiving a manufactured object (160) from a 3D printer is disclosed. A method for cooling and unpacking 3D printed objects using that container. (140) is also disclosed. The container has a wall forming the sides of the container, a top extending to the sides of the container, a connector (142) for connection to a vacuum source and a guillotine member (150). The lower portion of the container has support members to slidably receive the guillotine member (150) to form a base of the container. The guillotine member is selectively configurable between an apertured configuration having a plurality of through holes (152) to allow passage of air and/or build material, and a closed configuration in which the through holes are closed so as to prevent build material from falling out of the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Xavier Alonso, Ismael Chanclon, Marc Morros, Marc Nicolau
  • Patent number: 10695833
    Abstract: A press arrangement and a method for producing and processing compacts from powder material include a controller, a press frame, a pressing unit being disposed on the press frame for pressing the compact and having a die with a cavity for receiving powder material, at least two punches which, together with the cavity, provide a mold for a compact and at least one drive unit for moving at least one punch relative to the other punch along a pressing axis. A further processing module has at least one processing unit for machining a compact by metal cutting. The controller at least partially ejects or removes a compact from the die after pressing and, after the ejection holds the compact clamped between the punches. The controller uses the processing unit to process a compact being at least partially ejected from the die and held clamped between the punches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2020
    Assignee: Ceratizit Austria GmbH
    Inventors: Alexander Singer-Schnoeller, Markus Storf, Adrian Weber
  • Patent number: 10596775
    Abstract: A trash compactor may include a frame, a cavity, a trash receptacle, a platen movable to compress trash collected in the trash receptacle, a set of linkages and a drive mechanism configured to drive said platen up and down, the drive mechanism further configured as one of the link elements, and a platen guide mechanism configured to restrict the motion of the platen in an up and down manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2020
    Assignee: Compaction Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Alexander Kachkovsky, Kenneth Judge
  • Patent number: 10564079
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a device, system and method triaxial compression test with/without jacket by gas confining pressure on rock, and belongs to the technical field of rock mechanics tests. The device includes a container, wherein an accommodating cavity is disposed in the container for placing a core sample, a first through hole and a second through hole are respectively disposed at an upper end of the container, the first through hole is used for penetration of an end cap for loading an axial pressure to the core sample, the second through hole is used for injecting a gas into the accommodating cavity so as to apply a gas confining pressure on the core sample, a third through hole is disposed at a lower end of a side wall of the container, and the third through hole is used for communicating the accommodating cavity with the triaxial cell so as to achieve pressure transfer and balance between the accommodating cavity and the triaxial cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2020
    Assignee: INSTITUTE OF ROCK AND SOIL MECHANICS, CHINESE ACADEMY OF SCIENCES
    Inventors: Hongling Ma, Xilin Shi, Yuhao Zhang, Yintong Guo, Chunhe Yang, Yinping Li, Tongtao Wang, Yue Han, Hongwu Yin
  • Patent number: 10481586
    Abstract: A hot end associated with an extruder for a Fused Filament Fabrication (FFF) three dimensional (3D) printer includes, in at least one aspect of the subject matter described in this specification: a heater; a temperature sensor coupled with the heater; an FFF material delivery channel; a heat sink coupled with the FFF material delivery channel; a nozzle coupled with the FFF material delivery channel and with the heater, the nozzle having a total included angle of less than or equal to sixty degrees and greater than or equal to ten degrees, with respect to a nozzle target point; and a cooling delivery system for at least the heat sink; where the heat sink, the heater, the temperature sensor, the FFF material delivery channel, the nozzle, and the cooling delivery system are all contained within a volume defined by the total included angle with respect to the nozzle target point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignee: Autodesk, Inc.
    Inventors: James Sherwood Page, Peter J. Schmehl, Cory Mark Bloome, Aljosa Kemperle
  • Patent number: 9979032
    Abstract: A treatment method for solid oxide fuel cells includes: measuring a radius of curvature of a cell; measuring a surface resistance of cathode current collecting layer of a cell; performing an alcohol permeating test of a cell; performing simultaneously several stages of compression and heating or cooling to a cell; an apparatus for completing above stages is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2018
    Assignee: INSTITUTE OF NUCLEAR ENERGY RESEARCH ATOMIC ENERGY COUNCIL, EXECUTIVE YUAN
    Inventors: Chang-Sing Hwang, Chun-Liang Chang, Chun-Huang Tsai, Sheng-Huei Nian, Chih-Ming Chuang, Shih-Wei Cheng
  • Patent number: 9713575
    Abstract: The contained module (1) comprises inlets for an active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) and for an excipient. The inlets are in fluid communication with at least one mixing unit (41,46), and the outlet of the tablet press (6) is in fluid communication with the releasable outlet port for tablets. The material stream comprising the API and the excipient is mixed in the mixing units. During operation parameters of the contents of the material stream are measured with one or more analytical sensors upstream of the tablet press. The speed of the tablet press is controlled in response to the parameters measured upstream of the tablet press. The finished tablets are discharged at an outlet of the tablet press (6).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2017
    Assignee: GEA PROCESS ENGINEERING LIMITED
    Inventors: Jurgen Boeckx, Trevor Gordon Page, Michel Simon Waldron
  • Patent number: 9662850
    Abstract: The invention relates to a press for producing a pellet from powdered material, comprising a press frame and a press unit arranged in the press frame with at least one upper press punch and/or at least one lower press punch, as well as at least one receptacle for the powdered material to be pressed by the upper and/or lower press punch, at least two upper drive units, each with one upper electric drive motor for moving the upper press punch in a vertical direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: FETTE COMPACTING GMBH
    Inventors: Thomas Pannewitz, Stephan Mallon
  • Patent number: 9566647
    Abstract: An additive manufacturing system for printing a three-dimensional part is provided. The additive manufacturing system can include a mobile housing defining a front housing section and rear housing section; a photoreceptor drum defining a drum outer surface; a charging electrode positioned to apply electrostatic charge to the photoreceptor drum outer surface; a laterally stationary platform disposed outside the mobile housing adjacent the workpart and having at least one charged transfer electrode; a controller circuit for traversing the mobile housing about the workpart while selectively applying at least one laser diode emission onto the photoreceptor drum to expose a layer definition on the photoreceptor drum outer surface; front and rear microwave emitters disposed inside the mobile housing for fusing the respective metal print layers; and front and rear induction coils disposed inside the mobile housing for heating the workpart.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2017
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Joshua Tyler Mook, William Thomas Carter
  • Patent number: 9434118
    Abstract: A method, control system, computer program, and article of manufacture for controlling hydraulic press systems, and a new press system that utilizes a number of improvements over the assignee's original system. The control system is designed to control a hydraulic press having a die, at least two separate sets of workpiece forming punches, and at least two hydraulic pistons, each operatively associated with one set of workpiece-forming punches. The control system includes a means for controlling a magnitude of a pressing force applied by each set of workpiece-forming punches, and a means for controlling a position of each set of workpiece-forming punches relative to the die.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2016
    Inventor: Glenn L Beane
  • Patent number: 9370913
    Abstract: A powder press in which seals of cylinder/piston units that can hydraulically activate or apply pressure to additional plates with reference to a die plate, the upper yoke and/or the lower yoke are kept free of powder to the greatest possible extent disposes a cylinder of a cylinder/piston unit facing away from a die plate and/or an additional plate, preferably below the additional plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2016
    Assignee: SMS Meer GmbH
    Inventor: Walter Solty
  • Patent number: 9314946
    Abstract: A press producing a pellet from powdered material includes a press frame with upper and lower retaining plates connected by spacers and a support frame therebetween. A tool guiding unit has an upper punch plate with an upper press punch and/or a lower punch plate with a lower press punch and a die plate fastened at opposite sides of the frame having a material receptacle. An upper and/or lower drive unit for operating the punches so that reaction forces are introduced into the frame. A measurement ruler is fastened in a thermal zero point of the frame in a plane between the opposite sides. Measurement slides are arranged at the die plate and at the upper punch plate and/or the lower punch plate and interact with the ruler so that vertical movement and bending of the upper punch plate, the lower punch plate and/or the die plate are measured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2016
    Assignee: Fette Compacting GmbH
    Inventor: Thomas Pannewitz
  • Patent number: 9289924
    Abstract: A press for producing a pellet from powdered material, comprising a press frame with an upper and a lower retaining plate, which are connected to one another by several vertical spacers and with at least one supporting element, which is disposed between the upper and the lower retaining plate, a tool guiding unit with at least one upper punch unit with at least one upper press punch and/or at least one lower punch unit with at least one lower press punch and with a die assembly with at least one holder for powdered material, which is to be pressed by the upper and/or lower press punch, wherein the tool guiding unit is disposed at the supporting element, and at least one upper drive unit for moving the upper punch unit in the vertical direction and/or at least one lower drive unit for moving the lower punch unit and or the die assembly in the vertical direction, wherein, when the press is operating, the upper drive unit and/or the lower drive unit are supported at the supporting element in such a manner, that
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Assignee: FETTE COMPACTING GMBH
    Inventors: Holger Behns, Thomas Pannewitz
  • Patent number: 9289827
    Abstract: This invention relates to a mould assembly for a hot isostatic pressing, HIP, process for fabricating a component, comprising: a first part which includes a shaped surface for forming a first surface of the component, the shaped surface having at least one recess; a second part arranged to move relative to the first part during the HIP process so as to compress a powder in-fill held therebetween, wherein the second part includes a formation configured to focus pressure toward the recess so as to aid consolidation of the powder in-fill at a distal end thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE PLC
    Inventors: Wayne E. Voice, Thomas P. Jarvis
  • Patent number: 9272479
    Abstract: A press for producing a pellet from a powdered material, comprising a press frame with an upper and a lower retaining plate, which are connected with one another by several vertical spacers and with at least one supporting element disposed between the upper and the lower retaining plate, at least one upper punch unit with at least one upper press punch and/or at least one lower punch unit with at least one lower press punch as well as at least one holder for powdered material, which is to be pressed by the upper and/or lower press punch, at least one upper drive unit with at least one upper drive motor for moving the upper punch unit in the vertical direction and/or at least one lower drive unit with at least one lower drive motor for moving the lower punch unit and/or the holder in the vertical direction, wherein, when the press is operating, the upper drive unit and/or the lower drive unit are supported at the supporting element in such a manner, that the reaction forces, which are generated as action force
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2016
    Assignee: FETTE COMPACTING GMBH
    Inventors: Holger Behns, Thomas Pannewitz
  • Patent number: 9248501
    Abstract: A powder consolidation method and apparatus make use of corrosion processes occurring on surfaces of metal particles to consolidate a metal-containing powder into a formed body. The method includes contacting metal particles with an acidic or basic liquid at a pH and potential at which dissolution of metal from the particles and reduction of soluble metal-containing ions to metal on surfaces of the particles can co-occur, such that the metal powder agglomerates to form a body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2016
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Andrew C. Johannes, Sebastian Osswald, Luke N. Brewer
  • Patent number: 9199309
    Abstract: A hot isostatic pressing tool includes a plurality of canister members and the hot isostatic pressing tool including at least one set of adjacent canister members. The plurality of canister members form a chamber to receive a powder material to be hot isostatically pressed. The at least one set of adjacent canister members have interlocking features forming a U-shaped, or a Z-shaped, leakage flow path between the at least one set of adjacent second canister members. The adjacent canister members are welded together to form a joint and the U-shaped, or Z-shaped, leakage flow path reduces the likelihood of failure of the welded joint during hot isostatic pressing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2015
    Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE plc
    Inventor: Christopher J. Hood
  • Patent number: 9162412
    Abstract: The quality of the briquettes granulated by a briquetting machine is improved. A briquetting machine control device samples the briquette that have been produced to measure an apparent density and a crush strength of the sampled briquette (step S10), and controls each operation set value adjusting unit (4, 6, 7) of the briquetting machine so that the actual measurement values come closer to predefined briquette quality target values (step S20 to step S60).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2015
    Assignees: Furukawa Industrial Machinery Systems Co., Ltd., Furukawa Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshiyuki Sunaga, Koji Tsukada, Isao Sekiguchi, Fumio Yuasa
  • Patent number: 9132480
    Abstract: A multi-component powder compaction mold configured for the production of cutting inserts is disclosed. A top section having a cavity wall forming a top cavity and a bottom section having a cavity wall forming a bottom cavity are stacked and aligned so that the top cavity and the bottom cavity collectively form a mold cavity. The mold cavity has a top cavity wall and a bottom cavity wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2015
    Assignee: KENNAMETAL INC.
    Inventor: Michael R. Cripps