# US 10,369,743 B2 · Color or multi-material three-dimensional (3D) printing > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,369,743 B2 - Document ID: US10369743B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/534,998 - Filed: 2014-11-06 - Published: 2015-05-21 - Granted: 2019-08-06 - Earliest claimed: 2013-11-18 - Assignees: San Draw Inc. - Applicants: San Draw Inc. - Inventors: Kai-Jui Chang - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10369743B2 ## CPC - B29C 64/112: using individual droplets, e.g. from jetting heads - B01F 33/84: Mixing plants with mixing receptacles receiving material dispensed from several component receptacles, e.g. paint tins - B01F 35/7174: {using pistons, plungers or syringes} - B29C 64/106: using only liquids or viscous materials, e.g. depositing a continuous bead of viscous material - B29C 64/118: using filamentary material being melted, e.g. fused deposition modelling [FDM] - B29C 64/124: using layers of liquid which are selectively solidified - B29C 64/147: using sheet material, e.g. laminated object manufacturing [LOM] or laminating sheet material precut to local cross sections of the 3D object - B29C 64/393: for controlling or regulating additive manufacturing processes - B29C 67/0007: {Manufacturing coloured articles not otherwise provided for, e.g. by colour change} - B33Y 10/00: Processes of additive manufacturing - B33Y 30/00: Apparatus for additive manufacturing; Details thereof or accessories therefor - B33Y 50/02: for controlling or regulating additive manufacturing processes - B29C: SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING (making preforms B29B11/00; making laminated products by combining previously unconnected layers which become one product whose layers will remain together B32B37/00 - B32B41/00) - B01F: MIXING, e.g. DISSOLVING, EMULSIFYING OR DISPERSING (mixing paints B44D3/06) - B33Y: ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING, i.e. MANUFACTURING OF THREE-DIMENSIONAL [3D] OBJECTS BY ADDITIVE DEPOSITION, ADDITIVE AGGLOMERATION OR ADDITIVE LAYERING, e.g. BY 3D PRINTING, STEREOLITHOGRAPHY OR SELECTIVE LASER SINTERING ## Abstract A three-dimensional (3D) continuous color printer includes one or more cartridges each with a building material stored therein, a mixer coupled to each cartridge, and a single printhead coupled to a mixer output, wherein the building material stored in the cartridge is transported to the mixer and the single print head to form a continuous color object. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A three-dimensional printer, comprising: a plurality of cartridges comprising building materials stored therein, wherein the building materials comprise liquids, wherein the building materials have different properties, and wherein the building materials are not additives for imparting the different properties; a mixer coupled to each of the plurality of cartridges; and a single print head comprising an extruder coupled to an output of the mixer for printing a three-dimensional (3D) object, wherein the single print head is not a 3D inkjet printer; wherein the building materials stored in the plurality of cartridges are transported to the mixer to generate a mixture, and wherein the single print head is configured to use the mixture generated from the building materials to extrude at least a portion of the mixture to print at least a portion of the 3D object with characteristics that are altered, wherein the characteristics include stiffness or hardness. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The three-dimensional printer of claim 1, wherein the plurality of cartridges comprises a syringe. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The three-dimensional printer of claim 1, wherein the plurality of cartridges comprises four cartridges connected with tubes to the mixer to mix building materials in different colors during transport to the print head. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The three-dimensional printer of claim 1, further comprising a multi-way connector or a connector with a different number of open-ends coupled to the mixer. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The three-dimensional printer of claim 4, wherein flow rates of incoming materials with a plurality of colors are summed up to a predefined constant, and ratios between flow rates provide a color of outflowing material to the single print head. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The three-dimensional printer of claim 1, wherein the mixer comprises a static mixer, an in-line mixer, or an active mixer. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The three-dimensional printer of claim 1, further comprising a pathway between the mixer and the print head to set intervals between color transitions. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The three-dimensional printer of claim 1, wherein a path between the mixer and print head module is of a length for increased color transition intervals. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The three-dimensional printer of claim 1, wherein the print head is replaceable or changeable according to materials choice, resolution requirement, or clogging factor. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The three-dimensional printer of claim 1, wherein the print head comprises a needle, nozzle, or ball-pen head. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The three-dimensional printer of claim 1, wherein the building materials comprise one of: silicon, silicone rubber, siliconized acrylic caulk, polyurethane, curable resin and a solidifiable fluid or paste having a liquid state to mix color. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The three-dimensional printer of claim 1, further comprising tubes that connect modules, each with a predetermined internal diameter to minimize a delay between color transitions. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The three-dimensional printer of claim 1, wherein the building materials are solidified through exposure to radiation, cooling, or drying. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The three-dimensional printer of claim 1, further comprising a lighting unit that is configured to irradiate building materials. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The three-dimensional printer of claim 1, wherein the print head is configured to move along an x-axis and a y-axis, and a support is configured to move along a z-axis orthogonal to a plane having the x-axis and y-axis, wherein the 3D object is printed on the support. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The three-dimensional printer of claim 1, wherein the mixer is part of a pathway that is in fluid communication with the single print head. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The three-dimensional printer of claim 1, wherein the mixer is part of the single print head. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The three-dimensional printer of claim 1, wherein the different properties are different colors. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) The three-dimensional printer of claim 1, wherein the different properties are different viscosities. ### Claim 20 (depends on 1) The three-dimensional printer of claim 1, wherein the mixture is generated in the absence of melting the building materials. ### Claim 21 (depends on 1) The three-dimensional printer of claim 1, wherein the building materials comprise polymeric materials in a liquid state.