# US 10,766,189 B2 · Container for 3D printed objects and method of cooling and unpacking a manufactured object from a 3D printer using that container

> Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt

- Number: US 10,766,189 B2
- Document ID: US10766189B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/071,726
- Filed: 2016-05-12
- Published: 2019-02-21
- Granted: 2020-09-08
- Earliest claimed: 2016-05-12
- Assignees: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
- Applicants: Xavier Alonso; Ismael Chanclon; Marc Morros; Marc Nicolau; Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
- Inventors: Xavier Alonso; Ismael Chanclon; Marc Morros; Marc Nicolau
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10766189B2

## CPC

- B29C 37/0003: {Discharging moulded articles from the mould (constructions for removing the articles B29C33/44)}
- B22F 10/68: Cleaning or washing
- B22F 10/73: of powder
- B22F 12/88: Handling of additively manufactured products, e.g. by robots
- B29C 64/141: using only solid materials
- B29C 64/227: Driving means
- B29C 64/25: Housings, e.g. machine housings
- B29C 64/255: Enclosures for the building material, e.g. powder containers
- B29C 64/314: Preparation
- B29C 64/35: Cleaning
- B29C 64/357: Recycling
- B29C 64/379: Handling of additively manufactured objects, e.g. using robots
- B29C 64/393: for controlling or regulating additive manufacturing processes
- B33Y 30/00: Apparatus for additive manufacturing; Details thereof or accessories therefor
- B33Y 40/00: Auxiliary operations or equipment, e.g. for material handling
- B33Y 40/20: Post-treatment, e.g. curing, coating or polishing
- B22F 10/28: Powder bed fusion, e.g. selective laser melting [SLM] or electron beam melting [EBM]
- B22F 12/10: Auxiliary heating means
- B22F 12/82: Combination of additive manufacturing apparatus or devices with other processing apparatus or devices
- B22F 2999/00: Aspects linked to processes or compositions used in powder metallurgy
- B29C 64/153: using layers of powder being selectively joined, e.g. by selective laser sintering or melting
- B29C 64/165: using a combination of solid and fluid materials, e.g. a powder selectively bound by a liquid binder, catalyst, inhibitor or energy absorber
- B29C 2035/1658: {using gas}
- B33Y 10/00: Processes of additive manufacturing
- Y02P 10/25: Process efficiency
- 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)
- B22F: WORKING METALLIC POWDER; MANUFACTURE OF ARTICLES FROM METALLIC POWDER; MAKING METALLIC POWDER (making alloys by powder metallurgy C22C); APPARATUS OR DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR METALLIC POWDER
- 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
- Y02P: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN THE PRODUCTION OR PROCESSING OF GOODS

## 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.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A container for receiving a manufactured object from a 3D printer, the container comprising:
a wall forming sides of the container;
a top extending to the sides of the container
a connector for connection to a vacuum source; and
a guillotine member;
wherein a lower portion of the container has support members to slidably receive the guillotine member to form a base of the container;
wherein the guillotine member is selectively adjustable between an apertured configuration having a plurality of through holes 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; and
wherein the container is further provided with clamp points to receive a clamp arm from the 3D printer, the clamp arm being provided with a vibration mechanism for vibrating the container.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

A container according to claim 1, further comprising a heater.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

A container according to claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the wall is provided with a heat transfer plate.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

A container according to claim 1, wherein the wall is provided with a thermal blanket.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

A container according to claim 1, wherein the container is further provided with a vibrator for self-vibration of the container.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

A container according to claim 1, wherein the through hole size ranges from an average particle size of the build material and a minimum size of the manufactured object.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

A container according to claim 1, wherein the through hole shape is selected from the following: a circular-shape, a slit-shape, a cross-shape, an oval-shape, a square-shape, and a diamond-shape.

### Claim 8

A 3D printing system comprising:
a 3D printer for manufacturing an object,
a material management system for supplying build material to the 3D printer,
a trolley; and
a container for receiving a manufactured object from a 3D printer, the container comprising:
a wall forming sides of the container,
a top extending to the sides of the container;
a connector for connection to a vacuum source; and
a guillotine member;
wherein a lower portion of the container has support members to slidably receive the guillotine member to form a base of the container;
wherein the guillotine member is selectively adjustable between an apertured configuration having a plurality of through holes 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; and
wherein the container is further provided with clamp points to receive a clamp arm from the 3D printer, the clamp arm being provided with a vibration mechanism for vibrating the container,
wherein the trolley comprises a build platform on which the object being manufactured is constructed and a build material store beneath the build platform.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

A 3D printing system according to claim 8, wherein a vacuum source is provided to collect build material from the container for recycling build material within the material management system.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

A method of cooling and unpacking a manufactured object from a 3D printer, the method comprising:
positioning a container according to claim 1 over the manufactured object located on a build platform of a 3D printer trolley;
sliding the guillotine member across the lower portion of the container to form a base of the container so that the manufactured object is inside the container;
selecting an apertured configuration of the guillotine to open a plurality of holes in the guillotine to allow passage of build material through the guillotine;
connecting a vacuum source to the connector and controlling the vacuum source to cool down the manufactured object.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

A method according to claim 10, further comprising:
vibrating the container to unpack the manufactured object and collecting any unused build material which passes through the guillotine into the trolley;
selecting a closed configuration of the guillotine to close the plurality of holes in the guillotine; and
removing the container from the trolley for further processing.

### Claim 12 (depends on 10)

A method according to claim 10, further comprising heating the container.

### Claim 13 (depends on 10)

A method according to claim 10, further comprising vibrating the container by pulsing the vacuum source to create a plurality of pulses of air flow through the container.

### Claim 14 (depends on 10)

A method according to claim 10, further comprising varying the strength of the vacuum source to create a plurality of a jets through the container.

### Claim 15 (depends on 10)

A method according to claim 10, further comprising increasing and decreasing the strength of the vacuum source sequentially to create a plurality of a jets of different flow rates through the container.