# US 10,766,194 B1 · Apparatus, system, and method for use in three-dimensional printing > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,766,194 B1 - Document ID: US10766194B1 - Status: Granted - Kind: B1 - Application number: 16/556,118 - Filed: 2019-08-29 - Published: 2020-08-27 - Granted: 2020-09-08 - Earliest claimed: 2019-02-21 - Assignees: SprintRay, Inc. - Applicants: SprintRay Inc. - Inventors: Amir Mansouri; Huijian Tian; Jing Zhang; Abdol Hossein Bassir - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10766194B1 ## CPC - B29C 64/255: Enclosures for the building material, e.g. powder containers - B29C 64/245: Platforms or substrates (support structures intended to be sacrificed after manufacture B29C64/40) - B29C 64/264: Arrangements for irradiation - B33Y 10/00: Processes of additive manufacturing - B29C 64/129: characterised by the energy source therefor, e.g. by global irradiation combined with a mask - B33Y 30/00: Apparatus for additive manufacturing; Details thereof or accessories therefor - 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) - 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 The present invention concerns a reservoir assembly for use in three-dimensional (3D) printing for building a 3D object, which includes a top frame that may be filled with liquid material, and a tensioned film being held underneath the top frame. The tensioned film may be air permeable and elastic at the same time, wherein surfaces of the tensioned film are micro textured so that the tensioned film becomes optically clear when it contacts with the liquid material. The tensioned film minimizes the creation of bubbles between the top and bottom surfaces. This also helps blurring the boundaries thereby enhancing the surface finish of the fabricated parts. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A reservoir assembly for use in three-dimensional printing, comprising: a removable top frame having a cavity with an aperture defined on a bottom edge of the removable top frame, the cavity configured to be at least partially filled with a photosensitive liquid; a permeable tensioned film stretchily coupled to the aperture so as to hold the photosensitive liquid within the cavity of the removable top frame; a bottom frame including a transparent or semi-transparent rigid substrate, the bottom frame configured to register with the removable top frame; and a media layer disposed between the permeable tensioned film and the rigid substrate of the bottom frame, the media layer comprising a clearance between a top surface of the transparent or semi-transparent rigid substrate and a bottom surface of the permeable tensioned film in a manner so that the permeable tensioned film is suspended above and detached from the media layer. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The reservoir assembly of claim 1, further comprising a deep portion of the cavity configured to collect the photosensitive liquid, the deep portion defined by: a peripheral shallow portion extending from an inner side wall of the top frame to a curving edge; and a deep inner side wall extending from the curving edge that perimetrically defines the aperture. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The reservoir assembly of claim 1, wherein the permeable tensioned film includes polymethylpentene. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The reservoir assembly of claim 1, wherein the permeable tensioned film includes a non-stick surface. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The reservoir assembly of claim 1, wherein the permeable tensioned film is wrapped around and secured about a holding rim of the top frame. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The reservoir assembly of claim 1, wherein the permeable tensioned film is adhered and secured to the top frame using a double-sided adhesive tape. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The reservoir assembly of claim 1, wherein the media layer further comprises of a gas. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The reservoir assembly of claim 7, wherein: the gas comprises air, oxygen, or nitrogen. ### Claim 9 (depends on 2) The reservoir assembly of claim 2, further comprising at least one visual indicator situated on a surface of the peripheral shallow portion of the top frame. ### Claim 10 (depends on 2) The reservoir assembly of claim 2, further comprising a force-generating mechanism coupled between the top frame and the bottom frame configured to facilitate a separation process during three-dimensional printing. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The reservoir assembly of claim 1, further comprising a gas supply module coupled to the bottom frame. ### Claim 12 A system for three-dimensional printing, comprising: a computer coupled to a light source including instructions for selectively illuminating a photosensitive liquid in accordance with a geometric profile of a three-dimensional (3D) object, the light source for polymerizing the photosensitive liquid and forming a polymerized section of the 3D object; and reservoir assembly adapted to receive the light source, comprising: a top frame having a cavity with an aperture defined on a bottom edge of the top frame, the cavity configured to be at least partially filled with the photosensitive liquid; a permeable tensioned film stretchily coupled to the aperture so as to hold the photosensitive liquid within the cavity of the top frame; a bottom frame, removable from the top frame, including a transparent or semi-transparent rigid substrate, the bottom frame configured to register with the top frame; and a media layer disposed between the permeable tensioned film and the rigid substrate of the bottom frame, the media layer comprising a clearance between a top surface of the transparent or semi-transparent rigid substrate and a bottom surface of the permeable tensioned film. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The system of claim 12, wherein the permeable tensioned film includes polymethylpentene. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The system of claim 12, wherein the reservoir assembly further comprises a deep portion of the cavity configured to collect the photosensitive liquid, the deep portion defined by: a peripheral shallow portion extending from an inner side wall of the top frame to a curving edge; and a deep inner side wall extending from the curving edge that perimetrically defines the aperture. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The system of claim 12, wherein the permeable tensioned film includes a non-stick surface. ### Claim 16 (depends on 12) The system of claim 12, wherein the media layer further comprises of a gas including air, oxygen, or nitrogen. ### Claim 17 (depends on 12) The system of claim 12, further comprising a heat module coupled to the rigid substrate. ### Claim 18 (depends on 12) The system of claim 12, further comprising a gas supply module coupled to the bottom frame, the gas supply module adapted to supply a gas through a portion of the rigid substrate. ### Claim 19 (depends on 12) The system of claim 12, further comprising a removable filter configured to control a blurring effect to enhance a surface finish of the 3D object. ### Claim 20 A reservoir assembly for use in three-dimensional printing, comprising: a top frame having a cavity with an aperture defined on a bottom edge of the top frame, the cavity configured to be at least partially filled with a photosensitive liquid, wherein a deep portion of the cavity is defined by a peripheral shallow portion extending from an inner side wall of the top frame to a curving edge, and a deep inner side wall extending from the curving edge that perimetrically defines the aperture; a polymethylpentene (PMP) film wrapped around or adhered to a holding rim of the top frame so that the PMP film is tensionedly coupled to the aperture in a manner to hold the photosensitive liquid within the cavity of the top frame; a bottom frame, removable from the top frame, including a transparent or semi-transparent rigid substrate, the bottom frame configured to register with the top frame; and a media layer disposed between the permeable PMP film and the rigid substrate of the bottom frame, the media layer comprising a clearance between a top surface of the transparent or semi-transparent rigid substrate and a bottom surface of the permeable PMP film.