# US 10,864,678 B2 · Laser 3D printer > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,864,678 B2 - Document ID: US10864678B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/822,928 - Filed: 2017-11-27 - Published: 2019-05-30 - Granted: 2020-12-15 - Earliest claimed: 2017-11-27 - Assignees: 3D4Mec Srl - Applicants: 3D4Mec Srl - Inventors: Giuseppe Corsini; Gabriele Carloni - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10864678B2 ## CPC - B29C 64/321: Feeding - B29C 64/153: using layers of powder being selectively joined, e.g. by selective laser sintering or melting - B29C 64/205: Means for applying layers - B29C 64/245: Platforms or substrates (support structures intended to be sacrificed after manufacture B29C64/40) - B29C 64/255: Enclosures for the building material, e.g. powder containers - B29C 64/329: using hoppers - B29C 64/357: Recycling - B33Y 30/00: Apparatus for additive manufacturing; Details thereof or accessories therefor - B33Y 40/00: Auxiliary operations or equipment, e.g. for material handling - 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 A laser 3D printer presents a tubular compartment; a lifting platform slidably engaged in the tubular compartment; a dispenser for feeding a given amount of powdered material onto the lifting platform; a distributor for distributing the powdered material over the lifting platform; and a laser printing head for sintering the powdered material laid on the lifting platform; the distributor having the shape of a hopper converging downwards and being configured for receiving the powdered material from the dispenser. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A laser 3D printer comprising: a vertical tubular compartment (8), which extends downwards starting from a plane (P); a lifting platform (12) engaged in a sliding manner in the tubular compartment (8); a feeding unit (19) mounted above the plane (P) for feeding a powdered material (3) onto the lifting platform (12); a laser printing head (4) for sintering the powdered material (3) laid on the lifting platform (12); wherein the feeding unit (19) comprises: a dispenser (23) for feeding a given amount of powdered material (3) onto the lifting platform (12); and a distributor (30) for distributing the powdered material (3) over the lifting platform (12) itself, the distributor (30) having the shape of a hopper converging towards the plane (P), and being configured for directly receiving the powdered material (3) from the dispenser (23) which is located above the distributor (30), the distributor (30) being located above the lifting platform (12) so that the powered material (3) is distributed directly from the distributor (30) onto the lifting platform (12); and a driving device (35) for displacing the distributor (30) above the tubular compartment (8) in the plane (P) with a reciprocating rectilinear motion comprising a forward stroke, in which the distributor (30) distributes the powdered material (3) onto the lifting platform (12), and a return stroke; wherein the distributor (30) has the shape of a hopper converging towards the plane (P); wherein the distributor (30) is connected to the driving device (35) for being displaced, with respect to the driving device (35), between a lowered, operating, position and a raised, resting, position relative to the lifting platform (12), wherein during the forward stroke, the distributor (30) is in the lowered, operating position and during the return stroke, the distributor (30) is in the raised, resting position. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The laser 3D printer according to claim 1, wherein the distributor (30) is limited by a bottom face (32), and has a spatula (33) projecting downwards from the bottom face (32) itself. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The laser 3D printer according to claim 1, wherein the distributor (30) is coupled in a rotating manner to the driving device (35) so as to rotate, with respect to the driving device (35) itself, between said lowered, operating, positions and said raised, resting, position. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The laser 3D printer according to claim 1 and further comprising a locking device (43) for locking the distributor (30) in said lowered, operating, position and in said raised, resting, position. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The laser 3D printer according to claim 4, wherein the locking device (43) comprises at least one engagement ball (45) and one spring (46) for displacing the engagement ball (45) into a locking position, and normally keeping it there, wherein the engagement ball (45) engages a slot (44) provided in the driving device (35). ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The laser 3D printer according to claim 1 and further comprising a first end-of-travel device (48) for displacing the distributor (30) into its raised, resting, position at the end of the forward stroke, and a second end-of-travel device (47) for displacing the distributor (30) into its lowered, operating, position at the end of the return stroke. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The laser 3D printer according to claim 1, wherein the distributor (30) is mounted between the plane (P) and the dispenser (23). ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The laser 3D printer according to claim 1, wherein the distributor (30) has an inlet section for the powdered material (3) larger than an outlet section for the powdered material (3) itself.