# US 10,864,715 B2 · Additive manufacturing system having multi-channel nozzle > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,864,715 B2 - Document ID: US10864715B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/623,529 - Filed: 2017-06-15 - Published: 2018-03-08 - Granted: 2020-12-15 - Earliest claimed: 2016-09-06 - Assignees: Continuous Composites Inc. - Applicants: Cc3D LLC - Inventors: Kenneth Lyle Tyler - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10864715B2 ## CPC - B29C 35/0805: {using electromagnetic radiation} - B25J 9/026: {Gantry-type} - B25J 9/046: {Revolute coordinate type} - B29C 48/05: Filamentary, e.g. strands - B29C 48/08: flexible, e.g. films - B29C 48/12: Articles with an irregular circumference when viewed in cross-section, e.g. window profiles - B29C 48/154: Coating solid articles, i.e. non-hollow articles - B29C 48/2556: {provided in or in the proximity of dies (B29C48/302, B29C48/31, B29C48/325 take precedence)} - B29C 48/266: {Means for allowing relative movements between the apparatus parts, e.g. for twisting the extruded article or for moving the die along a surface to be coated} - B29C 48/301: {having reciprocating, oscillating or rotating parts} - B29C 64/106: using only liquids or viscous materials, e.g. depositing a continuous bead of viscous material - B29C 64/209: Heads; Nozzles - B29C 64/264: Arrangements for irradiation - B29C 70/384: {Fiber placement heads, e.g. component parts, details or accessories} - 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 - B33Y 70/10: Composites of different types of material, e.g. mixtures of ceramics and polymers or mixtures of metals and biomaterials - B05D 1/26: performed by applying the liquid or other fluent material from an outlet device in contact with, or almost in contact with, the surface - B29C 48/30: Extrusion nozzles or dies (extrusion characterised by the shape or cross-section of the extruded article B29C48/03) - B29C 48/304: {specially adapted for bringing together components, e.g. melts within the die} - B29C 64/188: involving additional operations performed on the added layers, e.g. smoothing, grinding or thickness control (surface shaping B29C59/00; after-treatment of articles without altering their shape B29C71/00) - B29C 2035/0827: {using UV radiation} - B29K 2105/0058: {Liquid or visquous} - B29K 2105/08: of continuous length, e.g. cords, rovings, mats, fabrics, strands or yarns - 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) - B25J: MANIPULATORS; CHAMBERS PROVIDED WITH MANIPULATION DEVICES ({manipulators specially adapted for use in surgery A61B34/70; manipulators used in cleaning hollow articles B08B9/04}; manipulators associated with rolling mills B21B39/20; manipulators associated with forging machines B21J13/10; {manipulators associated with picking-up and placing mechanisms B23P19/007}; means for holding wheels or parts thereof B60B30/00; {vehicles with ground-engaging propulsion means, e.g. walking members B62D57/02, B62D57/032; devices for picking-up and depositing articles or materials between conveyors B65G47/90, B65G47/91; manipulators with gripping or holding means for transferring packages B65H67/065}; cranes B66C; {manipulators used in the protection or supervision of pipe-line installations F17D5/00; walking equipment adapted for nuclear steam-generators F22B37/006}; manipulators specially adapted for, or associated with, nuclear reactors G21C; {apparatus used for handling wafers during manufacture or treatment of semiconductor H10P72/50}) - 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 - B05D: PROCESSES FOR APPLYING FLUENT MATERIALS TO SURFACES, IN GENERAL (conveying articles or workpieces through baths of liquid B65G, e.g. B65G49/02) - B29K: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES B29B, B29C OR B29D, RELATING TO MOULDING MATERIALS OR TO MATERIALS FOR {MOULDS, } REINFORCEMENTS, FILLERS OR PREFORMED PARTS, e.g. INSERTS ## Abstract A system is disclosed for use in additively manufacturing a composite structure. The system may include a matrix reservoir, and a fiber guide configured to separately receive a plurality of matrix-wetted reinforcements from the matrix reservoir. The system may also include a die configured to receive the plurality of matrix-wetted reinforcements from the fiber guide and to cause the plurality of matrix-wetted reinforcements to converge into a ribbon. The system may additionally include a cure enhancer configured to cure the matrix in the composite material during discharge of the ribbon from the die, and a support configured to move the die in multiple dimensions during discharge of the ribbon. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A nozzle for a head of an additive manufacturing system, comprising: a housing; a fiber guide configured to receive a plurality of continuous reinforcements, the fiber guide being located inside the housing and including a plurality of channels that extend along a length of the housing and the plurality of continuous reinforcements and separate the plurality of continuous reinforcements from each other; and a die located inside the housing at outlets of the plurality of channels, the die having a cross-sectional area less than a combined cross-sectional area of the plurality of channels to receive the plurality of continuous reinforcements from the fiber guide and to cause the plurality of continuous reinforcements to converge into a ribbon, wherein the fiber guide includes a plurality of protrusions that separate the plurality of channels. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The nozzle of claim 1, wherein the cover housing includes an integral protrusion having a tapered upstream end and a downstream end that extends transversely toward the plurality of protrusions. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The nozzle of claim 1, wherein the die includes a reduced number of channels compared to the fiber guide. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The nozzle of claim 1, wherein the die has a rounded trailing edge at an end opposite the fiber guide. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The nozzle of claim 1, wherein at least one of the fiber guide and the die includes an internal coating of a reduced friction material. ### Claim 6 A head for an additive manufacturing system, comprising: a matrix reservoir; a fiber guide configured to receive a plurality of matrix-wetted reinforcements from the matrix reservoir, the fiber guide including a plurality of channels that extend along a length of the plurality of matrix-wetted reinforcements and separate the plurality of matrix-wetted reinforcements from each other; and a die configured to receive the plurality of matrix-wetted reinforcements from the fiber guide and to cause the plurality of matrix-wetted reinforcements to converge. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The head of claim 6, further including a cure enhancer configured to expose the plurality of matrix-wetted reinforcements discharging from the die to energy and increase a rate of chemical reaction occurring within the plurality of matrix-wetted reinforcements. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The head of claim 6, wherein: the fiber guide includes a plurality of protrusions that separate the plurality of axially oriented channels; and the head includes a nozzle housing having: a base that is integral with the plurality of protrusions; and a cover that is removable from the base to provide access to the plurality of axially oriented channels. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The head of claim 8, wherein the cover includes an integral protrusion having a tapered upstream end and a downstream end that extends transversely toward the plurality of protrusions. ### Claim 10 (depends on 6) The head of claim 6, wherein the die includes a reduced number of channels compared to the fiber guide. ### Claim 11 (depends on 6) The head of claim 6, wherein the die has a rounded trailing edge. ### Claim 12 (depends on 6) The head of claim 6, wherein at least one of the fiber guide and the die includes an internal coating of a reduced friction material. ### Claim 13 An additive manufacturing system, comprising: a matrix reservoir; a fiber guide configured to receive a plurality of matrix-wetted reinforcements from the matrix reservoir and maintain a separation between the plurality of matrix-wetted reinforcements; a die configured to receive the plurality of matrix-wetted reinforcements from the fiber guide and to cause the plurality of matrix-wetted reinforcements to converge into a ribbon; a cure enhancer configured to cure matrix in the ribbon during discharge of the ribbon from the die; and a support configured to move the die in multiple dimensions during discharge of the ribbon. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The additive manufacturing system of claim 13, wherein the fiber guide includes a plurality of channels that extend along a length of the plurality of matrix-wetted reinforcements and are separated by a plurality of protrusions. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The additive manufacturing system of claim 14, further including a housing configured to house at least the fiber guide, the housing having: a base that is integral with the plurality of protrusions; and a cover that is removable from the base to provide access to the plurality of axially oriented channels. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The additive manufacturing system of claim 15, wherein the cover includes an integral protrusion that extends transversely toward the plurality of protrusions to reduce a cross-sectional area of the die. ### Claim 17 (depends on 13) The additive manufacturing system of claim 13, wherein the die includes: a reduced number of channels compared to the fiber guide; and a rounded trailing edge at an end opposite the fiber guide.