# US 10,870,239 B2 · Three-dimensional printing systems and methods > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,870,239 B2 - Document ID: US10870239B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/916,077 - Filed: 2018-03-08 - Published: 2018-09-13 - Granted: 2020-12-22 - Earliest claimed: 2017-03-08 - Assignees: John Fenley - Applicants: John Fenley - Inventors: John Fenley; Adrian Knotts - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10870239B2 ## CPC - B29C 64/393: for controlling or regulating additive manufacturing processes - B28B 1/001: {Rapid manufacturing of 3D objects by additive depositing, agglomerating or laminating of material (selective deposition modelling of metallic powder B22F10/00; rapid manufacturing of 3D objects in general and in particular of plastics B29C64/00)} - B28B 17/0081: {Process control} - B29C 64/106: using only liquids or viscous materials, e.g. depositing a continuous bead of viscous material - B29C 64/112: using individual droplets, e.g. from jetting heads - 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 - 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 - 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) - B28B: SHAPING CLAY OR OTHER CERAMIC COMPOSITIONS; SHAPING SLAG; SHAPING MIXTURES CONTAINING CEMENTITIOUS MATERIAL, e.g. PLASTER (foundry moulding B22C; working stone or stone-like material B28D; shaping of substances in a plastic state, in general B29C; making layered products not composed wholly of these substances B32B) - 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 This disclosure provides various systems and methods for three-dimensional printing in which data describing an object as a plurality of voxels is transferred as a print material to form the three-dimensional object independent of locking. That is, various systems and methods are provided herein in which the three-dimensional printing step is to transfer data representing various voxels into a corresponding physical object via a three-dimensional printer. The first step is repeated until all of the voxels are printed without waiting for any of the voxels of print material to lock. Accordingly, the three-dimensional printer can be used to print at least one subsequent object while the first object finishes locking. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A three-dimensional printing system, comprising: a container to selectively receive concrete and fill material; a fill material deposition tube within each of a plurality of cells of a printhead to selectively deposit fill material within the container; a concrete extrusion tube within each cell of the printhead to selectively extrude concrete within the container; a supply divided into supply cells corresponding to the cells of the printhead, wherein each supply cell is adapted to receive both fill material and concrete, wherein each supply cell comprises a first tube cover to cover an opening in the fill material deposition tube when concrete is supplied to the supply cell, and wherein each supply cell comprises a second tube cover to cover an opening in the concrete deposition tube when fill material is supplied to the supply cell; a retraction assembly to retract the printhead, including the fill material deposition tube and the concrete extrusion tube within each cell of the printhead, from a first depth to a final depth within the container; and a controller to: selectively deposit fill material in each of a plurality of voxels at various layers within the container between the first depth and the final depth, and selectively extrude concrete into each of the plurality of voxels at various layers within the container between the first depth and the final depth. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The three-dimensional printing system of claim 1, wherein the fill material comprises one of beads, gravel, and sand. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The three-dimensional printing system of claim 1, wherein the fill material is deposited in the plurality of voxels corresponding to an outline of a target three-dimensional object. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The three-dimensional printing system of claim 1, wherein each of the fill material deposition tubes has an electronically actuated valve to control the deposition of the fill material within the cells of the printhead. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The three-dimensional printing system of claim 1, wherein each of the concrete extrusion tubes has an electronically actuated valve to control the extrusion of the concrete. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The three-dimensional printing system of claim 1, wherein the first tube cover and the second tube cover of each supply cell are combined as single unit that has two positions, a first position in which concrete is extruded and a second position in which fill material is deposited. ### Claim 7 A three-dimensional printing system, comprising: a container to selectively receive concrete and fill material; a fill material deposition tube within each of a plurality of cells of a printhead to selectively deposit fill material within the container; a first electronically actuated valve to control the deposition of the fill material within the cells of the printhead; a concrete extrusion tube within each cell of the printhead to selectively extrude concrete within the container; a second electronically actuated valve to control the extrusion of the concrete within the cells of the printhead a supply divided into supply cells corresponding to the cells of the printhead, wherein each supply cell is adapted to receive both fill material and concrete, wherein each supply cell comprises a first tube cover to cover an opening in the fill material deposition tube when concrete is supplied to the supply cell, and wherein each supply cell comprises a second tube cover to cover an opening in the concrete deposition tube when fill material is supplied to the supply cell; a retraction assembly to retract the printhead, including the fill material deposition tube and the concrete extrusion tube within each cell of the printhead, from a first depth to a final depth within the container; and a controller to: selectively deposit fill material in each of a plurality of voxels at various layers within the container between the first depth and the final depth, and selectively extrude concrete into each of the plurality of voxels at various layers within the container between the first depth and the final depth. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The three-dimensional printing system of claim 7, wherein the fill material comprises one of beads, gravel, and sand. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The three-dimensional printing system of claim 7, wherein the first tube cover and the second tube cover of each supply cell are combined as single unit that has two positions, a first position in which concrete is extruded and a second position in which fill material is deposited.