Three-dimensional printing system and equipment assembly
AssigneeAprecia Pharmaceuticals LLC
InventorsMahendra R. Patel, Amit S. Patel, Thomas J. Bradbury, Thomas G. West
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A three-dimensional printing system and equipment assembly for the manufacture of three-dimensionally printed articles is provided. The equipment assembly includes a three-dimensional printing build system, an optional liquid removal system and an optional harvester system. The build system includes a conveyor, plural build modules and at least one build station having a powder-layering system and a printing system. The equipment assembly can be used to manufacture pharmaceutical, medical, and non-pharmaceutical/non-medical objects. It can be used to prepare single or multiple articles.
Claims16
A three-dimensional printing equipment assembly comprising:
- a conveyor system that conducts a plurality of build modules, wherein each build module of the plural build modules comprises a body comprising an upper surface and a plurality of receptacles, and a plurality of height adjustable platforms, each height adjustable platform disposed and vertically displaceable within a receptacle of the plurality of receptacles for forming a cavity within the receptacle;
- at least one powder layering system that forms one or more layers of powder into the cavity of each receptacle of the plurality of receptacles of each build module of the plural build modules;
- at least one binding fluid application system that deposits a binding fluid onto the one or more layers of powder formed in the cavity of the one or more receptacles, to form an incremental printed layer within the cavity of the one or more receptacles;
- and
- at least one punch system comprising at least one upper punch adapted to be lowered to and vertically displaced within the one or more receptacles, the at least one punch system adapted to translate, compress, mark and/or shape the layers of powder or incremental printed layers within the cavity of the one or more receptacles.
A three-dimensional printing equipment assembly comprising:
- a) a three-dimensional printing build system comprising:
- a conveyor system that conducts plural build modules and comprises positioning-controller and plural build module engagements;
- plural build modules engaged with the conveyor system, wherein the build modules are adapted to receive and temporarily retain powder from a powder layering system, and wherein a build module comprises:
- 1) a body comprising an upper surface and a plurality of receptacles, each receptacle comprising one or more sidewalls;
- and 2) a plurality of incrementally height adjustable platforms (lower punches), each incrementally height adjustable platform disposed within one of the plurality of receptacles to define a cavity therein;
- at least one build station comprising:
- 1) at least one powder layering system that forms incremental powder layers within the cavities of the plurality of receptacles and comprises at least one powder fill head, at least one powder spreader and at least one powder reservoir;
- and 2) at least one printing system that applies a liquid according to at least one predetermined pattern to the incremental powder layers within the cavities of the plurality of receptacles, and comprises at least one liquid feed system and at least one print head that deposits liquid according to the at least one predetermined pattern;
- and
- at least one punch system comprising at least one upper punch;
- wherein the conveyor system repeatedly transports the plural build modules from the at least one powder layering system to the at least one printing system,
- whereby the three-dimensional printing build system:
- 1) forms at least one incremental printed layer per build lap in a build module;
- 2) forms a single three-dimensionally printed article per build cycle in a build module;
- or 3) forms plural three-dimensionally printed articles per build cycle in a build module;
- or 4) forms a three-dimensionally printed bed comprising one or more three-dimensionally printed articles and, optionally, unbound or only partially bound powder that has not been printed upon per build cycle in a build module.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.