# US 11,993,013 B2 · Multi-nozzle concurrent printing system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,993,013 B2 - Document ID: US11993013B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/578,398 - Filed: 2022-01-18 - Published: 2022-05-05 - Granted: 2024-05-28 - Earliest claimed: 2019-08-22 - Assignees: Zhejiang University - Applicants: Zhejiang University - Inventors: Bin Zhang; Qi Li; Yichen Luo; Teng Yang; Bo Zhang; Liang Ma; Huayong Yang - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11993013B2 ## CPC - B29C 64/106: using only liquids or viscous materials, e.g. depositing a continuous bead of viscous material - B29C 64/209: Heads; Nozzles - B29C 64/232: for motion along the axis orthogonal to the plane of a layer - B29C 64/236: for motion in a direction within the plane of a layer - B29C 64/245: Platforms or substrates (support structures intended to be sacrificed after manufacture B29C64/40) - B29C 64/35: Cleaning - B33Y 10/00: Processes of additive manufacturing - B33Y 30/00: Apparatus for additive manufacturing; Details thereof or accessories therefor - B33Y 40/00: Auxiliary operations or equipment, e.g. for material handling - B33Y 40/10: Pre-treatment - 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 multi-nozzle concurrent printing system includes a plurality of extrusion type nozzle assemblies, a three-axial translation mechanism and an objective table. Each nozzle assembly is provided with a nozzle, a storage barrel and a temperature control module; the three-axial translation mechanism includes an X-axial translation unit, a Y-axial translation unit and a Z-axial translation unit, and the nozzle assemblies are mounted on the Z-axial translation unit; and there are a plurality of nozzle assemblies, the printing system is provided with a concurrent calibration sensor, and the concurrent calibration sensor is taken as an original point of a coordinate system of the printing system. The printing system is provided with the plurality of nozzle assemblies which can work cooperatively or sequentially, the printing mode is flexible and changeable, and non-uniform mixing system forming of materials can be realized; and stable output of the materials in a formal printing task is guaranteed. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A multi-nozzle concurrent printing system, comprising a plurality of extrusion nozzle assemblies, a three-axial translation mechanism and an objective table, wherein each nozzle assembly is provided with a nozzle, a storage barrel and a temperature control module; the three-axial translation mechanism comprises an X-axial translation unit, a Y-axial translation unit and a Z-axial translation unit, and the nozzle assemblies are mounted on the Z-axial translation unit; and the printing system is provided with a concurrent calibration sensor, after calibration by the concurrent calibration sensor, the nozzles of all nozzle assemblies are concurrent; each nozzle assembly corresponds to a respective Z-axial translation unit; or at least two nozzle assemblies share one Z-axial translation unit; an X-direction translation mechanism comprises a fixed gantry, a movable gantry, an X-direction gantry guide rail matched with the movable gantry and an objective table guide rail matched with the objective table; the fixed gantry and the movable gantry are respectively provided with a Y-direction guide rail and a Z-direction guide rail, the Z-direction guide rail is mounted on the Y-direction guide rail in a sliding manner, and a plurality of nozzle supports are arranged on the Z-direction guide rail in a sliding manner; and each nozzle support corresponds to one Z-direction guide rail, or at least a part of the plurality of nozzle supports share one Z-direction guide rail. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The multi-nozzle concurrent printing system according to claim 1, wherein the concurrent calibration sensor comprises a calibration box, and the calibration box is provided with first direction emitters, first direction receivers, second direction emitters and a second direction receiver; a path from each first direction emitter to the corresponding first direction receiver and a path from each second direction emitter to the corresponding second direction receiver have an intersection point; and the intersection point is triggered by needle points of the nozzles to indicate that the nozzle assemblies reach a zero position. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The multi-nozzle concurrent printing system according to claim 2, wherein a first direction and a second direction are orthogonal. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The multi-nozzle concurrent printing system according to claim 3, wherein a plurality of first direction emitters are provided, and each first direction emitter is provided with a corresponding first direction receiver; a plurality of second direction emitters are provided, and each second direction emitter is provided with a corresponding second direction receiver; a plurality of path intersection points are provided in two directions; and each intersection point corresponds to one nozzle assembly. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The multi-nozzle concurrent printing system according to claim 1, wherein the movable gantry and the fixed gantry are centered, the plurality of nozzle assemblies are arranged on the movable gantry, and a plurality of nozzle assemblies are arranged on the fixed gantry. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The multi-nozzle concurrent printing system according to claim 1, wherein the nozzle assemblies on the movable gantry and the nozzle assemblies on the fixed gantry are symmetrical about a middle surface of the movable gantry and a middle surface of the fixed gantry. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The multi-nozzle concurrent printing system according to claim 1, wherein the movable gantry is provided with three nozzle assemblies, the fixed gantry is provided with three nozzle assemblies, the nozzle assemblies on the same gantry, a nozzle assembly in the middle and the nozzle supports are fixedly connected, and the other nozzle assemblies are connected with the nozzle supports through the rotating mechanisms. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The multi-nozzle concurrent printing system according to claim 1, wherein the printing system is provided with a pre-printing module, wherein the pre-printing module comprises a pre-printing base, a cleaning nozzle, a reflux tank, a brush, and a cutting line, the cleaning nozzle, the reflux tank, the brush, and the cutting line are arranged on the pre-printing base, the cleaning nozzle is positioned in the reflux tank, and the brush is positioned beside the reflux tank. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The multi-nozzle concurrent printing system according to claim 8, wherein the pre-printing module is provided with a pre-printing guide rail, and the pre-printing module is matched with the pre-printing guide rail in a sliding mode; the pre-printing module is provided with a motion driving mechanism.