# US 12,138,861 B2 · Method and device for the production of a three-dimensional object > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,138,861 B2 - Document ID: US12138861B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/299,338 - Filed: 2019-12-06 - Published: 2022-02-24 - Granted: 2024-11-12 - Earliest claimed: 2018-12-07 - Assignees: Chemspeed Research AG - Applicants: Chemspeed Research AG - Inventors: Rolf Gueller - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12138861B2 ## CPC - B29C 64/343: Metering - B29C 64/112: using individual droplets, e.g. from jetting heads - 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) - 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 - B41J 3/4073: {Printing on three-dimensional objects not being in sheet or web form, e.g. spherical or cubic objects (B41J3/283, B41J3/286 take precedence; building up a 3D object using individual droplets from jetting heads B29C64/112)} - C12M 33/00: {Means for introduction, transport, positioning, extraction, harvesting, peeling or sampling of biological material in or from the apparatus (chemical or physical laboratory apparatus in general B01L, devices for taking cell samples A61B10/0045, withdrawing or distributing predetermined quantities of fluid B01L99/00)} - B29C 64/379: Handling of additively manufactured objects, e.g. using robots - 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 - B41J: TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS - C12M: APPARATUS FOR ENZYMOLOGY OR MICROBIOLOGY; {APPARATUS FOR CULTURING MICROORGANISMS FOR PRODUCING BIOMASS, FOR GROWING CELLS OR FOR OBTAINING FERMENTATION OR METABOLIC PRODUCTS, i.e. BIOREACTORS OR FERMENTERS} ## Abstract In a method for the production and/or treatment of a three-dimensional object with a printing material which is dispensed at a target position in the form of discrete three-dimensional printing material elements, a metering device is moved to at least one reservoir in which a supply of printing material is kept and, by means of the metering device, printing material is picked up from that at least one reservoir. The metering device is transported to a target position defined in all three spatial dimensions and, at that target position, a metered quantity of printing material is applied to a substrate or to a three-dimensional object arranged thereon or being constructed thereon, in order to create a printing material element. The creation of a printing material element is repeated until the three-dimensional object has been fully constructed and/or treated. The use of a metering device for picking up, transporting and applying printing material makes it possible for virtually any desired printing materials to be processed and, accordingly, for objects to be produced and/or treated with virtually any desired printing materials. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for the production and/or treatment of a three-dimensional printed object with a printing material which is dispensed at a target position in the form of discrete three-dimensional printing material elements, wherein a metering device has a metering head and is moved by a transport device to a metering tool provided in a holder; the metering tool is installed in the metering head; the metering device together with the installed metering tool is moved to at least one reservoir in which a supply of printing material is kept; printing material is picked up from that at least one reservoir by means of the metering device; the metering device is moved by the transport device to a target position defined in all three spatial dimensions; and, at that target position, a metered quantity of printing material is applied by means of the metering device to a substrate or to a three-dimensional printed object arranged thereon or being constructed thereon, in order to create one of the printing material elements, the creation of one of the printing material elements being repeated until the three-dimensional printed object has been fully constructed and/or treated. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the supply of printing material is a supply of two or more different printing materials and two or more different printing materials are selected and picked up in order to construct and/or treat the three-dimensional printed object with two or more different printing materials. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the printing material or printing materials used are liquids, solids dissolved or suspended in liquids, cellular suspensions or biomaterials. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the printing material or printing materials used are penetrable or amorphous solids or frozen substances. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the printing material or printing materials used are pulverulent or granular solids. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein by means of the metering device in each case a quantity of printing material is picked up that corresponds quantitatively to one of the printing material elements. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the quantity of printing material picked up in each case is weighed gravimetrically before application to the substrate or to the three-dimensional printed object arranged thereon or being constructed thereon; and, based on the result of weighing and preset criteria, a decision is made as to whether the quantity picked up is supplemented or discarded and a new quantity picked up. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the metered quantity of printing material applied, in the form of one of the printing material elements, by the metering device in the target position to the substrate or to the three-dimensional printed object arranged thereon or being constructed thereon is hardened and/or fused to the substrate or to the three-dimensional printed object arranged or already partly constructed thereon by application of directed radiation or heat or by some other hardening or polymerising method. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the metering tool is discarded and replaced by a fresh metering tool prior to a change of the printing material to be picked up. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the metering tool is cleaned prior to a change of the printing material to be picked up. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the construction and/or treatment of the three-dimensional printed object is partly effected by means of an additional printing system which is itself likewise configured for the production and/or treatment of a three-dimensional printed object, in which case printing material elements are applied to the substrate or to the three-dimensional printed object arranged thereon or being constructed thereon both by means of the metering device and by means of the additional printing system. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the printing material is configured so that the printing material elements applied to the substrate or to the three-dimensional printed object arranged thereon or being constructed thereon has a material-removing action, so that material is removed from the three-dimensional printed object. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The method according to claim 12, wherein the material-removing action occurs only after activation of the printing material elements. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The method according to claim 12, wherein the printing material is an acid or a solvent. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The method according to claim 12, wherein the material-removing action occurs only after activation of the printing material elements by means of heat or radiation. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the printing material is configured so that the printing material elements applied to the substrate or to the three-dimensional printed object arranged thereon or being constructed thereon modifies the physical or chemical properties of the three-dimensional printed object point by point. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein by means of the metering device different printing materials are picked up one after the other from at least two reservoirs and transported to a target position defined in all three spatial dimensions and, at that position, the different printing materials are applied one after the other to the substrate or to the three-dimensional printed object arranged thereon or being constructed thereon. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein by means of the metering device two or more different printing materials are picked up one after the other from at least two reservoirs, transported to a target position defined in all three spatial dimensions and, at that position, applied to the substrate or to the three-dimensional printed object arranged thereon or being constructed thereon, the two or more different printing materials being mixed with one another in the metering device prior to application. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the metering device has at least two metering channels by means of which printing material or two or more different printing materials is/are picked up, one after the other or simultaneously, from one or more of the at least one reservoirs and then transported to at least one target position defined in all three spatial dimensions and, at that position, applied to the substrate or to the three-dimensional printed object arranged thereon or being constructed thereon.