US 12,384,110 B2Granted

Build material supply unit

AssigneePeridot Print LLC

InventorsAngels Cardus Andreu, Gabriel De La Cal Mendoza, Gerard Mosquera Donate

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Abstract

A 3D printing system build material supply unit includes a tray with an opening that defines a spreading plane in which a recoater spreads build material. A double vane is rotatably mounted inside the tray with the rotation axis extending along the tray below the spreading plane and with each vane having convex front and rear sides. A controller controls rotation of the double vane such as to supply a dose of build material with the front side of one vane to the spreading plane by rotating the double vane into a trimming position in which the front side of the one vane approaches the spreading plane such that the dose of build material is enclosed between the front side of the vane and the spreading plane. Excess build material to be trimmed by the recoater accumulates on the other vane rear side and is lowered into the tray.

Claims15

Dependent claims

A build material supply unit for a 3D printing system, the build material supply unit comprising:

a tray comprising a build material supply opening that defines a spreading plane in which a recoater of the 3D printing system spreads build material;
and
a double vane comprising a first vane and a second vane rotatably mounted inside the tray with a rotation axis extending along the tray below the spreading plane and with each vane having a convex front side and a rear side, wherein the first vane and the second vane each comprises a deflector on the rear side to distribute excess build material accumulated on the corresponding rear side over a length of the tray, and
a controller, wherein the controller is to rotate the double vane;
into a trimming position in which the front side of the first vane approaches the spreading plane such that a predetermined dose of build material loaded on the front side is enclosed between the front side of the first vane and the spreading plane and in which excess build material to be trimmed by the recoater in a first pass will be accumulated on the rear side of the second vane and lowered into the tray upon further rotation of the double vane;
and
into a supplying position in which the predetermined dose of build material is supplied with the front side of the first vane substantially in plane with the spreading plane to be spread by the recoater in a second pass over the spreading plane.

4 more elements

Method for supplying build material from a tray of a build material supply unit to a spreading plane in a 3D printing system, comprising of:

rotating a double vane comprising a first vane and a second vane, which is rotatably mounted inside the tray with a rotation axis extending along the tray below the spreading plane and with each vane having a convex front side and a rear side, to lift build material with the front side of the first vane from the tray into a trimming position where a predetermined dose of build material is enclosed between the front side of the first vane and the spreading plane,
trimming excess build material loaded on the front side of the first vane with a recoater which is moved in the spreading plane from the front side of the first vane to the rear side of the second vane,
accumulating trimmed excess build material on the rear side of the second vane,
further rotating the double vane into a supplying position in which the predetermined dose of build material is supplied to the spreading plane,
distributing excess build material accumulated on the rear side of the second vane over a length of the tray by means of deflectors provided on the rear side of the first vane and the rear side of the second vane,
spreading the predetermined dose of build material with the recoater over the spreading plane, and
lowering the build material accumulated on the rear side of the second vane into the tray by further rotation of the double vane.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 17/608,693Filed 18 Sep 2019
Published: US 2022/0212409 A17 Jul 2022
Granted: 12 Aug 2025
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification22 codes

B29C 64/321
Handling of material to be used in additive manufacturing: feeding
B22F 10/85
Data acquisition or data processing: for controlling or regulating additive manufacturing processes
B22F 12/50
Apparatus or devices specially adapted for additive manufacturing; Auxiliary means for additive manufacturing; Combinations of additive…: means…
B22F 12/57
Means for feeding of material, e.g. heads: metering means