Roller delivery of a flowable material

An assembly for supplying a flowable material, comprising:

• a supply vat configured to contain the flowable material, the supply vat having a first inner support wall, such that a first space is defined outward of the first inner support wall, and wherein the first inner support wall has a first opening therethrough extending between the supply vat and the first space;
• a roller positioned at least partially within the supply vat and configured to be in contact with the flowable material, the roller having a cylindrical outer surface configured for carrying the flowable material out of the supply vat for application to produce an object, wherein the roller extends through the first opening;
• and
• a first seal engaged with the roller around an entire periphery of the cylindrical outer surface of the roller and positioned adjacent the first opening to resist most leakage of the flowable material through the first opening.

An assembly for supplying a flowable material, comprising:

• a supply vat configured to contain the flowable material, the supply vat having a first inner support wall;
• a first outer support wall positioned outward of the first inner support wall and located outside the supply vat, such that a first space is defined between the first inner support wall and the first outer support wall, wherein the first inner support wall has a first opening therethrough extending between the supply vat and the first space, wherein the assembly is configured to support a roller with a cylindrical outer surface in contact with the flowable material, such that the first opening is configured to receive the roller therethrough;
• a first seal positioned adjacent the first opening and configured to be engaged with the roller around an entire periphery of the cylindrical outer surface of the roller to resist most leakage of the flowable material through the first opening;
• and
• a drainage system configured to remove portions of the flowable material that pass through the first opening from the first space.

An assembly for supplying a flowable material, comprising:

• a supply vat configured to contain the flowable material, the supply vat having a first inner support wall;
• a first outer support wall positioned outward of the first inner support wall and located outside the supply vat, such that a first space is defined between the first inner support wall and the first outer support wall, wherein the first inner support wall has a first opening therethrough extending between the supply vat and the first space, wherein the assembly is configured to support a roller in contact with the flowable material, such that the first opening is configured to receive the roller therethrough;
• a first seal positioned adjacent the first opening and configured to be engaged with the roller around an entire periphery of the roller to resist most leakage of the flowable material through the first opening;
• and
• a drainage system configured to remove portions of the flowable material that pass through the first opening from the first space,
• wherein the drainage system further comprises a drain hole within the first space and a reservoir in communication with the drain hole, and wherein the drainage system is configured such that the portions of the flowable material are removed by flowing through the drain hole and into the reservoir,
• wherein the drainage system further comprises a pumping mechanism configured for pumping the flowable material from the reservoir into the supply vat, and
• wherein a bottom wall of the supply vat has an opening in communication with the pumping mechanism, such that the pumping mechanism is configured to pump the flowable material into the supply vat through the opening, and wherein the bottom wall of the supply vat is sloped downward toward the opening.

A deposition mechanism configured for producing a three-dimensional object on a build platform using a flowable material in a layer-by-layer technique, with a build area defined adjacent to the build platform, the deposition mechanism comprising:

• a carriage configured for movement through the build area;
• a supply vat mounted on the carriage and configured to contain the flowable material, the supply vat having first and second inner support walls located at opposite ends of the supply vat;
• a first outer support wall positioned outward of the first inner support wall and located outside the supply vat, such that a first space is defined between the first inner support wall and the first outer support wall, wherein the first inner support wall has a first opening therethrough extending between the supply vat and the first space;
• a roller mounted on the carriage and positioned at least partially within the supply vat and configured to be in contact with the flowable material, wherein the roller extends through the first opening and is positioned at least partially within the first space, and wherein the roller has a cylindrical outer surface and is configured for rotating to carry a layer of the resin on the cylindrical outer surface to an application site within the build area for application to produce the three-dimensional object as the carriage passes through the build area;
• a first seal engaged with the roller around an entire periphery of the cylindrical outer surface of the roller and positioned adjacent the first opening to resist most leakage of the flowable material through the first opening;
• a drainage system configured to remove portions of the flowable material that pass through the first opening from the first space;
• and
• an exposure device mounted on the carriage and configured for emitting electromagnetic waves to an exposure site within the build area to apply the layer to produce the three-dimensional object.