# US 12,594,721 B2 · Build material escapement assembly and additive manufacturing systems including same > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,594,721 B2 - Document ID: US12594721B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 18/236,114 - Filed: 2023-08-21 - Published: 2024-05-16 - Granted: 2026-04-07 - Earliest claimed: 2022-11-11 - Assignees: General Electric Company - Applicants: General Electric Company - Inventors: John Sterle; Vadim Bromberg - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12594721B2 ## CPC - B29C 64/153: using layers of powder being selectively joined, e.g. by selective laser sintering or melting - B29C 64/307: Handling of material to be used in additive manufacturing - B22F 10/14: by jetting of binder onto a bed of metal powder - B22F 12/38: {Housings, e.g. machine housings} - B22F 12/90: Means for process control, e.g. cameras or sensors - B29C 64/214: Doctor blades - B29C 64/218: Rollers - B29C 64/321: Feeding - B29C 64/357: Recycling - B22F 10/28: Powder bed fusion, e.g. selective laser melting [SLM] or electron beam melting [EBM] - B22F 12/63: Rollers - 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 - 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) - B22F: WORKING METALLIC POWDER; MANUFACTURE OF ARTICLES FROM METALLIC POWDER; MAKING METALLIC POWDER (making alloys by powder metallurgy C22C); APPARATUS OR DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR METALLIC POWDER - 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 build material escapement assembly for an additive manufacturing system includes a retaining plate for coupling the build material escapement assembly to the additive manufacturing system. A base having a plurality of ports is disposed beneath the retaining plate, and a support frame is disposed within the base. A diaphragm is disposed around the base, and a retractable plate is disposed between the support frame and the diaphragm. A top plate is further coupled to the retractable plate through the diaphragm and a plurality of connectors are coupled to the plurality of ports of the base. The base, support frame, diaphragm, retractable plate, and top plate define a cavity, and the top plate is movable between a retracted position by applying a negative pressure and an extended position by applying positive pressure to the cavity via the plurality of connectors. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A build material escapement assembly for an additive manufacturing system, the build material escapement assembly comprising: a retaining plate for coupling the build material escapement assembly to the additive manufacturing system; a base having a plurality of ports, the base being disposed beneath the retaining plate; a support frame disposed within the base; a diaphragm disposed around the base, the diaphragm being coupled to the base; a retractable plate disposed between the support frame and the diaphragm; a top plate coupled to the retractable plate through the diaphragm; and a plurality of connectors coupled to the plurality of ports of the base; wherein the base, the support frame, the diaphragm, the retractable plate, and the top plate define a cavity, and the top plate is movable between a retracted position by applying negative pressure to the cavity and an extended position by applying positive pressure to the cavity via the plurality of connectors. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The build material escapement assembly of claim 1, wherein the top plate is movable between the extended position and the retracted position by applying negative pressure to the cavity via the plurality of connectors. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The build material escapement assembly of claim 1, wherein the top plate is offset from the retaining plate such that the top plate is positioned beneath the retaining plate in the retracted position. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The build material escapement assembly of claim 1, wherein the top plate lies flush with the retaining plate in the extended position. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The build material escapement assembly of claim 1, wherein the support frame further includes side portions which overhang the retractable plate, such that the retractable plate contacts the side portions when the top plate is in the extended position. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The build material escapement assembly of claim 1, wherein the top plate moves a predetermined distance between from the retracted position to the extended position. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The build material escapement assembly of claim 1, further including a cover for covering the plurality of connectors. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The build material escapement assembly of claim 1, further including a plurality of sensors configured to monitor when the top plate is in the retracted position or the extended position. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The build material escapement assembly of claim 1, further including an electronic control unit for controlling a plurality of fluid supply sources that supply fluid to the plurality of connectors to control pressure within the cavity. ### Claim 10 An additive manufacturing system comprising: a supply platform for supplying build material to the additive manufacturing system; a build area for receiving the build material; a recoat assembly comprising: a base member movable in a first lateral direction and a second lateral direction opposite the first lateral direction; a build material spreading member coupled to the base member; and a build material escapement assembly comprising: a retaining plate for coupling the build material escapement assembly to the additive manufacturing system; a base having a plurality of ports, the base being disposed beneath the retaining plate; a diaphragm disposed around an outer perimeter of the base, the diaphragm being coupled to the base; a retractable plate disposed below the diaphragm; a top plate coupled to the retractable plate through the diaphragm; and a plurality of connectors coupled to the plurality of ports of the base; wherein the base, the diaphragm, the retractable plate, and the top plate define a cavity, and the top plate is movable between a retracted position by applying negative pressure to the cavity and an extended position by applying positive pressure to the cavity via the plurality of connectors. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The additive manufacturing system of claim 10, wherein the recoat assembly pushes the build material from the build area and into the build material escapement assembly when the recoat assembly moves in the first lateral direction. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The additive manufacturing system of claim 11, wherein the top plate of the build material escapement assembly is moved to the retracted position when the recoat assembly moves in the first lateral direction. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The additive manufacturing system of claim 10, wherein the recoat assembly pushes the build material from the top plate of the build material escapement assembly and onto the build area when the recoat assembly moves in the second lateral direction. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The additive manufacturing system of claim 11, wherein the top plate of the build material escapement assembly is moved to the extended position when the recoat assembly moves in the second lateral direction. ### Claim 15 (depends on 10) The additive manufacturing system of claim 10, further including a positioning sensor for monitoring a position of the recoat assembly relative the build material escapement assembly. ### Claim 16 (depends on 10) The additive manufacturing system of claim 10, wherein the top plate of the build material escapement assembly is offset from the retaining plate such that the top plate is positioned beneath the retaining plate in the retracted position. ### Claim 17 (depends on 10) The build material escapement assembly of claim 10, wherein the top plate of the build material escapement assembly lies flush with the retaining plate in the extended position.