System and method for removing three-dimensional printed parts from a platen using inductive heating and gravity
AssigneeXerox Corporation
InventorsPaul M. Fromm, Jeffrey J. Bradway, Timothy J. Clark, Jorge M. Rodriguez
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method of manufacturing a three-dimensional object facilitates removal of the three-dimensional object from the platen on which the object was formed. The method includes rotating the platen from a horizontally level position to a position at an angle to the level position to enable gravity to urge the three-dimensional object away from the platen and inductively heating the platen to melt support material at the boundary of the object and the platen to release the three-dimensional object from the platen.
Claims20
A method of manufacturing a three-dimensional object comprising:
- operating a plurality of ejectors with a controller with reference to digital image data of the three-dimensional object to eject drops of material towards a platen and form a plurality of layers that produce the three-dimensional object on the platen;
- operating an actuator with the controller to rotate the platen from a first position that is horizontally level to a second position that is not horizontal;
- and
- operating an inductive heater with the controller to heat the platen while the platen is at the second position to release the three-dimensional object from the platen and enable gravity to remove the three-dimensional object from the non-horizontal platen.
A printer for manufacturing a three-dimensional object comprising:
- a plurality of ejectors configured to eject drops of material;
- a platen positioned opposite the plurality of ejectors, the platen being oriented at a first position that is horizontally level;
- an actuator operatively connected to the platen, the actuator being configured to rotate the platen from the first position to a second position that is not horizontal;
- an inductive heater configured to heat the platen;
- and
- a controller operatively connected to the inductive heater, the actuator, and the plurality of ejectors, the controller being configured to:
- operate the plurality of ejectors with reference to digital image data of the three-dimensional object to eject the drops of material towards the platen while the platen is at the first position to form layers of material on the platen and produce the three-dimensional object on the platen;
- operate the actuator to rotate the platen from the first position to the second position to enable gravity to urge the three-dimensional object from the platen;
- and
- operate the inductive heater to heat the platen while the platen is at the second position to release the three-dimensional object from the platen and enable gravity to remove the three-dimensional object from the non-horizontal platen.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.