# US 2022/0032379 A1 · Three-dimensional fabrication apparatus > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2022/0032379 A1 - Document ID: US20220032379A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 17/374,092 - Filed: 2021-07-13 - Published: 2022-02-03 - Earliest claimed: 2020-07-31 - Assignees: Ricoh Company, Ltd. - Applicants: Ricoh Company, Ltd. - Inventors: Yasuyuki YAMASHITA; Tomoki KAI; Yasutomo AMAN - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20220032379A1 ## CPC - B22F 12/63: Rollers - B22F 1/10: Metallic powder containing lubricating or binding agents; Metallic powder containing organic material - B22F 1/102: Metallic powder coated with organic material - B22F 10/14: by jetting of binder onto a bed of metal powder - B22F 10/16: by embedding the binder within the powder bed - B22F 12/222: {for motion along a direction orthogonal to the plane of a layer} - B22F 12/224: {for motion along a direction within the plane of a layer} - B22F 12/53: Nozzles - B29C 64/165: using a combination of solid and fluid materials, e.g. a powder selectively bound by a liquid binder, catalyst, inhibitor or energy absorber - B29C 64/218: Rollers - B29C 64/227: Driving means - B33Y 30/00: Apparatus for additive manufacturing; Details thereof or accessories therefor - B22F 2999/00: Aspects linked to processes or compositions used in powder metallurgy - B29C 64/209: Heads; Nozzles - B29C 64/255: Enclosures for the building material, e.g. powder containers - Y02P 10/25: Process efficiency - 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 - 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 - Y02P: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN THE PRODUCTION OR PROCESSING OF GOODS ## Abstract A three-dimensional fabrication apparatus includes a fabrication chamber and a roller. Powder is spread in layers in the fabrication chamber. Fabrication layers are formed of the powder bonded together and laminated in the fabrication chamber. The roller flattens the powder in the fabrication chamber. The roller includes a first helical groove region and a second helical groove region. The first helical groove region includes a first groove that moves the powder in the fabrication chamber in a first direction along a longitudinal axis of the roller as the roller rotates. The second helical groove region includes a second groove moves the powder in the fabrication chamber in a second direction opposite to the first direction as the roller rotates. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A three-dimensional fabrication apparatus comprising: a fabrication chamber in which powder is spread in layers and fabrication layers are to be laminated, the fabrication layers being formed of the powder bonded together; and a roller configured to flatten the powder in the fabrication chamber, the roller including: a first helical groove region including a first groove configured to move the powder in the fabrication chamber in a first direction along a longitudinal axis of the roller as the roller rotates, and a second helical groove region including a second groove configured to move the powder in the fabrication chamber in a second direction opposite to the first direction as the roller rotates. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The three-dimensional fabrication apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a movement driver configured to move the roller in a moving direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the roller along an upper surface of the fabrication chamber; and a rotation driver configured to rotate the roller in a counter direction with respect to the moving direction of the roller. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The three-dimensional fabrication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first helical groove region and the second helical groove region are line-symmetric with respect to a center of the longitudinal axis of the roller. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The three-dimensional fabrication apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the first helical groove region and the second helical groove region are disposed adjacent to a first end and a second end, respectively, of the roller with respect to the center of the longitudinal axis of the roller as a boundary, wherein the first direction is from the center toward the first end, and wherein the second direction is from the center toward the second end. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The three-dimensional fabrication apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the first helical groove region and the second helical groove region are disposed adjacent to a first end and a second end, respectively, of the roller with respect to the center of the longitudinal axis of the roller as a boundary, wherein the first direction is from the first end toward the center, and wherein the second direction is from the second end toward the center. ### Claim 6 (depends on 3) The three-dimensional fabrication apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the first helical groove region and the second helical groove region are disposed adjacent to a first end and a second end, respectively, of the roller with respect to the center of the longitudinal axis of the roller as a boundary, wherein the first helical groove region further includes another first groove configured to move the powder in a direction opposite to the first direction, said another first groove outboard of the first groove, and wherein the second helical groove region further includes another second groove configured to move the powder in a direction opposite to the second direction, said another second groove outboard of the second groove. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The three-dimensional fabrication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the roller includes a groove-less portion without a groove, the groove-less portion across a center of the longitudinal axis of the roller. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The three-dimensional fabrication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first helical groove region and the second helical groove region are disposed adjacent to a first end and a second end, respectively, of the roller with respect to a center of the longitudinal axis of the roller as a boundary, wherein the first helical groove region further includes a first groove-less portion without a groove between the center and the first end, and wherein the second helical groove region further includes a second groove-less portion without a groove between the center and the second end. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The three-dimensional fabrication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the powder includes coating powder. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The three-dimensional fabrication apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a liquid discharge unit configured to discharge fabrication liquid to a selected portion of the powder to cure and bond the powder.