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US 2023/0066967 A1Published application
Methods of adhering fused deposition modeling 3d printed elements on fabrics
AssigneeKimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
InventorsSamuel B. Henry, Walter G. Bauer
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present disclosure is directed to the use of additive manufacturing, and in particular, a fused deposition modeling (FDM) process, in the production of fabrics. More specifically, the present disclosure is directed to the use of additive manufacturing to fabricate three-dimensional elements on a fabric support structure. Also disclosed are methods for determining the spatial relationship between a fabric support structure and a print head used in additive manufacturing.
Claims19
A method of additively manufacturing a fabric, the method comprising:
- providing a support structure having a top surface, a bottom surface opposite to the top surface, an x-y plane, and a thickness extending from the bottom surface to the top surface in a z-direction perpendicular to the x-y plane, the support structure comprising a plurality of filaments and voids between the filaments;
- forming a platform layer on the support structure by dispensing onto the top surface of the support structure a flowable platform layer material from an extrusion head transported in the x and/or y directions over the top surface of the support structure, wherein at least a portion of the voids are filled with the flowable platform layer material;
- and
- forming at least one additional layer on the support structure by incrementally transporting the extrusion head in the z direction away from the top surface of the support structure, wherein at least a portion of the at least one additional layer contacts the platform layer.
1 more element
A fabric comprising:
- a support structure having a top surface, a bottom surface opposite to the top surface, an x-y plane, and a thickness extending from the bottom surface to the top surface in a z-direction perpendicular to the x-y plane, the support structure comprising a plurality of filaments and voids between the filaments;
- a discontinuous platform layer comprising a platform layer material on the top surface of the support structure, wherein at least a portion of the voids are filled with the platform layer material;
- and
- at least one additional layer;
- wherein at least a portion of the at least one additional layer contacts the platform layer.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.