US 2023/0391005 A1 · MATERIAL SUPPLY SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR USING THE SAME

Abstract

A system includes a supply receptacle defining one or more supply receptacle sidewalls and an upwardly-facing receptacle opening, a piston positioned at least partially within the supply receptacle, where the piston, the upwardly-facing receptacle opening, and the one or more supply receptacle sidewalls at least partially define an interior space of the supply receptacle, and the piston is positionable between an extended position, in which the interior space has an extended volume, and a retracted position, in which the interior space has a retracted volume that is greater than the extended volume, and a dosing hopper positioned above and in selective communication with the interior space of the supply receptacle, where the dosing hopper is structurally configured to deliver build material to the interior space.

Claims24

Dependent claims

A system comprising:

a supply receptacle defining one or more supply receptacle sidewalls and an upwardly-facing receptacle opening;
a piston positioned at least partially within the supply receptacle, wherein:
the piston, the upwardly-facing receptacle opening, and the one or more supply receptacle sidewalls at least partially define an interior space of the supply receptacle;
and
the piston is positionable between an extended position, in which the interior space has an extended volume, and a retracted position, in which the interior space has a retracted volume that is greater than the extended volume;
and
a dosing hopper positioned above and in selective communication with the interior space of the supply receptacle, wherein the dosing hopper is structurally configured to deliver build material to the interior space.

4 more elements

A system comprising:

a working surface;
a supply receptacle positioned along the working surface and defining one or more supply receptacle sidewalls and an upwardly-facing receptacle opening;
a dosing hopper positioned above and in selective communication with the supply receptacle;
a piston positioned at least partially within the supply receptacle;
an environmental control system structurally configured to direct one or more gasses to the system;
an environmental control system actuator coupled to the environmental control system;
and
a controller communicatively coupled to the environmental control system actuator, the controller comprising a processor and a computer readable and executable instruction set, which when executed, causes the processor to:
direct the environmental control system actuator to selectively supply the one or more gasses to one or more components of the system.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Material supply systems and methods for using the same

Life of this patent

Material supply systems and methods for using the same

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims24