Three-dimensional molding apparatus and three-dimensional molding method

A three-dimensional molding apparatus for forming a three-dimensional molded article by binding a powder material, said apparatus comprising:

• (a) a layer formation device for sequentially forming a layer of a powder material;
• (b) a binder applying device for applying a binder which will harden in response to certain energy to a selected region in said layer of the powder material;
• (c) an energy supply device for supplying said certain energy to said binder applied to said powder material;
• and
• (d) a coloring device for supplying a coloring carrier to a region to be colored in said bound body after said bound body of the powder material is formed,
• wherein a bound body of said powder material is formed by said binder to harden in response to said certain energy supplied from said energy supply device.

A three-dimensional molding apparatus for forming a three-dimensional molded article by binding a powder material, said apparatus comprising:

• (a) a layer formation device for sequentially forming a layer of a powder material;
• (b) a binder applying device for applying a binder which will harden in response to certain energy to a selected region in said layer of the powder material;
• and
• (c) an energy supply device for supplying said certain energy to said binder applied to said powder material;
• wherein
• a bound body of said powder material is formed by said binder to harden in response to said certain energy supplied from said energy supply device,
• said energy supply device supplies said certain energy to each layer of said powder material which is formed sequentially,
• said bound body related to said layer of the powder material is formed by activating said binder applying device and said energy supply device in synchronous with activation of said layer formation device, and
• said binder applying device is disposed between said layer formation device and said energy supply device.

A three-dimensional molding apparatus for forming a three-dimensional molded article by binding a powder material, said apparatus comprising:

• (a) a layer formation device for sequentially forming a layer of a powder material;
• (b) a binder applying device for applying a binder which will harden in response to certain energy to a selected region in said layer of the powder material;
• and
• (c) an energy supply device for supplying said certain energy to said binder applied to said powder material;
• and
• a holding device for holding said layer formation device and said binder applying device and said energy supply device in integrated manner, wherein
• a bound body of said powder material is formed by said binder to harden in response to said certain energy supplied from said energy supply device,
• said energy supply device supplies said certain energy to each layer of said powder material which is formed sequentially,
• the bound body related to said layer of the powder material is formed by activating said binder applying device and said energy supply device after said layer of powder material has been formed by activating said layer formation device, and
• in said holding device, said energy supply device is disposed between said layer formation device and said binder applying device.

A three-dimensional molding apparatus for forming a three-dimensional molded article by binding a powder material, said apparatus comprising:

• (a) a layer formation device for sequentially forming a layer of a powder material;
• (b) a binder applying device for applying a binder which will harden in response to certain energy to a selected region in said layer of the powder material;
• and
• (c) an energy supply device for supplying said certain energy to said binder applied to said powder material;
• and
• a holding device for holding said layer formation device and said binder applying device and said energy supply device in integrated manner, wherein
• a bound body of said powder material is formed by said binder to harden in response to said certain energy supplied from said energy supply device,
• said energy supply device supplies said certain energy to each layer of said powder material which is formed sequentially,
• the bound body related to said layer of the powder material is formed by activating said binder applying device and said energy supply device after said layer of powder material has been formed by activating said layer formation device, and
• in said holding device, said binder applying device is disposed between said energy supply device and said layer formation device.

A three-dimensional molding apparatus for forming a three-dimensional molded article by binding a powder material, said apparatus comprising:

• (a) a layer formation device for sequentially forming a layer of a powder material in a first region;
• (b) a binder applying device for applying a binder which will harden in response to a certain energy to a selected region in said layer of the powder material;
• and
• (c) an energy supply device for supplying said certain energy to a second region involving said first region at a first intensity and for supplying said certain energy to a remainder of said first region at a second intensity, less than the first intensity,
• wherein a bound body of said powder material is formed by said binder to harden in response to said certain energy supplied from said energy supply device.

A three-dimensional molding apparatus for forming a three-dimensional molded article by binding a powder material, said apparatus comprising:

• (a) a layer formation device for sequentially forming a layer of a powder material in a first region;
• (b) a binder applying device for applying a binder which will harden in response to a certain energy to a selected region in said layer of the powder material;
• (c) an energy supply device for supplying said certain energy to a second region involving said first region;
• and
• a coloring device for supplying a coloring carrier to a region to be colored in said bound body after said bound body of the powder material is formed,
• wherein a bound body of said powder material is formed by said binder to harden in response to said certain energy supplied from said energy supply device.

A three-dimensional molding method for forming a three-dimensional molded article by binding a powder material, the method comprising the step of:

• (a) sequentially forming a layer of a powder material;
• (b) applying a binder which will harden in response to a certain energy to a selected region in said layer of the powder material;
• (c) supplying said certain energy to said binder applied to said powder material;
• and
• (d) supplying a coloring carrier to a region to be colored in said bound body after said bound body of the powder material is formed,
• wherein a bound body of said powder material is formed by said binder to harden in response to said certain energy supplied from said energy supply device.

A three-dimensional molding method for forming a three-dimensional molded article by binding a powder material, comprising the steps of:

• (a) sequentially forming a layer of a powder material in a first region;
• (b) applying a binder which will harden in response to a certain energy to a selected region in said layer of the powder material;
• and
• (c) supplying said certain energy to a second region involving said first region at a first intensity while supplying said certain energy to a remainder of said first region at a second intensity, less than the first intensity,
• wherein a bound body of said powder material is formed by said binder to harden in response to said certain energy supplied from said energy supply device at said first intensity.