# US 7,467,025 B2 · Printer system for developing a 3-D product

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- Number: US 7,467,025 B2
- Document ID: US7467025B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 11/736,554
- Filed: 2007-04-17
- Published: 2007-08-09
- Granted: 2008-12-16
- Earliest claimed: 2003-01-16
- Assignees: Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
- Inventors: Kia Silverbrook
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7467025B2

## CPC

- B29C 64/112: using individual droplets, e.g. from jetting heads
- B05C 5/0212: {only at particular parts of the articles (at particular part of web, band, strip, belt or ribbon B05C5/025)}
- B22F 10/10: Formation of a green body
- B22F 12/53: Nozzles
- B29C 70/68: by incorporating or moulding on preformed parts, e.g. inserts or layers {, e.g. foam blocks (mould constructions therefor B29C33/12; joining preformed parts by moulding B29C65/70)}
- B33Y 10/00: Processes of additive manufacturing
- B33Y 30/00: Apparatus for additive manufacturing; Details thereof or accessories therefor
- B33Y 40/00: Auxiliary operations or equipment, e.g. for material handling
- B33Y 50/02: for controlling or regulating additive manufacturing processes
- B33Y 70/00: Materials specially adapted for additive manufacturing
- B33Y 80/00: Products made by additive manufacturing
- B41J 2/01: Ink jet
- B41J 3/4073: {Printing on three-dimensional objects not being in sheet or web form, e.g. spherical or cubic objects (B41J3/283, B41J3/286 take precedence; building up a 3D object using individual droplets from jetting heads B29C64/112)}
- B41J 3/543: {with multiple inkjet print heads (B41J2/17503, B41J2/2103 take precedence)}
- B41J 11/002: {Curing or drying the ink on the copy materials, e.g. by heating or irradiating}
- B41J 11/0021: {using irradiation}
- B41J 11/00214: {using UV radiation}
- B41J 11/00216: {using infrared [IR] radiation or microwaves}
- B41J 11/0022: {using convection means, e.g. by using a fan for blowing or sucking air}
- B41J 11/0024: {using conduction means, e.g. by using a heated platen}
- B41J 29/393: Devices for controlling or analysing the entire machine {; Controlling or analysing mechanical parameters involving printing of test patterns}
- H05K 1/185: associated with components encapsulated in the insulating substrate of the PCBs; associated with components incorporated in internal layers of multilayer circuit boards
- H05K 3/125: {by ink-jet printing}
- H05K 3/4664: {Adding a circuit layer by thick film methods, e.g. printing techniques or by other techniques for making conductive patterns by using pastes, inks or powders (H05K3/4647 takes precedence)}
- B22F 12/20: Cooling means
- B22F 12/70: Gas flow means
- Y02P 10/25: Process efficiency
- Y10S 439/901: Connector hood or shell
- Y10T 29/49144: by metal fusion
- 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)
- B05C: APPARATUS FOR APPLYING FLUENT MATERIALS TO SURFACES, IN GENERAL (spraying apparatus, atomising apparatus, nozzles B05B; plant for applying liquids or other fluent materials to objects by electrostatic spraying B05B5/08)
- 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
- 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
- B41J: TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
- H05K: PRINTED CIRCUITS; CASINGS OR CONSTRUCTIONAL DETAILS OF ELECTRIC APPARATUS; MANUFACTURE OF ASSEMBLAGES OF ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS
- Y02P: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN THE PRODUCTION OR PROCESSING OF GOODS
- Y10S: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION

## Abstract

A printer system is provided for developing a three dimensional (3D) printed structure. The system includes a plurality of spaced apart sets of printing devices. A conveyor system is arranged to serially convey a print medium in register with each set so that printed voxels from each successive set can form successive layers of the 3D printed structure upon the print medium. Each successive set is located further from the conveyor than any preceding set.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A printer system for developing a three dimensional (3D) printed structure, the system comprising:
a plurality of spaced apart sets of printing devices; and
a conveyor system arranged to serially convey a print medium operatively with respect to each set so that printed voxels from each successive set can form successive layers of the 3D printed structure upon the print medium;
wherein the printing devices are arranged so that each successive set is located further from the conveyor than any preceding set.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

A printer system as claimed in claim 1, wherein each set includes a plurality of like printing devices arranged in a row.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

A printer system as claimed in claim 2, wherein all of the printing devices in each set are configured to print voxels of material concurrently.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

A printer system as claimed in claim 1, wherein each set is a singleton set containing exactly one printing device.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

A printer system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the material printed by a row of each set comprises any one of the following group: a polymeric material, a metallic material, a sacrificial material, and an evaporative drying material.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

A printer system as claimed in claim 5, wherein the metallic material is any one of the group of: Indium and an alloy of Indium and Gallium.

### Claim 7 (depends on 5)

A printer system as claimed in claim 5, wherein the polymeric material has a melting point in the range of about 120° C. to 180° C.

### Claim 8 (depends on 5)

A printer system as claimed in claim 5, wherein the sacrificial material comprises a wax having a melting point of above 80° C.