# US 9,435,998 B1 · Beam director > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,435,998 B1 - Document ID: US9435998B1 - Status: Granted - Kind: B1 - Application number: 14/848,056 - Filed: 2015-09-08 - Granted: 2016-09-06 - Earliest claimed: 2015-06-14 - Assignees: Charles Bibas - Applicants: Charles Bibas; Deon Pieter Hugo; Nianqing Zhou - Inventors: Charles Bibas; Deon Pieter Hugo; Nianqing Zhou - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9435998B1 ## CPC - G02B 26/0816: {by means of one or more reflecting elements} - B41J 2/44: using single radiation source {per colour}, e.g. lighting beams or shutter arrangements (B41J2/475 takes precedence) - B41J 2/442: {using lasers} - 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)} - G02B 26/105: {with one or more pivoting mirrors or galvano-mirrors (G02B26/101 takes precedence)} - B33Y 10/00: Processes of additive manufacturing - B33Y 30/00: Apparatus for additive manufacturing; Details thereof or accessories therefor - G02B: OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS - B41J: TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS - 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 ## Abstract A beam director comprising; a first reflector mounted towards the center of a horizontal rotatable platform, the platform rotatable by an actuator, the beam director configured to receive a vertical beam from a beam source perpendicular to the ratable platform and the first reflector configured to rotate the beam as the platform rotates and to reflect the beam horizontally to a second reflector mounted on the rotatable platform; the second reflector configured to reflect the beam vertically towards a work surface so that when the beam is activated and the actuator rotates the platform, the vertical beam strikes the rotating first reflector rotating the beam as the platform rotates and reflects the beam to the second reflector which reflects the beam to the work surface; the beam then following a curve path relative to the work surface and trace out an arc on the work surface. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A beam director comprising a rotatable first reflector configured to receive a beam from a beam source along a rotational axis of the first reflector; an actuator for rotating the first reflector about the rotational axis, whereby the first reflector rotates the beam and reflects the beam at a constant angle to the rotational axis; and a second reflector constantly facing the first reflector at a constant angle; the second reflector configured to reflect the beam towards a work surface at a constant angle thereto, whereby when the beam is activated and the actuator rotates the first reflector, the beam strikes the rotating first reflector rotating and reflecting the beam to the second reflector, which reflects the beam to the work surface; the beam then following a curve path relative to the work surface and traces out an arc on the work surface. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A beam director as in claim 1, further comprising a distance adjuster for adjusting a radial distance between the first reflector and the second reflector so that the beam follows a curved path with adjustable radii relative to the work surface and traces out arcs of adjustable radii on the work surface. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) A beam director as in claim 1 wherein the second reflector comprises a rotationally-stationary, slanted, annular reflecting surface, encircling the first reflector; the second reflector at an angle to the rotational axis of the first reflector; wherein the annular reflecting surface having a large diameter and a small diameter, the large diameter directed towards the work surface whereby when the beam is activated and the actuator rotates the first reflector; the vertical beam strikes the rotating first reflector rotating and reflecting the beam to the annular reflecting surface of the second reflector, which reflects the beam to the work surface. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) A beam director as in claim 1 wherein the second reflector includes a rotationally-stationary cone shaped inner surface; encircling the first reflector and having a longitudinal axis the same as the rotational axis of the first reflector; a larger diameter of the cone shaped inner surface directed towards the work surface and configured to reflect the beam from the first reflector towards the work surface; wherein the second reflector is vertically adjustable relative to the first reflector; whereby the distance the beam travels from the first to the second reflector is adjustable due to the conical shape of the inner surface of the second reflector so that the beam follows a curved path of adjustable radii relative to the work surface and traces out arcs of adjustable radii on the work surface. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) A beam director as in claim 1 wherein the second reflector is configured to be rotatable by the actuator in a circle around the rotational axis of first reflector as the first reflector rotates. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) A beam director as in claim 5, further comprising a rotor disk rotatable around the rotational axis for supporting the first and second reflectors. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) A beam director as in claim 6, further comprising a radial slide mounted on the rotor disk for adjusting a radial distance between the first and second reflectors. ### Claim 8 (depends on 5) A beam director as in claim 5, further comprising a rotor arm rotatable around the rotational axis for supporting the first and second reflectors. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) A beam director as in claim 8, further comprising a stabilizing arm for stabilizing the first and second reflectors. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) A beam director as in claim 1 wherein the second reflector is configured to reflect the beam from the first reflector parallel to the rotational axis of first reflector and perpendicular to the work surface. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) A beam director as in claim 1, further comprising an aerodynamic housing enclosing the first and second reflectors to control airflow. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) A print head for a three dimensional printer comprising the beam director of claim 1. ### Claim 13 A method of directing a beam towards a work surface with a beam director, the method comprising: generating a beam with a beam source; rotating a first reflector about a rotational axis with an actuator; directing the beam towards the first reflector along the rotational axis of the first reflector; providing a second reflector constantly facing the first reflector at a constant angle as the first reflector rotates; reflecting the beam with the first reflector at a constant angle to the rotational axis towards the second reflector; reflecting the beam with the second reflector towards a work surface; so that when the beam is activated and the actuator rotates the first reflector; the beam strikes the rotating first reflector rotating the beam and reflecting the beam to the second reflector, which reflects the beam to the work surface at a constant angle thereto; the beam then following a curved path relative to the work surface and traces out an arc on the work surface. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13 further includes adjusting the distance between the first and the second reflector so that the beam follows a curve path of adjustable radii relative to the work surface and traces out arcs of adjustable radii on the work surface. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein the second reflector comprises a slanted annular reflecting surface encircling the first reflector; being rotationally stationary and having a central axis the same as the rotational axis of the first reflector; wherein the annular reflecting surface includes a large diameter and a small diameter, the large diameter directed towards the work surface; so that when the beam is activated and the actuator rotates the first reflector; the vertical beam strikes the rotating first reflector rotating and reflecting the beam to the annular reflecting surface of the second reflector, which reflects the beam to the work surface; the beam then following a curve path relative to the work surface and tracing out an arc on the work surface. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein the second reflector is cone shaped; encircling the first reflector and including a longitudinal axis the same as the rotational axis of the first reflector; wherein the second reflector is rotationally stationary; wherein a larger diameter of the second reflector is directed towards the work surface; wherein the method further comprises adjusting the distance between the first and second reflectors, so that the distance the beam travels from the first to the second reflector is adjusted due to the conical shape of the second reflector; whereby the beam follows a curve path of adjustable radii relative to the work surface and traces out arcs of adjustable radii on the work surface. ### Claim 17 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13 further comprising rotating the second reflector in a circle around the rotational axis of first reflector as the first reflector rotates. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The method as in claim 17, further includes rotating a rotor arm supporting the first and second reflectors around the rotational axis. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The method as in claim 18, further includes stabilizing the rotation of first and second reflectors by attaching a stabilizing member to the rotor arm. ### Claim 20 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13 further comprising conveying the beam to the beam director with a beam conduit. ### Claim 21 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein the second reflector reflects the beam parallel to the rotational axis of first reflector and perpendicular to the work surface. ### Claim 22 (depends on 13) The method as in claim 13 further includes placing the first and second reflectors in an aerodynamic housing to control airflow. ### Claim 23 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13 further includes using the beam director as a print head for a three dimensional printer.