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US 9,931,762 B2Granted
Method and device for switching a particulate material flow in the construction of models in layers
AssigneeVoxeljet AG
InventorAndreas Dominik Hartmann
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The invention relates to a method for switching a particulate material flow in the construction of models in layers, wherein particulate materials (4) are fed to a subsequent method step from a container (1) having an opening in the direction of a workpiece platform. The particles (14) in the container (1) are exposed to a vacuum and to overpressure.
Claims20
A method for construction of models in layers comprising the steps of:
- applying a first layer of a particulate material to a workpiece platform using a coating device;
- feeding particulate material from a filling device to the coating device through a downward facing opening in the filling device;
- applying a second layer of particulate material to the workpiece platform using the coating device;
- wherein the filling device includes a container having opposing first and second side walls and a connector connected to the first side wall;
- wherein the first side wall has a length;
- and
- the process includes applying excess pressure to the particulate material in the filling device through a plurality of opening along the length of the first side wall.
4 more elements
An apparatus for production of three-dimensional models comprising:
- a workpiece platform for receiving a particulate material in layers;
- a coating device for repeated application of the layers of the particulate material over the workpiece platform;
- a print head for selectively imprinting a binder material on the layers of the particulate material;
- a filling device for filling the coating device with the particulate material, wherein the filling device includes a container having opposing first and second side walls and an opening in a downward direction for feeding the particulate material to the coating device, wherein the filling device includes a means for exposing the particulate material to a vacuum and/or an excess pressure at least one connector to each of the opposing side walls for
- i) providing the vacuum from the opposing walls to the particulate material between the opposing side walls;
- or
- ii) providing the excess pressure from each of the opposing side walls to the particulate material between the opposing side walls;
- wherein each of the opposing side walls have a plurality of openings for applying the vacuum and/or the excess pressure along a length of the opposing side walls.
5 more elements
An apparatus for production of three-dimensional models comprising:
- a workpiece platform for receiving a particulate material in layers;
- a coating device for repeated application of the layers of the particulate material over the workpiece platform;
- a print head for selectively imprinting a binder material on the layers of the particulate material;
- a filling device for filling the coating device with the particulate material, wherein the filling device includes a container having opposing first and second side walls and an opening in a downward direction for feeding the particulate material to the coating device, wherein the filling device includes a means for exposing the particulate material to an excess pressure including a plurality of connector to the first side wall for providing the excess pressure to the particulate material between the opposing side walls;
- wherein the first side wall has a plurality of openings for applying the excess pressure along a length of the first side wall.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.