System for tray cleaning and resin collection in an additive manufacturing process

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12311604-B2
Application number	US-202318213133-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 22, 2023
Priority date	Nov 17, 2022
Publication date	May 27, 2025
Grant date	May 27, 2025

Abstract

One variation of a system includes a chassis: defining a set of platform mounts defining a pivot axis; and a slot arranged between the set of platform mounts and configured to transiently retain a filter receptacle below the pivot axis. The system further includes a tray platform: pivotably coupled to the set of platform mounts; defining a tray-receiving section configured to receive a tray defining a fluid release point and configured to retain a volume of resin; and defining a set of supports arranged about the tray-receiving section and configured to locate the fluid release point at the fixed pivot location. The system further includes a tray lock coupled to the platform and configured to transiently generate a magnetic field to draw the tray against the tray-receiving section and cooperate with the set of tray supports to constrain the fluid release point to the fixed pivot location.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A system comprising:
a chassis:
defining an upper rim and a recess arranged below the upper rim;
comprising a set of platform mounts arranged coaxially at the upper rim and defining a pivot axis defining a fixed pivot location arranged between the set of platform mounts; and
defining a slot arranged between the set of platform mounts, extending below the fixed pivot location, and configured to transiently receive and retain a filter receptacle within the slot below the fixed pivot location; and

an upper assembly flexibly coupled to the chassis and comprising:
a platform:
pivotably coupled to the chassis at the set of platform mounts;
defining a tray-receiving section configured to transiently receive a tray configured to retain a volume of resin and defining a fluid release point;
defining a set of tray positioners arranged about the tray-receiving section and configured to locate the fluid release point at the fixed pivot location; and
configured to transiently mate with the upper rim in a retracted position and deploy outward from the upper rim, to locate the tray in a range of orientations and direct resin from within an interior volume of the tray toward the fluid release point for release into a filter arranged within the filter receptacle, in a deployed position;

a handle coupled to the platform and configured to pivot the platform about the pivot axis responsive to rotation; and
a tray lock coupled to the platform below the tray-receiving section and comprising:
a lock body defining an inner surface and comprising a set of magnetic features operable in an engaged position and a disengaged position; and
a lock control coupled to the lock body, defining a boss configured to transiently seat within the recess to constrain rotation of the platform in the retracted position, and configured to:
drive the set of magnetic features into the engaged position to constrain the tray against the platform and draw the boss outward from the recess responsive to rotation in a first direction; and
drive the set of magnetic features into the disengaged position to release the tray from the platform and locate the boss within the recess to fix the orientation of the upper assembly in the retracted position responsive to rotation in a second direction opposite the first direction.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the tray lock is configured to cooperate with the set of tray positioners to kinematically locate the tray on the tray-receiving section and constrain the fluid release point to the fixed pivot location.

3. The system of claim 2 :
wherein the set of positioners comprises:
a first positioner arranged on a first side of the tray-receiving section and configured to transiently mate with a first wall of the tray seated on the tray-receiving section; and
a second positioner arranged on a second side of the tray-receiving section and configured to transiently mate with a second wall of the tray seated on the tray-receiving section;

wherein the tray lock is coupled to the platform, below the tray-receiving section, at a lock location coaxial a corner of the tray, seated on the tray-receiving section, opposite the first wall and the second wall; and
wherein the first positioner, the second positioner, and the tray lock cooperate to kinematically locate and constrain the fluid release point to the fixed pivot location.

4. The system of claim 1 :
wherein the chassis defines:
a base defining a base section and an extended section extending from the base section; and
a body mounted to the base section, defining the upper rim, and comprising the set of platform mounts; and

wherein the extended section is configured to counterbalance a weight of the upper assembly in the deployed position.

5. The system of claim 1 :
wherein the tray-receiving section is configured to:
transiently receive the tray during a first time period, the tray:
defining a first length, a first width, and a fixed height between a bottom surface of the tray and a rim of the tray; and
defining the fluid release point arranged on a rim of the tray; and

transiently receive a second tray, in replacement of the first tray, during a second time period, the second tray:
defining a second length, a second width, and the fixed height between a bottom surface of the second tray and a rim of the second tray; and
defining a second fluid release point arranged on the rim of the second tray; and

wherein the tray lock and the set of tray positioners are configured to cooperate to:
locate and constrain the fluid release point to the fixed location during the first time period; and
locate and constrain the second fluid release point to the fixed location during the second time period.

6. The system of claim 1 :
wherein the chassis defines a base and a body mounted to the base, defining the upper rim, comprising the set of platform mounts, defining the slot, and defining an inner cavity bounded by the base, the body, and the slot;
wherein the tray comprises:
a tray body defining:
a bottom surface defining an aperture of a first size; and
a set of tray walls extending from the bottom surface to form the interior volume; and

a membrane film arranged across the aperture; and

wherein the tray-receiving section of the platform defines a window:
defining a second size corresponding to the first size of the membrane film; and
configured to enable cleaning of the membrane film via the slot and the inner cavity.

7. The system of claim 1 :
wherein the chassis defines a set of retention features arranged within the slot; and
wherein the filter receptacle is configured to:
transiently couple to a first subset of retention features, in the set of retention features, to install within the slot at a first position defining a first height; and
transiently couple to a second subset of retention features, in the set of retention features, to install within the slot at a second position defining a second height less than the first height.

8. The system of claim 7 :
wherein the filter receptacle is configured to receive and retain the filter configured to release filtered resin into:
a first collection vessel arranged below the filter receptacle within the slot and defining a first vessel height during a first time period; and
a second collection vessel arranged below the filter receptacle, in replacement of the first collection vessel, within the slot and defining a second vessel height less than the first vessel height during a second time period; and

wherein the filter receptacle is configured to:
couple to the first subset of retention features during the first time period; and
couple to the second subset of retention features during the second time period.

9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the filter receptacle defines:
an upper section defining a clearance height between the platform in the retracted position and the upper surface;
a lower section configured to seat above a collection vessel arranged within the slot below the filter receptacle; and
a gap:
extending through the upper section and the lower section; and
configured to receive a portion of the filter during installation within the filter receptacle and removal from the filter receptacle.

10. The system of claim 1 :
wherein the chassis comprises:
a base configured to mount the chassis to a surface and comprising a unit of flat sheet metal; and
a body mounted to the base, comprising a first unit of folded sheet metal, and defining the upper rim; and

wherein the tray platform comprises a second unit of folded sheet metal, configured to seat over the upper rim of the body.

Assignees

• Stratasys Inc

Inventors

• Mandelbaum Dylan
• Paton John
• Jeong Richard Juneyoung
• Johnson Brett

Classifications

• B33Y40/20

  Post-treatment, e.g. curing, coating or polishing · CPC title

• B33Y40/00

  Auxiliary operations or equipment, e.g. for material handling · CPC title

• B33Y30/00

  Apparatus for additive manufacturing; Details thereof or accessories therefor · CPC title

• B29C64/255

  Enclosures for the building material, e.g. powder containers · CPC title

• B29C64/357 Primary

  Recycling · CPC title