Apparatus for fabricating three-dimensional object

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016361874-A1
Application number	US-201615173853-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jun 6, 2016
Priority date	Jun 12, 2015
Publication date	Dec 15, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A three-dimensional fabrication apparatus includes a fabrication chamber, a supply chamber, a flattening unit, and a powder collector. The powder collector is disposed forward from the flattening unit in a transfer direction of the flattening unit. The powder collector is movable with movement of the flattening unit. The powder collector includes a body container, a collection port, and a discharge port. When the flattening unit transfers and supplies powder, the powder collector collects a portion of the powder from the collection port and contains the portion of the powder in the body container. When the flattening unit returns to the supply chamber, the powder collector discharges and supplies the powder from the body container to the supply chamber through the discharge port.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A three-dimensional fabrication apparatus comprising:
a fabrication chamber in which powder is layered to form a powder layer, the powder of the powder layer is bonded together to form a layered fabrication object, and another layered fabrication object is laminated on the layered fabrication object; a supply chamber to retain the powder to be supplied to the fabrication chamber; a flattening unit to flatten the powder while transferring and supplying the powder from the supply chamber to the fabrication chamber; and a powder collector disposed forward from the flattening unit in a transfer direction of the flattening unit in which the flattening unit transfers the powder, the powder collector movable with movement of the flattening unit, the powder collector to collect a portion of the powder transferred and supplied with the flattening unit, the powder collector including:
a body container to contain the powder inside;
a collection port to introduce the powder to the body container, and
a discharge port to discharge the powder contained in the body container,
wherein, when the flattening unit transfers and supplies the powder, the powder collector collects the portion of the powder from the collection port and contains the portion of the powder in the body container, and
wherein, when the flattening unit returns to the supply chamber, the powder collector discharges and supplies the powder from the body container to the supply chamber through the discharge port.

2 . The three-dimensional fabrication apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising a vibration applicator to vibrate the powder transferred and supplied by the flattening unit.

3 . The three-dimensional fabrication apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein the powder collector and the vibration applicator are integrally molded as a single unit.

4 . The three-dimensional fabrication apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising an air suction device to suck air from the collection port.

5 . The three-dimensional fabrication apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising a transfer screw disposed in the body container, to transfer the powder collected by the powder collector.

6 . A three-dimensional fabrication apparatus comprising:
a fabrication chamber in which powder is layered to form a powder layer, the powder of the powder layer is bonded together to form a layered fabrication object, and another layered fabrication object is laminated on the layered fabrication object; a first collection recycling device to perform a first processing of collecting the powder discharged outside the fabrication chamber and restoring the collected powder to a usable state; and a second collection recycling device to perform a second processing of collecting the powder in the fabrication chamber and restoring the collected powder to a usable state, the second processing performed by the second collection recycling device at least partially differing from the first processing performed by the first collection recycling device.

7 . The three-dimensional fabrication apparatus according to claim 6 , wherein the first collection recycling device performs classification processing.

8 . The three-dimensional fabrication apparatus according to claim 6 , wherein the second collection recycling device performs drying processing, dehumidifying processing, and crushing processing, and classification processing.

9 . The three-dimensional fabrication apparatus according to claim 6 , further comprising a common recycle processing unit to perform a common processing between the first processing and the second processing.

10 . A three-dimensional fabrication apparatus comprising:
a fabrication chamber in which powder is layered to form a powder layer, the powder of the powder layer is bonded together to form a layered fabrication object, and another layered fabrication object is laminated on the layered fabrication object; a supply chamber to retain the powder to be supplied to the fabrication chamber; a flattening unit to flatten the powder while transferring and supplying the powder from the supply chamber to the fabrication chamber; a cover disposed opposite a portion of a periphery of the flattening unit; and a suction unit to suck an inside of the cover.

Assignees

• Park Soyoung
• Ono Yasukazu
• Ricoh Co Ltd

Inventors

• Park Soyoung
• Ono Yasukazu

Classifications

• B29B17/0404

  to powder · CPC title

• B29K2105/16

  Fillers · CPC title

• B22F2202/01

  Use of vibrations · CPC title

• B33Y50/02

  for controlling or regulating additive manufacturing processes · CPC title

• B29C64/165

  using a combination of solid and fluid materials, e.g. a powder selectively bound by a liquid binder, catalyst, inhibitor or energy absorber · CPC title