Apparatus and methods for compressing material during additive manufacturing

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2019077079-A1
Application number	US-201715703634-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Sep 13, 2017
Priority date	Sep 13, 2017
Publication date	Mar 14, 2019
Grant date	—

Abstract

Embodiments of the present disclosure are drawn to an additive manufacturing system, which may include a nozzle having an inlet for receiving a flowable material and an outlet for depositing the flowable material. An applicator head may surround at least a portion of a proximal region of the nozzle. The applicator head may include a housing, a cooling inlet for receiving a coolant into the housing, a cooling outlet configured to allow the coolant to exit the housing, and an air inlet. A roller may be mounted on the applicator head to one side of the outlet of the nozzle. The roller may include an air outlet, wherein a flow path connects the air inlet and the air outlet so that air enters the air inlet and exits the air outlet. The roller may also include a plurality of holes located on an external surface of the roller.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . An additive manufacturing system, comprising:
a nozzle having an inlet for receiving a flowable material and an outlet for depositing the flowable material; an applicator head surrounding at least a portion of a proximal region of the nozzle, wherein the applicator head comprises:
a housing;
a cooling inlet for receiving a coolant into the housing;
a cooling outlet configured to allow the coolant to exit the housing; and
an air inlet; and
a roller mounted on the applicator head to one side of the outlet of the nozzle, wherein the roller comprises:
an air outlet, wherein a flow path connects the air inlet and the air outlet so that air enters the air inlet and exits the air outlet; and
a plurality of holes located on an external surface of the roller.

2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of holes are located on a central region of the roller.

3 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of holes are spaced equidistant from each other.

4 . The system of claim 1 , wherein at least one hole of the plurality of holes has a depth that falls within a range of 1/32 inches, plus or minus 10%.

5 . The system of claim 1 , wherein at least one hole of the plurality of holes has a diameter that falls within a range of 1/32 inches, plus or minus 10%.

6 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the air outlet is oriented to direct the air into an internal, hollow region of the roller.

7 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the air outlet is oriented to direct the air onto the external surface of the roller.

8 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the roller has a cross-sectional area that is at least partially hollow.

9 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the housing includes at least one coolant path for guiding the coolant through the housing.

10 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the roller includes a plurality of air outlets.

11 . An additive manufacturing system, comprising:
a nozzle having an outlet for depositing a flowable material; an applicator head including a housing and an air inlet configured to allow air to enter the housing, wherein the nozzle extends through at least a portion of the applicator head; and a roller mounted on the applicator head to one side of the outlet of the nozzle, wherein the roller includes:
at least one air outlet, wherein a flow path fluidly connects the air inlet and the at least one air outlet so that air that enters the air inlet and exits the at least one air outlet, and the at least one air outlet is oriented to direct the air onto a surface of the roller; and
a plurality of holes spaced apart from one another on the surface of the roller, wherein the air forms a layer covering at least a portion of the surface of the roller when the roller compresses the flowable material deposited by the nozzle.

12 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the roller has a central region with a cylindrical cross-sectional shape, wherein the plurality of holes are located on the central region.

13 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the plurality of holes are spaced equidistant from each other.

14 . The system of claim 11 , wherein at least one hole of the plurality of holes has a depth that falls within a range of 1/32 inches, plus or minus 10%.

15 . The system of claim 11 , wherein at least one hole of the plurality of holes has a diameter that falls within a range of 1/32 inches, plus or minus 10%.

16 . The system of claim 11 , wherein a first hole of the plurality of holes is spaced a distance of 1/16 inch or less away from a second hole of the plurality of holes, where the first hole and the second hole are adjacent one another.

17 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the roller has a cross-sectional area that is at least partially hollow.

18 . The system of claim 17 , wherein the at least one air outlet is oriented to direct the air towards the at least partially hollow portion of the roller.

19 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the roller further comprises a plurality of air outlets, wherein at least one air outlet is oriented to direct the air onto the surface of the roller.

20 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the applicator head further includes a cooling inlet and a cooling outlet for circulating a coolant through the housing.

Assignees

• Thermwood Corp

Inventors

• Susnjara Kenneth J
• Vaal Scott G
• Smiddy Brian S

Classifications

• B29K2101/12

  Thermoplastic materials · CPC title

• B33Y30/00

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

• B29C64/218

  Rollers · CPC title

• B29K2105/0058

  Liquid or visquous · CPC title

• B29C64/209

  Heads; Nozzles · CPC title