US Patent No: 7,731,887
Number of patents in Portfolio can not be more than 2000
Method for removing excess uncured build material in solid imaging
Stats
-
Jun 8, 2010
Issued date -
Sep 17, 2007
filing date -
11/856,405
serial no -
In Force
status
Importance
Loading Importance Indicators...
Abstract
Solid imaging apparatus and methods for use are disclosed that reduce the amount of uncured solid imaging build material remaining on a completed build object following the completion of the solid imaging build process. The amount of uncured build material is reduced through the use of either an uncoating web that removes excess build material from the build object during the course of the building process or an ink jet source of build material that uses only as much build material as is necessary for the fabrication of the build part. Also disclosed is an imager assembly for use with such a solid imaging apparatus that incorporates two or more individual imagers in an array and accounts for variations in the intensity and alignment of adjacent imagers. The apparatus can be modified for semi-continuous operation and for integrating into a manufacturing operation, if desired.
Loading the Abstract Image...
First Claim
Related Publications
Loading Related Publications...
International Classification(s)
- [Classification Symbol]
- [Patents Count]
Cited Art
| Patent Info | (Count) | # Cites | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
|||
| 5,096,530 Resin film recoating method and apparatus | 62 | 1990 | |
| 5,192,559 Apparatus for building three-dimensional objects with sheets | 80 | 1991 | |
| 5,447,822 Apparatus and related method for forming a substantially flat stereolithographic working surface | 55 | 1994 | |
| 2006/0192,312 Multiple vat leveling system | 15 | 2005 | |
| 7,261,542 Apparatus for three dimensional printing using image layers | 21 | 2005 | |
| 2005/0208,168 Apparatus for three dimensional printing using image layers | 22 | 2005 | |
| 2006/0223,901 Radiation curable compositions useful in image projection systems | 8 | 2005 | |
| 2006/0239,588 Edge smoothness with low resolution projected images for use in solid imaging | 23 | 2005 | |
| 2006/0249,884 Bubble-free cross-sections for use in solid imaging | 23 | 2006 | |
| 2007/0257,055 Material delivery system for use in solid imaging | 21 | 2006 | |
| 2007/0259,066 Material delivery tension and tracking system for use in solid imaging | 22 | 2006 | |
| 2008/0169,586 Imager Assembly and Method for Solid Imaging | 17 | 2007 | |
| 2008/0169,589 SOLID IMAGING APPARATUS AND METHOD | 18 | 2007 | |
| 2008/0170,112 BUILD PAD, SOLID IMAGE BUILD, AND METHOD FOR BUILDING BUILD SUPPORTS | 15 | 2007 | |
| 2008/0171,284 Method for Removing Excess Uncured Build Material in Solid Imaging | 3 | 2007 | |
| 2008/0179,786 CARTRIDGE FOR SOLID IMAGING APPARATUS AND METHOD | 15 | 2007 | |
| 2008/0179,787 ELEVATOR AND METHOD FOR TILTING SOLID IMAGE BUILD PLATFORM FOR REDUCING AIR ENTRAINMENT AND FOR BUILD RELEASE | 16 | 2007 | |
| 2008/0181,977 BRUSH ASSEMBLY FOR REMOVAL OF EXCESS UNCURED BUILD MATERIAL | 17 | 2007 | |
| 2008/0206,383 Solid Imaging System with Removal of Excess Uncured Build Material | 16 | 2007 | |
| 2008/0226,346 Inkjet Solid Imaging System and Method for Solid Imaging | 24 | 2007 | |
| 2008/0231,731 IMAGER AND METHOD FOR CONSISTENT REPEATABLE ALIGNMENT IN A SOLID IMAGING APPARATUS | 15 | 2007 | |
| 2009/0110,763 Material Delivery Tension and Tracking System for Use in Solid Imaging | 1 | 2008 | |
|
|
|||
| 5,014,207 Solid imaging system | 44 | 1989 | |
| 5,143,817 Solid imaging system | 43 | 1989 | |
| 5,094,935 Method and apparatus for fabricating three dimensional objects from photoformed precursor sheets | 43 | 1990 | |
| 5,158,858 Solid imaging system using differential tension elastomeric film | 25 | 1990 | |
| 5,122,441 Method for fabricating an integral three-dimensional object from layers of a photoformable composition | 31 | 1990 | |
| 5,474,719 Method for forming solid objects utilizing viscosity reducible compositions | 61 | 1991 | |
| 5,391,072 Solid imaging apparatus having a semi-permeable film | 38 | 1992 | |
| 5,429,908 Exposure method for reducing distortion in models produced through solid imaging by forming a non-continuous image of a pattern which is then imaged to form a continuous hardened image of the pattern | 33 | 1993 | |
|
|
|||
| 6,942,830 Device and method for the production of three-dimensional objects | 26 | 2000 | |
| 7,052,263 Apparatus for manufacturing a three-dimensional object | 24 | 2002 | |
| 7,195,472 Apparatus and method for the non-destructive separation of hardened material layers from a flat construction plane | 20 | 2002 | |
| 2003/0021,823 Coated polymer material, its use and process for its production | 17 | 2002 | |
| 2005/0248,061 Process for the production of a three-dimensional object with an improved separation of hardened material layers from a construction plane | 23 | 2005 | |
| 2005/0248,062 Process for the production of a three-dimensional object with resolution improvement by "pixel-shift" | 25 | 2005 | |
|
|
|||
| 5,236,812 Solid imaging method and apparatus | 38 | 1991 | |
| 5,529,473 Solid imaging system using differential tension elastomerc film | 36 | 1992 | |
| 6,174,156 Solid imaging apparatus and method with coating station | 23 | 1997 | |
|
|
|||
| 6,932,935 Method and device for producing a three-dimensional object | 30 | 2000 | |
| 6,554,600 Device for producing a three-dimensional object, especially a laser sintering machine | 49 | 2000 | |
| 6,824,714 Device and method for generative production of a three-dimensional object | 17 | 2002 | |
|
|
|||
| 5,049,901 Light modulator using large area light sources | 104 | 1990 | |
| 5,132,723 Method and apparatus for exposure control in light valves | 88 | 1991 | |
| 6,665,048 Method for imaging a continuously moving object | 14 | 2002 | |
|
|
|||
| 5,607,540 Photoforming method and apparatus | 9 | 1994 | |
| 5,650,260 Method and apparatus for fabricating three-dimensional object | 25 | 1994 | |
| 7,090,484 Stereolithographic apparatus and method for manufacturing three-dimensional object with photohardenable resin | 10 | 2003 | |
|
|
|||
| 5,287,435 Three dimensional modeling | 76 | 1990 | |
| 5,695,708 Three dimensional forming | 25 | 1995 | |
|
|
|||
| 6,391,245 Method for creating three-dimensional objects by cross-sectional lithography | 23 | 1999 | |
| 6,500,378 Method and apparatus for creating three-dimensional objects by cross-sectional lithography | 48 | 2000 | |
|
|
|||
| 5,922,364 Stereolithography layering control system | 19 | 1997 | |
|
|
|||
| 6,792,327 Stereolithographic method for combining components of varying densities | 11 | 2000 | |
|
|
|||
| 6,965,364 Device and method for compensating non-uniformities in imaging systems | 16 | 2000 | |
|
|
|||
| 5,169,579 Catalyst and plasma assisted nucleation and renucleation of gas phase selective laser deposition | 40 | 1991 | |
|
|
|||
| 6,641,772 Method of forming objects from thermosensitive composition | 11 | 2001 | |
|
|
|||
| 6,120,404 Belt tensioner | 4 | 2000 | |
|
|
|||
| 6,733,267 Solid imaging apparatus and method with coating station | 23 | 2001 | |
|
|
|||
| 6,206,672 Apparatus of fabricating 3 dimensional objects by means of electrophotography, ionography or a similar process | 28 | 1994 | |
|
|
|||
| 6,051,179 Apparatus and method for production of three-dimensional models by spatial light modulator | 47 | 1998 | |
|
|
|||
| 7,128,866 Rapid prototyping apparatus and method of rapid prototyping | 17 | 1999 | |
|
|
|||
| 6,571,986 Quick change roll-fed high speed labeling system having a segmented construction | 12 | 2001 | |
|
|
|||
| 7,158,849 Method for rapid prototyping by using linear light as sources | 10 | 2004 | |
|
|
|||
| 5,247,180 Stereolithographic apparatus and method of use | 97 | 1991 | |
|
|
|||
| 6,066,285 Solid freeform fabrication using power deposition | 27 | 1998 | |
|
|
|||
| 6,039,928 Writing implement sterilization apparatus | 22 | 1998 | |
|
|
|||
| 2001/0042,942 METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FORMING THREE-DIMENSIONAL LAMINATED PRODUCT FROM PHOTO-CURABLE LIQUID | 1 | 1999 | |
|
|
|||
| 4,752,498 Method and apparatus for production of three-dimensional objects by photosolidification | 139 | 1987 | |
| 5,171,490 Method and apparatus for production of three-dimensional objects by irradiation of photopolymers | 68 | 1990 | |
| 5,306,446 Apparatus with roller and for irradiation of photopolymers | 33 | 1992 | |
| 6,547,552 Fabrication of three-dimensional objects by irradiation of radiation-curable materials | 25 | 2000 | |
Patent Citation Ranking
Maintenance Fees
| Fee | Large entity fee | small entity fee | micro entity fee | due date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Year Payment | $1600.00 | $800.00 | $400.00 | Dec 8, 2013 |
| 7.5 Year Payment | $3600.00 | $1800.00 | $900.00 | Dec 8, 2017 |
| 11.5 Year Payment | $7400.00 | $3700.00 | $1850.00 | Dec 8, 2021 |
| Fee | Large entity fee | small entity fee | micro entity fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Surcharge - 3.5 year - Late payment within 6 months | $160.00 | $80.00 | $40.00 |
| Surcharge - 7.5 year - Late payment within 6 months | $160.00 | $80.00 | $40.00 |
| Surcharge - 11.5 year - Late payment within 6 months | $160.00 | $80.00 | $40.00 |
| Surcharge after expiration - Late payment is unavoidable | $700.00 | $350.00 | $175.00 |
| Surcharge after expiration - Late payment is unintentional | $1,640.00 | $820.00 | $410.00 |