公开(公告)号：US20240278486A1

公开(公告)日：2024-08-22

申请号：US18648948

申请日：2024-04-29

申请人： IMPOSSIBLE OBJECTS, INC.

发明人： Robert Swartz ,  Eugene Gore ,  Buckley Crist ,  Michael Vasquez ,  John Bayldon

IPC分类号： B29C64/147 ,  B29C64/153 ,  B29C64/165 ,  B29C64/245 ,  B29C64/295 ,  B29K23/00 ,  B29K25/00 ,  B29K33/00 ,  B29K71/00 ,  B29K79/00 ,  B29K81/00 ,  B29K101/10 ,  B29K105/00 ,  B29K707/04 ,  B32B5/02 ,  B32B5/26 ,  B33Y10/00 ,  B33Y70/00 ,  B33Y70/10 ,  B33Y80/00

CPC分类号： B29C64/147 ,  B29C64/153 ,  B29C64/165 ,  B29C64/245 ,  B29C64/295 ,  B32B5/022 ,  B32B5/024 ,  B32B5/26 ,  B33Y10/00 ,  B33Y70/10 ,  B33Y80/00 ,  B29K2023/06 ,  B29K2023/12 ,  B29K2025/06 ,  B29K2033/12 ,  B29K2071/00 ,  B29K2079/085 ,  B29K2081/04 ,  B29K2101/10 ,  B29K2105/0097 ,  B29K2707/04 ,  B29K2713/00 ,  B29K2995/0094 ,  B32B2260/023 ,  B32B2260/046 ,  B32B2264/10 ,  B33Y70/00

摘要： A three-dimensional object comprises stacked substrate layers infiltrated by a hardened material comprising engineered powder that is transformed into a substance that flows and subsequently hardens into the hardened material in a spatial pattern that infiltrates positive regions, and does not infiltrate negative regions, in the substrate layers. The powder may be emulsion aggregation powder, chemically-produced toner powder, or a combination. It may be a thermoplastic or thermosettable polymer and may include nylon, elastomers, polyolefins, polyethylene, polyether ether ketone, polyimide, polyetherimide, polyphenylene sulfide, polystyrene, polypropylene, polymethyl methacrylate, and polyaryletherketone, or a combination. The powder particles may have a pre-specified controlled shape and/or a non-homogenous composition. Surface treatments and/or additives may be used to control powder flow and charge distribution. Each substrate layer may be a sheet-like structure comprising fibers held together by binder. The binder may include sodium silicate.

公开(公告)号：US11970584B2

公开(公告)日：2024-04-30

申请号：US18259911

申请日：2022-01-03

申请人： IMPOSSIBLE OBJECTS, INC.

发明人： Robert Swartz ,  Michael Vasquez ,  Buckley Crist ,  Eugene Gore

IPC分类号： C08J11/06 ,  B29B17/02 ,  B29B17/04 ,  B29C64/314 ,  B29K71/00 ,  B29K105/00 ,  B33Y40/10 ,  B33Y70/00

CPC分类号： C08J11/06 ,  B29B17/0404 ,  B29C64/314 ,  B33Y40/10 ,  B33Y70/00 ,  B29B2017/0224 ,  B29B2017/042 ,  B29K2071/00 ,  B29K2105/251 ,  C08J2371/10

摘要： Waste product from any of a variety of processes (injection molding, selective laser sintering) is processed to form powders that have particle size and distribution optimal for a 3D printing technology known as Composite Based Additive Manufacturing (CBAM). Alternative recycling processes include grinding and sieving, emulsion extruding, and liquid-liquid phase separation.

公开(公告)号：US11904532B2

公开(公告)日：2024-02-20

申请号：US17156538

申请日：2021-01-23

申请人： Impossible Objects, Inc.

发明人： Robert Swartz ,  James Brough ,  Eugene Gore

IPC分类号： B29C64/147 ,  B29C64/321 ,  B29C64/314 ,  B29C64/232 ,  B29C64/245 ,  B33Y30/00 ,  B33Y10/00

CPC分类号： B29C64/147 ,  B29C64/232 ,  B29C64/245 ,  B29C64/314 ,  B29C64/321 ,  B33Y10/00 ,  B33Y30/00

摘要： A system and method for lifting substrate sheets off of a stack of porous sheets one at a time, even though the sheets tend to stick together. A felt tamp is lowered onto the stack of sheets, and as the tamp is raised, a set of edge flickers create a downward force on the corners of the top sheet. This causes the edges of the top sheet to bend downward slightly just enough to pry the second sheet loose from the top sheet. The tamp can then be further raised with only the top sheet adhering to the felt, and the lifted sheet can be deposited at the next station in the process. Periodically, a brush is used to renew the surface of the felt to prevent matting of the felt fibers.

公开(公告)号：US11584080B1

公开(公告)日：2023-02-21

申请号：US17393109

申请日：2021-08-03

申请人： Impossible Objects, Inc.

发明人： Robert Swartz ,  Eugene Gore

IPC分类号： B29C64/153 ,  B29C64/245 ,  B29C64/165 ,  B33Y30/00 ,  B29C64/35 ,  B33Y40/20 ,  B33Y10/00

摘要： A platen for a 3D printer apparatus contains tab pairs for the winding of a single wire to form the platen surface after being wound back and forth across its length. Punch backs for hole punching onto such a sheet exist on aluminum blocks that secure rails between which the platen is assembled onto the printer table top.

公开(公告)号：US20230043624A1

公开(公告)日：2023-02-09

申请号：US17393109

申请日：2021-08-03

申请人： Impossible Objects, Inc.

发明人： Robert Swartz ,  Eugene Gore

IPC分类号： B29C64/35 ,  B29C64/153 ,  B29C64/245

摘要： A platen for a 3D printer apparatus contains tab pairs for the winding of a single wire to form the platen surface after being wound back and forth across its length. Punch backs for hole punching onto such a sheet exist on aluminum blocks that secure rails between which the platen is assembled onto the printer table top.

公开(公告)号：US20230042876A1

公开(公告)日：2023-02-09

申请号：US17393164

申请日：2021-08-03

申请人： Impossible Objects, Inc.

发明人： James Brough ,  Robert Swartz ,  Nick Tarzian ,  Eugene Gore

IPC分类号： B29C64/321 ,  B33Y40/00 ,  B29C64/245 ,  B65H3/00

摘要： A felt gripper head contains two regions of felt material each on plates that slide and form a slight angle with respect to each other during engagement with a fibrous substrate material.

公开(公告)号：US20210291437A1

公开(公告)日：2021-09-23

申请号：US17198780

申请日：2021-03-11

申请人： Impossible Objects, Inc.

发明人： Robert Swartz ,  John Bayldon ,  Buckley Crist ,  Eugene Gore

IPC分类号： B29C64/147 ,  B29C64/295 ,  B29C64/393 ,  B29C64/307

摘要： A method and apparatus for resistive heating usable in composite-based additive manufacturing is disclosed. The method includes providing a prepared stack of substrate sheets, placing the stack between electrode assemblies of a compression device, applying a current to thereby heat the stack to a final temperature to liquefy applied powder, compressing the stack to a final height, cooling the stack, and removing the cooled, compressed stack from the compression device. The apparatus comprises at least two plates, a power supply for providing current, a first electrode assembly and a second electrode assembly.

公开(公告)号：US20210229355A1

公开(公告)日：2021-07-29

申请号：US17156540

申请日：2021-01-23

申请人： Impossible Objects, Inc.

发明人： Robert Swartz ,  Leonard Wanger ,  John Bayldon ,  Drew Marschner ,  Michael Rohrer ,  Gintaras Vaisnys ,  Giovanni Meier

IPC分类号： B29C64/259 ,  B33Y40/00 ,  B33Y30/00 ,  B29C64/307 ,  B29C64/386 ,  B33Y50/00

摘要： A bulk ink bag system in a composite-based additive manufacturing process (CBAM) keeps the inkjet heads (cartridges) on printers filled to the proper level of fluid at all times while the process runs. The system includes gravity fed fluid delivery without requiring pumps; is simple to connect and disconnect to system plumbing; has the ability to change ink bags without interrupting the print job or introducing air bubbles into the ink supply; and has the ability to disconnect partially used bags and reconnect them later.

公开(公告)号：US11040490B2

公开(公告)日：2021-06-22

申请号：US15923335

申请日：2018-03-16

申请人： Impossible Objects, Inc.

发明人： Robert Swartz ,  Eugene Gore

IPC分类号： B29C64/245 ,  B33Y40/00 ,  B33Y30/00 ,  B29C64/165 ,  B33Y10/00 ,  B29C64/357

摘要： A printer platen component of an apparatus for automated manufacturing of three-dimensional composite-based objects for printing onto substrate sheets. The platen solves two problems: 1) holding the sheet down without allowing it to move while printing; and 2) getting rid of excess printing fluid. The platen comprises a plate with a number of air channel openings used for suction to hold the sheet in place, a bed of wire used to suspend the sheet and to keep the sheet straight, a depressed reservoir where printing fluid accumulates, a number of punching holes, a number of screws which serve as release sites for the sheet and cooperate with tips of a gripper to transfer the sheet to the platen, and a rough surface to additionally help hold down the sheet and keep it from moving. The platen is connected to an air plenum resting underneath the main plate to provide the suction.

公开(公告)号：US10967577B2

公开(公告)日：2021-04-06

申请号：US15922158

申请日：2018-03-15

申请人： Impossible Objects, Inc.

发明人： Robert Swartz ,  Eugene Gore

IPC分类号： B29C64/357 ,  B29C64/141 ,  B29C64/329 ,  B33Y30/00 ,  B33Y40/00 ,  B33Y10/00 ,  B29K101/12

摘要： A method and powder system component of an apparatus for use in a printing process is disclosed, and for removing and recycling excess powder. The powder system results in a cutoff point of 3 microns rather than 50 microns of previous systems. The apparatus comprises a powder applicator, a powder remover, a helical cyclone, a powder collector, and two valves that alternately open and close. The two-valve system prevents air backflow. The powder is processed through the two-valve system. The method comprises: valve 1 is closed and powder accumulates; valve 2 is closed also; after valve 1 opens, powder goes through (there is no air backflow), then valve 1 closes; then valve 2 opens and allows powder onto a powder applicator; then valve 2 closes; then the cycle starts again.