US5135379A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus for production of three-dimensional objects by photosolidification
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1988-11-29
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Granted: 1992-08-04
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Expires: 2008-11-29
Abstract
Abstract An improved apparatus forms three-dimensional objects in layers by modulating irradiation of liquid photopolymers, either stepwise by alternating photopolymer deposition and irradiation, or continuously by simultaneous deposition and irradiation. Photopolymer is deposited onto open, unfenced and uncontained, substrate and is contained by a photopolymer wall formed around the object simultaneously with it by supplemental irradiation, for providing to irradiated layer unobstructed access critical to apparatus simplification, automation, fabrication time and to feasibility of continuous forming. To decrease drastically fabrication time, whole layer is irradiated simultaneously using masks photoplotted on a roll of film or a matrix of miniature individually controlled components tightly packed similar to liquid-crystal displays, with shrinkage distortion minimized by constraining the irradiated photopolymer surface and/or by solidifying infinitely thin surfaces in continuous mode.
Inventors
- 👤 Efrem V. Fudim
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 12:54
CPC Classifications
B; B29; B29C; B29C64/00; B29C64/40; B29C64/10; B29C64/106; B29C64/124; B29C64/129
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim
114 words
An apparatus for producing a three-dimensional object from photopolymer in successive portions, said apparatus comprising: (a) object support means for supporting said object as it is formed, (b) irradiation means spaced from said object support means for successive irradiation of layers of quantities of uncured photopolymer to form successive portions of said object, said irradiation means having a surface, (c) separate photopolymer deposition means for successive deposition directly onto said surface of irradiation means of said layers of said quantities of uncured photopolymer, and (d) positioning means for mutual repositioning of said object support means and said irradiation means for attachment of said layers of said quantities of photopolymer to said object upon irradiation.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
114 words
An apparatus for producing a three-dimensional object from photopolymer in successive portions, said apparatus comprising: (a) object support means for supporting said object as it is formed, (b) irradiation means spaced from said object support means for successive irradiation of layers of quantities of uncured photopolymer to form successive portions of said object, said irradiation means having a surface, (c) separate photopolymer deposition means for successive deposition directly onto said surface of irradiation means of said layers of said quantities of uncured photopolymer, and (d) positioning means for mutual repositioning of said object support means and said irradiation means for attachment of said layers of said quantities of photopolymer to said object upon irradiation.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
An apparatus of claim 1 and additionally including additional irradiation means for forming several parts of said object at the same time.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
17 words
An apparatus of claim 1 and additionally including means for preserving subsequent cross-linking capability of irradiated photopolymer.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
36 words
An apparatus of claim 1 wherein said positioning means and said photopolymer deposition means include means for providing desired space between said irradiation means and said object, and means for filling-in said space with uncured photopolymer.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
59 words
An apparatus for producing three-dimensional objects from photopolymer, said apparatus comprising: (a) object support means for supporting said object; (b) photopolymer deposition means for depositing uncured photopolymer; (c) irradiation means for irradiating said uncured photopolymer; and (d) wall forming means for irradiating said uncured photopolymer to form a wall around said object for containing uncured photopolymer around said object.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
59 words
An apparatus for producing three-dimensional objects from photopolymer, said apparatus comprising: (a) object support means for supporting said object; (b) photopolymer deposition means for depositing uncured photopolymer; (c) irradiation means for irradiating said uncured photopolymer; and (d) wall forming means for irradiating said uncured photopolymer to form a wall around said object for containing uncured photopolymer around said object.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
22 words
An apparatus of claim 5 and additionally including suspender forming means for forming suspenders of portions of said object to said wall.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
58 words
An apparatus for producing three-dimensional objects from photopolymer, said apparatus comprising: (a) object support means for supporting said object; (b) photopolymer deposition means for depositing uncured photopolymer; and (c) an array of irradiating components, each said irradiating component modulating irradiation of a portion of said uncured photopolymer to provide in combination irradiation dictated by configuration of said object.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
58 words
An apparatus for producing three-dimensional objects from photopolymer, said apparatus comprising: (a) object support means for supporting said object; (b) photopolymer deposition means for depositing uncured photopolymer; and (c) an array of irradiating components, each said irradiating component modulating irradiation of a portion of said uncured photopolymer to provide in combination irradiation dictated by configuration of said object.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
15 words
An apparatus of claim 7 wherein said irradiating components include components for modulating radiation transmittance.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
16 words
An apparatus of claim 7 wherein said irradiating components include components for modulating direction of radiation.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
16 words
An apparatus of claim 7 wherein said irradiating components include components for modulating generation of radiation.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
27 words
An apparatus of claim 7 wherein said photopolymer deposition means include a number of photopolymer dispensing components, said photopolymer dispensing components being positioned between said irradiating components.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
29 words
An apparatus of claim 7 and additionally including means for positioning said array in contact with said uncured photopolymer, and means for preserving subsequent cross-linking capability of irradiated photopolymer.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
63 words
An apparatus for producing three-dimensional objects from photopolymer by continuous forming, said apparatus comprising: (a) object support means for supporting said object; (b) photopolymer deposition means for continuous deposition of uncured photopolymer; and (c) irradiation means for providing irradiation of said uncured photopolymer concurrently with said continuous deposition, said irradiation means modulating cross-sectional pattern of said irradiation according to object cross-section being formed.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
63 words
An apparatus for producing three-dimensional objects from photopolymer by continuous forming, said apparatus comprising: (a) object support means for supporting said object; (b) photopolymer deposition means for continuous deposition of uncured photopolymer; and (c) irradiation means for providing irradiation of said uncured photopolymer concurrently with said continuous deposition, said irradiation means modulating cross-sectional pattern of said irradiation according to object cross-section being formed.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
20 words
An apparatus of claim 13 and additionally including means for altering mutual positioning of said object and said irradiation means.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
23 words
An apparatus of claim 13 and additionally including wall forming means for irradiating said uncured photopolymer to form a wall around said object.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
23 words
An apparatus of claim 13 wherein said photopolymer deposition means include photopolymer dispensing means for dispensing said uncured photopolymer in a reciprocating fashion.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
40 words
An apparatus of claim 13 wherein said irradiation means comprise an array of irradiating components, each said irradiating component modulating irradiation of a portion of said uncured photopolymer to provide in combination irradiation pattern dictated by configuration of said object.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
27 words
An apparatus of claim 17 wherein said photopolymer deposition means include a number of photopolymer dispensing components, said photopolymer dispensing components being positioned between said irradiating components.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
65 words
Irradiation means for providing collimated radiation in a certain direction within a given spacial angle to said direction, said means comprising: (a) a source of uncollimated radiation emitting said collimated radiation in combination with undesired radiation at angles bigger than said spacial angle; (b) a number of partitions for dividing said uncollimated radiation into smaller beams and for absorbing said undesired radiation from said beams.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
65 words
Irradiation means for providing collimated radiation in a certain direction within a given spacial angle to said direction, said means comprising: (a) a source of uncollimated radiation emitting said collimated radiation in combination with undesired radiation at angles bigger than said spacial angle; (b) a number of partitions for dividing said uncollimated radiation into smaller beams and for absorbing said undesired radiation from said beams.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1995-08-04 | 1996-02-03 | 1996-08-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1999-08-04 | 2000-02-03 | 2000-08-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2003-08-04 | 2004-02-03 | 2004-08-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |