IP Library › Granted Patent US 11,969,942
Granted Patent B2
US 11,969,942 · App. 17/431,456 · Granted Apr 30, 2024

Transportable assembly unit for an additive manufacturing device

Inventors: Christian Schmidt (Bensheim, DE); Thomas Hasenzahl (Darmstadt, DE)
Assignee: DENTSPLY SIRONA INC.
B29C64/25B29C64/129B29C64/255B29C64/264B29C64/295B29C64/35B29C64/371B33Y10/00B33Y30/00B33Y40/20
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,969,942
App. No.
17/431,456
Granted
Apr 30, 2024
Kind
B2
Abstract

Component carrier for an additive manufacturing device, wherein the component carrier comprises a construction surface, on which a component to be manufactured is disposed during the operation of the manufacturing device, wherein the component carrier comprises a sealing surface which radially surrounds the construction surface, and method for post-processing a component manufactured according to an additive manufacturing process using such a component carrier.

Claims (20)

1. A manufacturing system comprising:

a stereolithographic additive manufacturing device that further comprises:

a resin vat and an exposure device with spatial resolution;

a self-contained unit which comprises: a component carrier including a construction surface on which a component to be manufactured is disposed during the operation of the stereolithographic manufacturing device, and a sealing surface which radially surrounds the construction surface;

a container including a sealing surface; and

a transport device;

wherein the component carrier is releasably connected to the transport device,

wherein the component carrier is configured to be placed onto the container as a lid along with the component to be manufactured so as to cover and close and seal the container,

wherein the sealing surface of the component carrier and the sealing surface of the container are further configured to seal together against an escape of a photoreactive resin, a washing fluid, and UV (ultra-violet) radiation from the container,

wherein the container is removably attached to the stereolithographic additive manufacturing device,

wherein on a side facing away from the construction surface, the component carrier comprises a mechanical interface configured to releasably connect with the transport device or a first workstation of one or more workstations,

wherein the mechanical interface is formed by a slot which comprises undercuts for corresponding projections or extendable clamps of a gripper device or for a coupling element on a movable arm of the transport device.

2. The manufacturing system according to claim 1 , wherein the transport device, comprises a drive which is configured to move horizontally.

3. The manufacturing system according to claim 1 , wherein the container is partially UV-transparent.

4. The manufacturing system according to claim 1 , wherein the one or more workstations are each configured to wash, dry or post cure a component.

5. The manufacturing system according to claim 1 , further comprising:

additional functional work areas, which are configured to load the component carrier and the container and to drip off and dry excess solvent.

6. The manufacturing system according to claim 1 , wherein the container is a washing tank and comprises a stirrer configured to move a solvent filled therein.

7. The manufacturing system according to claim 1 , wherein at least one workstation of the one or more workstations is configured to cure a component, wherein the at least one workstation is configured to perform optical and/or thermal post curing.

8. The manufacturing system according to claim 7 , wherein the at least one workstation comprises a protective gas supply.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 2, 2022
From: SCHMIDT, CHRISTIAN; HASENZAHL, THOMAS
To: DENTSPLY SIRONA INC.
Reel/Frame 061954/0779 →
Priority Claims (1)
EP 19160123 · Feb 28, 2019 · regional
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20220134657A1 · May 5, 2022
Cited By (1)
US 12,544,979