IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,208,579
Granted Patent B2
US 12,208,579 · App. 17/436,576 · Granted Jan 28, 2025

Swarm 3D printing platform

Inventors: Wenchao Zhou (Springdale, AR); Lucas Galvan Marques (Fayetteville, AR); Zachary Hyden (Clarksville, AR)
Assignee: Board Of Trustees of the University Of Arkansas
B29C64/227B25J5/007B25J9/0084B25J9/1682B25J11/0075B29C64/182B33Y10/00B33Y30/00H01M10/46B25J9/042B29C64/386B29K2055/02B33Y50/00H01M2220/20
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,208,579
App. No.
17/436,576
Granted
Jan 28, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

A system that uses autonomous robots for 3D manufacturing an object where the robots have different tool heads for performing different manufacturing operations.

Claims (36)

1. A system that uses mobile robots for manufacturing of 3D objects comprising: a plurality of robots having tool heads and said tool heads perform different manufacturing operations;

a floor;

said robots include at least one battery;

said floor further includes mounting holes, said mounting holes adapted to power said robots;

wherein said batteries are used for wheel movement and said floor charges said at least one battery and powers said robots when said robots are engaged with said mounting holes; and

a server, said server adapted to direct said robots to a predefined printing location and then engage said mounting holes.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein at least one of said tool heads is for depositing a material.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein at least one of said tool heads picks and places an object.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein at least two tool heads print different materials.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein at least one of said tool heads is not directly mounted on a robot but is carried by a Selective Compliance Assembly Robot Arm (SCARA).

6. The system of claim 1 wherein said robots use batteries for wheel movement and said floor tiles charge the battery and power the printer during the printing process through mounting holes.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein the mobile robots are configured to navigate on floor tile or a printing surface, said printing surface includes power sources and navigation lines.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein at least one of said tool heads used is mounted on a robotic arm.

9. A system that uses mobile robots for manufacturing of 3D objects comprising: a plurality of robots having tool heads and said tool heads perform different manufacturing operations;

a floor;

said robots include at least one battery;

said floor further includes mounting holes, said mounting holes adapted to power said robots;

wherein said batteries are used for wheel movement and said floor charges said at least one battery and powers said robots when said robots are engaged with said mounting holes; and

a server, said server directs a plurality of robots to print separate sections of the object.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein at least one of said tool heads is for depositing a material.

11. The system of claim 9 wherein at least one of said tool heads picks and places an object.

12. The system of claim 9 wherein at least two tool heads print different materials.

13. The system of claim 9 wherein at least one of said tool heads is used is mounted on a robotic arm.

14. The system of claim 9 wherein at least one of said tool heads is not directly mounted on a robot but is carried by a Selective Compliance Assembly Robot Arm (SCARA).

15. The system of claim 9 wherein said robots use batteries for wheel movement and said floor tiles charge the battery and power the printer during the printing process through mounting holes, which also power the heated print bed tiles mounted on the floor.

16. The system of claim 9 wherein the mobile robots are configured to navigate on floor tile or a printing surface, said printing surface includes power sources and navigation lines.

17. A system that uses mobile robots for manufacturing of 3D objects comprising: a plurality of robots having tool heads and said tool heads perform different manufacturing operations;

a floor;

said robots include at least one battery;

said floor further includes mounting holes, said mounting holes adapted to power said robots;

wherein said batteries are used for wheel movement and said floor charges said at least one battery and powers said robots when said robots are engaged with said mounting holes; and

a server, said server directs a plurality of robots to print separate sections of the object simultaneously.

18. The system of claim 17 wherein at least one of said tool heads is for depositing a material.

19. The system of claim 17 wherein at least one of said tool heads picks and places an object.

20. The system of claim 17 wherein at least two tool heads print different materials.

21. The system of claim 17 wherein at least one of said tool heads is used is mounted on a robotic arm.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 3, 2021
From: ZHOU, WENCHAO; MARQUES, LUCAS GALVAN; HYDEN, ZACHARY
To: BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS
Reel/Frame 057387/0445 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 62814185 · Mar 5, 2019
Related Publication 20220143911A1 · May 12, 2022
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Cited By (2)
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