IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,202,044
Granted Patent B2
US 12,202,044 · App. 18/470,382 · Granted Jan 21, 2025

System and method for manufacturing a part

Inventors: Matthew J. Holcomb (Metamora, MI); Ira James Holcomb, Jr. (Shelby Twownship, MI)
Assignee: Grid Logic Incorporated
B22F12/53B22F12/222B22F12/30B22F12/52B33Y30/00B33Y40/00B22F10/12B33Y10/00
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,202,044
App. No.
18/470,382
Granted
Jan 21, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

The invention relates to a manufacturing system including a holder suitable to hold first particles of a first powder in proximity to one another, and a connection scheme which, when employed, connects the first particles to one another to form a part.

Claims (11)

1. A manufacturing method comprising:

directing a first powder having first particles from at least one powder container through a first inner nozzle of a print head onto a substrate, the first inner nozzle having a lower surface that is sufficiently near the substrate for powder to flow out of the first inner nozzle and stop flowing out of the first inner nozzle when there is no more room below the first inner nozzle, wherein the first inner nozzle is mounted to the first powder container for vertical movement between the first position and the second position;

moving the print head relative to a support structure, causing the first powder to resume flow out of the first inner nozzle;

moving a first inner nozzle actuator, causing movement of the first inner nozzle and a first outer nozzle relative to one another between a first position wherein the first powder flowing through the first inner nozzle does not reach the first outer nozzle and a second position wherein the first powder flowing through the first inner nozzle flows laterally and does reach the first outer nozzle and powder stops flowing out of the first outer nozzle when there is no more room below the first outer nozzle and wherein said movement of the print head relative to the support structure caused the first powder to resume flow out of the first outer nozzle, wherein a first connecting piece has a lower portion secured to the first inner nozzle and an upper portion located higher than the upper end of the first inner nozzle, and the first inner nozzle actuator is attached to the upper portion of the first connecting piece; and

connecting the first particles to one another to form a part.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein center lines of the first inner nozzle and first outer nozzle are concentric.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein a center line of the first inner nozzle is offset relative to a center line of the first outer nozzle.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first connecting piece and the first inner nozzle are made out of a common piece of material to form a valve piece.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein

the first inner nozzle actuator has a portion connected to a print head frame to move the first inner nozzle relative to the print head frame.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein, the first inner nozzle actuator is connected through a print head frame to the first inner nozzle and has a portion connected to the first powder container to move the first powder container relative to the first inner nozzle.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 16, 2024
From: HOLCOMB, MATTHEW J.; HOLCOMB, JR., IRA J.
To: GRID LOGIC INCORPORATED
Reel/Frame 069597/0929 →
Continuity (4)
Division 17315093 · May 7, 2021
Provisional Application 63058047 · Jul 29, 2020
Provisional Application 63021843 · May 8, 2020
Related Publication 20240001450A1 · Jan 4, 2024
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