Invention Grant
- Patent Title: Device and method for cleaning an orifice in a metal drop ejecting three-dimensional (3D) metal object
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Application No.: US17648490Application Date: 2022-01-20
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Publication No.: US11839916B2Publication Date: 2023-12-12
- Inventor: Viktor Sukhotskiy , Joseph C. Sheflin , Brian M. Balthasar , Peter Knausdorf , Chu-Heng Liu
- Applicant: Xerox Corporation
- Applicant Address: US CT Norwalk
- Assignee: Additive Technologies LLC
- Current Assignee: Additive Technologies LLC
- Current Assignee Address: US FL Palm City
- Agency: Maginot Moore & Beck LLP
- Main IPC: B22F12/53
- IPC: B22F12/53 ; B08B1/00 ; B33Y30/00 ; B22F10/30 ; B33Y40/00 ; B33Y10/00

Abstract:
A three-dimensional (3D) metal object manufacturing apparatus is equipped with an orifice cleaning system that removes metal drops that have adhered to a plate, an orifice in the plate, and a nozzle ejecting melted metal drops through the orifice during object forming operations. The orifice cleaning system includes an orifice cleaning tool that consists essentially of a soft carbon material, such as graphite. The orifice cleaning tool is configured with a handle that is gripped by an articulated arm to move the orifice cleaning tool against the plate, the orifice, and a portion of the nozzle at the orifice.
Public/Granted literature
Information query