公开(公告)号：US20230049328A1

公开(公告)日：2023-02-16

申请号：US17400916

申请日：2021-08-12

Applicant: Xerox Corporation

Inventor： Prasanth Kalaiselvan ,  Karthik Mani ,  Jagan Thiyagarajan ,  Naveenkumarreddy Challa

IPC: B29C64/245 ,  B29C64/236 ,  B29C64/232 ,  B33Y30/00

Abstract: A build plate supported on a movable carriage of a 3D printing machine includes a plurality of clamping surfaces that are engageable by a mechanical clamping system that includes a plurality of clamp assemblies mounted on the movable carriage. Each of the clamp assemblies is associated with a corresponding clamping surface and includes a clamping arm configured to rotate and translate to selectively engage the corresponding clamping surface, a follower arm configured to rotate, and a conversion mechanism configured to convert rotation of the follower arm to rotation and translation of the clamping arm. An actuation mechanism includes an actuation face, corresponding to each follower arm. The actuation mechanism is arranged to simultaneously exert a force against the follower arm of each of the clamp assemblies to rotate the follower arm as the carriage moves from a working station to an unloading station of the 3D printing machine. The conversion mechanism then converts the rotation of the follower arm of each clamping assembly to rotation and translation of the respective clamping arm to selectively and simultaneously engage and disengage the clamping surfaces of the build plate.