US 11,884,011 B2
System and method for providing three-dimensional object structural support with a multi-nozzle extruder
David A Mantell, Rochester, NY (US); Jason O'Neil, Rochester, NY (US); Christopher G. Lynn, Wolcott, NY (US); and Peter J. Nystrom, Webster, NY (US)
Assigned to Xerox Corporation, Norwalk, CT (US)
Filed by Xerox Corporation, Norwalk, CT (US)
Filed on Sep. 26, 2018, as Appl. No. 16/142,702.
Prior Publication US 2020/0094474 A1, Mar. 26, 2020
Int. Cl. B29C 64/40 (2017.01); B29C 64/209 (2017.01); B29C 64/393 (2017.01); B29C 64/118 (2017.01); B33Y 50/02 (2015.01); B33Y 10/00 (2015.01); B33Y 30/00 (2015.01)
CPC B29C 64/209 (2017.08) [B29C 64/118 (2017.08); B29C 64/393 (2017.08); B29C 64/40 (2017.08); B33Y 10/00 (2014.12); B33Y 30/00 (2014.12); B33Y 50/02 (2014.12)] 10 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An additive manufacturing system comprising:
a multi-nozzle extruder having a faceplate with a plurality of nozzles;
a plurality of valves, each valve in the plurality of valves being configured to open and close one of the nozzles in a one-to-one correspondence;
an actuator operatively connected to the multi-nozzle extruder, the actuator being configured to move the multi-nozzle extruder in a plane parallel to the faceplate that has a pair of orthogonal axes that define a 0°, 180°, 90°, or 270° path of movement for the multi-nozzle extruder in the plane and to move the multi-nozzle extruder toward and away from a surface on which the multi-nozzle extruder emits extrusion material; and
a controller operatively connected to the plurality of valves and the actuator, the controller being configured to:
operate more than one valve in the plurality of valves to open more than one nozzle in the multi-nozzle extruder; and
operate the actuator to move the multi-nozzle extruder along a path in the plane parallel to the faceplate at one of a 45°, −45°, 135°, or −135° direction with reference to the orthogonal axes to form with material extruded simultaneously from the more than one open nozzle a first group of multiple parallel ribbons of support structure outside a perimeter of a layer of an object being formed on the surface.