US 12,246,485 B2
Three-dimensional (“3D”) printing apparatus with counter-rotating roller
Morteza Vatani, Los Gatos, CA (US); Siamak Azizi, Los Gatos, CA (US); Seyed Mohammad Sajadi, San Jose, CA (US); and Steven Zhichao Shi, Santa Clara, CA (US)
Assigned to Sakuu Corporation, San Jose, CA (US)
Filed by Sakuu Corporation, San Jose, CA (US)
Filed on Jun. 16, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/842,701.
Application 17/842,701 is a continuation in part of application No. 17/375,781, filed on Jul. 14, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2023/0016497 A1, Jan. 19, 2023
Int. Cl. B29C 64/165 (2017.01); B29C 64/386 (2017.01); B33Y 10/00 (2015.01); B33Y 30/00 (2015.01); B33Y 40/00 (2020.01); B33Y 50/00 (2015.01)
CPC B29C 64/165 (2017.08) [B29C 64/386 (2017.08); B33Y 10/00 (2014.12); B33Y 30/00 (2014.12); B33Y 40/00 (2014.12); B33Y 50/00 (2014.12)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A three-dimensional (“3D”) printing system for printing on a continuous substrate, the printing system comprising:
a powder distribution device dispensing powder onto the continuous substrate and including a blade-shaped end, the blade-shaped end configured to be adjacent to a wall of the powder distribution device and disposed at a height above the continuous substrate, wherein the blade-shaped end extends along the wall of the powder distribution device towards the continuous substrate;
a powder uniformization device located at a distance from the powder distribution device along a direction substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the continuous substrate, the powder uniformization device configured to press on and spread the dispensed powder;
a carrier device comprising the continuous substrate configured to transport the powder dispensed onto the continuous substrate from the powder distribution device to a compaction device at a distal end of the carrier device;
one or more sensors disposed upstream from the powder uniformization device and configured to determine one or more parameters of a thickness of the dispensed powder at one or more locations;
a control apparatus, the control apparatus configured to determine whether the one or more parameters of the thickness is above a predetermined value as the continuous substrate moves to transport the dispensed powder downstream from the powder distribution device, and to adjust the powder distribution device when the one or more parameters is determined to be above the predetermined value; and
the blade-shaped end positioned such that the thickness of the dispensed powder transported downstream by the carrier device away from the blade-shaped end of the powder distribution device is less than the thickness of the dispensed powder from the powder distribution device.