US 12,257,768 B2
Device and method for depositing a granular material in additive manufacture
Jean-Yves Hascoët, Nantes (FR); Pascal Mognol, Rennes (FR); and Tugdual Le Néel, Nantes (FR)
Assigned to ECOLE CENTRALE DE NANTES, Nantes (FR)
Appl. No. 17/624,239
Filed by ECOLE CENTRALE DE NANTES, Nantes (FR)
PCT Filed Jul. 8, 2019, PCT No. PCT/EP2019/068308
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Dec. 30, 2021,
PCT Pub. No. WO2020/011736, PCT Pub. Date Jan. 16, 2020.
Claims priority of application No. FR 1870817 (FR), filed on Jul. 7, 2018.
Prior Publication US 2022/0347922 A1, Nov. 3, 2022
Int. Cl. B29C 64/153 (2017.01); B22F 10/28 (2021.01); B22F 12/52 (2021.01); B22F 12/67 (2021.01); B29C 64/214 (2017.01); B29C 64/236 (2017.01); B29C 64/329 (2017.01); B33Y 10/00 (2015.01); B33Y 30/00 (2015.01); B33Y 40/00 (2020.01)
CPC B29C 64/153 (2017.08) [B22F 12/52 (2021.01); B22F 12/67 (2021.01); B29C 64/214 (2017.08); B29C 64/236 (2017.08); B29C 64/329 (2017.08); B33Y 10/00 (2014.12); B33Y 30/00 (2014.12); B33Y 40/00 (2014.12); B22F 10/28 (2021.01)] 13 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A device to deposit a layer of granular material on a deposition surface, comprising: a discharge hopper; a scraper; and a transporter to move the discharge hopper and the scraper relative to the deposition surface;
wherein the discharge hopper comprises: a plurality of discharge holes aligned in a transverse direction, an opening of each discharge hole being different in size; a top portion and a bottom conical discharge portion, the bottom conical discharge portion comprising two transverse walls inclined towards the plurality of discharge holes; a transverse compartmentalization of the bottom conical discharge portion, each compartment comprising two compartmentalization walls perpendicular to the two transverse walls of the bottom conical discharge portion and inclined towards the plurality discharge holes, so as to form a pyramid-shaped conduit in the bottom conical discharge portion, facing each discharge hole, consecutive compartmentalization walls of two compartments being connected in a wedged shape connection where the consecutive compartmentalization walls meet at the bottom conical discharge portion; and
wherein a height of each wedged shape connection formed by the consecutive compartmentalization walls decreases as a size of the opening of the said plurality of discharged holes increases.