US 12,280,541 B2
Apparatus and methods for dispensing powder
Jonathan Waite, Cambridge (GB); Simon Kew, Cambridge (GB); and Alan Hudd, Cambridge (GB)
Assigned to ALCHEMIE TECHNOLOGY LIMITED, Cambridge (GB)
Appl. No. 17/296,060
Filed by ALCHEMIE TECHNOLOGY LIMITED, Cambridge (GB)
PCT Filed Nov. 15, 2019, PCT No. PCT/GB2019/053255
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date May 21, 2021,
PCT Pub. No. WO2020/104775, PCT Pub. Date May 28, 2020.
Claims priority of application No. 1819101 (GB), filed on Nov. 23, 2018.
Prior Publication US 2022/0016831 A1, Jan. 20, 2022
Int. Cl. B05B 7/14 (2006.01); B05B 17/00 (2006.01); B05B 17/06 (2006.01); B29C 64/165 (2017.01); B29C 64/209 (2017.01); B29C 64/255 (2017.01); B29C 64/268 (2017.01); B33Y 10/00 (2015.01); B33Y 30/00 (2015.01); B33Y 40/10 (2020.01); B33Y 40/20 (2020.01)
CPC B29C 64/165 (2017.08) [B05B 7/1486 (2013.01); B05B 17/0607 (2013.01); B05B 17/0646 (2013.01); B29C 64/209 (2017.08); B29C 64/255 (2017.08); B29C 64/268 (2017.08); B33Y 10/00 (2014.12); B33Y 30/00 (2014.12); B33Y 40/10 (2020.01); B33Y 40/20 (2020.01)] 12 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A digitally controlled powder deposition apparatus, comprising:
a supply chamber comprising a container configured to hold a reservoir of powder and to impart kinetic energy to the reservoir of powder to maintain it in a fluidised state;
an array of digitally controlled and individually controllable dispenser elements, each comprising a piezo actuator and an orifice, the orifice being configured to resist a flow of fluidised powder having an energy below a first energy level; and
a controller configured to digitally control the actuation of the piezo actuators to cause the fluidised powder to be dispensed from either a single dispenser element or multiple dispenser elements of the array;
wherein the supply chamber is in contact with the array of dispenser elements and configured to direct a flow of the fluidised powder from the reservoir to the orifice, the flow comprising a portion of the fluidised powder having an energy below the first energy level; and
wherein, upon actuation of the piezo actuator by the controller, each dispenser element of the array is further configured to impart additional kinetic energy to the portion of the fluidised powder via the piezo actuator, such that the portion of the fluidised powder is provided with an energy equal to or above the first energy level, causing it to be dispensed from the orifice.