US 11,987,002 B2
Washing apparatus and methods used to process additively fabricated parts
Jonathan Fussman, Brookline, MA (US); Hugo Liebrand, Eindhoven (NL); David Sadowski, San Diego, CA (US); Alexander K. McCalmont, Hollis, NH (US); Craig Broady, Somerville, MA (US); Nicholaus Ray Lancaster, Hull, MA (US); and Maxim Lobovsky, Cambridge, MA (US)
Assigned to Formlabs, Inc., Somerville, MA (US)
Filed by Formlabs, Inc., Somerville, MA (US)
Filed on May 27, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/826,787.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/194,856, filed on May 28, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2022/0379562 A1, Dec. 1, 2022
Int. Cl. B29C 64/35 (2017.01); B08B 3/08 (2006.01); B08B 3/14 (2006.01); B08B 13/00 (2006.01); B33Y 40/20 (2020.01)
CPC B29C 64/35 (2017.08) [B08B 3/08 (2013.01); B08B 3/14 (2013.01); B08B 13/00 (2013.01); B33Y 40/20 (2020.01)] 18 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An apparatus for processing additively fabricated parts, the apparatus comprising:
an open-topped vessel comprising a drain located on an interior bottom surface of the vessel and having one or more inlets;
a first storage container;
a second storage container;
a first valve coupled to the first storage container and the second storage container and configured to switch between the first storage container and the second storage container;
a pump coupled to the first storage container and the second storage container, wherein the pump is coupled to the first valve, wherein the pump is located outside of the vessel and the pump is coupled to the one or more inlets of the vessel;
a second valve coupled to the drain of the vessel, the first storage container and the second storage container, and configured to switch between the first storage container and the second storage container; and
a controller configured to operate the first valve and second valve into a first configuration and operate the pump to direct a first solvent from the first storage container through the one or more inlets of the vessel and drain the first solvent from the vessel into the first storage container, thereby continuously circulating the first solvent through the vessel and the first storage container.