US 12,325,071 B2
Docking arrangement for an additive manufacturing process
Callum Healey, Widnes (GB)
Assigned to LPW Technology Ltd, Widnes (GB)
Appl. No. 17/765,822
Filed by LPW Technology Ltd, Widnes (GB)
PCT Filed Sep. 29, 2020, PCT No. PCT/GB2020/052357
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Mar. 31, 2022,
PCT Pub. No. WO2021/064364, PCT Pub. Date Apr. 8, 2021.
Claims priority of application No. 1914252 (GB), filed on Oct. 2, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2022/0324030 A1, Oct. 13, 2022
Int. Cl. F16L 37/22 (2006.01); B22F 12/52 (2021.01); B33Y 30/00 (2015.01)
CPC B22F 12/52 (2021.01) [B33Y 30/00 (2014.12)] 14 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A locking mechanism for coupling an outlet of a container to an inlet for a component of an additive manufacturing process, the locking mechanism comprising:
one or more locking members moveable, in use, between at least a first position and a second position; and one or more linear actuators configured, in use, to control movement of the one or more locking members between at least the first position and the second position;
wherein the one or more locking members comprise a roller and are configured to engage an exterior surface of the outlet of the container when in the second position to couple the outlet of the container to the inlet for the component of the additive manufacturing process.