US 12,005,648 B2
Apparatus and method to remove powder with flexible scraper blade and adjustable side nozzles
Morteza Vatani, Los Gatos, CA (US); Timothy Byman, Saint Michael, MN (US); and Justin Carroll, Vadnais Height, MN (US)
Assigned to Sakuu Corporation, San Jose, CA (US)
Filed by Sakuu Corporation, San Jose, CA (US)
Filed on Dec. 2, 2022, as Appl. No. 18/074,173.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/299,802, filed on Jan. 14, 2022.
Prior Publication US 2023/0226766 A1, Jul. 20, 2023
Int. Cl. B29C 64/35 (2017.01); B29C 64/209 (2017.01); B29C 64/214 (2017.01); B08B 5/04 (2006.01); B22F 12/67 (2021.01); B29C 64/153 (2017.01); B33Y 30/00 (2015.01); B33Y 40/00 (2020.01)
CPC B29C 64/35 (2017.08) [B29C 64/209 (2017.08); B29C 64/214 (2017.08); B08B 5/04 (2013.01); B22F 12/67 (2021.01); B29C 64/153 (2017.08); B33Y 30/00 (2014.12); B33Y 40/00 (2014.12)] 25 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An apparatus for removing powder from a substrate that has the powder deposited thereon, comprising:
a blade configured to contact and move across a first portion of the substrate located between adjacent portions of the substrate to scrape the powder from the first portion without scraping the powder deposited on the adjacent portions; and
a pair of edge vacuum nozzles and a central vacuum nozzle, located between the pair of edge vacuum nozzles, wherein each edge vacuum nozzles and the central vacuum nozzle is configured to move with the blade to remove the powder from both edges of the first portion and a central region of the first portion, without removing the powder deposited on the adjacent portions, after the powder has been scraped by the blade.