US 12,353,135 B2
Apparatus and method for generating a relief carrier by irradiation
Bart Wattyn, Dentergem (BE); Eva Freudenthaler, Korntal-Munchingen (DE); and Martin Kunz, Waldbronn (DE)
Assigned to XSYS Prepress N.V., Ypres (BE)
Appl. No. 17/413,012
Filed by XSYS Prepress N.V., Ypres (BE)
PCT Filed Jan. 13, 2020, PCT No. PCT/EP2020/050712
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Jun. 11, 2021,
PCT Pub. No. WO2020/148234, PCT Pub. Date Jul. 23, 2020.
Claims priority of application No. 2022394 (NL), filed on Jan. 14, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2022/0066325 A1, Mar. 3, 2022
Int. Cl. G03F 7/20 (2006.01); B29C 64/124 (2017.01); B29C 64/236 (2017.01); B29C 64/241 (2017.01); B29C 64/245 (2017.01); B29C 64/268 (2017.01); B29C 64/277 (2017.01); B33Y 10/00 (2015.01); B33Y 30/00 (2015.01); B33Y 80/00 (2015.01)
CPC G03F 7/2012 (2013.01) [B29C 64/124 (2017.08); B29C 64/236 (2017.08); B29C 64/241 (2017.08); B29C 64/245 (2017.08); B29C 64/268 (2017.08); B29C 64/277 (2017.08); B33Y 10/00 (2014.12); B33Y 30/00 (2014.12); B33Y 80/00 (2014.12)] 13 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An apparatus for generating a relief carrier using a solidifiable material, said apparatus comprising:
a support structure configured for providing a substantially cylindrical support surface, wherein the support surface is formed by a substrate to be part of the relief carrier to be generated;
a container for receiving the solidifiable material, said container having a wall arranged substantially parallel to an axis of the support structure, such that the support surface is at a determined distance of the wall, wherein the axis is the axis of the substantially cylindrical support surface;
a moving means configured to move the support structure relative to the wall, such that subsequent areas of the support surface face the wall during the moving; said moving comprising at least a rotation around the axis, wherein the moving means is configured to move the support structure relative to the wall such that the axis of the support structure is moved parallel relative to the wall of the container while rotating the support structure around the axis; and
an irradiating means configured to send irradiation, through said wall, in a predetermined area between the support surface and the wall to solidify the solidifiable material at the support surface; wherein the wall is configured to allow said irradiation to pass through the wall.