The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
May. 13, 2003
Filed:
Jan. 05, 2001
Jon Jody Fong, Calabasas, CA (US);
3D Systems, Inc., Valencia, CA (US);
Abstract
An improved layer normalizing device for use in dimensionally normalizing layers of a three-dimensional model produced by a selective deposition modeling technique. The layer normalizing device employs a wicking member having a body and a normalizing surface for dimensionally normalizing the object while the object is being built layer by layer. The body includes a plurality of interstices, and when the wicking member is sufficiently heated to cause the build material to become flowable, excess material is drawn by capillary action from the layer of the object being normalized and into the wicking member. A refreshing means is provided to remove the excess build material from the interstices of the wicking member and allow the wicking member to draw additional build material by capillary action.