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:
Nov. 04, 2008
Filed:
Jul. 14, 2004
Thomas George West, Lawrenceville, NJ (US);
Qing Liu, Hillsborough, NJ (US);
Peter A. Materna, Metuchen, NJ (US);
Alfred Anthony Litwak, Manasquan, NJ (US);
Christopher M. Gaylo, Princeton Junction, NJ (US);
Thomas George West, Lawrenceville, NJ (US);
Qing Liu, Hillsborough, NJ (US);
Peter A. Materna, Metuchen, NJ (US);
Alfred Anthony Litwak, Manasquan, NJ (US);
Christopher M. Gaylo, Princeton Junction, NJ (US);
Therics, LLC, Akron, OH (US);
Abstract
The invention includes a three-dimensional printing (3DP) machine that has at least one ultraviolet (UV) light source directed at powder or slurry being processed by the 3DP machine and/or directed at any of various surfaces or machine components, in a manner suitable to kill or damage microorganisms to a desired extent. The UV light sources may be either stationary or movable, and may be either pulsed or substantially continuous, and may operate in any desired sequence and timing with respect to other operations performed by the machine. The invention may include ultraviolet illumination in such a way as to interact with powder to sterilize or disinfect powder either while the powder is stationary or, alternatively, as powder is being moved from one place to another within the 3DP machine, or both. The invention also includes methods of performing three-dimensional printing using such illumination. The invention also includes the combination of other methods of sterilization or disinfection with the use of ultraviolet light. The invention also includes the use of ultraviolet light sources for a combination of polymerization/cross-linking in addition to sterilization/disinfection.