Material Delivery Tension and Tracking System for Use in Solid Imaging

Abstract

A solid imaging apparatus and method employing a radiation transparent build material carrier and a build material dispensing system that accurately controls the thickness of the transferred layer of solidifiable liquid build material to the radiation transparent build material carrier to achieve high resolution imaging in three-dimensional objects built using an electro-optical radiation source.

1 - 11 . (canceled) 
   
   
       12 . A solid imaging system that layer-by-layer forms a three-dimensional object with a solidifiable liquid build material the system comprising:
 a solidifiable liquid build material dispenser;   a flexible build material carrier having a first side and an opposing second sides the first side receiving liquid build material from the build material dispenser; and   a radiation source to selectively solidify the liquid build material on the first side of the flexible build material carrier;   wherein the flexible build material carrier comprises a reciprocating sheet of film.   
   
   
       13 . A system according to  claim 12 , wherein the flexible build material carrier comprises an endless flexible build material carrier. 
   
   
       14 . A system according to  claim 12 , wherein the dispenser comprises a cartridge dispenser. 
   
   
       15 . A system according to  claim 14 , wherein the cartridge dispenser comprises a reservoir of solidifiable liquid build material within the cartridge dispensers. 
   
   
       16 . A system according to  claim 14 , wherein the cartridge dispenser comprises a reservoir of solidifiable liquid build material remote from the cartridge dispenser 
   
   
       17 . A system according to  claim 16 , wherein the reservoir of solidifiable liquid build material is in fluid communication with the cartridge dispenser so that the reservoir can be replaced separately from the cartridge dispenser. 
   
   
       18 . A system according to  claim 12 , wherein the flexible build material carrier comprises a radiation transparent carriers. 
   
   
       19 . A system according to  claim 12 , wherein the radiation source comprises a digital light projector. 
   
   
       20 . A system according to  claim 12 , wherein the solidifiable liquid build material comprises a photopolymer that is curable when exposed to at least one of UV radiation and visible light. 
   
   
       21 . A system according to  claim 12  further comprising a gravure wheel that applies the solidifiable liquid build material to the first side of the flexible build material carrier. 
   
   
       22 . A solid imaging system that layer-by-layer forms a three-dimensional object with a solidifiable liquid build material, the system comprising:
 a solidifiable liquid build material dispenser;   a flexible build material carrier having a first side and an opposing second side, the first side receiving liquid build material from the build material dispenser;   a radiation source to selectively solidify the liquid build material oil the first side of the flexible build material carrier; and   a gravure wheel that applies the solidifiable liquid build material to the first side of the flexible build material carrier.   
   
   
       23 . A system according to  claim 22 , wherein the flexible build material carrier comprises an endless flexible build material carrier. 
   
   
       24 . A system according to  claim 22 , wherein the dispenser comprises a cartridge dispenser. 
   
   
       25 . A system according to  claim 24 , wherein the cartridge dispenser comprises a reservoir of solidifiable liquid build material within the cartridge dispenser. 
   
   
       26 . A system according to  claim 24 , wherein the cartridge dispenser comprises a reservoir of solidifiable liquid build material remote from the cartridge dispenser 
   
   
       27 . A system according to  claim 26 , wherein the reservoir of solidifiable liquid build material is in fluid communication with the cartridge dispenser so that the reservoir can be replaced separately from the cartridge dispenser. 
   
   
       28 . A system according to  claim 24 , wherein the gravure wheel is defined within the cartridge dispenser. 
   
   
       29 . A system according to  claim 22 , wherein the flexible build material carrier comprises a radiation transparent carrier. 
   
   
       30 . A system according to  claim 22 , wherein the radiation source comprises a digital light projector. 
   
   
       31 . A system according to  claim 22 , wherein the solidifiable liquid build material comprises a photopolymer that is curable when exposed to at least one of UV radiation and visible light.