Adhesive Dispensing Device

Abstract

A layered object manufacturing (LOM) system and method that provide controlled application of an adhesive onto multiple layers of a paper substrate to effect generation of a three dimensional object. The LOM system includes an adhesive reservoir, an adhesive dispenser, a paper feed mechanism, and a substrate grabber. The dispenser dispenses the adhesive from the reservoir onto the paper substrate at a build location. The paper feed mechanism feeds individual sheets of paper. The substrate grabber transports the sheets from the paper feed mechanism to a build object location to form layers of the paper substrate. The method successively binds individual paper sheets to one another using a water based adhesive applied to specific locations on each individual paper sheet. The method also includes separating scrap material from the three dimensional model and discarding the scrap material.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A layered object manufacturing (LOM) system for rapid prototyping, the LOM system configured to provide controlled application of an adhesive onto multiple layers of a paper substrate to effect generation of a three dimensional object, the system comprising:
 a reservoir for the adhesive;   a dispenser in fluid communication with the reservoir, the dispenser configured to dispense the adhesive from the reservoir onto the paper substrate at a build location;   a paper feed mechanism configured to receive a plurality of sheets of paper and to feed individual sheets of the plurality of sheets of paper; and   a substrate grabber configured to transport the individual sheets from the paper feed mechanism to a build object location to form layers of the paper substrate.   
     
     
         2 . The LOM system of  claim 1 , further comprising a control system configured to cause the dispenser to move to a specific location on the substrate and to dispense adhesive onto the paper substrate at the specific location. 
     
     
         3 . The LOM system of  claim 1 , wherein the paper feed mechanism is configured to receive paper sheets of different thicknesses. 
     
     
         4 . The LOM system of  claim 1 , being operable with paper sheets of different colours so as to enable the fabrication of three dimensional coloured objects. 
     
     
         5 . The LOM system of  claim 1 , wherein the paper feed mechanism is configured to receive a plurality of sheets of paper of different colours and to selectively feed individual ones of the plurality of sheets of paper as desired. 
     
     
         6 . The LOM system of  claim 1 , wherein the adhesive comprises a water based adhesive. 
     
     
         7 . The LOM system of  claim 6 , wherein the adhesive comprises a PVA adhesive. 
     
     
         8 . The LOM system of  claim 1 , wherein the dispenser comprises:
 an adhesive applicator wheel having a contact surface comprising a plurality of circumferentially spaced recesses configured to receive adhesive; and   a wipe mechanically coupled to the reservoir,   wherein the dispenser is configured to rotate the adhesive applicator wheel to convey adhesive to the paper substrate to deposit controlled amounts of adhesive at discrete locations thereon, and   wherein the adhesive applicator wheel and wipe together define a sealed adhesive filling chamber.   
     
     
         9 . The LOM system of  claim 8 , wherein adhesive is deposited from an adhesive filled recess of the adhesive applicator wheel to the paper substrate by means of capillary action. 
     
     
         10 . The LOM system of  claim 8 , wherein the dispenser is configured to control an angular velocity of the adhesive applicator wheel and a linear velocity of the dispenser relative to the paper substrate. 
     
     
         11 . The LOM system of  claim 1 , wherein the dispenser is mounted for translation relative to the paper substrate. 
     
     
         12 . The LOM system of  claim 11 , wherein the dispenser is configured to move at a controlled linear velocity relative to the paper substrate. 
     
     
         13 . The LOM system of  claim 1 , further comprising a multifunctional head mechanically coupled to an x-y frame, wherein the dispenser is mounted to the multifunctional head and the x-y frame is configured to move the multifunctional head and the dispenser relative to the paper substrate. 
     
     
         14 . The LOM system of  claim 1 , further comprising a receiver for the plurality of sheets of paper, the paper feed mechanism located adjacent to the receiver and comprising a feed roller, the substrate grabber comprising a grab head configured to draw the individual sheet from the feed roller and to position the individual sheet at the build object location. 
     
     
         15 . The LOM system of  claim 14 , wherein the grab head is configured to grip the individual sheet from the feed roller. 
     
     
         16 . The LOM system of  claim 14 , wherein the grab head comprises a support surface and a grip portion, wherein the grip portion is operable to move from a rest position at a separation from the support surface and a grip position in contact with the support surface. 
     
     
         17 . The LOM system of  claim 16 , wherein the grab head is configured to grip a leading edge of the individual sheet. 
     
     
         18 . The LOM system of  claim 16 , wherein the support surface comprises a wedge form that is configured to provide a controlled bending of the individual sheet as it is drawn from the feed roller and positioned at the build object location. 
     
     
         19 . The LOM system of  claim 14 , wherein the receiver is configured to receive the plurality of sheets of paper in a stack configuration, wherein at least some of the plurality of sheets of paper have a different colour than others of the plurality of sheets of paper. 
     
     
         20 . The LOM system of  claim 14 , wherein the receiver is configured to receive paper sheets of different thicknesses or dimensions. 
     
     
         21 . A method of rapid prototyping comprising:
 generating a three dimensional model using the layered object manufacturing (LOM) system as recited in  claim 1  by successively binding individual paper sheets of the plurality of sheets of paper to one another using a water based adhesive, the dispenser applying the adhesive to specific locations on each individual paper sheet;   separating scrap material from the three dimensional model; and   discarding the scrap material.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , further including generating a larger three dimensional model by adhering two or more such three dimensional models to one another using a water based adhesive.