A method of printing a three dimensional article (201) can include forming a bottom layer of the three dimensional article (201) by spraying a dry build material powder (210) onto a build platform (230) while heating the dry build material powder (210). The dry build material powder (210) can include metal or ceramic particles mixed with a polymeric binder having a softening point temperature. The dry build material powder (210) can be heated to a temperature above the softening point temperature such that the dry build material powder (210) adheres to the build platform (230). Subsequent layers can be formed by spraying dry build material powder (210) onto a lower layer while heating the dry build material powder (210) such that the dry build material powder (210) adheres to the lower layer.

A powder feeder according to one aspect of the present disclosure is a powder feeding device that feeds powder from a feeder to a nozzle. The powder feeding device includes a cartridge configured to store the powder in an airtight condition, and includes the feeder. The cartridge includes a port from which the powder is stored and withdrawn, and an open/close valve for opening and closing the port. The feeder includes a connection portion to which the cartridge is removably connected, a supply port configured to supply the powder in the cartridge connected to the connection portion into the feeder, and an opening/closing valve for opening and closing the supply port. The feeder is configured to insert the powder supplied from the supply port to the feeder into the nozzle, and the cartridge and the feeder are configured to form an enclosed space between the port and the supply port in response to the cartridge being connected to the connection portion.

A nozzle includes a main chamber defining a first internal space, a first inlet defined in a first end of the main chamber to couple to a material sprayer, a second inlet to receive a solid material into the main chamber, and an outlet defined in a second end of the main chamber. The first inlet upstream from the second inlet to allow a fluid material to enter the main chamber before the solid material. The main chamber configured to mix the solid material with the fluid material.

Structures, for example fibrous structures, such as absorbent material, for example absorbent core material including particles, for example super absorbent polymer particles (SAP particles), and processes for making same are provided.

The invention relates to a dilute phase powder pump (51) for pumping powder, particularly coating powder, from a powder reservoir to a powder spray-coating device, comprising a powder inlet (80), which is or can be flow-connected to the powder reservoir, and a powder outlet (81), which is or can be flow-connected to the powder spray-coating device, the dilute phase powder pump (51) having also a powder pumping injector (100) with a motive fluid nozzle (1) and a converging inlet nozzle (11), and the dilute phase powder pump (51) having a valve device for optionally interrupting a flow connection between the powder inlet (80) of the dilute phase powder pump (51) and a powder inlet (5) of the motive fluid nozzle (1).

A powder conveyor for conveying coating powder includes a housing for a container that includes a top part of the housing with a powder inlet and an upper ledge as well as a bottom part of the housing with a powder outlet and a lower ledge. The upper ledge and/or the lower ledge is/are situated at an acute angle with respect to the horizontal line. A tube is provided whose tube ends are open such that the powder can pass through the tube. The tube is made of a porous air-permeable material and is clamped, on the end face side, between the upper ledge and the lower ledge. A powder inlet valve is connected to the powder inlet of the top part of the housing. A powder outlet valve is connected to the powder outlet of the bottom part of the housing.

Apparatus for blending and applying plural substances including aggregate onto an environmental substrate is shown and described. The apparatus includes optionally a single power plant, plural pumps each fed by a respective hopper, and a blender blending pumped materials together. Dispensing ratios of the two pumps are mutually adjustable. An onboard air compressor delivers compressed air for atomizing blended materials as they are dispensed with the aggregate. Because materials may be curable or hardenable, flushing is enabled. The apparatus may be a free standing wheeled device.

This invention relates to a method and system of applying a fluid material to a roofing surface. By modifying a peristaltic pump-driven sprayer device, a fluid material having a viscosity of 10,000 to 40,000 centipoise at 25° C. can be effectively sprayed onto a roofing surface. Additionally, the use of a modified peristaltic pump-driven sprayer device allows for the fluid material to be applied onto the roofing surface at a faster rate than other spraying methods.

A discharge apparatus, a forming apparatus, a method of operating the discharge apparatus, and a method of producing a formed body are disclosed herein. In some embodiments, a discharge apparatus is used to collide a particle with a fixed surface to fix the particle to the fixed surface, the discharge apparatus includes a first dispenser for discharging an aerosol containing the particle toward the fixed surface at a first discharge rate, and a second dispenser for discharging a gas toward the fixed surface at a second discharge rate faster than the first discharge rate, and the second dispenser discharges the gas so that the gas at least partially overlaps with the aerosol to accelerate at least a portion of the aerosol toward the fixed surface to fix the particle to the fixed surface.

The innovation relates to a device and a method for measuring a powder mass flow for powder cladding. Before the powder cladding, the powder mass flow is set by means of a powder mass determining device and a powder mass flow sensor is calibrated on the basis of the setting. Then a powder switch is used to begin the powder cladding without interrupting the delivery of the powder mass. During the powder cladding, the powder mass flow is monitored by means of the powder mass flow sensor.