An apparatus and a method of washing (or pre-washing) silverware/flatware, or one or more other objects/parts is provided. The apparatus and method utilizes a fluid-push/pull pumping system and method in which generally an entire volume of fluid is pushed or pulled through a cavity of a housing in which the silverware/flatware or other objects/parts are located. The housing is configured to hold a mass of silverware or other item(s) within the cavity. The pumping system, which includes manifolding in fluid communication with the cavity, is configured to pump generally an entire volume of fluid out of the cavity, and to direct the pumped fluid back into the cavity to create a generally continuous flow of generally an entire volume of fluid through the cavity, thereby causing the fluid to flow through the mass of silverware or other item(s).

Techniques for depowdering in additive fabrication are provided. According to some aspects, techniques are provided that separate powder from additively fabricated parts through liquid immersion of the parts. Motion of the liquid, such as liquid currents, may dislodge or otherwise move powder away from additively fabricated parts to which it is adhered or otherwise proximate to. The liquid may also provide a vehicle to carry away powder from the additively fabricated parts. Removed powder may be filtered or otherwise separated from the liquid to allow recirculation of the liquid to the parts and/or to enable re-use of the powder in subsequent additive fabrication processes. Techniques for depowdering through liquid immersion may be automated, thereby mitigating challenges associated with manual depowdering operations.

The invention is generally a system for washing off residual resin from objects which are three-dimensionally (3D) printed through a vat polymerization (VP) process. Exemplary systems may include a solvent receptacle, a wash reservoir in fluid communication with the solvent receptacle, and a controller configured to pump a solvent from the solvent receptacle to the wash reservoir for washing off residual resin from a 3D-printed object. Exemplary methods may include pumping a first solution of a plurality of solvent solutions from the solvent receptacle to the wash reservoir, dispersing the first solution onto the 3D-printed object, pumping the first solution from the wash reservoir to the solvent receptacle, pumping a second solution of the plurality of solvent solutions from the solvent receptacle to the wash reservoir, and dispersing the second solution onto the 3D-printed object.

A system (1) for washing a 3D-printed object (4). The system (1) has a washing device (2) and a workpiece (3) that includes the 3D-printed object (4). The washing device (2) has a container (7) that forms a process chamber (8) for receiving a liquid cleaning agent (9), and the container (7) has an inlet (10) into the process chamber (8). The workpiece (3) further has a support structure (6) that supports the 3D-printed object (4) and a base (5) supporting the support structure (6). The base (5), in a mating relationship with the inlet (10), forms a restraint preventing the workpiece (3) from passing through the inlet (10) in a situation in which the workpiece (3) is placed with the 3D-printed object (4) located within the process chamber (8).

The present invention relates to a post processing arrangement for shaped bodies additively manufactured by photopolymerization, which arrangement includes a cleaning station holding ready a cleaning basin, and a finishing station for post-exposure of the shaped bodies, wherein the cleaning station (22) and the finishing station (42) are accommodated in a housing (2) in which in a lower section (20) the cleaning station (22) is located and vertically on top of it in an upper section (40) the finishing station (42) is accommodated, wherein the sections (20, 40) are in communication through a passage.

An apparatus for the wet attrition of particulate material comprising an attrition scrubber; a dewatering screen comprising a deck and a sump beneath the deck, the dewatering screen being mounted upstream of the attrition scrubber whereby oversize material from a downstream end of the deck of the dewatering screen passes into the attrition scrubber; and a hydrocyclone wherein an underflow, containing a coarser fraction of the feed slurry, passes out of a lower outlet of the hydrocylone while an overflow, containing a finer fraction of the feed slurry and most of the water, passes out of an outlet at the upper end of the hydrocyclone, a pump being provided for pumping material from the sump of the dewatering screen to the inlet of the hydrocyclone, wherein the underflow from the hydrocyclone is passed into the attrition scrubber.

A piping system is provided, connecting a plurality of scrubbers which are disposed on a supporting structure, including a collecting pipe and a drain pipe. The collecting pipe has a main body and a plurality of protrusions, wherein the main body has an outer surface and a first central axis. The protrusions are protruding from the outer surface, and the first central axis is perpendicular to the supporting structure. The collecting pipe communicates with the scrubbers via the protrusions. The drain pipe is disposed under the supporting structure and has a second central axis, wherein the collecting pipe is extended through the supporting structure and connects to the drain pipe, and the first central axis is perpendicular to the second central axis.

A multi-axis variable-speed hot washing machine is provided, including a cleaning chamber, a drive apparatus, and a rotation mechanism. The rotation mechanism is arranged in an inner cavity of the cleaning chamber and is in transmission connection with the drive apparatus. At least one or more groups of rotation mechanism is arranged. The inner wall of the cleaning chamber is provided with a scraping mechanism that enhances a squeezing and frictional cleaning effect on a to-be-cleaned material.

A method for washing and separating pieces of plastics material from contaminating material that also includes metal elements, comprises the steps of: supplying, to a washing container, a washing fluid, having a first specific weight value , and the pieces of plastics material joined to the contaminating material; driving, in the washing container, a stirring arrangement provided with blades for generating in the washing fluid a turbulent stirring action to remove from the plastics material, through mechanical action, the part of contaminating material adhering thereto. The tilt of the blades and the rotation speed of the stirring arrangement are chosen carefully to generate a thrusting action upwards so as to maintain in a floating condition the plastics material with a specific weight that is greater than the specific weight of the fluid; the force of the thrusting action is limited to a value that is such as not to hinder the downward precipitation of the contaminating metal elements that have a further specific weight value that is greater than the aforesaid second value. The plastics material is retained inside the container for sufficient time to obtain a desired degree of purity and decontamination for the plastics material, after which it is evacuated by controlled overflow. The heavy contaminating material, in particular the metal elements that accumulate on the bottom, are periodically evacuated by a device of valve or pump type. The apparatus for implementing the aforesaid method is also disclosed.

A multi-axis variable-speed hot washing module and a hot washing method thereof are provided. The multi-axis variable-speed hot washing module includes a storage assembly, a dehydration assembly, and one or more multi-axis variable-speed hot washing machines, where the multi-axis variable-speed hot washing machine is connected to the storage assembly and the dehydration assembly. Batches of materials are stored in the storage assembly. When cleaning, the materials are put from the storage assembly into one or more multi-axis variable-speed hot washing machines, and medicinal water is added. The multi-axis variable-speed hot washing machine replaces functions of a hot washing machine, a screw, and a friction machine, and has relatively large mechanical friction on the materials during cleaning. The materials after being hot washed by the multi-axis variable-speed hot washing machine are transported to the dehydration assembly for dehydration, so as to implement separation of cleaning water and the materials.