Coater arrangement for a 3D printer

Abstract

A coating device arrangement 1 for a 3D printer is described, comprising a coating device 3 having a container 17 defining an inner cavity for receiving particulate construction material, which leads to an opening for outputting the particulate construction material onto a construction field, as well as a closing device 31 configured to selectively close the opening for outputting the particulate construction material.

Claims

1. A coating device arrangement (1) for a 3D printer (100), comprising: a coating device (3) having a container (17) which is formed to be elongate and which defines an inner cavity for receiving particulate construction material, which leads to an opening for outputting the particulate construction material, which is formed as an elongate slot, and a closing device (31) configured to selectively close the opening for outputting the particulate construction material, wherein the closing device (31) comprises at least one closing member (31a) attached to the coating device (3), which is elongate in shape and which is configured to selectively cover the opening at least in part as a result of a lateral movement and/or deformation, characterized in that the at least one closing member (31a) is formed by a hollow body, the inner cavity (33) of which is limited by a deformable portion (35), the hollow body being configured to be deformed outward by a pressure fluid supplied to the hollow body, thereby expanding the inner cavity, to thereby cover the opening at least in part, and wherein the coating device (3) further comprises at least one stroking member (15a) which is configured to stroke construction material output from the opening, to thereby level and/or compress the output particulate material, and the at least one closing member (31a) is arranged above the at least one stroking member, wherein the at least one stroking member (15a) is attached to the coating device (3) in a substantially rigid way and wherein the at least one closing member (31a) is attached to an upper side of the at least one stroking member (15a).

2. A coating device arrangement (1) according to claim 1, wherein the coating device (3) is displaceable in a horizontal direction and the longitudinal axis of the container (17) and/or the longitudinal axis of the longitudinal slot extend in a horizontal direction which is perpendicular to the direction in which the coating device (3) is displaceable, and/or wherein the longitudinal axis of the at least one closing member (31a) extends substantially parallel to the longitudinal extension of the slot, and the at least one closing member (31a) is displaceable and/or deformable and/or expandable perpendicularly to its longitudinal axis.

3. A coating device arrangement (1) according to claim 1 wherein the at least one closing member (31a) is arranged underneath the opening.

4. A coating device arrangement (1) according to claim 1 wherein the at least one closing member (31a) comprises a sealing surface configured to seal on a counter surface in a closing state of the closing device, and wherein the sealing surface is made of a flexible material.

5. A coating device arrangement (1) according to claim 1 wherein the closing device (31) comprises a first and a second hollow body (31a, 31b), wherein each of the two hollow bodies has an inner cavity (33) which is limited by a deformable portion (35), and wherein the two hollow bodies are arranged on opposite sides of the opening in such a way that the deformable portions face each other, and wherein each of the two hollow bodies is configured to be deformed outward at the deformable portion by a supplied pressure fluid, thereby expanding the inner cavity, so that the two deformable portions can be moved toward each other and can be brought into contact, to thereby close the opening.

6. A coating device arrangement (1) according to claim 1 wherein the deformable portion (35) is inwardly curved with the opening being uncovered, and is able to curve outwardly by a pressure fluid supplied to the hollow body to close the opening.

7. A coating device arrangement (1) according to claim 1 wherein the closing device (31) further comprises a fluid line structure (F) through which the respective hollow body (31a) is in fluid connection with a pressure fluid source (P, V).

8. Coating device arrangement (1) according to claim 7 wherein the closing device (31) further comprises a control unit (C) configured to selectively close the opening in a controlled way by means of the at least one closing member (31a), wherein optionally the control unit (C) is connected to the pressure fluid source (P, V) and is configured to control it for closing the opening in such a way that the pressure fluid source supplies pressure fluid into the hollow body (31a), so that the hollow body is deformed at its deformable portion (35).

9. A coating device arrangement (1) according to claim 1 having a plurality of coating devices (3, 5) and a corresponding plurality of closing devices, so that the opening of a respective coating device can be closed independently and selectively, wherein the coating devices (3, 5) are movable across a respectively associated construction field together.

10. A coating device arrangement (1) according to claim 9 further comprising a control unit (C) which is configured to close the closing device (31) if the construction job assigned to the coating device (3) is finished and/or interrupted, and/or to close the opening of the coating device amongst the coating devices (3, 5), the construction job of which is finished first by means of its associated closing device, and/or to close the closing device (31) of the coating device (3) during a coating-free journey, and/or to close the closing device (31) of the coating device (3) during a coating-free travel phase, and/or to close the closing device (31) of the coating device in a standstill position of the coating device (3), and/or to close the closing device (31) of the coating device (3) for cleaning the coating device.

Description

(1) Exemplary, but non-limiting embodiments of the invention are shown in the Figures and are hereinafter described in detail.

(2) FIG. 1 shows a lateral view of a coating device arrangement according to a first embodiment of the invention.

(3) FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of a front side of the coating device arrangement according to FIG. 1,

(4) FIG. 3 shows another perspective view of the front side according to FIG. 2,

(5) FIG. 4 shows a sectional perspective view of the coating device arrangement according to FIG. 1,

(6) FIG. 5 shows a sectional perspective view of the coating device arrangement according to FIG. 1,

(7) FIG. 6 shows a cross-sectional view through the coating device arrangement of FIG. 1 at a first longitudinal position,

(8) FIG. 7 shows a cross-sectional view through the coating device arrangement according to FIG. 1 at a second longitudinal position,

(9) FIG. 8a shows a cross-sectional view through a coating device arrangement according to a second embodiment of the invention, the closing device being open,

(10) FIG. 8b shows a cross-sectional view through the coating device arrangement of FIG. 8a, the closing device being closed,

(11) FIG. 9 shows a cross-sectional view through a closing member for use in a coating device arrangement according to the invention in an open state of the closing member,

(12) FIG. 10 shows an enlarged portion of the lateral view according to FIG. 1,

(13) FIG. 11 shows a 3D printer according to an embodiment of the invention, the installation housing and the feeding unit having been omitted,

(14) FIG. 12 shows the 3D printer according to FIG. 11, this time with a major part of the installation housing and with the integrated feeding unit,

(15) FIGS. 13 and 14 show a top view and a perspective view from above, respectively, of a 3D printer arrangement including a first and a second 3D printer.

(16) In the following detailed description, reference is made to the enclosed Figures which are incorporated therein and in which specific embodiments are shown by way of illustration, according to which the invention can be performed. In this respect, the terms “up”, “down”, “front”, “rear”, etc. are used with reference to the orientation in the described Figures. As components of embodiments may be positioned in a number of different orientations, the terminology indicating the different directions serves for illustration and shall not be restrictive in any way.

(17) It shall be understood that other embodiments may be used and structural or logical changes may be made without deviating from the scope of protection of the present invention. It goes without saying that the features of the various exemplary embodiments described herein may be combined unless specified otherwise. Thus, the following detailed description should not be understood in a restrictive sense and the scope of protection of the invention shall be defined by the attached claims.

(18) In this description, terms such as “connected”, “attached” or “coupled” may be used to describe both a direct and indirect connection, a direct or indirect attachment and a direct or indirect coupling.

(19) In the Figures, identical or similar members are provided with identical reference numbers where appropriate.

(20) FIG. 1 shows a side view of a coating device arrangement according to a first embodiment of the invention.

(21) By way of example, the coating device arrangement is here provided with two coating devices. It shall be understood that the coating device arrangement may alternatively be equipped with only one coating device or with more coating devices, the features described below being applicable analogously, i.e. not being limited to a coating device arrangement having two coating devices.

(22) The coating device arrangement 1 shown herein comprises a first coating device 3 and a second coating device 5. Hereinafter, mainly the first coating device 3 will be described and the features mentioned in this connection can be applied analogously to the second coating device 5.

(23) The first coating device 3 and the second coating device 5 may, for example, be firmly connected through a base plate 7, so that they are displaceable together across a respective construction field. In the present case, each coating device is fixed to, for example supported by the base plate 7 at one of its front sides. On the other hand, the base plate 7 can be displaceable along a linear guiding structure (not shown) which would extend perpendicular to the drawing plane in FIG. 1.

(24) In addition, the first coating device 3 may, for example, be attached to another base plate 9 by its other front side. On the other hand, the base plate 9 may be displaceable along another linear guiding structure (not shown either). The second coating device 5 may also be fixed to another base plate (not shown) on its other front side.

(25) As shown in FIG. 1, both coating devices 3 and 5 may, for example, be formed to be elongate, the respective longitudinal axis extending perpendicular to the direction of movement. Moreover, both coating devices 3 and 5 may be arranged one after the other in a longitudinal direction.

(26) FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 each show a perspective view of a front side of the coating device arrangement according to FIG. 1.

(27) As shown by FIGS. 2 and 3, the first coating device 3 may, for example, be attached to the base plate 9 through a bearing block 11 on its free front side facing away from the second coating device 5. Analogously, the coating device 3 may, for example, be fixed to the base plate 7 through another bearing block. The coating device 3 may, for example, be pivotally mounted to the respective bearing block 11. This allows for a pivoting of the coating device 3 about a horizontal pivot axis which extends parallel to the longitudinal axis of the coating device 3 to set an angle of inclination of optional stroking/sweeping members 15a and 15b attached to the coating device 3 by means of a pivot device 13. By way of example, the pivot device is here provided with a hydraulic drive 13a arranged between the bearing block and the coating device, and an electronically adjustable limit stop system 13b which variably limits the pivoting angle of the coating device to the right and to the left.

(28) The two optional stroking members 15a and 15b are, by way of example, provided as stroking bars/strips and may, for example, be made of steel. The stroking members 15a and 15b may also be referred to as blades.

(29) As shown in FIG. 2, the stroking members 15a and 15b form, for example, a downward oriented stroking surface which is formed to be substantially planar. A desired degree of compression of the particulate material can be set by setting the inclination angle of the respective stroking surface of the stroking members 15a and 15b. In this respect, the present coating device 3 is formed as a bidirectional coating device by way of example, which may coat in both directions, during a journey and during a return journey, and which may compress the discharged particulate material appropriately.

(30) It shall be understood that the described coating device arrangement may also be formed as a unidirectional coating device arrangement, in which case one of the blades may be omitted. In addition, the coating device arrangement may also be configured without a pivoting coating device and/or without an adjustable blade angle.

(31) As shown by FIGS. 4 to 7, the coating device 3 may, for example, comprise a first lower container 17, an (optional) second upper container 19 and a carrier structure.

(32) The carrier structure may, for example, comprise one or more carriers 21a, 21b extending crosswise to the direction of movement or rather in a coating device longitudinal direction, which may be connected by several pipes or bars 21c along the coating device longitudinal direction in a transverse direction. As shown by FIG. 3, the carriers 21a, 21b may, for example, be connected to a connecting plate 21e by at least one of their front sides.

(33) The first and second containers 17, 19 may, for example, each have an elongate shape.

(34) By way of example, the first container 17 has a shape tapering downward in cross-section, for example a funnel shape. The first container 17 has a longitudinal slot (no reference number) at its lower end. The first container 17 may, for example, be open at its upper end, and may be connected to a lower, open end of the optional second container. For example, the first container 17 may be reinforced along the longitudinal direction by one or more reinforcing members 17c.

(35) By way of example, the first container 17 may be provided as a shaking container, one side wall 17a (here the right side wall) of which may be exposed to a shaking movement by a shaking device 23 to vibrate particulate construction material received in the container 17.

(36) By way of example, the first container 17 is here connected to the carrier structure by the shaking device 23 on one side (here on the right side wall 17a), and is connected to the carrier structure by a damping device 25 on the other side (here on the left side wall 17b).

(37) The shaking device 23 may, for example comprise a shaft 23a which is connected by an eccentric 23c to a connecting rod 23b, which is connected to one side of the first container 17. Several connecting rods 23b may be provided one after another in a coating device longitudinal direction. See, for example, FIG. 10.

(38) The damping device 25 may, for example, comprise a damping member 25b attached to the carrier structure, as well as a projecting portion 25a which is connected to or formed by the other side of the first container 17 and is supported by the damping member. For example, several damping devices 25 may be provided one after another in a coating device longitudinal direction, i.e. the first container may be connected to the carrier structure at several positions along the coating device longitudinal direction.

(39) The (optional) second container 19 may, by way of example, have a rectangular shape in cross section. Here, the second container serves as a so-called charging container which provides the first container with construction material. A distributing member 19a, here a distributing worm may, for example, be received in the second container. The second container 19 may be rigidly connected to the carrier structure and/or may be formed/limited by the same.

(40) In the exemplary embodiment shown, the first container and the second container are shaking motion-decoupled from each other.

(41) It should be noted that the above-described shape/configuration and attachment of the first container and the configuration of the first container as a shaking/vibration container, the provision of a second container and the described carrier structure merely constitute optional features of the described coating device arrangement. For example, the second container may be omitted and/or a carrier structure configured otherwise may be provided. The same applies to the suspension of the optional stroking/sweeping members 15a and 15b and the closing members 31a and 31b, as described below.

(42) As can further be seen from FIGS. 4 to 7 (also see FIG. 10), the carrier structure may, for example, comprise one or more ribs 21d for example along the coating device longitudinal direction on both sides of the container 17, which are connected to the carriers 21a and 21b, respectively, in a substantially rigid way, and to which the stroking or sweeping members 15a and 15b are attached, for example in a substantially rigid way or to be shaking motion-decoupled from the first container 17, for example using a respective bar 29a and 29b, respectively, which is, for example, fixed to the rib by a respective intermediate part (without reference number).

(43) Above the first stroking member 15a and below the longitudinal slot, i.e. between the first stroking member 15a and the first container 17, a first closing member 31a is arranged. By way of example, this first closing member 31a is surrounded by an upper side of the first stroking member 15a in a downward direction and is, in addition, surrounded on a lateral side by the bar 29a and, in an upward direction, by the intermediate part (without reference number). The first closing member 31a is exposed in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the coating device 3 and perpendicular to an imaginary, vertical plane through the longitudinal slot.

(44) Analogously, a second closing member 31b is arranged above the second stroking member 15b and below the longitudinal slot, i.e. between the second stroking member 15b and the first container 17. This second closing member 31b is, by way of example, surrounded by an upper side of the second stroking member 15b in a downward direction and is, on a lateral side, surrounded by the bar 29b and, in an upward direction, by the intermediate part (without reference number). The second closing member 31b is exposed in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the coating device 3 and perpendicular to the imaginary vertical plane through the longitudinal slot.

(45) The respective closing member 31a, 31b may, for example, be firmly connected to the associated stroking member and/or the associated bar and/or the associated intermediate part, for example by adhesion.

(46) The two closing members 31a and 31b which are, for example, formed to be elongate, together form a closing device 31 which is configured to selectively close the opening of the container 17 for outputting the particulate construction material. In FIG. 4 to FIG. 7, the closing members 31a and 31b are shown in their respective open state.

(47) According to the shown exemplary embodiment, the closing members 31a and 31b may selectively cover the opening in its respective closing state in part (for example following a lateral expansion of the respective closing member), so that the closing members 31a and 31b close the opening together.

(48) As shown, the first closing member 31a and the second closing member 31b may, for example, comprise a first and a second hollow body, respectively, wherein each of the two hollow bodies has an inner cavity which is limited by a deformable portion, wherein the two hollow bodies are arranged on opposite sides of the opening in such a way that the deformable portions face each other, wherein each of the two deformable portions is configured to be deformed by a pressure fluid supplied to the associated hollow body, thereby expanding the inner cavity, so that the two deformable portions may be moved toward each other and may be brought into contact with each other, to thereby close the opening.

(49) The deformable portions may, for example, be formed by the above-described lateral free portion of the respective closing member.

(50) A closing member configured in such a way may, for example, also be referred to as an inflatable sealing member according to different embodiments.

(51) It goes without saying that only one closing member 31a may be provided in an exemplary modification of the embodiment shown instead of the two closing members 31a and 31b, which one closing member 31 covers the opening entirely in the closed state of the closing device. Moreover, the closing device may, as a further alternative, comprise one or more sliders/slide valves.

(52) It should also be noted that the coating device arrangement shown in FIG. 1 may comprise a separate closing device for each of the coating devices 3 and 5, so that the opening of a respective coating device can be closed independently and selectively.

(53) In a case where the coating device 3 is provided together with the coating device 5, the coating device, the construction job of which is finished first may be closed by means of its associated closing device, for example at least until the construction job of the other coating device is finished.

(54) Hereinafter and with reference to FIGS. 8a, 8b and 9, a coating device arrangement according to a second embodiment of the invention is described.

(55) As illustrated by FIGS. 8a and 8b, the coating device arrangement 1 has a coating device 3 with a container 17 defining an inner cavity for receiving particulate construction material, which leads into an opening for outputting the particulate construction material, as well as a closing device 31 which is configured to selectively close the opening for outputting the particulate construction material.

(56) As shown, the closing device 31 may comprise at least one (here, by way of example two) closing member 31a, 31b attached to the coating device 3, which is configured to selectively cover the opening at least in part, for example as a result of a lateral movement and/or deformation, such as a lateral expansion.

(57) As illustrated by FIGS. 8a and 8b, the at least one closing member 31a, 31b may, for example, be arranged underneath the opening, for example at a vertical distance thereto, and/or at least one (here, by way of example two) stroking member 15a, 15b may, for example, be attached to the coating device 3, which is configured to stroke construction material output from the opening, to thereby level and/or compress the output particulate material, wherein the at least one closing member 31a, 31b is arranged above the at least one stroking member.

(58) Here, the at least one closing member 31a, 31b or at least the later described deformable portion thereof is, by way of example, made of a flexible elastic silicone material and comprises a sealing surface configured to seal at a counter surface in a closing state of the closing device. In this respect, the sealing surface is formed at the deformable portion which will be described below. According to the embodiment shown, the counter surface is also formed by a deformable portion.

(59) As illustrated by FIGS. 8a, 8b and 9, the first closing member 31a and the second closing member 31b may, for example, comprise a first and a second hollow body, respectively, wherein each of the two hollow bodies has an inner cavity 33 (see FIG. 9) which is limited by a deformable portion 35, wherein the two hollow bodies are arranged on opposite sides of the opening in such a way (see FIG. 8a) that the deformable portions face each other, and wherein each of the two hollow bodies is configured to be deformed in an outward direction by an introduced pressure fluid at the deformable portion, thereby expanding the inner cavity, so that the two deformable portions may be moved toward each other and may be brought into contact with each other, to thereby close the opening (see FIG. 8b). As illustrated by FIG. 8b, each of the two closing members 31a, 31b partially covers the opening in this context.

(60) As illustrated by FIGS. 8a, 8b and 9, the deformable portion 35 may, for example, be inwardly curved with the opening being uncovered, and may bend/curve outwardly by a pressure fluid supplied to the hollow body to close the opening.

(61) As suggested by FIGS. 8a and 8b, the closing device 31 may, for example, further comprise a fluid line structure F (broken line) through which the respective closing member 31a, 31b is in fluid connection with a pressure fluid source.

(62) The fluid line structure F may, for example, be formed as a hose line structure, for example as a drag hose line structure, at least in sections. The hose line structure may comprise first and second hose lines Fa and Fb, respectively, wherein the respective hose line may for example be connected to the associated closing member 31a, 31b at a front side thereof.

(63) Here, the pressure fluid source exemplarily comprises a compressed air vessel P which is, for example, formed as a stationary vessel, and a valve V which may, for example, be mounted on the fluid line F between the compressed air vessel P and the closing members.

(64) As further suggested by FIGS. 8a and 8b, the closing device 31 may, for example, further comprise a control unit C which is configured to selectively close the opening by means of the at least one closing member 31a, 31b in a controlled way.

(65) In this respect, the control unit exemplarily is connected to the valve V and is configured to control it for closing the opening in such a way that the pressure fluid source feeds pressure fluid into the at least one hollow body 31a, so that it is deformed at its deformable portion 35, to thereby close the opening.

(66) In FIG. 8a the valve is closed (and consequently the closing device is opened), whereas in FIG. 8b the valve is open (and consequently the closing device is closed).

(67) The control unit C may, for example, be configured to close the closing device 31 if the construction job assigned to the coating device 3 is finished and/or interrupted, and/or to close the closing device 31 of the coating device 3 at least temporarily during a coating-free journey and/or during a coating-free travel phase, for example during an advance and/or follow-up travel phase, and/or close the closing device 31 of the coating device in a standstill position of the coating device 3, and/or close the closing device 31 of the coating device 3 at least temporarily for cleaning the coating device.

(68) As in the first embodiment, an optional second coating device may be provided for example in this embodiment as well. This second coating device may, for example, comprise a separate closing device which is driven by the control unit analogously to the first closing device.

(69) FIG. 11 shows a 3D printer 100 according to an embodiment of the invention, where the installation housing is not shown, so that the installation frame 140 can be seen.

(70) As shown by FIG. 11, the above-described coating device arrangement 1 according to the first embodiment and/or the second embodiment may, for example, be employed in a 3D printer 100. In this context, reference number 103 shows a linear guiding structure for the at least one coating device 3.

(71) The 3D printer 100 may, for example, comprise a printing device having a print head 130 in addition to the coating device arrangement 1 (here by way of example comprising first and second coating devices 3, 5), which is configured to print a treatment agent on a predetermined partial area of a previously applied layer of construction material.

(72) The print head 130 may, for example, be displaceable horizontally, for example in a direction perpendicular to the direction in which the at least one coating device 3, 5 is displaceable, for example along a first print head linear guiding structure 131.

(73) In this respect, the print head 130 may for example be configured to serve several (here two) construction fields.

(74) The print head 130 may, for example, be additionally displaceable in the direction in which the at least one coating device 3, 5 is displaceable as well, so that it may travel across the construction field or the construction fields altogether in a meandering course, for example in the shape of a U. For this purpose, the print head 130 may, for example, be displaceable along a second print head linear guiding structure 132.

(75) As an alternative to the printing device, a respective construction material layer may, for example, be solidified selectively, for example sintered, using a laser (so-called “selective laser sintering”).

(76) As illustrated by FIG. 11 (also see FIG. 12), the 3D printer 100 may, for example, comprise one or more construction areas B1 and B2 (here exemplarily two) which are for example defined by a respective construction platform 112 (see FIG. 12) and/or a respective construction box 110 and 120, respectively, if the latter is located within the 3D printer in its construction position.

(77) The respective construction platform 112 may, for example, be height-adjustable using an associated lift drive (here exemplarily using an installation-fixed lift drive 114).

(78) As shown, the first construction box 110 may be displaceable for example through a first roller conveyor 116 into and out of the 3D printer, and the second construction box 120 may be displaceable for example through a second roller conveyor 126 into and out of the 3D printer.

(79) FIG. 12 shows the 3D printer 100 of FIG. 11, this time with a large part of the installation housing 150 and with an integrated coating device feeding unit 160.

(80) As shown in FIG. 12, the 3D printer 100 may, for example, further comprise a coating device feeding unit 160 integrated in the 3D printer, by means of which construction material can be freshly prepared and fed into the (respective) coating device.

(81) Two storage containers are illustrated, which store a respective particulate material and may feed the latter in a dosed manner into a mixing container having a stirring unit which cannot be seen.

(82) A part of the installation housing 150 and of the first construction box 100 is omitted in FIG. 12 to make the construction platform 112 and the stack of construction material layers arranged thereon visible.

(83) The coating devices 3, 5 are displaced backwards in FIG. 12, and the print head 130 is located in the front on the right-hand side.

(84) FIG. 12 further shows how a first construction area B1 and a second construction area B2 are respectively formed by the first construction box and the second construction box in the 3D printer.

(85) Reference number 170 shows a shared operating station.

(86) Reference numbers 116 and 126 indicate a respective feeding device, here exemplarily in the form of a roller conveyor, by means of which a respective construction box can be moved to its construction box construction position within the 3D printer.

(87) FIGS. 13 and 14 show a plan view and a perspective view from above, respectively, of a 3D printer arrangement 200 which comprises first and second 3D printers 100 and 100′, respectively.

(88) Both 3D printers may, for example, be configured like the 3D printer 100 described with reference to FIGS. 11 and 12.

(89) As illustrated by FIGS. 13 and 14, the first and second 3D printers 100, 100′ may be arranged adjacent to each other in such a way that the introduction openings for introducing the construction boxes are opposite each other. A rail system 210 may for example extend between the two 3D printers, along which a common transportation device 220 is displaceable. The transportation device 220 may be used both by the first and the second 3D printer 100, 100′ to equip the respective 3D printer with one or more construction boxes.

(90) In addition, one or more optional components may be arranged along the rail system, for example a construction box stock 230 in which one or more construction boxes are held available, and/or a microwave oven 240 which may receive a construction box to (further) solidify a component contained therein, and/or an unpacking station 250 where a component contained in the construction box can be freed from loose, unsolidified particulate material and thus can be “unpacked”, for example in an automated manner. In this context, reference number 260 indicates an optional component stock into which unpacked components (here for example casting molds and/or foundry cores) manufactured by means of a generative manufacturing process using one of the two 3D printers can be placed into storage.

(91) According to a further embodiment, a first construction job may be carried out in a first construction area and at the same time, i.e. concurrently, a second construction job may be effected in a second construction area in a generative manufacturing process—for example using a 3D printer configured as described above and/or using a coating device arrangement configured as described above—, wherein the first construction area is served by a first coating device and the second construction area is served by a second coating device, wherein the first and second coating devices are, for example moved across the first and the second construction area together, and wherein, upon termination of the first construction job, an output opening for outputting construction material of the first coating device is closed by means of a closing device. In this respect, the first construction job may, for example, be less time-consuming than the second construction job.

(92) According to another embodiment, a coating device may be moved across an associated construction area repeatedly in a generative manufacturing process—for example using a 3D printer configured as described above and/or using a coating device arrangement configured as described above—, in order to output particulate construction material in the form of a uniform layer onto the construction area, wherein an output opening of the coating device is closed at least temporarily by means of a closing device attached to the coating device,

(93) during a coating-free journey, for example during a coating-free return journey of a unidirectional coating device, and/or

(94) during a coating-free travel phase, for example an advance and/or follow-up travel phase, and/or

(95) in a standstill position of the coating device, and/or

(96) upon/after termination and/or interruption of a construction job, and/or

(97) for cleaning the coating device.

(98) According to another embodiment, a coating device of a 3D printer may be displaced to a cleaning station in a coating device cleaning method process—for example using a 3D printer configured as described above and/or using a coating device arrangement configured as described above—, in order to clean the coating device, wherein an output opening of the coating device is closed during a cleaning process of the coating device, for example of a stroking/sweeping member thereof, at least temporarily by means of a closing device attached to the coating device.

(99) For this purpose, the 3D printer may, for example, comprise an integrated cleaning station in which the coating device, for example the at least one stroking member thereof, may be brushed. Otherwise, the 3D printer may, for example, be configured as described above.