Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A recoater comprising:

a movable carriage adapted to controllably traverse a substrate;

a powder reservoir;

a conveyor belt in operative communication with the powder reservoir; and

a powder deflector;

wherein the powder reservoir, the conveyor belt, and the powder deflector are carried by the carriage and the powder deflector is positioned to deflect a powder curtain emanating from the conveyor belt.

2. The recoater of claim 1 further including a leveling device.

3. The recoater of claim 1 further comprising an angularly adjustable doctor blade.

4. The recoater of claim 1 further comprising a counter-rotating roller.

5. The recoater of claim 1, wherein the powder reservoir has a bottom opening and the conveyor belt is in operative communication with the bottom opening.

6. The recoater of claim 1, wherein the powder reservoir has a side opening and the conveyor belt is in operative communication with the side opening.

7. The recoater of claim 1, wherein the powder deflector part of a component of the recoater which also includes a leveling device.

8. The recoater of claim 1, further including a gate adapted to control the thickness of a layer of a build powder on the conveyor belt.

9. The recoater of claim 1 further comprising a shroud enclosure adapted to at least partially contain a powder cloud resulting from the dispensing of powder by the recoater.

10. The recoater of claim 1 further comprising a support table proximal to the conveyor belt.

11. A three-dimensional printer comprising:

a recoater having

a movable carriage adapted to controllably traverse a substrate;

a powder reservoir;

a conveyor belt in operative communication with the powder reservoir; and a powder deflector;

wherein the powder reservoir, the conveyor belt, and the powder deflector are carried by the carriage and the powder deflector is positioned to deflect a powder curtain emanating from the conveyor belt.

12. The recoater of claim 11 further including a leveling device.

13. The recoater of claim 11 further comprising an angularly adjustable doctor blade.

14. The recoater of claim 11 further comprising a counter-rotating roller.

15. The recoater of claim 11, wherein the powder reservoir has a bottom opening and the conveyor belt is in operative communication with the bottom opening.

16. The recoater of claim 11, wherein the powder reservoir has a side opening and the conveyor belt is in operative communication with the side opening.

17. The recoater of claim 11, wherein the powder deflector part of a component of the recoater which also includes a leveling device.

18. The recoater of claim 11, further including a gate adapted to control the thickness of a layer of a build powder on the conveyor belt.

19. The recoater of claim 11 further comprising a shroud enclosure adapted to at least partially contain a powder cloud resulting from the dispensing of powder by the recoater.

20. The recoater of claim 11 further comprising a support table proximal to the conveyor belt.

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21. A recoater comprising:

a movable carriage adapted to controllably traverse a substrate;

a powder reservoir; and

a conveyor belt in operative communication with the powder reservoir, the conveyor belt having a downwardly inclined section;

wherein the powder reservoir and the conveyor belt are carried by the carriage.

22. The recoater of claim 21 further including a leveling device.

23. The recoater of claim 21 further comprising an angularly adjustable doctor blade.

24. The recoater of claim 21 further comprising a counter-rotating roller.

25. The recoater of claim 21, wherein the powder reservoir has a bottom opening and the conveyor belt is in operative communication with the bottom opening.

26. The recoater of claim 21, wherein the powder reservoir has a side opening and the conveyor belt is in operative communication with the side opening.

27. The recoater of claim 21, further including a gate adapted to control the thickness of a layer of a build powder on the conveyor belt.

28. The recoater of claim 21 further comprising a powder deflector, wherein the powder deflector is positioned to deflect a powder curtain emanating from the conveyor belt.

29. A recoater comprising:

a movable carriage adapted to controllably traverse a substrate;

a powder reservoir;

a conveyor belt in operative communication with the powder reservoir; and

a downwardly inclined chute positioned to receive a powder curtain emanating from the conveyor belt;

wherein the powder reservoir, the conveyor belt, and the chute are carried by the carriage.

30. The recoater of claim 29 further including a leveling device.

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31. The recoater of claim 29 further comprising an angularly adjustable doctor blade.

32. The recoater of claim 29 further comprising a counter-rotating roller.

33. The recoater of claim 29, wherein the powder reservoir has a bottom opening and the conveyor belt is in operative communication with the bottom opening.

34. The recoater of claim 29, wherein the powder reservoir has a side opening and the conveyor belt is in operative communication with the side opening.

35. The recoater of claim 29, further including a gate adapted to control the thickness of a layer of a build powder on the conveyor belt.

36. The recoater of claim 29 further comprising a powder deflector, wherein the powder deflector is positioned to deflect a powder curtain emanating from the chute.

37. A three-dimensional printer comprising:

a recoater having

a movable carriage adapted to controllably traverse a substrate;

a powder reservoir; and

a conveyor belt in operative communication with the powder reservoir, the conveyor belt having a downwardly inclined section;

wherein the powder reservoir and the conveyor belt are carried by the carriage.

38. A three-dimensional printer comprising:

a recoater having

a movable carriage adapted to controllably traverse a substrate;

a powder reservoir;

a conveyor belt in operative communication with the powder reservoir; and a downwardly inclined chute positioned to receive a powder curtain emanating from the conveyor belt;

wherein the powder reservoir, the conveyor belt, and the chute are carried by the carriage.

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