A THREE-DIMENSIONAL IMAGING APPARATUS FOR MODELING A COLORED THREE-DIMENSIONAL OBJECT

摘要

The present invention relates to a three-dimensional imaging apparatus for modeling a colored three-dimensional object on a layer-by-layer basis in accordance with a computer aided design (CAD) image of the object. The apparatus includes a printhead unit comprising a melting chamber; a primary feeding channel arranged between a supply of primary modeling material in solid state, preferably in filament form, and the melting chamber; driving means to drive and regulate the flow of the primary modeling material through the primary feeding channel toward the melting chamber; secondary feeding channels each of which is arranged between a supply of colorant material in solid state, preferably in filament form and the melting chamber; driving means to drive and regulate the flow of the solid colorant materials in accordance with a predetermined computer generated coloring pattern to the melting chamber; heating means arranged adjacent to the melting chamber for supplying heat energy inside the melting chamber for converting the primary modeling material and the colorant materials therein from a solid state to a flowable fluid state to obtain a colored modeling material; a dispensing nozzle through which the colored modeling material in flowable fluid state is conveyed from the melting chamber to an object supporting platform positioned at a predetermined distance from the dispensing nozzle and motion devices coupled to said platform and said nozzle for moving said nozzle and said platform relative to one another in a plane defined by first and second directions and in a third direction orthogonal to said plane to deposit said flowable fluid material into a three-dimensional object..