(12) INTERNATIONAL APPLICATION PUBLISHED UNDER THE PATENT COOPERATION TREATY (PCT)

(19) World Intellectual Property

Organization
International Bureau
(10) International Publication Number
(43) International Publication Date
W O 2015/193490 A3
2 3 December 2015 (23.12.2015) PO PCT

(51) International Patent Classification: (81) Designated States (unless otherwise indicated, for every
B29C 67/00 (2006.01) B29C 47/00 (2006.01) kind of national protection available): AE, AG, AL, AM,
AO, AT, AU, AZ, BA, BB, BG, BH, BN, BR, BW, BY,
(21) International Application Number:
BZ, CA, CH, CL, CN, CO, CR, CU, CZ, DE, DK, DM,
PCT/EP2015/063852
DO, DZ, EC, EE, EG, ES, FI, GB, GD, GE, GH, GM, GT,
(22) International Filing Date: HN, HR, HU, ID, IL, IN, IR, IS, JP, KE, KG, KN, KP, KR,
19 June 2015 (19.06.2015) KZ, LA, LC, LK, LR, LS, LU, LY, MA, MD, ME, MG,
MK, MN, MW, MX, MY, MZ, NA, NG, NI, NO, NZ, OM,
(25) Filing Language: English PA, PE, PG, PH, PL, PT, QA, RO, RS, RU, RW, SA, SC,
(26) Publication Language: English SD, SE, SG, SK, SL, SM, ST, SV, SY, TH, TJ, TM, TN,
TR, TT, TZ, UA, UG, US, UZ, VC, VN, ZA, ZM, ZW.
(30) Priority Data:
14173157.0 19 June 2014 (19.06.2014) EP (84) Designated States (unless otherwise indicated, for every
kind of regional protection available): ARIPO (BW, GH,
(71) Applicant: LIX PEN LTD [GB/GB]; Iq Shoreditch Flat GM, KE, LR, LS, MW, MZ, NA, RW, SD, SL, ST, SZ,
1126, 2 Silicon Way, London N l 6FR (GB). TZ, UG, ZM, ZW), Eurasian (AM, AZ, BY, KG, KZ, RU,
TJ, TM), European (AL, AT, BE, BG, CH, CY, CZ, DE,
(72) Inventors: SUVOROV, Anton; Rue Rond Point 192, B-
DK, EE, ES, FI, FR, GB, GR, HR, HU, IE, IS, IT, LT, LU,
6060 Gilly (BE). BARAN, Ismail; Rue Arthur Decoux 64,
LV, MC, MK, MT, NL, NO, PL, PT, RO, RS, SE, SI, SK,
B-6030 Marchienne-au-Pont (BE).
SM, TR), OAPI (BF, BJ, CF, CG, CI, CM, GA, GN, GQ,
(74) Agent: GEVERS PATENTS; Holidaystraat 5, B-183 1 GW, KM, ML, MR, NE, SN, TD, TG).
Diegem (BE).

[Continued on next page]

(54) Title: "3D PRINTING PEN"

(57) Abstract: A three-dimensional printing pen (1) comprising a barrel (2)

open on a first end (2a) and comprising an opening for receiving a melt- sub -
strate on a second end (2b), opposite to the first end (2a), a nozzle (3 1) con
.- ¾ figured to receive and melt said melt- sub strate (14, 22) and arranged to be con
nected to the first open end (2a) of the barrel, a channel inside the barrel (2)
comprising a first opening adjacent and aligned with the opening in the barrel
(2) for receiving said melt- sub strate (14, 22) and a second opening, opposite to
said first opening, adjacent to the nozzle (31), and a transport mechanism (8,
13, 20) comprising a rotatable transport member (9, 15, 21, 5 1) which is, in
use, in contact with the melt-substrate for moving the melt- substrate (14, 22)
through towards the nozzle (31).

8 l t
<

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© fig. f ,

f g . 1

o
Published: (88) Date of publication of the international search report:
25 February 2016
— with international search report (Art. 21(3))
— before the expiration of the time limit for amending the
claims and to be republished in the event of receipt of
amendments (Rule 48.2(h))
A . CLASSIFICATION OF SUBJECT MATTER
INV. B29C67/00 B29C47/00
ADD.

According to International Patent Classification (IPC) or to both national classification and IPC

B. FIELDS SEARCHED
Minimum documentation searched (classification system followed by classification symbols)
B29C B05C

Documentation searched other than minimum documentation to the extent that such documents are included in the fields searched

Electronic data base consulted during the international search (name of data base and, where practicable, search terms used)

EPO-Internal , WPI Data

C. DOCUMENTS CONSIDERED TO BE RELEVANT

Category* Citation of document, with indication, where appropriate, of the relevant passages Relevant to claim No.

X US 1 449 517 A (LAME HERMAN F) 1,2,6

27 March 1923 (1923-03-27)
Y figures 1 , 2 3-5
page 1 , lines 52-56, 76-83

X D E 20 2013 010264 U l (W0BBLEW0RKS INC 7-10

[US]) 29 January 2014 (2014-01-29)
Y figures 1 , 3A, 4B 3,4,
page 2 , paragraph [0006] 11-14

X CN 203 371 791 U (GU WENLIANG) 7-10

1 January 2014 (2014-01-01)
Y figure 3 5
pages 5-6, paragraph [0022]

0 2009/134300 A2 (STRATASYS INC [US]; 11-14

BATCHELDER J SAMUEL [US]; SWANS0N WILLIAM
J [US]) 5 November 2009 (2009-11-05)
figure 5

□ Further documents are listed in the continuation of Box C. See patent family annex.

* Special categories of cited documents :

"A" document defining the general state of the art which is not considered
to be of particular relevance
"E" earlier application or patent but published on or after the international
filing date
"L" documentwhich may throw doubts on priority claim(s) orwhich is
cited to establish the publication date of another citation or other
special reason (as specified)
"O" document referring to an oral disclosure, use, exhibition or other
means
"P" document published prior to the international filing date but later than
the priority date claimed
"T" later document published after the international filing date or priority
date and not in conflict with the application but cited to understand
the principle or theory underlying the invention
"X" document of particular relevance; the claimed invention cannot be
considered novel or cannot be considered to involve an inventive
step when the document is taken alone
"Y" document of particular relevance; the claimed invention cannot be
considered to involve an inventive step when the document is
combined with one or more other such documents, such combination
being obvious to a person skilled in the art
"&" document member of the same patent family

Date of the actual completion of the international search Date of mailing of the international search report

9 September 2015 14/12/2015

Name and mailing address of the ISA/ Authorized officer

European Patent Office, P.B. 5818 Patentlaan 2
NL - 2280 HV Rijswijk
Tel. (+31-70) 340-2040,
Fax: (+31-70) 340-3016 Gasner, Benoit
 Patent document Publication Patent family Publication
cited in search report date member(s) date

US 1449517 27-03-1923 NONE

DE 202013010264 Ul 29-01-2014 AU 2013101514 A4 09-01 2014

CA 2893756 Al 12-06 2014
CN 103847099 A 11- 06 2014
CN 203592687 U 14-05 2014
DE 202013010264 Ul 29- 0 1 2014
DE 202013011820 Ul 20-08 2014
EP 2928672 Al 14-10 2015
HK 1185219 A2 07-02 2014
IL 239093 A 30- 07 2015
KR 20150003106 U 17-08 2015
RU 155234 Ul 27-09 2015
US 2014154347 Al 05-06 2014
0 2014088681 Al 12- 06 2014

CN 203371791 01-01-2014 NONE

W0 2009134300 A2 05-11-2009 EP 2280815 A2 09-02-2011

US 2009273122 Al 05-11-2009
W0 2009134300 A2 05-11-2009
 International application No.
PCT/ EP20 15/063852
INTERNATIONAL SEARCH REPORT

Box No. II Observations where certain claims were found unsearchable (Continuation of item 2 of first sheet)

This international search report has not been established in respect of certain claims under Article (2)(a) for the following reasons:

□ Claims Nos.:
because they relate to subject matter not required to be searched by this Authority, namely:

Claims Nos.:
because they relate to parts of the international application that do not comply with the prescribed requirements to such
an extent that no meaningful international search can be carried out, specifically:

□ Claims Nos.:
because they are dependent claims and are not drafted in accordance with the second and third sentences of Rule 6.4(a).

Box No. Ill Observations where unity of invention is lacking (Continuation of item 3 of first sheet)

This International Searching Authority found multiple inventions in this international application, as follows:

see addi tional sheet

As all required additional search fees were timely paid by the applicant, this international search report covers all searchable
□ i aims.

2. I I As all searchable claims could be searched without effort justifying an additional fees, this Authority did not invite payment of
additional fees.

3. As only some of the required additional search fees were timely paid by the applicant, this international search report covers
' ' only those claims for which fees were paid, specifically claims Nos. :

No required additional search fees were timely paid by the applicant. Consequently, this international search report is
restricted to the invention first mentioned in the claims; it is covered by claims Nos.:

1- 14

Remark on Protest The additional search fees were accompanied by the applicant's protest and, where applicable, the
' ' payment of a protest fee.
The additional search fees were accompanied by the applicant's protest but the applicable protest
' ' fee was not paid within the time limit specified in the invitation.

I INo protest accompanied the payment of additional search fees.

Form PCT/ISA/21 0 (continuation of first sheet (2)) (April 2005)

 International Application No. PCT/ EP2015/ 063852
FURTHER INFORMATION CONTINUED FROM PCT/ISA/ 210

Thi s Internati onal Searchi ng Authori t y found mul t i pl e (groups of)

i nventi ons i n thi s i nternati onal appl i cati on , a s fol l ows :

1. cl aims : 1-14

A three-dimensi onal pri nti ng pen compri si ng:

a barrel open on a f i rst end and compri si ng an openi ng for
recei v i ng a mel t-substrate on a second end, opposi t e t o the
f i rst end,
a nozzl e confi gured t o recei ve and mel t sai d mel t-substrate
and arranged t o be connected t o the f i rst open end of the
barrel ,
a transport mechani sm compri si ng a rotatabl e transport
member whi ch i s , i n use, i n contact wi t h the mel t-substrate
for movi ng the mel t-substrate towards the nozzl e ,
a channel i nsi de the barrel compri si ng a f i rst openi ng
adjacent and al i gned wi t h the openi ng i n the barrel for
recei v i ng sai d mel t-substrate, a second openi ng, opposi t e t o
sai d f i rst openi ng, adjacent t o the nozzl e and a thi r d
openi ng confi gured such that sai d mel t-substrate i s between
sai d rotatabl e transport member and an i nternal surface of
sai d channel for supporti ng the rotatabl e transport of sai d
mel t-substrate when sai d rotatabl e transport member i s
rotated, and
a heat di ssi pati ng member for assembl i ng sai d nozzl e t o the
open f i rst end of the barrel , wherei n the heat di ssi pati ng
member i s posi t i oni ng sai d nozzl e at a di stance from the
barrel , wherei n the heat di ssi pati ng member compri ses hol e s ,
openi ngs or perforati ons for di ssi pati ng heat when the
nozzl e i s heated.

1. 1. cl aims : 11-14

A three-dimensi onal pri nti ng pen compri si ng:

a barrel open on a f i rst end and compri si ng an openi ng for
recei v i ng a mel t-substrate on a second end, opposi t e t o the
f i rst end, the di recti on from the f i rst end t o the second
end of the barrel bei ng the l ength di recti on of the pen ,
a nozzl e confi gured t o recei ve and mel t sai d mel t-substrate
and arranged t o be connected t o the open f i rst end of the
barrel ,
a transport mechani sm compri si ng a rotatabl e transport
member whi ch i s , i n use, i n contact wi t h the mel t-substrate,
wherei n the rotatabl e transport member i s rotati ng around an
axi s i n the l ength di recti on of the pen for movi ng the
mel t-substrate i n the l ength di recti on of the pen .

cl aims : 15-23

A three-dimensi onal pri nti ng pen compri si ng:

a cyl i ndri cal barrel open on a f i rst end and compri si ng an
openi ng for recei v i ng a mel t-substrate on a second end
opposi t e t o the f i rst end, and
an i nsi de assembly confi gured t o be moved at l east partly
 International Application No. PCT/ EP2015/ 063852
FURTHER INFORMATION CONTINUED FROM PCT/ISA/ 210

the cyl i ndri cal barrel compri si ng

at l east two structure parts ,
at l east one connecti on part for posi t i oni ng the at l east
two structure parts rel ati ve t o each other,
a nozzl e confi gured t o recei ve and mel t sai d mel t-substrate
and arranged t o be connected t o the f i rst open end of the
barrel ,
a transport mechani sm compri si ng a rotatabl e transport
member whi ch i s , i n use, i n contact wi t h the mel t-substrate
for movi ng the mel t-substrate towards the nozzl e , and
a channel havi ng a f i rst openi ng adjacent and al i gned wi t h
the openi ng i n the barrel for recei v i ng sai d mel t-substrate,
a second openi ng opposi t e t o sai d f i rst openi ng and adjacent
t o the nozzl e , and a thi r d openi ng confi gured such that sai d
mel t-substrate i s between sai d rotatabl e transport member
and an i nternal surface of sai d channel for supporti ng the
rotatabl e transport of sai d mel t-substrate when sai d
rotatabl e transport member i s rotated.