US Patent 10166718 Apparatus for fabricating three-dimensional object

A three-dimensional fabrication apparatus includes a fabrication chamber, a supply chamber, a flattening unit, and a powder collector. The powder collector is disposed forward from the flattening unit in a transfer direction of the flattening unit. The powder collector is movable with movement of the flattening unit. The powder collector includes a body container, a collection port, and a discharge port. When the flattening unit transfers and supplies powder, the powder collector collects a portion of the powder from the collection port and contains the portion of the powder in the body container. When the flattening unit returns to the supply chamber, the powder collector discharges and supplies the powder from the body container to the supply chamber through the discharge port.