{"schema_version":"1.0","canonical_url":"https://patentable.app/patents/US-9724878","patent":{"patent_number":"US-9724878","title":"Three-dimensional printer having an expandable envelope","assignee":null,"inventors":[],"filing_date":"2014-10-20T00:00:00.000Z","publication_date":"2017-08-08T00:00:00.000Z","cpc_codes":["B25J","B25J","B33Y","B33Y","B33Y","B62D","G05B"],"num_claims":20,"abstract":"A computer program product includes a computer readable storage medium having program instructions embodied therewith and executable by a processor to cause the processor to perform a method. The method includes a three-dimensional printer printing a first layer of an object onto a surface that is not part of the three-dimensional printer, wherein the first layer is printed while a printing platform of the three dimensional printer is in a first position. The printer is autonomously repositioned in a second position elevated above the first position by being supported either on the three-dimensional object itself or on a scaffold printed separate from the object. The printer prints a second layer of the three-dimensional object onto the first layer of the three-dimensional object while the printing platform is in the second position. The printer may have a plurality of legs for controllably repositioning the printing platform."},"analysis":{"summary":null,"layman_explanation":null,"technical_analysis":null,"business_analysis":null,"faqs":null,"topics":[],"tech_cluster":null},"seo":{"title":"Three-dimensional printer having an expandable envelope","description":"A computer program product includes a computer readable storage medium having program instructions embodied therewith and executable by a processor to cause the processor to perform a method. The meth","keywords":[]},"attribution":{"source":"Patentable","source_url":"https://patentable.app","canonical_url":"https://patentable.app/patents/US-9724878","license":"CC-BY-4.0-like","license_terms":"AI-generated analysis on this page (summary, layman_explanation, technical_analysis, business_analysis, faqs) may be reused with attribution and a visible link back to the canonical URL above. Patent abstracts, claims, and bibliographic data are USPTO public domain.","required_link":"https://patentable.app/patents/US-9724878","citation_suggestion":"Patentable. \"Three-dimensional printer having an expandable envelope\" (US-9724878). https://patentable.app/patents/US-9724878","copyright_holder":"Nomic Interactive Technology LLC"},"links":{"html":"https://patentable.app/patents/US-9724878","json":"https://patentable.app/api/llm-context/US-9724878","site":"https://patentable.app","llms_txt":"https://patentable.app/llms.txt"},"generated_at":"2026-06-06T14:24:58.891Z"}