US Patent 10960467 Forming device for producing moulded bodies by selectively hardening powder material

A forming device for producing moulded bodies by selectively hardening powder material to form connected regions, including a process chamber having a powder inlet and a powder outlet. A powder supply apparatus is connected to the powder inlet for providing powder material to the process chamber. A powder recovery apparatus is connected to the powder outlet for receiving and recycling excess powder material from the process chamber. The powder supply and powder recovery apparatuses form a subassembly designed as an interchangeable module. The interchangeable module includes input and output connection interfaces connection-compatible with connection interfaces of the powder inlet and powder outlet. Excess powder is fed from the process chamber through the powder outlet to the powder recovery apparatus via an input interface of the interchangeable module. Powder material prepared by the powder recovery apparatus is fed to the process chamber through the powder inlet via an output interface of the interchangeable module.