Filament loading system in an extrusion apparatus
First Claim
1. An extrusion apparatus having a liquifier that receives a feedstock of material in filament form and delivers the material in a flowable state, comprising:
- a loading bay;
a substantially enclosed cassette containing spooled filament, inserted in the loading bay; and
means for engaging a strand of the filament in the loading bay and advancing the filament strand along a path to the liquifier.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus which extrudes flowable material from a liquifier includes a system for loading filament supplied in a cassette. The cassette is loaded into a loading bay of the apparatus. A strand of filament from the cassette is engaged and advanced along a path to the liquifier using a drive wheel or roller pair. A conduit having an entrance in the loading bay guides the filament as it is advanced. The filament loading system of the present invention provides a convenient manner of loading and unloading filament in a three-dimensional modeling machine, and can be implemented in a manner that protects the filament from environmental moisture.
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Citations
28 Claims
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1. An extrusion apparatus having a liquifier that receives a feedstock of material in filament form and delivers the material in a flowable state, comprising:
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a loading bay;
a substantially enclosed cassette containing spooled filament, inserted in the loading bay; and
means for engaging a strand of the filament in the loading bay and advancing the filament strand along a path to the liquifier. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A three-dimensional modeling machine having a liquifier that receives modeling material in filament form and delivers the material in a flowable state, comprising:
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a loading bay for receiving a cassette containing spooled filament;
means for engaging a strand of the filament in the loading bay; and
means for automatically advancing the filament strand along a path to the liquifier. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A three-dimensional modeling machine having a liquifier that receives modeling material in filament form and delivers the material in a flowable state, comprising:
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a loading bay for receiving a cassette containing spooled filament; and
a filament cassette receiver for engaging the cassette in the loading bay, said receiver comprising;
a conduit for receiving a filament strand from the cassette and guiding the filament strand along a path to the liquifier; and
means for advancing the filament strand through the conduit. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A three-dimensional modeling machine having a liquifier that receives modeling material in filament form and delivers the material in a flowable state, comprising:
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a loading bay for receiving a cassette containing spooled filament;
a conduit configured to mate with an exit orifice of the cassette for receiving a filament strand from the cassette and guiding the filament strand along a path to the liquifier; and
a drive roller for advancing the filament strand through the conduit. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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Specification