Single-motor extrusion head having multiple extrusion lines

• US 7,604,470 B2
• Filed: 04/03/2006
• Issued: 10/20/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 04/03/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Stratasys Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Stratasys Incorporated
• Inventors: LaBossiere, Joseph E., Eshelman, Marvin E., Dunn, Benjamin N., McDonough, Thomas J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gupta; Yogendra
• Assistant Examiner(s): Luk; Emmanuel S
• Application Number:
  US11/396,845
• Publication Number:
  US 20070228590A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,296 Days
• Field of Search: 425/130, 425/131.1, 425/145, 425/146, 425/147, 425/182, 425/190, 425/162, 425/169, 425/376.1, 425/375, 226/187, 226/189, 226/191
• US Class Current: 425/131.1
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2948/92571 Position, e.g. linear or angular
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2948/926 Flow or feed rate
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2948/92723 Content, e.g. percentage of humidity, volatiles, contaminants or degassing
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2948/92904 Die; Nozzle zone
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 48/02 Small extruding apparatus, e.g. handheld, toy or laboratory extruders
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 48/05 Filamentary, e.g. strands
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 48/2556 provided in or in the proximity of dies B29C48/302, B29C48/31, B29C48/325 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 48/266 Means for allowing relative movements between the apparatus parts, e.g. for twisting the extruded article or for moving the die along a surface to be coated
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 64/106 using only liquids or viscous materials, e.g. depositing a continuous bead of viscous material
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 64/118 using filamentary material being melted, e.g. fused deposition modelling [FDM]
• CPC Class Codes: B33Y 30/00 Apparatus for additive manufacturing; Details thereof or accessories therefor

Abstract

An extrusion head comprising at least one drive wheel and an assembly positionable between at least a first state and a second state. The assembly comprises a first extrusion line configured to engage the at least one drive wheel while the assembly is positioned in the first state, and a second extrusion line configured to engage the at least one drive wheel while the assembly is positioned in the second state.

Claims

1. An extrusion head comprising:

at least one drive wheel; and

an assembly positionable between at least a first state and a second state, the assembly comprising;

a first extrusion line configured to engage the at least one drive wheel while the assembly is positioned in the first state; and

a second extrusion line configured to engage the at least one drive wheel while the assembly is positioned in the second state;

wherein the at least one drive wheel rotates in a first rotational direction when engaged with the first extrusion line and rotates in a second rotational direction when engaged with the second extrusion line, the second rotational direction being opposite the first rotational direction.

2. The extrusion head of claim 1, wherein the first extrusion line comprises:

an idler wheel disposed adjacent the at least one drive wheel while the assembly is positioned in the first state;

a liquefier block having an entrance channel and an exit channel, the entrance channel being adjacent the idler wheel; and

an extrusion tip disposed adjacent the exit channel of the liquefier block.

3. The extrusion head of claim 1, further comprising a toggle switch configured to move the assembly between at least the first state and the second state.

4. The extrusion head of claim 3, wherein the toggle switch comprises a toggle bar slidable between a first point and a second point for positioning the assembly between at least the first state and the second state.

5. The extrusion head of claim 4, wherein the toggle bar comprises a track configured to engage with the assembly.

6. The extrusion head of claim 1, further comprising a sensor for identifying the state in which the assembly is positioned.

8. The extrusion head of claim 1, further comprising an airflow manifold having a plurality of exit orifices.

13. The extrusion head of claim 1, wherein the toggle switch comprises a sensor configured to identify a state in which the assembly is positioned.

14. The extrusion head of claim 13, wherein the toggle switch further comprises a toggle bar slidable relative to the translator, and wherein the sensor is configured to detect the sliding of the toggle bar.

7. The extrusion head of clam 1, wherein the at least one drive wheel is a single drive wheel.

9. An extrusion head comprising:

a translator;

a drive wheel rotatably connected to the translator;

an assembly pivotally connected to the translator, and comprising a first extrusion line and a second extrusion line; and

a toggle switch connected to the translator and engaged with the assembly for positioning the assembly in at least a first state and a second state, wherein the first extrusion line is configured to engage the drive wheel while the assembly is positioned in the first state, and the second extrusion line is configured to engage the drive wheel while the assembly is positioned in the second state.

10. The extrusion head of claim 9, wherein the first extrusion line comprises:

an idler wheel disposed adjacent the drive wheel while the assembly is positioned in the first state;

a liquefier block having an entrance channel and an exit channel, the entrance channel being adjacent the idler wheel; and

an extrusion tip disposed adjacent the exit channel of the liquefier block.

11. The extrusion head of claim 9, wherein the toggle switch comprises a toggle bar slidable relative to the translator.

12. The extrusion head of claim 11, wherein the toggle bar comprises a track configured to engage with the assembly for pivoting the assembly relative to the translator.

15. An extrusion head comprising:

a translator;

a toggle switch connected to the translator and configured to move through a plurality of positions including a first state position and a second state position;

a drive wheel rotatably connected to the translator;

a first wheel moveable relative to the translator and configured to engage the drive wheel when the toggle switch is positioned in the first state position; and

a second wheel moveable relative to the translator and configured to engage the drive wheel when the toggle switch positioned in the second state position.

16. The extrusion head of claim 15, and further comprising:

a first liquefier block having an entrance channel and an exit channel, the entrance channel of the first liquefier block being adjacent the first wheel; and

a first extrusion tip disposed adjacent the exit channel of the first liquefier block.

17. The extrusion head of claim 16, and further comprising:

a second liquefier block having an entrance channel and an exit channel, the entrance channel of the second liquefier block being adjacent the second wheel; and

a second extrusion tip disposed adjacent the exit channel of the second liquefier block.

18. The extrusion head of claim 15, wherein the toggle switch comprises a toggle bar slidable relative to the translator.

19. The extrusion head of claim 15, and further comprising a toggle assembly engaged with the first wheel, the second wheel, and the toggle switch, wherein the toggle assembly is configured to move the first wheel to engage the drive wheel when the toggle switch positioned in the first state position, and wherein the toggle assembly is further configured to move the second wheel to engage the drive wheel when the toggle switch is positioned in the second state position.

20. The extrusion head of clam 15, wherein the drive wheel is configured to rotate in a first rotational direction when engaged with the first wheel and configured to rotate in a second rotational direction when engaged with the second wheel, the second rotational direction being opposite the first rotational direction.