Adjustable head mount for digital manufacturing system
First Claim
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1. A head mount for use in a digital manufacturing system that builds three-dimensional models using a layer-based additive technique, the head mount comprising:
- a bearing member configured to be mounted to a head gantry of the digital manufacturing system, wherein the bearing member comprises a bearing hook;
a bracket member configured to retain a deposition head of the digital manufacturing system, wherein the bracket member is movably connected to the bearing member, and wherein the bracket member comprises a hook extension; and
at least one biasing component secured between the bearing member and the bracket member to bias the bracket member away from the bearing member so as to engage the hook extension of the bracket member with the bearing hook of the bearing member, wherein the bracket member is moveable against the bias to disengage the hook extension from the bearing hook in response to a load applied to the deposition head from a platform assembly of the digital manufacturing.
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Abstract
A head mount for use in a digital manufacturing system, where the head mount comprises a first component supported by at least one gantry of the digital manufacturing system, and a second component configured to retain a deposition head of the digital manufacturing system, and to move relative to the first component in response to a load applied to the deposition head from a platform assembly of the digital manufacturing system.
112 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A head mount for use in a digital manufacturing system that builds three-dimensional models using a layer-based additive technique, the head mount comprising:
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a bearing member configured to be mounted to a head gantry of the digital manufacturing system, wherein the bearing member comprises a bearing hook; a bracket member configured to retain a deposition head of the digital manufacturing system, wherein the bracket member is movably connected to the bearing member, and wherein the bracket member comprises a hook extension; and at least one biasing component secured between the bearing member and the bracket member to bias the bracket member away from the bearing member so as to engage the hook extension of the bracket member with the bearing hook of the bearing member, wherein the bracket member is moveable against the bias to disengage the hook extension from the bearing hook in response to a load applied to the deposition head from a platform assembly of the digital manufacturing. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A head mount for use in a digital manufacturing system that builds three-dimensional models using a layer-based additive technique, the head mount comprising:
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a bearing member configured to be mounted to a head gantry of the digital manufacturing system, the bearing member comprising at least one bearing hook; a bracket member configured to retain a deposition head of the digital manufacturing system, the bracket member comprising at least one hook extension, wherein the bracket member is pivotally connected to the bearing member; and at least one biasing component secured between the bearing member and the bracket member to bias the bracket member away from the bearing member so as to engage the at least one hook extension of the bracket member with the at least one bearing hook of the bearing member, wherein the bracket member is configured to pivot relative to the bearing member along a pivot axis when a load is applied to the deposition head to disengage the at least one hook extension apart from the at least one bearing hook. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method of operating a digital manufacturing system, the method comprising:
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retaining a deposition head of the digital manufacturing system in a head mount of the digital manufacturing system, wherein the head mount comprises a bearing member secured to a head gantry of the digital manufacturing system and a bracket member movably connected to the bearing member, and wherein the deposition head is retained by the bracket member; engaging a hook extension of the bracket member with a bearing hook of the bearing member with at least one biasing component that is disposed between the bearing member and the bracket member such that the bracket member is biased in a substantially repeatable position along a vertical axis; moving a platform assembly of the digital manufacturing system in an upward direction along the vertical axis; applying a load to the deposition head in the upward direction by the movement of the platform assembly in the upward direction; and moving the deposition head and the bracket member against the bias in response to the applied load from the platform assembly, wherein moving the bracket member against the bias disengages the hook extension of the bracket member from the bearing hook of the bearing member. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification