Multi-extruder
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A device comprising:
- a first motor having a first axis extending in a first direction;
a second motor having a second axis extending in a second direction opposite the first direction, the second axis parallel to and overlapping with the first axis;
a first gear rigidly coupled to the first axis, the first gear having a first concave, toothed portion around a first perimeter thereof;
a second gear rigidly coupled to the second axis at a first position axially offset from the first gear, the second gear having a second concave, toothed portion around a second perimeter thereof;
a first bearing rotatably coupled to the first axis at a second position axially aligned with the second gear of the second axis, thereby forming a channel between the first bearing and the second gear to receive and move a first filament by rotation of the second motor; and
a second bearing rotatably coupled to the second axis at a third position axially aligned with the first gear of the first axis, thereby forming a second channel between the second bearing and the first gear to receive and move a second filament by rotation of the first motor.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Multiple extrusion drive motors are nested in an overlapping configuration that permits re-use of the drive axes to support drive gears and complementary guide bearings, resulting in a compact arrangement of independently controllable extruders for multiple build materials.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A device comprising:
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a first motor having a first axis extending in a first direction; a second motor having a second axis extending in a second direction opposite the first direction, the second axis parallel to and overlapping with the first axis; a first gear rigidly coupled to the first axis, the first gear having a first concave, toothed portion around a first perimeter thereof; a second gear rigidly coupled to the second axis at a first position axially offset from the first gear, the second gear having a second concave, toothed portion around a second perimeter thereof; a first bearing rotatably coupled to the first axis at a second position axially aligned with the second gear of the second axis, thereby forming a channel between the first bearing and the second gear to receive and move a first filament by rotation of the second motor; and a second bearing rotatably coupled to the second axis at a third position axially aligned with the first gear of the first axis, thereby forming a second channel between the second bearing and the first gear to receive and move a second filament by rotation of the first motor. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A three-dimensional fabrication device comprising:
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a multi-extruder having a pair of drive motors, each having an axis with a fixed gear and a free-wheeling bearing, the pair of drive motors arranged in an opposing, overlapping arrangement so that the fixed gear of one drive motor aligns with the free-wheeling bearing of the other drive motor to form two independently controllable filament drives; an interior chamber to receive a build material from at least one of the two independently controllable filament drives; a heating element that liquefies the build material; a nozzle that extrudes the build material; a build platform that receives an object formed of the build material that is extruded from the nozzle; a positioning assembly that positions the build platform relative to the extruder during a build; and a controller coupled in a communicating relationship with the multi-extruder and the positioning assembly and programmed to control the multi-extruder and the positioning assembly in a build process. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification