Universal adapter for consumable assembly used with additive manufacturing system
First Claim
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1. A consumable assembly for use with an additive manufacturing system having a print head and a mating panel that is disposed at remote location from a print head, the consumable assembly comprising:
- a container portion having a supply of a consumable filament;
a flexible guide tube having a first end disposed in the container portion and a second end; and
a universal adapter that is separate from the container portion, and comprising;
an inlet opening through which the second end of the guide tube extends;
a coupling mechanism configured to secure the universal adapter to the mating panel;
an outlet orifice configured to engage a reciprocating opening of the mating panel; and
a filament drive mechanism engaged with a segment of the consumable filament that is fed from the container portion, through the guide tube, and into the universal adapter, wherein the filament drive mechanism is configured to relay the consumable filament from the outlet orifice of the universal adapter and into the reciprocating opening of the mating panel.
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Abstract
A universal adapter for use with a consumable assembly that is configured for use with an additive manufacturing system, the universal adapter comprising an inlet opening configured to receive a guide tube of the consumable assembly, and a connection member at the outlet end, which is configured interface with a mating panel of the additive manufacturing system.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A consumable assembly for use with an additive manufacturing system having a print head and a mating panel that is disposed at remote location from a print head, the consumable assembly comprising:
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a container portion having a supply of a consumable filament; a flexible guide tube having a first end disposed in the container portion and a second end; and a universal adapter that is separate from the container portion, and comprising; an inlet opening through which the second end of the guide tube extends; a coupling mechanism configured to secure the universal adapter to the mating panel; an outlet orifice configured to engage a reciprocating opening of the mating panel; and a filament drive mechanism engaged with a segment of the consumable filament that is fed from the container portion, through the guide tube, and into the universal adapter, wherein the filament drive mechanism is configured to relay the consumable filament from the outlet orifice of the universal adapter and into the reciprocating opening of the mating panel. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A consumable assembly for use with an additive manufacturing system having a print head and a mating panel that is disposed at remote location from a print head, the consumable assembly comprising:
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a container portion configured to retain a supply of a consumable filament; an adapter that is separate from the container portion, and comprising; an adapter housing having an inlet end and an outlet end; an inlet opening at the inlet end configured to receive the consumable filament from the container portion; a coupling mechanism at the outlet end configured to secure the adapter to the mating panel; and an outlet orifice at the outlet end configured to engage a reciprocating opening of the mating panel, and further configured to relay the consumable filament from the adapter and into the reciprocating opening of the mating panel. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A consumable assembly for use with an additive manufacturing system having a print head and a mating panel that is disposed at remote location from a print head, the consumable assembly comprising:
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a consumable filament retained in a figure-8 coil configuration and having a payout hole; a payout tube disposed in the payout hole; a flexible guide tube having a first end at the payout tube and a second end; an adapter comprising; an adapter housing having an inlet end and an outlet end; an inlet opening at the inlet end, wherein the second end of the guide tube extends into the inlet opening; a coupling mechanism at the outlet end configured to secure the adapter to the mating panel; and an outlet orifice at the outlet end configured to engage a reciprocating opening of the mating panel, and further configured to relay the consumable filament from the adapter and into the reciprocating opening of the mating panel. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification