Print head assembly and print head for use in fused deposition modeling system
First Claim
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1. A print head assembly for use in an additive manufacturing system, the print head assembly comprising:
- a carriage frame retained by a gantry mechanism of the additive manufacturing system that is configured to move the carriage frame substantially in a first plane, wherein the carriage frame is configured to operably receive a plurality of individually replaceable print heads;
a control board retained by the carriage frame;
one or more pivot connections retained by the carriage frame, and configured to;
restrict movement of each received print head relative to the carriage frame in directions parallel to the first plane; and
permit pivoting movements of each received print head relative to the carriage frame in directions substantially parallel to a second plane that is orthogonal to the first plane;
a toggle mechanism for each received print head configured to receive electrical power from the control board to controllably move the received print head relative to the carriage frame with the pivoting movements; and
one or more hard stops configured to limit ranges of the pivoting movements of each received print head.
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Abstract
A print head assembly that includes a print head carriage and multiple, replaceable print heads that are configured to be removably retained in receptacles of the print head carriage. The print heads each include a cartridge assembly and a liquefier pump assembly retained by the cartridge assembly.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A print head assembly for use in an additive manufacturing system, the print head assembly comprising:
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a carriage frame retained by a gantry mechanism of the additive manufacturing system that is configured to move the carriage frame substantially in a first plane, wherein the carriage frame is configured to operably receive a plurality of individually replaceable print heads; a control board retained by the carriage frame; one or more pivot connections retained by the carriage frame, and configured to; restrict movement of each received print head relative to the carriage frame in directions parallel to the first plane; and permit pivoting movements of each received print head relative to the carriage frame in directions substantially parallel to a second plane that is orthogonal to the first plane; a toggle mechanism for each received print head configured to receive electrical power from the control board to controllably move the received print head relative to the carriage frame with the pivoting movements; and one or more hard stops configured to limit ranges of the pivoting movements of each received print head. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A print head assembly for use in an additive manufacturing system, the print head assembly comprising:
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a carriage frame configured to be retained by a gantry mechanism of the additive manufacturing system to move the carriage frame substantially in an x-y plane of an x-y-z Cartesian coordinate system, wherein the carriage frame is also configured to operably receive a plurality of individually replaceable print heads; one or more pivot connections retained by the carriage frame, and configured to; restrict movement of each received print head relative to the carriage frame in directions parallel to the x-y plane; and permit pivoting movements of each received print head relative to the carriage frame in directions parallel to a y-z plane; a toggle mechanism for each received print head, wherein each toggle mechanism is configured to controllably move the received print head relative to the carriage frame with the pivoting movements in a manner that is independent of the controlled movements of other received print heads; and one or more hard stops configured to limit ranges of the pivoting movements of each received print head. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A print head assembly for use in an additive manufacturing system, the print head assembly comprising:
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a carriage frame configured to be retained by a gantry mechanism of the additive manufacturing system to move the carriage frame substantially in a plane; a first print head having a first liquefier tip, and configured to be pivotally connected to the carriage frame in a manner that restricts movement of the first print head relative to the carriage frame in directions parallel to the plane, and that permits pivoting movements of the first print head relative to the carriage frame; a second print head having a second liquefier tip, and configured to be pivotally connected to the carriage frame in a manner that restricts movement of the second print head relative to the carriage frame in directions parallel to the plane, and that permits pivoting movements of the second print head relative to the carriage frame; a first voice coil mechanism configured to controllably raise and lower the first liquefier tip of the first print head relative to the plane with the pivoting movements; a second voice coil mechanism configured to controllably raise and lower the second liquefier tip of the second print head relative to the plane with the pivoting movements in a manner that is independent of the pivoting movements of the first print head; and one or more hard stops configured to limit ranges of the pivoting movements of the first and second received print heads. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification