Spool assembly with locking mechanism for additive manufacturing system, and methods of use thereof
First Claim
1. A method for loading a spool assembly to an additive manufacturing system, the method comprising:
- providing a spool assembly comprising a rotatable spool with a filament supply thereon and having a locking mechanism configured to engage with the spool to prevent rotation of the spool during transport or storage of the spool assembly;
engaging the locking mechanism with the spool to prevent rotation of the spool;
inserting the spool assembly into a bay of the additive manufacturing system such that the locking mechanism disengages from the spool to allow the spool to rotate within the spool assembly; and
feeding the filament to a print head retained by the additive manufacturing system by rotating spool after the locking mechanism is disengaged from the spool while the spool is in the bay of the additive manufacturing system.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A spool assembly comprising a housing structure, a spool rotatably retained in an interior region of the housing structure, and a sealed sheath encasing the housing structure to define a barrier for the encased housing structure and the rotatably retained spool. The spool assembly further comprises a locking arm disposed outside of the sealed sheath and configured to operably engage the spool through the sealed sheath and through the housing structure in a manner that does not penetrate the sealed sheath, where the locking arm prevents the spool from rotating relative to the housing mechanism when operably engaged with the spool. The locking arm may disengage from the spool in a hands-free manner when the spool assembly is loaded into a bay of an additive manufacturing system.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. A method for loading a spool assembly to an additive manufacturing system, the method comprising:
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providing a spool assembly comprising a rotatable spool with a filament supply thereon and having a locking mechanism configured to engage with the spool to prevent rotation of the spool during transport or storage of the spool assembly; engaging the locking mechanism with the spool to prevent rotation of the spool; inserting the spool assembly into a bay of the additive manufacturing system such that the locking mechanism disengages from the spool to allow the spool to rotate within the spool assembly; and feeding the filament to a print head retained by the additive manufacturing system by rotating spool after the locking mechanism is disengaged from the spool while the spool is in the bay of the additive manufacturing system. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method for loading a spool assembly to an additive manufacturing system, the method comprising:
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providing a spool assembly comprising a spool retaining a filament, wherein the spool is retained within a sealed sheath that defines a barrier for the retained spool; engaging the spool with a locking mechanism of the spool assembly to prevent rotation of the spool assembly; inserting the spool assembly into a bay of the additive manufacturing system; engaging the locking mechanism with a member within the bay while inserting the spool assembly into the bay; and displacing the contacted locking mechanism through engagement with the member located within the bay while inserting the spool assembly into the bay to disengage to the locking mechanism from the spool; and feeding filament from the spool to a print head retained by the additive manufacturing system by rotating the spool within the sealed sheath after the locking mechanism is disengaged from the spool. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method for loading a spool assembly to an additive manufacturing system, the method comprising:
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providing a spool assembly comprising a spool retaining a filament, wherein the spool is retained within a sealed sheath of the spool assembly that defines a barrier for the retained spool; engaging the spool with a locking mechanism of the spool assembly to prevent the spool from rotating in the sealed sheath; inserting the spool assembly into a bay of the additive manufacturing system, which disengages the locking mechanism in a hands-free manner; removing the spool assembly from the bay of the additive manufacturing system; and operably re-engaging the locking arm with the spool of the removed spool assembly. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19)
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Specification