PRINT HEAD ASSEMBLY FOR USE IN FUSED DEPOSITION MODELING SYSTEM

• US 20120162314A1
• Filed: 12/22/2010
• Published: 06/28/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Stratasys Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Stratasys Incorporated
• Inventors: Swanson, William J., Batchelder, J. Samuel, Johnson, Kevin C.
• Granted Patent: US 8,419,996 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 347/37
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 64/106 using only liquids or viscous materials, e.g. depositing a continuous bead of viscous material
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 64/118 using filamentary material being melted, e.g. fused deposition modelling [FDM]
• CPC Class Codes: B33Y 30/00 Apparatus for additive manufacturing; Details thereof or accessories therefor

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.

Claims

1. A print head assembly for use in a fused deposition modeling system, the print head assembly comprising:

a carriage frame configured to be retained by a gantry mechanism of the fused deposition modeling system; and

a receptacle supported from the carriage frame such that the receptacle is moveable relative to the carriage frame along at least one axis, wherein the receptacle is configured to securely retain a removable print head in a manner that prevents the retained print head from moving relative to the receptacle during operation of the fused deposition modeling system.

2. The print head assembly of claim 1, wherein the receptacle is supported from the carriage frame with at least one suspension mechanism that is configured to restrict movement of the receptacle relative to the carriage frame to directions substantially along a single axis of the at least one axis.

3. The print head assembly of claim 2, wherein the at least one suspension mechanism comprises at least one flexure member.

4. The print head assembly of claim 1, and further comprising a toggle mechanism configured to move the receptacle relative to the carriage frame along the at least one axis.

5. The print head assembly of claim 4, wherein the toggle mechanism comprises a voice coil.

6. The print head assembly of claim 1, and further comprising an encoder assembly configured to measure the position of the receptacle relative to the carriage frame along the at least one axis.

7. The print head assembly of claim 1, wherein the receptacle comprises a vent opening, and wherein the print head assembly further comprises a cooling unit configured to direct air through the vent opening to the print head when the print head is received in the base portion.

8. The print head assembly of claim 1, wherein the receptacle is a first receptacle and the removable print head is a first removable print head, wherein the print head assembly further comprises a second receptacle supported from the carriage frame such that the second receptacle is moveable relative to the carriage frame along the at least one axis independently of the first receptacle, and wherein the second receptacle is configured to securely retain a second removable print head in a manner that prevents the second received print head from moving relative to the second receptacle during operation of the fused deposition modeling system.

9. A print head assembly for use in a fused deposition modeling system, the print head assembly comprising:

a carriage frame configured to be retained by a gantry mechanism of the fused deposition modeling system; and

a receptacle comprising;

a base portion supported from the carriage frame and configured to receive a removable print head, wherein the base portion comprises an alignment feature configured to engage with a reciprocal alignment feature of the received print head; and

a lid configured to close against the base portion to retain the received print head at least partially within the receptacle.

10. The print head assembly of claim 9, and further comprising:

a lid electrical circuit retained by the lid;

an electrical contact connected to the lid electrical circuit and configured to engage the received print head when the lid is closed against the base portion.

11. The print head assembly of claim 10, and further comprising a control board secured to the carriage frame, and having a control board interface, wherein the lid electrical circuit is configured to communicate with the control board interface.

12. The print head assembly of claim 9, wherein the lid comprises:

at least one latch clamp configured to engage the base portion when the lid is closed against the base portion; and

a pinch actuator configured to disengage the at least one latch clamp from the base portion.

13. The print head assembly of claim 9, and further comprising at least one toggle mechanism configured to move the receptacle relative to the carriage frame.

14. The print head assembly of claim 13, wherein the receptacles is supported from the carriage frame with at least one flexure member configured to restrict movement of the receptacle relative to the carriage frame to directions substantially along a single axis.

15. A fused deposition modeling system comprising:

a platen;

a gantry configured to move relative to the platen;

a carriage frame secured to the gantry;

a control board secured to the carriage frame; and

a plurality of receptacles suspended from the carriage frame such that the plurality of receptacles are moveable relative to the carriage frame along at least one axis independently of each other, wherein each of the plurality of receptacles are configured to securely retain a removable print head, and wherein each of the plurality of receptacles are configured to relay electrical power and communications between the control board and the retained print head.

16. The fused deposition modeling system of claim 15, and further comprising at least one encoder assembly configured to measure positions of the plurality of receptacles along the at least one axis.

17. The fused deposition modeling system of claim 15, and further comprising a plurality of toggle mechanisms configured to move the plurality of receptacles relative to the carriage frame along the at least one axis.

18. The fused deposition modeling system of claim 17, wherein at least one of the plurality of toggle mechanisms comprises a voice coil.

19. The fused deposition modeling system of claim 15, wherein the plurality of receptacles are supported from the carriage frame with at least one suspension mechanism that is configured to restrict movements of the receptacles relative to the carriage frame to directions substantially along a single axis of the at least one axis.

20. The fused deposition modeling system of claim 19, and further comprising a plurality of print heads configured to be secured to the plurality of receptacles, and further configured to communicate with the control board.