公开(公告)号：US20220016837A1

公开(公告)日：2022-01-20

申请号：US17294116

申请日：2019-11-14

Applicant: Stratasys, Inc.

Inventor： Matt PeKarna ,  Shawn Koop ,  Peter Schuller ,  Jordan Nadeau ,  David Alvig

IPC: B29C64/227 ,  B33Y40/00 ,  B29C64/118 ,  B29C64/321 ,  B65H51/10

Abstract: A filament drive mechanism for use with an additive manufacturing system includes at least first and second drives. Each drive includes a first rotatable shaft and a second rotatable shaft engaged with the first rotatable shaft in a counter rotational configuration. Each drive includes a pair of filament engagement elements, one on each rotatable shaft, and positioned on opposing sides of the filament path with a gap therebetween so as to engage a filament provided in the filament path. The drive mechanism includes a bridge follower configured to rotatably couple the first drive to the second drive wherein one of the shafts is a drive shaft configured to be driven by a motor at a rotational rate selected to advance the filament at a desired feed rate and to cause the other shafts to rotate at the same rotational rate, such that each pair of filament engagement teeth will engage a filament in the filament path and will coordinate to advance the filament while counter-rotating at the same rotational rate to drive the filament into a liquefier.

公开(公告)号：US11760020B2

公开(公告)日：2023-09-19

申请号：US17974802

申请日：2022-10-27

Applicant: Stratasys, Inc.

Inventor： Cody Smith ,  Christopher Herbst ,  Ross Michalkiewicz ,  Shawn Michael Koop ,  Jordan Nadeau

IPC: B29C64/321 ,  B29C64/118 ,  B29C64/209 ,  B33Y50/02 ,  B33Y10/00 ,  B33Y30/00 ,  B29C64/393

CPC classification number: B29C64/321 ,  B29C64/118 ,  B29C64/209 ,  B29C64/393 ,  B33Y10/00 ,  B33Y30/00 ,  B33Y50/02

Abstract: A low pull force system for feeding a filament along a feed path from a source to a liquefier in a 3D printer includes a low compressive force loading drive for advancing filament from the source, a feed drive for advancing filament into the liquefier, and an in-line accumulator comprising a telescoping joint positioned in the feed path between the loading drive and the feed drive. When the telescoping joint is in a contracted position, the loading drive activates to feed filament into the feed path at a rate faster than a rate at which the feed drive advances filament into the liquefier, causing the telescoping joint to expand and accrue a slack of filament in the feed path. When the telescoping joint reaches an extended position, the loading drive deactivates while the feed drive continues to advance filament into the liquefier, and the slack of filament is consumed.