Spring-loaded nozzle assemblies

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10821665-B2
Application number	US-201715622933-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 14, 2017
Priority date	Jun 14, 2016
Publication date	Nov 3, 2020
Grant date	Nov 3, 2020

Abstract

A printing system includes a printing assembly and a gas delivery system includes a gas nozzle assembly. The print assembly and gas nozzle assembly may include a first portion and a second portion that may translate with respect to each other. When the first portion is subjected to a sufficient force the first portion may translate with respect to the second portion.

First claim

We claim:

1. A printing assembly, comprising:
a support structure;
the support structure including an upper portion and a lower portion;
a passageway extending through the support structure from the upper portion to the lower portion;
a printhead having a retaining portion and a nozzle, the retaining portion being on an opposite end of the printhead from the nozzle, the retaining portion being located within the passageway of the support structure;
a spring including a lower end that contacts an upper surface of the retaining portion of the printhead;
the printhead being able to translate through the passageway from an extended position to a retracted position, the upper surface of the retaining portion being located closer to the upper portion of the support structure in the retracted position than in the extended position;
the spring biasing the printhead to the extended position, a portion of the spring being disposed in the passageway;
a set of spacing members, the set of spacing members disposed between the upper portion of the support structure and the lower portion of the support structure, a length of the set of spacing members determining a distance between the upper portion and the lower portion, the distance between the upper portion and the lower portion corresponding to a stroke length of the printhead from the retracted position to the extended position;
wherein the printhead deflects from the extended position toward the retracted position when the nozzle experiences a force sufficient to compress the spring.

2. The printing assembly according to claim 1 , wherein each spacing member of the set of spacing members includes a through hole; and
wherein each through hole of the set of spacing members is configured to receive a fastener that secures each spacing member of the set of spacing members to the upper portion of the support structure and secures each spacing member of the set of spacing members to the lower portion of the support structure.

3. The printing assembly according to claim 2 , wherein the upper portion of the support structure includes a set of upper through holes, wherein each through hole in the set of upper through holes is aligned with a corresponding through hole in a spacing member of the set of spacing members;
wherein the lower portion of the support structure includes a set of lower through holes, wherein each through hole in the set of lower through holes is aligned with a corresponding through hole in a spacing member of the set of spacing members; and
wherein each fastener is positioned through an upper through hole in the set of upper through holes, a through hole in a spacing member of the set of spacing members and through a lower through hole in the set of lower through holes to secure the set of spacing members to the upper portion and to secure the lower portion to the set of spacing members.

4. The printing assembly according to claim 1 , wherein:
each spacing member of the set of spacing members includes at least one planar side surface that extends between a lower end and an upper end of the spacing member of the set of spacing members;
the retaining portion of the printhead includes one or more planar engaging surfaces, each of the one or more planar engaging surfaces facing the at least one planar side surface of each spacing member of the set of spacing members; and
wherein the one or more planar engaging surfaces of the printhead contact the planar side surface of each spacing member of the set of spacing members such that the printhead is restricted from rotating about a central axis of the printhead.

5. The printing assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the upper portion of the support structure is configured with an attachment interface to be secured to an arm.

6. The printing assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the distance traveled by the printhead in moving from the extended position to the retracted position is in a range between one millimeter and ten millimeters.

7. The printing assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the lower portion of the support structure includes a guide hole extending from an upper surface of the lower portion to a lower surface of the lower portion;
the guide hole having a guide hole cross section, the nozzle having a nozzle cross section and a lower surface of the retaining portion having a retaining cross section;
the guide hole cross section being larger than the nozzle cross section allowing the nozzle to pass through the guide hole; and
wherein the retaining cross section is larger than the guide hole cross section and prevents the retaining portion from passing through the guide hole.

8. A printing assembly, comprising:
a support structure and a carriage, the carriage including a base portion, and an opening disposed through the base portion;
a printhead having a retaining portion and a nozzle, the retaining portion having an upper surface on an opposite end of the printhead from the nozzle;
the printhead disposed through the opening of the base portion of the carriage and being secured to the base portion of the carriage such that the upper surface of the retaining portion and the nozzle are on opposite sides of the base portion;
the support structure including a set of rods, each rod of the set of rods including a through hole;
the carriage including a set of sleeves, each sleeve of the set of sleeves including a through hole;
each rod of the set of rods being disposed in a corresponding through hole of the set of sleeves;
the carriage being able to translate from an extended position to a retracted position, the upper surface of the retaining portion being located closer to the support structure in the retracted position than in the extended position;
a spring being located within each through hole of the set of sleeves, the spring biasing the carriage to the extended position; and
a fastener disposed through each of the set of rods and through each of the set of sleeves, each fastener securing the support structure to the carriage;
wherein the support structure deflects from the extended position toward the retracted position when the nozzle experiences a force sufficient to compress the spring.

9. The printing assembly according to claim 8 , wherein the fastener includes:
a threaded end and a head, the threaded end disposed through an upper surface of the support structure and the head being located along a lower surface of the carriage;
a nut disposed around the threaded end; and
wherein rotating the nut changes the distance between the carriage and the support structure by changing a distance between the nut and the head of the fastener, the head of the fastener moving the lower portion relative to the support structure.

10. The printing assembly according to claim 8 , wherein the support structure is configured with an attachment interface to be secured to an arm.

11. The printing assembly according to claim 8 , wherein the base portion of the carriage has a triangular shape and wherein each sleeve of the set of sleeves is oriented adjacent a vertex of the carriage.

12. The printing assembly according to claim 8 , wherein the base portion includes a securement through hole, wherein a fastener is disposed through the securement through hole and engages with the printhead and secures the printhead in place.

13. A system for orienting a printhead for multi-axial material dispensing, comprising:
an arm including a tool attachment portion;
a printing assembly attached to the tool attachment portion of the arm;
the printing assembly including a support structure;
the support structure including an upper portion a

Assignees

• Nike Inc

Inventors

• Sterman Yoav
• Waatti Todd A

Classifications

• B33Y30/00 Primary

  Apparatus for additive manufacturing; Details thereof or accessories therefor · CPC title

• B29C64/209

  Heads; Nozzles · CPC title

• B29C64/118

  using filamentary material being melted, e.g. fused deposition modelling [FDM] · CPC title

• B29C64/236 Primary

  for motion in a direction within the plane of a layer · CPC title

• B29C48/265

  Support structures or bases for apparatus, e.g. frames · CPC title