Filament supply with sealed connector for use with a 3D printer

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11760001-B2
Application number	US-202016834804-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 30, 2020
Priority date	Mar 29, 2019
Publication date	Sep 19, 2023
Grant date	Sep 19, 2023

Abstract

A consumable assembly for supplying filament to a 3D printer having two or more receptacles having different geometric configurations, the 3D printer builds parts by material extrusion. The consumable assembly includes a container configured to retain a supply of a first filament, and a first filament guide tube having a length, the first filament guide tube having an inlet end attached to the first container and an outlet end, The consumable assembly includes a key having a geometric configuration allowing the key to be plugged into only one receptacle of the two or more receptacles of the 3D printer, the key comprising a conduit having an entrance and an exit, a coupling portion, and an engagement portion, wherein the entrance to the conduit is coupled to the outlet end of the first filament guide tube to thereby form a closed filament path from the first container to the 3D printer.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An additive manufacturing system comprising:
a 3D printer having a first and a second print head each configured to receive a filament, melt the filament, and deposit the melted filament to form a 3D part, and having a first receptacle and a second receptacle each configured for accepting a plug-in connector from a filament supply, the first and second receptacles having different geometric configurations;
a first filament supply comprising:
a first container configured to retain a supply of a first filament;
a first filament guide tube having a length, the first filament guide tube comprising:
an inlet end attached to the first container; and
an outlet end;

a first key having a first geometric configuration allowing the first key to be plugged into the first receptacle and comprising a conduit having an entrance and an exit, a coupling portion, and an engagement portion, wherein the entrance to the conduit is coupled to the outlet end of the first filament guide tube to thereby form a closed filament path from the first container to the 3D printer; and

a second filament supply comprising:
a second container configured to retain a supply of a second filament, the second filament being a different from the first filament;
a second filament guide tube having a length, the second filament guide tube comprising:
an inlet end attached to the second container; and
an outlet end; and

a second key having a second geometric configuration allowing the second key to be plugged into the second receptacle and comprising a conduit having an entrance and an exit, a coupling portion, and an engagement portion, wherein the entrance to the conduit is coupled to the outlet end of the second filament guide tube to thereby form a closed filament path from the second container to the 3D printer, wherein allows the second key to be plugged into the second receptacle;
wherein the first geometric configuration of the first key prevents the first key from being plugged into the second receptacle and the second geometric configuration of the second key prevents the second key from being plugged into the first receptacle
wherein the first and second keys are constructed of an elastomeric material having a Shore A hardness ranging from about 30 to about 95 and the first and second keys form a seal with the first and second receptacles and substantially prevent ambient air infiltration therethrough, respectively.

2. The additive manufacturing system of claim 1 , wherein portions of the first and second filament guide tubes at the outlet ends thereof are inserted into the conduits of the first and second keys, and thereby provide rigidity to the elastomeric first and second keys.

3. The additive manufacturing system of claim 1 , wherein the first and second keys are of a unitary construction that forms a seal with the first and second receptacles, respectively.

4. The additive manufacturing system of claim 1 , wherein the first and second keys are retained within the first and second receptacles with a frictional engagement.

5. The additive manufacturing system of claim 4 , wherein the engagement portions of the first and second key have a unique shape with respect to one another which prevent each key from being plugged in to the receptacle intended to receive the other key.

6. The additive manufacturing system of claim 3 , and further comprising first and second wiper seals within the conduits of the first and second keys wherein the wiper seals form seals with the first and second filaments as the filaments pass therethrough to thereby limit air transfer into the filament guide tubes.

7. The additive manufacturing system of claim 1 , wherein the first and second keys each comprises a recess configured to guides a user to insert the key into its receptacle to the depth necessary to for effective engagement.

8. The additive manufacturing system of claim 7 , and further comprising:
a first circuit board positioned within the recess of the first key wherein the first circuit board is retained in the recess of the first key utilizing a geometry of the recess and friction; and
a second circuit board positioned within the recess of the second key wherein the second circuit board is retained in the recess of the second key utilizing a geometry of the recess and friction.

9. A consumable assembly for supplying filament to a 3D printer having two or more receptacles having different geometric configurations, the 3D printer builds parts by material extrusion, the consumable assembly comprising:
a container configured to retain a supply of a first filament;
a first filament guide tube having a length, the first filament guide tube comprising:
an inlet end attached to the first container; and
an outlet end;

a key having a geometric configuration allowing the key to be plugged into only one receptacle of the two or more receptacles of the 3D printer, the key comprising a conduit having an entrance and an exit, a coupling portion, and an engagement portion, wherein the entrance to the conduit is coupled to the outlet end of the first filament guide tube to thereby form a closed filament path from the first container to the 3D printer, wherein the key is constructed of an elastomeric material having a Shore A hardness ranging from about 30 to about 95 and the key is configured to form a seal with one of the two or more receptacles, wherein the seal substantially prevents ambient air infiltration therethrough.

10. The consumable assembly of claim 9 , wherein portions of the filament guide tube at the outlet end thereof is into the conduits of the key, and thereby provide rigidity to the elastomeric key.

11. The consumable assembly of claim 9 , wherein the key is a unitary construction that forms a seal with the receptacle.

12. The consumable assembly of claim 9 , wherein the key retained within the receptacle with a frictional engagement.

13. The consumable assembly of claim 12 , and where the key further comprising a wiper seal within the conduit of the key wherein the wiper seals form seals with the filament as the filament passes therethrough to thereby limit air transfer into the filament guide tube.

14. The consumable assembly of claim 9 , wherein the key comprises a recess configured to guide a user to insert the key into its receptacle to the depth necessary to for effective engagement.

15. The consumable assembly of claim 14 , and further comprising:
a circuit board positioned within the recess of the key wherein the circuit board is retained in the recess of the key utilizing a geometry of the recess and friction.

16. A method of feeding consumable filament material to a 3D printer, the method comprising:
providing a filament supply comprising a filament coil within a container, a filament guide tube coupled to the container at an inlet end thereof, and a connector coupled to the guide tube at an outlet end thereof, wherein a conduit through the filament guide tube and the connector form a closed filament feed path;
coupling the filament supply to the 3D printer by inserting the connector into a mating receptacle of the 3D printer and forming a seal between the connector and the receptable;
feeding filament to the 3D printer by advancing filament from the filament coil along the closed filament feed path and through the connector, wherein the connector comprises:
a unitary construction of an elastomeric material having a Shore A hardness ranging from about 30 to about 95 having a through bore configured to accept an outlet end of the filament guide tube and form a seal there

Assignees

• Stratasys Inc

Inventors

• Swanson William J
• Johnson Brett

Classifications

• B29C64/255 Primary

  Enclosures for the building material, e.g. powder containers · CPC title

• B29C64/118 Primary

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

• B29C64/336

  of two or more materials · CPC title

• B33Y10/00

  Processes of additive manufacturing · CPC title

• B33Y30/00

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