CPC B29C 70/526 (2013.01) [B29C 70/527 (2013.01); B29C 70/545 (2013.01); B29C 48/37 (2019.02); B29C 64/118 (2017.08); B29C 64/147 (2017.08); B29C 64/209 (2017.08); B29C 64/321 (2017.08); B29C 70/382 (2013.01); B29C 70/52 (2013.01); B33Y 10/00 (2014.12); B33Y 30/00 (2014.12)] | 9 Claims |
1. A soft material extruder including:
a) a housing having:
i) a cavity;
ii) an inlet configured to receive a material; and,
iii) an outlet;
b) a first intermeshed gear pair positioned in the cavity proximate the inlet, the first intermeshed gear pair that when driven is configured to draw the material from the inlet into the cavity;
c) a heating element positioned in the cavity proximate the outlet, wherein the heating element is configured to melt the material to form a molten material in the vicinity of the outlet; and,
d) a second intermeshed gear pair positioned in the cavity proximate the outlet, the second intermeshed gear pair forming a gear pump that when driven is configured to push the molten material towards the outlet so that the molten material is expelled from the outlet.
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