CPC B29B 13/022 (2013.01) [B05C 11/1042 (2013.01); B29K 2105/0097 (2013.01)] | 36 Claims |
1. A melt unit, comprising:
a reservoir for receiving molten material;
a hopper for receiving solid material; and
a melt grid disposed between the hopper and the reservoir, wherein the melt grid heats the solid material into the molten material, the melt grid comprising:
a plurality of elongated melting rails that extend along a longitudinal direction, wherein each of the plurality of elongated melting rails is spaced apart along a lateral direction that is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction;
a plurality of flow channels, wherein each of the plurality of flow channels extends between a respective two melting rails of the plurality of elongated melting rails; and
a plurality of guide members, wherein each of the plurality of guide members are positioned below the plurality of flow channels and the plurality of elongated melting rails with a vertical gap therebetween along a vertical direction that is perpendicular to the lateral and longitudinal directions, such that the molten material flows through the plurality of flow channels, across the vertical gap, and along respective flow surfaces of the plurality of guide members as the molten material flows from the hopper to the reservoir.
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