US 11,911,966 B2
Device and method of feeding a thermoplastic filament
Jonathan Palmaers, Meeuwen Gruitrode (BE)
Assigned to INDUSTRIÉLE CONSTRUCTIES SYMONS BVBA, Peer (BE)
Appl. No. 17/297,256
Filed by Industriële Constructies Symons BVBA, Peer (BE)
PCT Filed Oct. 28, 2019, PCT No. PCT/IB2019/059235
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date May 26, 2021,
PCT Pub. No. WO2020/109886, PCT Pub. Date Jun. 4, 2020.
Claims priority of application No. 2018/5836 (BE), filed on Nov. 29, 2018.
Prior Publication US 2022/0024131 A1, Jan. 27, 2022
Int. Cl. B29C 64/321 (2017.01); B29C 64/209 (2017.01); B33Y 10/00 (2015.01); B33Y 30/00 (2015.01); B33Y 40/00 (2020.01); B29C 64/118 (2017.01); B65H 51/10 (2006.01); B65H 51/32 (2006.01); B29K 101/12 (2006.01)
CPC B29C 64/321 (2017.08) [B29C 64/118 (2017.08); B29C 64/209 (2017.08); B33Y 10/00 (2014.12); B33Y 30/00 (2014.12); B33Y 40/00 (2014.12); B65H 51/10 (2013.01); B65H 51/32 (2013.01); B29K 2101/12 (2013.01); B65H 2404/1115 (2013.01)] 23 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An extrusion-based production system comprising:
a filament roll with a thermoplastic filament to be extruded; and
at least one assembly adapted to supply the thermoplastic filament and rotatable about the thermoplastic filament, the at least one assembly comprising:
an entrance adapted to receive the thermoplastic filament;
an exit adapted to deliver the thermoplastic filament for printing a 3D object layer by layer, the entrance and the exit defining a channel within which the thermoplastic filament is movable; and
at least two rotatable components comprising a first rotatable component and a second rotatable component,
wherein:
the channel is at least partially located between the first rotatable component and the second rotatable component;
the first rotatable component is rotatable about a first axis and has first external ridges;
the first axis is located at a first distance from the channel such that the first external ridges penetrate at least partially into the channel;
the second rotatable component is rotatable about a second axis different from the first axis and has second external ridges;
the second axis is located at a second distance from the channel such that the second external ridges penetrate at least partially into the channel; and
the first rotatable component and the second rotatable component are mounted to a carrier such that, when the thermoplastic filament is inserted into the channel and when the at least one assembly is rotated relative to the thermoplastic filament, the first rotatable component rotates about the first axis, the second rotatable component rotates about the second axis, and the first axis and the second axis move about the thermoplastic filament in such a manner that the first rotatable component and the second rotatable component roll over a surface of the thermoplastic filament while the first external ridges and the second external ridges penetrate the thermoplastic filament about 0.05 mm to about 0.25 mm.