US 12,285,907 B2
3D printer providing spool chip dock outside of spool cabinet environment and methods of use thereof
Patrick Anderson, Maple Grove, MN (US); Dang Yang, Champlin, MN (US); and Ross Michalkiewicz, Minneapolis, MN (US)
Assigned to STRATASYS, INC., Eden Prairie, MN (US)
Filed by Stratasys, Inc., Eden Prairie, MN (US)
Filed on Jul. 7, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/859,465.
Prior Publication US 2024/0009920 A1, Jan. 11, 2024
Int. Cl. B29C 64/118 (2017.01); B29C 64/209 (2017.01); B29C 64/25 (2017.01); B29C 64/255 (2017.01); B29C 64/321 (2017.01); B29C 64/364 (2017.01); B29C 64/386 (2017.01); B29C 64/393 (2017.01); B33Y 10/00 (2015.01); B33Y 30/00 (2015.01); B33Y 50/02 (2015.01)
CPC B29C 64/118 (2017.08) [B29C 64/209 (2017.08); B29C 64/25 (2017.08); B29C 64/255 (2017.08); B29C 64/321 (2017.08); B29C 64/386 (2017.08); B33Y 10/00 (2014.12); B33Y 30/00 (2014.12); B33Y 50/02 (2014.12); B29C 64/364 (2017.08); B29C 64/393 (2017.08)] 7 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A 3D printer, comprising:
a print head configured to receive a filament material;
a spool cabinet having a chamber configured to have a filament spool positioned therein and to provide a controlled heated environment for filament on the filament spool;
a pathway for the filament material from the spool cabinet to the print head;
a dock located outside of the spool cabinet chamber and configured to receive a spool chip housing retaining a spool chip for the filament spool, wherein the dock is spaced from the pathway for the filament, and wherein the dock includes a spool chip interface positioned therein and configured to read data from, write data to, or otherwise interact with the spool chip;
a door attached to the spool cabinet, the door configured to cover both the chamber and the dock when the door is in the closed position; and
a gasket carried by the door, wherein when the door is in a closed position, a seal between the gasket and a frame of the spool cabinet is formed about a perimeter of the chamber such that an environment for the dock is isolated from the controlled heated environment within the chamber and the spool chip housing retaining the spool chip positioned in the dock will remain at a lower temperature relative to the chamber.