US 12,343,937 B2
Extruder, print head and apparatus for additive manufacturing
Giovanni Avallone, Lomazzo (IT); Paolo Cassis, Lomazzo (IT); Francesco De Stefano, Lomazzo (IT); Jacopo Gervasini, Lomazzo (IT); and Nicolò Bordoli, Lomazzo (IT)
Assigned to CARACOL S.R.L., Lomazzo (IT)
Appl. No. 17/790,045
Filed by CARACOL S.R.L., Lomazzo (IT)
PCT Filed Apr. 30, 2021, PCT No. PCT/IB2021/053634
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Jun. 29, 2022,
PCT Pub. No. WO2022/214857, PCT Pub. Date Oct. 13, 2022.
Claims priority of application No. 102021000008492 (IT), filed on Apr. 6, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2023/0321904 A1, Oct. 12, 2023
Int. Cl. B29C 64/209 (2017.01); B29C 64/118 (2017.01); B33Y 30/00 (2015.01)
CPC B29C 64/209 (2017.08) [B33Y 30/00 (2014.12); B29C 64/118 (2017.08)] 9 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A print head for additive manufacturing, the print head comprising:
a connecting element;
a bearing supported by the connecting element; and
an extruder mounted within the bearing and that extends along a longitudinal axis coaxially to the bearing, wherein the extruder comprises:
a cylindrical body extending along the longitudinal axis, having a free end and defining a melting chamber,
an extrusion screw rotatable within the cylindrical body about the longitudinal axis;
an actuator to rotate the extrusion screw;
at least one heating element associated with the cylindrical body;
at least one temperature probe associated with the cylindrical body;
at least one power cable to supply power to the heating element;
at least one signal cable for transmitting a signal acquired by the temperature probe; and
an extrusion nozzle arranged at a free end of the cylindrical body and having a polygonal cross-section for extruding polymeric material;
a polymeric mounting member made by an additive manufacturing process from polymeric material selected from polyamide with carbon fibers, PPS with carbon fibers, and/or PEEK; and
a thermal break ring comprising a channel for a cooling liquid interposed between the mounting member and the cylindrical body, wherein the mounting member comprises:
a ring configured to be mounted to the bearing and allowing the rotation of the mounting member about the longitudinal axis;
a hollow body arranged within the ring and configured to house, in part, the extrusion screw wherein the hollow body has a first annular face configured to be connected to the actuator to rotate the extrusion screw and a second annular face configured to be connected to the thermal break ring;
a plurality of spokes for connecting the hollow body to the ring so as to define compartments between the spokes adjacent the hollow body and the ring so as to arrange the power cable and the signal cable being in at least one of said compartments; and
a tubular fitting extending from the hollow body and configured to feed pellets of polymeric material within the hollow body.