US 11,731,353 B2
Three-dimensional printer head including an automatic touchdown apparatus
William J. MacNeish, III, Newport Beach, CA (US); Erik John Gjovik, Aliso Viejo, CA (US); Alexander Stockton, Austin, TX (US); and Chad C. Eichele, Lake Forest, CA (US)
Assigned to ESSENTIUM IPCO, LLC, Pflugerville, TX (US)
Filed by Essentium, Inc., Pflugerville, TX (US)
Filed on Jul. 2, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/366,558.
Application 17/366,558 is a continuation of application No. 16/359,671, filed on Mar. 20, 2019, granted, now 11,065,811.
Prior Publication US 2021/0331390 A1, Oct. 28, 2021
Int. Cl. B29C 64/209 (2017.01); B33Y 30/00 (2015.01); B29C 64/393 (2017.01); B29C 64/295 (2017.01); B29C 64/227 (2017.01); B33Y 50/02 (2015.01)
CPC B29C 64/209 (2017.08) [B29C 64/227 (2017.08); B29C 64/295 (2017.08); B29C 64/393 (2017.08); B33Y 30/00 (2014.12); B33Y 50/02 (2014.12)] 18 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An idle assembly for a three-dimensional printer head, including
an idle arm body;
a spindle mounted in the idle arm body, proximal to a first end of the idle arm body;
an idle hob rotatable around the spindle, wherein the idle hob defines a perimeter;
a channel defined in the perimeter of the idle hob;
a first eccentric cam, wherein the idle arm body and eccentric cam are rotatable around a first pivot proximal to a second end of the idle arm body;
a second eccentric cam, rotatable around a second pivot; and
a leaf spring affixed to the idle arm body proximal to the second end of the idle arm body, wherein the leaf spring is biased against the second eccentric cam at a second end of the leaf spring.