US 12,122,097 B2
3D printing system nozzle assembly for printing of fiber reinforced parts
Michael Johannes Leonardus van Tooren, Elgin, SC (US); Wout De Backer, Columbia, SC (US); and Arturs Peteris Bergs, Cayce, SC (US)
Assigned to University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC (US); and Tighitco, Inc., Atlanta, GA (US)
Filed by University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC (US); and Tighitco, Inc., Atlanta, GA (US)
Filed on May 11, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/196,082.
Application 18/196,082 is a continuation of application No. 16/043,421, filed on Jul. 24, 2018, granted, now 11,745,421.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/536,226, filed on Jul. 24, 2017.
Prior Publication US 2023/0278284 A1, Sep. 7, 2023
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. B29C 64/20 (2017.01); B29C 64/112 (2017.01); B29C 64/209 (2017.01); B29C 64/227 (2017.01); B29C 64/245 (2017.01); B29C 64/295 (2017.01); B29C 64/393 (2017.01); B33Y 30/00 (2015.01); B33Y 40/00 (2020.01); B33Y 40/20 (2020.01); B33Y 50/02 (2015.01); B29C 70/38 (2006.01)
CPC B29C 64/209 (2017.08) [B29C 64/112 (2017.08); B29C 64/227 (2017.08); B29C 64/245 (2017.08); B29C 64/295 (2017.08); B29C 64/393 (2017.08); B33Y 30/00 (2014.12); B33Y 40/00 (2014.12); B33Y 40/20 (2020.01); B33Y 50/02 (2014.12); B29C 70/382 (2013.01)] 46 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A system for printing a three-dimensional object, the system comprising:
at least one nozzle assembly configured to receive a continuous fiber and a polymer material, wherein the nozzle assembly comprises:
a liquefier assembly comprising:
a melt chamber that extends longitudinally along a longitudinal axis of the melt chamber;
a polymer conduit having a polymer inlet and a polymer outlet, wherein the polymer conduit extends along a polymer longitudinal axis that extends downwardly at an acute angle β with respect to the longitudinal axis of the melt chamber, and wherein the polymer longitudinal axis of the polymer conduit is positioned offset from the longitudinal axis of the melt chamber to provide for a downward cyclonic clockwise motion of the polymer material entering the melt chamber via the polymer outlet about the longitudinal axis of the melt chamber and toward a distal end of the melt chamber; and
a fiber conduit having a fiber inlet and a fiber outlet, wherein a longitudinal axis of the fiber conduit is co-axial to the longitudinal axis of the melt chamber, wherein the fiber outlet is defined in a proximal end of the melt chamber and the polymer outlet is defined in an interior surface of the melt chamber, and wherein the polymer outlet is spaced proximally from the distal end of the melt chamber and distally from the fiber outlet;
wherein the polymer material flows into the melt chamber via the polymer outlet at a desired temperature that is at least equal to the melting point of the polymer material and at a desired supply pressure that is configured to provide motive force to urge the polymer material into the melt chamber and into operative contact with the continuous fiber.