US 12,128,615 B2
System for additive manufacturing
Nathan Andrew Stranberg, Post Falls, ID (US); Andrew John Overby, Coeur d'Alene, ID (US); and Colin Hugh Hambling, Medina, WA (US)
Assigned to Continuous Composites Inc., Coeur d'Alene, ID (US)
Filed by Continuous Composites Inc., Coeur d'Alene, ID (US)
Filed on Feb. 24, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/652,376.
Application 17/652,376 is a continuation of application No. 16/660,519, filed on Oct. 22, 2019, granted, now 11,292,192.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/769,498, filed on Nov. 19, 2018.
Prior Publication US 2022/0176627 A1, Jun. 9, 2022
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. B29C 64/209 (2017.01); B29C 64/118 (2017.01); B29C 64/321 (2017.01); B29C 64/393 (2017.01); B33Y 30/00 (2015.01); B33Y 50/02 (2015.01)
CPC B29C 64/209 (2017.08) [B29C 64/118 (2017.08); B29C 64/321 (2017.08); B29C 64/393 (2017.08); B33Y 30/00 (2014.12); B33Y 50/02 (2014.12)] 15 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A system for additively manufacturing a composite structure, comprising:
a support a print head connected to and moveable by the support;
a supply of reinforcement; a matrix reservoir configured to wet the reinforcement with a matrix; and
a tensioner located between the supply of reinforcement and the matrix reservoir, the tensioner including an arm configured to pivot and thereby impart tension to the reinforcement, wherein:
the arm is connected to pivot about a first end; and
the tensioner further includes:
a redirecting device connected to a second end of the arm and configured to engage the reinforcement;
a sensor located at the first end of the arm and configured to detect pivoting of the arm; and a controller communicatively connected to the sensor and configured to selectively adjust operation of the supply of reinforcement based on a signal from the sensor.