Filament heaters configured to facilitate thermal treatment of filaments for extruder heads in three-dimensional object printers
US10814544B2 · kind B2 · utility
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7Claims
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Assignee
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Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 26, 2016 |
| Grant date | Oct 27, 2020 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 28, 2037 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB33Y30/00
- WIPO fieldOther special machines
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
An apparatus includes a heater for converting a filament of extrusion material into thermoplastic material. The heater has a channel configured to change the cross-sectional shape of the filament to a cross-sectional shape that has a greater surface area than the surface area of the filament before the heater receives the filament. The channel of the heater can also be configured to drive the center portion of the filament toward the heated walls of the channel and to mix thermoplastic material in the channel while exposing the center portion of the filament to the heated wall of the channel.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.