Extrusion apparatus and method for producing three-dimensional shapes
US5641529A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 15, 1995 |
| Grant date | Jun 24, 1997 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 15, 2015 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB29L2031/772
- WIPO fieldOther special machines
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
An extrusion apparatus for producing thee-dimensional objects comprises at least one die, an extruder, and a rotatable cutter plate. The die is disposed adjacent to an outlet end of the extruder. The die forms an opening defining a two-dimensional shape, and the extruder forces an extrudable material through the opening in the die. The rotatable cutter plate is disposed adjacent to the die. The cutter plate is configured to obstruct different portions of the die opening at different times as the cutter plate rotates so as to vary the shape of the extrudable material forced through the opening in the die and thereby create a three-dimensional shape. The cutter plate is configured to fully obstruct the opening in the die during each revolution of the cutter plate so as to separate the extrudable material forced through the opening in the die into individual objects.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.