The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Aug. 02, 2005
Filed:
Dec. 15, 2003
William J. Swanson, St. Paul, MN (US);
Minea A. Popa, Roseville, MN (US);
Patrick W. Turley, Eden Prairie, MN (US);
Paul E. Hopkins, Savage, MN (US);
Steve Brose, Belle Plaine, MN (US);
Daniel I. Kimm, Leucadia, CA (US);
David L. Pollard, Mountain Center, CA (US);
Andrew M. Hahn, Anaheim, CA (US);
William J. Swanson, St. Paul, MN (US);
Minea A. Popa, Roseville, MN (US);
Patrick W. Turley, Eden Prairie, MN (US);
Paul E. Hopkins, Savage, MN (US);
Steve Brose, Belle Plaine, MN (US);
Daniel I. Kimm, Leucadia, CA (US);
David L. Pollard, Mountain Center, CA (US);
Andrew M. Hahn, Anaheim, CA (US);
Stratasys, Inc., Eden Prairie, MN (US);
Abstract
An apparatus which extrudes flowable material from a liquifier includes a system for loading filament supplied in a cassette. The cassette is loaded into a loading bay of the apparatus. A strand of filament from the cassette is engaged and advanced along a path to the liquifier using a drive wheel or roller pair. A conduit having an entrance in the loading bay guides the filament as it is advanced. The filament loading system of the present invention provides a convenient manner of loading and unloading filament in a three-dimensional modeling machine, and can be implemented in a manner that protects the filament from environmental moisture.