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3D printer with coupling for attaching print head to head carriage — Stratasys, Inc. (US10513104B2)

Stratasys, Inc. · Google Patents

Google Patents · Patents · License: Open Access

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stratasys

patent, google patents, intellectual property, US10513104B2, Stratasys, Inc., Aaron Barclay, en, 2019

ABSTRACT

Abstract

An 3D printer has a gantry configured to move in a plane substantially parallel to a build plane. The system includes a platen configured to support a part being built in a layer by layer process, wherein the platen is configured to move in a direction substantially normal to the build plane. The system includes a head carriage carried by the gantry wherein the head carriage includes a first support member supporting a retaining mechanism. The retaining mechanism includes at least one member extending from the support member and a camming member rotatably attached to the support member and movable about an axis of rotation. The camming member has arcuate camming surface with an increasing radial distance from the axis of rotation. The system includes at least one print head having a housing with a first side surface configured to engage the at least one member and a second side surface configured to engage the arcuate camming surface. The camming member is positionable between a first, non-engaging position where the at least one print head is removable from the support member and a second, engaging position wherein the camming member engages the second side of the print head and the first side of the print head engages the at least one member and causes a frictional engagement therebetween.

Description

BACKGROUND

The present disclosure relates to additive manufacturing systems for printing three-dimensional (3D) parts and support structures. In particular, the present disclosure relates to a coupling for attaching and detaching a print head to and from a head carriage in an 3D printer.

Additive manufacturing, also called 3D printing, is generally a process in which a three-dimensional (3D) object is built by adding material to form a 3D part rather than subtracting material as in traditional machining. One basic operation of an additive manufacturing system consists of slicing a three-dimensional computer model into thin cross sections, translating the result into two-dimensional position data, and feeding the data to control equipment which manufacture a three-dimensional structure in an additive build style. Additive manufacturing entails many different approaches to the method of fabrication, including fused deposition modeling, ink jetting, selective laser sintering, powder/binder jetting, electron-beam melting, electrophotographic imaging, and stereolithographic processes. Using one or more additive manufacturing techniques, a three-dimensional solid object of virtually any shape can be printed from a digital model of the object by an additive manufacturing system, commonly referred to as 3D printer.

In a fused deposition modeling additive manufacturing system, a printed part may be printed from a digital representation of the printed part in an additive build style by extruding a flowable part material along toolpaths. The part material is extruded through an extrusion tip carried by a print head of the system, and is deposited as a sequence of roads onto a substrate. The extruded part material fuses to previously deposited part material, and solidifies upon a drop in temperature. In a typical system where the material is deposited in planar layers, the position of the print head relative to the substrate is incremented along an axis (perpendicular to the build plane) after each layer is formed, and the process is then repeated to form a printed part resembling the digital representation.

In fabricating printed parts by depositing layers of a part material, supporting layers or structures are typically built underneath overhanging portions or in cavities of printed parts under construction, which are not supported by the part material itself. A support structure may be built utilizing the same deposition techniques by which the part material is deposited. A host computer generates additional geometry acting as a support structure for the overhanging or free-space segments of the printed part being formed. Support material is then deposited from a second nozzle pursuant to the generated geometry during the printing process. The support material adheres to the part material during fabrication, and is removable from the completed printed part when the printing process is complete.

SUMMARY

An aspect of the present disclosure relates to a 3D printer having a gantry configured to move in a plane substantially parallel to a build plane. The system includes a platen configured to support a part being built in a layer by layer process, wherein the platen is configured to move in a direction substantially normal to the build plane. The system includes a head carriage carried by the gantry wherein the head carriage includes a support member carrying a retaining mechanism configured to receive a removable print head. The retaining mechanism includes at least one member extending from the support member and a camming member rotatably attached to the support member and movable about an axis of rotation. The camming member has an arcuate camming surface with an increasing radial distance from the axis of rotation. The camming member is positionable between a first, non-engaging position where a received print head is removable from the support member and a second, engaging position wherein the camming member engages the second side surface of the received print head and the first side surface of the received print head engages the at least one member and causes a frictional engagement therebetween.

Another aspect of the present disclosure relates to a 3D printer having a gantry configured to move in a plane substantially parallel to a build plane. The system includes a platen configured to support a part being built in a layer by layer process, wherein the platen is configured to move in a direction substantially normal to the build plane. The system includes a head carriage carried by the gantry wherein the head carriage has a first support member carrying a first retaining mechanism. The first retaining mechanism includes a first pin extending from the support member and a second pin extending from the support member wherein the second pin is spaced from the first pin. The first retaining mechanism includes a camming member rotatably attached to the support member between the first pin and the second pin and laterally offset from the first and second pins, wherein the camming member movable about an axis of rotation. The camming member comprising an arcuate camming surface having an increasing radial distance from the axis of rotation. The system includes at least one print head with a housing having a first side surface configured to engage the first pin and the second pin and a second side surface configured to engage the arcuate camming surface. The camming member is positionable between a first, non-engaging position where the at least one print head is removable from the support member and a second, engaging position wherein the camming member engages the second side of the print head and the first side of the print head engages the first and second pins and results a frictional engagement therebetween.

The 3D printer may include a second support member carrying a second retaining system that is substantially a mirror image of the first retaining system. The system may include a second print head that substantially the same configuration as the first print head where the first and second print heads may include securing features on the first and second sides such that the first and second print heads can be secured to the head carriage with either the first or second retaining systems.

DEFINITIONS

Unless otherwise specified, the following terms as used herein have the meanings provided below.

The terms âpreferredâ, âpreferablyâ, âexampleâ and âexemplaryâ refer to embodiments of the invention that may afford certain benefits, under certain circumstances. However, other embodiments may also be preferred or exemplary, under the same or other circumstances. Furthermore, the recitation of one or more preferred or exemplary embodiments does not imply that other embodiments are not useful, and is not intended to exclude other embodiments from the scope of the present disclosure.

Directional orientations such as âaboveâ, âbelowâ, âtopâ, âbottomâ, and the like are made with reference to a layer-printing direction of a 3D part. In some of the embodiments shown below, the layer-printing direction is along the vertical z-axis. In these embodiments, the terms âaboveâ, âbelowâ, âtopâ, âbottomâ, and the like are based on the vertical z-axis. However, in embodiments in which the layers of 3D parts are printed along a different axis, such as along a horizontal x-axis or y-axis, the terms âaboveâ, âbelowâ, âtopâ, âbottomâ, and the like are relative to the given axis.

The terms âaboutâ and âsubstantiallyâ are used herein with respect to measurable values and ranges due to expected variations known to those skilled in the art (e.g., limitations and variabilities in measurements).

All patents, publications or other documents mentioned herein are incorporated by reference.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of an 3D printer of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2A is a first perspective view of a head carriage with two side by side print heads retained thereto.

FIG. 2B is a second perspective view of the head carriage with the two side by side print heads retained thereto.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the head carriage.

FIG. 4 is a partial exploded, cutaway view of a camming mechanism.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a camming member.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken in the plane 8 , 9 in FIG. 2B where camming members are in a first, disengaging position.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken in the plane 8 , 9 in FIG. 2B where the camming members are in a second, engaging position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present disclosure relates to a mechanism for mounting a print head on a head carriage carried by a gantry of an additive manufacturing system, commonly referred to as a 3D printer. The present disclosure includes a head carriage that carries left and right retaining systems that frictional secure first and second print heads to the head carriage. The retaining mechanisms frictionally engage the left and right print heads and substantially prevent movement of the print heads in the x, y, and z planes, pitch, roll and yaw relative to the head carriage.

The present disclosure provides many advantages over receptacle based retaining systems that utilized a physical interference fit to mount the print head to the carriage. The present disclosure provides a simpler design that leads to more reliability. Further, because the complexity is lessened there are less components and no precision components relative to the prior receptacle based designs, resulting in a more reliable interface between the print head and the head carriage.

Further, the present disclosure allows close placement of the print heads, and therefore a more compact head configuration and smaller overall printer footprint. In the prior art receptacle based retaining systems, when two print heads are positioned side to side, adjacent side walls of the receptacles displace the print heads from each other at least a distance of a thickness of the two adjacent side walls. Beneficially, the present disclosure allows for multiple print heads to be positioned close to each other, or side by side, because a receptacle is not required to mount the print head to the head carriage. Otherwise stated, a packing density of the print heads utilizing the disclosed retaining mechanisms is higher relative to the prior receptacle style designs.

The present disclosed interface between the print head and the carriage can be utilized in any new 3D printer. Further, prior 3D printers can be retrofitted to utilize the disclosed head carriage and print head(s).

The present disclosure may be used with any suitable extrusion-based 3D printer. For example, FIG. 1 illustrates a 3D printer 10 that has a substantially horizontal print plane where the part being printed in indexed in a substantially vertical direction as the part is printed in a layer by layer manner using two print heads

18 A, 18 B. The illustrated 3D printer 10 uses two consumable assemblies 12 , where each consumable assembly 12 is an easily loadable, removable, and replaceable container device that retains a supply of a consumable filament for printing with system 10 . Typically, one of the consumable assemblies 12 contains a part material filament, and the other consumable assembly 12 contains a support material filament, each supplying filament to one print head

18 A or 18 B. However, both consumable assemblies 12 may be identical in structure. Each consumable assembly 12 may retain the consumable filament on a wound spool, a spool-less coil, or other supply arrangement, such as discussed in Swanson et al., U.S. Pat. No. 8,403,658; Turley et al. U.S. Pat. No. 7,063,285; Taatjes at al., U.S. Pat. No. 7,938,356; and Mannella et al., U.S. Pat. Nos. 8,985,497 and 9,073,263.

Each print head

18 A and 18 B is an easily loadable, removable and replaceable device comprising a housing that retains a liquefier assembly 20 having a nozzle tip 14 . Each print head

BACKGROUND

SUMMARY

DEFINITIONS

Unless otherwise specified, the following terms as used herein have the meanings provided below.

All patents, publications or other documents mentioned herein are incorporated by reference.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of an 3D printer of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2A is a first perspective view of a head carriage with two side by side print heads retained thereto.

FIG. 2B is a second perspective view of the head carriage with the two side by side print heads retained thereto.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the head carriage.

FIG. 4 is a partial exploded, cutaway view of a camming mechanism.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a camming member.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken in the plane 8 , 9 in FIG. 2B where camming members are in a first, disengaging position.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken in the plane 8 , 9 in FIG. 2B where the camming members are in a second, engaging position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Each print head

18 A and 18 B is an easily loadable, removable and replaceable device comprising a housing that retains a liquefier assembly 20 having a nozzle tip 14 . Each print head

18 A and 18 B is configured to receive a consumable material, melt the material in liquefier assembly 20 to product a molten material, and deposit the molten material from a nozzle tip 14 of liquefier assembly 20 . Examples of suitable liquefier assemblies for print head 18 include those disclosed in Swanson et al., U.S. Pat. No. 6,004,124; LaBossiere, et al., U.S. Pat. No. 7,604,470; Leavitt, U.S. Pat. No. 7,625,200; and Batchelder et al., U.S. Pat. No. 8,439,665. Other suitable liquefier assemblies include those disclosed in U.S. Patent Publications Nos. 2015/0096717 and 2015/0097053; and in PCT publication No. WO2016014543A.

Guide tube 16 interconnects consumable assembly 12 and print head

18 A or 18 B, where a drive mechanism of print head

18 A or 18 B (or of 3D printer 10 ) draws successive segments of the consumable filament from consumable assembly 12 , through guide tube 16 , to liquefier assembly 20 of print head

18 A or 18 B. In this embodiment, guide tube 16 may be a component of system 10 , rather than a sub-component of consumable assemblies 12 . In other embodiments, guide tube 16 is a sub-component of consumable assembly 12 , and may be interchanged to and from system 10 with each consumable assembly 12 . During a build operation, the successive segments of consumable filament that are driven into print head

18 A or 18 B are heated and melt in liquefier assembly 20 . The melted material is extruded through nozzle tip 14 in a layerwise pattern to produce printed parts.

Exemplary 3D printer 10 prints parts or models and corresponding support structures (e.g., 3D part 22 and support structure 24 ) from the part and support material filaments, respectively, of consumable assemblies 12 , using a layer-based, additive manufacturing technique. Suitable 3D printers 10 include fused deposition modeling systems developed by Stratasys, Inc., Eden Prairie, Minn. under the trademark âFDMâ.

As shown, the 3D printer 10 includes system casing 26 , chamber 28 , platen 30 , platen gantry 32 , head carriage 34 , and head gantry 36 . System casing 26 is a structural component of 3D printer 10 and may include multiple structural sub-components such as support frames, housing walls, and the like. In some embodiments, system casing 26 may include container bays configured to receive consumable assemblies 12 . In alternative embodiments, the container bays may be omitted to reduce the overall footprint of 3D printer 10 . In these embodiments, consumable assembly 12 may stand proximate to system casing 26 , while providing sufficient ranges of movement for guide tubes 16 and print heads 18 that are shown schematically in FIG. 1 .

Chamber 28 is an enclosed environment that contains platen 30 for printing 3D part 22 and support structure 24 . Chamber 28 may be heated (e.g., with circulating heated air) to reduce the rate at which the part and support materials solidify after being extruded and deposited (e.g., to reduce distortions and curling). In alternative embodiments, chamber 28 may be omitted and/or replaced with different types of build environments. For example, 3D part 22 and support structure 24 may be built in a build environment that is open to ambient conditions or may be enclosed with alternative structures (e.g., flexible curtains).

Platen 30 is a platform on which 3D part 22 and support structure 24 are printed in a layer-by-layer manner, and is supported by platen gantry 32 . In some embodiments, platen 30 may engage and support a build substrate, which may be a tray substrate as disclosed in Dunn et al., U.S. Pat. No. 7,127,309, fabricated from plastic, corrugated cardboard, or other suitable material, and may also include a flexible polymeric film or liner, painter's tape, polyimide tape (e.g., under the trademark KAPTON from E.I. du Pont de Nemours and Company, Wilmington, Del.), or other disposable fabrication for adhering deposited material onto the platen 30 or onto the build substrate. Platen gantry 32 is a gantry assembly configured to move platen 30 along (or substantially along) the vertical z-axis.

Head carriage 34 is a unit configured to receive and retain one or both print heads

18 A and 18 B, and is supported by head gantry 36 . Head carriage 34 preferably retains each print head

18 A and 18 B in a manner that prevents or restricts movement of the print head 18 relative to head carriage 34 so that nozzle tip 14 remains in the x-y build plane, but allows nozzle tip 14 of the print head 18 to be controllably moved out of the x-y build plane through movement of at least a portion of the head carriage 34 relative the x-y build plane (e.g., servoed, toggled, or otherwise switched in a pivoting manner). In further embodiments, print heads

18 A and 18 B and corresponding head carriage 34 may optionally be retrofitted into an existing system 10 .

In the shown embodiment, head gantry 36 is a robotic mechanism configured to move head carriage 34 (and the retained print heads

18 A and 18 B) in (or substantially in) a horizontal x-y plane above platen 30 . Examples of suitable gantry assemblies for head gantry 36 include those disclosed in Swanson et al., U.S. Pat. No. 6,722,872; and Comb et al., U.S. Pat. No. 9,108,360, where head gantry 36 may also support deformable baffles (not shown) that define a ceiling for chamber 28 . Head gantry 36 may utilize any suitable bridge-type gantry or robotic mechanism for moving head carriage 34 (and the retained print heads 18 ), such as with one or more motors (e.g., stepper motors and encoded DC motors), gears, pulleys, belts, screws, robotic arms, and the like.

In an alternative embodiment, platen 30 may be configured to move in the horizontal x-y plane within chamber 28 , and head carriage 34 (and print heads

18 A and 18 B) may be configured to move along the z-axis. Other similar arrangements may also be used such that one or both of platen 30 and print heads

18 A and 18 B are moveable relative to each other. Platen 30 and head carriage 34 (and print heads

18 A and 18 B) may also be oriented along different axes. For example, platen 30 may be oriented vertically and print heads

18 A and 18 B may print 3D part 22 and support structure 24 along the x-axis or the y-axis.

3D printer 10 also includes controller assembly 38 , which may include one or more control circuits (e.g., controller 40 ) and/or one or more host computers (e.g., computer 42 ) configured to monitor and operate the components of 3D printer 10 . For example, one or more of the control functions performed by controller assembly 38 , such as performing move compiler functions, can be implemented in hardware, software, firmware, and the like, or a combination thereof; and may include computer-based hardware, such as data storage devices, processors, memory modules, and the like, which may be external and/or internal to system 10 .

Controller assembly 38 may communicate over communication line 44 with print heads

18 A and 18 B, chamber 28 (e.g., with a heating unit for chamber 28 ), head carriage 34 , motors for platen gantry 32 and head gantry 36 , and various sensors, calibration devices, display devices, and/or user input devices. In some embodiments, controller assembly 38 may also communicate with one or more of platen 30 , platen gantry 32 , head gantry 36 , and any other suitable component of 3D printer 10 . While illustrated as a single signal line, communication line 44 may include one or more electrical, optical, and/or wireless signal lines, which may be external and/or internal to 3D printer 10 , allowing controller assembly 38 to communicate with various components of 3D printer 10 .

During operation, controller assembly 38 may direct platen gantry 32 to move platen 30 to a predetermined height within chamber 28 . Controller assembly 38 may then direct head gantry 36 to move head carriage 34 (and the retained print heads

18 A and 18 B) around in the horizontal x-y plane above chamber 28 . Controller assembly 38 may also direct print heads

18 A and 18 B to selectively draw successive segments of the consumable filaments from consumable assembly 12 and through guide tubes 16 , respectively.

While, FIG. 1 illustrates a 3D printer 10 where a build plane is in a substantially horizontal x-y plane and the platen 30 is moved in a z direction substantially normal to the substantially horizontal x-y build plane, the present disclosure is not limited to a 3D printer 10 as illustrated in FIG. 1 . Rather, the present disclosure including the coupling of the print head(s) 18 A and 18 B to head gantry 36 can be utilized with any 3D printer, including, but not limited to, printing in a substantially vertical print plane and moving the platen in a direction substantially normal to the substantially vertical print plane.

While FIG. 1 illustrates a 3D printer 10 that utilizes a build chamber 28 that can optionally be heated to a selected temperature, the present disclosure is not limited to an 3D printer with a heated chamber or a chamber. Rather, the present disclosure utilizing the retaining mechanism and the print head(s) 18 A and 18 B can be utilized with any 3D printer, including, but not limited to, 3D printers that utilize an unheated chamber or an out of oven 3D printer. Otherwise stated, the retaining mechanism utilized to secure the print head(s) 18 A and 18 B to the head gantry 36 can be utilized on any extrusion-based 3D printer.

Referring to FIGS. 2A, 2B and 3 , the head carriage 34 of the present disclosure includes a left support member 50 having a left retaining mechanism 52 and a right support member 53 having a right retaining mechanism 54 . The left support member 50 and left retaining mechanism 52 are substantially mirror images of the right support member 53 and the right retaining mechanism 54 , respectively. Both print heads

18 A and 18 B including features on a left and right sides

60 and 62 that allow either print head

18 A or 18 B to be secured with either the left or right retaining mechanisms

52 or 54 . Otherwise stated, the print heads 18 A and 18 B are configured to be retained to the head carriage 34 independent of the configuration of the retaining mechanism

52 or 54 . As the left retaining mechanism 52 and the right retaining mechanism 54 are substantially mirror images of each other, the features of the left retaining mechanism 52 will be described in detail, while the mirror image features of the right retaining mechanism 54 will be assigned the same reference character with the prime (â²) designation.

The left retaining mechanism 52 includes a back pin 64 and a front pin 66 that are spaced apart from each other a selected distance and are non-movably retained to the left support member 50 . The back pin 64 and the front pin 66 are substantially a same height above the left support member 50 . The back and front pints

64 and 66 both include a substantially cylindrical portion 68 and a beveled portion 70 extending from the cylindrical portion 68 . While spaced-apart pins are disclosed, the present disclosure can utilize one or more engaging members that are configured to engage the print head

18 A or 18 B.

The left retaining mechanism 52 includes a left camming mechanism 72 that is movably attached to the left support member 50 at a location between the back pin 64 and the front pin 66 and a distance offset from a line L between the back pin 64 and the front pin 66 . The left camming mechanism 72 includes a camming member 74 that is rotatably secured to the left support member 50 such that the camming member 74 moves about an axis of rotation 76 . The camming member 74 includes an arcuate camming surface 78 having an increasing radial distance from the axis of rotation 76 and a substantially flat surface 80 , where the arcuate camming surface 78 is substantially the same height above the first support member 50 as the back pin 64 and the front pin 66 .

The filament path includes an end piece 17 that attaches the guide tube 16 at one end and anther end engages the <figure-callout id="18B" label="print head" filenames="US10513104-20191224-D00001.png,US10513104-20191224-D00003.png" state="{{sta

CLAIMS

Claims ( 22 )

What is claimed is:

1. A 3D printer comprising:

a gantry configured to move in a plane substantially parallel to a build plane;

a platen configured to support a part being built in a layer by layer process, wherein the platen is configured to move in a direction substantially normal to the build plane;

a head carriage carried by the gantry configured for receiving a removable print head on a first side surface thereof, wherein the head carriage comprises a first support member supporting a retaining mechanism, the retaining mechanism comprising:

a plurality of members extending from the support member; and

a camming member rotatably attached to the support member and movable about an axis of rotation, the camming member comprising an arcuate camming surface having an increasing radial distance from the axis of rotation; and

wherein the camming member is positionable between a first, non-engaging position where a received print head is removable from the support member and a second, engaging position wherein the camming member engages a second side surface of the received print head and a first side surface of the received print head engages the at least one member and causes a frictional engagement therebetween;

wherein the print head is engaged to the head carriage via a horizontal force to the first and the second side surfaces of the print head using at least three non-linearly spaced points.

2. The 3D printer of claim 1 wherein the print head comprises a housing, the housing comprising:

the first side surface configured to engage the plurality of members; and the second

side surface configured to engage the arcuate camming surface.

3. The 3D printer of claim 1 and wherein the plurality of members comprises:

a back pin; and

a front pin spaced apart from the back pin.

4. The 3D printer of claim 3 and wherein the back pin and the front pin each comprises:

a bottom portion extending from the support member; and

a beveled portion having a sloped outer surface extending from the bottom portion.

5. The 3D printer of claim 1 and wherein the camming surface comprises a sloped surface from a top edge to a bottom edge wherein a first radial distance from the axis of rotation to the top edge is larger than a second radial distance from the axis of rotation to the bottom edge.

6. The 3D printer of claim 1 and wherein the camming mechanism further comprises a substantially flat outer surface.

7. The 3D printer of claim 1 and further comprising a first spring engaging the camming member wherein the first spring biases the camming member toward the second, engaging position.

8. The 3D printer of claim 1 and further comprising a plunger positionable between an extended position where the plunger extends from the support member and a depressed position where the plunger is positioned within the support member, wherein when in the extended position the plunger engages the camming member and retains the camming member in the first, non-engaging position and when the plunger is in the depressed position, the camming member is positionable into the second, engaging position.

9. The 3D printer of claim 8 and further comprising a second spring biasing the plunger into the extended position.

10. The 3D printer of claim 1 wherein the first side surface and the second side surface of the housing each comprises:

a cavity within a bottom surface configured to engage the back pin; and

a channel spaced from the cavity, the channel configured to engage the front pin and the arcuate camming surface wherein the cavity and the channel on the first side surface are substantially mirror images of the cavity and the channel on the second side surface.

11. The 3D printer of claim 10 and wherein the cavity comprises a dovetail shape within a bottom surface of the housing.

12. The 3D printer of claim 1 and further comprising:

an end piece having an arcuate filament path wherein the end piece is configured to removably engage the removable print head, and wherein the print head comprises a retaining member configured to removably engage the end piece.

13. A 3D printer comprising:

a gantry configured to move in a plane substantially parallel to a build plane;

a platen configured to support a part being built in a layer by layer process, wherein the platen is configured to move in a direction substantially normal to the build plane;

a head carriage carried by the gantry wherein the head carriage comprises a support member supporting a first retaining mechanism, the first retaining mechanism comprising:

a first pin extending from the support member;

a second pin extending from the support member and spaced from the first pin; and

a camming member rotatably attached to the support member between the first pin and the second pin at a location offset from both the first and second pins, the camming member movable about an axis of rotation, wherein the camming member comprising an arcuate camming surface having an increasing radial distance from the axis of rotation; and

at least one print head having a housing, the housing comprising:

a first side surface configured to engage the first pin and the second pin; and

a second side surface configured to engage the arcuate camming surface;

wherein the camming member is positionable between a first, non-engaging position where the at least one print head is removable from the support member and a second, engaging position wherein the camming member engages the second side of the print head and the first side of the print head engages the first and second pins and causes a frictional engagement therebetween;

wherein the print head is engaged to the head carriage via a horizontal force to the first and the second side surfaces of the print head using at least three non-linearly spaced points.

14. The 3D printer of claim 13 wherein heights of each of the first pin, the second pin and the camming surface from the support member are substantially the same.

15. The 3D printer of claim 13 and wherein the first pin and the second pin each comprises:

a bottom portion extending from the support member; and

a beveled portion having a sloped outer surface extending from the bottom portion.

16. The 3D printer of claim 13 and wherein the camming surface comprises a sloped surface from a top edge to a bottom edge wherein a first radial distance from the axis of rotation to the top edge is larger than a second radial distance from the axis of rotation to the bottom edge.

17. The 3D printer of claim 13 and wherein the camming mechanism further comprises a substantially flat outer surface.

18. The 3D printer of claim 13 and further comprising a spring engaging the camming member wherein the spring biases the camming member toward the second, engaging position.

19. The 3D printer of claim 13 and further comprising a plunger positionable between an extended position where the plunger extends from the support member and a depressed position where the plunger is positioned within the support member, wherein when in the extended position the plunger engages the camming member and retains the camming member in the first, non-engaging position and when the plunger is in the depressed position, the camming member is positionable into the second, engaging position.

20. The 3D printer of claim 13 wherein the first side surface and the second side surface of the housing each comprises:

a cavity within a bottom surface configured to engage the first pin; and

a channel spaced from the cavity, the channel configured to engage the second pin and the arcuate camming surface wherein the cavity and the channel on the first side surface are substantially mirror images of the cavity and the channel on the second side surface.

21. The 3D printer of claim 20 and wherein the channel on the first and second side surfaces comprises a sloped surface.

22. The 3D printer of claim 20 and wherein the cavity comprises a dovetail shape.

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3D printer with coupling for attaching print head to head carriage

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US20180043627A1

( en )

2018-02-15

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