Methods and system for mixing and dispensing viscous materials for the creation of additive structures
AssigneeNIKE, Inc.
InventorsSami Fakhouri, Askim Senyurt
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Various methods and systems are provided for mixing and dispensing viscous materials for the creation of additive structures. As one example, during a mixing and dispensing operation of a multi-dimensional printing apparatus, one or more liquids may flow into a mixing chamber via one or more material inlets arranged in a wall of the mixing chamber below a high pressure bearing of a mixing rod positioned within the mixing chamber; and movement of a mixing rod positioned within the mixing chamber is adjusted based on an operating condition of the printing apparatus.
Claims16
A method for a mixing and dispensing operation of a multi-dimensional printing apparatus having a mixing and dispensing head, comprising:
- flowing one or more liquids into a mixing chamber via one or more material inlets arranged in a wall of the mixing chamber below a high pressure bearing of a mixing rod of the mixing and dispensing head positioned within the mixing chamber;
- and
- adjusting movement of the mixing rod positioned within the mixing chamber based on an operating condition of the printing apparatus,
- wherein the mixing rod has a mixing rod upper portion, a mixing rod lower portion, and a first mixing rod tapered section between the mixing rod upper portion and the mixing rod lower portion,
- wherein the mixing chamber has a mixing chamber upper portion, a mixing chamber lower portion, and a first mixing chamber tapered portion between the mixing chamber upper portion and the mixing chamber lower portion,
- wherein the first mixing chamber tapered portion is below the one or more material inlets, and
- wherein adjusting the movement of the mixing rod includes moving the mixing rod between a retracted position and an extended position, wherein, in the extended position, the first mixing rod tapered portion is below the one or more material inlets, and in the retracted position, the first mixing rod tapered portion is at least partially above the one or more material inlets.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.