Methods of extruding a multi-colored molten filament material and nozzle for use therewith
AssigneeHon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
InventorsEDWARD JOHN VAN LIEW, ERNEST DALE JENKINS, JOSEPH ALAN WOLFMAN
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method of forming a three-dimensional multi-colored object is described. According to the method, molten base filament is used for forming the shape of the object. Before the molten base filament is deposited, colorant is added to the molten base filament to form a colored molten base filament, generally in the shape of a small colored slug. Finally, the colored molten base filament is formed into the size, shape and color of the three-dimensional multi-colored colored object. A nozzle for use with the method is also described.
Claims19
A method of forming a colored object, the method comprising:
- feeding, through a feed tube of a nozzle assembly, a molten base filament for forming the shape of the object;
- and
- adding colorant, before the molten base filament leaves the nozzle assembly, to the molten base filament to form a colored molten base filament;
- extruding the colored molten base filament to form the colored object.
A method of forming a multi-colored object comprising:
- feeding a molten base filament into a nozzle assembly;
- mixing colorant having a first color with the molten base filament, inside the nozzle assembly;
- forming a first colored molten base filament slug, comprising the molten base filament and colorant, inside the nozzle assembly;
- and
- feeding the first colored molten base filament slug out of the nozzle assembly.
A nozzle assembly comprising:
- a filament feed assembly, the filament feed assembly comprising:
- a filament feed tube having an inlet, an interior chamber, and an outlet;
- a colorant feed assembly, the colorant feed assembly, comprising:
- a colorant injection section coupled to the interior chamber of the filament feed tube;
- a mixing chamber having an inlet and an outlet, the outlet of the mixing chamber coupled to the colorant injection section;
- and
- at least one colorant pump coupled to the mixing chamber for pumping colorant into the mixing chamber, through the colorant injection section, and then into the interior chamber of the filament feed tube to color molten base filament that is fed into the filament feed tube.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.