# US 2019/0168452 A1 · Movement system for achieving movement of at least a nozzle assembly in an additive manufacturing machine > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2019/0168452 A1 - Document ID: US20190168452A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 15/828,434 - Filed: 2017-12-01 - Published: 2019-06-06 - Earliest claimed: 2017-12-01 - Inventors: Bulent Besim; Stephen Weatherly - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20190168452A1 ## CPC - B29C 64/236: for motion in a direction within the plane of a layer - B29C 64/118: using filamentary material being melted, e.g. fused deposition modelling [FDM] - B29C 64/209: Heads; Nozzles - B29C 64/232: for motion along the axis orthogonal to the plane of a layer - B29C 64/295: Heating elements - B33Y 30/00: Apparatus for additive manufacturing; Details thereof or accessories therefor - B29C: SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING (making preforms B29B11/00; making laminated products by combining previously unconnected layers which become one product whose layers will remain together B32B37/00 - B32B41/00) - B33Y: ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING, i.e. MANUFACTURING OF THREE-DIMENSIONAL [3D] OBJECTS BY ADDITIVE DEPOSITION, ADDITIVE AGGLOMERATION OR ADDITIVE LAYERING, e.g. BY 3D PRINTING, STEREOLITHOGRAPHY OR SELECTIVE LASER SINTERING ## Abstract A movement system for achieving movement of at least a nozzle assembly in an additive manufacturing machine is provided. The movement system comprises a first tower and a belt assembly. The first tower is configured to move back and forth along a first axis. The belt assembly is configured to enable the back and forth movement of the first tower along the first axis. The belt assembly comprises a belt, a gear and at least two bearings. The belt interfaces with the gear and the two bearings, with one bearing on each side of the gear, such that the belt is sandwiched between the gear and the bearings. The belt is engaged to the first tower. Rotation of the gear results in movement of the belt, and thereby the first tower, along the first axis. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A movement system for achieving movement of at least a nozzle assembly in an additive manufacturing machine, the movement system comprising: a first tower configured to move back and forth along a first axis; and a belt assembly configured to enable the back and forth movement of the first tower along the first axis, wherein, the belt assembly comprises a belt, a gear and at least two bearings; the belt interfaces with the gear and the two bearings, with one bearing on each side of the gear, such that the belt is sandwiched between the gear and the bearings; the belt is engaged to the first tower; and rotation of the gear results in movement of the belt, and thereby the first tower, along the first axis. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The movement system in claim 1, further comprising a pair of belt holders attached to the first tower, wherein the belt is held by the belt holders. ### Claim 3 A movement system for achieving movement of at least a nozzle assembly in an additive manufacturing machine, the movement system comprising: a first tower configured to move back and forth along a first axis, wherein the first tower comprises at least three primary rods; a second tower configured to enable the movement of the first tower up and down along a second axis, wherein the second tower comprises at least three secondary rods; and a carriage system configured to enable the first tower to move back and forth, relative to the carriage system, along the first axis and to enable the first tower to move up and down the second tower along the second axis, wherein, the carriage system moves up and down the second tower along the second axis; and the carriage system defines a plurality of holes for at least one the primary rods and at least one of the secondary rods to pass through. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The movement system in claim 3, wherein the at least three primary rods of the first tower are arranged parallel to the first axis, the three primary rods defining a triangular cross section. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The movement system in claim 3, wherein the at least three secondary rods of the second tower are arranged parallel to the second axis, the three secondary rods defining a triangular cross section. ### Claim 6 (depends on 3) The movement system in claim 3, further comprising a motor, a gear, a pair of bearings and a belt, wherein, the belt interfaces with the gear and the two bearings, with one bearing present on each side of the gear, such that the belt is sandwiched between the gear and the bearings; the belt is engaged to the first tower; and the motor is configured to enable rotation of the gear resulting in movement of the belt, which enables the movement of the first tower along the first axis. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The movement system in claim 6, wherein the motor is attached to the carriage system. ### Claim 8 (depends on 3) The movement system in claim 3, wherein the second tower further comprises a screw rod configured to enable the carriage system to move up and down the second tower along the second axis. ### Claim 9 (depends on 3) The movement system in claim 3, wherein the carriage system further defines a hole for a screw rod to pass through it. ### Claim 10 A movement system for achieving movement of at least a print plate in an additive manufacturing machine, the movement system comprising: a base tower configured to move back and forth along a third axis; and a belt assembly configured to enable the back and forth movement of the base tower along the third axis, wherein, the belt assembly comprises a belt, a gear and at least two bearings; the belt interfaces with the gear and the two bearings, with one bearing on each side of the gear, such that the belt is sandwiched between the gear and the bearings; the belt is engaged to the base tower; and rotation of the gear results in movement of the belt, and thereby the base tower, along the third axis. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The movement system in claim 10, further comprises a pair of belt holders attached to the base tower, wherein the belt is held by the belt holders. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The movement system in claim 10, wherein the base tower comprises at least three base rods. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The movement system in claim 12, wherein the at least three base rods of the base tower are arranged parallel to the third axis, the three base rods defining a triangular cross section. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) The movement system in claim 10, further comprising a base carriage system configured to enable the base tower to move back and forth, relative to the base carriage system, along the third axis, wherein, the base carriage system defines a plurality of holes for at least two of the base rods to pass through it. ### Claim 15 (depends on 10) The movement system in claim 10, wherein the print plate is configured to receive molten filament. ### Claim 16 (depends on 10) The movement system in claim 10, further comprises a base plate configured to support the additive manufacturing machine. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The movement system in claim 16, wherein the base plate is an H-shaped plate or an I-shaped base plate. ### Claim 18 (depends on 10) The movement system in claim 10, wherein the base tower further comprises a print plate support block, configured to receive the print plate. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The movement system in claim 18, wherein the print plate support block defines a plurality of holes for accommodating plurality of structures, to affix the print plate to the print plate support block. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The movement system in claim 19, wherein the structure comprises a spring loaded knob or a magnetic knob.