Charging system and method for feeding processing material to an extruder screw
AssigneeAIM3D GmbH
InventorsVincent MORRISON, Clemens LIBERWIRTH, René ZIELKE, Robert RADON, Tim WEIDNER
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A charging system for feeding processing material to at least one extruder screw including a hopper configured to conduct the processing material along a feed direction to the extruder screw, and a material reservoir for the gravity-driven feeding of the processing material to the hopper. The charging system also includes a feeding device via which processing material recirculated at the hopper against the feed direction by action of the extruder screw can again be conveyed in the direction of the extruder screw together with processing material fed from the material reservoir.
Claims19
A charging system for feeding processing material to at least one extruder screw, comprising:
- a hopper configured to conduct the processing material along a feed direction to the extruder screw;
- a material reservoir for gravity-driven feeding of the processing material to the hopper, and
- a feeding device via which a portion of the processing material is recirculated at the hopper against the feed direction by action of the extruder screw so that the portion of the processing material is again conveyed in the direction of the extruder screw together with a fresh portion of the processing material fed from the material reservoir.
13-14. (canceled)
A method for feeding processing material to an extruder screw, comprising:
- gravity feeding a processing material originating from a material reservoir to a hopper, wherein the processing material is moved, via the hopper, to the extruder screw along a feed direction;
- displacing the processing material, already moved to the extruder screw, in a direction opposite to the feed direction by action of the rotating extruder screw is again to combine with fresh processing material from the material reservoir;
- and
- reconveying the combined fresh and already moved processing material to the extruder screw.
A 3D printing device comprising:
- at least one charging system including:
- a hopper configured to conduct processing material along a feed direction to an extruder screw,
- a material reservoir for gravity-driven feeding of the processing material to the hopper, and
- a feeding device via which a portion of the processing material is recirculated at the hopper against the feed direction by action of the extruder screw so that the portion of the processing material is again conveyed in the direction of the extruder screw together with a fresh portion of the processing material fed from the material reservoir.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.