US 7,063,285 B1 · Cassette device for reliable filament delivery

Abstract

A cassette for use in delivering a continuous length of filament provides improved reliability by employing means for preventing tangling of the filament in the cassette. The cassette has a substantially closed housing defining a chamber in which a spool is rotatably mounted, and a path from the chamber to an exit orifice. A length of filament is wound around the spool and has a free strand positioned in the path. The filament strand is advanced along the path and delivered through the exit orifice by a means for advancing. Tangling is prevented by locking the spool during transport of the cassette to maintain a tight wind, and by guiding the filament strand along a snag-free path as it is withdrawn from the cassette. In the exemplary embodiments, a removable pin locks a flange or hub of the spool, and the filament strand is withdrawn through a tubular guide member.

Claims11

Dependent claims

A cassette for use in delivering a continuous length of filament, comprising:

a spool having a flange with a recess that is rotatably mounted in a chamber of a substantially closed housing;
a length of filament wound around the spool and having a free strand at an end thereof;
a path from the chamber to an exit orifice, in which the filament strand is positioned;
a floating tubular guide member through which the filament strand passes as it travels from the spool to the exit orifice;
means for advancing the filament strand through the exit orifice;
and
a removable pin that is inserted into a recess in the cassette and the recess in the spool when the recesses are aligned to prevent the spool from rotating with respect to the cassette during transport of the cassette.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Cassette device for reliable filament delivery

Life of this patent

Cassette device for reliable filament delivery

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims11