Support assembly for an extruder

An assembly, comprising:

• a supply member having an extrudate disposed therein;
• an extruder that is in fluid communication with the supply member and that generates a flow of the extrudate;
• a motor;
• a transmission coupled between the extruder and the motor;
• a fixed motor support member having a mounting surface, the mounting surface of the fixed motor support member supporting at least a portion of the motor;
• an intermediate support member having a mounting surface, the mounting surface of the intermediate support member supporting at least a portion of the transmission;
• a first linking member having a first end and an opposite second end, the first linking member being secured at its first end to the fixed motor support member at its second end to the intermediate support member;
• a movable motor support member having a mounting surface, the mounting surface of the movable motor support member supporting at least a portion of the motor, wherein the movable motor support member is located between the fixed motor support member and the intermediate member, and
• wherein the movable motor support member movably engages the first linking member;
• a fixed extruder support member having a mounting surface, the mounting surface supporting at least a portion of the extruder;
• a second linking member having a first end and an opposite second end, the second linking member being secured at its first end to the fixed extruder support member, and the second linking member being secured at its second end to the intermediate member;
• and a movable extruder support member having a mounting surface, the mounting surface of the movable extruder support member supporting at least a portion of the extruder, wherein the movable extruder support member being located between the fixed extruder support member and the intermediate support member, and wherein the movable extruder support member movably engages the second linking member.