# US 8,465,111 B2 · Print head for use in fused deposition modeling system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,465,111 B2 - Document ID: US8465111B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 12/976,204 - Filed: 2010-12-22 - Published: 2012-06-28 - Granted: 2013-06-18 - Earliest claimed: 2010-12-22 - Assignees: Stratasys, Inc. - Applicants: William J. Swanson; J. Samuel Batchelder; Kevin C. Johnson; Timothy A. Hjelsand - Inventors: William J. Swanson; J. Samuel Batchelder; Kevin C. Johnson; Timothy A. Hjelsand - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8465111B2 ## CPC - B29C 64/118: using filamentary material being melted, e.g. fused deposition modelling [FDM] - B29C 64/106: using only liquids or viscous materials, e.g. depositing a continuous bead of viscous material - B33Y 30/00: Apparatus for additive manufacturing; Details thereof or accessories therefor - B41J 2/01: Ink jet - F04B 53/22: Arrangements for enabling ready assembly or disassembly - Y10T 29/49401: Fluid pattern dispersing device making, e.g., ink jet - 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 - B41J: TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS - F04B: POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT MACHINES FOR LIQUIDS; PUMPS (machines for liquids, or pumps, of rotary-piston or oscillating-piston type F04C; non-positive-displacement pumps F04D; pumping of fluid by direct contact of another fluid or by using inertia of fluid to be pumped F04F) - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract A print head for use in a fused deposition modeling system, the print head includes a cartridge assembly and a liquefier pump assembly retained by the cartridge assembly. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A print head for use in a fused deposition modeling system, the print head comprising: a housing body; a housing cover configured to attach to the housing body to define a cartridge assembly; and a liquefier pump assembly comprising; a drive block retained within the cartridge assembly, and having a first opening and a second opposing opening, the first and second openings being offset y a channel that is configured to receive a filament of a material through the first opening; a liquefier coupled to the second opening of the drive block; and a rotatable shaft, retained within the cartridge assembly, and having a toothed surface extending at least partially within the channel of the drive block, the toothed surface being configured to engage the received filament. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The print head of claim 1, and further comprising: a motor; a rotatable gear axially connected to the motor, and having a threaded surface; and a capstan gear having a rotational axis and perimeter teeth, the perimeter teeth being configured to engage the threaded surface of the rotatable gear, wherein the rotatable shaft extends from the rotational axis of the capstan gear. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The print head of claim 1, wherein the first opening of the drive block is configured to engage with a filament guide tube. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The print head of claim 1, wherein at least one of the housing body and the housing cover comprises a vent. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The print head of claim 1, and further comprising a circuit board secured to the housing cover, the circuit board being electrically connected to the liquefier. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The print head of claim 1, and further comprising: a motor operably connected to the liquefier pump assembly; a rotatable gear axially connected to the motor; and at least a portion of a rotary encoder configured to operably measure rotational angles of the rotatable gear. ### Claim 7 A print head for use in a fused deposition modeling system, the print head comprising: a cartridge assembly, a liquefier pump assembly comprising: a drive block retained within the cartridge assembly, and having a first opening and a second opposing opening, the first and second openings being offset by a channel that is configured to receive a filament of a material through the first opening; a liquefier having a first end retained within the cartridge assembly and coupled to the second opening of the drive block, and a second end extending outside of the cartridge assembly; and a rotatable shaft retained within the cartridge assembly, and having a toothed surface extending at least partially within the channel of the drive block, the toothed surface being configured to engage the received filament. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The print head of claim 7, and further comprising: a motor; a rotatable gear axially connected to the motor, and having a threaded surface; and a capstan gear having a rotational axis and perimeter teeth, the perimeter teeth being configured to engage the threaded surface of the rotatable gear, wherein the rotatable shaft extends from the rotational axis of the capstan gear. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The print head of claim 7, wherein the first opening of the drive block is configured to engage with a filament guide tube. ### Claim 10 (depends on 7) The print head of claim 7, wherein the cartridge assembly comprises a vent. ### Claim 11 (depends on 7) The print head of claim 7, and further comprising a circuit board secured to the cartridge assembly, the circuit board being electrically connected to the liquefier. ### Claim 12 (depends on 7) The print head of claim 7, and further comprising: a motor operably connected to the liquefier pump assembly; a rotatable gear axially connected to the motor; and at least a portion of a rotary encoder configured to operably measure rotational angles of the rotatable gear. ### Claim 13 A print head for use in a fused deposition modeling system, the print head comprising: a liquefier pump assembly; a housing body; a housing cover configured to attach to the housing body to define a cartridge assembly, wherein the liquefier pump assembly is retained by the cartridge assembly; a motor operably connected to the liquefier pump assembly; a rotatable gear axially connected to the motor; and at least a portion of a rotary encoder configured to operably measure rotational angles of the rotatable gear. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The print head of claim 13, wherein liquefier pump assembly comprises: a liquefier; and a drive mechanism operably engaged with the rotatable gear. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The print head of claim 13, wherein the liquefier pump assembly comprises a drive block retained within the cartridge assembly, and having a first opening and a second opposing opening, the first and second openings being offset by a channel that is configured to receive a filament of a material through the first opening. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The print head of claim 15, and further comprising a rotatable shaft retained within the cartridge assembly, and having a surface extending at least partially within the channel of the drive block, the surface of the rotatable shaft being configured to engage the received filament. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The print head of claim 16, wherein the surface of the rotatable shaft comprises a toothed surface. ### Claim 18 (depends on 13) The print head of claim 13, and further comprising a capstan gear having a rotational axis and perimeter teeth, the perimeter teeth being configured to engage the rotatable gear. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The print head of claim 18, and further comprising a rotatable shaft configured to engage a filament received by the print head, wherein the rotatable shaft extends from the rotational axis of the capstan gear. ### Claim 20 (depends on 13) The print head of claim 13, wherein at least one of the housing body and the housing cover comprises a vent.