Patent ID: 11883994
Assignee: G6 MATERIALS CORP.
Field: Other special machines (Mechanical engineering)
Classification: CPC B | IPC B

Claim 0:
1. A device for fabricating a continuous thermoplastic filament having a plurality of segments, which comprises:
a first filament supply component for supplying a first thermoplastic filament;
a second filament supply component for supplying a second thermoplastic filament;
a filament cutting component for cutting each of the first and second thermoplastic filaments into segments, each of the segments having a forward end and trailing end spaced apart from the forward end;
a first filament guide component for guiding the first thermoplastic filament into position to be cut by the filament cutting component;
a second filament guide component for guiding the second thermoplastic filament into position to be cut by the filament cutting component;
a pair of spaced apart support rails;
a filament segment joining section positioned after the filament cutting component, the filament joining section having:
a chamber for guiding and aligning the forward end of one segment of the first and second thermoplastic filaments into contact with the trailing end of the other segment of the first and second thermoplastic filaments; and
a heater element for heating and joining the trailing end to the forward end when in contact to form a continuous thermoplastic filament having a plurality of segments;

wherein the first and second filament guide components are movable so as to alternatively and sequentially permit the first and second thermoplastic filaments to be cut by the filament cutting component;
wherein the first filament guide component comprises a first reciprocally movable plate and a first filament guide mounted on the first reciprocally movable plate;
wherein the second filament guide component comprises a second reciprocally movable plate and a second filament guide mounted on the second reciprocally movable plate;
wherein the first reciprocally moveable plate and the second reciprocally moveable plate respectively move reciprocally from side to side along the pair of spaced apart support rails;
wherein the first reciprocally moveable plate, the second reciprocally movable plate, and the filament segment joining section are each substantially positioned on the same horizontal plane; and
wherein the filament cutting component comprises vertically reciprocating knife which vertically reciprocates to cut at least one of the first thermoplastic filament and the second thermoplastic filament against the first reciprocally moveable plate or the second reciprocally movable plate.