Patent ID: 11911966
Assignee: INDUSTRIËLE CONSTRUCTIES SYMONS BVBA
Field: Other special machines (Mechanical engineering)
Classification: CPC B | IPC B

Claim 22:
23. A method of feeding a thermoplastic filament j an extrusion-based production system comprising:
a filament roll with a thermoplastic filament to be extruded; and
at least one assembly, the at least one assembly comprising:
an entrance adapted to receive the thermoplastic filament to be extruded;
an exit adapted to deliver the thermoplastic filament for printing a 3D object layer by layer, wherein the entrance and the exit define a channel within which the thermoplastic filament is movable; and
at least two rotatable components comprising a first rotatable component and a second rotatable component;

wherein:
the channel is at least partially located between the first rotatable component and the second rotatable component;
the first rotatable component is rotatable about a first axis and has first external ridges;
the first axis is located at a first distance from the channel such that the first external ridges penetrate at least partially into the channel;
the second rotatable component is rotatable about a second axis different from the first axis and has second external ridges; and
the second axis is located at a second distance from the channel such that the second external ridges penetrate at least partially into the channel;, the method comprising:
introducing the thermoplastic filament into the channel;
rotating the first rotatable component about the first axis;
rotating the second rotatable component about the second axis; and
moving the first axis and the second axis around the thermoplastic filament in such a way that the first rotatable component and the second rotatable component roll over a surface of the thermoplastic filament while the first external ridges and the second external ridges penetrate approximately 0.05 mm to approximately 0.25 mm into the thermoplastic filament.