Patent ID: 8132753
Filing Date: 2012-03-13
Classification: B29C,B33Y,B65H

Abstract:
1. A method for loading a filament onto a filament spool for use in a digital manufacturing system, the method comprising: winding a first segment of the filament around an axial shaft of the filament spool in a first rotational direction, wherein the axial shaft is disposed between a first rim and a second rim, the first rim extending perpendicular to the axial shaft and comprising an inner side adjacent to the axial shaft, an outer side opposite of inner side, and a lateral edge offsetting the inner side and the outer side; extending a second segment of the filament in the first rotational direction from the inner side of the first rim, across a lateral groove extending from the inner side of the first rim to the outer side of the first rim, such that at least a portion of the second segment is inserted through the lateral groove; extending a third segment of the filament across the outer side of the first rim through at least one groove in the outer side of the first rim such that at least a portion of the third segment has an arcuate arrangement with a curve in the same direction as the first rotational direction; and restraining part of the third segment of the filament to the outer side of the first rim to maintain the arcuate arrangement in a manner that comprises at least one of snap fitting the third segment of the filament into at least one of the at least one groove in the outer side of the first rim, and inserting part of the third segment of the filament into a filament guide mechanism and mounting the filament guide mechanism on the outer side of the first rim.