Patent ID: 7648664
Filing Date: 2010-01-19
Classification: B29C,B33Y

Abstract:
1. A build material feed system for a solid freeform fabrication apparatus, the build material having a non-flowable state and a flowable state, the apparatus having a dispensing device for dispensing the build material, the feed system comprising: a. a hopper that holds discrete containers of the build material in the non-flowable state in communication with a receptacle of the material feed system; b. at least one heater that changes amounts of build material in the discrete container from the non-flowable state to the flowable state after delivery of the discrete container to the receptacle of the material feed system; c. an extrusion assembly that expels build material from the discrete container to the dispensing device by applying an extrusion force to the discrete container; d. at least one ink jet print head provided in the dispensing device for dispensing the build material in a layerwise fashion; and e. a clamp feed system that selectively clamps the discrete container by applying a clamping force with at least one movable clamp to the discrete container while the extrusion assembly expels build material from the discrete container to the dispensing device and that selectively releases the discrete container once substantially all of the build material has been expelled by discontinuing the clamping force.