Patent ID: 8137092

Claim:
An apparatus for supporting an extruder assembly, comprising: a fixed motor support member having a mounting surface, the mounting surface of the fixed motor support member supporting at least a portion of a motor; an intermediate support member having a mounting surface, the mounting surface of the intermediate support member supporting at least a portion of a transmission that is in mechanic communication with the motor; a first linking member having a first end and an opposite second end, the first linking member being secured at its first end to the fixed motor support member and at its second end to the intermediate support member; a movable motor support member having a mounting surface, the mounting surface of the movable motor support member supporting at least a portion of the motor, wherein the movable motor support member is located between the fixed motor support member and the intermediate member, and wherein the movable motor support member movably engages the first linking member; a fixed extruder support member having a mounting surface, the mounting surface supporting at least a portion of an extruder that is in mechanical communication with the transmission; a second linking member having a first end and an opposite second end, the second linking member being secured at its first end to the fixed extruder support member, and the second linking member being secured at its second end to the intermediate support member; and a movable extruder support member having a mounting surface, the mounting surface of the movable extruder support member supporting at least a portion of the extruder, wherein the movable extruder support member being located between the fixed extruder support member and the intermediate support member, and wherein the movable extruder support member movably engages the second linking member.