US 12,168,322 B2
Tethered spool assembly and methods of use thereof
Patrick Anderson, Maple Grove, MN (US); Dang Yang, Champlin, MN (US); and Ross Michalkiewicz, Minneapolis, MN (US)
Assigned to STRATASYS, INC., Eden Prairie, MN (US)
Filed by Stratasys, Inc., Eden Prairie, MN (US)
Filed on Jul. 7, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/859,446.
Prior Publication US 2024/0009924 A1, Jan. 11, 2024
Int. Cl. B29C 64/255 (2017.01); B29C 64/321 (2017.01); B33Y 30/00 (2015.01); B33Y 40/00 (2020.01); B65H 57/18 (2006.01); B65H 75/18 (2006.01); B29K 101/12 (2006.01)
CPC B29C 64/255 (2017.08) [B29C 64/321 (2017.08); B33Y 30/00 (2014.12); B33Y 40/00 (2014.12); B65H 57/18 (2013.01); B65H 75/182 (2013.01); B29K 2101/12 (2013.01)] 22 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A consumable assembly for a 3D printer, the assembly comprising:
a spool having spaced apart spool walls, a hub, a filament winding area defined by the spool walls and the hub, and filament wound on the spool in the filament winding area, the spool configured to be installed into a spool cabinet configured for maintaining the spool in a controlled environment and providing filament to a print head of the 3D printer through a filament path;
a filament key fob comprising a spool chip retained in a spool chip housing; and
a tether, separate from the filament path, coupling the filament key fob to the spool and configured to allow the filament key fob to reach a dock of the 3D printer located outside of the spool cabinet while the spool is installed in the spool cabinet and while the tether remains coupled to the spool and to the filament key fob.