Sealing Apparatus for Creating Moisture-Resistant Barrier Around Filaments, and Corresponding Methods

Abstract

Disclosed herein is a sealing apparatus comprising a moisture barrier that engages with a filament spool to create a moisture-resistant enclosure for housing a filament on said spool, and a passageway in said sealing apparatus so that the remaining filament can exit sad sealing apparatus during use. Also disclosed is a method for preparing and packaging the filament and sealing apparatus.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A sealing apparatus comprising:
 a moisture barrier configured to engage with a filament spool to create a moisture-resistant enclosure for housing a filament on said spool, and   a passageway in said sealing apparatus so that a feed portion of a filament can exit said sealing apparatus during use, said passageway being configured to rotate relative to said remaining filament.   
     
     
         2 . The sealing apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the moisture barrier has two edges with seals that can be configured to be pressed to fix onto the filament spool. 
     
     
         3 . The sealing apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the moisture barrier's edges can be pressed on one at a time so that the feed portion of the filament can be guided through the passageway before the sealing apparatus creates a seal around the remaining filament. 
     
     
         4 . The sealing apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the passageway is a cutout in the surface of the moisture barrier with a frustocone shape. 
     
     
         5 . The sealing apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the filament is formed from a biodegradable material. 
     
     
         6 . The sealing apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the filament comprises at least one member selected from the group of polylactic acid, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, and nylon. 
     
     
         7 . A method of reducing moisture absorption by a filament configured for use in 3D printing comprising:
 obtaining the filament on a spool,   obtaining a sealing apparatus comprising a moisture barrier configured to engage with said filament spool and a passageway in said sealing apparatus so that a feed portion of a filament can exit said sealing apparatus during use, said passageway being configured to rotate relative to said remaining filament, and   mounting the sealing apparatus on the spool.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the sealing apparatus is mounted on the spool soon after the filament is wound around the spool. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the filament spool is packaged without the sealing apparatus mounted thereon, and the sealing apparatus is mounted on the filament spool in preparation for use.