Method and Assembly for Docking and Retrieving a Filament Holding Device

Abstract

A docking assembly and method for docking and retrieving a filament holding device includes a motor casing rod defining a recess, filament holders and docking stations. Each filament holder defines a filament receiver channel for receiving the rod and a stop member that is selectively engaged with the recess of the rod, thus coupling a filament holder to the rod for retrieval of the filament holder. Each docking station includes a deployment latch operable to rotate when the rod is inserted into the docking receiver channel so that the deployment latch urges the stop member to the deployed configuration for coupling together the rod and the filament holder. Thus, a filament holder is captured for removal from the docking station. The docking apparatus includes a release lever that operates in reverse of the deployment latch so as to release a filament holder from the rod back to its docking station.

1 . A method for docking and retrieving a filament holding device in a machine that includes a printing head, said docking and retrieving method comprising:
 providing a motor casing rod having a proximal end coupled to a motor casing associated with the printing head and a distal end opposite said proximal end, said motor casing rod having a linear configuration and extending away from said motor casing, said motor casing rod defining a recess proximate said distal end;   receiving said motor casing rod into a filament receiver channel defined by a filament holder;   wherein said filament holder includes a stop member that is movable between a retracted position disengaged from said recess of said motor casing rod and a deployed configuration engaged with said recess of said motor casing rod when said motor casing rod is fully extended through said filament receiver channel during a retrieval process;   providing a docking station having a docking wall defining a docking receiver channel that is collinear and in communication with said filament receiver channel and operable for receiving said motor casing rod, said docking station having a framework extending away from said docking wall;   rotating a deployment latch that is coupled to said framework from a retracted configuration to a deployed configuration when said motor casing rod is fully inserted into said docking receiver channel during said retrieval process so that said second end of said deployment latch urges said stop member to said deployed configuration for coupling together said motor casing rod and said filament holder.   
     
     
         2 . The docking method as in  claim 1 , further comprising rotating a release lever that is coupled to said framework and displaced from said deployment latch from a retracted configuration to a deployed configuration when said motor casing rod is fully inserted into said docking receiver channel during a docking process such that a free end of said release lever urges said stop member to said released configuration for releasing said motor casing rod from said filament holder. 
     
     
         3 . The docking method as in  claim 2 , wherein said docking station further includes a floating actuator situated in said docking receiver channel that is movable between a docking configuration adjacent said first end of said docking latch and a releasing configuration positioned atop said release lever. 
     
     
         4 . The docking method as in  claim 3 , wherein said floating actuator is a ball having a spherical configuration. 
     
     
         5 . The docking method as in  claim 2 , wherein said docking station further includes an actuator ball having a spherical configuration positioned in said docking receiver channel that is movable between (1) a docking configuration adjacent said first end of said docking latch associated with said docking process operable for coupling said motor casing rod to said filament housing upon insertion of said motor casing rod into said docking receiving channel which causes said actuator ball to actuate said deployment latch and (2) a releasing configuration positioned atop said release lever and operable for releasing said motor casing rod from said filament holder upon insertion of said motor casing rod into said docking receiving channel which causes said actuator ball to actuate said release lever. 
     
     
         6 . The docking method as in  claim 5 , wherein:
 said release lever includes a top surface defining a recessed area configured to receive said actuator ball at said releasing configuration;   said actuator ball is positioned in said recessed area at said releasing configuration so as to be impacted a filament holder rod when said motor casing rod is inserted into said docking receiving channel during said docking process.   
     
     
         7 . The method as in  claim 2 , wherein:
 said deployment latch is normally biased toward said retracted configuration by a first compression spring;   said release lever is normally biased toward said retracted configuration by a second compression spring; and   said stop member is normally biased toward said deployed configuration by a third compression spring.   
     
     
         8 . The docking method as in  claim 7 , wherein:
 said first compression spring is compressed when said deployment latch is urged toward said deployed configuration;   said second compression spring is compressed when said release lever is urged toward said deployed configuration;   said third compression spring is extended when said deployment latch is urged toward said deployed configuration.   
     
     
         9 . The docking method as in  claim 1 , wherein:
 said filament holder is a plurality of filament holders, each filament holder defining a respective filament receiver channel operable for selectively receiving said motor casing rod;   wherein said each filament holder includes a respective stop member that is movable between a retracted position displaced from said recess of said motor casing rod and a deployed configuration engaged with said recess of said motor casing rod when said motor casing rod is fully extended through said respective filament receiver channel;   said docking station is a plurality of docking stations, each docking station, comprising:
 a respective docking wall defining a respective docking receiver channel that is collinear and in communication with said respective filament receiver channel and operable for receiving said motor casing rod; 
 a framework extending away from said docking wall; 
   a respective deployment latch pivotally coupled to said framework and having an arcuate configuration that includes first and second ends, said respective deployment latch being operable to rotate from a normally unrotated configuration to a rotated configuration when said motor casing rod is fully inserted into said respective docking receiver channel during a retrieval process so that said second end of said respective deployment latch urges said stop member to said deployed configuration thereby coupling together said motor casing rod and said respective filament holder.   
     
     
         10 . The docking method as in  claim 1 , wherein:
 said docking station includes a guide pin extending away from and perpendicular to said docking wall; and   said filament holder defines a guide channel operable to receive said guide pin when said filament holder is aligned to engage said docking station.   
     
     
         11 . A method for docking and retrieving a filament holding device in a machine of a type having a tool head, said docking and retrieving method comprising:
 providing a motor casing rod having a proximal end coupled to a motor casing associated with the tool head and a distal end opposite said proximal end, said motor casing rod defining a recess proximate said distal end;   receiving said motor casing rod into a filament receiver channel defined by a filament holder;   wherein said filament holder includes a stop member that is movable between a retracted position disengaged from said recess of said motor casing rod and a deployed configuration engaged with said recess of said motor casing rod when said motor casing rod is fully extended through said filament receiver channel during a retrieval process;   providing a docking station having a docking wall defining a docking receiver channel that is in communication with said filament receiver channel and operable for receiving said motor casing rod;   actuating a deployment latch that is coupled to said framework and movable from a retracted configuration to a deployed configuration when said motor casing rod is fully inserted into said docking receiver channel during said retrieval process.   
     
     
         12 . The method as in  claim 11 , wherein:
 said motor casing rod has a linear configuration and extends away from said motor casing;   said docking station includes a framework extending away from said docking wall;   said second end of said deployment latch urges said stop member to said deployed configuration when said motor casing rod is fully inserted into said docking receiver channel during said retrieval process for coupling together said motor casing rod and said filament holder; and   said tool head is a printing head associated with a 3D printer.   
     
     
         13 . The docking method as in  claim 11 , further comprising actuating a release lever that is coupled to said framework and displaced from said deployment latch from a retracted configuration to a deployed configuration when said motor casing rod is fully inserted into said docking receiver channel during a docking process such that a free end of said release lever urges said stop member to said released configuration for releasing said motor casing rod from said filament holder. 
     
     
         14 . The docking method as in  claim 13 , wherein said docking station further includes a floating actuator situated in said docking receiver channel that is movable between a docking configuration adjacent said first end of said docking latch and a releasing configuration positioned atop said release lever. 
     
     
         15 . The docking method as in  claim 13 , wherein said docking station further includes an actuator ball having a spherical configuration positioned in said docking receiver channel that is movable between (1) a docking configuration adjacent said first end of said docking latch associated with said docking process operable for coupling said motor casing rod to said filament housing upon insertion of said motor casing rod into said docking receiving channel which causes said actuator ball to actuate said deployment latch and (2) a releasing configuration positioned atop said release lever and operable for releasing said motor casing rod from said filament holder upon insertion of said motor casing rod into said docking receiving channel which causes said actuator ball to actuate said release lever. 
     
     
         16 . The docking method as in  claim 15 , wherein:
 said release lever includes a top surface defining a recessed area configured to receive said actuator ball at said releasing configuration;   said actuator ball is positioned in said recessed area at said releasing configuration so as to be impacted a filament holder rod when said motor casing rod is inserted into said docking receiving channel during said docking process.   
     
     
         17 . The method as in  claim 13 , wherein:
 said deployment latch is normally biased toward said retracted configuration by a first compression spring;   said release lever is normally biased toward said retracted configuration by a second compression spring; and   said stop member is normally biased toward said deployed configuration by a third compression spring.   
     
     
         18 . The docking method as in  claim 17 , wherein:
 said first compression spring is compressed when said deployment latch is urged toward said deployed configuration;   said second compression spring is compressed when said release lever is urged toward said deployed configuration;   said third compression spring is extended when said deployment latch is urged toward said deployed configuration.   
     
     
         19 . The docking method as in  claim 11 , wherein:
 said filament holder is a plurality of filament holders, each filament holder defining a respective filament receiver channel operable for selectively receiving said motor casing rod;   wherein said each filament holder includes a respective stop member that is movable between a retracted position displaced from said recess of said motor casing rod and a deployed configuration engaged with said recess of said motor casing rod when said motor casing rod is fully extended through said respective filament receiver channel;   said docking station is a plurality of docking stations, each docking station, comprising:
 a respective docking wall defining a respective docking receiver channel that is collinear and in communication with said respective filament receiver channel and operable for receiving said motor casing rod; 
 a framework extending away from said docking wall; 
   a respective deployment latch pivotally coupled to said framework and having an arcuate configuration that includes first and second ends, said respective deployment latch being operable to rotate from a normally unrotated configuration to a rotated configuration when said motor casing rod is fully inserted into said respective docking receiver channel during a retrieval process so that said second end of said respective deployment latch urges said stop member to said deployed configuration thereby coupling together said motor casing rod and said respective filament holder.   
     
     
         20 . The docking method as in  claim 11 , wherein:
 said docking station includes a guide pin extending away from and perpendicular to said docking wall; and   said filament holder defines a guide channel operable to receive said guide pin when said filament holder is aligned to engage said docking station.