A REEL

Abstract

The present invention relates to a reel (10) for winding up and unwinding filaments, comprising a circular middle element (3), circular flanges (1,2) positioned on either side of said middle element (3), wherein the diameter of said middle element (3) is smaller than the diameter of said flanges (1,2), which middle element (3) is suitable for winding up and unwinding filaments, wherein said middle element (3) and flanges (1,2) are manufactured from a biodegradable polymer.

Claims

1. A reel for winding up and unwinding filaments, comprising a circular middle element, circular flanges positioned on either side of said middle element, wherein the diameter of said middle element is smaller than the diameter of said flanges, which middle element is suitable for winding up and unwinding filaments, characterized in that said middle element and flanges are manufactured from a biodegradable polymer.

2. The reel according to claim 1, characterized in that said biodegradable polymer is selected from the group of polylactic acid, copolymers of L-lactic acid with 0.5-7% D-lactic acid, starch foam and/or blends of 5-40% PLA with a remaining quantity of additional components consisting of the group of starch, PBS, PBAT, PHA, PHB, PVA and PVAc or combinations thereof and with optional addition of colouring agents, nucleants, compatibilizing agents in usual quantities.

3. The reel according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the density of said biodegradable polymer lies in the range of 10 g/l and 100 g/l.

4. The reel according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said biodegradable polymer complies with the composting standard EN13432.

5. The reel according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said reel is made up of two identical halves, both of which halves are connected to each other using a bayonet closure in order to obtain the intended reel.

6. The reel according to claim 5, characterized in that said bayonet closure further comprises a retaining groove.

7. The reel according to one or more of the claims 5-6, characterized in that both identical halves are nestable.

8. The reel according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said filaments are of the 3-D printing yarn type.

Description

[0039] The present invention will be further elucidated hereinbelow on the basis of a number of examples. These examples serve only by way of elucidating the present invention.

[0040] FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of a reel for winding up and unwinding filaments according to the present invention.

[0041] FIG. 2 shows an embodiment of a sub-element of a reel for winding up and unwinding filaments according to the present invention.

[0042] FIG. 3 shows an embodiment of a sub-element of a reel for winding up and unwinding filaments according to the present invention.

[0043] FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of a reel 10 for winding up and unwinding filaments (not shown) according to the present invention. The reel 10 comprises a circular middle element wherein circular flanges 1, 2 are positioned on either side of said middle element. The diameter of the middle element is smaller than the diameter of the circular flanges 1, 2, wherein the middle element is suitable for winding and unwinding of filaments. The reel 10 is wholly manufactured from a biodegradable polymer.

[0044] FIG. 2 shows schematically a sub-element 20 of a reel 10 for winding up and unwinding filaments according to the present invention. The sub-element 10 is embodied as a circle wherein flange 1 has a rim 5. Such a rim 5 is desirable from the viewpoint of mechanical properties and also provides the option that the 3-D printing yarn or filament remains on the reel 10 after being wound up. The middle element 3 is provided with means 4 for realizing a bayonet closure. In order to assemble a reel 10 two sub-elements 20 are connected to each other using said bayonet closure. When thus assembled, a wide middle element 3 is created which serves as surface for winding 3-D printing yarn or filament thereon. During use of the reel 3 the reel is mounted on a shaft on the 3-D printer (not shown), wherein the material of the 3-D printing yarn or filament is heated by the 3-D printer and a printing step then takes place. The sub-element 20 is manufactured wholly from a biodegradable polymer.

[0045] Shown in FIG. 3 is an embodiment of a sub-element 30 of a reel 10 for winding up and unwinding filaments according to the present invention. The sub-element 30 is embodied as a circle wherein the flange 1 has a rim 5. Located in the centre of the sub-element 30 are means 6 for realizing a bayonet closure. In order to assemble a reel 10 two sub-elements 30 are connected to each other using said bayonet closure. When thus assembled, a wide middle element is created which serves as surface for winding 3-D printing yarn or filament thereon. It is possible in a specific embodiment to combine the sub-element 20 with the sub-element 30 to form a reel. The sub-element 30 is manufactured wholly from a biodegradable polymer. In FIG. 3 profile ejectors are shown schematically with reference numeral 7 and printed/press-out fillers with reference numeral 8.

EXAMPLE 1

[0046] A reel for winding 3-D printing yarn or filament was manufactured using EPS with a diameter of 0.7-1.0 mm and a foamed density of 60 g/l. Grains of the Styrex 710R type were pre-expanded at a temperature of 110 C. in a conventional pre-expander to 55 g/l and, after 24 hours standing, a moulding step was performed in an aluminium mould using steam at a temperature of 110 C. The final product has a moulded density of 60 g/l.

EXAMPLE 2

[0047] A reel for winding 3-D printing yarn or filament was manufactured using BioFoam with density of 60 g/l. Applied as starting material were BF710 Synterra green bio-beads, with a size of 0.7-1.0 mm, marketed by Synbra Technology. Said beads were pre-impregnated with 9% CO.sub.2, then expanded to 55 g/l using hot air at a temperature of 90 C. as heating medium, and provided with a coating in a quantity of 5% (m/m), namely Vinnex 2510marketed by Wacker of Burghausen (Germany)and subsequently shaped into a 3-D reel at a shaping temperature of 90 C. in order to obtain a 60 g/l 3-D reel. Said reel was suitable for winding up a quantity of 1 kg 3 mm PLA (95%)/PHA (5%) filament.

EXAMPLE 3

[0048] A 3-D filament reel as referred to in Example 2 was manufactured using a composition of a foam of 20% PLA and 80% PBAT. Said composition was impregnated with 9% CO.sub.2 and then expanded to 55 g/l and subsequently shaped into a 3-D reel at a shaping temperature of 90 C. in order to obtain a 60 g/l 3-D reel.