A filament box for 3D printing

Abstract

This application discloses a consumable box for 3D printing, including an extrusion mechanism, a base shell, a top cover shell, a blower mechanism, and a drying box. The blower mechanism is located inside the shell, and a heating device is provided at its air outlet. The blower mechanism is used to generate circulating air within the shell after passing through the heating device. The drying box is used to absorb moisture within the shell. It also includes a locking structure for securing the base shell and the top cover shell. Through the coordinated action of the hot air circulation system and the drying box, the humidity inside the box can be stably controlled within a suitable range. This design avoids the humidity regulation issues found in existing technologies, significantly reducing the risk of moisture absorption by the consumables.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of 3D printing technology, specifically to a 3D printing liner box that integrates humidity control, intelligent monitoring, and precise feeding functions. Background Technology

[0002] 3D printing filaments (such as PLA and ABS) are susceptible to moisture during storage and use, leading to problems such as bubbles, stringing, and decreased interlayer adhesion during printing. In existing technologies, some filament boxes use mechanical structures to fix the filaments and monitor their remaining quantity. For example, Chinese patent CN222201701U discloses a "3D printing filament box," which uses a stepper motor to drive a bidirectional threaded rod to clamp the filament reel and utilizes rollers and springs to monitor filament consumption. This solution has the following shortcomings:

[0003] Lack of humidity control mechanism: No drying device or hot air circulation system is set up, so the humidity inside the box cannot be reduced actively, and the consumables are prone to deterioration due to moisture absorption;

[0004] Low level of intelligence: It only passively monitors the amount of wire through mechanical structure, without integrating sensors and automatic adjustment functions, and cannot dynamically adjust drying parameters according to environmental changes;

[0005] Poor consumable compatibility: The characteristics of different types of consumables (such as the flexibility of TPU and the high temperature sensitivity of PC) are not taken into account, making it difficult to adapt to diverse printing needs.

[0006] Poor sealing of the box and lid: The box and lid have no locking structure after being closed, and are easily opened by vibration during equipment operation, affecting the proper retention of the contents. Summary of the Invention

[0007] This utility model aims to solve one of the technical problems existing in the prior art.

[0008] This application provides a consumable box for 3D printing, including an extrusion mechanism, a base shell, a top cover shell, a blower mechanism, and a drying box. The blower mechanism is located inside the shell, and a heating device is provided at its air outlet. The blower mechanism is used to form circulating air that has passed through the heating device inside the shell. The drying box is used to absorb moisture inside the shell. The application also includes a locking structure for fixing the base shell and the top cover shell.

[0009] The drying box contains hygroscopic chemical particles such as calcium chloride.

[0010] The bottom of the outer shell is equipped with an inner liner, and the bottom of the inner liner is equipped with an airflow channel. One end of the airflow channel is an air outlet slot, and the other end is an air inlet slot. The blower mechanism and heating device are both installed in the airflow channel.

[0011] The air vent cover is equipped with a grille.

[0012] A humidity sensor is installed inside the liner.

[0013] The inner liner is equipped with an NFC module for acquiring and identifying information about consumables.

[0014] One end of the upper cover shell is detachably mounted on the base shell via a rotating shaft. The locking structure includes a locking slider and a locking hook. The locking hook is fixed on the end of the base shell away from the rotating shaft. The locking slider is slidably mounted on the upper cover shell and has a hook groove for locking with the locking hook.

[0015] The locking structure also includes a fixing block, which is fixed on the outer shell of the upper cover. The inner side of the locking slider is slidably engaged with the fixing block through a sliding groove. Both the fixing block and the sliding groove have an L-shaped cross section. The sliding groove is provided with a limiting groove. The bottom of the fixing block is fixed with a limiting block that slidably engages with the limiting groove.

[0016] The extrusion mechanism consists of a gear set with a set transmission ratio. Two gears at the feed inlet have friction wheels for driving consumables, and there is a gap between the two wheels for the consumables to enter and exit.

[0017] An indicator light is installed next to the feed inlet of the extrusion mechanism. The indicator light is green when the consumables are being fed normally, and red when abnormal situations such as material entanglement or material breakage occur.

[0018] The beneficial effects of this utility model are as follows:

[0019] 1. This invention uses a hot air circulation system and a drying box to work together to stably control the humidity inside the box within a suitable range, while existing technologies do not involve humidity regulation, thus significantly reducing the risk of consumables absorbing moisture.

[0020] 2. The humidity sensor of the present invention is linked with the control motherboard to realize the dynamic adjustment of drying parameters. In contrast, the prior art only passively monitors the amount of wire through mechanical structure, which cannot cope with environmental changes. The level of intelligence of this application is significantly improved.

[0021] 3. The NFC module can identify more than 20 types of consumables and automatically match the printing temperature, which improves the printing success rate compared to the single mechanical clamping method of the comparison patent.

[0022] 4. The design of the ventilation rubber ring and anti-wear ring improves the airtightness of the box, reduces the wear rate of consumables, and extends the service life of consumables and equipment.

[0023] 5. The locking structure ensures that the base shell and the top cover shell remain tightly closed during device operation, preventing the humidity inside the shell from being affected by the external humidity, and significantly reducing the risk of consumables absorbing moisture. Attached Figure Description

[0024] Figure 1This is a perspective view of a consumable box used for 3D printing in an embodiment of this application;

[0025] Figure 2 This is a perspective view of a consumable box (without top cover) used for 3D printing in an embodiment of this application.

[0026] Figure 3 This is a perspective view of a consumable box used for 3D printing in an embodiment of this application (without the top cover and consumable).

[0027] Figure 4 This is a three-dimensional view (top view) of the inner liner in an embodiment of this application;

[0028] Figure 5 This is a perspective view (from below) of the inner liner in an embodiment of this application.

[0029] Figure 6 This is a perspective view (from below) of the inner liner in an embodiment of this application.

[0030] Figure 7 This is a perspective view of the locking structure in an embodiment of this application;

[0031] Figure 8 This is a perspective view of the extrusion mechanism in the embodiments of this application;

[0032] Figure 9 This is a perspective view of the locking slider in an embodiment of this application;

[0033] Figure 10 This is a perspective view of the fixing block, limiting block, and locking hook in the embodiments of this application.

[0034] Figure Labels

[0035] 1-Extrusion mechanism, 11-Gear set, 12-Friction wheel, 2-Outer shell, 21-Base outer shell, 22-Top cover outer shell, 23-Locking structure, 231-Locking slider, 232-Locking hook, 233-Fixing block, 234-Slide groove, 235-Limiting groove, 236-Limiting block, 3-Blower mechanism, 4-Drying box, 5-Heating device, 51-Temperature sensor, 6-Inner liner, 61-NFC module, 62-Humidity sensor, 63-Foot pad, 7-Airflow channel, 71-Air outlet, 72-Air inlet, 73-Grate plate, 8-Discharge port, 9-Feed port. Detailed Implementation

[0036] The technical solutions of the embodiments of this application will be clearly described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some, not all, of the embodiments of this application. All other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art based on the embodiments of this application are within the scope of protection of this application.

[0037] The terms "first," "second," etc., used in the specification and claims of this application are used to distinguish similar objects and not to describe a specific order or sequence. It should be understood that such use of data can be interchanged where appropriate so that embodiments of this application can be implemented in orders other than those illustrated or described herein, and the objects distinguished by "first," "second," etc., are generally of the same class and the number of objects is not limited; for example, a first object can be one or more. Furthermore, in the specification and claims, "and / or" indicates at least one of the connected objects, and the character " / " generally indicates that the preceding and following objects are in an "or" relationship.

[0038] The consumable box for 3D printing provided in this application will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings, through specific embodiments and application scenarios.

[0039] This application provides a consumable box for 3D printing, including an extrusion mechanism 1, a base shell, a top cover shell, a blower mechanism 3, and a drying box 4. The blower mechanism 3 is disposed inside the shell 2, and a heating device 5 is provided at its air outlet. The blower mechanism 3 is used to form circulating air through the heating device 5 inside the shell 2. The drying box 4 is used to absorb moisture inside the shell 2. It also includes a locking structure for fixing the base shell and the top cover shell.

[0040] In this embodiment of the application, the drying box 4 contains hygroscopic chemical particles of calcium chloride.

[0041] The heating device 5 consists of multiple heating elements located at the air outlet of the blower mechanism 3. A temperature sensor 51 is located near the heating elements to monitor their real-time temperature and prevent the consumables from deteriorating due to excessive temperature. The drying box 4 is located on the upper inner side of the outer shell 2. When the blower mechanism 3 sends hot air in from below, the hot air flows upward along the inner wall of the outer shell 2. After passing through the consumables, it carries water vapor and sinks to the vicinity of the drying box 4, where it is directionally adsorbed by calcium chloride particles in the drying box 4, forming a "bottom delivery and top absorption" water vapor circulation path.

[0042] like Figures 1 to 6As shown, due to the aforementioned structure, when the device is in operation, the heating device 5 is powered on to generate heat, the blower mechanism 3 is activated, and the heated airflow circulates inside the outer shell 2, forming a circulating hot airflow covering the consumables. During the flow, the hot air comes into full contact with the consumables, causing the moisture contained in the consumables to evaporate into water vapor. Simultaneously, it accelerates the gas flow within the outer shell 2, allowing the water vapor to diffuse with the airflow. When the humid airflow passes through the drying box 4, the hygroscopic chemical particles, such as calcium chloride, inside the box actively absorb the water vapor, thereby reducing the overall humidity inside the outer shell 2 and achieving the drying process for the consumables. Simultaneously, the extrusion mechanism 1, through the transmission action of its gear set 11 (the friction wheel 12 at the feed inlet 9 rotates under the drive of a motor), can extrude or extrude the dried consumables as needed (forward rotation for extrusion, reverse rotation for extrusion). The anti-wear ring at the feed inlet 9 reduces friction between the consumables and the port, extending the device's service life.

[0043] Example 2:

[0044] The difference from Embodiment 1 is that, in this embodiment, in addition to including the structural features of the aforementioned embodiments, the bottom of the outer shell 2 is provided with an inner liner 6, the bottom of the inner liner 6 is provided with an airflow channel 7, one end of the airflow channel 7 is an air outlet slot 71 and the other end is an air inlet slot 72, and the blower mechanism 3 and the heating device 5 are both installed in the airflow channel 7.

[0045] In this embodiment of the application, the air outlet slot 71 is covered with a grille plate 73.

[0046] In this embodiment of the application, a humidity sensor 62 is provided in the inner liner 6.

[0047] In this embodiment of the application, an NFC module 61 for acquiring and identifying information about consumables is installed on the inner liner 6.

[0048] In this embodiment of the application, the inner liner 6 is made of high-temperature resistant material, and its internal space is functionally divided into a consumables placement area, a component installation area (blowing mechanism 3, heating device 5) and a control area (control main board) to ensure that the components do not interfere with each other; the control main board can receive signals from the humidity sensor and the temperature sensor 51. When the humidity is greater than the preset value, it automatically increases the speed of the blower mechanism 3 and the power of the heating element. When the temperature is greater than the preset value, it reduces the heating power; the four corners of the inner liner 6 are made of silicone material, which not only enhances stability but also reduces vibration noise during device operation.

[0049] like Figures 3 to 6As shown, due to the above structure, the inner liner 6 provides a stable installation space and positioning foundation for the components inside the outer shell 2, and the four corner mountings 63 enhance the stability of the device when placed. The blower mechanism 3 and the heating device 5 work together in the airflow channel 7. The heated airflow is discharged from the air outlet slot 71, flows through the inside of the outer shell 2 to exchange heat with the consumables, and carries water vapor back to the channel from the air inlet slot 72, forming a directional circulating hot air path to improve drying efficiency. The humidity sensor in the airflow channel 7 monitors the humidity of the circulating airflow in real time. When the humidity is higher than the set threshold, it can feed back a signal to enhance the power of the heating device 5 or the blower mechanism 3. At the same time, the NFC module 61 on the inner liner 6 can read information such as the type and parameters of the consumables, providing data support for matching subsequent printing parameters. The control motherboard inside the outer shell 2 (installed in the reserved space of the inner liner 6) coordinates the operation of the blower mechanism 3, the heating device 5, the sensor and other components to ensure the automated control of the drying process.

[0050] Example 3:

[0051] The difference from Embodiment 1 is that, in this embodiment, in addition to including the structural features of the aforementioned embodiments, one end of the upper cover shell 22 is detachably mounted on the base shell 21 via a rotating shaft, and the locking structure 23 includes a locking slider 231 and a locking hook 232. The locking hook 231 is fixed to the end of the base shell 21 away from the rotating shaft, and the locking slider 231 is slidably mounted on the upper cover shell 22, which has a hook groove for locking with the locking hook 232.

[0052] In this embodiment of the application, the locking structure 23 further includes a fixing block 233, which is fixedly mounted on the upper cover shell 22. The inner side of the locking slider 231 is slidably engaged with the fixing block 233 through a sliding groove 234. The cross-sections of the fixing block 233 and the sliding groove are both L-shaped. A limiting groove 235 is provided in the sliding groove 234. A limiting block 236 that slidably engages with the limiting groove 235 is fixedly provided at the bottom of the fixing block 233.

[0053] In this embodiment of the application, the discharge port 8 at the bottom of the outer shell 2 is aligned with the discharge end of the extrusion mechanism 1. When the extrusion mechanism 1 extrudes the consumable, the inner wall of the discharge port 8 is provided with a smooth guide surface to prevent the consumable from bending and getting stuck. The anti-wear ring at the feed port 9 is made of polytetrafluoroethylene, whose low friction characteristics can reduce the surface wear of the consumable.

[0054] like Figure 1 , Figures 7 to 10As shown, due to the above-mentioned structure, the base shell 21 not only serves as the supporting foundation for all components, but its power interface and power switch on the right rear provide power to the device, and its communication interface on the left rear can connect to a printer to achieve information exchange. In addition, the ventilation rubber ring on the base can help regulate the temperature and humidity balance inside the shell 2. The upper cover shell 22 can be flexibly opened and closed through a rotating shaft. When open, it is convenient to replace consumables, and when closed, it can play a role in dust prevention, heat preservation, and moisture prevention. When it is necessary to lock the closed state, slide the locking slider 231 on the upper cover shell 22 so that its hook groove engages with the locking hook 232 of the base shell 21, which can effectively prevent the upper cover from being opened accidentally and ensure the airtightness of the shell 2. The limiting groove 235 and the limiting block 236 limit the locking slider 231 when it slides relative to the locking hook 232, preventing the fixing block 233 from disengaging from the sliding groove 234, and providing a stable environment for hot air circulation and drying process.

[0055] Example 4:

[0056] The difference from Embodiment 1 is that, in this embodiment, in addition to including the structural features of the aforementioned embodiments, the extrusion mechanism 1 is composed of a gear set 11 with a set transmission ratio, and the two gears at the feed port 9 are equipped with friction wheels 12 for driving consumables, and a gap is provided between the two wheels for the consumables to enter and exit.

[0057] In this embodiment of the application, a signal light is provided on the side of the feed inlet 9 of the extrusion mechanism 1. The signal light is green when the consumable is being fed normally, and red when abnormal situations such as material entanglement or material breakage occur.

[0058] like Figure 8 As shown, due to the above structure, when the extrusion mechanism 1 is working, the motor drives the friction wheel 12 at the feed port 9 to rotate through the transmission of the gear set 11. When the consumable is inserted into the gap between the two wheels, the forward-rotating friction wheel 12 can squeeze the consumable into the housing 2, and the reverse-rotating friction wheel can squeeze the consumable from the discharge port 8, realizing the feeding and unloading function. By monitoring the number of rotations of the motor and the gear transmission ratio, the feeding and unloading length of the consumable can be accurately calculated to ensure feeding accuracy. The anti-wear ring at the feed port 9 reduces the direct friction between the consumable and the port, extending the service life of the device. At the same time, the signal light next to the feed port 9 provides real-time feedback on the consumable conveying status - a green light is displayed when conveying normally, and a red light is displayed if abnormalities such as entanglement (the consumable is wrapped in the gap) or interruption (the conveying path is interrupted) occur, which makes it convenient for users to troubleshoot in time.

[0059] It should be noted that, in this document, the terms "comprising," "including," or any other variations thereof are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements includes not only those elements but also other elements not expressly listed, or elements inherent to such a process, method, article, or apparatus. Without further limitations, an element defined by the phrase "comprising one..." does not exclude the presence of other identical elements in the process, method, article, or apparatus that includes that element. Furthermore, it should be noted that the scope of the methods and apparatuses in the embodiments of this application is not limited to performing functions in the order shown or discussed, but may also include performing functions substantially simultaneously or in the reverse order, depending on the functions involved. For example, the described methods may be performed in a different order than described, and various steps may be added, omitted, or combined. Additionally, features described with reference to certain examples may be combined in other examples.

[0060] The embodiments of this application have been described above with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, this application is not limited to the specific embodiments described above. The specific embodiments described above are merely illustrative and not restrictive. Those skilled in the art can make many other forms under the guidance of this application without departing from the spirit and scope of the claims, and all of these forms are within the protection scope of this application.

Claims

1. A filament box for 3D printing, comprising an extrusion mechanism, a base shell, a top cover shell, a blower mechanism, and a drying box, characterized in that, The blower mechanism is located inside the housing, and a heating device is provided at its air outlet. The blower mechanism is used to generate circulating air that has passed through the heating device inside the housing. The drying box is used to absorb moisture inside the housing. It also includes a locking structure for fixing the base housing and the top cover housing.

2. The consumable box for 3D printing according to claim 1, characterized in that, The drying box contains hygroscopic chemical particles such as calcium chloride.

3. The consumable box for 3D printing according to claim 1, characterized in that, The outer shell has an inner liner at its bottom, and the inner liner has an airflow channel at its bottom. One end of the airflow channel is an air outlet slot, and the other end is an air inlet slot. The blower mechanism and the heating device are both installed in the airflow channel.

4. The consumable box for 3D printing according to claim 3, characterized in that, The air outlet duct is covered with a grille.

5. The consumable box for 3D printing according to claim 3, characterized in that, A humidity sensor is installed in the inner liner.

6. The consumable box for 3D printing according to claim 3, characterized in that, The inner liner is equipped with an NFC module for acquiring and identifying information about consumables.

7. The consumable box for 3D printing according to claim 1, characterized in that, One end of the upper cover shell is detachably mounted on the base shell via a rotating shaft. The locking structure includes a locking slider and a locking hook. The locking hook is fixed on the end of the base shell away from the rotating shaft. The locking slider is slidably mounted on the upper cover shell and has a hook groove for locking with the locking hook.

8. The consumable box for 3D printing according to claim 7, characterized in that, The locking structure also includes a fixing block, which is fixed on the outer shell of the upper cover. The inner side of the locking slider is slidably engaged with the fixing block through a sliding groove. Both the fixing block and the sliding groove have an L-shaped cross section. The sliding groove is provided with a limiting groove. The bottom of the fixing block is fixed with a limiting block that slidably engages with the limiting groove.

9. The consumable box for 3D printing according to claim 1, characterized in that, The extrusion mechanism consists of a gear set with a set transmission ratio. Two gears at the feed inlet have friction wheels for driving consumables, and there is a gap between the two wheels for the consumables to enter and exit.

10. The consumable box for 3D printing according to claim 9, characterized in that, An indicator light is provided next to the feed inlet of the extrusion mechanism.

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