Three-dimensional printing plate-changing transporting apparatus and plate-changing system

Abstract

Provided in the present application are a three-dimensional printing plate-changing transporting apparatus and a plate-changing system. The three-dimensional printing plate-changing transporting apparatus comprises: a collecting basket, used for accommodating a plurality of forming platforms, the plurality of forming platforms including blank forming platforms to be placed into a printing apparatus or printed forming platforms with an attached printing model after being printed by the printing apparatus; a supporting platform, used for bearing the collecting basket; and a moving mechanism, wherein the supporting platform is fixedly mounted on the moving mechanism, and the moving mechanism is suitable for driving the supporting platform to move, so that the collecting basket loaded with the plurality of forming platforms is driven to move between an initial position and a target position.

Description

3D printed plate transfer transport device and plate transfer system Technical Field

[0001] The present application mainly relates to the field of three-dimensional printing, and in particular to a plate changing and transporting device and a plate changing system for three-dimensional printing. Background Art

[0002] In the 3D printing process, the molding platform after printing needs to be further dried to remove the uncured resin liquid on the surface. Due to factors such as space limitations, the printing and drying processes are often performed in different locations, so the molding platform needs to be taken out and transported. The 3D printers in the prior art need to use manual methods to pick up parts and transport the sub-molding platform, resulting in the inability to achieve streamlined operation of the entire printing process, low efficiency and poor operating experience. In addition, there are many uncertainties in the manual transportation of the molding platform, and positioning and calibration are difficult. Therefore, the process of changing plates and transporting 3D printers is not perfect and still needs further improvement.

[0003] Summary of the Invention

[0004] The technical problem to be solved by the present application is to provide a convenient, reliable and highly automated three-dimensional printing plate changing and transportation device and plate changing system.

[0005] In order to solve the above technical problems, the present application provides a three-dimensional printing plate changing and transportation device, including: a collection basket for accommodating multiple forming platforms, the multiple forming platforms including a blank forming platform to be placed in a printing device or a printed forming platform with an attached printed model after being printed by the printing device; a support platform for carrying the collection basket; and a motion mechanism, on which the support platform is fixedly mounted, and the motion mechanism is suitable for driving the support platform to move, thereby driving the collection basket loaded with multiple forming platforms to move between an initial position and a target position.

[0006] In one embodiment of the present invention, the collecting basket includes a body and a cornice located at an upper edge of the body, and at least a portion of the cornice is located in a moving path of the multiple forming platforms when they are placed into the collecting basket.

[0007] In one embodiment of the present invention, the bottom of the collecting basket further includes one or more liquid leakage holes.

[0008] In one embodiment of the present invention, the bottom of the collecting basket further includes one or more positioning grooves, and the supporting platform further includes one or more positioning portions for cooperating with the positioning grooves.

[0009] In one embodiment of the present invention, the positioning portion includes a fixing screw and a conical protrusion on the fixing screw, wherein the positioning portion is adapted to be inserted into the positioning groove through the tip of the conical protrusion.

[0010] In one embodiment of the present invention, the collecting basket further includes a plurality of limiting slots, each of which is used to limit the position of a forming platform in the collecting basket.

[0011] In one embodiment of the present invention, the upper position and / or lower position of the limiting slot also has a limiting spring plate, which is located at a first position when the forming platform is not loaded into the collection basket, and is compressed to a second position after the forming platform is loaded into the collection basket.

[0012] In one embodiment of the present invention, the motion mechanism includes an AGV vehicle.

[0013] The present invention also provides a plate changing system for three-dimensional printing, comprising a printing device, a plate changing and transporting device as in any of the previous embodiments, and a spin-drying device, wherein the plate changing and transporting device is suitable for loading the printed forming platform with the attached printed model printed by the printing device and moving it to the spin-drying device.

[0014] In one embodiment of the present invention, the plate changing system further comprises a robot arm, which is adapted to grab the printed forming platform and place it into a collection basket of the plate changing transport device.

[0015] Compared with the prior art, the plate changing and transporting device for three-dimensional printing and the plate changing and transporting device in the plate changing system provided in the present application have a collection basket, a support platform and a motion mechanism. The support platform is arranged on the motion mechanism and carries the collection basket, so that the plate changing and transporting device can simultaneously realize the automated collection and transportation of the forming platform.

[0016] Summary of the Figures

[0017] The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further understanding of the present application. They are incorporated into and constitute a part of this application. The accompanying drawings illustrate embodiments of the present application and, together with this specification, serve to explain the principles of the present application. In the accompanying drawings:

[0018] FIG1 is a perspective schematic diagram of a three-dimensional printed plate-changing and transporting device of the present application.

[0019] FIG2 is a top view of a collection basket of the present application.

[0020] FIG3 is a front cross-sectional view of a three-dimensional printed plate-changing and transporting device of the present application.

[0021] FIG4 is a schematic diagram of the cooperation between a positioning groove and a positioning portion of the present application.

[0022] FIG5 is a three-dimensional schematic diagram of the internal structure of a collection basket of the present application.

[0023] Preferred embodiments of the present invention

[0024] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions of the embodiments of this application, the following is a brief introduction to the drawings required for describing the embodiments. Obviously, the drawings described below are merely examples or embodiments of this application. Those skilled in the art can apply this application to other similar scenarios based on these drawings without inventive effort. Unless otherwise apparent from the context or otherwise noted, the same reference numerals in the figures represent the same structure or operation.

[0025] As used in this application and the claims, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, the words "a," "an," "an," and / or "the" are not intended to refer to the singular but may include the plural. Generally speaking, the terms "comprises" and "include" only indicate the inclusion of the steps and elements specifically identified, and these steps and elements do not constitute an exclusive list. A method or apparatus may also include other steps or elements.

[0026] Unless otherwise specifically stated, the relative arrangement of the parts and steps, numerical expressions and numerical values ​​set forth in these embodiments do not limit the scope of the present application. At the same time, it should be understood that, for ease of description, the sizes of the various parts shown in the drawings are not drawn according to actual proportional relationships. The techniques, methods and equipment known to those of ordinary skill in the relevant art may not be discussed in detail, but where appropriate, the techniques, methods and equipment should be considered as part of the authorization specification. In all examples shown and discussed here, any specific values ​​should be interpreted as being merely exemplary and not as limitations. Therefore, other examples of the exemplary embodiments may have different values. It should be noted that similar numbers and letters represent similar items in the following figures, and therefore, once an item is defined in one figure, it does not need to be further discussed in subsequent figures.

[0027] In the description of this application, it should be understood that the directions or positional relationships indicated by directional words such as "front, back, up, down, left, right", "horizontal, vertical, vertical, horizontal" and "top, bottom" are usually based on the directions or positional relationships shown in the accompanying drawings. They are only for the convenience of describing this application and simplifying the description. Unless otherwise specified, these directional words do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific direction or be constructed and operated in a specific direction. Therefore, they cannot be understood as limiting the scope of protection of this application; the directional words "inside and outside" refer to the inside and outside relative to the outline of each component itself.

[0028] For ease of description, spatially relative terms such as "above", "above", "on the upper surface of", "above", etc. may be used herein to describe the spatial positional relationship of a device or feature to other devices or features as shown in the figures. It should be understood that spatially relative terms are intended to include different orientations of the device in use or operation in addition to the orientation described in the figures. For example, if the device in the drawings is inverted, the device described as "above other devices or structures" or "above other devices or structures" will be positioned as "below other devices or structures" or "below other devices or structures". Thus, the exemplary term "above" can include both "above" and "below". The device can also be positioned in other different ways (rotated 90 degrees or in other orientations), and the spatially relative descriptions used here are interpreted accordingly.

[0029] Furthermore, it should be noted that the use of terms such as "first" and "second" to define components is solely for the purpose of distinguishing the corresponding components. Unless otherwise stated, these terms have no special meaning and therefore should not be construed as limiting the scope of protection of this application. Furthermore, while the terms used in this application are selected from commonly known and commonly used terms, some terms mentioned in this specification may have been selected by the applicant at his or her discretion, and their detailed meanings are explained in the relevant sections of this description. Furthermore, this application should be understood not only by the actual terms used, but also by the meaning implied by each term.

[0030] It should be understood that when a component is referred to as being “on,” “connected to,” “coupled to,” or “contacting” another component, it can be directly on, connected to, coupled to, or contacting the other component, or intervening components may be present. In contrast, when a component is referred to as being “directly on,” “directly connected to,” “directly coupled to,” or “directly contacting” another component, there are no intervening components present.

[0031] Figure 1 is a perspective schematic diagram of a 3D printed plate-changing and transporting device according to the present application. Referring to Figure 1 , the present application provides a 3D printed plate-changing and transporting device 10, comprising a collection basket 100, a support platform 200, and a motion mechanism 300. The support platform 200 is positioned between the collection basket 100 and the motion mechanism 300, being fixedly mounted on the motion mechanism 300 and used to support the collection basket 100.

[0032] Specifically, the collection basket 100 in this application is used to accommodate multiple building platforms 20. Depending on the operating time of the plate-changing and transporting device 10, the multiple building platforms 20 include blank building platforms 20 to be placed in the printing device or printed building platforms 20 with printed models attached thereto after being printed by the printing device. It is understood that before the printing process begins, the collection basket 100 is used to hold multiple blank building platforms 20 to be placed in the printing device. When the printing process is completed and the printed models need to be dried in the next step, the collection basket 100 is used to hold multiple printed building platforms 20 with printed models attached thereto.

[0033] In the present application, the motion mechanism 300 is adapted to drive the support platform 200 to move, thereby driving the collection basket 100 loaded with multiple forming platforms 20 to move between an initial position and a target position, and the initial position and the target position can be set according to the different working hours of the plate-changing and transporting device 10. Similarly, before the printing process begins, the plate-changing and transporting device 10 needs to transport the blank forming platform 20 to the location of the printing device. At this time, the initial docking position of the plate-changing and transporting device 10 is the initial position, and the location of the printing device is the target position. After the printing process is completed, the location of the printing device is the initial position, and the location of the drying device is the target position. In the embodiment shown in FIG1 , the motion mechanism 300 includes an AGV trolley.

[0034] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the collecting basket 100 includes a main body 110 and a cornice 120 located at the upper edge of the main body. At least a portion of the cornice 120 is located in the moving path of multiple molding platforms 20 placed in the collecting basket 100, and is suitable for receiving uncured resin liquid on the molding platform 20 to prevent the resin liquid from splashing.

[0035] Figure 2 is a top view of a collection basket of the present application, Figure 3 is a front cross-sectional view of a three-dimensional printed plate-changing and transporting device of the present application, and Figure 4 is a schematic diagram of the coordination of a positioning groove and a positioning portion of the present application. In conjunction with reference to Figures 1-4, in this preferred embodiment, the bottom of the collection basket 100 also includes two leakage holes 130. When the collection basket 100 is suitable for carrying a printed molding platform 20 with a printed model attached, the uncured resin liquid on the surface of the printed model may accumulate inside the collection basket 100. At this time, the leakage holes 130 are suitable for discharging the resin liquid in the collection basket 100 from the bottom. In some other embodiments, the number of leakage holes 130 may be more or less (at least one), and their positions may also be changed as needed. This application does not impose any specific restrictions on this.

[0036] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the bottom of the collection basket 100 further includes two positioning grooves 140, and the support platform 200 further includes two positioning portions 210 for engaging with the positioning grooves 140. Furthermore, the positions of the positioning grooves 140 on the bottom of the collection basket 100 and the positions of the positioning portions 210 on the surface of the support platform 200 are opposite to each other. When the collection basket 100 and the support platform 200 are engaged, the positioning portions 210 are adapted to engage with the positioning grooves 140.

[0037] Specifically, referring to Figures 2 and 4 , in this embodiment, the positioning groove 140 is a circular groove, and the positioning portion 210 includes a fixing screw 211 and a conical protrusion 212 located on the fixing screw 211. The positioning portion 210 is adapted to be inserted into the positioning groove 140 via the tip of the conical protrusion 212. It will be appreciated that the shape of the conical protrusion 212 is adapted to cooperate with the positioning groove 140. In other embodiments, the shape of the positioning groove 140 and the head structure of the positioning portion 210 may be other combinations, such as polygonal and pyramidal, and this application does not impose any specific limitations thereon.

[0038] Figure 5 is a perspective schematic diagram of the internal structure of a collection basket according to the present application. Referring to Figures 1 and 5 , in this embodiment, the collection basket 100 further includes a plurality of position-limiting slots 150 , each of which is used to limit the position of a forming platform 20 within the collection basket 100 . Furthermore, the upper and lower positions of the position-limiting slots 150 are provided with position-limiting springs 151 . The position-limiting springs 151 are in a first position when the forming platform 20 is not installed in the collection basket 100 and are compressed to a second position when the forming platform 20 is installed in the collection basket 100 .

[0039] Specifically, the first position is the initial position of the limiting spring piece 151 when it is not subjected to external force. At this time, the lower end of the limiting spring piece 151 as shown in Figure 5 is more protruding than the upper end. When the forming platform 20 is installed, the lower end of the limiting spring piece 151 as shown in Figure 5 is squeezed and compressed to the second position. At this time, the lower end of the limiting spring piece 151 as shown in Figure 5 is closer to the upper end in a direction perpendicular to its own extension direction than in the first position. As the forming platform 20 is installed in the collection basket 100, the limiting spring piece 151 in the upper position is compressed first, and the limiting spring piece 151 in the lower position is compressed later. It is understood that in other embodiments, the number of limiting spring pieces 151 can be more or less (at least one).

[0040] The present invention also provides a plate-changing system for 3D printing, comprising a printing device, a plate-changing transport device 10 (see FIG1 ) as described in any of the preceding embodiments, and a spin-drying device. The plate-changing transport device 10 is adapted to carry a printed build platform with a printed model attached thereto, printed by the printing device, and move it to the spin-drying device. In a preferred embodiment, the plate-changing system further comprises a manipulator adapted to grasp the printed build platform and place it into a collection basket 100 of the plate-changing transport device 10. For specific placement instructions, please refer to the preceding section regarding the plate-changing transport device 10 and will not be repeated here.

[0041] The basic concepts have been described above. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the above disclosures are merely examples and do not limit the present application. Although not explicitly stated herein, those skilled in the art may make various modifications, improvements, and revisions to the present application. Such modifications, improvements, and revisions are suggested in the present application and remain within the spirit and scope of the exemplary embodiments of the present application.

[0042] At the same time, this application uses specific terms to describe the embodiments of this application. For example, "one embodiment," "an embodiment," and / or "some embodiments" refer to a certain feature, structure, or characteristic related to at least one embodiment of this application. Therefore, it should be emphasized and noted that "one embodiment," "an embodiment," or "an alternative embodiment" mentioned twice or multiple times in different locations in this specification does not necessarily refer to the same embodiment. In addition, certain features, structures, or characteristics in one or more embodiments of this application may be appropriately combined.

[0043] Similarly, it should be noted that, in order to simplify the description of this application and thus facilitate understanding of one or more embodiments of the application, the foregoing description of the embodiments of this application sometimes combines multiple features into a single embodiment, figure, or description thereof. However, this disclosure method does not mean that the subject matter of this application requires more features than those recited in the claims. In fact, the features of an embodiment may be fewer than all the features of the individual embodiments disclosed above.

[0044] In some embodiments, numbers are used to describe the quantity of components and attributes. It should be understood that such numbers used in the description of the embodiments are modified by the modifiers "about", "approximately" or "substantially" in some examples. Unless otherwise stated, "about", "approximately" or "substantially" indicate that the numbers are allowed to vary by ±20%. Accordingly, in some embodiments, the numerical parameters used in the description and claims are approximate values, which may change according to the required features of individual embodiments. In some embodiments, the numerical parameters should take into account the specified significant digits and adopt the general method of retaining digits. Although the numerical domains and parameters used to confirm the breadth of their range in some embodiments of the present application are approximate values, in specific embodiments, the settings of such numerical values ​​are as accurate as possible within the feasible range.

[0045] Although the present application has been described with reference to the current specific embodiments, ordinary technicians in this technical field should recognize that the above embodiments are only used to illustrate the present application, and various equivalent changes or substitutions can be made without departing from the spirit of the present application. Therefore, as long as the changes and modifications to the above embodiments are within the scope of the essential spirit of the present application, they will fall within the scope of the claims of the present application.

Claims

1. A three-dimensional printed plate-changing and transporting device, characterized in that: include: A collection basket for accommodating a plurality of forming platforms, wherein the plurality of forming platforms include a blank forming platform to be placed in a printing device or a printed forming platform with an attached printed model after being printed by the printing device; A supporting platform, used for carrying the collecting basket; as well as A motion mechanism, on which the support platform is fixedly mounted, and the motion mechanism is suitable for driving the support platform to move, thereby driving the collecting basket loaded with the multiple forming platforms to move between an initial position and a target position.

2. The plate-changing transport device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The collecting basket comprises a body and an eave located at an upper edge of the body, and at least a portion of the eave is located in a moving path of the multiple forming platforms when they are placed into the collecting basket.

3. The plate-changing transport device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The bottom of the collecting basket also includes one or more liquid leakage holes.

4. The plate-changing transport device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The bottom of the collecting basket further includes one or more positioning grooves, and the supporting platform further includes one or more positioning parts for cooperating with the positioning grooves.

5. The plate-changing transport device according to claim 4, characterized in that: The positioning portion includes a fixing screw and a conical protrusion on the fixing screw, wherein the positioning portion is suitable for being inserted into the positioning groove through the tip of the conical protrusion.

6. The plate-changing transport device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The collecting basket further comprises a plurality of limiting slots, each of which is used to limit the position of one of the forming platforms in the collecting basket.

7. The plate-changing transport device according to claim 6, characterized in that: The upper position and / or the lower position of the limiting slot also has a limiting spring sheet, which is located at a first position when the forming platform is not loaded into the collecting basket, and is compressed to a second position after the forming platform is loaded into the collecting basket.

8. The plate-changing transport device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The motion mechanism includes an AGV trolley.

9. A three-dimensional printing plate changing system, comprising a printing device, a plate changing and transporting device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 8, and a drying device, wherein: The plate-changing transport device is suitable for loading the printed molding platform with the attached printed model printed by the printing device and moving it to the spin-drying device.

10. The plate changing system according to claim 9, characterized in that: It also includes a robot arm, which is suitable for grabbing the printed molding platform and placing it into a collection basket of the plate changing and transporting device.

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