A liquid material stirring and heating system

Abstract

The present invention discloses a liquid material stirring and heating system, comprising a material trough, a flow guiding device, a screen, a constant temperature heater, a material outflow conduit, a material inflow conduit, and a circulation pump. When in use, the circulation pump sucks the material at the bottom of the trough through the material outflow outlet at the bottom of the trough, and the high-concentration material agglomerated on the screen at the bottom of the trough penetrates the screen along with the flow and is divided, and then flows to the material outflow outlet under the action of the liquid flow and the flow guiding device, and finally enters the trough again from the material inlet at the top of the trough under the action of the circulation pump, thereby forming a complete cycle. And the screen in the circulation loop can effectively break up the agglomerates. The liquid material stirring and heating system provided by the present invention can ensure the uniformity and stability of the liquid material in the trough during operation.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of 3D printing equipment, and in particular to a liquid material stirring and heating system. Background Art

[0002] Resin photocuring 3D printing technology is to slice the printing target layer by layer, then project the images of each layer onto the printing plane, solidify the liquid photocurable resin, and then complete the printing work layer by layer. In order to control the printing accuracy, the thickness of each layer must be controlled below 0.1mm, so it usually takes a long time to complete the printing of 3D objects.

[0003] However, the problem that follows is that during the printing process that lasts for dozens of hours, a large amount of mixed resin or material is left in the material tank for a long time. This causes a significant sedimentation effect of the resin and material, and even large-scale precipitation in severe cases. In addition, resins of different densities may also be stratified, which in turn affects the quality of the subsequent 3D printed products and the printing success rate.

[0004] In addition, in order to ensure the stability of the curing effect and printing quality, the resin in the material tank needs to be heated at a constant temperature during the resin photocuring process. This is because: on the one hand, the viscosity of the resin will change with temperature, and local differences will affect the uniformity of the printing process; on the other hand, due to the problem of thermal expansion and contraction, considering the volume of the material tank and the requirements of printing accuracy, once the density of the liquid material changes with temperature, it may also cause the printing liquid surface to deviate from the projection focal plane. Summary of the invention

[0005] The present invention aims to provide a liquid material stirring and heating system to achieve maintaining the uniformity of the liquid material and the stability of the liquid surface during a long-term continuous printing process.

[0006] Specifically, a liquid material stirring and heating system is characterized in that it includes a material trough, a constant temperature heater, and a circulating pump; a material outflow outlet is provided at the lower outer portion of the material trough, a material inflow inlet is provided at the upper outer portion of the material trough, the inner bottom of the material trough includes a guide device, a screen is provided above the guide device, the material outflow outlet, the material outflow conduit, the constant temperature heater, the connecting conduit, the circulating pump, the material inflow conduit and the material inflow inlet are sequentially connected to form a closed loop; when the liquid material flows in the closed loop, it passes through the screen, flows into the material outflow outlet through the guide device, and finally flows back to the material trough through the material inlet.

[0007] Preferably, the middle portion of the flow guide device is relatively raised, and the surrounding portion extends toward the material outflow outlet and engages with the bottom of the trough.

[0008] Preferably, the guide device is composed of a guide plate, and the shape is selected from one of an inverted V shape, a multi-faceted prism shape, and a curved slope shape.

[0009] Preferably, the mesh aperture is less than 0.1 mm.

[0010] Preferably, the material inlet is located below the liquid level of the liquid material in the material tank.

[0011] Preferably, the flow rate of the liquid material in the closed loop is 1 mL / s-100 mL / s.

[0012] Preferably, the material tank further comprises one or more temperature detectors arranged inside the material tank, and the temperature detectors transmit the temperature data of the liquid material in the material tank to the constant temperature heater, and the constant temperature heater controls the heating program to keep the temperature of the liquid material in the material tank stable.

[0013] Preferably, the closed loop further comprises one or more piston cylinders, the piston cylinder inlet is connected to the circulation pump via a conduit, and the piston cylinder outlet is connected to the material inflow conduit, thereby connected to the material inlet.

[0014] Preferably, the material trough also includes one or more liquid level detectors, which detect whether the liquid level of the liquid material in the material trough is lower than the working liquid level. If so, the liquid level data is fed back to the piston cylinder. The drive control mechanism of the piston cylinder controls the relative position of the piston rod in the piston cylinder, so as to accurately change the cylinder volume and discharge the liquid material corresponding to the volume change part in the piston cylinder into the material trough.

[0015] Compared with the prior art, the beneficial effects of the present invention are as follows: a liquid material stirring and heating system of the present invention can maintain the uniformity of the liquid material in the material tank and the stability of the liquid surface during a long period of continuous printing. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0016] Figure 1 It is a liquid material stirring and heating system according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0017] Figure 2 It is a liquid material stirring and heating system according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

[0018] Figures 3A-3C Schematic diagram of the structure of the flow guide device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0019] Figure numbers: 10-material trough, 1-flow guide device, 2-screen, 3-material flow inlet, 4-material flow outlet, 5 constant temperature heater, 6-circulation pump, 7-piston cylinder. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0020] The present invention is further described in detail below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments, but is not intended to limit the present invention. In one or more embodiments, the liquid material stirring and heating system of the present invention is composed of a material tank 10, a constant temperature heater 5, a material outflow conduit, a material inflow conduit, and a circulation pump 6. Figure 1 As shown, a material inlet 3 is provided at the upper outer side of the material trough, a flow guide device 1 is included at the inner bottom of the material trough, a screen 2 is provided above the flow guide device 1, and the material outflow port 4, the material outflow conduit, the constant temperature heater 5, the connecting conduit, the circulation pump 6, the material inflow conduit and the material inlet 3 are sequentially connected to form a closed loop; when the liquid material flows in the closed loop, it passes through the screen 2, flows into the material outflow port 4 through the flow guide device 1, and finally flows back to the material trough through the material inlet 3.

[0021] In order to achieve continuous constant temperature control of the liquid material in the material tank 10, in one or more embodiments, the constant temperature heater 5 is set with a target temperature, and heats the liquid material contained therein. Under the action of the circulation loop, after a period of circulation time, the temperature consistency of the liquid material in the material tank can be achieved; in other embodiments, the constant temperature heater 5 can also be used in conjunction with one or more temperature detectors arranged on the inner side of the material tank, and the temperature detector transmits the temperature data of the liquid material in the material tank to the constant temperature heater 5. When the temperature sensor measures that the temperature of the liquid material has dropped by 0.5°C, the constant temperature heater controls the heating program; under the action of the circulation loop, the heated liquid material is sent back to the material tank 10, and after a period of liquid material circulation, the temperature in the material tank 10 reaches the target temperature again.

[0022] In one or more embodiments, the circulation pump 6 provides circulation power for the flow of liquid material in the liquid material stirring and heating system, and controls the flow rate of the liquid material in the closed loop to be 1 mL / s-100 mL / s.

[0023] In addition, when the liquid material flows out of the circulation pump 6, if it flows directly into the material tank 10 through the material inflow conduit, turbulence may occur due to excessive local flow velocity, causing an unstable liquid surface. In other embodiments, a piston cylinder 7 may be further provided between the circulation pump 6 and the material inlet 3 of the material tank 10, such as Figure 2 As shown. The inlet of the piston cylinder 7 is connected to the circulation pump 6 through a conduit, and the outlet of the piston cylinder 7 is connected to the material inlet 3 through a material inlet conduit, so that the liquid material can flow back to the material tank 10. The inlet and outlet of the piston cylinder 7 only allow the liquid material to pass through in one direction, which can be achieved by installing a one-way valve. The piston cylinder 7 plays a buffering role to prevent turbulence from forming in the material tank.

[0024] Preferably, the piston cylinder 7 can also realize the precise control of the liquid level of the liquid material in the material trough as described below. The material trough 10 also includes one or more liquid level detectors, and the piston cylinder 7 also includes a piston rod and a drive control mechanism. The material liquid level detector detects whether the liquid level of the liquid material in the material trough is lower than the working liquid level. If so, the liquid level data is fed back to the piston cylinder 7. The drive control mechanism of the piston cylinder controls the relative position of the piston rod in the piston cylinder, so as to accurately change the cylinder volume, and discharge the liquid material corresponding to the volume change part in the piston cylinder into the material trough 10, thereby realizing precise control of the liquid level.

[0025] In one or more embodiments, the material inlet is arranged at the upper part of the trough 10. Preferably, at least one material inlet 3 is arranged on the side of the trough 10, and its number and position match the material outlet 4. During operation, the material inlet 3 is preferably below the liquid level of the liquid material in the trough 10. In this way, the liquid material flowing into the trough 10 directly enters the trough, which can reduce the temperature loss of the liquid material.

[0026] In one or more embodiments, a flow guide device 1 is provided at the bottom of the trough 10, wherein the middle portion of the flow guide device 1 is relatively convex, and the surrounding portion extends toward the material outflow outlet 4 and is connected to the bottom of the trough 10. Preferably, as Figure 3A The guide device shown is two guide plates, with an angle of 90-180 degrees between the two guide plates, forming an inverted V shape, and the two sides of the inverted V shape are connected to the bottom of the trough 10; Figure 3B , 3C As shown, the flow guide device 1 can also be in the shape of a curved slope, a multi-faceted prism, or an inverted U shape, an inverted bowl shape, an inverted dish shape, etc., which are not shown in the figure.

[0027] In one or more embodiments, a screen 2 is provided above the flow guide device 1, and the screen aperture meets the principle that agglomerated materials cannot flow directly. Preferably, the screen aperture is less than 0.1 mm. When in use, the circulation pump 5 draws the material at the bottom of the trough 10 through the material outlet 4 at the bottom of the trough 10, and the high-concentration material agglomerated on the screen 2 at the bottom of the trough 10 penetrates the screen 2 and is divided along with the flow, and then flows to the material outlet 4 under the action of the liquid flow and the flow guide device 1, and finally enters the trough 10 again from the material inlet 3 at the top of the trough 10 under the action of the circulation pump 6, thereby forming a complete cycle, and the screen 2 in the circulation loop can effectively break up the agglomerates to ensure the uniformity of the liquid material.

[0028] The above is only a preferred embodiment of the present invention, and does not limit the technical solution of the present invention in any form. Any simple modification, form change and modification of the above embodiments based on the technical essence of the present invention shall fall within the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A liquid material stirring and heating system, characterized in that: It includes a material trough, a constant temperature heater, and a circulation pump; the lower part of the outer side of the material trough is provided with a material outflow outlet, the upper part of the outer side of the material trough is provided with a material inflow inlet, the inner bottom of the material trough includes a flow guide device, a screen is arranged above the flow guide device, the material outflow outlet, the material outflow conduit, the constant temperature heater, the connecting conduit, the circulation pump, the material inflow conduit and the material inflow inlet are sequentially connected to form a closed loop; when the liquid material flows in the closed loop, it passes through the screen, flows into the material outflow outlet through the flow guide device, and finally flows back to the material trough through the material inflow inlet; The material inlet is below the liquid material level in the trough; the closed loop also includes one or more piston cylinders, the piston cylinder inlet is connected to the circulation pump through a conduit, and the piston cylinder outlet is connected to the material inlet conduit, thereby connected to the material inlet; the inlet and outlet of the piston cylinder only allow liquid material to pass through in one direction; the middle part of the guide device is relatively convex, and the surrounding part extends toward the material outlet and is connected to the bottom of the trough; the guide device is composed of a guide plate, and the shape is selected from one of an inverted V shape, a multi-faceted prism shape, and a curved slope shape.

2. A liquid material stirring and heating system as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that: The mesh aperture is less than 0.1 mm.

3. A liquid material stirring and heating system as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that: The flow rate of the liquid material in the closed loop is 1 mL / s-100 mL / s.

4. A liquid material stirring and heating system as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that: The material tank also includes one or more temperature detectors arranged inside the material tank, and the temperature detectors transmit temperature data of the liquid material in the material tank to the constant temperature heater, and the constant temperature heater controls the heating program to keep the temperature of the liquid material in the material tank stable.

5. A liquid material stirring and heating system as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that: The material trough also includes one or more liquid level detectors, which detect whether the liquid level of the liquid material in the material trough is lower than the working liquid level. If so, the liquid level data is fed back to the piston cylinder. The driving control mechanism of the piston cylinder controls the relative position of the piston rod in the piston cylinder, so as to accurately change the cylinder volume and discharge the liquid material corresponding to the volume change part in the piston cylinder into the material trough.

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