3D food printing curved surface printing universal platform and its processing steps

Abstract

The 3D food printing curved surface printing universal platform and its processing steps of the present invention relate to the technical field of food production equipment, and in particular to a 3D food printing universal platform capable of printing curved surfaces. The universal platform of the present invention includes: a base, a horizontal rotating device, a universal rotating device, a printing platform and a driving device; the base is fixed in the middle position of the bottom of the printer frame; the horizontal rotating device is installed in the middle position of the upper part of the base; the universal rotating device is installed on the upper part of the horizontal rotating device, and the printing platform is installed on the upper part of the universal rotating device; the driving device is installed on the base and the horizontal rotating platform, and is connected to the horizontal rotating device and the universal rotating device to drive two full-time movements. The technical solution of the present invention solves the problem that the existing printing equipment cannot complete the overall modeling and external modification at one time; the external modification of the nozzle also has the problems of increased calculation difficulty and deformation of the modified material due to gravity.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention discloses a 3D food printing curved surface printing universal platform and processing steps thereof, and relates to the technical field of food production equipment, and in particular to a 3D food printing universal platform capable of printing curved surfaces. Background Art

[0002] The combination of 3D printing technology and food has opened up a new era of food manufacturing, which is characterized by easy manufacturing, high selectivity, and immediacy; both in terms of modeling and precise nutrition supply, it shows vigorous vitality and an infinitely bright future. However, new things often have various deficiencies that need to be improved. For example, the 3D printing platform can only move on a plane, which poses great difficulties for 3D printing, special curved surface modeling, and special curved surface decoration.

[0003] Traditional 3D printing systems generally perform one-time shaping of the entire object, that is, they use the method of flat layer stacking to "add materials", while for "overall" external modification, the nozzle needs to change its angle to operate; this method has the following problems: first, it increases the difficulty of calculation; second, the material just out of the nozzle is relatively soft and easily deformed by gravity; third, the above situation will occur when drawing complex patterns and fine designs on irregular surfaces.

[0004] In view of the problems existing in the above-mentioned prior art, it is very necessary to study and design a new type of 3D food printing curved surface printing universal platform and its processing steps to overcome the problems existing in the prior art. Summary of the invention

[0005] According to the above-mentioned prior art, the existing printing equipment cannot complete the overall modeling and external modification at one time; the external modification of the nozzle also has technical problems such as increased calculation difficulty and deformation of the modified material under the action of gravity, and a 3D food printing curved surface printing universal platform and its processing steps are provided. The present invention mainly utilizes a printing platform with a universal motion function, in conjunction with a two-dimensional or three-dimensional motion material nozzle, to achieve the purpose of 3D food curved surface printing.

[0006] The technical means adopted by the present invention are as follows:

[0007] A 3D food printing curved surface printing universal platform; the platform is fixedly arranged at the bottom of the printer frame; the material nozzle connected to the material pipe is installed on the crossbeam through the horizontal movement control section, and can move horizontally on the crossbeam; the two ends of the crossbeam are installed on the side frame of the printer frame through the vertical movement control section, and can move up and down along the printer frame; the material nozzle is located above the platform; it is characterized in that: the platform is a universal platform; the universal platform includes: a base, a horizontal rotation device, a universal rotation device, a printing platform and a driving device; the base is fixed at the middle position of the bottom of the printer frame; the horizontal rotation device is installed at the middle position of the upper part of the base; the universal rotation device is installed on the upper part of the horizontal rotation device, and the printing platform is installed on the upper part of the universal rotation device; the driving device is installed on the base and the horizontal rotation platform, and is connected with the horizontal rotation device and the universal rotation device to drive two full-time movements.

[0008] Furthermore, the horizontal rotating device includes: a bearing, a rotating shaft, a ball, a perforated support frame and a horizontal rotating gear plate; a perforated support frame and a rotating shaft are respectively arranged at the center positions of the upper and lower end surfaces of the horizontal rotating gear plate; the rotating shaft is mounted on the base through at least two bearings; corresponding annular ball grooves are arranged on the lower part of the horizontal rotating gear plate and the upper surface of the base, and a plurality of rollers are installed therein; the horizontal rotating gear plate is connected to the driving device.

[0009] Furthermore, the universal rotating platform includes: an annular rack, a universal ball lower cover, a universal ball upper cover and a universal ball; the top of the universal ball upper cover is equipped with a printing platform through a support frame; a plurality of fixed cones are provided on the upper surface of the printing platform; the universal ball upper cover is installed on the universal ball through the universal ball lower cover and bolts; the universal ball is fixedly installed on the top of the support frame with holes, and its center point is located on the extension line of the axis of the rotating shaft; after the annular rack passes through the support frame with holes, the two ends are fixedly connected to the support frame; the center of the annular rack is concentric with the center of the universal ball; the annular rack is connected to the driving device.

[0010] Furthermore, the driving device includes: gears, a horizontal rotating motor, and a vertical driving motor; the horizontal rotating motor is installed on the side of the base, and its output shaft is equipped with a gear, which is meshed with the horizontal rotating gear disc; under the drive of the horizontal rotating motor, the horizontal rotating motor rotates horizontally around the center of a circle; the vertical driving motor is installed on the upper part of the horizontal rotating gear disc, and its output end is equipped with a gear, which is meshed with the annular rack; under the drive of the vertical driving motor, the annular rack rotates in a circle.

[0011] Furthermore, a support wheel is arranged on the horizontal rotating gear disc, and the support wheel and the gear mounted on the vertical driving motor are symmetrically arranged at the lower part of the annular rack to support the annular rack.

[0012] The present invention

[0013] The processing steps are divided into two methods: one-time printing and molding and two-time printing and decoration;

[0014] The processing steps of the overall one-time printing are as follows:

[0015] A. Path setting: Set the number of layers and path according to the shape of food to be printed through the computer;

[0016] B. Material preparation: Prepare the material so that it can enter the material pipe and material nozzle through the pump;

[0017] C. Printing: According to the pre-set graphics or program, the nozzle moves up and down, left and right, so that the material is accumulated and formed on the printing platform. When printing a spherical surface, a curved surface or an irregular curved surface, the vertical drive motor and the horizontal rotation motor can be started to make the material nozzle perpendicular to the printed surface; the vertical drive motor and the horizontal rotation motor can be rotated forward or (and) reversely to cooperate with the material nozzle to complete the printing of special-shaped 3D food.

[0018] D. Printing is finished: lift the product from the fixed cone and prepare for the next product printing;

[0019] The processing steps of the secondary printing decoration are:

[0020] E. Path analysis and setting: collect and analyze the images of the primary food that needs surface decoration through computer information collection device, and set the number of printing layers and path;

[0021] F. Material preparation: Prepare the material so that it can enter the material pipe and material nozzle through the pump;

[0022] D. Fixing of primary food: Fix the primary food that needs secondary decoration on the printing platform;

[0023] H. Surface decoration printing: Start the vertical drive motor and the horizontal rotation motor, aim the material nozzle at the curved surface or plane to be modified, feed the material, and make the material accumulate on the curved surface. During the feeding process, the 3D primary food can continuously rotate in the horizontal and vertical planes in the positive and negative directions, so that the material nozzle can accumulate different patterns, graphics, and designs on the curved surface;

[0024] I. Printing is finished: lift it from the fixed cone and prepare for the next batch of operations.

[0025] Compared with the prior art, the present invention has the following advantages:

[0026] 1. The 3D food printing curved surface printing universal platform provided by the present invention realizes the one-time 3D printing of food with a rotational curved surface or an irregular curved surface;

[0027] 2. The 3D food printing curved surface printing universal platform provided by the present invention reduces the computational difficulty of spraying the external modification of the rotating curved surface or irregular curved surface food;

[0028] 3. The 3D food printing curved surface printing universal platform provided by the present invention has a simple algorithm and is easy to operate. It is suitable for adding materials on rotating surfaces and irregular curved surfaces to form patterns and designs, and the fineness of the patterns and designs is not affected by gravity.

[0029] In summary, the technical solution of the present invention solves the problem that the existing printing equipment cannot complete the overall modeling and external modification at one time; the external modification of the nozzle also has problems such as increased calculation difficulty and deformation of the modified material due to gravity. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0030] In order to more clearly illustrate the embodiments of the present invention or the technical solutions in the prior art, the drawings required for use in the embodiments or the description of the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are some embodiments of the present invention. For ordinary technicians in this field, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without paying creative labor.

[0031] Figure 1 It is a schematic diagram of the structure of the present invention;

[0032] Figure 2 A schematic diagram of the structure of a 3D food printing device equipped with the Vientiane platform of the present invention;

[0033] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the angle change structure of the universal platform of the present invention;

[0034] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the processing status structure of the 3D food printing equipment.

[0035] In the figure: 1, universal platform 2, printer frame 3, crossbeam 4, vertical movement control section 5, material nozzle 6, horizontal movement control section 7, material pipe;

[0036] 11. gear 12. horizontal rotating motor 13. base 14. bearing 15. rotating shaft 16. ball 17. vertical driving motor 18. annular rack 19. universal ball lower cover 110. universal ball upper cover 111. support frame 112. printing platform 113. fixed cone 114. universal ball 115. support frame with holes 116. support wheel 117. horizontal rotating gear disc. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0037] It should be noted that, in the absence of conflict, the embodiments of the present invention and the features in the embodiments can be combined with each other. The present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and in combination with the embodiments.

[0038] In order to make the purpose, technical solutions and advantages of the embodiments of the present invention clearer, the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below in conjunction with the drawings in the embodiments of the present invention. Obviously, the described embodiments are only part of the embodiments of the present invention, not all of the embodiments. The following description of at least one exemplary embodiment is actually only illustrative and is by no means intended to limit the present invention and its application or use. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by ordinary technicians in this field without creative work are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0039] It should be noted that the terms used herein are only for describing specific embodiments and are not intended to limit exemplary embodiments according to the present invention. As used herein, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, the singular form is also intended to include the plural form. In addition, it should be understood that when the terms "comprising" and / or "including" are used in this specification, it indicates the presence of features, steps, operations, devices, components and / or combinations thereof.

[0040] Unless otherwise specifically stated, the relative arrangement, numerical expressions and numerical values ​​of the parts and steps described in these embodiments do not limit the scope of the present invention. At the same time, it should be clear that, for ease of description, the sizes of the various parts shown in the drawings are not drawn according to the actual proportional relationship. The technology, methods and equipment known to ordinary technicians in the relevant field may not be discussed in detail, but in appropriate cases, the technology, methods and equipment should be regarded as a part of the authorization specification. In all examples shown and discussed here, any specific value should be interpreted as being merely exemplary, rather than as a limitation. Therefore, other examples of exemplary embodiments may have different values. It should be noted that similar reference numerals and letters represent similar items in the following drawings, so once a certain item is defined in an accompanying drawing, it does not need to be further discussed in subsequent drawings.

[0041] In the description of the present invention, it is necessary to understand that the directions or positional relationships indicated by directional words such as "front, back, up, down, left, right", "lateral, vertical, perpendicular, horizontal" and "top, bottom" are usually based on the directions or positional relationships shown in the drawings. They are only for the convenience of describing the present invention 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 the present invention: the directional words "inside and outside" refer to the inside and outside relative to the contours of each component itself.

[0042] For ease of description, spatially relative terms such as "above", "above", "on the upper surface of", "above", etc. may be used here to describe the spatial positional relationship between a device or feature and other devices or features as shown in the figure. 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 figure. For example, if the device in the accompanying 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 their position 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.

[0043] In addition, it should be noted that the use of terms such as "first" and "second" to limit components is only for the convenience of distinguishing the corresponding components. If not otherwise stated, the above terms have no special meaning and therefore cannot be understood as limiting the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0044] As shown in the figure, the present invention provides a 3D food printing curved surface printing universal platform; the platform is fixedly arranged at the bottom of the printer frame 2; the material nozzle 5 connected to the material pipe 7 is installed on the crossbeam 3 through the horizontal movement control section 6, and can move horizontally on the crossbeam 3; the two ends of the crossbeam 3 are installed on the side frame of the printer frame 2 through the vertical movement control section 4, and can move up and down along the printer frame 2; the material nozzle 5 is located above the platform; it is characterized in that:

[0045] The platform is a universal platform 1; the universal platform includes: a base 13, a horizontal rotation device, a universal rotation device, a printing platform 112 and a driving device; the base 13 is fixed in the middle position of the bottom of the printer frame 2; the horizontal rotation device is installed in the middle position of the upper part of the base 13; the universal rotation device is installed on the upper part of the horizontal rotation device, and the printing platform 112 is installed on the upper part of the universal rotation device; the driving device is installed on the base 13 and the horizontal rotation platform, and is connected to the horizontal rotation device and the universal rotation device to drive two full-time movements.

[0046] The horizontal rotating device includes: a bearing 14, a rotating shaft 15, a ball 16, a perforated support frame 115 and a horizontal rotating gear disc 117; the perforated support frame 115 and the rotating shaft 15 are respectively arranged at the center positions of the upper and lower end surfaces of the horizontal rotating gear disc 117; the rotating shaft 15 is mounted on the base 13 through at least two bearings 14; the lower part of the horizontal rotating gear disc 117 and the upper surface of the base 13 are provided with corresponding annular ball grooves, which contain a plurality of rollers 16; the horizontal rotating gear disc 117 is connected to the driving device.

[0047] The universal rotating platform includes: an annular rack 18, a universal ball lower cover 19, a universal ball upper cover 110 and a universal ball 114; the top of the universal ball upper cover 110 is equipped with a printing platform 112 through a support frame 111; a plurality of fixed cones 113 are provided on the upper surface of the printing platform 112; the universal ball upper cover 110 is installed on the universal ball 114 through the universal ball lower cover 19 and bolts; the universal ball 114 is fixedly installed on the top of a perforated support frame 115, and its center point is located on the extension line of the axis of the rotating shaft 15; after the annular rack 18 passes through the perforated support frame 115, both ends are fixedly connected to the support frame 111; the center of the annular rack 18 is concentric with the center of the universal ball 114; the annular rack 18 is connected to the driving device.

[0048] The driving device includes: a gear 11, a horizontal rotation motor 12, and a vertical drive motor 17; the horizontal rotation motor 12 is installed on the side of the base, and its output shaft is equipped with a gear 11, and the gear 11 is meshed with a horizontal rotation gear disc 117; under the drive of the horizontal rotation motor 12, the horizontal rotation motor 12 rotates horizontally around the center of the circle; the vertical drive motor 17 is installed on the upper part of the horizontal rotation gear disc 117, and its output end is equipped with a gear 11, and the gear 11 is meshed with an annular rack 18; under the drive of the vertical drive motor 17, the annular rack 18 rotates in a circle. A support wheel 116 is arranged on the horizontal rotation gear disc 117, and the support wheel 116 and the gear 11 installed on the vertical drive motor 17 are symmetrically arranged at the lower part of the annular rack 18, and play a supporting role for the annular rack 18.

[0049] Example 1

[0050] Take the printing of food in the shape of a "seismograph" as an example. First, prepare chocolate, dough, powdered sugar, gel, and minced meat, and place them in their respective storage bins so that they can enter their respective material pipes 7 and material nozzles 5 through pumps. According to the pre-set graphics or programs, the material nozzles 5 are moved up and down and left and right under the action of the vertical movement control section 4 and the horizontal movement control section 6, so that the materials are accumulated on the printing platform 112 and formed into an elliptical cylinder, and the strength is increased after solidification; the vertical drive motor 17 is started to make the material nozzle 5 perpendicular to the printed surface, and then a "dragon" shaped 3D graphic is printed on the elliptical cylinder. After solidification, the horizontal rotation motor 12 is rotated so that two adjacent "dragons" differ by 45°, and the next six "dragons" are printed, and so on. After printing, the product is lifted from the fixed cone and prepared for the next product printing.

[0051] Example 2

[0052] For existing 3D printed primary food, when it is necessary to decorate the outer surface with patterns or complex 3D graphics, the 3D printed food is pressed on a fixed cone for fixing, the vertical drive motor 17 and the horizontal rotation motor 12 are started, the nozzle is aimed at the curved surface or plane to be modified, and the material is fed to accumulate on the curved surface. During the feeding process, the 3D primary food can continuously rotate in the positive and negative directions in the horizontal and vertical planes, so that the nozzle accumulates different patterns, graphics, and designs on the curved surface. After printing is completed, it is lifted from the fixed cone to prepare for the next batch of operations.

[0053] Finally, it should be noted that the above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of the present invention, rather than to limit it. Although the present invention has been described in detail with reference to the aforementioned embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that they can still modify the technical solutions described in the aforementioned embodiments, or replace some or all of the technical features therein with equivalents. However, these modifications or replacements do not cause the essence of the corresponding technical solutions to deviate from the scope of the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention.

Claims

1. A 3D food printing curved surface printing universal platform; the platform is fixedly arranged at the bottom of a printer frame (2); a material nozzle (5) connected to a material pipe (7) is mounted on a crossbeam (3) through a horizontal movement control section (6) and can move horizontally on the crossbeam (3); both ends of the crossbeam (3) are mounted on the side frame of the printer frame (2) through a vertical movement control section (4) and can move up and down along the printer frame (2); the material nozzle (5) is located above the platform; the characteristics are: The platform is a universal platform (1); the universal platform comprises: a base (13), a horizontal rotating device, a universal rotating device, a printing platform (112) and a driving device; the base (13) is fixed at the middle position of the bottom inside the printer frame (2); the horizontal rotating device is installed at the middle position of the upper part of the base (13); the universal rotating device is installed on the upper part of the horizontal rotating device, and the printing platform (112) is installed on the upper part of the universal rotating device; the driving device is installed on the base (13) and the horizontal rotating platform, and is connected to the horizontal rotating device and the universal rotating device to drive the two devices to move; The horizontal rotation device comprises: a bearing (14), a rotating shaft (15), a ball (16), a support frame with a hole (115) and a horizontal rotating toothed disc (117); the support frame with a hole (115) and the rotating shaft (15) are respectively arranged at the center positions of the upper and lower end surfaces of the horizontal rotating toothed disc (117); the rotating shaft (15) is mounted on the base (13) through at least two bearings (14); the lower part of the horizontal rotating toothed disc (117) and the upper surface of the base (13) are provided with corresponding annular ball grooves, wherein a plurality of ball grooves (16) are arranged; the horizontal rotating toothed disc (117) is connected to the driving device; The universal rotating device comprises: an annular rack (18), a universal ball lower cover (19), a universal ball upper cover (110) and a universal ball (114); the top of the universal ball upper cover (110) is provided with a printing platform (112) through a support frame (111); the universal ball upper cover (110) is mounted on the universal ball (114) through the universal ball lower cover (19) and bolts; the universal ball (114) is fixedly mounted on the top of a support frame (115) with a hole, and the center point thereof is located on the axis extension line of the rotating shaft (15); after the annular rack (18) passes through the support frame (115) with a hole, both ends are fixedly connected to the support frame (111); the center of the annular rack (18) is concentric with the center of the universal ball (114); the annular rack (18) is connected to a driving device; The driving device comprises: a gear (11), a horizontal rotation motor (12), and a vertical drive motor (17); the horizontal rotation motor (12) is mounted on the side of the base, and its output shaft is equipped with a gear (11), and the gear (11) is meshed with a horizontal rotation gear disk (117); under the drive of the horizontal rotation motor (12), the horizontal rotation motor (12) rotates around the center of a circle to make a horizontal rotation; the vertical drive motor (17) is mounted on the upper part of the horizontal rotation gear disk (117), and its output end is equipped with a gear (11), and the gear (11) is meshed with an annular rack (18); under the drive of the vertical drive motor (17), the annular rack (18) makes a circular rotation.

2. The 3D food printing curved surface printing universal platform according to claim 1, characterized in that: The horizontally rotating toothed disc (117) is provided with a support wheel (116), and the support wheel (116) and the gear (11) mounted on the vertical driving motor (17) are symmetrically arranged at the lower part of the annular rack (18), playing a supporting role for the annular rack (18).

3. The 3D food printing curved surface printing universal platform according to claim 1, characterized in that: A plurality of fixed cones (113) are provided on the upper surface of the printing platform (112).

4. A processing step of a 3D food printing curved surface printing universal platform according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that: The processing steps are divided into two methods: one-time printing and molding and two-time printing and decoration; The processing steps of the overall one-time printing are as follows: A. Path setting: Set the number of layers and path according to the shape of food to be printed through the computer; B. Material preparation: Prepare the material so that it can enter the material pipe (7) and the material nozzle (5) through the pump; C. Printing: According to a pre-set pattern or program, the nozzle is moved up and down, left and right, so that the material is accumulated and formed on the printing platform (112). When printing a spherical surface, a curved surface or an irregular curved surface, the vertical drive motor (17) and the horizontal rotation motor (12) can be started so that the material nozzle (5) is perpendicular to the printed surface; the vertical drive motor (17) and the horizontal rotation motor (12) can cooperate with the material nozzle (5) to complete the printing of special-shaped 3D food by rotating forward or (and) reversely. D. Printing is finished: lift the product from the fixed cone and prepare for the next product printing; The processing steps of the secondary printing decoration are: E. Path analysis and setting: collect and analyze the images of the primary food that needs surface decoration through computer information collection device, and set the number of printing layers and path; F. Material preparation: Prepare the material so that it can enter the material pipe (7) and the material nozzle (5) through the pump; D. Fixing the primary food: fixing the primary food to be decorated twice on the printing platform (112); H. Surface decoration printing: start the vertical drive motor (17) and the horizontal rotation motor (12), aim the material nozzle (5) at the curved surface or plane to be decorated, feed the material, and deposit the material on the curved surface. During the feeding process, the 3D primary food can continuously rotate in the horizontal and vertical planes in positive and negative directions, so that the material nozzle (5) deposits different patterns, graphics, and designs on the curved surface; I. Printing is finished: lift it from the fixed cone and prepare for the next batch of operations.

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