Linear powder quantitative supply device and method

Abstract

The present invention provides a linear powder quantitative supply device and method thereof, the device includes a bracket, a powder spreading platform arranged at the bottom of the bracket, and a powder storage container arranged at the top of the bracket, the linear powder quantitative supply device also includes at least one powder supply unit, the powder supply unit includes a powder supply container, a sliding door control unit and a controller, the powder supply container can be connected to the powder storage container in an on-off manner and is located between the powder storage container and the powder spreading platform, the powder supply container is arranged obliquely relative to the powder spreading platform, the powder supply container has a strip-shaped powder outlet, the powder outlet corresponds to the powder spreading platform, the sliding door control unit controls the powder outlet to gradually open or close along one end of the powder outlet toward the other end, the controller is electrically connected to the sliding door emptying unit, the device has the characteristics of simple structure and controllable powder supply width.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of 3D printing, and in particular to a linear powder quantitative supply device and method thereof. Background Art

[0002] Powder bed 3D printing is a key category of 3D printing equipment. It uses a powder-laying mechanism to deposit a uniform layer of powder along the edge of a build cylinder. A thermal scanning device selectively heats specific areas of the powder layer, causing the heated powder to melt or sinter. Upon cooling, the powder forms a sheet-like composite. The build platform then descends layer by layer, followed by powder-laying and thermal scanning. Each layer of thermally scanned solidified sheet is then vertically fused together, resulting in a three-dimensional object. This process offers high build precision, high surface quality, minimal support structure dependency, and simplified post-processing. The typical device for melt bonding is the thermal fusion bonding (SLM) printer, primarily used for metal powder 3D printing. The typical device for sintering is the thermal fusion bonding (SLS) printer, primarily used for polymer powder 3D printing. Thanks to their layer-by-layer scanning and cumulative forming process, SLM / SLS printers effectively avoid the tool interference issues associated with traditional CNC cutting, offering advantages in forming components with complex internal and external geometries, such as free-form surfaces, cavities, and lattices.

[0003] In recent years, with the increasing popularity of high-power laser scanning devices and the continuous optimization of fine powder production processes for various metals, ceramics, and polymer materials, the cost and operating costs of SLM / SLS printers have continued to decline, leading to their application in mass production. SLM metal printers have garnered widespread attention and application in the aerospace sector, being used to manufacture complex aircraft engine components such as integrated fuel injectors, compressor blades with hollow cooling channels, and integrated turbine disks. SLS polymer printers are also beginning to gain industrial applications in both the industrial and consumer sectors, such as in the mass production of automotive trim panels and midsoles for new athletic shoes. Simultaneously, the rapid development of mass production applications is driving the upgrade of SLM / SLS equipment to higher processing performance and improved production efficiency, leading to the continuous innovation of SLM / SLS forming processes towards larger sizes and faster speeds. To increase speed and expand formats, the laser scanning devices used in SLM / SLS printers have evolved from single-mirror to multi-mirror, and from stationary scanning to flying scanning, with scanning speeds increasing from several meters per second to over 20 meters per second. Meanwhile, improvements to the powder supply and spreading systems of powder bed 3D printers have long stagnated. The existing powder storage cylinder-based powder supply structure significantly increases the build chamber size, leading to high overall machine size and cost. The powder supply method, which uses a powder roller to drop powder in a fixed quantity, not only suffers from slow output and is prone to powder jamming and leakage, but also faces challenges in achieving a large, uniform powder spread after the short roller drops powder, which remains a challenge for SLM / SLS printers.

[0004] At present, in response to the powder laying needs of large-format powder bed stereolithography equipment, there is still a lack of a powder quantitative supply method with a simple and reliable structure, a wide powder supply width, and controllable powder supply quantity and distribution. Summary of the Invention

[0005] In view of this, it is necessary to provide a linear powder quantitative supply device and method thereof to address the above problems, which has the characteristics of simple structure and controllable powder supply width.

[0006] The present invention provides a linear powder quantitative supply device, comprising a bracket, a powder spreading platform arranged at the bottom of the bracket, and a powder storage container arranged at the top of the bracket for accommodating powder. The linear powder quantitative supply device also includes at least one powder supply unit, the powder supply unit including a powder supply container, a sliding gate control unit and a controller, the powder supply container can be connected to the powder storage container in an on-off manner and is located between the powder storage container and the powder spreading platform, the powder supply container is inclined relative to the powder spreading platform, the powder supply container has a strip-shaped powder outlet, the powder outlet corresponds to the powder spreading platform, the sliding gate control unit controls the powder outlet to gradually open or close along one end of the powder outlet toward the other end, so that the powder can pass through the powder outlet and fall onto the powder spreading platform, and the controller is electrically connected to the sliding gate control unit.

[0007] With such arrangement, when the powder outlet is gradually opened from one end to the other end, the powder corresponding to the opened powder outlet can be spread on the powder spreading platform under the action of gravity from the opened powder outlet, forming a strip-shaped powder spreading surface, until the powder outlet is fully opened, the powder in the powder supply container can be completely spread on the powder spreading platform to form the target powder spreading surface.

[0008] In one embodiment of the present invention, there is an inclination angle between the powder supply container and the powder spreading platform, and the range of the inclination angle is greater than or equal to 0 degree and less than 90 degrees.

[0009] With this configuration, when the tilt angle is 0 degrees, the powder supply container and the powder spreading platform are arranged parallel to each other. At this time, the length of the powder supply container's powder outlet is equal to the length of the target powder spreading surface. When the tilt angle is between 0 and 90 degrees, the powder supply container is tilted relative to the powder spreading platform. The length of the target powder spreading surface is equal to the projection of the powder outlet on the powder spreading platform along the vertical direction of powder falling. Therefore, by adjusting the tilt angle, the length of the target powder pile can be adjusted.

[0010] In one embodiment of the present invention, the sliding door control unit includes a flexible sliding door, a guide wheel, a driving wheel and a rotary drive, wherein the two sides of the flexible sliding door are closed end to end through a flexible rope, a guide wheel and a driving wheel, the driving wheel is connected to the rotary drive, the flexible sliding door can control the opening and closing of the powder outlet, and the rotary drive is electrically connected to the controller.

[0011] With this arrangement, the flexible sliding door and the rotary driver can be rotated forward or reversed to drive the flexible sliding door to move along one end of the powder outlet toward the other end, thereby gradually opening or closing the powder outlet to achieve control of the powder supply speed.

[0012] In one embodiment of the present invention, the powder supply unit further includes a flexible conduit connecting the powder storage container and the powder supply container, and a pressure-type shut-off valve provided on the flexible conduit, wherein the pressure-type shut-off valve is electrically connected to the controller.

[0013] This configuration allows the pressure-type shut-off valve to be controlled by a controller, automatically switching the flow between the powder storage container and the powder supply container. This, in turn, controls the amount of powder charged into the supply container, improving control over powder supply accuracy. Furthermore, the flexible conduit allows for easy adjustment of the inclination angle of the powder supply container to alter the desired length of the powder-laying surface.

[0014] In one embodiment of the present invention, the powder supply unit further includes an agitator disposed inside the powder storage container, and the agitator is electrically connected to the controller.

[0015] With this arrangement, the stirrer slowly stirs the powder storage container, causing the powder in the powder storage container to be in a fluid state so that the powder can flow into the flexible conduit under the action of gravity.

[0016] In one embodiment of the present invention, the powder supply unit further includes at least one vibrator, which is disposed on an outer wall of the powder supply container and is electrically connected to the controller.

[0017] With this arrangement, the vibrator can drive the outer wall of the powder supply container to vibrate during the powder falling process, thereby accelerating the powder falling process so that the powder falling process is synchronized with the opening speed of the flexible sliding door.

[0018] In one embodiment of the present invention, the powder supply unit further includes a breathable valve and a connecting conduit, wherein the breathable valve is arranged at one end of the powder supply container relatively away from the powder storage container; the two ends of the connecting conduit are respectively connected to the breathable valve and the top of the powder storage container.

[0019] This arrangement ensures that the air pressure in the powder supply container and the powder storage container is balanced during the filling of powder into the powder supply container, thereby ensuring that the powder can flow into the flexible conduit under the action of gravity, and better ensuring that the powder supply container can be completely filled with powder.

[0020] The present invention also provides a linear powder quantitative supply method, which uses the above-mentioned linear powder quantitative supply device, and the method includes:

[0021] Under the condition that the powder outlet of the powder supply container is in a closed state, the powder storage container and the powder supply container are connected, and powder is filled into the powder supply container through the powder storage container until the powder supply container is fully filled with powder;

[0022] Disconnect the connection between the powder storage container and the powder supply container, and control the powder outlet to slide along one end of the powder outlet toward the other end through the sliding door control unit to gradually open the powder outlet, and the powder passes through the opened powder outlet and falls onto the powder spreading platform until the powder outlet is fully opened, and all the powder in the powder supply container falls onto the powder spreading platform to form a target powder pile.

[0023] In one embodiment of the present invention, the step of connecting the powder storage container and the powder supply container under the condition that the powder outlet of the powder supply container is in a closed state, and filling the powder supply container with powder through the powder storage container until the powder supply container is fully filled with powder, further includes the steps of:

[0024] The rotary driver rotates to drive the driving wheel to rotate, thereby driving the flexible rope to pull the flexible sliding door to slide from one end of the powder outlet to the other end until the flexible sliding door completely closes the powder outlet;

[0025] driving the stirrer to stir the powder in the powder storage container;

[0026] The pressure-type stop valve is opened to connect the powder storage container and the powder supply container, so that the powder in the powder storage container is filled into the powder supply container along the flexible conduit until the powder supply container is full.

[0027] In one embodiment of the present invention, the step of disconnecting the powder storage container from the powder supply container, controlling the powder outlet to slide along one end of the powder outlet toward the other end by the sliding door control unit to gradually open the powder outlet, causing powder to fall onto the powder spreading platform through the opened powder outlet, until the powder outlet is fully opened and all the powder in the powder supply container falls onto the powder spreading platform to form a target powder pile, further comprising the steps of:

[0028] Closing the pressure-type stop valve to disconnect the powder storage container from the powder supply container;

[0029] The vibrator is driven to vibrate on the outer wall of the powder supply container; the rotary driver is set to rotate so that the flexible sliding door slides along one end of the powder outlet toward the other end and gradually opens the powder outlet. In the process, the powder passes through the opened powder outlet and falls onto the powder spreading platform until the powder outlet is completely opened and all the powder in the powder supply container falls onto the powder spreading platform to form a target powder pile. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0030] Figure 1 This is a schematic structural diagram of a linear powder quantitative supply device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0031] Figure 2 Schematic diagram of the relationship between the sliding door control unit and the powder supply container of the linear powder quantitative supply device according to the above embodiment of the present invention.

[0032] Figure 3 This is a schematic structural diagram of the powder supply container of the linear powder quantitative supply device according to the above embodiment of the present invention in a state before powder supply.

[0033] Figure 4 Schematic diagram of the structure of the powder feeding process of the linear powder quantitative feeding device of the above embodiment of the present invention.

[0034] Figure 5This is a schematic structural diagram of the linear powder quantitative feeding device of the above embodiment of the present invention when powder feeding is completed.

[0035] Figure 6 This is a schematic structural diagram of the linear powder quantitative feeding device of the above embodiment of the present invention after powder feeding is completed and before powder spreading.

[0036] Figure 7 for Figure 6 Enlarged schematic diagram of part A.

[0037] Figure 8 It is a structural schematic diagram of the powder spreading process of the linear powder quantitative supply device in the above embodiment of the present invention.

[0038] Figure 9 This is a schematic structural diagram of the linear powder quantitative supply device after powder spreading in the above embodiment of the present invention.

[0039] Figure 10 This is a block diagram showing the electrical connections between the controller and other components of the linear powder quantitative feeding device according to the above embodiment of the present invention.

[0040] 10. Bracket; 20. Powder storage container; 21. Agitator; 30. Powder supply unit; 31. Powder supply container; 311. Powder outlet; 32. Slide gate control unit; 321. Flexible slide gate; 322. Guide wheel; 323. Driving wheel; 324. Rotary drive; 325. Flexible rope; 33. Controller; 34. Flexible conduit; 35. Pressure-type stop valve; 36. Vibrator; 37. Breathing valve; 38. Connecting conduit; 40. Powder spreading platform; 50. Powder; 51. Powder spreading surface. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0041] The following will be combined with the accompanying drawings in the embodiments of the present invention to clearly and completely describe the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention. Obviously, the embodiments described are only part of the embodiments of the present invention, not all of the embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by ordinary technicians in this field without making creative efforts are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0042] It should be noted that when a component is referred to as being "mounted on" another component, it may be mounted directly on the other component or there may be a central component. When a component is considered to be "set on" another component, it may be directly set on the other component or there may be a central component. When a component is considered to be "fixed to" another component, it may be directly fixed to the other component or there may be a central component.

[0043] Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by those skilled in the art to which this invention pertains. The terms used herein in the specification of the present invention are for the purpose of describing specific embodiments only and are not intended to limit the present invention. The term "or / and" as used herein includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.

[0044] See also Figure 1 , is a schematic diagram of the structure of a linear powder quantitative supply device in one embodiment of the present invention. The present invention provides a linear powder quantitative supply device for quantitatively supplying powder to a printing device. The present invention provides a linear powder quantitative supply device for supplying powder 50 to a thermally melt bonding (SLS) or thermally melt laminating (SLM) device, characterized by a simple structure and controllable powder supply width.

[0045] The present invention provides a linear powder quantitative supply device, such as Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, it includes a bracket 10, a powder spreading platform 40 provided at the bottom of the bracket 10, a powder storage container 20 provided at the top of the bracket 10 for accommodating powder 50, and at least one powder supply unit 30. The powder supply unit 30 is provided between the powder storage container 20 and the powder spreading platform 40. The powder storage container 20 can provide powder 50 to the powder supply unit 30, and the powder supply unit 30 can spread the powder 50 on the powder spreading plane to form a target powder spreading surface 51, completing the powder supply process. The powder storage container 20 provided by the present invention can supply powder to multiple powder supply units 30, and can achieve powder spreading to multiple areas of the powder spreading platform 40 at the same time or powder spreading for multiple powder spreading platforms 40.

[0046] Specifically, if Figure 1 and Figure 2As shown, the powder supply unit 30 is arranged on the powder spreading platform 40 side, and the powder supply unit 30 includes a powder supply container 31, a sliding door control unit 32 and a controller 33. The powder supply container 31 can be connected to the powder storage container 20 and is located between the powder storage container 20 and the powder spreading platform 40. The powder supply container 31 is tilted relative to the powder spreading platform 40. The powder supply container 31 has a strip-shaped powder outlet 311 so that the powder 50 falls to the powder spreading platform 40 under the action of gravity through the powder outlet 311 for powder spreading. The powder outlet 311 corresponds to the powder spreading platform 40. The sliding door control unit 32 controls The powder outlet 311 gradually opens or closes from one end of the powder outlet 311 to the other end. The controller 33 is electrically connected to the sliding door control unit 32. When the powder outlet 311 gradually opens from one end of the powder outlet 311 to the other end, the powder 50 corresponding to the opened powder outlet 311 can be spread on the powder spreading platform 40 under the action of gravity from the opened powder outlet 311 to form a strip-shaped powder spreading surface 51, until the powder outlet 311 is fully opened and the powder 50 in the powder supply container 31 is fully spread on the powder spreading platform 40 to form the target powder spreading surface 51. When the powder outlet 311 is in a closed state, the powder spreading on the powder spreading platform 40 is stopped, and when the powder outlet 311 is fully closed, the powder 50 is filled into the powder supply container 31 through the powder storage container 20 to prepare for the next powder spreading process.

[0047] like Figure 1 As shown, the powder supply unit 30 also includes an agitator 21 arranged inside the powder storage container 20. The agitator 21 is electrically connected to the controller 33. The agitator 21 can slowly stir in the powder storage container 20, so that the powder 50 in the powder storage container 20 is in a flowing state, so that the powder 50 can be filled into the powder supply container 31 under the action of gravity.

[0048] It is worth mentioning that since the volume of the powder supply container 31 provided by the present invention is certain, when the powder 50 in the powder storage container 20 is in a saturated state, the total amount of powder 50 that can be accommodated is consistent, and the amount of powder 50 falling at different positions along the powder outlet 311 is also consistent, so the powder output is controllable.

[0049] In one embodiment of the present invention, there is an inclination angle between the powder supply container 31 and the powder spreading platform 40, and the range of the inclination angle is greater than or equal to 0 degrees and less than 90 degrees, so that the length of the powder spreading surface 51 can be adjusted by adjusting the inclination angle of the powder supply container 31 relative to the powder spreading platform 40. Here, when the inclination angle is 0 degrees, it means that the powder supply container 31 and the powder spreading platform 40 are arranged in parallel. At this time, the length of the powder outlet 311 of the powder supply container 31 is equal to the length of the target powder spreading surface 51. When the inclination angle is any angle between 0 degrees and 90 degrees, the powder supply container 31 is inclined relative to the powder spreading platform 40, and the length of the target powder spreading surface 51 is equal to the projection length of the powder outlet 311 on the powder spreading platform 40 along the vertical powder falling direction. Therefore, by adjusting the size of the inclination angle, the length of the target powder pile can be adjusted. In addition, arranging the powder supply container 31 tilted from top to bottom can also better achieve the filling of the powder 50 in the powder supply container 31, and facilitate the filling of the powder 50 in the powder supply container 31 under the action of gravity alone. In addition, the top-down design of the powder supply container 31 can also ensure that during the powder spreading process, the opening state of the powder outlet 311 is also opened from top to bottom, gradually opening from the high end of the powder outlet 311 to the low end. Since the cavity corresponding to the low end of the powder supply container 31 is filled with powder 50, the powder 50 at the high end will not move along the cavity of the powder supply container 31 toward the low end under the action of gravity. When the powder outlet 311 at this position is opened, the powder 50 will fall onto the powder spreading platform 40.

[0050] In order to control the sliding door control unit 32 to automatically control the powder outlet 311 to gradually open or close, and to control the speed of the powder outlet 311 in opening or closing the powder outlet 311, the controller 33 of the powder supply unit 30 is electrically connected to the sliding door control unit 32 to achieve the gradual opening and closing of the powder outlet 311, and to ensure that whenever the powder outlet 311 is opened, the powder 50 corresponding to the opened part of the powder outlet 311 can fall through the powder outlet 311.

[0051] like Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, the sliding door control unit 32 includes a flexible sliding door 321, a guide wheel 322, a driving wheel 323 and a rotary driver 324. The two sides of the flexible sliding door 321 are connected end to end by a flexible cable 325, a guide wheel 322, and a driving wheel 323. The driving wheel 323 is connected to the rotary driver 324. The flexible sliding door 321 can control the opening and closing of the powder outlet 311. The rotary driver 324 is electrically connected to the controller 33. Since the powder outlet 311 is strip-shaped, the flexible sliding door 321 can gradually open or close the powder outlet 311 along one end of the powder outlet 311 toward the other end.

[0052] Specifically, when the controller 33 controls the rotary driver 324 to rotate forward (or clockwise), it drives the driving wheel 323, the flexible rope 325 and the guide wheel 322 to rotate forward or clockwise, and then the flexible sliding door 321 can be pulled by the flexible rope 325 to gradually open the long strip of powder outlet 311 from top to bottom; when the controller 33 controls the rotary driver 324 to rotate reversely (or counterclockwise), it drives the driving wheel 323, the flexible rope 325 and the guide wheel 322 to rotate reversely or counterclockwise, and then the flexible sliding door 321 can be pulled by the flexible rope 325 to gradually close the long strip of powder outlet 311 from bottom to top, thereby realizing the control of the opening and closing of the powder outlet 311.

[0053] like Figure 1 As shown, the powder supply unit 30 also includes a flexible conduit 34 connecting the powder storage container 20 and the powder supply container 31, and a pressure-type shut-off valve 35 disposed on the flexible conduit 34. The pressure-type shut-off valve 35 is electrically connected to the controller 33. The pressure-type shut-off valve 35 can be controlled by the controller 33 to automatically control the connection and disconnection between the powder storage container 20 and the powder supply container 31, thereby controlling the powder 50 filled into the powder supply container 31, thereby improving the control of powder supply accuracy. In addition, the provision of the flexible conduit 34 facilitates adjustment of the tilt angle of the powder supply container 31 to change the length of the target powder spreading surface 51.

[0054] like Figure 1 As shown, the powder supply unit 30 also includes at least one vibrator 36, which is arranged on the outer wall of the powder supply container 31. The vibrator 36 is electrically connected to the controller 33. The vibrator 36 can drive the outer wall of the powder supply container 31 to vibrate during the powder falling process, thereby accelerating the falling process of the powder 50, so that the falling process of the powder 50 is synchronized with the opening speed of the flexible sliding door 321.

[0055] like Figure 1 As shown, the powder supply unit 30 further includes a breathable valve 37, wherein the breathable valve 37 is provided at one end of the powder supply container 31 relatively away from the powder storage container 20. The breathable valve 37 is provided to discharge the air in the powder supply container 31 through the breathable valve 37, in order to better ensure that the powder supply container 31 can be completely filled with powder 50. Figure 1 As shown, in order to ensure that the air pressure in the powder supply container 31 and the powder storage container 20 is balanced during the filling of the powder 50 into the powder supply container 31, the powder supply unit 30 also includes a connecting conduit 38, the two ends of which are respectively connected to the air valve 37 and the top of the powder storage container 20, thereby ensuring that the powder 50 can flow into the flexible conduit 34 under the action of gravity.

[0056] The principle of the linear powder 50 quantitative feeding device provided by the present invention is as follows: the powder feeding process, such as Figures 3 to 5As shown, before starting to supply powder, the controller 33 sends a start instruction to the vibrator 36 to control the vibrator 36 to drive the powder supply chamber shell to vibrate; the controller 33 sends a stop instruction to the pressure stop valve 35 to control the pressure stop valve 35 to squeeze and cut off the flexible conduit 34 passage; the controller 33 sends a closing instruction to the rotary driver 324 to control the rotary driver 324 to drive the flexible sliding door 321 to close the long strip-shaped powder outlet 311 of the powder supply container 31 from bottom to top; first add a sufficient amount of powder 50 to the powder storage container 20, and the controller 33 sends a stirring instruction to the stirrer 21 to control the stirrer 21 to stir slowly so that the powder 50 in the powder storage container 20 is always in Circular flow state; the controller 33 sends an opening instruction to the pressure-type stop valve 35, controls the pressure-type stop valve 35 to separate, so that the flexible conduit 34 is connected under the action of its own resilience and the pressure of the powder 50 in the powder storage tank, and the fluid powder 50 in the powder storage container 20 flows out from the bottom opening of the powder storage container 20 and flows into the powder supply container 31 through the flexible conduit 34. The gas in the powder supply container 31 can be discharged into the top cavity of the powder storage container 20 through the air valve 37. The vibrator 36 can drive the outer wall of the powder supply container 31 to vibrate and accelerate the process of the powder 50 flowing into the powder supply container 31. The pressure-type stop valve 35 is opened for a period of time until the powder supply container 31 is filled with powder 50. Figure 3 As shown, the powder supply process to the powder supply container 31 is completed.

[0057] like Figures 6 to 9 As shown, the powder spreading process is as follows: the controller 33 sends a cut-off instruction to the pressure-type stop valve 35, controls the pressure-type stop valve 35 to squeeze and cut off the passage of the flexible conduit 34; the controller 33 sends an opening instruction to the rotary driver 324, controls the rotary driver 324 to drive the flexible sliding door 321, and gradually opens the strip-shaped powder outlet 311 from top to bottom, and the powder 50 in the powder supply container 31 falls from the opened part of the strip-shaped powder outlet 311 to the target powder supply position; the vibrator 36 drives the outer wall of the powder supply container 31 to vibrate during the powder falling period, accelerates the falling process of the powder 50, and makes the falling process of the powder 50 synchronized with the opening speed of the flexible sliding door 321; after the flexible sliding door 321 fully opens the powder outlet 311, the powder 50 in the powder supply container 31 falls synchronously to the target powder supply position, forming a powder pile with a length consistent with the projection length of the long strip powder outlet 311 along the vertical line of gravity, completing the powder spreading process.

[0058] The controller 33 issues a closing command to reverse the rotation driver 324, controls the rotation driver 324 to drive the flexible sliding door 321 to close the powder outlet 311, and the controller 33 opens the pressure-type stop valve 35. The powder 50 in the powder storage container 20 flows into the powder supply container 31 through the flexible conduit 34 until the powder supply container 31 is filled with powder 50 again for the next powder spreading.

[0059] The powder storage container 20, the flexible conduit 34 and the powder supply container 31 in the linear powder quantitative supply device provided by the present invention are connected in series. The powder storage container 20 is located above the powder supply container 31, and the powder supply container 31 is located below the powder storage container 20. The powder supply container 31 is placed downward and tilted as a whole, so that the powder 50 in the powder storage container 20 has good downward flow conditions under the action of gravity; and under the dual action of the agitator 21 in the powder storage container 20 and the vibrator 36 of the powder supply container 31, the powder 50 can flow smoothly and quickly from the powder storage container 20 to the powder supply container 31; The pressure-type stop valve 35 squeezes the wall of the flexible conduit 34 from the outside, so that the cross-section of the flexible conduit 34 is closed and the flow of powder 50 is completely cut off, and then when the powder outlet 311 of the powder supply container 31 is opened, the flow of powder 50 from the powder storage container 20 to the powder supply container 31 is cut off; when the pressure-type stop valve 35 of the present invention is opened or closed, there are no power elements or other moving parts inside the flexible conduit 34, and the problem of the moving components in the flexible conduit 34 and the powder 50 being stuck will not occur, nor will the wear of the moving components in the flexible conduit 34 causing the powder 50 to leak, or the wear debris contaminating the powder 50.

[0060] The powder supply container 31 is provided with a strip-shaped powder outlet 311. The powder 50 in the powder supply container 31 falls to the powder spreading platform 40 through the powder outlet 311 and forms a powder pile. The opening and closing of the strip-shaped powder outlet 311 are realized by the reciprocating motion of the flexible sliding door 321 of the sliding door unit; the flexible sliding door 321 is driven by the rotary driver 324 to gradually open the powder outlet 311 from top to bottom to avoid the powder outlet 311 being fully opened instantly. The powder 50 falls along the tilted posture of the powder supply container 31, resulting in the powder pile amount falling to the powder supply container 31. ; when the powder outlet 311 of the powder supply container 31 of the present invention gradually starts to move from top to bottom, the powder 50 in the opened section of the powder outlet 311 falls to the powder spreading platform 40 synchronously with the opening action of the flexible sliding door 321 under the action of the vibrator 36, so that the powder amount distribution of the powder pile is only related to the cross-sectional area of ​​the powder supply container 31 and the inclination angle of the powder supply container 31 relative to the powder spreading platform 40. Assuming that the cross-sectional area of ​​the powder supply container 31 is S and the inclination angle is α, the volume of the powder 50 per unit length of the powder pile is S / cos(α), so that the powder supply amount is quantitative and controllable.

[0061] The linear powder 50 quantitative supply device provided by the present invention uses the natural powder falling under the action of gravity and the volume measurement of the powder supply container 31 to achieve fixed-length and quantitative supply of powder 50 along the powder supply direction. An externally operated pressure-type stop valve 35 is used to control the powder path between the powder storage container 20 and the powder supply container 31. Not only is the powder supply amount precisely controllable, there is no need to use a precise powder amount sensor. It only needs to set the opening time of the redundant pressure-type stop valve 35 according to the volume of the powder supply container 31. In addition, there are no power elements or other moving parts in the powder path, and the powder supply is reliable and pollution-free. It can be seen that the linear powder quantitative supply device provided by the present invention has a simple structure, low cost, high powder supply accuracy, and precise and controllable powder supply width and powder 50 distribution. It is easy to use in powder three-dimensional forming equipment of various specifications.

[0062] The present invention also provides a linear powder quantitative supply method, which uses the linear powder quantitative supply device described above, and the method includes:

[0063] Under the condition that the powder outlet 311 of the powder supply container 31 is in a closed state, the powder storage container 20 and the powder supply container 31 are connected, and the powder supply container 31 is filled with powder 50 through the powder storage container 20 until the powder supply container 31 is fully filled with powder 50;

[0064] Disconnect the connection between the powder storage container 20 and the powder supply container 31, and control the powder outlet 311 to slide along one end of the powder outlet 311 toward the other end through the sliding door control unit 32, and then gradually open the powder outlet 311. The powder 50 passes through the opened powder outlet 311 and falls onto the powder spreading platform 40 until the powder outlet 311 is completely opened, and all the powder 50 in the powder supply container 31 falls onto the powder spreading platform 40 to form a target powder pile.

[0065] In one embodiment of the present invention, the step of connecting the powder storage container 20 and the powder supply container 31 under the condition that the powder outlet 311 of the powder supply container 31 is in a closed state, and filling the powder supply container 31 with powder 50 through the powder storage container 20 until the powder supply container 31 is filled with powder 50, further comprising the steps of:

[0066] The connection between the powder storage container 20 and the powder supply container 31 is disconnected, and the powder outlet 311 is fully opened by the sliding door control unit 32 to discharge the powder 50 in the powder supply container 31 .

[0067] In one embodiment of the present invention, the step of connecting the powder storage container 20 and the powder supply container 31 under the condition that the powder outlet 311 of the powder supply container 31 is in a closed state, and filling the powder supply container 31 with powder 50 through the powder storage container 20 until the powder supply container 31 is fully filled with powder 50, further includes the steps of:

[0068] The rotary driver 324 rotates to drive the driving wheel 323 to rotate, thereby driving the flexible cable 325 to pull the flexible sliding door 321 to slide from one end of the powder outlet 311 to the other end, until the flexible sliding door 321 completely closes the powder outlet 311;

[0069] The pressure-type stop valve 35 is opened to connect the powder storage container 20 and the powder supply container 31 so that the powder 50 in the powder storage container 20 is filled into the powder supply container 31 along the flexible conduit 34 until the powder supply container 31 is filled.

[0070] In one embodiment of the present invention, before the step of opening the pressure-type stop valve 35 to connect the powder storage container 20 and the powder supply container 31 so that the powder 50 in the powder storage container 20 flows into the powder supply container 31 along the flexible conduit 34 until the powder supply container 31 is filled, the step further includes:

[0071] The stirrer 21 is driven to stir the powder storage container 20 .

[0072] In one embodiment of the present invention, in step 10, the connection between the powder storage container 20 and the powder supply container 31 is disconnected, and the powder outlet 311 is controlled by the sliding door control unit 32 to slide along one end of the powder outlet 311 toward the other end, thereby gradually opening the powder outlet 311, and the powder 50 falls onto the powder spreading platform 40 through the opened powder outlet 311, until the powder outlet 311 is fully opened and the powder 50 in the powder supply container 31 falls onto the powder spreading platform 40 to form a target powder pile, further comprising the steps of:

[0073] Close the pressure-type stop valve 35 to disconnect the powder storage container 20 from the powder supply container 31 ;

[0074] The rotary driver 324 is set to rotate so that the flexible sliding door 321 slides along one end of the powder outlet 311 toward the other end and gradually opens the powder outlet 311. In the process, the powder 50 passes through the opened powder outlet 311 and falls onto the powder spreading platform 40 until the powder outlet 311 is completely opened. All the powder 50 in the powder supply container 31 falls onto the powder spreading platform 40 to form a target powder pile.

[0075] In one embodiment of the present invention, in the step of setting the rotation driver 324 to rotate in the forward direction so that the flexible sliding door 321 slides along one end of the powder outlet 311 toward the other end and gradually opens the powder outlet 311, the powder 50 passes through the opened powder outlet 311 and falls onto the powder spreading platform 40 until the powder outlet 311 is fully opened and the powder 50 in the powder supply container 31 all falls onto the powder spreading platform 40 to form a target powder pile, further comprising the steps of:

[0076] The vibrator 36 is driven to vibrate the outer wall of the powder supply container 31 .

[0077] The specific implementation of the linear powder quantitative supply method provided by the present invention has been described in detail when introducing the linear powder quantitative supply device, and will not be repeated here.

[0078] Those skilled in the art should recognize that the above embodiments are merely intended to illustrate the present invention and are not intended to limit the present invention. Any appropriate changes and modifications to the above embodiments fall within the scope of the present invention as long as they are within the spirit of the present invention.

Claims

1. A linear powder quantitative feeding device, comprising a support (10), a powder spreading platform (40) arranged at the bottom of the support (10), and a powder storage container (20) arranged at the top of the support (10) for storing powder (50), characterized in that: The linear powder quantitative supply device further comprises at least one powder supply unit (30), wherein the powder supply unit (30) comprises a powder supply container (31), a sliding door control unit (32), a controller (33) and a flexible conduit (34). The powder supply container (31) is connected to the powder storage container (20) through the flexible conduit (34) and is located between the powder storage container (20) and the powder spreading platform (40). There is an inclination angle between the powder supply container (31) and the powder spreading platform (40), and the range of the inclination angle is greater than or equal to 0 degrees and less than 90 degrees. The powder supply container (31) has a strip-shaped powder outlet (311). The powder supply container (31) can adjust the length of the target powder pile by adjusting the inclination angle. The sliding door control unit (32) comprises a flexible sliding door (321), a guide wheel (322), a flexible rope (325), a driving wheel (323) and a rotary driver (324). The two sides of the flexible sliding door (321) are connected end to end in a closed manner by the flexible rope (325), the guide wheel (322) and the driving wheel (323). The driving wheel (323) is connected to the rotary driver (324). The flexible sliding door (321) can control the powder outlet (311) to gradually open or close along one end of the powder outlet (311) toward the other end. The controller (33) is electrically connected to the sliding door control unit (32).

2. The linear powder quantitative feeding device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The powder supply unit (30) further includes a pressure-type shut-off valve (35) provided on the flexible conduit (34), and the pressure-type shut-off valve (35) is electrically connected to the controller (33).

3. The linear powder quantitative feeding device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The powder supply unit (30) further includes a stirrer (21) disposed inside the powder storage container (20), and the stirrer (21) is electrically connected to the controller (33).

4. The linear powder quantitative feeding device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The powder supply unit (30) further includes at least one vibrator (36), wherein the vibrator (36) is arranged on the outer wall of the powder supply container (31), and the vibrator (36) is electrically connected to the controller (33).

5. The linear powder quantitative feeding device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The powder supply unit (30) further comprises a breathable valve (37) and a communication conduit (38), wherein the breathable valve (37) is arranged at one end of the powder supply container (31) relatively far away from the powder storage container (20); and the two ends of the communication conduit (38) are respectively connected to the breathable valve (37) and the top of the powder storage container (20).

6. A linear powder quantitative supply method, which uses the linear powder quantitative supply device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that: The linear powder quantitative supply method comprises: The rotary driver (324) is set to rotate to drive the driving wheel (323) to rotate, thereby driving the flexible rope (325) to pull the flexible sliding door (321) to slide from one end of the powder outlet (311) to the other end until the flexible sliding door (321) completely closes the powder outlet (311); Under the condition that the powder outlet (311) is in a closed state, the powder storage container (20) and the powder supply container (31) are connected, and powder (50) is filled into the inclined powder supply container (31) along the flexible conduit (34) through the powder storage container (20) until the powder (50) fills the powder supply container (31); The connection between the powder storage container (20) and the powder supply container (31) is disconnected, and the rotation driver (324) of the sliding door control unit (32) is set to rotate, so as to control the flexible sliding door (321) to slide along the high end of the powder outlet (311) toward the low end, thereby gradually opening the powder outlet (311). The powder (50) passes through the opened powder outlet (311) and falls onto the powder spreading platform (40), until the powder outlet (311) is completely opened, and the powder (50) in the powder supply container (31) all falls onto the powder spreading platform (40) to form a target powder pile.

7. The method for quantitatively supplying linear powder according to claim 6, wherein: Under the condition that the powder outlet (311) is in a closed state, the powder storage container (20) and the powder supply container (31) are connected, and powder (50) is filled into the powder supply container (31) through the powder storage container (20) along the flexible conduit (34) until the powder (50) fills the powder supply container (31), and further comprises the steps of: driving a stirrer (21) to stir the powder in the powder storage container (20); The pressure-type stop valve (35) is opened to connect the powder storage container (20) and the powder supply container (31), so that the powder (50) in the powder storage container (20) is filled into the powder supply container (31).

8. The method for quantitatively supplying linear powder according to claim 6, wherein: In the step of disconnecting the connection between the powder storage container (20) and the powder supply container (31), by setting the rotation driver (324) of the sliding door control unit (32) to rotate, the flexible sliding door (321) is controlled to slide along the high end of the powder outlet (311) toward the low end, thereby gradually opening the powder outlet (311), and the powder (50) passes through the opened powder outlet (311) and falls onto the powder spreading platform (40), until the powder outlet (311) is completely opened, and the powder (50) in the powder supply container (31) all falls onto the powder spreading platform (40) to form a target powder pile, and further comprising the steps of: Closing the pressure-type stop valve (35) to disconnect the communication between the powder storage container (20) and the powder supply container (31); The vibrator (36) is driven to vibrate the outer wall of the powder supply container (31); in the process of gradually opening the powder outlet (311), the powder (50) passes through the opened powder outlet (311) and falls onto the powder spreading platform (40), until the powder outlet (311) is completely opened, and all the powder (50) in the powder supply container (31) falls onto the powder spreading platform (40) to form a target powder pile.

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