A device for cleaning nozzles using vacuum

Abstract

The present invention discloses a device for cleaning a nozzle by using vacuum, which relates to the technical field of 3D printers, and includes a heating component and a vacuum component. The heating component is provided with a through hole, and the vacuum component is connected to one end of the through hole, and one end of the nozzle to be cleaned is connected to the other end of the through hole. The blocked nozzle is connected to a vacuum ball, and the negative pressure of the vacuum ball is used to achieve reverse outflow of debris in the nozzle, thereby achieving the purpose of cleaning. When the debris in the nozzle is relatively hard, the impact function of the push rod is used to assist in the cleaning operation, and the hard debris is pushed out in reverse by the impact of the push rod. The hard debris flows out of the nozzle in reverse, which can prevent the nozzle outlet from being worn.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to the technical field of 3D printers, and in particular to a device for cleaning a nozzle using vacuum. Background Art

[0002] 3D printing technology has been widely used in the manufacturing field, among which FDM technology has been popularized in all aspects of life due to its advantages such as low cost, simple structure and flexible optional materials. However, its disadvantages are also obvious, such as relatively slow molding speed and easy nozzle blockage, which still restrict its development. When the nozzle is blocked, it is troublesome to clean it, and the cleaning process is time-consuming and labor-intensive. There is an urgent need for a 3D printer nozzle anti-blocking and material cleaning device. Summary of the invention

[0003] In order to solve the above technical problems, the present invention provides a device for cleaning nozzles using vacuum, which is used for cleaning the nozzles of a 3D printer.

[0004] To achieve the above object, the present invention provides the following solutions:

[0005] The present invention provides a device for cleaning nozzles by vacuum, comprising a heating component and a vacuum component. The heating component is provided with a through hole, the vacuum component is connected to one end of the through hole, and one end of the nozzle to be cleaned is connected to the other end of the through hole.

[0006] Optionally, the heating component includes a heating block and a heating rod, the through hole is arranged in the middle of the heating block, and the heating rod is arranged around the through hole.

[0007] Optionally, the heating component further includes a thermocouple, and the thermocouple is disposed on the heating block.

[0008] Optionally, the vacuum component includes a vacuum ball and a vacuum air valve, a connecting hole is provided at one end of the vacuum ball, the connecting hole is connected to the heating component, and the vacuum air valve is provided on the vacuum ball.

[0009] Optionally, the feed end of the nozzle to be cleaned is connected to the through hole.

[0010] Optionally, it also includes a push assembly, which includes a push rod, and the push rod is arranged at the other end of the nozzle to be cleaned.

[0011] Optionally, the push assembly further includes a guide rail and a cross beam, the cross beam is adjustably disposed on the guide rail, and the push rod is disposed on the cross beam.

[0012] Optionally, the pushing assembly also includes a plurality of push rod supports, one end of the plurality of push rod supports is movably connected to the guide rail, the other end of the plurality of push rod supports is close to the push rod, and the push rod passes through the gap between the push rod supports on both sides; a guide rod is provided on the side of the crossbeam facing the plurality of push rod supports, the front end of the guide rod is a guide surface, and the guide surface is in contact with one end of the plurality of push rod supports.

[0013] Optionally, the pushing assembly further includes a driving component, wherein the driving component is disposed on the cross beam, and the push rod is disposed on the driving component.

[0014] Optionally, the vacuum component is arranged on the guide rail in an adjustable position.

[0015] Compared with the prior art, the present invention has achieved the following technical effects:

[0016] The device for cleaning nozzles by using vacuum in the present invention connects the blocked nozzle with a vacuum ball, and the negative pressure of the vacuum ball enables the debris in the nozzle to flow out in reverse, thereby achieving the purpose of cleaning.

[0017] When the debris in the nozzle is relatively hard, the impact function of the ejector rod is used to assist in the cleaning operation. The impact of the ejector rod is used to push the hard debris out in reverse, and the hard debris flows out of the nozzle in reverse, which can prevent the nozzle outlet from being worn. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0018] 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 will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of the present invention. For ordinary technicians in this field, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without paying creative work.

[0019] Figure 1 It is a schematic structural diagram of a heating component and a vacuum component in a device for cleaning a nozzle by vacuum according to the present invention;

[0020] Figure 2 It is a schematic structural diagram of a device for cleaning a nozzle using vacuum according to the present invention;

[0021] Figure 3 It is a partial enlarged structural schematic diagram of the ejector rod part in the device for cleaning the nozzle by vacuum according to the present invention;

[0022] Figure 4 It is a schematic diagram of a partially enlarged structure of a buckle in a device for cleaning a nozzle by using vacuum according to the present invention;

[0023] Figure 5 It is a schematic cross-sectional view of the guide rod in the device for cleaning the nozzle by vacuum according to the present invention;

[0024] Figure 6 The present invention is a schematic diagram of the structure of the impact motor in the device for cleaning the nozzle by vacuum.

[0025] Explanation of the reference numerals: 1. Nozzle to be cleaned; 2. Heating block; 3. Heating rod; 4. Thermocouple; 5. Vacuum ball; 6. Vacuum air valve; 7. Guide rail; 8. Stepper motor; 9. First slider; 10. Crossbeam; 11. Impact motor; 12. Second slider; 13. Bracket; 14. Ball claw; 15. Push rod; 16. Push rod support; 17. Guide rod; 18. Buckle; 20. First spring; 21. Spring support I; 22. Spring support II; 23. Baffle; 24. Motor shaft; 25. Cylindrical cam; 26. Needle rod; 27. Disc; 28. Second spring; 29. ​​Sliding bearing; 30. Impact shaft. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0026] The following will be combined with the 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 described embodiments 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 creative work are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0027] like Figures 1 to 3 As shown, this embodiment provides a device for cleaning a nozzle using vacuum, including a heating component and a vacuum component. The heating component is provided with a through hole, the vacuum component is connected to one end of the through hole, and one end of the nozzle 1 to be cleaned is connected to the other end of the through hole.

[0028] In this specific embodiment, the heating component includes a heating block 2, a heating rod 3 and a thermocouple 4. The heating block 2 is a T-block, and a through threaded hole is provided at the axis of the T-block. The heating rod 3 and the thermocouple 4 are both arranged inside the larger diameter end of the T-block, and an external thread is provided on the outer wall of the smaller diameter end of the T-block. The nozzle 1 to be cleaned is connected to the through threaded hole by a thread, which is convenient for installation and disassembly.

[0029] The vacuum component includes a vacuum ball 5 and a vacuum air valve 6. A connecting hole is provided at one end of the vacuum ball 5. An internal thread is provided on the inner side of the connecting hole. The internal thread is connected to the external thread on the T-block so that the heating block 2 and the vacuum ball 5 can be detachably connected. The vacuum air valve 6 is provided at the other end of the vacuum ball 5.

[0030] Four vacuum ball 5 claws are arranged outside the vacuum ball 5 to facilitate the installation and fixation of the vacuum ball 5 .

[0031] When the hardness of the debris in the nozzle 1 to be cleaned is relatively high, in order to further improve the cleaning effect, a pushing assembly is further provided, which includes a push rod 15, two guide rails 7, a cross beam 10 and an impact motor 11; the two guide rails 7 are arranged in parallel on both sides, and the cross beam 10 is slidably arranged on the two guide rails 7 through a first slider 9, and is driven by a stepper motor 8 so that the cross beam 10 can move along the guide rails 7; an impact motor 11 is provided in the middle of the cross beam 10, and the push rod 15 is arranged on the impact motor 11, and the impact motor 11 provides impact force for the push rod 15.

[0032] The specific structure of the impact motor 11 includes a motor shaft 24, a cylindrical cam 25, a needle rod 26, a disk 27, a second spring 28, a sliding bearing 29 and an impact shaft 30. One end of the cylindrical cam 25 is a circular end face perpendicular to the axis, and the other end of the cylindrical cam 25 is an intersecting surface with a certain angle to the axis. One end of the cylindrical cam 25 is coaxially connected to the motor shaft 24, and the other end of the cylindrical cam 25 contacts one end of the needle rod 26. The other end of the needle rod 26 is connected to one end of the disk 27, and the other end of the disk 27 is sequentially provided with a second spring 28, a sliding bearing 29 and an impact shaft 30; the motor shaft 24 is driven by the motor to drive the cylindrical cam 25 to rotate, so that the contact position of the needle rod 26 and the intersecting surface changes, thereby changing the distance between the impact shaft 30 and the motor shaft 24, so that the impact shaft 30 can output a linear impact force, so that the ejector 15 can provide an impact force for cleaning the nozzle 1 to be cleaned.

[0033] In order to avoid bending of the push rod 15, a stepped push rod 15 is used, the larger diameter portion of the push rod 15 is connected to the impact motor 11, and the smaller diameter portion of the push rod 15 is used to insert into the nozzle to be cleaned for cleaning.

[0034] To further prevent the push rod 15 from bending, a plurality of push rod supports 16 are arranged between the two guide rails 7. One end of the plurality of push rod supports 16 is movably connected to the guide rail 7, and the other end of the plurality of push rod supports 16 is close to the push rod 15. The push rod 15 passes through the gap between the push rod supports 16 on both sides. The push rod supports 16 form a radial limit on the push rod 15, which can prevent the push rod 15 from bending.

[0035] In order to prevent the larger diameter portion of the ejector rod 15 from interfering with the ejector rod support 16 and affecting the depth of the ejector rod 15 inserted into the nozzle to be cleaned, a guide rod 17 is provided on the side of the cross beam 10 facing the plurality of ejector rod supports 16, and the front end of the guide rod 17 is a guide surface, and the guide surface contacts one end of the plurality of ejector rod supports 16. During the forward movement of the cross beam 10, the guide surface of the guide rod 17 can push the ejector rod support 16 outward, so that the gap between the corresponding guide rod 17 supports is expanded, so that the larger diameter portion of the guide rod 17 can pass through the gap. The specific structure includes a first spring 20, a spring support I21, a spring support II22 and a baffle 23; a guide hole is provided on the guide rail 7, the first spring 20, the spring support I21, the spring support II22 and the baffle 23 are all located in the guide hole, and the push rod support 16 passes through the spring support I21, the spring support II22 and the baffle 23; the first spring 20 is sleeved on the end of the push rod support 16, and the two ends of the first spring 20 are supported by the spring support I21 and the spring support II22 respectively, and the spring support II22 is supported by the baffle 23, so that the spring support II22 maintains a relatively fixed position on the push rod support 16; the buckle 18 is fixedly sleeved on the push rod support 16. The guide rod 17 slides on the guide rail 7, and the guide rod 17 pushes the buckle 18 to make the buckle 18 away from the top rod 15, thereby driving the top rod support 16 to move in the direction away from the top rod 15. The first spring 20 is used to reset the top rod support 16, that is, when the guide rod 17 does not push the buckle 18, the first spring 20 pushes the spring support II 22 and the baffle 23 to reset the top rod support 16.

[0036] In order to improve the application range of the device using vacuum to clean the nozzle in this embodiment, the vacuum ball 5 is set on a bracket 13, and the bracket 13 is set between the two guide rails 7 through the second slider 12. The position of the vacuum ball 5 on the guide rail 7 can be adjusted by adjusting the position of the bracket 13, thereby changing the distance between the heating block 2 and the top rod support 16 to adapt to different types of nozzles. The second slider 12 has a self-locking function and can lock the bracket 13 on the guide rail 7.

[0037] The working principle of the device utilizing vacuum to clean the nozzle in this embodiment is as follows:

[0038] The nozzle 1 to be cleaned is installed on the heating block 2, and the heating rod 3 is energized to make the temperature of the heating block 2 reach a preset temperature, and the temperature value is measured by the thermocouple 4. The vacuum ball 5 is evacuated through the vacuum valve 6 to connect the vacuum pump, and the negative pressure of the vacuum ball 5 sucks out the debris in the nozzle 1 to be cleaned, thereby achieving the purpose of nozzle cleaning.

[0039] For the nozzle 1 to be cleaned that is clogged with hard particles, the vacuum ball 5 alone cannot suck out the debris from the nozzle, and an auxiliary device is needed to clean it. When using the auxiliary device, first install the nozzle 1 to be cleaned on the heating block 2, then install the vacuum ball 5 on the ball claw 14 and fix it, power on the heating rod 3, so that the temperature of the heating block 2 reaches the preset temperature, the temperature value is measured by the thermocouple 4, and the vacuum ball 5 is evacuated through the vacuum pump connected to the vacuum valve 6, and finally the stepper motor 8 and the impact motor 11 are started, so that the push rod 15 is inserted into the nozzle 1 to be cleaned while impacting, so as to achieve the purpose of nozzle cleaning.

[0040] It should be noted that it is obvious to those skilled in the art that the present invention is not limited to the details of the above exemplary embodiments, and that the present invention can be implemented in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential features of the present invention. Therefore, no matter from which point of view, the embodiments should be regarded as exemplary and non-restrictive, and the scope of the present invention is defined by the appended claims rather than the above description, and it is intended that all changes falling within the meaning and scope of the equivalent elements of the claims are included in the present invention, and any figure mark in the claims should not be regarded as limiting the claims involved.

[0041] The present specification uses specific examples to illustrate the principles and implementation methods of the present invention. The above examples are only used to help understand the method and core idea of ​​the present invention. At the same time, for those skilled in the art, according to the idea of ​​the present invention, there will be changes in the specific implementation methods and application scope. In summary, the content of this specification should not be understood as limiting the present invention.

Claims

1. A device for cleaning a nozzle using vacuum, characterized in that: It comprises a heating component and a vacuum component, wherein the heating component is provided with a through hole, the vacuum component is connected to one end of the through hole, and one end of the nozzle to be cleaned is connected to the other end of the through hole; The feed end of the nozzle to be cleaned is connected to the through hole; It also includes a push assembly, the push assembly includes a push rod, and the push rod is arranged at the other end of the nozzle to be cleaned; The ejector rod is stepped; The vacuum component includes a vacuum ball and a vacuum air valve, one end of the vacuum ball is provided with a connecting hole, the connecting hole is connected to the heating component, and the vacuum air valve is provided on the vacuum ball; The push assembly further comprises a guide rail and a cross beam, wherein the guide rails are arranged in parallel on both sides of the push assembly, the cross beam is adjustably arranged on the guide rail, and the push rod is arranged on the cross beam; The push assembly further comprises a plurality of push rod supports, one end of each of the plurality of push rod supports is movably connected to the guide rail, the other end of each of the plurality of push rod supports is close to the push rod, and the push rod passes through the gap between the push rod supports on both sides; a guide rod is arranged on one side of the cross beam facing the plurality of push rod supports, the front end of the guide rod is a guide surface, and the guide surface contacts one end of each of the plurality of push rod supports; The push assembly further comprises a driving component, wherein the driving component is arranged on the cross beam, and the push rod is arranged on the driving component.

2. The device for cleaning a nozzle using vacuum according to claim 1, characterized in that: The heating component comprises a heating block and a heating rod. The through hole is arranged in the middle of the heating block, and the heating rod is arranged around the through hole.

3. The device for cleaning a nozzle using vacuum according to claim 2, characterized in that: The heating component further includes a thermocouple, and the thermocouple is disposed on the heating block.

4. The device for cleaning a nozzle using vacuum according to claim 1, characterized in that: The vacuum component is adjustable in position on the guide rail.

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