A powder cleaning and recycling device

Abstract

This invention relates to a powder cleaning and recycling device, comprising: a lifting mechanism, a working box mounted on the lifting mechanism, and a sand silo surrounding the working box; the working box includes a bottom plate and side walls; the bottom plate can move up and down along the side walls with the lifting mechanism; a screening mechanism is provided at the inlet of the sand silo, and when the lifting mechanism lifts the bottom plate to the inlet of the sand silo, the powder on the bottom plate falls onto the screening mechanism, and the powder falls into the sand silo after being screened by the screening mechanism for recycling. The powder cleaning and recycling device provided by this invention can directly screen the powder after printing, eliminating the need for a separate screening mechanism to separately screen the recycled powder, thus improving the site utilization rate and sand cleaning efficiency of the equipment, and further improving the overall printing efficiency.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of 3D printing technology, and more specifically, to a powder cleaning and sieving mechanism. Background Technology

[0002] Currently, after 3D printing equipment finishes printing, in order to quickly clean the box and improve the printing efficiency, it is necessary to equip the equipment with a separate sand recovery system or sand cleaning station to clean the sand in the working box. However, both the old sand recovery system and the sand cleaning station collect the powder containing some binder and then sieve it through a special vibrating screen to obtain usable powder for reuse. This method is inefficient and occupies on-site space. Summary of the Invention

[0003] Therefore, it is necessary to provide a more efficient powder cleaning and recycling equipment to address the problems of low sand recycling efficiency and large space occupation in existing technologies.

[0004] A powder cleaning and recycling device includes: a lifting mechanism, a working box mounted on the lifting mechanism, and a sand silo surrounding the working box; the working box includes a bottom plate and side walls; the bottom plate can move up and down along the side walls with the lifting mechanism; a screening mechanism is provided at the entrance of the sand silo, and when the lifting mechanism lifts the bottom plate to the entrance of the sand silo, the powder on the bottom plate falls onto the screening mechanism, and the powder falls into the sand silo after being screened by the screening mechanism for recycling.

[0005] Furthermore, the screening mechanism includes a first elastic element, a vibrating screen, and a vibration source disposed on one side of the vibrating screen. The two sides of the vibrating screen are respectively connected to the side wall of the sand silo through the first elastic element, and the vibration source vibrates to drive the vibrating screen to screen the powder.

[0006] Furthermore, the screening mechanism includes a support column, a vibrating screen, and a vibration source disposed on one side of the vibrating screen. One end of the support column is fixed to the bottom of the sand hopper, and the other end of the support column is elastically connected to the vibrating screen. The vibration source vibrates to drive the vibrating screen to screen the powder.

[0007] Furthermore, the vibrating screen includes a vibrating base plate and a screen mesh disposed on the vibrating base plate; the vibrating base plate is provided with a plurality of holes evenly distributed, and the vibration source is disposed on the lower end face of the vibrating base plate.

[0008] Furthermore, the vibrating screen includes a vibrating base plate, a screen mesh, and a vibrating top plate, with the screen mesh located between the vibrating base plate and the vibrating top plate, and a plurality of holes evenly provided on both the vibrating base plate and the vibrating top plate.

[0009] Furthermore, the diameter of the hole on the top plate of the vibration is larger than the diameter of the hole on the bottom plate of the vibration.

[0010] Furthermore, a second elastic element is provided at the other end of the support column, through which the support column is elastically connected to the vibrating screen.

[0011] Furthermore, a spring is fitted on the support column, with one end of the spring abutting against the bottom of the sand silo and the other end of the spring abutting against the lower end face of the vibrating screen.

[0012] Furthermore, a fixing plate is fixedly connected to the lower end of the support column, and the fixing plate is fixedly connected to the bottom plate of the sand silo.

[0013] A 3D printing device that employs a powder cleaning and recycling device as described above.

[0014] This invention provides a powder cleaning and recycling device. By setting a screening mechanism at the entrance of the sand hopper, when cleaning powder after printing, the powder in the working box is first screened by the screening mechanism at the entrance of the sand hopper. Powder that has been solidified by the binder is left on the screening mechanism, while powder that has not been solidified by the binder falls into the sand hopper after screening and can be directly recycled without further processing. Therefore, the powder cleaning and recycling device provided by this invention can directly screen the powder after printing without setting up a separate screening mechanism to screen the recycled powder separately, which improves the site utilization rate and sand cleaning efficiency of the equipment, and further improves the printing efficiency of the entire printing process. Attached Figure Description

[0015] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the overall structure of a powder cleaning and recycling device according to the present invention;

[0016] Figure 2 This is an exploded view of a powder cleaning and recycling device according to the present invention;

[0017] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the screening mechanism of the present invention;

[0018] Figure 4 This is a front view of the screening mechanism of the present invention.

[0019] Figure 5 for Figure 4 Enlarged view of section A.

[0020] Reference numerals: 1. Lifting mechanism, 2. Working box, 3. Sand silo, 4. Screening mechanism, 21. Bottom plate, 22. Side wall, 41. Support column, 42. Vibrating screen, 43. Vibration source, 411. Spring, 412. Fixing plate, 421. Vibrating top plate, 422. Screen mesh, 423. Vibrating bottom plate. Detailed Implementation

[0021] To facilitate understanding of the present invention, a more complete description will be given below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Preferred embodiments of the invention are shown in the drawings. However, the invention can be implemented in many different forms and is not limited to the embodiments described herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided to provide a thorough and complete understanding of the disclosure of the invention.

[0022] It should be noted that when an element is referred to as being "set on" another element, it can be directly on the other element or there may be an intervening element. When an element is referred to as being "connected to" another element, it can be directly connected to the other element or there may be an intervening element. The terms "vertical," "horizontal," "left," "right," "top," "bottom," "end," "top," and similar expressions used herein are for illustrative purposes only and do not represent the only possible implementation.

[0023] Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention pertains. The terminology used herein in the description of the invention is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. The term "and / or" as used herein includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.

[0024] The powder cleaning and recycling equipment will be described below with reference to specific embodiments to further understand the inventive concept of the powder cleaning and recycling equipment.

[0025] like Figure 1-2As shown, in one embodiment, a powder cleaning and recycling device of the present invention includes a lifting mechanism 1, a working box 2 disposed on the lifting mechanism 1, and a sand silo 3 disposed around the working box 2; wherein the working box 2 may be cuboid in shape, and the sand silo 3 may be disposed around three sides of the working box 2, wherein the height of the sand silo 3 is flush with the height of the working box 2; the working box 2 includes a bottom plate 21 and side walls 22, the lower end face of the bottom plate 21 is connected to the lifting mechanism 1, and the bottom plate 21 may move up and down along the side walls 22 with the lifting mechanism 1. Preferably, guide rails may be provided on each side wall 22, and corresponding sliders may be provided on the side of the bottom plate 21, so that when the lifting mechanism 1 lifts, the bottom plate 21 may slide up and down more stably under the cooperation of the sliders and the guide rails on the side walls 22. A screening mechanism 4 is installed at the entrance of the sand silo 3. When the lifting mechanism 1 lifts the bottom plate 21 to the entrance of the sand silo 3, the powder on the bottom plate 21 falls onto the screening mechanism 4. After being screened by the screening mechanism 4, the powder falls into the sand silo 3 for recycling. Specifically, the powder on the bottom plate 21 can be manually scraped to the entrance of the sand silo 3, or it can be scraped to the entrance of the sand silo 3 by automated equipment such as a robotic arm.

[0026] In one embodiment, the screening mechanism 4 includes a first elastic element (not shown in the figure), a vibrating screen 42, and a vibration source 43 disposed on one side of the vibrating screen 42. Both sides of the vibrating screen 42 are connected to the inner wall of the side plate of the sand silo 3 via the first elastic element. Activating the vibration source 43 causes the vibrating screen 42 to screen the powder. The vibration source 43 can be disposed on the lower end face of the vibrating screen 42, and the mesh size of the vibrating screen 42 can be selected according to actual needs. In this embodiment, the vibrating screen 42 is connected to the inlet of the sand silo 3 via the first elastic element. The vibration source 43 generates a horizontal vibration source, whereby the first elastic element generates a horizontal reciprocating force that drives the vibrating screen 42 to vibrate back and forth in the horizontal direction, screening the powder material on it. Powder material that has been cured by the binder remains on the vibrating screen 42, while powder material that has not been cured by the binder falls into the sand silo 3 for recycling through vibration. Multiple screening mechanisms 4 can be provided, sequentially distributed at the inlet of the sand silo 3.

[0027] In another embodiment, such as Figure 3-4As shown, the screening mechanism 4 includes a support column 41, a vibrating screen 42, and a vibration source 43 disposed on one side of the vibrating screen 42. One end of the support column 41 is fixed to the bottom of the sand silo 3, and the other end of the support column 41 is elastically connected to the vibrating screen 42. The vibration source 43 drives the vibrating screen 42 to screen the powder material. In this embodiment, the vibrating screen 42 is supported at the entrance of the sand silo 3 by the support column 41. The vibration source 43 generates a vertical vibration source. Because the other end of the support column 41 is elastically connected to the vibrating screen 42, a vertical reciprocating force is generated, which drives the vibrating screen 42 to vibrate up and down, screening the powder material on it. The powder material that has been cured by the binder is left on the vibrating screen 42, and the powder material that has not been cured by the binder falls into the sand silo 3 for recycling through vibration.

[0028] In another embodiment, such as Figure 3-4 As shown, the vibrating screen 42 includes a vibrating base plate 423 and a screen 422 disposed on the vibrating base plate 423. A plurality of holes are evenly opened on the vibrating base plate 423. A vibration source 43 is disposed on the lower end face of the vibrating base plate 423. The diameter of the holes on the vibrating base plate 423 is larger than the diameter of the holes on the screen 422. The other end of the support column 41 is elastically connected to the lower end face of the vibrating base plate 423. Specifically, there is a certain distance between the screen 422 and the vibrating base plate 423. The end face of the screen 422 and the end face of the vibrating base plate 423 can be connected by a support component. Alternatively, the screen 422 and the vibrating base plate 423 can be integrally formed during processing. In this embodiment, by setting a vibrating base plate, the vibration of the vibrating screen is made more stable and the service life of the vibrating screen is increased.

[0029] In another implementation, such as Figure 5 As shown, the vibrating screen 42 includes a vibrating base plate 423, a screen 422, and a vibrating top plate 421. The screen 422 is located between the vibrating base plate 423 and the vibrating top plate 421. Both the vibrating base plate 423 and the vibrating top plate 421 have a plurality of holes evenly distributed on them. The diameter of the holes in the vibrating top plate 421 is larger than the diameter of the holes in the vibrating base plate 423, and the diameter of the holes in the vibrating base plate 423 is larger than the diameter of the holes in the screen 422. The other end of the support column 41 is elastically connected to the lower end face of the vibrating base plate 423. Specifically, the vibrating top plate 421, the screen 422, and the vibrating base plate 423 are connected sequentially from bottom to top at certain intervals. They can be connected by a support component to the upper end face of the vibrating base plate 423 and the lower end face of the screen 422, and the upper end face of the screen 422 and the lower end face of the vibrating top plate 421. Alternatively, the vibrating base plate 423, the screen 422, and the vibrating top plate 421 can be integrally formed. In this embodiment, by fixing the screen 422 between the vibrating top plate 421 and the vibrating bottom plate 423, the stability of the vibration mechanism is further improved, and the service life of the vibration mechanism is extended.

[0030] In another embodiment, a second elastic element (not shown in the figure) is provided at the other end of the support column 41, which elastically connects the support column 41 to the vibrating screen 42. Specifically, the second elastic element can be a spring. When the vibration source 43 vibrates, it drives the second elastic element to move up and down, thereby driving the vibrating screen 42 to vibrate up and down, so that the powder is sieved under the action of vibration.

[0031] In another embodiment, a spring 411 is fitted onto the support column 41. One end of the spring 411 abuts against the bottom of the sand hopper 3, and the other end abuts against the lower end face of the vibrating screen 42. In this embodiment, both ends of the spring 411 abut against the bottom of the sand hopper 3 and the lower end face of the vibrating screen 42, respectively. When the vibration source 43 vibrates, the spring 411 also vibrates up and down, thereby driving the vibrating screen 42 to vibrate up and down, and screening the powder.

[0032] In one embodiment, a fixing plate 412 is fixedly connected to the lower end of the support column 41, and the fixing plate 412 is fixedly connected to the bottom plate of the sand silo 3. The fixing plate 412 and the support column 41 can be integrally formed, and the fixing plate 412 and the bottom plate of the sand silo 3 can be connected by bolts. By setting the fixing plate 412, the support column 41 is stably fixed to the bottom plate of the sand silo 3, preventing the connection between the support column 41 and the bottom plate of the sand silo 3 from loosening during vibration.

[0033] In another embodiment, a 3D printing apparatus employs a powder cleaning and recycling device as described above.

[0034] In the above embodiments, after screening by the screening mechanism 4, the powder falling into the sand hopper 3 can be transported to the storage device via belt conveyor, negative pressure conveyor, or positive pressure conveyor, waiting to be recycled in the next operation. Unusable particles or powder remaining on the screening mechanism after screening can be removed manually or transferred to the outside for post-processing via vacuum cleaner, negative pressure, or other methods. Alternatively, the vibration mode can be changed, such as using dual-motor or multi-motor vibration. After the powder is screened, the dual-motor or multi-motor vibration mode is activated. Sand hoppers are installed on both sides of the sand hopper 3, allowing unusable particles or powder to directly enter the sand hoppers through vibration for post-processing.

[0035] The technical features of the above embodiments can be combined in any way. For the sake of brevity, not all possible combinations of the technical features in the above embodiments are described. However, as long as there is no contradiction in the combination of these technical features, they should be considered to be within the scope of this specification.

[0036] The embodiments described above are merely illustrative of several implementations of the present invention, and while the descriptions are relatively specific and detailed, they should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention patent. It should be noted that those skilled in the art can make various modifications and improvements without departing from the concept of the present invention, and these all fall within the protection scope of the present invention. Therefore, the protection scope of this invention patent should be determined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A powder material cleaning and recycling apparatus, characterized by, The powder cleaning and recycling device comprises a lifting mechanism (1), a working box (2) arranged on the lifting mechanism (1), and a sand bin (3) arranged around the working box (2); the working box (2) comprises a bottom plate (21) and a side wall (22); the bottom plate (21) can move up and down along the side wall (22) with the lifting mechanism (1); a screening mechanism (4) is arranged at the inlet of the sand bin (3); when the lifting mechanism (1) lifts the bottom plate (21) to the inlet of the sand bin (3), the powder on the bottom plate (21) falls onto the screening mechanism (4), and the powder is screened by the screening mechanism (4) and then falls into the sand bin (3) for recycling; The screening mechanism comprises a vibrating screen (42) and a vibration source (43) arranged on one side of the vibrating screen (42); The screening mechanism further comprises a first elastic member or a support column (41); The two sides of the vibrating screen (42) are connected to the side wall of the sand bin (3) through the first elastic member; or one end of the support column (41) is fixed to the bottom of the sand bin (3), and the other end of the support column (41) is elastically connected to the vibrating screen (42); The vibration source (43) drives the vibrating screen (42) to screen the powder. The vibrating screen (42) comprises a vibrating bottom plate (423) and a screen mesh (422) arranged above the vibrating bottom plate (423); a plurality of holes are uniformly arranged on the vibrating bottom plate (423), and the vibration source (43) is arranged on the lower end surface of the vibrating bottom plate (423).

2. A powder cleaning and recycling apparatus according to claim 1, wherein The vibrating screen (42) comprises a vibrating bottom plate (423), a screen mesh (422), and a vibrating top plate (421); the screen mesh (422) is located between the vibrating bottom plate (423) and the vibrating top plate (421); a plurality of holes are uniformly arranged on the vibrating bottom plate (423) and the vibrating top plate (421).

3. A powder cleaning and recycling apparatus according to claim 2, wherein The diameter of the holes on the vibrating top plate (421) is greater than the diameter of the holes on the vibrating bottom plate (423).

4. A powder handling and recycling apparatus according to any one of claims 2-3, characterized in that, The other end of the support column (41) is provided with a second elastic member, and the support column (41) is elastically connected to the vibrating screen (42) through the second elastic member.

5. A powder handling and recycling apparatus according to any one of claims 2 to 3, wherein, A spring (411) is sleeved on the support column (41); one end of the spring (411) abuts against the bottom of the sand bin (3), and the other end of the spring (411) abuts against the lower end surface of the vibrating screen (42).

6. A powder cleaning and recycling apparatus according to claim 1, wherein The lower end of the support column (41) is fixedly connected to a fixed plate (412), and the fixed plate (412) is fixedly connected to the bottom plate of the sand bin (3).

7. A 3D printing device, characterized by The powder cleaning and recycling device of any one of claims 1-6.

Images