A nozzle self-cleaning structure for a desktop 3D printer

Abstract

The present invention relates to a self-cleaning structure for a nozzle of a desktop 3D printer, comprising: a 3D printer main body, a rotating shaft rotatably arranged on the 3D printer main body, a spiral rod integrally arranged on the rotating shaft. When pre-printing work is to be carried out, the printing nozzle returns to the zero position in the horizontal direction and starts to heat and extrude the material to extrude the wire. The printing platform drives the inner spiral sleeve to rise through the support rod. When the inner spiral sleeve rises to a certain position, it acts on the spiral rod to drive the corrugated metal mesh to rotate in a circumferential surface. During this process, the multi-segment of the corrugated metal mesh tightly rubs the printing nozzle. After the deformation is reset, the dirt on the printing nozzle is removed and cleaned from multiple angles and directions. After this process, the printing nozzle can work in a cleaned state, and it can perform automatic cleaning work at a reasonable time, avoiding secondary contamination of the printing nozzle during the pre-printing process.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of 3D printers, and particularly to a self-cleaning structure for the nozzle of a desktop 3D printer. Background Art

[0002] 3D printing is a rapid prototyping additive manufacturing technology. Its basic principle is to complete 3D modeling through CAD modeling software, layer by layer through corresponding slicing software, and finally realize the creation of 3D physical objects by layer-by-layer accumulation through a 3D printer. The fused deposition method has become a mainstream technical method for popularizing 3D printing technology and knowledge due to its simple principle and wide range of material sources. There are a wide variety of 3D printers based on the fused deposition principle. According to their usage objects and application fields, they can be roughly divided into industrial-grade and desktop-grade. The target population of desktop 3D printers is mainly students, enthusiasts, etc. They have relatively low precision and simple structures.

[0003] Based on the horizontal movement of the printing nozzle of the desktop 3D printer in the X and Y directions and the lifting movement of the nozzle in the Z direction, the heating operation of the nozzle during the pre-printing process will cause the wire material to stick to the nozzle in advance. It may be integrated with the printed object during the printing process, damaging the integrity of the printed object and clogging the nozzle. At present, the solution to this problem can only be manual supervision and self-processing, and there are the following problems in the processing process;

[0004] Manual processing has poor safety, and the cleaning timing cannot be automated, which is likely to cause secondary pollution and clogging of the print head after a single cleaning due to improper cleaning timing. Summary of the Invention

[0005] The technical problem to be solved by the present invention is: to overcome the technical problem of the poor cleaning method of the print nozzle in the prior art, and provide a self-cleaning structure for the nozzle of a desktop 3D printer.

[0006] The technical solution adopted by the present invention to solve its technical problems is: a self-cleaning structure for the nozzle of a desktop 3D printer, including: a 3D printer main body, a rotating shaft rotatably arranged on the 3D printer main body, a screw rod integrally arranged on the rotating shaft, a corrugated metal mesh arranged at the top of the screw rod, and an inner screw sleeve arranged to match the outside of the screw rod;

[0007] The inner screw sleeve is connected to the bottom of the printing platform through a support rod;

[0008] The concave surface of the corrugated metal mesh is coplanar with the bottom surface of the print nozzle, and the corrugated metal mesh has elasticity, wherein

[0009] The printing platform can drive the inner spiral sleeve to rise, and the inner spiral sleeve can drive the screw rod to rotate, so that the corrugated metal mesh scrapes the bottom and side surfaces of the printing nozzle.

[0010] Further, the corrugated metal mesh is fan-shaped, and the central axis of the corrugated metal mesh and the printing nozzle are coaxial on the same circumference.

[0011] Further, the support rod includes a cross bar and two vertical bars vertically arranged in mirror image on the cross bar, and one of the vertical bars is connected to the bottom of the printing platform;

[0012] A fixing groove is arranged at the lower end of the inner spiral sleeve;

[0013] The other vertical bar can be inserted into the fixing groove.

[0014] Further, the self-cleaning structure for the nozzle of the desktop 3D printer further includes a scraping part;

[0015] The scraping part includes a suspension shaft part rotatably arranged on the 3D printer main body and an arc-shaped corrugated plate arranged at the bottom end of the suspension shaft part;

[0016] The bottom surface of the arc-shaped corrugated plate can be matched and attached to the top surface of the corrugated metal mesh, where

[0017] By rotating the suspension shaft part, the arc-shaped corrugated plate can drive the arc-shaped corrugated plate to rotate, so that the arc-shaped corrugated plate scrapes the top end of the corrugated metal mesh to remove dirt.

[0018] Further, the suspension shaft part and the corrugated metal mesh are coaxially arranged.

[0019] Further, the suspension shaft part and the corrugated metal mesh are coaxially arranged.

[0020] Further, the suspension shaft part includes a support shaft arranged at the top end of the arc-shaped corrugated plate, a circular groove arranged at the center of the upper end of the support shaft, and the lower half section of the stepped shaft inserted and rotatably arranged in the circular groove;

[0021] The upper half section of the stepped shaft is fixedly connected to the 3D printer main body.

[0022] Further, the suspension shaft part further includes a spring arranged in the circular groove;

[0023] One end of the spring is connected to the bottom end of the stepped shaft, and the other end of the spring is connected to the bottom end of the circular groove.

[0024] Further, the suspension shaft part further includes a plurality of slots arranged in a circle at the stepped surface at the lower end of the stepped shaft and a plurality of fixed shafts arranged in a circle at the top end of the support shaft;

[0025] A plurality of the fixed shafts can be inserted into a plurality of the slots one by one.

[0026] The beneficial effects of the present invention are as follows: In the initial state of the present invention, the inner spiral sleeve is placed at the lowest end of the 3D printer main body in the vertical direction along with the printing platform. When the printing work is about to be carried out, the printing nozzle returns to the zero position in the horizontal direction and starts to heat and extrude the wire. The printing platform drives the inner spiral sleeve to rise through the support rod. When the inner spiral sleeve rises to a certain position, it acts on the spiral rod to drive the corrugated metal mesh to rotate in a circular surface. During this process, the multi-segment of the corrugated metal mesh tightly rubs against the printing nozzle, and after the deformation is reset, the dirt on the printing nozzle is removed and cleaned from multiple angles and directions. After this process, the printing nozzle can work in a cleaned state, and it can obtain automatic cleaning work at a reasonable time, avoiding secondary contamination of the printing nozzle during the pre-printing process. Description of the Drawings

[0027] The present invention will be further described below with reference to the drawings and embodiments.

[0028] Figure 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

[0029] Figure 2 is a perspective view of the spiral rod of a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

[0030] Figure 3 is a top view of the corrugated metal mesh of a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

[0031] Figure 4 is a front view of the hanging shaft part of the present invention;

[0032] Figure 5 is of the present invention Figure 4 Enlarged view at A in

[0033] In the figure:

[0034] 1, 3D printer main body;

[0035] 2, rotating shaft;

[0036] 3, spiral rod;

[0037] 4, corrugated metal mesh;

[0038] 5, inner spiral sleeve;

[0039] 6, support rod; 61, cross bar; 62, vertical bar;

[0040] 7, printing platform;

[0041] 8, scraping part;

[0042] 81, hanging shaft portion; 811, supporting shaft; 812, circular groove; 813, spring; 814, slot; 815, fixed shaft; 816, stepped shaft;

[0043] 82. Curved corrugated plate. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0044] The present invention will now be described in further detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. These drawings are simplified schematic diagrams, which only illustrate the basic structure of the present invention in a schematic manner, and therefore only show the components related to the present invention.

[0045] like Figure 1 As shown, Figure 1 is a stereogram of a preferred embodiment of the present invention, please refer to Figure 1 As shown, the present invention provides a nozzle self-cleaning structure for a desktop 3D printer, comprising: a 3D printer body 1, a rotating shaft 2 rotatably arranged on the 3D printer body 1, the rotating connection position of which is the lower end pad portion of the 3D printer body 1, a spiral rod 3 integrally arranged on the rotating shaft 2, a corrugated metal mesh 4 arranged at the top of the spiral rod 3 and an inner spiral sleeve 5 matchedly arranged outside the spiral rod 3, the outer diameter of the rotating shaft 2 is smaller than the outer diameter of the spiral rod 3, so that the inner spiral sleeve 5 will not first interact with the rotating shaft 2 during the rising process;

[0046] The inner spiral sleeve 5 is connected to the bottom of the printing platform 7 through the support rod 6. The printing platform 7 is arranged on the Z-axis lifting mechanism of the printer. This is the prior art, so it is not described in detail here. The concave surface of the corrugated metal mesh 4 is coplanar with the bottom surface of the print head. The print head is arranged on the feeding mechanism, and the feeding mechanism is connected to the horizontal driving mechanism of the printer. This is the prior art, so it is not described in detail here. The corrugated metal mesh 4 has elasticity, wherein

[0047] The printing platform 7 can drive the inner spiral sleeve 5 to rise, and the inner spiral sleeve 5 can drive the spiral rod 3 to rotate, so that the wavy metal mesh 4 scrapes the bottom and side surfaces of the printing nozzle. Specifically, in the initial state, the inner spiral sleeve 5 is placed at the lowest end of the 3D printer body 1 in the vertical direction along with the printing platform 7. When the printing work is pre-performed, the printing nozzle returns to the zero position in the horizontal direction and starts to heat and extrude the material. The printing platform 7 drives the inner spiral sleeve 5 to rise through the support rod 6. When the inner spiral sleeve 5 rises to a certain position, it acts on the spiral rod 3 to drive the wavy metal mesh 4 to rotate in a circular surface. During this process, the wavy metal mesh 4 rubs the printing nozzle tightly in multiple sections, and then the deformation is reset to remove and clean the dirt on the printing nozzle from multiple angles and directions. After this process, the printing nozzle can work in a cleaned state, and it can obtain automatic cleaning work at a reasonable time to avoid secondary contamination of the printing nozzle during the pre-printing process.

[0048] likeFigure 2 As shown Figure 2 is a perspective view of the screw rod of the preferred embodiment of the present invention; please refer to Figure 2 As shown, the corrugated metal mesh 4 is fan-shaped, and the central axis of the corrugated metal mesh 4 and the printing nozzle are coaxial on the same circumference. Specifically, the fan-shaped shape of the corrugated metal mesh 4 has the end with a smaller radian closer to the printing nozzle and the end with a larger radian farther from the printing nozzle. The end with a smaller radian first frictionally cleans the printing nozzle, and the end with a larger radian then frictionally cleans the printing nozzle, so that the force received by the printing nozzle has a state from small to large, and the force-receiving area of the printing nozzle also has a state from small to large, making the cleaning process of the printing nozzle have a considerable buffering effect and balance.

[0049] As Figure 2 shown Figure 2 is a perspective view of the screw rod of the preferred embodiment of the present invention; please refer to Figure 2 As shown, the support rod 6 includes a cross bar 61 and two vertical rods 62 vertically arranged in mirror image on the cross bar 61, and one of the vertical rods 62 is connected to the bottom of the printing platform 7;

[0050] A fixing groove is provided at the lower end of the inner spiral sleeve 5;

[0051] The other vertical rod 62 can be inserted into the fixing groove. Specifically, the cross bar 61 and the two vertical rods 62 can be combined into the shape of a handle, which is fixedly connected to the printing platform 7. When the printing platform 7 drives the cross bar 61 to descend, the other vertical rod 62 disengages from the fixing groove and releases the inserted state of the other vertical rod 62. This process will not drive the inner spiral sleeve 5 to act on the screw rod 3 again, protecting the printing trajectory of the printing nozzle from interference.

[0052] As Figure 3 shown Figure 3 is a top view of the corrugated metal mesh of the preferred embodiment of the present invention; as Figure 4 shown Figure 4 is a front view of the suspension shaft part of the present invention; as Figure 5 shown Figure 5 is the Figure 4 enlarged view at A in; please refer to Figures 3-5. The self-cleaning structure for the nozzle of the desktop 3D printer further includes a scraping part 8;

[0053] The scraping part 8 includes a suspension shaft part 81 rotatably arranged on the 3D printer main body 1 and an arc-shaped corrugated plate 82 arranged at the bottom end of the suspension shaft part 81;

[0054] The bottom surface of the arc-shaped corrugated plate 82 can be matched and attached to the top surface of the corrugated metal mesh 4, where

[0055] Rotate the hanging shaft part 81, and the arc-shaped corrugated plate 82 can drive the arc-shaped corrugated plate 82 to rotate, so that the arc-shaped corrugated plate 82 scrapes the top of the corrugated metal mesh 4 to remove scale. Specifically, the arc-shaped corrugated plate 82 is suspended and fixed based on the hanging shaft part 81. The rotation of the hanging shaft part 81 drives the rotation of the arc-shaped corrugated plate 82. The lower corrugated surface of the rotating arc-shaped corrugated plate 82 can act on the corrugated surface at the top of the corrugated metal mesh 4 at multiple angles, so that the upper surface of the corrugated metal mesh 4 can obtain a comprehensive descaling effect, which is beneficial to the multiple reuse of the corrugated metal mesh 4.

[0056] Optionally, the hanging shaft part 81 and the corrugated metal mesh 4 are coaxially arranged. Specifically, it defines the rotation trajectory of the corrugated metal mesh 4 and ensures the accurate force application state of the hanging shaft part 81 driving the arc-shaped corrugated plate 82 on the corrugated metal mesh 4.

[0057] The hanging shaft part 81 includes a support shaft 811 arranged at the top of the arc-shaped corrugated plate 82, a circular groove 812 arranged at the center of the upper end of the support shaft 811, and the lower half of a stepped shaft 816 inserted and rotatably arranged in the circular groove 812;

[0058] The upper half of the stepped shaft 816 is fixedly connected to the 3D printer main body 1. Specifically, the arc-shaped corrugated plate 82 maintains an initial state higher than the printing nozzle under the action of the hanging shaft part 81. The height can be changed by pulling down the arc-shaped corrugated plate 82 to drive the support shaft 811 to descend. The circular groove 812 also descends along the lower half of the stepped shaft 816. The outer diameter of the lower half of the stepped shaft 816 is equal to the groove diameter of the circular groove 812, so that the trajectory of the circular groove 812 during the descending process and the rotating process will not deviate, meeting the rotation work requirements after the height adjustment of the arc-shaped corrugated plate 82.

[0059] Optionally, the hanging shaft part 81 further includes a spring 813 arranged in the circular groove 812;

[0060] One end of the spring 813 is connected to the bottom end of the stepped shaft 816, and the other end of the spring 813 is connected to the bottom end of the circular groove 812. Specifically, the circular groove 812 can be kept from separating from the stepped shaft 816 under the action of the spring 813. The spring 813 can contract and store energy during the rotation process, and can also stretch and store energy during the pulling-down process, which is beneficial to the reset of the height and angle of the support shaft 811.

[0061] Optionally, the hanging shaft part 81 further includes a plurality of slots 814 arranged circumferentially at the stepped surface at the lower end of the stepped shaft 816 and a plurality of fixed shafts 815 arranged circumferentially at the top end of the support shaft 811;

[0062] A plurality of the fixed shafts 815 can be inserted into a plurality of the slots 814 one by one. Specifically, the plurality of fixed shafts 815 can be separated from the plurality of slots 814 in the vertical direction through the pull-down support shaft 811. After the support shaft 811 rotates, the angular positioning after the rotation of the support shaft 811 or the positioning of the initial angle can be completed again through the insertion operation of the plurality of fixed shafts 815 and the plurality of slots 814, avoiding the swing of the arc-shaped corrugated plate 82 in the idle state and thus eliminating potential safety hazards.

[0063] Inspired by the ideal embodiments of the present invention described above, through the above description, relevant staff can completely make various changes and modifications without departing from the technical idea of the present invention. The technical scope of the present invention is not limited to the content in the specification, and its technical scope must be determined according to the scope of the claims.

Claims

1. A self-cleaning structure for the nozzle of a desktop 3D printer, characterized in that, Comprising: A 3D printer main body (1), a rotating shaft (2) rotatably arranged on the 3D printer main body (1), a screw rod (3) integrally arranged on the rotating shaft (2), a corrugated metal mesh (4) arranged at the top end of the screw rod (3), and an inner screw sleeve (5) arranged to match the outside of the screw rod (3); The inner screw sleeve (5) is connected to the bottom of the printing platform (7) through a support rod (6); The concave surface of the corrugated metal mesh (4) is coplanar with the bottom surface of the printing nozzle, and the corrugated metal mesh (4) is elastic, wherein The printing platform (7) can drive the inner screw sleeve (5) to rise, and the inner screw sleeve (5) can drive the screw rod (3) to rotate, so that the corrugated metal mesh (4) scrapes the bottom surface and the side surface of the printing nozzle; The corrugated metal mesh (4) is fan-shaped, and the central axis of the corrugated metal mesh (4) and the printing nozzle are coaxial on the same circumference; The support rod (6) includes a cross bar (61) and two vertical bars (62) vertically arranged in a mirror image on the cross bar (61), and one of the vertical bars (62) is connected to the bottom of the printing platform (7); A fixing groove is arranged at the lower end of the inner screw sleeve (5); The other vertical bar (62) can be inserted into the fixing groove; The nozzle self-cleaning structure for a desktop 3D printer further includes a scraping part (8); The scraping part (8) includes a hanging shaft part (81) rotatably arranged on the 3D printer main body (1) and an arc-shaped corrugated plate (82) arranged at the bottom end of the hanging shaft part (81); The bottom surface of the arc-shaped corrugated plate (82) can be matched and attached to the top surface of the corrugated metal mesh (4), wherein Rotating the hanging shaft part (81), the arc-shaped corrugated plate (82) can drive the arc-shaped corrugated plate (82) to rotate, so that the arc-shaped corrugated plate (82) scrapes the top end of the corrugated metal mesh (4) to remove scale.

2. The nozzle self-cleaning structure for a desktop 3D printer according to claim 1, characterized in that The hanging shaft part (81) and the corrugated metal mesh (4) are coaxially arranged.

3. The nozzle self-cleaning structure for a desktop 3D printer according to claim 2, characterized in that The hanging shaft part (81) and the corrugated metal mesh (4) are coaxially arranged.

4. The nozzle self-cleaning structure for a desktop 3D printer according to claim 3, characterized in that The hanging shaft part (81) includes a support shaft (811) arranged at the top end of the arc-shaped corrugated plate (82), a circular groove (812) arranged at the center of the upper end of the support shaft (811), and the lower half section of a stepped shaft (816) inserted and rotatably arranged in the circular groove (812); The upper half section of the stepped shaft (816) is fixedly connected to the 3D printer main body (1).

5. The nozzle self-cleaning structure for a desktop 3D printer according to claim 4, characterized in that The hanging shaft part (81) further includes a spring (813) arranged in the circular groove (812); One end of the spring (813) is connected to the bottom end of the stepped shaft (816), and the other end of the spring (813) is connected to the bottom end of the circular groove (812).

6. The self-cleaning structure for the nozzle of a desktop 3D printer according to claim 5, characterized in that The hanging shaft portion (81) further includes a plurality of slots (814) arranged circumferentially at the lower stepped surface of the stepped shaft (816) and a plurality of fixed shafts (815) arranged circumferentially at the top end of the support shaft (811); A plurality of the fixed shafts (815) can be inserted into a plurality of the slots (814) one by one.

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