Material changing mechanism and 3D printing system for 3D printers

Abstract

A material changing mechanism and 3D printing system for a 3D printer are disclosed. The material changing mechanism includes: a support frame; a material guiding unit mounted on the support frame, the material guiding unit including multiple sub-material guiding tubes and material guiding ports communicating with the multiple sub-material guiding tubes, the material guiding ports being used to engage with the main feed tube of the 3D printer; and multiple material changing units mounted on the support frame. This allows for the automatic provision of multiple feed lines to the 3D printer according to printing needs and facilitates easy replacement of the feed tray.

Description

[0001] This application is a divisional application. The original application has the application number 202210058867.7 and the original application date is January 17, 2022. The entire contents of the original application are incorporated herein by reference. Technical Field

[0002] This disclosure relates to the field of 3D printing technology, and in particular to a material changing mechanism and 3D printing system for a 3D printer. Background Technology

[0003] A 3D printer, also known as a three-dimensional printer or stereo printer, constructs three-dimensional objects by printing layer by layer. A 3D printer consists of a print head for extruding printing material and a printing platform for depositing the material to form a three-dimensional object. The print head is configured to move relative to the printing platform, extruding printing material onto the platform as it moves. The printing material is deposited layer by layer on the surface of the printing platform and fused together to form a three-dimensional object.

[0004] With the development of 3D printing technology, people's demand for the diversity of colors and materials of printed objects is also increasing. How to meet this diverse printing demand has gradually become a research hotspot. Summary of the Invention

[0005] It would be beneficial to provide a mechanism to alleviate, reduce, or even eliminate one or more of the aforementioned problems.

[0006] According to one aspect of this disclosure, a material changing mechanism for a 3D printer is provided, comprising: a support; a material guiding unit disposed on the support, the material guiding unit including a plurality of sub-material guiding tubes and a material guiding port communicating with each of the plurality of sub-material guiding tubes, the material guiding port being used to engage with the main feed tube of the 3D printer; and a plurality of material changing units disposed on the support, each of the plurality of material changing units automatically performing a feeding operation and a discharging operation for a corresponding feed tray from a plurality of feed trays for the 3D printer. The material changing mechanism for a 3D printer provided by this disclosure can automatically provide multiple feed lines to the 3D printer according to printing needs and facilitates feed tray replacement. Each material changing unit includes: a support shaft assembly rotatably connected to a bracket for contacting the rim of a corresponding material tray among a plurality of material trays to support the corresponding material tray; and a loading / unloading mechanism for driving the filament wound on the corresponding material tray through a corresponding sub-guide tube among a plurality of sub-guide tubes into the main material tube when the 3D printer performs a loading operation, and for driving the corresponding material tray to rotate when the 3D printer performs an unloading operation so that the filament exiting from the main material tube via the material guide unit is wound back onto the corresponding material tray.

[0007] According to one aspect of this disclosure, a 3D printing system is provided, including a 3D printer and the aforementioned material changing mechanism.

[0008] These and other aspects of this disclosure will be apparent from the embodiments described below, and will be elucidated with reference to the embodiments described below. Attached Figure Description

[0009] Further details, features, and advantages of this disclosure are disclosed in the following description of exemplary embodiments in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0010] Figure 1 A three-dimensional structural schematic diagram of a material changing mechanism according to some exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure is shown;

[0011] Figure 2 A side view of a material changing mechanism according to some exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure is shown.

[0012] Figure 3 A schematic diagram of the back structure of a material changing mechanism according to some exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure is shown;

[0013] Figure 4 A three-dimensional structural diagram of a material changing mechanism after the removal of the material tray and the loading / unloading mechanism, according to some exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure, is shown.

[0014] Figure 5 A perspective view of the material changing mechanism after the material tray and top cover have been removed, according to some exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure, is shown; and

[0015] Figure 6 A three-dimensional structural schematic diagram of a material changing mechanism according to some exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure is shown. Detailed Implementation

[0016] It will be understood that although the terms first, second, third, etc., may be used herein to describe various elements, components, areas, layers, and / or parts, these elements, components, areas, layers, and / or parts should not be limited by these terms. These terms are used only to distinguish one element, component, area, layer, or part from another. Therefore, the first element, component, area, layer, or part discussed below may be referred to as the second element, component, area, layer, or part without departing from the teachings of this disclosure.

[0017] Spatial relative terms such as “below,” “under,” “lower,” “below,” “above,” “above,” etc., may be used herein for ease of description to describe the relationship between one element or feature illustrated in the figures and another element(s). It will be understood that these spatial relative terms are intended to cover different orientations of the device in use or operation, other than those depicted in the figures. For example, if the device in the figure is flipped, then an element described as “below,” “below,” or “below other elements or features” will be oriented “above other elements or features.” Thus, the example terms “below” and “below” can cover both orientations above and below. Terms such as “before” or “in front” and “after” or “follow” can similarly be used, for example, to indicate the order in which light passes through the elements. Devices may be oriented in other ways (rotated 90 degrees or in other orientations) and the spatial relative descriptors used herein will be interpreted accordingly.

[0018] The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to limit this disclosure. As used herein, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprising” and / or “including” as used in this specification designate the presence of the stated features, integrals, steps, operations, elements, and / or components, but do not exclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integrals, steps, operations, elements, components, and / or groups thereof. As used herein, the term “and / or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items, and the phrase “at least one of A and B” means only A, only B, or both A and B.

[0019] It will be understood that when a component or layer is referred to as "on another component or layer," "connected to another component or layer," "coupled to another component or layer," or "adjacent to another component or layer," it may be directly on another component or layer, directly connected to another component or layer, directly coupled to another component or layer, or directly adjacent to another component or layer, or there may be intermediate components or layers. Conversely, when a component is referred to as "directly on another component or layer," "directly connected to another component or layer," "directly coupled to another component or layer," or "directly adjacent to another component or layer," no intermediate components or layers exist. However, in any case, "on" or "directly on" should not be interpreted as requiring a layer to completely cover the layer below.

[0020] Unless otherwise defined, all terms used herein (including technical and scientific terms) have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this disclosure pertains. It will be further understood that terms such as those defined in commonly used dictionaries should be interpreted as having meanings consistent with their meanings in the relevant field and / or the context of this specification, and will not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unless expressly defined herein.

[0021] In related technologies, 3D printers require manual tray replacement when printing different colors or materials, which is complicated and inefficient.

[0022] To alleviate, reduce, or even eliminate one or more of the above-mentioned problems, embodiments of this disclosure provide a material changing mechanism and a 3D printing system for a 3D printer, which can automatically provide multiple material lines for the 3D printer according to printing needs and facilitate the replacement of the material tray.

[0023] The embodiments of this disclosure will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0024] Figure 1 A three-dimensional structural schematic diagram of a material changing mechanism according to some embodiments of the present disclosure is shown. Figure 2 A side view of a material changing mechanism according to some embodiments of the present disclosure is shown. Figure 3 A schematic diagram of the back structure of a material changing mechanism according to some embodiments of the present disclosure is shown.

[0025] Reference Figures 1 to 3 As shown, some embodiments of this disclosure provide a material changing mechanism for a 3D printer, including: a support 100, a plurality of material changing units 300 and a material guiding unit 200.

[0026] The material guiding unit 200 is mounted on the support 100. The material guiding unit 200 includes a plurality of sub-material guiding tubes 210 and a material guiding port 220 communicating with each of the plurality of sub-material guiding tubes 210. The material guiding port 220 is used to engage with the main material tube of the 3D printer.

[0027] Multiple material changing units 300 are mounted on a support 100. Each of the multiple material changing units 300 automatically performs loading and unloading operations for a corresponding tray among multiple trays for the 3D printer. Each material changing unit 300 includes a support shaft assembly 310 and a loading / unloading mechanism 320. The support shaft assembly 310 is rotatably connected to the support 100 and can be used to contact the rim 410 of a corresponding tray 400 among the multiple trays 400 to support the corresponding tray 400. The loading / unloading mechanism 320 is used to drive the filament wound on the corresponding tray 400 through a corresponding sub-guide tube 210 into the main feed tube when the 3D printer performs a loading operation, and to drive the corresponding tray 400 to rotate when the 3D printer performs an unloading operation, so that the filament exiting from the main feed tube via the guide unit 200 is wound back onto the corresponding tray 400.

[0028] In some embodiments of this disclosure, the bracket 100 may be made of plastic or metal, and the bracket 100 is used to mount the material guiding unit 200 and the material changing unit 300.

[0029] In this embodiment of the disclosure, the material guiding unit 200 includes a plurality of sub-material guiding tubes 210, all of which are connected to a material guiding port 220. In some embodiments, the plurality of sub-material guiding tubes 210 may be manufactured by an integral molding process, but this disclosure is not limited thereto.

[0030] In some embodiments, the feeding unit 200 may further include a multi-port 240, which connects multiple sub-feeding tubes 210 to a feeding port 220. The multi-port 240 may have an outlet and multiple inlets communicating with the outlet. The outlet may be used to engage a main feed tube, and the inlets may be used to connect a sub-feeding tube 210. The outlet may also constitute the feeding port 220. In some embodiments, an auxiliary extrusion wheel (not shown) is provided inside the multi-port 240 to assist the loading / unloading mechanism 320 in loading / unloading operations. In some embodiments, a feed line sensor (not shown) may also be provided inside the multi-port 240 to detect the position of the feed line in the feeding pipeline.

[0031] Each feed tray 400 may include two baffles spaced apart along the axis of rotation of the tray and a cylindrical or cylindrical winding section located between the two baffles. The winding section is used to wind the feed wire. The radius of the baffles is larger than the radius of the winding section to prevent the feed wire from falling off. The cylindrical surface of each baffle may form the rim 410 of the feed tray 400. The free end of the feed wire in each feed tray 400 may extend into a corresponding sub-guide tube 210.

[0032] The material changing unit 300 includes a support shaft assembly 310 and a loading / unloading mechanism 320. The support shaft assembly 310 is rotatably connected to the bracket 100. For example, the support shaft assembly 310 can be connected to the bracket 100 via bearings. The cylindrical surface of the support shaft assembly 310 is used to contact the rim 410 of the material tray 400, thereby supporting the material tray 400. The support shaft assembly 310 and the rim 410 of the material tray 400 can be in force-transmitting contact, so that when one rotates, the other can follow. The structure of the support shaft assembly 310 can be varied, which will be described further later.

[0033] In some embodiments, the loading / unloading mechanism 320 can be used to drive the material tray to rotate and realize loading and unloading. For example, the loading / unloading mechanism 320 may include a loading motor and a unloading motor, which can be respectively connected to the material tray for transmission. Taking the loading motor as an example, it can realize the rotation of the material tray by driving a friction wheel that contacts the rim 410 of the material tray 400. As another example, the loading motor can also directly drive the material line to move by driving the friction wheel that is in direct contact with the material line, and drive the material tray to rotate by the movement of the material line.

[0034] Regardless of the method, when the 3D printer performs a loading operation, the loading motor can be used to drive the material tray 400 to rotate in the forward direction, so that the filament wound on the corresponding material tray 400 is guided into the main material tube through a corresponding sub-guide tube 210 and the guide port 220. When the 3D printer performs a unloading operation, the unloading motor can be used to drive the corresponding material tray 400 to rotate in the reverse direction, so that the free end of the filament exits from the main material tube through the guide unit 200. The exited filament can be rewound back onto the corresponding material tray 400, thereby avoiding the problem of filament accumulating around the material tray 400 and getting tangled in other mechanisms after unloading.

[0035] When a material liner needs to be changed, the current material liner can be first removed from the main feed tube using the loading / unloading mechanism 320 corresponding to the current material liner. Then, the required material liner can be fed into the main feed tube using the loading / unloading mechanism 320 corresponding to the required material liner. During printing, the printing motor of the 3D printer can drive the material liner in the main feed tube to move, thereby driving the material tray 400 to rotate. At this time, the loading motor and unloading motor can be disengaged from the material tray 400 drive, so as not to affect the movement of the material tray 400.

[0036] In addition to including a loading motor and a unloading motor, the loading and unloading mechanism 320 can also be configured to have only one drive motor, which can realize the forward and reverse rotation of the material tray by the forward and reverse rotation of the drive motor.

[0037] By setting up the material guiding unit 200 and the material changing unit 300, the required filament can be automatically provided to the 3D printer, enabling the printing of three-dimensional objects in multiple colors or materials. Excess filament after ejection can be automatically wound onto the material tray 400, keeping the area around the material tray 400 clean. Simultaneously, the support shaft assembly 310 reduces friction during tray rotation, facilitating loading and unloading. Furthermore, since the support shaft assembly 310 is supported by the rim 410 of the material tray 400, the material tray 400 can be mounted to the material changing mechanism solely by gravity, without any other complex mounting structures. When the filament is depleted, the material tray 400 can be easily removed from the material changing mechanism without disassembling other parts, facilitating replacement.

[0038] In some embodiments, refer to Figure 4 As shown, the support shaft assembly 310 includes a first support shaft group 311 and a second support shaft group 312 that are rotatably connected to the bracket 100. The first support shaft group 311 and the second support shaft group 312 are spaced apart from each other in the circumferential direction of the corresponding material tray 400. The first rotation axis of the first support shaft group 311, the second rotation axis of the second support shaft group 312 and the rotation axis of the corresponding material tray 400 are parallel to each other.

[0039] Reference Figure 1 As shown, with the side of the material tray 400 closest to the loading and unloading mechanism 320 as the front side, the first support shaft group 311 and the second support shaft group 312 are respectively installed on the front and rear sides of the material tray 400, thereby playing a role in stabilizing support.

[0040] Figure 4 This is a three-dimensional structural diagram of the material changing mechanism of some embodiments of this disclosure after the material tray and loading / unloading mechanism have been removed. Figure 5 This is a perspective structural diagram of the material changing mechanism according to some embodiments of the present disclosure after the material tray and top cover have been removed. (Refer to...) Figure 4 and Figure 5 As shown, in some embodiments, the first support shaft group 311 includes two first support shafts 3111, which are arranged along the first rotation axis so that when the corresponding material tray 400 is installed in the material changing mechanism, the circumferential surfaces of the two first support shafts 3111 respectively contact the two rims 410 of the corresponding material tray 400.

[0041] The end of each first support shaft 3111 facing away from the other can be connected to the bracket 100 via a bearing. For example, a support plate can be protruding from the bracket 100, the outer ring of the bearing can be fixed to the support plate, and the inner ring of the bearing can be fixedly connected to the first support shaft 3111, so that the first support shaft 3111 can be rotatably connected to the bracket 100. Providing two first support shafts 3111 that respectively contact the two wheel rims 410 not only provides stable support but also reduces the volume of the first support shaft assembly 311, facilitating the installation of other structures.

[0042] In some embodiments, at least one of the two first support shafts 3111 is provided with a gear 3112, which is driven by the loading and unloading mechanism 320 when the 3D printer performs a feeding operation, so that the first support shaft 3111 drives the corresponding material tray 400 to rotate, so as to wind the filament back onto the corresponding material tray 400.

[0043] Gear 3112 can be coaxially connected to a first support shaft 3111, and the two can rotate synchronously. The loading / unloading mechanism 320 can be driven by gear 3112. For example, the unloading motor can be driven by gear 3112 through a transmission mechanism, thereby driving gear 3112 to rotate during unloading, which in turn drives the material tray 400 to rotate in the opposite direction through the friction between the first support shaft 3111 and the material tray 400. During loading and printing, the unloading motor can be disengaged from gear 3112, allowing the first support shaft 3111 to freely rotate with the material tray 400.

[0044] In some embodiments, the end of the corresponding sub-guide tube 210 furthest from the guide port 220 is arranged adjacent to the middle portion of the first support shaft assembly 311 along the first axis of rotation. This allows the free end of the wire on the tray 400 to enter the sub-guide tube 210 at an appropriate angle relative to the winding portion of the tray 400, reducing friction generated during loading and unloading. In some embodiments, the end of the corresponding sub-guide tube 210 furthest from the guide port 220 is positioned below the middle position of the two first support shafts 3111, allowing the wire to fall freely into the sub-guide tube 210 under gravity, making it more convenient to use.

[0045] In some embodiments, the two first support shafts 3111 can be coaxially connected to each other, and the middle part of the first support shaft assembly 311 is a connecting shaft 3113, the radial dimension of which is smaller than the radial dimension of the two first support shafts 3111. The two first support shafts 3111 can be connected by the connecting shaft 3113, thereby improving the strength of the first support shaft assembly 311. At the same time, it can also reduce the space of the first support shaft assembly 311 and avoid the material line from contacting the support shaft assembly and generating greater friction.

[0046] In other embodiments, the two first support shafts 3111 can also be separated from each other, with the middle part of the first support shaft group 311 being the gap between the two first support shafts 3111, thereby further reducing the space occupied by the first support shaft group 311.

[0047] In some embodiments, the second support shaft assembly 312 includes two second support shafts 3121 arranged along a second rotation axis, such that when the corresponding tray 400 is installed in the material changing mechanism, the circumferential surfaces of the two second support shafts 3121 respectively contact the two rims 410 of the corresponding tray 400. This provides stable support while reducing the volume of the first support shaft assembly 311, facilitating the installation of other structures. In some embodiments, similar to the two first support shafts 3111, the two second support shafts 3121 can be coaxially connected or separated from each other to provide support for the tray 400.

[0048] The arrangement of the second support shaft 3121 is similar to that of the first support shaft 3111. (Refer to...) Figure 2 As shown, the second support shaft 3121 is located on the rear side of the material tray 400, and the first support shaft 3111 is located on the front side of the material tray 400. The front side of the material tray 400 is provided with the loading / unloading mechanism 320 and the sub-guide tube 210, while the rear side does not have this structure. The specific structure and function of the second support shaft 3121 can be referred to the first support shaft 3111, and will not be repeated here.

[0049] In some embodiments, the loading / unloading mechanism 320 is disposed on the side of the first support shaft assembly 311 opposite to the second support shaft assembly 312, and the loading / unloading mechanism 320 is further provided with a channel 321 for threading the material line, the channel 321 being engaged with the corresponding sub-guide tube 210. The channel 321 can serve as a guide, reducing the size of the material line exposed outside the channel 321 and the guide unit 200, thereby preventing the material line from getting tangled in other components, and also facilitating the replacement of the material tray.

[0050] One end of the back ion delivery tube 210 of channel 321 can be configured as a trumpet-shaped opening, making it easy for the feed line to enter the channel 321, thereby facilitating the replacement of the feed tray 400. Here, the term "trumpet-shaped opening" refers to the fact that one end of the back ion delivery tube 210 of channel 321 has a gradually increasing inner diameter in the direction facing outward from the channel 321.

[0051] Continue to refer to Figures 4 to 5 The support 100 may be provided with an arcuate groove 110 extending in a predetermined direction. At least one partition 120 is provided in the arcuate groove 110. The at least one partition 120 is spaced apart in the predetermined direction to divide the arcuate groove 110 into a plurality of segments. Each segment is used to at least partially accommodate a corresponding tray 400 of a plurality of trays 400.

[0052] The arc-shaped groove 110 can extend along a predetermined direction, causing the surface of the support 100 to have a downward concavity. The predetermined direction can be the arrangement direction of multiple trays 400, and the separator 120 can be a rib structure. There can be one or more separators 120. When there are multiple separators 120, they can be spaced apart along the predetermined direction to divide the arc-shaped groove 110 into multiple segments. Each segment can accommodate at least a portion of a corresponding tray 400, thereby reducing the volume of the material changing mechanism and making the structure compact.

[0053] Reference Figure 3 As shown, the material guiding unit 200 can be located on the side of the bracket 100 away from the arc groove 110, that is, the material tray 400 can be set on the upper side of the bracket 100, while the material guiding unit 200 can be set on the lower side of the bracket 100, making the structure more compact.

[0054] Reference Figure 4 and Figure 5 As shown, the surface of the support 100 facing the plurality of trays 400 is provided with at least one desiccant trough 130 for containing desiccant, and a top cover 140 is detachably installed at the opening of each desiccant trough 130, and a plurality of vent holes 150 are provided on the top cover 140.

[0055] In some embodiments, the desiccant trough 130 may be located at the bottom of the arc-shaped trough 110, and the top cover 140 may be an arc-shaped structure adapted to the wall of the arc-shaped trough 110, that is, the top cover 140 may form part of the wall of the arc-shaped trough 110 and smoothly transition with the other walls of the arc-shaped trough 110 so that the entire arc-shaped trough 110 can accommodate the corresponding material tray 400.

[0056] Multiple vents 150 can be arranged in an array on the top cover 140 so that the desiccant can absorb moisture from the surrounding environment, keep the surrounding environment dry, and thus provide a suitable working environment for the material changing mechanism.

[0057] In addition, the desiccant tank 130 can be set according to the number of segments. For example, each segment can have one desiccant tank 130, or multiple segments can share one desiccant tank 130. In this case, the size of the separator can be reduced so that the desiccant tank 130 can span multiple segments. It can be set according to the requirements.

[0058] In some embodiments, the material changing mechanism further includes a humidity sensor 500, which can be used to detect the humidity of the environment surrounding the multiple material trays 400. When the humidity exceeds a suitable operating threshold, an alarm can be triggered to prompt the user to replace the desiccant, or the operation can be stopped, etc. The humidity sensor 500 can be installed in various locations, for example, it can be installed in the circuit board on the back of the bracket 100.

[0059] In some embodiments, the material changing mechanism further includes an identification sensor 600, which can be used to identify the identification information of the material tray. The information identified by the identification sensor 600 can be the length, color, or material of the material thread in the material tray 400, etc. The identification information can be, for example, a barcode or QR code set on the material tray. The identification sensor 600 can be used to scan the identification information and obtain information about the material tray 400 or the material thread. The identification sensor 600 can be set on the support 100, for example, one identification sensor 600 can be set for each material tray 400. Alternatively, multiple material trays 400 can share one identification sensor 600.

[0060] In some embodiments, the material changing mechanism includes a circuit board that can be disposed between two adjacent material trays 400, and an identification sensor 600 can be disposed on the circuit board so that the identification information of the two material trays 400 can be scanned simultaneously.

[0061] Figure 6 A perspective structural schematic diagram of a material changing mechanism according to some embodiments of the present disclosure is shown. (Refer to...) Figure 6 As shown, in some embodiments, the material changing mechanism further includes: a bottom shell 700 and a cover 800 that cooperates with the bottom shell 700. The bottom shell 700 and the cover 800 together define an accommodating space. The support 100, the material guiding unit 200 and a plurality of material changing units 300 are all accommodated in the accommodating space, and the cover 800 can move relative to the bottom shell 700 to open or close the accommodating space.

[0062] In this embodiment, the bottom shell 700 can be a box-like structure, and the cover 800 can be disposed at the opening of the bottom shell 700. The cover 800 can be detachably connected to the bottom shell 700, or the cover 800 can be rotatably connected to the bottom shell 700, so that the accommodating space can be opened or closed.

[0063] The bottom shell 700 and the cover 800 can be made of various materials, such as plastic or metal. By setting the bottom shell 700 and the cover 800, the material changing mechanism can be transported and used as a whole, which is more conducive to maintaining the dryness of the containing space and also facilitates the replacement of the material tray 400.

[0064] This disclosure also provides a 3D printing system, including a 3D printer and a material changing mechanism according to any of the above embodiments. The 3D printer can be a device capable of printing three-dimensional objects, and the structure and function of the material changing mechanism are the same as those in the above embodiments; for details, please refer to the above embodiments.

[0065] The 3D printing system provided in this embodiment automatically provides the filament needed for the 3D printer by setting a guiding unit 200 and a changing unit 300 in the changing mechanism, enabling the printing of three-dimensional objects of multiple colors or materials. Excess filament after ejection can be automatically wound onto the filament tray 400, keeping the area around the tray 400 clean. Simultaneously, the support shaft assembly 310 reduces friction during tray rotation, facilitating loading and unloading. Furthermore, since the support shaft assembly 310 is supported by the rim 410 of the tray 400, the tray 400 can be mounted to the changing mechanism solely by gravity, without any other complex mounting structures. When the filament is depleted, the tray 400 can be easily removed from the changing mechanism without disassembling other components, facilitating replacement.

[0066] Although this disclosure has been described and illustrated in detail in the accompanying drawings and the foregoing description, such description and illustration should be considered illustrative and suggestive, not restrictive; this disclosure is not limited to the disclosed embodiments. By studying the drawings, the disclosure, and the appended claims, those skilled in the art will be able to understand and implement variations of the disclosed embodiments in practice with respect to the claimed subject matter. In the claims, the word "comprising" does not exclude other elements or steps not listed, the indefinite article "a" or "an" does not exclude a plurality, and the term "a plurality" means two or more. The mere fact that certain measures are recited in mutually different dependent claims does not indicate that a combination of these measures cannot be beneficial.

[0067] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached figures:

[0068] 100: Bracket; 110: Arc-shaped groove;

[0069] 120: Separator; 130: Desiccant tank;

[0070] 140: Top cover; 150: Vent hole;

[0071] 200: Material guiding unit; 210: Sub-material guiding tube;

[0072] 220: Feed guide port; 240: Multi-port component;

[0073] 300: Material changing unit; 310: Support shaft assembly;

[0074] 311: First support shaft group; 3111: First support shaft;

[0075] 3112: Gear; 3113: Connecting shaft;

[0076] 312: Second support shaft assembly; 3121: Second support shaft;

[0077] 320: Loading / unloading mechanism; 321: Channel;

[0078] 400: Feed tray; 410: Wheel rim;

[0079] 500: Humidity sensor; 600: Identification sensor;

[0080] 700: Bottom shell; 800: Cover.

Claims

1. A material changing mechanism for a 3D printer, comprising: support; The material guiding unit is mounted on the support and includes multiple sub-material guiding tubes and a material guiding port that communicates with all of the multiple sub-material guiding tubes. The material guiding port is used to engage with the main material tube of the 3D printer. as well as A plurality of material changing units are disposed on the support, each of the plurality of material changing units comprising: A support shaft assembly, rotatably connected to the bracket, is used to contact the rim of a corresponding tray among a plurality of trays to support the corresponding tray. The support shaft assembly includes a first support shaft group and a second support shaft group, respectively rotatably connected to the bracket. The first support shaft group and the second support shaft group are spaced apart from each other in the circumferential direction of the corresponding tray. The first rotation axis of the first support shaft group, the second rotation axis of the second support shaft group, and the rotation axis of the corresponding tray are parallel to each other. and The loading and unloading mechanism is used to drive the filament wound on the corresponding material tray through one of the plurality of sub-guide tubes into the main material tube when the 3D printer performs the loading operation, and to drive the corresponding material tray to rotate when the 3D printer performs the unloading operation so that the filament exiting from the main material tube through the guide unit is wound back onto the corresponding material tray; The material changing mechanism also includes a feeding motor and a discharging motor. During printing, the printing motor of the 3D printer drives the material line in the main feed tube to move, thereby dragging the material tray to rotate. At this time, the feeding motor and the discharging motor are also separated from the material tray drive. The material changing mechanism also includes a circuit board and an identification sensor. The circuit board is disposed between the two material trays, and the identification sensor is disposed on the circuit board. The identification sensor is used to identify the identification information of the two material trays. The support has at least one divider on its surface facing the plurality of trays. The at least one divider is spaced apart in the arrangement direction of the plurality of trays to divide the support into a plurality of segments, each segment being used to at least partially accommodate a corresponding tray from the plurality of trays. The plurality of sub-guide tubes are located on the side of the bracket away from the separator, and the plurality of sub-guide tubes are located below the plurality of material trays. The end of the corresponding sub-guide tube away from the guide port is arranged adjacent to the first support shaft group, and the guide port is arranged in the middle area of ​​the bracket on the side close to the second support shaft group.

2. The material changing mechanism according to claim 1, wherein, The first support shaft group includes two first support shafts arranged along the first rotation axis, such that when the corresponding material tray is installed in the material changing mechanism, the circumferential surfaces of the two first support shafts respectively contact the two rims of the corresponding material tray.

3. The material changing mechanism according to claim 2, wherein, At least one of the two first support shafts is provided with a gear, which is driven by the loading and unloading mechanism when the 3D printer performs the unloading operation, so that the first support shaft drives the corresponding material tray to rotate, so as to wind the material thread back onto the corresponding material tray.

4. The material changing mechanism according to claim 2, wherein, The end of the corresponding sub-feed tube away from the feed inlet is arranged adjacent to the middle portion of the first support shaft assembly along the first rotation axis.

5. The material changing mechanism according to claim 4, wherein, The two first support shafts are coaxially connected to each other, and the middle part of the first support shaft group is a connecting shaft, the radial dimension of which is smaller than the radial dimension of the two first support shafts; or The two first support shafts are separated from each other, and the middle part of the first support shaft group is the gap between the two first support shafts.

6. The material changing mechanism according to claim 1, wherein, The second support shaft group includes two second support shafts arranged along the second rotation axis, such that when the corresponding material tray is installed in the material changing mechanism, the circumferential surfaces of the two second support shafts respectively contact the two rims of the corresponding material tray.

7. The material changing mechanism according to claim 6, wherein, The two second support shafts are either coaxially connected or separate from each other.

8. The material changing mechanism according to any one of claims 1-7, wherein, The loading and unloading mechanism is located on the side of the first support shaft group away from the second support shaft group, and the loading and unloading mechanism is also provided with a channel for passing the material line through, the channel being connected to the corresponding sub-guide tube.

9. The material changing mechanism according to any one of claims 1-7, wherein, The support is provided with an arc-shaped groove extending in a predetermined direction, and at least one partition is provided in the arc-shaped groove. The at least one partition is spaced apart in the predetermined direction to divide the arc-shaped groove into multiple segments, each segment being used to at least partially accommodate a corresponding tray of the multiple trays.

10. The material changing mechanism according to claim 9, wherein, The material guiding unit is located on the side of the support away from the arc-shaped groove.

11. The material changing mechanism according to any one of claims 1-7, wherein, The material guiding unit also includes a multi-port component, which connects the plurality of sub-material guiding pipes to the material guiding port.

12. The material changing mechanism according to any one of claims 1-7, wherein, The support has at least one desiccant trough on the surface facing the plurality of trays for containing desiccant. Each desiccant trough has a top cover detachably installed at its opening, and the top cover has a plurality of vent holes.

13. The material changing mechanism according to any one of claims 1-7, further comprising: A humidity sensor is used to detect the humidity of the environment surrounding the plurality of trays.

14. The material changing mechanism according to any one of claims 1-7, further comprising: Bottom shell; as well as A cover that cooperates with the bottom shell, the bottom shell and the cover together define an accommodating space, the support, the material guiding unit and the plurality of material changing units are all accommodated in the accommodating space, and the cover can move relative to the bottom shell to open or close the accommodating space.

15. A 3D printing system, comprising: 3D printer; as well as The material changing mechanism according to any one of claims 1-14.

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