Powder spreading mechanism and 3D printing equipment

Abstract

The invention relates to a powder spreading mechanism which is characterized in that the powder spreading mechanism comprises a mounting part, a main body frame, a powder spreading roller assembly and a vibration assembly, the main body frame is movably arranged on the mounting part and can move towards or away from a powder spreading surface, and the powder spreading roller assembly comprises a first driving part and a powder spreading roller; the first driving part is arranged at the first end of the main body frame, one end of the powder spreading roller is connected with the first driving part, the other end of the powder spreading roller is rotatably connected to the second end of the main body frame, the powder spreading roller is a hollow structural part, the vibration assembly comprises a second driving part and a vibration main body, and the second driving part is arranged at the second end of the main body frame; the second driving piece is in driving connection with the vibration body, the vibration body is located in the powder laying roller, and part of the vibration body is in rotating contact with the powder laying roller. The invention further relates to 3D printing equipment. According to the scheme, the problems that an existing powder spreading mechanism is uneven in powder spreading, the density is low after the powder spreading surface is compacted, and the surface quality of a printed product is poor can be solved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of printing equipment, and in particular to a powder spreading mechanism and 3D printing equipment. Background Art

[0002] In the prior art, the 3D printing powder spreading mechanism needs to move the powder material from the powder storage chamber to the powder feeding area adjacent to the molding area, and the powder spreading roller spreads the powder in the powder feeding area onto the molding area. During the powder spreading process, in order to ensure that the powder is sufficient to form a layer of powder material, excess powder is usually required to accumulate at the front end of the powder spreading roller. When the accumulation amount is too large, at least part of the powder is unevenly scattered on the compacted powder material layer in the molding area during the powder spreading process of the powder spreading roller, thereby causing the formed powder material layer to deviate from the required smoothness and flatness, greatly affecting the quality and precision of the final three-dimensional object.

[0003] At present, there are three common powder spreading devices for 3D printers: powder spreading roller, powder spreading scraper, powder spreading hopper and other structures. Most 3D printers use powder spreading roller devices made of round solid steel bars or steel pipes. The advantage of using a powder spreading roller device for spreading powder is that during the powder spreading process, the rotation of the roller shaft can produce a pre-pressure effect on the powder on the powder bed surface, thereby increasing the density of the powder bed, making the bed surface smooth, flat and dense; the disadvantage is that the powder spreading roller device cannot control the vibration direction during use, and the force direction of the powder on the powder bed is single, which lacks universality for different types of powder. Summary of the invention

[0004] Based on this, it is necessary to provide a powder spreading mechanism and a 3D printing device to address the problems of uneven powder spreading, low density of the powder spreading surface after compaction, and poor surface quality of printed products in existing powder spreading mechanisms.

[0005] In order to solve the above problems, the present invention adopts the following technical solutions:

[0006] In the first aspect, an embodiment of the present invention discloses a powder spreading mechanism, comprising a mounting member, a main frame, a powder spreading roller assembly and a vibration assembly, wherein the main frame can be movably arranged on the mounting member, and the main frame can move toward or away from a powder spreading surface, the powder spreading roller assembly comprises a first driving member and a powder spreading roller, the first driving member is arranged at the first end of the main frame, one end of the powder spreading roller is connected to the first driving member, the first driving member drives the powder spreading roller to rotate, the other end of the powder spreading roller is rotatably connected to the second end of the main frame, and the powder spreading roller is a hollow structural member, the vibration assembly comprises a second driving member and a vibration body, the second driving member is arranged at the second end of the main frame, the second driving member is drivingly connected to the vibration body, the second driving member drives the vibration body to rotate in the powder spreading roller, the vibration body is in the powder spreading roller, and a portion of the vibration body is in rotational contact with the powder spreading roller.

[0007] In one embodiment, the vibration assembly also includes a rotating shaft, one end of which is connected to the second driving member, the other end of which passes through the inner cavity of the powder spreading roller and is rotatably disposed at the first end of the main frame, and the vibration body is disposed on the rotating shaft.

[0008] In one embodiment, the vibration body includes a connecting bracket and two vibration blocks, the connecting bracket is arranged on the rotating shaft, the two vibration blocks are arranged on the connecting bracket, and the two vibration blocks are symmetrically arranged relative to the rotating shaft.

[0009] In one embodiment, an annular rack is provided on the rotating shaft, and a gear set is provided at both ends of the connecting bracket. The gear set includes two opposite gears, and both gears are meshed with the rack.

[0010] In one embodiment, the diameter of the rotating shaft is greater than the diameter of the gear.

[0011] In one embodiment, the number of the vibration bodies is two, the two vibration bodies are symmetrically arranged relative to the center position of the powder spreading roller, and the two vibration bodies are close to the two ends of the main frame.

[0012] In one embodiment, the vibrating body is located at the center of the powder spreading roller.

[0013] In one of the embodiments, bearings are provided at both ends of the powder spreading roller, the outer rings of the bearings are connected to the inside of the powder spreading roller, the two ends of the rotating shaft are respectively connected to the inner rings of the two bearings, and the first driving member is connected to the outer ring of one of the bearings to drive the powder spreading roller to rotate.

[0014] In one of the embodiments, it further comprises a vibration part, wherein the vibration part is arranged on the mounting part, and the vibration part provides a vibration force in a direction toward or away from the powdering surface.

[0015] In a second aspect, an embodiment of the present invention discloses a 3D printing device, comprising the powder spreading mechanism described above.

[0016] The technical solution adopted by the present invention can achieve the following beneficial effects:

[0017] In the powder spreading mechanism disclosed in the embodiment of the present invention, the main frame can be movably mounted on the mounting part, and the distance from the powder spreading surface can be flexibly adjusted to ensure the accuracy and adaptability of the powder spreading process. The ingenious combination of the powder spreading roller assembly and the vibration assembly not only realizes the uniform spreading of the powder, but also generates vibration forces in the up and down directions through the rotation of the vibration body inside the powder spreading roller, effectively compacts the powder surface, and significantly improves the powder spreading quality. In addition, the concentric rotation design of the vibration body and the powder spreading roller ensures the uniform distribution and effective transmission of the vibration force, further improving the performance and stability of the mechanism. The powder spreading mechanism integrates the powder spreading and compaction functions, and has the advantages of simple operation, significant effect, and wide application. It solves the problems of uneven powder spreading, low density of the powder spreading surface after compaction, and poor surface quality of printed products in the existing powder spreading mechanism. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0018] Figure 1 It is a partial structural schematic diagram of the powder spreading mechanism disclosed in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0019] Figure 2 for Figure 1 A schematic cross-sectional view at one viewing angle;

[0020] Figure 3 for Figure 1 A cross-sectional diagram from another viewing angle.

[0021] Description of reference numerals:

[0022] 100-mounting part, 200-main frame, 310-first driving part, 320-powder spreading roller, 321-bearing, 410-second driving part, 420-vibration body, 421-connecting bracket, 422-vibration block, 423-gear, 430-rotating shaft, 500-vibration part, 600-support part. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0023] In order to facilitate the understanding of the present invention, the present invention will be described more fully below with reference to the relevant drawings. The preferred embodiments of the present invention are given in the drawings. However, the present invention can be implemented in many different forms and is not limited to the embodiments described herein. On the contrary, the purpose of providing these embodiments is to make the disclosure of the present invention more thoroughly understood.

[0024] It should be noted that when an element is referred to as being "disposed on" another element, it may be directly on the other element or there may be a centered element. When an element is considered to be "connected to" another element, it may be directly connected to the other element or there may be a centered element at the same time. The terms "vertical", "horizontal", "left", "right", "top", "bottom", "bottom end", "top end" and similar expressions used herein are for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to be the only implementation method.

[0025] Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as those commonly understood by those skilled in the art of the present invention. The terms used herein in the specification of the present invention are only for the purpose of describing specific embodiments and are not intended to limit the present invention. The term "and / or" used herein includes any and all combinations of one or more related listed items.

[0026] like Figure 1-Figure 3 As shown, an embodiment of the present invention discloses a powder spreading mechanism, including a mounting member 100, a main frame 200, a powder spreading roller assembly and a vibration assembly.

[0027] The main frame 200 is movably mounted on the mounting member 100, and the main frame 200 can move toward or away from the powdering surface. The main frame 200 is designed to be movably mounted on the mounting member 100, which means that the main frame 200 can move toward or away from the powdering surface. This design allows the mechanism to adjust the distance from the powdering surface according to work requirements, and can also limit the main frame 200 to only move up and down, that is, move back and forth toward or away from the powdering surface, and cannot move in other directions.

[0028] The powder spreading roller assembly includes a first driving member 310 and a powder spreading roller 320. The first driving member 310 is arranged at the first end of the main frame 200. One end of the powder spreading roller 320 is connected to the first driving member 310. The first driving member 310 drives the powder spreading roller 320 to rotate. The other end of the powder spreading roller 320 is rotatably connected to the second end of the main frame 200. The powder spreading roller 320 is a hollow structural member, which provides installation space for the subsequent vibration assembly.

[0029] The vibration assembly includes a second driving member 410 and a vibration body 420. The second driving member 410 is arranged at the second end of the main frame 200, but its position is opposite to the first driving member 310, that is, it is located at the other end of the main frame 200. The second driving member 410 is drivingly connected to the vibration body 420. The second driving member 410 drives the vibration body 420 to rotate in the powder spreading roller 320. The vibration body 420 is in the powder spreading roller 320, and part of the vibration body 420 is in rotational contact with the powder spreading roller 320. This design enables the vibration body 420 to generate a vibration force acting on the powder spreading roller 320 when rotating.

[0030] Since the main frame 200 can only move in the direction toward or away from the powder spreading surface, this limits all the components arranged on it (including the powder spreading roller assembly and the vibration assembly) to move only up and down. Therefore, when the vibration body 420 rotates inside the powder spreading roller 320, the force it generates will be converted into a vibration force in the up and down directions, acting on the powder spreading roller 320. This vibration force helps to compact the powder surface and improve the quality of powder spreading. It is worth noting that the vibration body 420 and the powder spreading roller 320 are concentric when rotating, which ensures the uniform distribution and effective transmission of the vibration force.

[0031] It can be seen from the above content that in the powder spreading mechanism disclosed in the embodiment of the present invention, the main frame 200 can be movably mounted on the mounting member 100, and can flexibly adjust the distance from the powder spreading surface to ensure the accuracy and adaptability of the powder spreading process. The ingenious combination of the powder spreading roller assembly and the vibration assembly not only realizes the uniform spreading of the powder, but also generates a vibration force in the up and down directions through the rotation of the vibration body 420 inside the powder spreading roller 320, effectively compacts the powder surface, and significantly improves the powder spreading quality. In addition, the concentric rotation design of the vibration body 420 and the powder spreading roller 320 ensures the uniform distribution and effective transmission of the vibration force, further improving the performance and stability of the mechanism. The powder spreading mechanism integrates the powder spreading and compaction functions, and has the advantages of simple operation, significant effect, and wide application. It solves the problems of uneven powder spreading, low density of the powder spreading surface after compaction, and poor surface quality of printed products in the existing powder spreading mechanism.

[0032] In the embodiment of the present invention, the vibration assembly may further include a rotating shaft 430, one end of which may be connected to the second driving member 410, the other end of which may pass through the inner cavity of the powder spreading roller 320 and may be rotatably disposed at the first end of the main frame 200, and the vibration body 420 may be disposed on the rotating shaft 430. The powder spreading roller 320 is generally used to evenly spread the powder layer in 3D printing or other powder processing processes, and the design here allows the rotating shaft 430 to not only pass through the inside thereof, but also to be rotatably disposed at the first end of the main frame 200. This means that the rotating shaft 430 not only transmits power, but also can realize free rotation on the main frame 200, thereby possibly driving other components connected thereto to perform corresponding movements.

[0033] In addition, the vibration body 420 is arranged on the rotating shaft 430. Such a layout enables the vibration body 420 to move with the rotation of the rotating shaft 430, thereby possibly generating the desired vibration effect. This design may be intended to improve the uniformity of powder laying, promote the close packing of powder, or help release bubbles in the powder.

[0034] Further, the vibration body 420 may include a connecting bracket 421 and two vibration blocks 422, the connecting bracket 421 may be arranged on the rotating shaft 430, the two vibration blocks 422 may be arranged on the connecting bracket 421, and the two vibration blocks 422 may be arranged symmetrically with respect to the rotating shaft 430. Specifically, the connecting bracket 421 is cleverly arranged on the rotating shaft 430, playing a supporting and connecting role. This design ensures that the vibration body 420 can move stably with the rotation of the rotating shaft 430. At the same time, the two vibration blocks 422 are both installed on the connecting bracket 421. The two vibration blocks 422 are characterized by being symmetrically spaced relative to the rotating shaft 430 in layout. This symmetrical arrangement not only helps to maintain the balance of the vibration body 420 during rotation, but also may enhance the uniformity and stability of the vibration effect. When the rotating shaft 430 rotates, the connecting bracket 421 and the two vibration blocks 422 thereon will jointly produce the desired vibration effect.

[0035] In an optional embodiment, the vibration block 422 may be an eccentric block, and this design gives the vibration block 422 a specific mass distribution, so that its center of gravity is not located at its geometric center, but has a certain offset relative to the axis connecting the bracket 421 and the rotating shaft 430. When the rotating shaft 430 rotates, due to the special mass distribution of the eccentric block, a more significant centrifugal force is generated, thereby enhancing the vibration effect of the vibration body 420.

[0036] Specifically, the design of the eccentric block allows the vibration block 422 to exert a periodic force with a constantly changing direction on the connecting bracket 421 due to the centrifugal force during the rotation process. This force is transmitted to the rotating shaft 430 through the connecting bracket 421, and may further be transmitted to the entire vibration assembly and the powder processing equipment connected thereto, thereby generating the desired vibration effect. Of course, the eccentric block may be an inverted trapezoidal structural member or other eccentric structural members, and the embodiment of the present invention does not limit this.

[0037] Optionally, an annular rack may be provided on the rotating shaft 430, and a gear set may be provided at both ends of the connecting bracket 421. The gear set may include two opposing gears 423, and both gears 423 may be meshed with the rack. The advantages of this driving method are its high efficiency and stability. Through the meshing transmission of the gear 423 and the rack, it can be ensured that the vibration component can still maintain a stable vibration frequency and amplitude when rotating at high speed. In addition, due to the setting of the gear set, the number of teeth and module of the gear 423 can also be adjusted according to actual needs, so as to further control the rotation speed and vibration intensity of the vibration component to meet the needs of different powder processing processes.

[0038] Furthermore, the diameter of the rotating shaft 430 can be larger than the diameter of the gear 423. By designing the diameter of the rotating shaft 430 to be larger than the diameter of the gear 423, the structural strength and transmission efficiency of the vibration component can be further enhanced, while optimizing the operating quality and durability of the system. This design detail provides strong support for the efficient and stable operation of the vibration component.

[0039] In an optional embodiment, the number of the vibration bodies 420 can be two, and the two vibration bodies 420 can be symmetrically arranged relative to the center position of the powder spreading roller 320, and the two vibration bodies 420 can be close to the two ends of the main frame 200. At this time, this symmetrical layout not only helps to maintain the balance of the system, but also ensures the uniformity and stability during the powder spreading process. At the same time, the two vibration bodies 420 are designed to be close to the two ends of the main frame 200. Such a layout arrangement helps to maximize the coverage of the vibration effect in the powder spreading area, ensuring that the powder material can be spread evenly and effectively; secondly, the setting close to the two ends of the main frame 200 can reduce direct interference with the central area of ​​the powder spreading roller 320, so that the powder spreading roller 320 can be more smooth and stable during the rotation and powder spreading process.

[0040] In another optional embodiment, the vibration body 420 can be located at the center of the powder spreading roller 320. Specifically, placing the vibration body 420 at the center can first ensure that the vibration source directly acts on the core area of ​​the powder spreading roller 320, thereby more effectively controlling the spreading process of the powder material. In addition, the central layout also helps to simplify the structural design of the vibration component, because there is no need to consider the requirement of bilateral symmetry, which may reduce the complexity of manufacturing and installation.

[0041] In the embodiment disclosed in the present invention, the two ends of the powder spreading roller 320 can be provided with bearings 321, the outer ring of the bearing 321 can be connected to the inside of the powder spreading roller 320, the two ends of the rotating shaft 430 can be connected to the inner rings of the two bearings 321, and the first driving member 310 can be connected to the outer ring of one of the bearings 321 to drive the powder spreading roller 320 to rotate. Specifically, the two ends of the powder spreading roller 320 can be provided with bearings 321, and the outer ring of the bearing 321 is tightly connected to the inner wall of the powder spreading roller 320 to ensure stability and smoothness during rotation. The rotating shaft 430 is a part of the vibration body 420, and its two ends are respectively connected to the inner rings of the two bearings 321, so that the vibration body 420 can be firmly connected to the powder spreading roller 320 through the rotating shaft 430.

[0042] At the same time, in order to drive the rotation of the powder spreading roller 320, the first driving member 310 can be connected to the outer ring of one of the bearings 321. When the first driving member 310 is started, it can drive the powder spreading roller 320 to perform stable rotational motion through the bearing 321, thereby achieving uniform spreading of the powder material.

[0043] The powder spreading mechanism disclosed in the embodiment of the present invention may further include a vibration unit 500, which may be disposed on the mounting member 100, and the vibration unit 500 may provide a vibration force in a direction toward or away from the powder spreading surface. During the powder spreading process, the vibration force generated by the vibration unit 500 may be combined with the horizontal vibration generated by the vibration body 420 to form a multi-dimensional vibration effect. This multi-dimensional vibration effect helps to further improve the spreading uniformity and printing quality of the powder material.

[0044] The powder spreading mechanism disclosed in the embodiment of the present invention may also include a support portion 600. The first end and the second end of the main frame 200 may be provided with a support portion 600. The first driving member 310 and the second driving member 320 are connected to the powder spreading roller 320 and the vibration body 420 through the corresponding support portion 600. These support portions 600 not only provide necessary support for the entire powder spreading mechanism, but also ensure the relative position stability between the components. During the powder spreading process, the support portion 600 can prevent the loosening or displacement of the components due to vibration or other external forces, thereby ensuring the accuracy and uniformity of the powder spreading.

[0045] In addition, the support part 600 can also be designed as a component with adjustable height or angle to adapt to different printing needs and scenarios. For example, when printing large or heavy parts, the height of the support part 600 can be adjusted to ensure the appropriate distance between the powder spreading mechanism and the printing plane; when a specific angle of powder spreading is required, it can be achieved by adjusting the angle of the support part 600.

[0046] Based on the powder spreading mechanism disclosed in the embodiment of the present invention, the embodiment of the present invention further discloses a 3D printing device, including the powder spreading mechanism described in any of the above embodiments.

[0047] The above-mentioned embodiments only express several implementation methods of the present invention, and the descriptions thereof are relatively specific and detailed, but they cannot be understood as limiting the scope of the invention patent. It should be pointed out that, for ordinary technicians in this field, several variations and improvements can be made without departing from the concept of the present invention, and these all belong to the protection scope of the present invention. Therefore, the protection scope of the patent of the present invention shall be subject to the attached claims.

Claims

1. A powder spreading mechanism, characterized in that: The invention comprises a mounting member (100), a main frame (200), a powder spreading roller assembly and a vibration assembly, wherein the main frame (200) is movably arranged on the mounting member (100), and the main frame (200) can move toward or away from the powder spreading surface, and the powder spreading roller assembly comprises a first driving member (310) and a powder spreading roller (320), wherein the first driving member (310) is arranged at a first end of the main frame (200), and one end of the powder spreading roller (320) is connected to the first driving member (310), and the first driving member (310) drives the powder spreading roller (320) to rotate, and the other end of the powder spreading roller (320) can rotate. The powder spreading roller (320) is connected to the second end of the main frame (200), and the powder spreading roller (320) is a hollow structural member. The vibration assembly includes a second driving member (410) and a vibration body (420). The second driving member (410) is arranged at the second end of the main frame (200), and the second driving member (410) is drivingly connected to the vibration body (420). The second driving member (410) drives the vibration body (420) to rotate in the powder spreading roller (320). The vibration body (420) is in the powder spreading roller (320), and part of the vibration body (420) is in rotational contact with the powder spreading roller (320).

2. The powder spreading mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that: The vibration assembly also includes a rotating shaft (430), one end of which is connected to the second driving member (410), and the other end of which passes through the inner cavity of the powder spreading roller (320) and is rotatably disposed on the first end of the main frame (200), and the vibration body (420) is disposed on the rotating shaft (430).

3. The powder spreading mechanism according to claim 2, characterized in that: The vibration body (420) comprises a connecting bracket (421) and two vibration blocks (422); the connecting bracket (421) is arranged on the rotating shaft (430); the two vibration blocks (422) are both arranged on the connecting bracket (421); and the two vibration blocks (422) are symmetrically arranged at intervals relative to the rotating shaft (430).

4. The powder spreading mechanism according to claim 3, characterized in that: The rotating shaft (430) is provided with an annular rack, and both ends of the connecting bracket (421) are provided with a gear set, the gear set comprising two opposite gears (423), and the two gears (423) are meshed with the rack.

5. The powder spreading mechanism according to claim 4, characterized in that: The diameter of the rotating shaft (430) is greater than the diameter of the gear (423).

6. The powder spreading mechanism according to claim 2, characterized in that: The number of the vibration bodies (420) is two, and the two vibration bodies (420) are symmetrically arranged relative to the center position of the powder spreading roller (320), and the two vibration bodies (420) are close to the two ends of the main frame (200).

7. The powder spreading mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that: The vibration body (420) is located at the center of the powder spreading roller (320).

8. The powder spreading mechanism according to claim 2, characterized in that: Both ends of the powder spreading roller (320) are provided with bearings (321), the outer ring of the bearing (321) is connected to the inside of the powder spreading roller (320), the two ends of the rotating shaft (430) are respectively connected to the inner rings of the two bearings (321), and the first driving member (310) is connected to the outer ring of one of the bearings (321) to drive the powder spreading roller (320) to rotate.

9. The powder spreading mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that: It also comprises a vibration part (500), wherein the vibration part (500) is arranged on the mounting part (100), and the vibration part (500) provides a vibration force in a direction toward or away from the powdering surface.

10. A 3D printing device, characterized in that: It comprises the powder spreading mechanism described in any one of claims 1 to 9.

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