A heating platform sealing structure in a printing cylinder

By introducing barrier rings and removable connections into the printer seal structure, the wear problem caused by direct contact between powder and seal ring is solved, extending the service life of the seal structure and reducing maintenance costs.

CN119687196BActive Publication Date: 2025-05-09天开智创(天津)三维打印有限公司
View PDF 3 Cites 0 Cited by

Patent Information

Application Number
CN202510206964.X
Authority / Receiving Office
CN · China
Patent Type
Patents(China)
Current Assignee / Owner
Filing Date
2025-02-25
Publication Date
2025-05-09
Estimated Expiration
2045-02-25

AI Technical Summary

Technical Problem

During the use of the existing printer seal structure, the wear is accelerated due to the direct contact between the powder and the sealing ring, the service life is short, and the maintenance cost is high.

Method used

A heating table sealing structure in the printing cylinder is designed, and a barrier ring is used to set up a barrier between the sealing ring and the powder to reduce the direct contact between the powder and the sealing ring, and improve maintenance convenience and sealing performance through removable connection and fluorescent ring designs.

Benefits of technology

It effectively reduces the wear of the powder on the sealing ring, extends the service life of the sealing structure, reduces maintenance costs, and improves sealing performance and maintenance convenience.

✦ Generated by Eureka AI based on patent content.

Smart Images

  • Figure CN119687196B_ABST
    Figure CN119687196B_ABST
Patent Text Reader

Abstract

The present invention relates to the technical field of printers, and discloses a heating platform sealing structure in a printing cylinder, including a sealing ring, a barrier ring detachably connected to the outer side of the upper part of the sealing ring, a mounting groove provided in the sealing ring, a plurality of support rods fixedly connected to the bottom surface of the mounting groove, the top of the support rods detachably connected to the bottom surface of the barrier ring, a guide ring fixedly connected to the bottom surface of the mounting groove, the surface of the guide ring inclined toward the middle of the sealing ring, a snap ring fixedly connected to the inner wall of the barrier ring, and a snap groove corresponding to the position of the snap ring provided on the top of the sealing ring. The heating platform sealing structure in the printing cylinder uses a barrier ring to set a barrier between the sealing ring and the powder, effectively reducing the direct contact between the powder and the sealing ring, thereby greatly reducing the wear of the powder on the sealing ring. When the barrier ring is severely worn, it can be easily removed and replaced with a new barrier ring, reducing maintenance costs and time.
Need to check novelty before this filing date? Find Prior Art

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to the technical field of printers, in particular to a heating platform sealing structure in a printing cylinder. Background Art

[0002] A powder 3D printer is a 3D printer used to print metal parts. It uses a laser to melt powder to print parts layer by layer. During the printing process, the powder needs to be spread evenly on the printing table in the printing cylinder through the push plate from the powder cylinder, and then the laser melts the powder along the preset shape. In this process, a heating table will be installed at the bottom of the printing table. After the laser melts the powder, the newly formed metal layer needs a certain amount of time to cool and solidify to achieve the required strength and precision. The heating table can maintain a certain temperature in the printing area to prevent the melted metal powder from cooling rapidly due to the low ambient temperature, resulting in increased internal stress, cracking or deformation, thereby affecting the quality and dimensional stability of the print. At the same time, since a large local high temperature will be generated during the laser melting process, while the surrounding powder and the printed part are still at a lower temperature, this temperature difference will cause thermal stress. The heating table can effectively reduce this temperature difference by maintaining a relatively uniform temperature field, thereby reducing thermal stress and avoiding damage to the print due to stress concentration.

[0003] A sealing structure is required around the bottom of the heating table to seal the bottom of the heating table and the heating table mounting base. The sealing structure can effectively reduce the heat generated by the heating table from being lost to the surrounding environment, maintain the stability and uniformity of the temperature in the printing chamber, and prevent powder from entering the mounting base and the lifting mechanism thereunder, thereby avoiding the lifting mechanism from moving poorly, increasing wear, and even causing failures due to powder intrusion. Existing sealing structures usually use graphite sealing rings, which can maintain stable sealing performance in high temperature environments, have excellent air tightness and sealing performance, and can effectively prevent the leakage of gas and powder. Graphite sealing rings have good self-lubricating properties, which can reduce wear and heat caused by friction, thereby maintaining a more stable sealing effect.

[0004] As in the prior art, the patent with the authorization announcement number CN109808176B discloses a powder-type 3D printer powder spreading mechanism based on an isolation bowl, which is mainly composed of an XY plane slide and an isolation bowl powder spreading device. The isolation bowl powder spreading device consists of an M3 screw, a small silicone seal ring, a large pulley, a bearing Ⅰ, a bearing Ⅱ, a bearing seat, a large silicone seal ring, an M5 screw, a sealing cover plate, an air pipe joint, an isolation bowl, a motor, a pulley mounting plate Ⅰ, a pulley, a pulley mounting plate Ⅱ, a round belt, a motor mounting frame, and a small pulley. By making the isolation bowl double-layered and punching a hole in the inner layer, the smoke inside the isolation bowl is quickly removed from the isolation bowl to maximize the laser energy received by the powder bed. By chamfering the outer edge of the isolation bowl, a vertical downward force is generated on the powder particles to achieve the effect of compacting the powder particles. By chamfering the inner edge of the isolation bowl, the powder entering the isolation bowl can be pressed back into the powder bed to ensure the flatness of the powder bed.

[0005] Although the large silicone sealing ring in the above patent achieves a sealing effect, the existing sealing structure has certain defects when used; during the use of the existing sealing structure, the upper part of the graphite sealing ring will contact the powder. As the graphite sealing ring moves and the printing process continues, the powder will continuously rub against the surface of the sealing ring, thereby accelerating the wear of the graphite sealing ring. This wear will not only cause the service life of the graphite sealing ring to drop rapidly, but may also cause a decrease in sealing performance, leading to problems such as powder leakage and heat loss. Summary of the invention

[0006] In view of the deficiencies of the prior art, the present invention provides a sealing structure of a heating platform in a printing cylinder to solve the problems raised in the background art and to increase the service life of the sealing structure.

[0007] To achieve the above-mentioned objectives, the present invention provides the following technical solutions: a heating platform sealing structure in a printing cylinder, comprising a sealing ring, a barrier ring being detachably connected to the outer side of the upper portion of the sealing ring, a mounting groove being provided in the sealing ring, a plurality of support rods being fixedly connected to the bottom surface of the mounting groove, the top of the support rods being detachably connected to the bottom surface of the barrier ring, a guide ring being fixedly connected to the bottom surface of the mounting groove, the surface of the guide ring being inclined toward the middle of the sealing ring, a snap ring being fixedly connected to the inner wall of the barrier ring, and a snap groove corresponding to the position of the snap ring being provided on the top of the sealing ring.

[0008] Furthermore, a support ring is fixedly connected to the top of the support rod, a connecting groove corresponding to the position of the support ring is opened on the bottom surface of the barrier ring, a fixing ring is fixedly connected to the surface of the support ring, the outer side of the top of the fixing ring is chamfered, and the surface of the fixing ring fits against the inner wall of the connecting groove.

[0009] Furthermore, a blue fluorescent ring is fixedly connected inside the barrier ring, and a red fluorescent ring is fixedly connected inside the sealing ring.

[0010] Furthermore, a sealing ring is fixedly connected inside the barrier ring, an extrusion ring is fixedly connected inside the sealing ring, the sealing ring is located inside the blue fluorescent ring, the extrusion ring is located inside the red fluorescent ring, and both the sealing ring and the extrusion ring are made of thermal expansion and contraction materials.

[0011] Furthermore, a fastening ring is fixedly connected to the inner side of the sealing ring, and the fastening ring is made of a heat-shrinkable and cold-expandable material.

[0012] Furthermore, an anti-wear layer is fixedly connected to the inner wall of the sealing ring.

[0013] Furthermore, the top of the inner wall of the sealing ring and the bottom of the outer wall of the sealing ring are both chamfered.

[0014] Furthermore, a connecting ring is fixedly connected to the inner wall of the installation groove, and a plurality of adsorption rods are fixedly connected to the outer wall of the connecting ring.

[0015] Furthermore, a plurality of clamping rings are fixedly connected to the bottom surface of the sealing ring.

[0016] Compared with the prior art, the present invention has the following beneficial effects:

[0017] (1) The heating table sealing structure in the printing cylinder uses a barrier ring to set up a barrier between the sealing ring and the powder, which effectively reduces the direct contact between the powder and the sealing ring, thereby greatly reducing the wear of the powder on the sealing ring. At the same time, since the barrier ring and the sealing ring are detachably connected, when the barrier ring is severely worn, it can be easily removed and replaced with a new barrier ring without replacing the entire sealing structure, thereby reducing maintenance costs and time;

[0018] (2) The support rod provides stable support for the barrier ring to prevent the barrier ring from collapsing; the design of the clamping ring and the clamping groove ensures a firm connection between the barrier ring and the sealing ring, preventing the barrier ring from falling off or shifting during operation. It also facilitates the rapid installation and removal of the barrier ring, improving the convenience of maintenance;

[0019] (3) After the barrier ring has been used for a period of time, as time goes by and the wear increases, some powder will fall from around the worn barrier ring. At this time, the installation groove and the guide ring can be used to guide the powder into the installation groove to prevent the powder from appearing between the sealing ring and the inner wall of the print cylinder, thereby avoiding the interference of the powder on the sealing performance between the sealing ring and the inner wall of the print cylinder and avoiding the rapid wear of the sealing ring;

[0020] (4) The support ring enhances the connection stability between the support rod and the barrier ring, and also provides a more uniform support surface for the barrier ring, so that the barrier ring can be placed more stably on the support rod during installation, thus avoiding the degradation of the sealing performance due to improper installation; the fixing ring and the chamfer design on it enable the fixing ring to generate an outward extrusion force on the barrier ring, so that the barrier ring fits tightly with the inner wall of the print cylinder, thereby improving the sealing performance of the barrier ring and preventing powder from entering the installation groove;

[0021] (5) By observing the fluorescent color on the inner wall of the print cylinder, the wear of the barrier ring or the sealing ring can be detected in time, so that the worn parts can be quickly replaced. The different colors of the fluorescent ring can be used to distinguish the barrier ring or the sealing ring, so that the parts can be replaced more accurately, which helps to reduce costs. At the same time, the position of the fluorescent color can provide information about high-wear areas, and it can be identified which areas are more susceptible to wear, and targeted maintenance strategies can be formulated accordingly, which helps to optimize the design and use of the printer, reduce the occurrence of wear, and extend the service life of the sealing structure. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0022] Figure 1 It is a schematic diagram of the overall three-dimensional structure of the present invention;

[0023] Figure 2 It is a schematic diagram of the three-dimensional cross-sectional structure of the present invention as a whole;

[0024] Figure 3 for Figure 2 A schematic diagram of the three-dimensional enlarged cross-sectional structure at point A above;

[0025] Figure 4 It is a schematic diagram of the three-dimensional cross-sectional structure of the barrier ring, the clamping ring and the blue fluorescent ring of the present invention;

[0026] Figure 5 It is a schematic diagram of the three-dimensional cross-sectional structure of the connecting ring and the adsorption rod of the present invention;

[0027] Figure 6 It is a schematic diagram of the three-dimensional cross-sectional structure of the sealing ring, the guide ring, the support rod and the fixing ring of the present invention;

[0028] Figure 7 It is a schematic diagram of the three-dimensional cross-sectional structure of the support rod, the support ring and the fixing ring of the present invention;

[0029] Figure 8 It is a schematic diagram of the three-dimensional cross-sectional structure of the sealing ring, the fastening ring, the extrusion ring and the guide ring of the present invention.

[0030] In the figure: 1. Sealing ring; 2. Barrier ring; 3. Mounting groove; 4. Support rod; 5. Guide ring; 6. Snap ring; 7. Snap groove; 8. Support ring; 9. Connecting groove; 10. Fixing ring; 11. Blue fluorescent ring; 12. Red fluorescent ring; 13. Extrusion ring; 14. Pressure ring; 15. Anti-wear layer; 16. Connecting ring; 17. Adsorption rod; 18. Sealing ring; 19. Fastening ring. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0031] The technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention will be described clearly and completely below in conjunction with the drawings in the embodiments of the present invention. Obviously, the described embodiments are only part of the embodiments of the present invention, rather than all the embodiments.

[0032] See also Figures 1 to 8 A heating platform sealing structure in a printing cylinder body comprises a sealing ring 1, a barrier ring 2 is detachably connected to the outer side of the upper part of the sealing ring 1, a mounting groove 3 is opened in the sealing ring 1, a plurality of support rods 4 are fixedly connected to the bottom surface of the mounting groove 3, the top of the support rod 4 is detachably connected to the bottom surface of the barrier ring 2, a guide ring 5 is fixedly connected to the bottom surface of the mounting groove 3, the surface of the guide ring 5 is inclined toward the middle of the sealing ring 1, a clamping ring 6 is fixedly connected to the inner wall of the barrier ring 2, and a clamping groove 7 corresponding to the position of the clamping ring 6 is opened on the top of the sealing ring 1.

[0033] The heating platform sealing structure in the printing cylinder of the present invention uses a barrier ring 2 to set a barrier between the sealing ring 1 and the powder, which effectively reduces the direct contact between the powder and the sealing ring 1, thereby greatly reducing the wear of the powder on the sealing ring 1. At the same time, since the barrier ring 2 and the sealing ring 1 are detachably connected, when the barrier ring 2 is severely worn, it can be easily removed and replaced with a new barrier ring 2 without replacing the entire sealing structure, thereby reducing maintenance costs and time; the support rod 4 provides a stable support for the barrier ring 2 to prevent the barrier ring 2 from collapsing; the design of the clamping ring 6 and the clamping groove 7 ensures The firm connection between the barrier ring 2 and the sealing ring 1 prevents the barrier ring 2 from falling off or shifting during operation, and also facilitates the rapid installation and removal of the barrier ring 2, thereby improving the convenience of maintenance; after the barrier ring 2 has been used for a period of time, as time goes by and the wear increases, some powder will fall from around the worn barrier ring 2. At this time, the installation groove 3 and the guide ring 5 can be used to guide the powder to the inner side of the installation groove 3, thereby preventing the powder from appearing between the sealing ring 1 and the inner wall of the print cylinder, thereby avoiding the interference of the powder on the sealing performance between the sealing ring 1 and the inner wall of the print cylinder, and avoiding the rapid wear of the sealing ring 1.

[0034] As a preferred technical solution of the present invention, a support ring 8 is fixedly connected to the top of the support rod 4, a connecting groove 9 corresponding to the position of the support ring 8 is opened on the bottom surface of the barrier ring 2, and a fixing ring 10 is fixedly connected to the surface of the support ring 8. The outer side of the top of the fixing ring 10 is chamfered, and the surface of the fixing ring 10 fits with the inner wall of the connecting groove 9.

[0035] Specifically, the support ring 8 enhances the connection stability between the support rod 4 and the barrier ring 2, and also provides a more uniform support surface for the barrier ring 2, so that the barrier ring 2 can be placed more stably on the support rod 4 during installation, thereby avoiding the degradation of sealing performance due to improper installation; the fixing ring 10 and the chamfer design thereon enable the fixing ring 10 to generate an outward extrusion force on the barrier ring 2, so that the barrier ring 2 fits tightly against the inner wall of the print cylinder, thereby improving the sealing performance of the barrier ring 2 and preventing powder from entering the installation groove 3.

[0036] As a preferred technical solution of the present invention, a blue fluorescent ring 11 is fixedly connected inside the barrier ring 2 , and a red fluorescent ring 12 is fixedly connected inside the sealing ring 1 .

[0037] Specifically, when the barrier ring 2 or the sealing ring 1 is severely worn, the fluorescent ring will be exposed and contact the inner wall of the print cylinder. At this time, by observing the fluorescent color on the inner wall of the print cylinder, the wear of the barrier ring 2 or the sealing ring 1 can be detected in time, so that the worn parts can be quickly replaced. Through the different colors of the fluorescent ring, the barrier ring 2 or the sealing ring 1 can be judged separately, so that the parts can be replaced more accurately, which helps to reduce costs; at the same time, the position of the fluorescent color can provide information about high-wear areas, and it can be identified which areas are more susceptible to wear, and targeted maintenance strategies can be formulated accordingly, which helps to optimize the design and use of the printer, reduce the occurrence of wear, and extend the service life of the sealing structure.

[0038] As a preferred technical solution of the present invention, a sealing ring 18 is fixedly connected inside the barrier ring 2, and an extrusion ring 13 is fixedly connected inside the sealing ring 1. The sealing ring 18 is located inside the blue fluorescent ring 11, and the extrusion ring 13 is located inside the red fluorescent ring 12. Both the sealing ring 18 and the extrusion ring 13 are made of thermal expansion and contraction materials.

[0039] Specifically, during use, under the action of the temperature of the heating table, the sealing ring 18 and the extrusion ring 13 expand, thereby extruding the barrier ring 2 and the sealing ring 1 outward, so that the barrier ring 2 and the sealing ring 1 are in close contact with the print cylinder body, thereby enhancing the sealing effect. At the same time, this extrusion can also ensure the contact between the fluorescent ring and the inner wall of the print cylinder, ensuring the normal use of the fluorescent ring; the sealing ring 18 and the extrusion ring 13 are made of thermoplastic elastomers, polytetrafluoroethylene composite materials, thermoplastic polyurethane and other materials. While having good thermal expansion and contraction effects, they can also stably cooperate with the sealing ring 1 to achieve deformation ability and adapt to the shape of the bottom outer wall of the heating table; at the same time, when the printer is stopped, the temperature drops, and the sealing ring 18 and the extrusion ring 13 shrink, so that the sealing ring 1 and the barrier ring 2 and the inner wall of the print cylinder remain loose, thereby facilitating the removal of the sealing structure from the print cylinder.

[0040] As a preferred technical solution of the present invention, a fastening ring 19 is fixedly connected to the inner side of the sealing ring 1, and the fastening ring 19 is made of a heat-shrinkable and cold-expandable material.

[0041] Specifically, during use, under the influence of the temperature of the heating platform, the fastening ring 19 contracts, so that the sealing ring 1 fits tightly against the outer wall of the bottom of the heating platform, thereby achieving effective fastening of the sealing ring 1 when the temperature of the heating platform changes, and further enhancing the sealing effect; at the same time, when the printer is stopped, the temperature drops, and the fastening ring 19 expands at this time, so that the sealing ring 1 and the outer wall of the bottom of the heating platform are loosened, thereby facilitating the removal of the sealing structure from the bottom of the heating platform; the fastening ring 19 is made of materials with good thermal expansion and contraction effects, such as silicone rubber and polypropylene.

[0042] As a preferred technical solution of the present invention, an anti-wear layer 15 is fixedly connected to the inner wall of the sealing ring 1 .

[0043] Specifically, the anti-wear layer 15 is fixedly connected to the inner wall of the sealing ring 1, which can reduce the friction between the sealing ring 1 and the heating platform or other contact surfaces, avoid the sealing ring 1 from breaking at the sharp corners, extend the service life of the sealing ring 1, and maintain the stability of the sealing effect.

[0044] As a preferred technical solution of the present invention, the top of the inner wall of the sealing ring 1 and the bottom of the outer wall of the sealing ring 1 are both chamfered.

[0045] Specifically, the chamfered design at the top of the inner wall of the sealing ring 1 can facilitate the installation of the sealing structure at the bottom of the heating table, so that the sealing ring 1 can be better fitted on the rectangular outer wall of the heating table, and the chamfered design at the bottom of the outer wall of the sealing ring 1 can facilitate the installation of the sealing structure in the printing cylinder, so that the sealing ring 1 can slide into the installation position more easily, avoiding installation difficulties or damage to the sealing ring 1 due to excessive friction.

[0046] As a preferred technical solution of the present invention, a connecting ring 16 is fixedly connected to the inner wall of the installation groove 3 , and a plurality of adsorption rods 17 are fixedly connected to the outer wall of the connecting ring 16 .

[0047] Specifically, the outer wall of the adsorption rod 17 is coated with a polymer adsorption material, which can quickly and effectively adsorb the powder entering the installation groove 3, thereby avoiding the problem of powder moving in the installation groove 3 to between the sealing ring 1 and the inner wall of the printing cylinder to cause sealing failure; the polymer adsorption material interacts with the molecules on the surface of the powder particles through the functional groups on its molecular chain to form a strong adsorption force. This adsorption force is not only strong but also long-lasting, and can maintain a stable adsorption effect during long-term use.

[0048] As a preferred technical solution of the present invention, a plurality of clamping rings 14 are fixedly connected to the bottom surface of the sealing ring 1 .

[0049] Specifically, the provision of the clamping ring 14 can increase the contact area between the sealing ring 1 and the mounting seat at the bottom of the heating platform. By increasing the contact area, the sealing ring 1 can better fit the surface of the mounting seat at the bottom of the heating platform during installation, thereby reducing the risk of leakage due to poor sealing, and helping to improve the sealing performance of the sealing structure in the printing cylinder, ensuring that powder and other media will not affect the printing quality or cause safety hazards due to leakage; since the clamping ring 14 can disperse the pressure on the sealing ring 1, it helps to reduce the wear and aging rate of the sealing ring 1.

[0050] Although embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that various changes, modifications, substitutions and variations may be made to the embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the present invention, and that the scope of the present invention is defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. A heating platform sealing structure in a printing cylinder, comprising a sealing ring (1), characterized in that: The outer side of the upper part of the sealing ring (1) is detachably connected to a barrier ring (2); a mounting groove (3) is provided inside the sealing ring (1); a plurality of support rods (4) are fixedly connected to the bottom surface of the mounting groove (3); the top of the support rods (4) is detachably connected to the bottom surface of the barrier ring (2); a guide ring (5) is fixedly connected to the bottom surface of the mounting groove (3); the surface of the guide ring (5) is inclined toward the middle of the sealing ring (1); a clamping ring (6) is fixedly connected to the inner wall of the barrier ring (2); and a clamping groove (7) corresponding to the position of the clamping ring (6) is provided on the top of the sealing ring (1).

2. The sealing structure of the heating platform in the printing cylinder according to claim 1, characterized in that: The top of the support rod (4) is fixedly connected to a support ring (8); the bottom surface of the barrier ring (2) is provided with a connection groove (9) corresponding to the position of the support ring (8); the surface of the support ring (8) is fixedly connected to a fixing ring (10); the top outer side of the fixing ring (10) is chamfered, and the surface of the fixing ring (10) is in contact with the inner wall of the connection groove (9).

3. The sealing structure of the heating platform in the printing cylinder according to claim 1, characterized in that: A blue fluorescent ring (11) is fixedly connected inside the barrier ring (2), and a red fluorescent ring (12) is fixedly connected inside the sealing ring (1).

4. The sealing structure of the heating platform in the printing cylinder according to claim 3, characterized in that: A sealing ring (18) is fixedly connected inside the barrier ring (2), and an extrusion ring (13) is fixedly connected inside the sealing ring (1); the sealing ring (18) is located inside the blue fluorescent ring (11), and the extrusion ring (13) is located inside the red fluorescent ring (12); the sealing ring (18) and the extrusion ring (13) are both made of thermal expansion and contraction materials.

5. The sealing structure of the heating platform in the printing cylinder according to claim 1, characterized in that: A fastening ring (19) is fixedly connected to the inner side of the sealing ring (1), and the fastening ring (19) is made of a thermally shrinkable and thermally expandable material.

6. The sealing structure of the heating platform in the printing cylinder according to claim 1, characterized in that: An anti-wear layer (15) is fixedly connected to the inner wall of the sealing ring (1).

7. The sealing structure of a heating platform in a printing cylinder according to claim 1, characterized in that: The top of the inner wall of the sealing ring (1) and the bottom of the outer wall of the sealing ring (1) are both chamfered.

8. The sealing structure of a heating platform in a printing cylinder according to claim 1, characterized in that: A connecting ring (16) is fixedly connected to the inner wall of the installation groove (3), and a plurality of adsorption rods (17) are fixedly connected to the outer wall of the connecting ring (16).

9. The sealing structure of a heating platform in a printing cylinder according to claim 1, characterized in that: A plurality of clamping rings (14) are fixedly connected to the bottom surface of the sealing ring (1).

Citation Information

Patent Citations

  • A powder-laying mechanism for a powder-based 3D printer based on an isolation bowl

    CN109808176B

  • A shaft-type metal 3D printer

    CN215033630U

  • Sealing ring with a 3d-printed inlay

    WO2018210653A1