Multi-material 3D printer convenient for material replacement

Abstract

The invention relates to the technical field of 3D printing equipment, in particular to a multi-material 3D printer convenient to change materials, which comprises a base and a printing execution mechanism arranged at the top of the base, the printing execution mechanism comprises a printing head, and the multi-material 3D printer further comprises a lifting frame which is arranged on the two transverse sides of the top of the base and can ascend and descend in the vertical direction; the Y-shaped guide pipe sleeve is arranged on the printing executing mechanism, the Y-shaped guide pipe sleeve is provided with two branch pipe input ends and a convergence pipe end, the two branch pipe input ends are arranged towards the two lifting frames respectively, and the convergence pipe end is connected to the printing head; traction mechanisms used for conducting traction on the consumables are arranged on the printing executing mechanism and located at the input ends of the two branch pipes and the end of the convergence pipe correspondingly. By arranging the lifting frame capable of loading a plurality of consumable trays made of different materials or in different colors and through cooperation of the inserting assembly, the abutting assembly and the Y-shaped guide pipe sleeve, uninterrupted and orderly feeding of different consumables can be achieved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of 3D printing equipment, and in particular to a multi-material 3D printer with convenient material replacement. Background Art

[0002] Traditional 3D printers usually use a single print head for printing, and consumables need to be replaced manually to achieve printing needs of different materials or colors. This method is not only inefficient, but frequent replacement of consumables will also interrupt the printing process and affect the continuity of the printing operation. In order to solve this problem, some 3D printers that can load multiple consumables have appeared on the market in recent years. These printers usually adopt a multi-nozzle design, each nozzle corresponds to a consumable, and printing of different consumables is achieved by switching nozzles. However, this multi-nozzle printer has a complex structure and the nozzle switching mechanism has high maintenance costs.

[0003] After searching, the patent application publication number CN114701167A discloses an automatic material changing 3D printing device, which can realize the automatic replacement of various materials through the cooperation of the material changing lifting motor, the material changing rotating motor and the material changing rod, saving a lot of time compared with manual replacement. However, in the actual application of this device, when replacing the new consumable when the previous consumable is exhausted, the cooperation of multiple motors still takes some time, resulting in the interruption of the printing operation. Therefore, there is an urgent need for a solution that can automatically switch consumables and ensure printing continuity. Summary of the invention

[0004] In order to overcome the above-mentioned shortcomings of the prior art, the present invention provides a multi-material 3D printer that is convenient for material replacement.

[0005] Technical solution: A multi-material 3D printer that is convenient for material replacement, comprising a base and a printing actuator arranged on the top of the base, the printing actuator including a print head, and also comprising a lifting frame arranged on both lateral sides of the top of the base and capable of being lifted and lowered in a vertical direction, and a Y-shaped catheter sleeve arranged on the printing actuator, the Y-shaped catheter sleeve having two branch pipe input ends and a confluent pipe end, the two branch pipe input ends are respectively arranged toward the two lifting frames, the confluent pipe end is connected to the print head, and a traction mechanism for pulling consumables is arranged on the printing actuator and respectively located at the two branch pipe input ends and the confluent pipe end, a plurality of consumable trays are connected to the lifting frame for rotation at intervals in the vertical direction, a plug-in assembly is arranged on the lifting frame corresponding to each consumable tray, a column is fixedly connected to one side of each lifting frame on the base, and an abutment assembly for cooperating with the plug-in assembly is arranged on the upper part of the column, when the lifting frame moves upward, the consumables on the consumable tray are automatically docked with the traction mechanism at the corresponding branch pipe input end through the contact and cooperation of the plug-in assembly and the abutment assembly, and then transported to the print head through the Y-shaped catheter sleeve.

[0006] More preferably, the traction mechanism includes a guide sleeve and two electric wheels. The guide sleeve and the Y-shaped guide sleeve together provide guidance for the consumables. The guide sleeve has openings on both sides perpendicular to its axis. The two electric wheels are respectively rotatably arranged at the two openings of the guide sleeve. The rotation axes of the two electric wheels are parallel to each other and perpendicular to the travel direction of the consumables.

[0007] More preferably, the plug-in assembly includes a cross bar and a vertical bar vertically connected at one end, the cross bar is fixed to the lifting frame, and a slider 1 and a slider 2 are respectively slidably connected to the cross bar and the vertical bar, a limit sleeve for guiding the consumables is fixed to the slider 1, and the central axis of the limit sleeve and the central axis of the guide sleeve on the same side thereof are in the same vertical plane, an elastic member 1 is arranged between the slider 1 and the cross bar, a pull rope is connected between the slider 1 and the slider 2, guide wheels are rotatably connected to the cross bar and the vertical bar, the pull rope passes around all the guide wheels, and a fixed block is fixed to the lower outer side of the vertical bar, and when the lifting frame is raised or lowered, the slider 2 and the fixed block contact and cooperate with the abutment assembly in a time-sharing manner.

[0008] More preferably, the abutment assembly includes a fixed seat, a abutment block and two elastic members, the fixed seat is fixedly connected to the upper part of the column, the abutment block is slidably connected to the fixed seat, a plurality of two elastic members are connected between the abutment block and the fixed seat, and the lower part of the abutment block has a slope one for contacting and cooperating with the fixed block.

[0009] More preferably, telescopic driving members are installed on both lateral sides of the top of the base, and the output ends of the telescopic driving members face upward and are fixedly connected to the top of the lifting frame.

[0010] More preferably, the two branch pipes of the Y-shaped catheter sleeve are cross-arranged, and a non-contact material detection module is provided at the intersection, and the material detection module is used to monitor the passage of consumables in the two branch pipes.

[0011] More preferably, a controller is provided on one side of the base, and the material detection module, the electric wheel and the telescopic drive member are all electrically connected to the controller.

[0012] More preferably, the upper side of the stop block has a second inclined surface for contacting and cooperating with the second sliding block and the fixed block.

[0013] Compared with the prior art, the present invention has the following advantages: by providing a lifting frame that can load multiple consumable trays of different materials or colors, and through the cooperation of the plug-in assembly, the abutment assembly and the Y-shaped duct sleeve, it is possible to achieve uninterrupted and orderly feeding of different consumables, thereby effectively improving the continuity and automation of the printing operation. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0014] Figure 1 It is a schematic diagram of the three-dimensional structure of the present invention.

[0015] Figure 2 It is a partial schematic diagram of the installation structure of the Y-shaped catheter sleeve of the present invention.

[0016] Figure 3 It is a partial schematic diagram of the installation structure of the traction mechanism of the present invention.

[0017] Figure 4 It is a schematic diagram of the installation structure of the consumable tray, the plug-in assembly and the abutment assembly of the present invention.

[0018] Figure 5 It is a schematic diagram of the installation structure of the plug-in assembly of the present invention.

[0019] Figure 6 It is a schematic diagram of the three-dimensional structure of the abutment assembly of the present invention.

[0020] Figure 7 It is a three-dimensional structural cross-sectional view of the abutment assembly of the present invention.

[0021] Figure 8 It is a schematic diagram of the installation structure of the pull rope of the present invention.

[0022] Among them, the above-mentioned drawings include the following drawing marks: 1-base, 2-printing actuator, 21-print head, 3-lifting frame, 4-Y-shaped guide tube sleeve, 5-traction mechanism, 51-guide sleeve, 52-electric wheel, 6-consumable tray, 7-plug-in assembly, 71-cross bar, 72-vertical bar, 73-slider 1, 74-slider 2, 75-limiting sleeve, 76-elastic part 1, 77-pull rope, 78-guide wheel, 79-fixed block, 8-column, 9-abutment assembly, 91-fixed seat, 92-abutment block, 921-inclined surface 1, 922-inclined surface 2, 93-elastic part 2, 10-telescopic drive member, 11-material detection module, 12-controller. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0023] The technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention are described clearly and completely below. Obviously, the described embodiments are only part of the embodiments of the present invention, not all of the embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by ordinary technicians in this field without creative work are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0024] Example 1, please refer to Figure 1-Figure 8A multi-material 3D printer convenient for material replacement comprises a base 1 and a printing actuator 2 arranged on the top of the base 1, the printing actuator 2 comprises a printing head 21, and can drive the printing head 21 to perform precise printing in a three-dimensional space, and also comprises a lifting frame 3 arranged on the left and right sides of the top of the base 1 and capable of being lifted and lowered in a vertical direction, and a Y-shaped conduit sleeve 4 arranged on the printing actuator 2, the Y-shaped conduit sleeve 4 having two branch pipe input ends and a confluent pipe end, the two branch pipe input ends are respectively arranged toward two lifting frames 3, the confluent pipe ends are connected to the printing head 21, and the printing actuator 2 is located on the two branch pipe input ends and the confluent pipe end. A traction mechanism 5 for pulling the consumables is provided at the end of the tube. A plurality of consumable trays 6 are connected to the lifting frame 3 and rotated at intervals in the vertical direction. The consumable trays 6 can be loaded with consumables of different materials or colors. A plug-in assembly 7 is provided on the lifting frame 3 corresponding to each consumable tray 6. A column 8 is fixedly connected to one side of each lifting frame 3 on the base 1. An abutment assembly 9 for cooperating with the plug-in assembly 7 is provided on the upper part of the column 8. When the lifting frame 3 moves upward, the consumables on the consumable tray 6 are automatically docked with the traction mechanism 5 at the input end of the corresponding branch pipe through the contact and cooperation between the plug-in assembly 7 and the abutment assembly 9, and then are transported to the print head 21 through the Y-shaped catheter sleeve 4.

[0025] The traction mechanism 5 includes a guide sleeve 51 and two electric wheels 52. The guide sleeve 51 and the Y-shaped catheter sleeve 4 jointly provide guidance for the consumables. The guide sleeve 51 has openings on both sides perpendicular to its axis. The two electric wheels 52 are rotatably arranged at the two openings of the guide sleeve 51 respectively. The rotation axes of the two electric wheels 52 are parallel to each other and perpendicular to the traveling direction of the consumables. Specifically, the two guide sleeves 51 arranged near the two branch pipe input ends of the Y-shaped catheter sleeve 4 are fixedly connected to a mounting plate on the printing actuator 2, and the electric wheels 52 are rotatably installed on the mounting plate and at the two openings of the chain of each guide sleeve 51. The traction mechanism 5 arranged near the confluent pipe end of the Y-shaped catheter sleeve 4 is arranged at the print head 21. Its arrangement method is the same as above and will not be explained in detail.

[0026] The plug-in assembly 7 includes a cross bar 71 and a vertical bar 72 vertically connected at one end. The cross bar 71 is fixed to the lifting frame 3. A slider 1 73 and a slider 2 74 are slidably connected to the cross bar 71 and the vertical bar 72 respectively. A limiting sleeve 75 for guiding the consumables is fixed to the slider 1 73. The central axis of the limiting sleeve 75 and the central axis of the guide sleeve 51 on the same side are in the same vertical plane to ensure that the consumables can be smoothly docked to the traction mechanism 5. An elastic member 1 76 is provided between the slider 1 73 and the cross bar 71 for providing a restoring force when the slider 1 73 moves. A pull rope 77 is connected between the slider 1 73 and the slider 2 74. Guide wheels 78 are rotatably connected to the cross bar 71 and the vertical bar 72. The pull rope 77 bypasses all the guide wheels 78. A fixed block 79 is fixed to the lower outer side of the vertical bar 72. When the lifting frame 3 is raised or lowered, the slider 2 74 and the fixed block 79 contact and cooperate with the abutment assembly 9 in a time-sharing manner.

[0027] The abutment assembly 9 includes a fixed seat 91, a stop block 92 and an elastic member 93. The fixed seat 91 is fixedly connected to the upper part of the column 8. The stop block 92 is slidably connected to the fixed seat 91. A plurality of elastic members 93 are connected between the stop block 92 and the fixed seat 91. The lower part of the stop block 92 has an inclined surface 921 for contacting and cooperating with the fixed block 79.

[0028] Telescopic drive members 10 are installed on both sides of the top of the base 1. The output end of the telescopic drive member 10 faces upward and is fixedly connected to the top of the lifting frame 3. The telescopic drive member 10 can be a cylinder, a hydraulic cylinder or an electric push rod. In this embodiment, the telescopic drive member 10 uses a hydraulic cylinder.

[0029] The two branch pipes of the Y-shaped catheter sleeve 4 are cross-arranged, and a non-contact material detection module 11 is provided at the intersection. The material detection module 11 is used to monitor the passage of consumables in the two branch pipes. In this embodiment, the material detection module 11 uses an ultrasonic sensor.

[0030] A controller 12 is provided on one side of the base 1, and the material detection module 11, the electric wheel 52 and the telescopic drive member 10 are all electrically connected to the controller 12. The controller 12 can receive the detection signal of the material detection module 11, and control the rotation of the electric wheel 52 and the extension and retraction of the telescopic drive member 10 according to a preset program, thereby realizing automatic switching and transportation of consumables.

[0031] Working principle: Initially, all consumable trays 6 are loaded with consumables of different materials or colors, and the end of each consumable is pre-inserted into the limiting sleeve 75 of the corresponding plug-in component 7. The uppermost plug-in component 7 is located below the abutment component 9. The slider 1 73 is maintained at a position close to the Y-shaped catheter sleeve 4 on the cross bar 71 under the elastic action of the elastic member 1 76, and the slider 2 74 is pulled by the pull rope 77 to keep the slider 2 74 at the highest position on the vertical rod 72. The abutment block 92 is kept extending out of the fixed seat 91 under the action of the elastic member 2 93, waiting to contact the plug-in component 7 on the lifting frame 3.

[0032] When in use, the controller 12 controls the telescopic driving member 10 on the left or right side to drive the corresponding lifting frame 3 to rise vertically. When the lifting frame 3 moves up, the plug-in assembly 7 thereon also rises accordingly. In this embodiment, taking the left side as an example, the telescopic driving member 10 on the left side drives the lifting frame 3 on the left side to rise vertically. When the slider 2 74 of the uppermost plug-in assembly 7 contacts the non-inclined surface 1 921 of the lower side of the abutment block 92 of the left abutment assembly 9, the slider 2 74 is blocked by the abutment block 92 to produce a downward displacement. This displacement is transmitted to the slider 1 73 through the pull rope 77, so that the slider 1 73 moves on the cross bar 71 in the direction away from the Y-shaped catheter sleeve 4, and at the same time compresses the elastic member 1 76. At this time, the limiting sleeve 75 drives the end of the consumable to temporarily move away from the Y-shaped catheter sleeve 4. shaped catheter sleeve 4, as the lifting frame 3 continues to rise, the fixed block 79 of the plug-in assembly 7 gradually approaches and contacts the inclined surface 1 921 of the stop block 92. The design of the inclined surface 1 921 enables the fixed block 79 to push the stop block 92 to overcome the resistance of the elastic member 2 93 and retract into the fixed seat 91. In this process, the fixed block 79 slides along the inclined surface 1 921 until it completely passes over the stop block 92. When the fixed block 79 passes over the stop block 92, the elastic member 2 93 quickly resets, pushing the stop block 92 to pop out and abut against the outer side of the cross bar 71 and the vertical bar 72. At the same time, the elastic member 1 76 releases its elastic force, pushing the slider 1 73 to drive the limit sleeve 75 and the consumables to move along the cross bar 71 close to the Y-shaped catheter sleeve 4 until the consumables are accurately inserted into the left traction In the guide sleeve 51 of the mechanism 5, the consumables in the guide sleeve 51 are clamped by two electric wheels 52, and the two electric wheels 52 rotate to generate traction, so that the consumables in the guide sleeve 51 are transported to the confluence pipe end of the Y-shaped catheter sleeve 4 through the branch pipe, and the traction mechanism 5 at the confluence pipe end further pulls the consumables to the side of the print head 21 for melt extrusion for printing. While the consumables on the left side are pulled to the print head 21, the controller 12 controls the right telescopic driving member 10 to drive the right lifting frame 3 to perform the same rising action, so that the consumables on the uppermost consumable tray 6 on the right are automatically connected to the guide sleeve 51 of the right traction mechanism 5 through the contact and cooperation between the corresponding plug-in component 7 and the right abutment component 9, and are pulled to the right side by the right traction mechanism 5. At the intersection of the two branch tubes of the Y-shaped catheter sleeve 4, at this time, the consumables on the right side are used as standby materials waiting to be switched, and the consumables on the left side are used as real-time consumable materials. The non-contact material detection module 11 monitors the passage of the consumables in the two branch tubes in real time. When the material detection module 11 detects that the end of the currently used consumable, such as the consumable on the left side, passes through the intersection of the two branch tubes, the controller 12 immediately controls the right traction mechanism 5 to start, so as to match the conveying speed of the original consumables and push the standby consumables, such as the consumable on the right side, into the converging tube end. In this way, under the precise control of the controller 12, the original consumables and the standby consumables can form an end-to-end conveyance at the converging tube end of the Y-shaped catheter sleeve 4, thereby realizing uninterrupted switching of consumables without interrupting the printing process.

[0033] After completing a consumable switching, the controller 12 controls the left telescopic drive member 10 to drive the left lifting frame 3 to rise vertically again, so that the consumables on the next layer of consumable tray 6 on the left lifting frame 3 are automatically docked in the guide sleeve 51 of the left traction mechanism 5 by the contact and cooperation between the plug-in component 7 and the left abutment component 9, and then pulled to the intersection of the two branch pipes of the Y-shaped catheter sleeve 4 through the left traction mechanism 5, and serve as new reserve materials waiting for the next switching.

[0034] In summary, this embodiment can achieve uninterrupted and orderly feeding of different consumables while loading multiple consumables at one time.

[0035] Example 2, based on Example 1, please refer to Figure 6 , a multi-material 3D printer that is convenient for material replacement, the upper side of the stop block 92 has an inclined surface 922 for contacting and cooperating with the slider 74 and the fixed block 79.

[0036] When the consumables on the lowest consumable tray 6 on the lifting frame 3 are consumed, the controller 12 controls the telescopic drive member 10 to drive the corresponding lifting frame 3 to descend vertically. When the lifting frame 3 descends, the plug-in assembly 7 thereon also descends accordingly. The fixed block 79 and the sliding block 74 successively contact the inclined surface 922 on the upper side of the stop block 92. Under the guidance of the inclined surface 922, the stop block 92 is pushed into the fixed seat 91 by the fixed block 79 and the sliding block 74 respectively, so that the fixed block 79 and the sliding block 74 can respectively pass over the stop block 92 and move down to the initial position.

[0037] The technical principles of the embodiments of the present invention are described above in conjunction with specific embodiments. These descriptions are only for explaining the principles of the embodiments of the present invention and cannot be interpreted in any way as limiting the protection scope of the embodiments of the present invention. Based on the explanations herein, those skilled in the art can think of other specific implementation methods of the embodiments of the present invention without creative work, and these methods will fall within the protection scope of the embodiments of the present invention.

Claims

1. A multi-material 3D printer that is convenient for material replacement, comprising a base (1) and a printing actuator (2) disposed on the top of the base (1), the printing actuator (2) comprising a print head (21), characterized in that: It also includes a lifting frame (3) arranged on both sides of the top of the base (1) and capable of being lifted and lowered in the vertical direction, and a Y-shaped conduit sleeve (4) arranged on the printing actuator (2), the Y-shaped conduit sleeve (4) having two branch pipe input ends and a confluent pipe end, the two branch pipe input ends are arranged towards the two lifting frames (3) respectively, the confluent pipe end is connected to the print head (21), a traction mechanism (5) for pulling consumables is arranged on the printing actuator (2) and is located at the two branch pipe input ends and the confluent pipe end respectively, a plurality of consumable trays (6) are connected to the lifting frame (3) in a rotationally spaced manner in the vertical direction, a plug-in assembly (7) is arranged on the lifting frame (3) corresponding to each consumable tray (6), a column (8) is fixedly connected to one side of each lifting frame (3) on the base (1), and an abutment assembly (9) for cooperating with the plug-in assembly (7) is arranged on the upper part of the column (8); When the lifting frame (3) moves upward, the plug-in assembly (7) and the abutment assembly (9) are in contact and cooperate with each other, so that the consumables on the consumable tray (6) are automatically docked with the traction mechanism (5) at the input end of the corresponding branch pipe, and then transported to the print head (21) through the Y-shaped catheter sleeve (4).

2. A multi-material 3D printer with convenient material change as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that: The traction mechanism (5) comprises a guide sleeve (51) and two electric wheels (52); the guide sleeve (51) and the Y-shaped conduit sleeve (4) together provide guidance for the consumables; the guide sleeve (51) has openings on both sides perpendicular to its axis; the two electric wheels (52) are rotatably arranged at the two openings of the guide sleeve (51), respectively; the rotation axes of the two electric wheels (52) are parallel to each other and perpendicular to the travel direction of the consumables.

3. A multi-material 3D printer with convenient material change as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that: The plug-in assembly (7) comprises a cross bar (71) and a vertical bar (72) connected vertically at one end, the cross bar (71) being fixedly connected to the lifting frame (3), a slider (73) and a slider (74) being slidably connected to the cross bar (71) and the vertical bar (72), respectively, a limit sleeve (75) for guiding the consumable material being fixedly connected to the slider (73), the central axis of the limit sleeve (75) and the central axis of the guide sleeve (51) on the same side thereof being in the same vertical plane, and the slider (73) and the cross bar are connected to each other. An elastic member (76) is arranged between the slider (73) and the slider (74), a pull rope (77) is connected between the slider (73) and the slider (74), guide wheels (78) are rotatably connected to the horizontal bar (71) and the vertical bar (72), the pull rope (77) passes around all the guide wheels (78), and a fixed block (79) is fixedly connected to the lower outer side of the vertical bar (72). When the lifting frame (3) is lifted or lowered, the slider (74) and the fixed block (79) contact and cooperate with the abutment assembly (9) in a time-sharing manner.

4. A multi-material 3D printer with convenient material change as claimed in claim 3, characterized in that: The abutment assembly (9) comprises a fixed seat (91), a stopper (92) and a second elastic member (93); the fixed seat (91) is fixedly connected to the upper portion of the column (8); the stopper (92) is slidably connected to the fixed seat (91); a plurality of second elastic members (93) are connected between the stopper (92) and the fixed seat (91); and the lower portion of the stopper (92) has a first inclined surface (921) for contacting and cooperating with the fixed block (79).

5. A multi-material 3D printer with convenient material change as claimed in claim 4, characterized in that: Telescopic drive members (10) are installed on both lateral sides of the top of the base (1), and the output end of the telescopic drive member (10) faces upward and is fixedly connected to the top of the lifting frame (3).

6. A multi-material 3D printer with convenient material change as claimed in claim 5, characterized in that: The two branch pipes of the Y-shaped catheter sleeve (4) are arranged crosswise, and a non-contact material detection module (11) is provided at the intersection. The material detection module (11) is used to monitor the passage of consumables in the two branch pipes.

7. A multi-material 3D printer with convenient material change as claimed in claim 6, characterized in that: A controller (12) is provided on one side of the base (1), and the material detection module (11), the electric wheel (52) and the telescopic drive member (10) are all electrically connected to the controller (12).

8. A multi-material 3D printer with convenient material change as claimed in claim 7, characterized in that: The upper side of the stop block (92) has a second inclined surface (922) for contacting and cooperating with the second sliding block (74) and the fixed block (79).

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