Nozzle cleaning exhaust system

Abstract

The invention belongs to the technical field of 3D printing, and particularly relates to a nozzle cleaning exhaust system which comprises a nozzle, a sensor detection structure and an ink path structure, an ink supply control valve is arranged at the position, close to the sensor detection structure, of an ink supply pipe of the ink path structure, and an ink return control valve is arranged at the position, close to the sensor detection structure, of an ink return pipe. The device further comprises a cleaning structure and an exhaust structure. The cleaning structure comprises a cleaning tank, a cleaning pipe, a cleaning pump and a cleaning control valve arranged on the cleaning pipe. The cleaning pipe is connected with the ink supply pipe and the ink return pipe. The exhaust structure comprises an exhaust pump, an exhaust pipe and an exhaust control valve. The exhaust pipe is connected with the ink supply pipe and the ink return pipe. According to the nozzle cleaning and exhausting system, the nozzle can be cleaned through the cleaning structure, residual cleaning liquid is discharged through exhausting of the exhausting structure during next printing, and the problems that ink leaks at the inserting position of the ink supply pipe and the ink return pipe and the nozzle is damaged easily due to manual cleaning of the nozzle are solved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention belongs to the technical field of 3D printing, and in particular relates to a nozzle cleaning and exhaust system. Background Art

[0002] After printing the product, the existing 3D printer needs to clean and exhaust the nozzle to prevent the nozzle from clogging after the ink condenses. At present, when cleaning the nozzle, the ink system needs to be closed, and then the cleaning personnel will pull out the ink supply tube and the ink return tube from the sensor detection structure connected to the nozzle, and then use the syringe to absorb the cleaning liquid to clean the nozzle. After cleaning, absorb the filtered air and exhaust the nozzle. After exhausting, the ink supply tube and the ink return tube are inserted into the sensor detection structure. Manual cleaning is time-consuming and laborious, and every time the nozzle is cleaned, the ink pipeline and the ink return tube need to be plugged and unplugged, which can easily cause the joints to loosen, causing ink leakage and nozzle damage. Summary of the invention

[0003] The purpose of the present invention is to provide a nozzle cleaning and exhaust system, aiming to solve the problem that manual nozzle cleaning easily causes ink leakage at the connection between the ink supply tube and the ink return tube and nozzle damage.

[0004] The present invention discloses a nozzle cleaning and exhaust system, the nozzle cleaning and exhaust system comprising a nozzle, a sensor detection structure and an ink path structure connected to the nozzle, the ink supply pipe of the ink path structure being connected to the ink supply channel of the sensor detection structure, and the ink return pipe of the ink path structure being connected to the ink return channel of the sensor detection structure, characterized in that an ink supply control valve is provided at a position of the ink supply pipe close to the sensor detection structure, an ink return control valve is provided at a position of the ink return pipe close to the sensor detection structure, and further comprising a cleaning structure and an exhaust structure; the cleaning structure comprises a cleaning tank, a cleaning pipe, and a cleaning valve connected to the cleaning tank. A cleaning pump for a cleaning pipe and a cleaning control valve for the cleaning pipe arranged between the cleaning pump and the sensor detection structure, wherein the cleaning pipe is respectively connected to the ink supply pipe between the ink supply control valve and the sensor detection structure, and to the ink return pipe between the ink return control valve and the sensor detection structure; the exhaust structure comprises an exhaust pump, an exhaust pipe connected to the exhaust port of the exhaust pump, and an exhaust control valve arranged on the exhaust pipe, wherein the exhaust pipe is respectively connected to the ink supply pipe between the ink supply control valve and the sensor detection structure, and to the ink return pipe between the ink return control valve and the sensor detection structure.

[0005] As an improvement, the cleaning pipe includes a main pipe connected to the outlet of the cleaning pump, and a first branch pipe and a second branch pipe respectively connected to an end of the main pipe away from the cleaning pump, the first branch pipe is connected to the ink supply pipe between the ink supply control valve and the sensor detection structure, and the second branch pipe is connected to the ink return pipe between the ink return control valve and the sensor detection structure; the cleaning control valve is respectively provided on the first branch pipe and the second branch pipe.

[0006] As an improvement, the cleaning control valve of the first branch pipe is an ink supply cleaning solenoid valve, and the cleaning control valve of the second branch pipe is an ink return cleaning solenoid valve.

[0007] As an improvement, an ink supply one-way valve is provided on the first branch pipe between the ink supply cleaning solenoid valve and the sensor detection structure, which is used to prevent ink from flowing to the first branch pipe when the ink supply pipe supplies ink; an ink return one-way valve is provided on the second branch pipe between the ink return cleaning solenoid valve and the sensor detection structure, which is used to prevent ink from flowing to the second branch pipe when the ink return pipe returns ink.

[0008] As an improvement, the exhaust pipe is communicated with the main pipe, and the exhaust control valve is arranged on the exhaust pipe between the exhaust port of the exhaust pump and the main pipe.

[0009] As an improvement, the exhaust control valve is configured as an exhaust check valve.

[0010] As an improvement, a cleaning filter is provided on the suction pipe between the inlet of the cleaning pump and the cleaning tank.

[0011] As an improvement, a waste liquid tank is provided below the nozzle.

[0012] As an improvement, an air filter is provided on one side of the air inlet of the exhaust pump.

[0013] As an improvement, the ink supply control valve is an ink supply solenoid valve arranged on the ink supply tube, and the ink return control valve is an ink return solenoid valve arranged on the ink return tube.

[0014] Due to the adoption of the above technical solution, the beneficial effects achieved are as follows:

[0015] The nozzle cleaning and exhaust system of the present invention comprises a nozzle, a sensor detection structure connected to the nozzle and an ink path structure, the ink supply tube of the ink path structure is connected to the ink supply channel of the sensor detection structure, the ink return tube of the ink path structure is connected to the ink return channel of the sensor detection structure, an ink supply control valve is provided at a position of the ink supply tube close to the sensor detection structure, and an ink return control valve is provided at a position of the ink return tube close to the sensor detection structure, and also comprises a cleaning structure and an exhaust structure; the cleaning structure comprises a cleaning tank, a cleaning tube, a cleaning pump connected to the cleaning tube and a cleaning control valve of the cleaning tube arranged between the cleaning pump and the sensor detection structure, the cleaning tube is respectively connected to the ink supply tube between the ink supply control valve and the sensor detection structure, and the ink return tube between the ink return control valve and the sensor detection structure; the exhaust structure comprises an exhaust pump, an exhaust pipe connected to the exhaust port of the exhaust pump and an exhaust control valve arranged in the exhaust pipe, the exhaust pipe is respectively connected to the ink supply tube between the ink supply control valve and the sensor detection structure, and the ink return tube between the ink return control valve and the sensor detection structure.

[0016] During cleaning, the ink path structure stops running, and the ink supply control valve and the ink return control valve are closed. The cleaning pump then draws the cleaning liquid from the cleaning tank, and delivers the cleaning liquid to the ink supply channel and the ink return channel of the sensor detection structure through the cleaning pipe. The cleaning liquid is delivered to the nozzle through the ink supply channel and the ink return channel to clean the nozzle. There is no need to plug and unplug the ink supply tube and the ink return tube during cleaning, and manual cleaning can also avoid damaging the nozzle. After cleaning, a protective sheet is attached to the nozzle to protect the nozzle and keep the inside of the nozzle moisturized. During the next printing, the exhaust pump blows air to the ink supply channel and the ink return channel of the sensor detection structure through the exhaust pipe, and the air is blown to the nozzle through the ink supply channel and the ink return channel, thereby blowing the residual cleaning liquid out of the nozzle to avoid the residual cleaning liquid mixing with the ink and affecting the printing quality. The nozzle cleaning exhaust system of the embodiment of the present invention solves the problem that manual cleaning of the nozzle easily causes ink leakage at the plug-in connection of the ink supply tube and the ink return tube and damage to the nozzle. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017] Figure 1 It is a structural schematic diagram of the nozzle cleaning exhaust system of the present invention;

[0018] Among them, 11, primary ink cartridge; 12, secondary ink cartridge; 20, nozzle; 30, sensor detection structure; 31, mounting block; 32, pressure sensor; 33, negative pressure sensor; 40, ink supply tube; 41, ink supply pump; 42, ink supply filter; 43, ink supply solenoid valve; 50, ink return tube; 51, ink return pump; 52, ink return solenoid valve; 61, cleaning tank; 62, cleaning pump; 63, cleaning filter; 641, main pipe; 642, first branch pipe; 643, second branch pipe; 65, ink supply cleaning solenoid valve; 66, ink return cleaning solenoid valve; 67, ink supply one-way valve; 68, ink return one-way valve; 70, exhaust pipe; 71, exhaust pump; 72, air filter; 73, exhaust one-way valve; 80, waste liquid tank. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0019] In order to make the purpose, technical solution and advantages of the present invention more clearly understood, the present invention is further described in detail below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and embodiments. It should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are only used to explain the present invention and are not intended to limit the present invention.

[0020] Figure 1 The schematic diagram of the structure of the nozzle cleaning exhaust system according to the embodiment of the present invention is shown. For the convenience of description, only the parts related to the embodiment of the present invention are shown in the figure.

[0021] It should be noted that if the directional indications involved in the present invention (such as up, down, front, back, etc.) are only used to explain the relative position relationship between the components in a certain specific posture, if the specific posture changes, the directional indication will also change accordingly; if the descriptions of "first", "second", etc. are involved in the present invention, the descriptions of "first", "second", etc. are only used for descriptive purposes, and cannot be understood as indicating or implying their relative importance or implicitly indicating the number of the indicated technical features.

[0022] Depend on Figure 1It can be seen that the nozzle cleaning and exhaust system of the embodiment of the present invention includes a nozzle 20, a sensor detection structure 30 connected to the nozzle, and an ink path structure. The ink supply tube 40 of the ink path structure is connected to the ink supply channel, and the ink return tube 50 is connected to the ink return channel. An ink supply control valve is provided at a position of the ink supply tube 40 close to the sensor detection structure 30, and an ink return control valve is provided at a position of the ink return tube 50 close to the sensor detection structure 30. It also includes a cleaning structure and an exhaust structure; the cleaning structure includes a cleaning tank 61, a cleaning pipe, and a cleaning pump 62 connected to the cleaning pipe for extracting cleaning liquid from the cleaning tank 61 And a cleaning control valve of a cleaning pipe arranged between the cleaning pump 62 and the sensor detection structure 30, the cleaning pipe is respectively connected to the ink supply pipe 40 between the ink supply control valve and the sensor detection structure 30, and the ink return pipe 50 between the ink return control valve and the sensor detection structure 30; the exhaust structure includes an exhaust pump 71, an exhaust pipe 70 connected to the exhaust port of the exhaust pump 71, and an exhaust control valve arranged in the exhaust pipe 70, the exhaust pipe 70 is respectively connected to the ink supply pipe 40 between the ink supply control valve and the sensor detection structure 30, and the ink return pipe 50 between the ink return control valve and the sensor detection structure 30.

[0023] During cleaning, the ink path structure stops running, and the ink supply control valve and the ink return control valve are closed. The cleaning pump 62 then draws the cleaning liquid inside the cleaning tank 61, and delivers the cleaning liquid to the ink supply channel and the ink return channel of the sensor detection structure 30 through the cleaning pipe. The cleaning liquid is delivered to the nozzle 20 through the ink supply channel and the ink return channel to clean the nozzle 20. During cleaning, there is no need to plug in and out the ink supply tube 40 and the ink return tube 50, and manual cleaning can also avoid damaging the nozzle 20. After cleaning, a protective sheet is attached to the nozzle 20 to protect the nozzle. 20, and at the same time, it can also keep the inside of the nozzle 20 in a moisturizing state; when printing next time, the exhaust pump 71 blows air to the ink supply channel and the ink return channel of the sensor detection structure 30 through the exhaust pipe 70, and the air is blown to the nozzle 20 through the ink supply channel and the ink return channel, thereby blowing out the residual cleaning liquid from the nozzle 20 to avoid the residual cleaning liquid mixing with the ink and affecting the printing quality; the nozzle cleaning exhaust system of the embodiment of the present invention solves the problem that manual cleaning of the nozzle is prone to cause ink leakage at the joint of the ink supply tube and the ink return tube and nozzle damage.

[0024] In an embodiment of the present invention, the ink path structure includes an ink cartridge, an ink supply structure arranged between the ink cartridge and the ink supply channel, and an ink return structure arranged between the ink cartridge and the ink return channel; specifically, the ink cartridge includes a primary ink cartridge 11, and a secondary ink cartridge 12 connected to the primary ink cartridge 11, the secondary ink cartridge 12 is used to form a circulating ink path, and the primary ink cartridge 11 is used to replenish ink to the secondary ink cartridge 12; the ink supply structure and the ink return structure are respectively connected to the secondary ink cartridge 12.

[0025] The ink supply structure includes an ink supply tube 40 disposed between the ink supply channel and the ink cartridge, and an ink supply pump 41 connected to the ink supply tube 40. Usually, the ink supply control valve is an ink supply solenoid valve 43 disposed on the ink supply tube 40. In order to prevent impurities in the ink from entering the nozzle 20, an ink supply filter 42 is provided on the ink supply tube 40 between the ink supply pump 41 and the ink cartridge.

[0026] The ink return structure includes an ink return tube 50 disposed between the ink return channel and the ink cartridge, and an ink return pump 51 connected to the ink return tube 50 . Usually, the ink return control valve is an ink return solenoid valve 52 disposed on the ink return tube 50 .

[0027] Specifically, the ink supply solenoid valve 43 and the ink return solenoid valve 52 are electrically connected to the mainboard assembly of the 3D printer respectively, and the switch of the ink supply solenoid valve 43 and the ink return solenoid valve 52 can be controlled by the control panel of the through-hole 3D printer.

[0028] The sensor detection structure 30 includes a mounting block 31, on which an ink supply through hole and an ink return through hole are respectively provided corresponding to the ink supply structure and the ink return structure. A first mounting hole connected to the ink supply through hole is provided on the mounting block 31, and a second mounting hole connected to the ink return through hole is provided on the mounting block 31. The sensor detection structure 30 also includes a pressure sensor 32 installed on the first mounting hole and a negative pressure sensor 33 installed on the second mounting hole.

[0029] In the embodiment of the present invention, the cleaning pipe includes a main pipe 641 connected to the outlet of the cleaning pump 62, a first branch pipe 642 and a second branch pipe 643 respectively connected to one end of the main pipe 641 away from the cleaning pump 62, the first branch pipe 642 is connected to the ink supply pipe 40 between the ink supply control valve and the sensor detection structure 30, and the second branch pipe 643 is connected to the ink return pipe 50 between the ink return control valve and the sensor detection structure 30; cleaning control valves are respectively provided on the first branch pipe 642 and the second branch pipe 643. Usually, the main pipe 641 and the first branch pipe 642 and the second branch pipe 643 are connected through a three-way valve.

[0030] Specifically, the cleaning control valve of the first branch pipe 642 is an ink supply cleaning solenoid valve 65, which is used to control the on-off of the first branch pipe 642; the cleaning control valve of the second branch pipe 643 is an ink return cleaning solenoid valve 66, which is used to control the on-off of the second branch pipe 643.

[0031] Furthermore, an ink supply one-way valve 67 is provided on the first branch pipe 642 between the ink supply cleaning solenoid valve 65 and the sensor detection structure 30, which is used to prevent ink from flowing to the first branch pipe 642 when the ink supply pipe 40 supplies ink; an ink return one-way valve 68 is provided on the second branch pipe 643 between the ink return cleaning solenoid valve 66 and the sensor detection structure 30, which is used to prevent ink from flowing to the second branch pipe 643 when the ink return pipe 50 returns ink.

[0032] In order to prevent impurities in the cleaning liquid from entering the nozzle 20 , a cleaning filter 63 is provided on the suction pipe between the inlet of the cleaning pump 62 and the cleaning tank 61 .

[0033] Typically, a waste liquid tank 80 is provided below the nozzle 20 for collecting the cleaning liquid.

[0034] In the embodiment of the present invention, the exhaust pipe 70 is connected to the main pipe 641, and the exhaust control valve is arranged on the exhaust pipe 70 between the exhaust port of the exhaust pump 71 and the main pipe 641, so that air can be blown to the main pipe 641 through the exhaust pipe 70, and then blown through the main pipe 641, the first branch pipe 642, and the second branch pipe 643, and the air is blown to the nozzle 20 through the connecting pipe connected to the ink supply channel and the ink return channel, so as to exhaust the nozzle 20, and the cleaning liquid remaining in the main pipe 641, the first branch pipe 642, the second branch pipe 643, the sensor detection structure 30, and the nozzle 20 can be discharged. Usually, the exhaust pipe 70 and the main pipe 641 are connected through a three-way valve.

[0035] Specifically, the exhaust control valve is an exhaust check valve 73, which is used to prevent the cleaning liquid from flowing to the exhaust pipe 70. Of course, the exhaust control valve can also be an exhaust solenoid valve.

[0036] In order to prevent impurities in the air from entering the nozzle 20 , an air filter 72 is provided on one side of the air inlet of the exhaust pump 71 .

[0037] In the embodiment of the present invention, the cleaning structure and the exhaust structure are electrically connected to the mainboard assembly of the 3D printer, respectively, and can control the cleaning structure and the exhaust structure to start and stop working through the control panel of the 3D printer. Specifically, the cleaning pump 62, the ink supply cleaning solenoid valve 65, and the ink return cleaning solenoid valve 66 of the cleaning structure are electrically connected to the mainboard assembly of the 3D printer, respectively, and the exhaust pump 71 of the exhaust structure is electrically connected to the mainboard assembly of the 3D printer.

[0038] The above descriptions are only some embodiments of the present invention and are not intended to limit the present invention. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions and improvements made within the spirit and principles of the present invention should be included in the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A nozzle cleaning and exhaust system, comprising a nozzle, a sensor detection structure connected to the nozzle, and an ink path structure, wherein an ink supply pipe of the ink path structure is connected to an ink supply channel of the sensor detection structure, and an ink return pipe of the ink path structure is connected to an ink return channel of the sensor detection structure, characterized in that: An ink supply control valve is provided at a position of the ink supply tube close to the sensor detection structure, and an ink return control valve is provided at a position of the ink return tube close to the sensor detection structure, and also includes a cleaning structure and an exhaust structure; the cleaning structure includes a cleaning tank, a cleaning tube, a cleaning pump connected to the cleaning tube, and a cleaning control valve of the cleaning tube arranged between the cleaning pump and the sensor detection structure, and the cleaning tube is respectively connected to the ink supply tube between the ink supply control valve and the sensor detection structure, and the ink return tube between the ink return control valve and the sensor detection structure; the exhaust structure includes an exhaust pump, an exhaust pipe connected to the exhaust port of the exhaust pump, and an exhaust control valve arranged on the exhaust pipe, and the exhaust pipe is respectively connected to the ink supply tube between the ink supply control valve and the sensor detection structure, and the ink return tube between the ink return control valve and the sensor detection structure.

2. The nozzle cleaning exhaust system according to claim 1, characterized in that: The cleaning pipe includes a main pipe connected to the outlet of the cleaning pump, and a first branch pipe and a second branch pipe respectively connected to one end of the main pipe away from the cleaning pump, the first branch pipe is connected to the ink supply pipe between the ink supply control valve and the sensor detection structure, and the second branch pipe is connected to the ink return pipe between the ink return control valve and the sensor detection structure; the cleaning control valve is respectively provided on the first branch pipe and the second branch pipe.

3. The nozzle cleaning exhaust system according to claim 2, characterized in that: The cleaning control valve of the first branch pipe is an ink supply cleaning solenoid valve, and the cleaning control valve of the second branch pipe is an ink return cleaning solenoid valve.

4. The nozzle cleaning exhaust system according to claim 3, characterized in that: An ink supply one-way valve is provided on the first branch pipe between the ink supply cleaning solenoid valve and the sensor detection structure, which is used to prevent ink from flowing to the first branch pipe when the ink supply pipe supplies ink; an ink return one-way valve is provided on the second branch pipe between the ink return cleaning solenoid valve and the sensor detection structure, which is used to prevent ink from flowing to the second branch pipe when the ink return pipe returns ink.

5. The nozzle cleaning exhaust system according to any one of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that: The exhaust pipe is communicated with the main pipe, and the exhaust control valve is arranged on the exhaust pipe between the exhaust port of the exhaust pump and the main pipe.

6. The nozzle cleaning exhaust system according to claim 5, characterized in that: The exhaust control valve is configured as an exhaust one-way valve.

7. The nozzle cleaning exhaust system according to claim 1, characterized in that: A cleaning filter is provided on the suction pipe between the inlet of the cleaning pump and the cleaning tank.

8. The nozzle cleaning exhaust system according to claim 1, characterized in that: A waste liquid tank is provided below the nozzle.

9. The nozzle cleaning exhaust system according to claim 1, characterized in that: An air filter is arranged on one side of the air inlet of the exhaust pump.

10. The nozzle cleaning exhaust system according to claim 1, characterized in that: The ink supply control valve is an ink supply electromagnetic valve disposed on the ink supply tube, and the ink return control valve is an ink return electromagnetic valve disposed on the ink return tube.

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