Continuous fiber and resin matrix synchronous blending extrusion device driven by single motor

Abstract

A single-motor-driven continuous fiber and resin matrix synchronous blending extrusion device belongs to the technical field of continuous fiber reinforced composite material 3D printing, and is characterized by comprising a main body frame, the main body frame is provided with a motor and is connected with a synchronous driving mechanism; the synchronous driving mechanism is connected with a continuous fiber extrusion mechanism and a resin matrix extrusion mechanism; a heating module and an air cooling module are arranged at the lower ends of the continuous fiber extrusion mechanism and the resin matrix extrusion mechanism; by utilizing the synchronous driving mechanism, the continuous fiber reinforcement and the resin matrix can be blended and extruded. The device is driven by a single motor, and is low in power requirement, small in size and mass, and simple and reliable in structure.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention belongs to the technical field of composite materials, in particular to the technical field of 3D printing technology for continuous fiber reinforced composite materials, and specifically relates to a single-motor-driven synchronous blending and extrusion device for continuous fibers and resin matrix. Background Art

[0002] 3D printing technology has become one of the most promising technologies in the field of advanced and rapid manufacturing. Conventional 3D-printed parts usually use pure polymers or short fiber-reinforced polymer composites, which have limitations in structural applications due to their relatively poor mechanical properties. Fiber-reinforced 3D printing additive manufacturing technology has become a method to achieve the integration of lightweight design and manufacturing, which can effectively improve the mechanical properties of printed parts and meet the corresponding requirements such as bearing loads. Most existing continuous fiber 3D printing devices adopt in-situ or online impregnation methods for dry fiber bundles and all use remote extrusion methods, leaving much room for improvement in terms of printing efficiency and printing accuracy. Using separate motors to drive fibers and resin respectively may result in mismatches in the ratio and extrusion speed of fibers and resin, leading to voids or uneven fiber distribution in the printed parts, thus reducing mechanical properties. In specific scenarios, precise fiber orientation is the key to improving the strength and stiffness of printed parts, while the remote extrusion method is difficult to achieve fine control of fibers and may also limit the optimization of thermal management and curing processes, affecting the final performance of printed parts.

[0003] In the prior art, the blending and extrusion of continuous fibers and resin matrix usually rely on multi-motor independent drive, resulting in difficulties in precisely matching the ratio and extrusion speed of fibers and resin, prone to problems such as uneven fiber distribution or insufficient matrix impregnation, thereby affecting the mechanical properties of printed parts. The ratio adjustment of existing equipment relies on complex multi-axis coordinated control, with redundant structure and high cost.

[0004] In addition, the existing 3D printing technology using continuous fiber-reinforced thermoplastic prepregs also has certain limitations. The ratio of fibers and resin is pre-determined by the manufacturer, and users cannot adjust it according to specific application requirements, restricting the optimization of material properties and the customization needs of users. The matrix material used in continuous fiber prepregs is fixed, and users and researchers can only select specific thermoplastic polymers as the matrix material, restricting the flexibility and diversity of applications as well as applications in high-temperature or chemical environments, or the performance cannot meet the requirements in certain specific industries. Summary of the Invention

[0005] The object of the present invention is to overcome the deficiencies of the prior art and propose a single-motor-driven continuous fiber and resin matrix synchronous blending and extrusion device. By using a synchronous drive mechanism, this device can achieve the synchronous blending and extrusion of continuous fiber reinforcements and resin matrices. The present invention creatively proposes a collaborative solution of "single motor + clutch", replacing complex electronic control with mechanical transmission. This not only greatly simplifies the structure but also eliminates the cumulative error of the multi-motor system through the instant response characteristics of the clutch. Driven by a single motor, this device has low power requirements, small size and mass, simple and reliable structure. The problem of plugging can also be solved through the design of the separate extrusion of continuous fibers and the blending and extrusion print head.

[0006] The technical solution of the present invention is as follows:

[0007] A single-motor-driven continuous fiber and resin matrix synchronous blending and extrusion device, comprising a main body frame; a motor is provided on the main body frame, and it is characterized in that: the output shaft of the motor is connected to the input shaft of the synchronous drive mechanism; the synchronous drive mechanism includes a clutch; the clutch is fixedly connected to the main body frame, the input end of the clutch is connected to the output shaft of the motor, and the output end of the clutch drives the continuous fiber extrusion mechanism and the resin matrix extrusion mechanism respectively through the transmission components of the synchronous drive mechanism. By controlling the duty cycle of the clutch opening and closing during the rotation of the motor, the synchronous blending and extrusion of fibers and resin matrices under different specific gravities are achieved.

[0008] Furthermore, a continuous fiber cutting mechanism and a wire feeding tensioning mechanism can be provided on the continuous fiber extrusion mechanism according to requirements, and a feeding tensioning mechanism is provided on the resin matrix extrusion mechanism; a fiber tensioning block and a resin tensioning block are provided on one side of the top of the main body frame; the end of the fiber tensioning block on the wire feeding tensioning mechanism is movably sleeved with a fiber tensioning shaft; a fiber guiding wheel is fixedly connected to the fiber tensioning shaft; a wire feeding gear is provided beside the fiber guiding wheel; the wire feeding gear is fixedly connected to the output shaft of the motor to achieve rotation. The end of the resin tensioning block on the feeding tensioning mechanism is movably sleeved with a resin tensioning shaft; a feeding guiding wheel is fixedly connected to the resin tensioning shaft; a feeding gear is provided beside the feeding guiding wheel; the feeding gear is fixedly connected to the output shaft of the synchronous drive mechanism to achieve synchronous rotation.

[0009] Further, the synchronous drive mechanism further includes an input shaft, an output shaft, a first intermediate shaft, a second intermediate shaft, an input end gear, an output end gear, a first intermediate gear, and a second intermediate gear; one ends of the input shaft and the output shaft are sleeved on the main body frame, and the other ends are fixedly connected to the input end and the output end of the clutch respectively; the center line of the input shaft is collinear with the center line of the output shaft, the center line of the first intermediate shaft is collinear with the center line of the second intermediate shaft, and the center lines of the first intermediate shaft and the second intermediate shaft and the center lines of the input shaft and the output shaft form a plane S; the input end gear is fixedly sleeved on the input shaft, and the output end gear is sleeved on the output shaft; the first intermediate gear meshes with the input end gear and is sleeved on the transmission shaft; the second intermediate gear meshes with the output end gear and is sleeved on the transmission shaft.

[0010] Further, a heating module and an air cooling module are provided at the lower ends of the continuous fiber extrusion mechanism and the resin matrix extrusion mechanism.

[0011] Further, the heating module is composed of a wire feeding throat tube, a material feeding throat tube, a heating block, and a nozzle.

[0012] Further, the heating block has a wire feeding inlet channel, a material feeding inlet channel, and a co - mixing extrusion channel; the material feeding inlet channel is inclined; the wire feeding inlet channel is vertical and collinear with the co - mixing base channel.

[0013] Further, the clutch adopts one or more of a jaw clutch, a ratchet clutch, a friction clutch, an electromagnetic clutch, and a magnetic powder clutch.

[0014] The beneficial effects of the present invention are as follows:

[0015] The present invention introduces the coordinated control of the clutch and the feeding sensor, realizes the flexible adjustment of the ratio of the fiber to the resin matrix, and breaks through the bottleneck of fixed or difficult - to - adjust ratio in the prior art. Through the controllable opening and closing and transmission switching of the clutch, the present invention can adjust the conveying ratio of the fiber and the resin in real time. In the area where a high fiber content is required, the clutch can briefly interrupt the resin conveying to achieve precise control of the fiber density; conversely, in the area where matrix infiltration is required, the clutch can synchronously drive the dual paths to ensure uniform co - mixing. This dynamic regulation ability breaks through the limitation of the fixed ratio of traditional prepregs and gives users a highly flexible customization space.

[0016] The present invention adopts an electromagnetic clutch or a magnetic powder clutch, which can precisely control the clutch state through an electric signal, achieve a millisecond - level response, and ensure the synchronism and stability of the extrusion action; the integration of the clutch not only greatly reduces the number of motors and the volume of the equipment, but also eliminates the delay error of the electronic control system through mechanical synchronous transmission, significantly improving the co - mixing accuracy and printing efficiency.

[0017] The present invention adopts a unique design of a continuous fiber single extrusion and co - extrusion printing head, which can effectively solve the problem of nozzle clogging and improve the stability and reliability of the printing process. It helps to realize the "adaptive" co - extrusion printing technology of continuous fiber and impregnated matrix, opening up a new path for the manufacture of high - performance composite components. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0018] Figure 1 Fig. 1 is a three - dimensional external view of an embodiment of a synchronous co - extrusion device for continuous fiber and resin matrix driven by a single motor designed according to the present invention.

[0019] Figure 2 Fig. Figure 1 is another three - dimensional external view of the shown embodiment.

[0020] Figure 3 Fig. Figure 1 is a partial three - dimensional view of the synchronous drive mechanism and the tensioning mechanism in the shown embodiment.

[0021] Figure 4 Fig. Figure 1 is a cross - sectional view of the shown embodiment.

[0022] Figure 5 Fig. Figure 1 is a cross - sectional view of the heating block in the shown embodiment.

[0023] In the figures: 1 - main body frame, 2 - synchronous drive mechanism, 21 - synchronous input shaft, 22 - synchronous output shaft, 3 - fiber extrusion mechanism, 31 - wire feeding tensioning mechanism, 32 - fiber tensioning block, 33 - wire feeding gear, 34 - fiber cutting mechanism, 321 - fiber tensioning shaft, 322 - fiber guide wheel, 4 - resin extrusion mechanism, 41 - feeding tensioning mechanism, 42 - resin tensioning block, 43 - feeding gear, 421 - resin tensioning shaft, 422 - feeding guide wheel, 5 - clutch, 6 - motor, 71 - first intermediate shaft, 72 - second intermediate shaft, 73 - input end gear, 74 - output end gear, 75 - first intermediate gear, 76 - second intermediate gear, 8 - heating module, 9 - air cooling module, 81 - wire feeding throat tube, 82 - feeding throat tube, 83 - heating block, 84 - nozzle, 831 - wire feeding inlet channel, 832 - feeding inlet channel, 833 - co - extrusion channel. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

[0024] The following further details the specific structure and working principle of the present invention in conjunction with the drawings and embodiments.

[0025] As Figures 1 to 5 shown,

[0026] A continuous fiber and resin matrix synchronous blending and extrusion device driven by a single motor, comprising a main frame 1, on which a motor 6 is provided; the output shaft of the motor 6 is connected to the input shaft of a synchronous driving mechanism 2 (see Figure 2 ); the synchronous driving mechanism 2 includes a clutch 5; the clutch 5 is fixedly connected to the main frame 1, the input end of the clutch 5 is connected to the output shaft of the motor 6, and the output end of the clutch 5 drives a continuous fiber extrusion mechanism 3 and a resin matrix extrusion mechanism 4 respectively through the transmission components of the synchronous driving mechanism 2.

[0027] In this embodiment, a wire feeding tensioning mechanism 31 and a fiber cutting mechanism 34 are provided on the fiber extrusion mechanism 3, and a feeding tensioning mechanism 41 is provided on the resin extrusion mechanism 4; a fiber tensioning block 33 and a resin tensioning block 42 are provided on one side of the top of the main frame 1; the end of the fiber tensioning block 32 on the wire feeding tensioning mechanism 31 is movably sleeved with a fiber tensioning shaft 321; a fiber guiding wheel 322 is fixedly connected to the fiber tensioning shaft 321; a wire feeding gear 33 is provided beside the fiber guiding wheel 322; the wire feeding gear 33 is fixedly connected to the output shaft of the motor 6 to realize rotation; the end of the resin tensioning block 42 on the feeding tensioning mechanism 41 is movably sleeved with a resin tensioning shaft 421; a feeding guiding wheel 422 is fixedly connected to the resin tensioning shaft 421; a feeding gear 43 is provided beside the feeding guiding wheel 422; the feeding gear 43 is fixedly connected to the output shaft of the synchronous driving mechanism 2 to realize synchronous rotation.

[0028] In this embodiment, the synchronous driving mechanism 2 is connected to a continuous fiber extrusion mechanism 3 and a resin matrix extrusion mechanism 4; a wire feeding tensioning mechanism 31 and a fiber cutting mechanism 34 are provided on the fiber extrusion mechanism 3, and a feeding tensioning mechanism 41 is provided on the resin extrusion mechanism 4; a fiber tensioning block 33 and a resin tensioning block 42 are provided on one side of the top of the main frame 1; the end of the fiber tensioning block 32 on the wire feeding tensioning mechanism 31 is movably sleeved with a fiber tensioning shaft 321; a fiber guiding wheel 322 is fixedly connected to the fiber tensioning shaft 321; a wire feeding gear 33 is provided beside the fiber guiding wheel 322; the wire feeding gear 33 is fixedly connected to the output shaft of the motor 6 to realize rotation; the end of the resin tensioning block 42 on the feeding tensioning mechanism 41 is movably sleeved with a resin tensioning shaft 421; a feeding guiding wheel 422 is fixedly connected to the resin tensioning shaft 421; a feeding gear 43 is provided beside the feeding guiding wheel 422; the feeding gear 43 is fixedly connected to the output shaft of the synchronous driving mechanism 2 to realize synchronous rotation.

[0029] In this embodiment, the synchronous drive mechanism 2 further includes a synchronous input shaft 21, a synchronous output shaft 22, a first intermediate shaft 71, a second intermediate shaft 72, an input end gear 73, an output end gear 74, a first intermediate gear 75, and a second intermediate gear 76; the clutch 5 is fixedly connected to the main frame, and the transmission shaft is sleeved on the main frame 1; one ends of the input shaft and the output shaft are sleeved on the main frame, and the other ends are fixedly connected to the input end and the output end of the clutch 5 respectively; the central axis of the synchronous input shaft 21 is collinear with the central axis of the synchronous output shaft 22, the central axis of the first intermediate shaft 71 is collinear with the central axis of the second intermediate shaft 72, and the central axes of the first intermediate shaft 71 and the second intermediate shaft 72 and the central axes of the synchronous input shaft 21 and the synchronous output shaft 22 form a plane S; the input end gear 73 is fixedly sleeved on the synchronous input shaft 21, and the output end gear 74 is sleeved on the synchronous output shaft 22; the first intermediate gear 75 meshes with the input end gear 73 and is sleeved on the first intermediate shaft 71; the second intermediate gear 76 meshes with the output end gear 74 and is sleeved on the second intermediate shaft 72.

[0030] In this embodiment, a heating module 8 and an air cooling module 9 are provided at the lower ends of the continuous fiber extrusion mechanism 3 and the resin matrix extrusion mechanism 4; the heating module 8 is composed of a wire feeding throat 81, a material feeding throat 82, a heating block 83, and a nozzle 84. In this embodiment, the heating block 83 has a wire feeding inlet channel 831, a material feeding inlet channel 832, and a co-mixing extrusion channel 833; the material feeding inlet channel 832 is inclined; the wire feeding inlet channel 831 is vertical and collinear with the co-mixing extrusion channel 833.

[0031] In this embodiment, the clutch 5 adopts one or more of an electromagnetic clutch, a jaw clutch, a ratchet clutch, a friction clutch, or a magnetic powder clutch, and among them, the electromagnetic clutch is the best.

[0032] The working principle of this embodiment is described as follows:

[0033] The functional logic of the single motor of the present invention for simultaneously driving wire feeding and material feeding is as follows:

[0034] The motor 6 provides power to drive the wire feeding gear 33 fixedly connected to the output shaft of the motor to rotate; the fiber clamping and tensioning block 32 is clamped, so that the fiber guide wheel 322 is offset and tightly clamped with the wire feeding gear 33; the continuous fiber filament provides wire feeding power through the wire feeding gear 33 to realize the wire feeding action.

[0035] The motor 6 provides power to drive the synchronous input shaft 21 of the synchronous transmission mechanism 2 connected to the output shaft of the motor to rotate. It sequentially passes through the input end gear 73, the first intermediate gear 75, the first intermediate shaft 71, the second intermediate shaft 72, the second intermediate gear 76, the output end gear 74, and the synchronous output shaft 22, thereby driving the feeding gear 43 connected to the synchronous transmission mechanism 2 to rotate; clamping the resin tensioning block 42 causes the feeding guide wheel 422 to shift and tightly clamp with the feeding gear 43; the resin matrix material is powered by the feeding gear 43 to achieve the feeding action.

[0036] The functional logic of forming a composite material by blending continuous fiber reinforced material and resin matrix is as follows:

[0037] Through the wire feeding action and the feeding action, the continuous fiber and the resin respectively enter the heating block 83 through the wire feeding pipe 81 and the feeding pipe 82. Under the action of temperature, the thermoplastic resin matrix material melts into a liquid state and wraps around the periphery of the continuous fiber. Under the simultaneous action of the fiber extrusion mechanism 3 and the resin extrusion mechanism 4, the blended material is extruded through the nozzle 84 and cured to form a continuous fiber reinforced composite material.

[0038] There are many specific application ways of the present invention. The above description is only the preferred embodiment of the present invention. It should be noted that for those of ordinary skill in the art of this technology, without departing from the principle of the present invention, several improvements can be made, and these improvements should also be regarded as the protection scope of the present invention.

[0039] The parts not involved in the present invention are the same as the prior art or can be implemented by using the prior art.

Claims

1. A single-motor driven continuous fiber and resin matrix synchronous blending extrusion device, comprising a main frame; the main frame is provided with a motor, characterized in that: The output shaft of the motor is connected to the input shaft of the synchronous drive mechanism; the synchronous drive mechanism includes a clutch; the clutch is fixed to the main frame, the input end of the clutch is connected to the output shaft of the motor, and the output end of the clutch drives the continuous fiber extrusion mechanism and the resin matrix extrusion mechanism respectively through the transmission component of the synchronous drive mechanism, and the synchronous blending and extrusion of fibers and resin matrices with different specific gravities is achieved by controlling the duty ratio of the clutch opening and closing during the rotation of the motor.

2. The single-motor driven continuous fiber and resin matrix synchronous blending extrusion device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The continuous fiber extrusion mechanism is provided with a continuous fiber cutting mechanism and a wire feeding tensioning mechanism, and the resin matrix extrusion mechanism is provided with a feeding tensioning mechanism; a fiber tensioning block and a resin tensioning block are provided on one side of the top of the main frame; the end of the fiber tensioning block on the wire feeding tensioning mechanism is movably sleeved with a fiber tensioning shaft; a fiber guide wheel is fixedly connected to the fiber tensioning shaft; a wire feeding gear is provided next to the fiber guide wheel; the wire feeding gear is fixedly connected to the output shaft of the motor to realize rotation; the end of the resin tensioning block on the feeding tensioning mechanism is movably sleeved with a resin tensioning shaft; a feeding guide wheel is fixedly connected to the resin tensioning shaft; a feeding gear is provided next to the feeding guide wheel; the feeding gear is fixedly connected to the output shaft of the synchronous drive mechanism to realize synchronous rotation.

3. The single-motor driven continuous fiber and resin matrix synchronous blending extrusion device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The synchronous drive mechanism also includes an input shaft, an output shaft, a first transition shaft, a second transition shaft, an input end gear, an output end gear, a first transition gear and a second transition gear; one end of the input shaft and the output shaft are sleeved on the main frame, and the other ends are fixedly connected to the input end and the output end of the clutch respectively; the center line of the input shaft is collinear with the center line of the output shaft, the center line of the first transition shaft is collinear with the center line of the second transition shaft, and the center line of the first transition shaft and the center line of the second transition shaft form a plane S with the center line of the input shaft and the output shaft; the input end gear is sleeved on the input shaft, and the output end gear is sleeved on the output shaft; the first transition gear is meshed with the input end gear and sleeved on the transmission shaft; the second transition gear is meshed with the output end gear and sleeved on the transmission shaft.

4. The single-motor driven continuous fiber and resin matrix synchronous blending extrusion device according to claim 1, characterized in that: A heating module and an air cooling module are arranged at the lower ends of the continuous fiber extrusion mechanism and the resin matrix extrusion mechanism.

5. The continuous fiber and resin matrix synchronous blending extrusion device driven by a single motor according to claim 4, characterized in that: The heating module consists of a wire feeding throat, a material feeding throat, a heating block and a nozzle.

6. The single-motor driven continuous fiber and resin matrix synchronous blending extrusion device according to claim 5, characterized in that: The heating block has a wire feeding entry channel, a material feeding entry channel and a blending extrusion channel; the material feeding entry channel is inclined; the wire feeding entry channel is vertical and is in line with the blending base channel.

7. The single-motor driven continuous fiber and resin matrix synchronous blending extrusion device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The clutch is one or more of a tooth clutch, a ratchet clutch, a friction clutch, an electromagnetic clutch, and a magnetic powder clutch.

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