Variable nozzle capable of controlling opening degree

Abstract

The invention discloses a variable nozzle capable of controlling the opening size, and relates to the technical field of 3D printing nozzles. The switch valve assembly is arranged at an outlet of the spray head body and used for discharging wires and finely adjusting the spraying amount of the wires, and the switch valve assembly comprises a support annularly fixed to the lower portion of the spray head body, a fixing ring fixed to the bottom of the support and a transmission ring rotationally installed at the outlet of the spray head body and arranged above the fixing ring; the baffle assembly is arranged between the fixed ring and the transmission ring and is used for controlling the spraying quantity of the outlet of the spray head body. The switch valve assembly has the function of finely adjusting the spraying amount, the printing quality is optimized, the surface smoothness of a product is improved, the device adapts to different material characteristics, the difference of shrinkage rates of different materials is overcome, the printing effect is improved, meanwhile, the step of nozzle replacement is omitted, the working speed is further increased, and the working intensity is further relieved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of 3D printing nozzles, and specifically to a variable nozzle whose opening and closing size can be controlled. Background Art

[0002] The nozzle of a 3D printer is one of the core components of the fused deposition modeling (FDM) technology. It is responsible for heating and melting the solid wire material and then extruding it. It moves along the cross-sectional contour of the part and the filling trajectory, and forms a printing layer through precise control. Layers are stacked to form the final product. Due to the diversification of products, the nozzle needs to be replaced during the printing process to adjust the material output. However, the method of replacing the nozzle has the following disadvantages in actual use; First of all, replacing the nozzle back and forth affects the printing efficiency and increases the work intensity; Secondly, the nozzle size is limited, and it is difficult to precisely adjust the material output; To solve the above problems, a variable nozzle whose opening and closing size can be controlled is proposed. Summary of the Invention

[0003] The purpose of the present invention is to provide a variable nozzle whose opening and closing size can be controlled. The switch valve assembly provided in this device has the function of finely adjusting the spraying amount, which not only optimizes the printing quality and improves the surface finish of the product, but also adapts to different material characteristics, overcomes the differences in shrinkage rates of different materials, improves the printing effect, and at the same time saves the steps of nozzle replacement, further improves the working speed, and reduces the work intensity.

[0004] To achieve the above purpose, the present invention provides the following technical solution: A variable nozzle whose opening and closing size can be controlled, comprising: a nozzle body; a switch valve assembly provided at the outlet of the nozzle body for wire material discharging and finely adjusting the wire material spraying amount. Among them, the switch valve assembly includes a bracket annularly fixed at the lower part of the nozzle body, a fixed ring fixed at the bottom of the bracket, and a transmission ring rotatably installed at the outlet of the nozzle body and above the fixed ring; it also includes a baffle assembly provided between the fixed ring and the transmission ring for controlling the spraying amount at the outlet of the nozzle body. Among them, when the transmission ring rotates forward, the baffle assembly can close up and form a complete circle for closing the outlet of the nozzle body. When the transmission ring rotates backward, the baffle assembly expands to control the extrusion flow rate at the outlet of the nozzle body by adjusting the size of the outlet of the nozzle body.

[0005] Preferably, the baffle assembly includes a plurality of fan-shaped plates. Among them, a transmission column is provided in the middle of the outer edge of each fan-shaped plate, and a limiting block is provided at one end of the bottom of its outer edge; and a transmission groove annularly opened on the transmission ring and slidably installed corresponding to a plurality of transmission columns; it also includes a limiting groove annularly opened on the fixed ring and aligned with the outer edges of a plurality of fan-shaped plates one by one. A plurality of the limiting blocks are slidably installed in correspondence with the limiting grooves one by one.

[0006] Preferably, a plurality of diversion tracks are provided on the upper surface of each sector plate, wherein the thickness of a single diversion track gradually decreases from outside to inside.

[0007] Preferably, a cleaning brush assembly is further provided at the outlet of the nozzle body for cleaning the upper surfaces of a plurality of sector plates. The cleaning brush assembly includes a mounting ring connected to the outlet of the nozzle body and disposed above the fixed ring, and a cleaning brush disposed below the mounting ring and in contact with the upper surfaces of a plurality of sector plates.

[0008] Preferably, a discharge channel is further provided at the bottom of the fixed ring.

[0009] Preferably, the nozzle body includes a spiral conveying pipe, a feed pipe annularly disposed on the top of the spiral conveying pipe and communicated with the spiral conveying pipe, and a spiral conveying rod longitudinally penetrating through the inside of the spiral conveying pipe; it further includes a first driving motor assembled on the top of the spiral conveying pipe and fixedly connected to the spiral conveying rod, serving as a driving source for the operation of the spiral conveying rod.

[0010] Preferably, a meshing driving assembly for driving the transmission ring to rotate is provided on the spiral conveying pipe. The meshing driving assembly includes a transmission cylinder fixed on the upper surface of the transmission ring, and an external gear ring fixed on the side wall of the transmission cylinder near its top; and a mounting disc fixed in the middle of the spiral conveying pipe, a second driving motor is fixed at the bottom of the mounting disc, and a cylinder is assembled at the output end of the second driving motor; and a spline shaft and a spline sleeve connected to the cylinder, wherein the spline shaft is spline-connected with the spline sleeve, the spline shaft is fixed to the cylinder, the spline sleeve is provided with transmission teeth with the number of teeth decreasing sequentially from top to bottom, and the transmission teeth can be meshed with the external gear ring; it further includes a plurality of telescopic rods disposed at the execution end of the cylinder, wherein one ends of the plurality of telescopic rods away from the cylinder are connected to the spline sleeve.

[0011] Preferably, a mounting strip is further provided on one side of the mounting disc close to the transmission teeth. A control panel is fixed on the upper part of the mounting strip, and a scale longitudinally aligned with the transmission teeth is installed on the lower part of the mounting strip.

[0012] Compared with the prior art, the beneficial effects of the present invention are as follows: 1. The switch valve assembly provided in the present invention has the function of finely adjusting the spraying amount, which not only optimizes the printing quality, improves the surface smoothness of the product, but also adapts to the characteristics of different materials, overcomes the differences in the shrinkage rates of different materials, improves the printing effect, and at the same time saves the steps of nozzle replacement, further improves the working speed, and reduces the working intensity.

[0013] 2. As another embodiment of the present invention, a number of diversion tracks are provided on the upper surface of a single sector plate where the device is located. Since the thickness of a single diversion track gradually decreases from outside to inside, when a number of sector plates are in a combined state, the filaments inside the nozzle body can be gathered towards the middle of the number of sector plates. Subsequently, when the number of sector plates unfold, it is convenient for rapid discharging. When the number of sector plates unfold, that is, the nozzle body can rapidly push the fluid filaments towards the sector plates. When the fluid contacts the sector plates, the rebounding tendency of the sector plates on the fluid can enable the fluid to achieve a mixing process at the position of the switching valve assembly, further improving the mixing effect of the fluid.

[0014] 3. As other embodiments of the present invention, the cleaning brush provided in the device can contact the upper surfaces of a number of sector plates. Here, the short brushes and long brushes where the cleaning brush is located are distributed at intervals, adapting to the gaps between the diversion tracks and adjacent diversion tracks to ensure the cleaning effect. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0015] Figure 1 is a three-dimensional structural schematic diagram of the first perspective of the present invention; Figure 2 is a three-dimensional structural schematic diagram of the second perspective of the present invention; Figure 3 is a front view structural schematic diagram of the present invention; Figure 4 is a sectional structural schematic diagram of A-A; Figure 5 is Figure 1 a partial disassembled structural schematic diagram of; Figure 6 is Figure 5 a partial enlarged structural schematic diagram of; Figure 7 is Figure 5 a partial disassembled structural schematic diagram of; Figure 8 is Figure 7 a disassembled structural schematic diagram of; Figure 9 is Figure 8 a structural schematic diagram of another perspective of.

[0016] In the figure: 111, spiral conveying pipe; 211, feed pipe; 311, first driving motor; 312, spiral conveying rod; 411, bracket; 412, fixing ring; 413, driving ring; 414, sector plate; 415, driving groove; 416, driving column; 417, mounting ring; 418, cleaning brush; 419, diversion track; 420, limiting groove; 421, limiting block; 511, driving cylinder; 512, external gear ring; 513, mounting disc; 514, second driving motor; 515, spline shaft; 516, spline sleeve; 517, driving tooth; 518, telescopic rod; 519, control panel; 520, scale; 611, discharge channel. Detailed implementation manners

[0017] In the description of the present invention, it should be understood that the orientation or positional relationship indicated by the terms "length", "width", "upper", "lower", "front", "rear", "left", "right", "vertical", "horizontal", "top", "bottom", "inner", "outer", etc. is based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the drawings. It is only for the convenience of describing the present invention and simplifying the description, rather than indicating or implying that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and thus should not be construed as a limitation to the present invention. The following describes each embodiment of the present invention in detail with reference to the drawings.

[0018] Embodiment 1 Please refer to Figures 1 to 9 , the present invention preferably provides a technical solution: a variable nozzle capable of controlling the opening and closing size, including: a nozzle body; a switching valve assembly provided at the outlet of the nozzle body for discharging wire material and finely adjusting the wire spraying amount. Among them, the switching valve assembly includes a bracket 411 fixedly arranged in a ring shape at the lower part of the nozzle body, a fixing ring 412 fixed at the bottom of the bracket 411, and a driving ring 413 rotatably installed above the fixing ring 412 at the outlet of the nozzle body; it further includes a baffle assembly provided between the fixing ring 412 and the driving ring 413 for controlling the spraying amount at the outlet of the nozzle body. Among them, when the driving ring 413 rotates forward, the baffle assembly can close up and form a complete circle for closing the outlet of the nozzle body. When the driving ring 413 rotates reversely, the baffle assembly expands to control the extrusion flow rate at the outlet of the nozzle body by adjusting the size of the outlet of the nozzle body.

[0019] In this embodiment, the nozzle body provided can be docked with the outlet of the extruder, in combination with Figure 2 , 4, as shown in Figures 5, 7, 8, and 9, the switching valve assembly installed at the outlet of the nozzle body can adjust the wire spraying amount. Specifically, the driving ring 413 and the fixed ring 412 where the switching valve assembly is located are installed vertically. Among them, the driving ring 413 is connected to the outlet of the nozzle body, and the fixed ring 412 is connected to the nozzle body through the bracket 411. The baffle assembly between the two can expand or merge when the driving ring 413 rotates, thereby realizing the process of spraying or closing the outlet of the nozzle body. At the same time, by adjusting the rotation degree of the driving ring 413, the fine adjustment of the spraying amount of the nozzle body can be further realized; In this application, for the fine adjustment of the nozzle flow rate, on the one hand, the printing quality is optimized. First, the problems of under-extrusion / over-extrusion are reduced. By adjusting the material output, defects caused by insufficient extrusion (interlayer gaps, weak structure) or excessive extrusion (surface burrs, interlayer accumulation) can be avoided. Second, the surface finish of the product is improved. Precise control of the material output can reduce material overflow or wire drawing, making the surface of the printed part smoother. In addition, the adhesion of the first layer can be improved. Appropriately increasing the material output of the first layer (such as 105%-110%) can enhance the adhesion between the printed part and the hot bed and reduce warping. On the other hand, it adapts to the characteristics of different materials. Different materials (such as PLA, ABS, PETG, TPU) have different shrinkage rates during cooling. For example, ABS has a high shrinkage rate. Appropriately increasing the material output can compensate for the dimensional error caused by shrinkage. In this application, through the simple operation of the rotation degree of the driving ring 413, the fine adjustment of the material output of this nozzle can be realized, thereby overcoming the situation where the nozzle needs to be continuously replaced for the adjustment of the material output, improving the extrusion speed, and reducing the working intensity.

[0020] Furthermore, the baffle assembly includes several sector plates 414. Among them, a driving column 416 is arranged in the middle of the outer edge of each sector plate 414, and a limiting block 421 is arranged at one end of the bottom of its outer edge; and a driving groove 415 annularly opened on the driving ring 413 and slidably installed corresponding to the several driving columns 416 one by one; it also includes a limiting groove 420 annularly opened on the fixed ring 412 and aligned with the outer edges of the several sector plates 414 one by one. The several limiting blocks 421 are slidably installed corresponding to the limiting grooves 420 one by one and are limited.

[0021] Combined with Figure 8 , 9 As shown, the driving ring 413, several sector plates 414, and the fixed ring 412 are distributed in sequence from top to bottom. Among them, a driving column 416 is fixed in the middle of the outer edge of each sector plate 414, and the driving column 416 can be slidably limited inside the driving groove 415 opened on the driving ring 413. Combined with Figure 7As shown, since a number of drive grooves 415 are arranged in a divergent manner, when the drive ring 413 rotates, a number of drive posts 416 can be driven to move in and out inside the a number of drive grooves 415. And because the limit blocks 421 provided at one end of the bottom of the outer edge of each sector plate 414 can be slidably limited inside the limit grooves 420 opened on the fixed ring 412, and at the same time, a single limit groove 420 can be flush with the outer edge of its corresponding sector plate 414. When the a number of sector plates 414 move in and out, the limit grooves 420 and the limit blocks 421 can limit the sector plates 414, so that the a number of sector plates 414 can be annularly tilted and offset, and then the merging and outward expansion processes of the a number of sector plates 414 can be realized. The merging state is combined with Figure 2 、 8 、as shown in FIG. 9.

[0022] Embodiment 2 As another embodiment of the present invention, a number of diversion tracks 419 are provided on the upper surface of each sector plate 414. Among them, the thickness of a single diversion track 419 gradually decreases from outside to inside.

[0023] As Figure 7 、 8 shown, a number of diversion tracks 419 are provided on the upper surface of a single sector plate 414 here. Because the thickness of a single diversion track 419 gradually decreases from outside to inside, when the a number of sector plates 414 are in the state as Figure 7 shown, the wire materials inside the nozzle body can be gathered towards the middle of the a number of sector plates 414, and then when the a number of sector plates 414 expand outward, it is convenient for rapid discharging; And when the a number of sector plates 414 are unfolded, that is, the nozzle body can quickly push the fluid (wire material) towards the sector plates 414. When the fluid contacts the sector plates 414, the rebounding tendency of the sector plates 414 on the fluid can enable the fluid to achieve a mixing process at the position of the switching valve assembly, further improving the mixing effect of the fluid.

[0024] Embodiment 3 As other embodiments of the present invention, a cleaning brush assembly is further provided at the outlet of the nozzle body for cleaning the upper surfaces of the a number of sector plates 414. The cleaning brush assembly includes a mounting ring 417 connected to the outlet of the nozzle body and placed above the fixed ring 412, and a cleaning brush 418 provided below the mounting ring 417 and contacting the upper surfaces of the a number of sector plates 414.

[0025] Combined with Figure 7 、 8 shown, the cleaning brush 418 on the mounting ring 417 here can contact the upper surfaces of the a number of sector plates 414. As Figure 8 shown, the short brushes and long brushes where the cleaning brush 418 is located are distributed at intervals, adapting to the diversion tracks 419 and the gaps between adjacent diversion tracks 419 to ensure the cleaning effect.

[0026] Furthermore, a discharge channel 611 is also provided at the bottom of the fixed ring 412, as Figure 2 shown.

[0027] Embodiment 4 As another embodiment of the present invention, the nozzle body includes a spiral conveying pipe 111, a feed pipe 211 annularly disposed on the top of the spiral conveying pipe 111 and communicating with the spiral conveying pipe 111, and a spiral conveying rod 312 longitudinally penetrating through the inside of the spiral conveying pipe 111; it further includes a first drive motor 311 assembled on the top of the spiral conveying pipe 111 and fixedly connected to the spiral conveying rod 312, serving as a drive source for the operation of the spiral conveying rod 312.

[0028] Here, the feed pipe 211 communicating with the top of the spiral conveying pipe 111 can be connected to the outlet of the extruder. Combining Figure 1 、 2 、3, and 4 shown, when the extruder extrudes the mixed filament into the inside of the spiral conveying pipe 111, the spiral conveying pipe 111 receives the filament and realizes the further mixing and pushing process of the filament through the spiral conveying rod 312. The design of the spiral conveying rod 312 here, on the one hand, improves the color mixing effect of the filament, and on the other hand, improves the pushing efficiency, so that the filament quickly contacts the fan-shaped plate 414 downward and refluxes to realize the mixing process before the final discharge of the filament.

[0029] Embodiment 5 As another embodiment of the present invention, a meshing drive assembly for driving the transmission ring 413 to rotate is provided on the spiral conveying pipe 111. The meshing drive assembly includes a transmission cylinder 511 fixed on the upper surface of the transmission ring 413, an external gear ring 512 fixed on the side wall of the transmission cylinder 511 near its top; and a mounting disk 513 fixed in the middle of the spiral conveying pipe 111, a second drive motor 514 is fixed at the bottom of the mounting disk 513, and a cylinder is assembled at the output end of the second drive motor 514; and a spline shaft 515 and a spline sleeve 516 connected to the cylinder, wherein the spline shaft 515 is spline-connected to the spline sleeve 516, the spline shaft 515 is fixed to the cylinder, and a transmission tooth 517 with the number of teeth decreasing from top to bottom is provided on the spline sleeve 516, and the transmission tooth 517 can be meshed with the external gear ring 512; it further includes a plurality of telescopic rods 518 provided at the execution end of the cylinder, wherein one end of the plurality of telescopic rods 518 away from the cylinder is connected to the spline sleeve 516.

[0030] This embodiment can be used as an implementation manner for driving the transmission ring 413. Among them, the transmission cylinder 511 and the external gear ring 512 fixed to the transmission ring 413 can be connected to the spline sleeve 516 connected to the output ends of the second drive motor 514 and the cylinder. Specifically, the external gear ring 512 is meshed with the transmission tooth 517 on the spline sleeve 516. Therefore, when the second drive motor 514 and the cylinder operate, the adjustment of the rotation speed and rotation degree of the transmission ring 413 can be realized; Specific combination Figure 5 、 6 As shown, since the spline shaft 515 is spline-connected to the spline shaft 515, when the cylinder operates, the height of the spline sleeve 516 can be adjusted. When the second drive motor 514 operates, the rotation degree of the spline sleeve 516 can be adjusted. At the same time, for the transmission teeth 517 on the spline sleeve 516, the number of teeth decreases sequentially from top to bottom. Therefore, after the height of the spline sleeve 516 is adjusted, when the spline shaft 515 rotates one circle, the outer gear ring 512, the transmission cylinder 511, and the transmission ring 413 can adaptively adjust the rotation degree to achieve the adjustment of the single nozzle material spraying amount. When adjusting the number of rotation circles of the spline shaft 515, the total amount of wire material ejected during this printing process is adjusted.

[0031] Embodiment 6 As other embodiments of the present invention, an installation strip is further provided on one side of the mounting plate 513 close to the transmission teeth 517. A control panel 519 is fixed on the upper part of the installation strip, and a scale 520 longitudinally aligned with the transmission teeth 517 is installed on the lower part.

[0032] Here, the outer gear ring 512 is longitudinally aligned with the second drive motor 514. Therefore, when operating the control panel 519 to make the cylinder drive the spline sleeve 516 for height adjustment, the scale 520 can verify the height and is convenient for the operator to record printing data; It is worth noting that the single-chip microcomputer installed in the device here can timely control the operation of the second drive motor 514, the cylinder, and the first drive motor 311 when an instruction is input on the control panel 519.

[0033] Furthermore, the nozzle with a heating structure is prior art and will not be elaborated.

[0034] In the present invention, unless otherwise clearly specified and limited, terms such as "installation", "connection", "connection", "fixation", etc. should be understood in a broad sense. For example, it can be a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or integrated; it can be a mechanical connection; it can be directly connected, or indirectly connected through an intermediate medium. Among them, there are various detachable installation methods. For example, it can be by the way of cooperation between plugging and buckling, or by the way of bolt connection, etc.

[0035] The above embodiments' specific description of the present invention is only for further illustration of the present invention and cannot be understood as a limitation on the protection scope of the present invention. Those skilled in the art's non-essential improvements and adjustments made according to the content of the above invention all fall within the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A variable nozzle capable of controlling the opening and closing size, characterized in that Comprising: A nozzle body; A switching valve assembly provided at the outlet of the nozzle body for discharging the wire material and finely adjusting the wire spraying amount. Among them, the switching valve assembly includes a bracket (411) annularly fixed at the lower part of the nozzle body, a fixing ring (412) fixed at the bottom of the bracket (411), and a transmission ring (413) rotatably installed at the outlet of the nozzle body and above the fixing ring (412); It further includes a baffle assembly provided between the fixing ring (412) and the transmission ring (413) for controlling the spraying amount at the outlet of the nozzle body. Among them, when the transmission ring (413) rotates forward, the baffle assembly can close up and form a complete circle for closing the outlet of the nozzle body. When the transmission ring (413) rotates backward, the baffle assembly spreads out to control the extrusion flow rate at the outlet of the nozzle body by adjusting the size of the outlet of the nozzle body.

2. A variable nozzle capable of controlling the opening and closing size according to claim 1, characterized in that: The baffle assembly includes a plurality of sector plates (414). Among them, a transmission post (416) is arranged in the middle of the outer edge of each sector plate (414), and a limit block (421) is arranged at one end of the bottom of its outer edge; And a transmission groove (415) annularly formed in the transmission ring (413) and slidably installed corresponding to a plurality of transmission posts (416) one by one; It further includes a limit groove (420) annularly formed in the fixing ring (412) and aligned with the outer edges of a plurality of sector plates (414) one by one. A plurality of limit blocks (421) are correspondingly and slidably installed in the limit groove (420) in a limited manner.

3. A variable nozzle capable of controlling the opening and closing size according to claim 2, characterized in that: A plurality of flow guiding tracks (419) are arranged on the upper surface of each sector plate (414). Among them, the thickness of a single flow guiding track (419) gradually decreases from the outside to the inside.

4. A variable nozzle capable of controlling the opening and closing size according to claim 2, characterized in that: A cleaning brush assembly is further arranged at the outlet of the nozzle body for cleaning the upper surfaces of a plurality of sector plates (414). The cleaning brush assembly includes a mounting ring (417) connected to the outlet of the nozzle body and located above the fixing ring (412), and a cleaning brush (418) arranged below the mounting ring (417) and in contact with the upper surfaces of a plurality of sector plates (414).

5. A variable nozzle capable of controlling the opening and closing size according to claim 4, characterized in that: A discharge channel (611) is further arranged at the bottom of the fixing ring (412).

6. A variable nozzle capable of controlling the opening and closing size according to claim 1, characterized in that: The nozzle body includes a spiral conveying pipe (111), a feeding pipe (211) annularly arranged at the top of the spiral conveying pipe (111) and communicated with the spiral conveying pipe (111), and a spiral conveying rod (312) longitudinally penetrating through the inside of the spiral conveying pipe (111); It further includes a first driving motor (311) assembled at the top of the spiral conveying pipe (111) and fixedly connected to the spiral conveying rod (312), serving as a driving source for the operation of the spiral conveying rod (312).

7. A variable nozzle capable of controlling the opening and closing size according to claim 6, characterized in that: A meshing drive assembly for driving the transmission ring (413) to rotate is provided on the spiral conveying pipe (111). The meshing drive assembly includes a transmission cylinder (511) fixed on the upper surface of the transmission ring (413), and an external gear ring (512) is fixed on the side wall of the transmission cylinder (511) near its top; And a mounting disc (513) fixed in the middle of the spiral conveying pipe (111). A second drive motor (514) is fixed at the bottom of the mounting disc (513), and a cylinder is assembled at the output end of the second drive motor (514); And a spline shaft (515) and a spline sleeve (516) connected to the cylinder. Among them, the spline shaft (515) is spline-connected with the spline sleeve (516), the spline shaft (515) is fixed to the cylinder, and transmission teeth (517) with the number of teeth decreasing from top to bottom are provided on the spline sleeve (516), and the transmission teeth (517) can be meshed with the external gear ring (512); It further includes a plurality of telescopic rods (518) arranged at the execution end of the cylinder. One end of the plurality of telescopic rods (518) away from the cylinder is connected to the spline sleeve (516).

8. A variable nozzle capable of controlling the opening and closing size according to claim 7, characterized in that: An installation strip is further provided on one side of the mounting disc (513) close to the transmission teeth (517). A control panel (519) is fixed on the upper part of the installation strip, and a scale (520) longitudinally aligned with the transmission teeth (517) is installed on the lower part.

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