Powder cleaning device for additive printing equipment

Abstract

The invention relates to the technical field of powder cleaning, in particular to a powder cleaning device for additive printing equipment, which comprises a main shell, a sealing cylinder, a positioning mechanism and an air injection mechanism. A sealing bin is arranged in the main shell, and a bin opening is formed in the side wall of the sealing bin. The sealing cylinder and the sealing bin are detachably installed through the bin opening. An opening used for discharging powder is formed in the bottom of the sealing bin. And a piston capable of sliding is arranged in the sealing cylinder. The positioning mechanism comprises a clamping assembly and a vibration assembly. In the powder cleaning stage, the sealing cylinder is overturned to be in an inverted state, and powder on the side wall is scraped through sliding of the piston; the sealing cylinder is overturned to be in an upright state, and the piston loosens caked powder under the action of the vibration assembly; the sealing cylinder is overturned to be in an inverted state, and the powder on the piston is removed through the air injection mechanism; and then the sealing cylinder is reversely overturned to the forward state, and the air injection mechanism removes residual powder in the sealing cylinder. Therefore, automatic cleaning is achieved, and the problem that caked powder cannot be thoroughly cleaned is effectively solved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of powder cleaning, and in particular to a powder cleaning device for additive printing equipment. Background Art

[0002] Powder fusion metal additive manufacturing (also known as metal 3D printing) is an advanced manufacturing technology that builds complex three-dimensional parts by melting or sintering metal powder layer by layer. This technology transcends the limitations of traditional machining methods, enabling the production of highly customized parts with complex geometries. It has broad applications in aerospace, medical devices, automotive, and other fields.

[0003] After a print job is complete, any unmelted powder remaining inside the print cylinder must be thoroughly cleaned to ensure the quality of the next print and the stability of the equipment. Prior art, such as Chinese patent publication number CN215615101U, discloses a device for removing powder from powder-bed molten metal 3D printed parts. This cleaning process utilizes manual operation combined with a glove box.

[0004] However, the high temperatures during printing not only occur in the printing area but also in the surrounding non-printing areas, causing some powder to slightly clump on the inner walls and bottom of the cylinder. Furthermore, the long-accumulated upper layer of powder exerts gravity pressure on the lower layer of powder, further exacerbating the clumping. Manual cleaning in a glove box is difficult to completely remove the clumped powder adhering to the inner walls and bottom of the cylinder, further increasing the difficulty of cleaning. Summary of the Invention

[0005] Based on this, it is necessary to provide a powder cleaning device for additive printing equipment to address the problem that the current powder cleaning method cannot effectively clean the agglomerated powder.

[0006] The above purpose is achieved through the following technical solutions: A powder cleaning device for additive printing equipment, comprising: A main housing, wherein a sealed chamber is provided inside the main housing, a chamber opening is provided on a side wall of the sealed chamber, and an opening is provided at the bottom of the sealed chamber for discharging powder; a sealing cylinder, the sealing cylinder being detachably placed in the sealing chamber through the chamber opening, the sealing cylinder being capable of turning around a direction perpendicular to its own central axis; a piston being provided in the sealing cylinder, the piston being capable of sliding along the central axis of the sealing cylinder; A positioning mechanism, comprising a clamping assembly and a vibration assembly, wherein the clamping assembly is used to clamp and fix the sealing cylinder, and the vibration assembly is used to loosen agglomerated powder on the surface of the piston; An air jet mechanism is arranged in the sealed chamber and is used to blow away powder; in the powder cleaning stage, the sealed cylinder is flipped to an inverted state, and the piston slides along the central axis of the sealed cylinder to scrape off the powder on the side wall of the sealed cylinder; the sealed cylinder is flipped back to an upright state, and the piston loosens the agglomerated powder under the action of the vibration component; the sealed cylinder is flipped back to an inverted state again, and the air jet mechanism clears the powder on the piston; the sealed cylinder is flipped back to an upright state again, and the air jet mechanism clears the residual powder in the sealed cylinder.

[0007] Furthermore, it also includes a driving mechanism, which includes a power component and a displacement shell, the clamping component and the vibration component are both arranged inside the displacement shell, and the sealing cylinder is detachably connected to the displacement shell; the power component is used to drive the displacement shell, the clamping component, the vibration component and the sealing cylinder to flip synchronously.

[0008] Furthermore, the clamping assembly includes two groups of clamping units, and the two groups of clamping units are symmetrically arranged in the direction of the central axis of the sealing cylinder; each group of the clamping units includes a first clamping plate, a second clamping plate, a first support plate, a second support plate, a cylinder, a guide rail, a first bracket and a second bracket; the guide rail is fixedly connected to the displacement shell, the first bracket is slidably connected to the guide rail, and the second bracket is slidably connected to the guide rail; the first clamping plate is fixedly connected to the first support plate, and the first support plate is fixedly connected to the first bracket; the second clamping plate is fixedly connected to the second support plate, and the second support plate is fixedly connected to the second bracket; each group of the clamping units also includes a driving source, and the driving source is used to drive the first support plate and the second support plate to slide relative to each other.

[0009] Furthermore, the driving source includes a cylinder and a damping unit, the cylinder is used to make the first pallet and the second pallet approach each other or move away from each other in the extension direction of the guide rail, and the damping unit is used to control the movement timing of the first pallet and the second pallet.

[0010] Furthermore, the damping unit includes an intermediate plate, at least one group of first tension springs and at least one group of second tension springs; the intermediate plate is fixedly connected to the guide rail, one end of the first tension spring is fixedly connected to the first clamping plate, and the other end of the first tension spring is fixedly connected to the intermediate plate; one end of the second tension spring is fixedly connected to the second clamping plate, and the other end of the second tension spring is fixedly connected to the intermediate plate; the elastic force of the first tension spring is greater than the elastic force of the second tension spring.

[0011] Furthermore, the damping unit also includes a limit rod, one end of which is fixedly connected to the intermediate plate, and the other end of which is slidably connected to the second clamping plate, and the limit rod is used to limit the tensile displacement of the second tension spring in the direction of the central axis of the limit rod.

[0012] Furthermore, the vibration component includes a single-sided corrugated plate, which is arranged at the bottom of the piston; the surface of the second clamping plate is provided with a corrugated structure; when the second clamping plate slides in the extension direction of the guide rail, the corrugated structure slides with the single-sided corrugated plate to cause the piston to vibrate.

[0013] Furthermore, the positioning mechanism further includes a linkage unit, which is used to control the jet mechanism to jet air into the interior of the sealing cylinder when the second clamping plate slides in the extending direction of the guide rail.

[0014] Furthermore, the linkage unit includes an insert plate and a ventilation block, the insert plate and the ventilation block are slidably matched, and the insert plate is fixedly connected to the second clamping plate; the ventilation block is slidably connected to the piston, and a ventilation groove is formed between the ventilation block and the bottom end of the piston, and the ventilation groove connects the internal and external environments of the sealing cylinder; when the insert plate slides toward or away from the ventilation block, the ventilation block can slide along the central axis direction of the sealing cylinder to open or close the ventilation groove.

[0015] Furthermore, each group of the clamping units also includes a top block, and a first connecting rod, a second connecting rod and a plurality of movable rods are provided on the inner walls on both sides of the sealing cylinder; the top block is fixedly set on the first clamping plate, the first connecting rod is set near the bottom of the sealing cylinder, and the second connecting rod is set near the top of the sealing cylinder; the first connecting rod and the second connecting rod are movably connected by a plurality of movable rods, and the plurality of movable rods are movably connected in sequence.

[0016] The beneficial effects of the present invention are: The present invention provides a powder cleaning device for additive printing equipment, comprising: a main housing, a sealing cylinder, a positioning mechanism, and an air-jet mechanism. A sealed chamber is located within the main housing, with an opening defined in the sidewall of the sealed chamber. The sealing cylinder is removably positioned within the sealed chamber through the opening. An opening is defined at the bottom of the sealed chamber for discharging powder. A piston is positioned within the sealed cylinder, sliding along its central axis. The positioning mechanism comprises a clamping assembly and a vibrating assembly. The clamping assembly secures the sealed cylinder, while the vibrating assembly vibrates the piston to loosen any accumulated powder on the piston's surface. During the powder cleaning process, the clamping assembly first secures the sealed cylinder, which is then flipped to an inverted position. The piston then slides to scrape powder off the sidewalls. The sealed cylinder is then flipped back to an upright position, and the vibrating assembly vibrates the piston to loosen any accumulated powder. The sealed cylinder is then flipped back to an upright position, and the air-jet mechanism removes powder from the piston. The sealed cylinder is then flipped back to an upright position, and the air-jet mechanism removes any remaining powder from the sealed cylinder. This not only automates powder cleaning but also effectively improves the removal of accumulated powder. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the overall structure of a powder cleaning device for additive printing equipment provided by one embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 for Figure 1 The schematic diagram of the overall structure after the sealing cylinder is hidden in the middle; Figure 3 for Figure 1 Exploded diagram; Figure 4 for Figure 3 Schematic diagram of the structure of the driving mechanism and the clamping assembly; Figure 5 for Figure 4 Exploded diagram; Figure 6 for Figure 5 Schematic diagram of the structure of the clamping unit; Figure 7 for Figure 6 Bottom view of Figure 8 for Figure 4 A schematic diagram of the structure of the clamping assembly performing the clamping action; Figure 9 for Figure 8 A top view of Figure 10 for Figure 9 Cross-sectional view along section AA; Figure 11 for Figure 9 Cross-sectional view along section BB; Figure 12 for Figure 8 Schematic diagram of the upright position; Figure 13 for Figure 8 An inverted schematic diagram of Figure 14 for Figure 1 Schematic diagram of the structure of the sealing cylinder, positioning mechanism and driving mechanism.

[0018] in: 100, machine frame; 101, machine shell; 111, sealing chamber; 112, sealing cylinder; 113, observation window; 114, inspection door; 115, stopper; 116, sealing door; 120, piston; 200, driving mechanism; 201, position shifting servo motor; 202, position shifting housing; 203, single-axis positioner; 300, clamping assembly; 310, clamping unit; 311, intermediate plate; 312, limiting rod; 313, cylinder; 314, guide rail; 315, first bracket; 316, second bracket; 321, first support plate; 322, second support plate; 331, first clamping plate; 332, second clamping plate; 341, first tension spring; 342, second tension spring; 343, top block; 351, first connecting rod; 352, second connecting rod; 353, movable rod; 400, vibration assembly; 401, single-sided corrugated plate; 402, corrugated structure; 501, first pneumatic spray gun; 502, second pneumatic spray gun; 503, plug plate; 504, ventilation block; 505, compression spring; 506, ventilation groove. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0019] In order to make the purpose, technical solutions and advantages of the present invention more clearly understood, the present invention will be further described in detail below through embodiments and in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 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] The serial numbers assigned to components herein, such as "first," "second," etc., are used solely to distinguish the objects being described and do not convey any sequential or technical meaning. References to "connection" and "coupling" herein, unless otherwise specified, include both direct and indirect connections (couplings). In the description of the present invention, it should be understood that terms such as "upper," "lower," "front," "back," "left," "right," "vertical," "horizontal," "top," "bottom," "inner," "outer," "clockwise," and "counterclockwise" indicate positions or relationships based on those shown in the accompanying drawings. These terms are intended solely to facilitate the description of the present invention and simplify the description. They are not intended to indicate or imply that the device or component being referred to must have, be constructed, or operate in a specific orientation. Therefore, they should not be construed as limitations on the present invention.

[0021] In the present invention, unless otherwise expressly specified or limited, when a first feature is "above" or "below" a second feature, it may mean that the first and second features are in direct contact, or that the first and second features are in indirect contact through an intermediary. Furthermore, when a first feature is "above," "above," or "above" a second feature, it may mean that the first feature is directly above or diagonally above the second feature, or simply means that the first feature is at a higher level than the second feature. When a first feature is "below," "below," or "below" a second feature, it may mean that the first feature is directly below or diagonally below the second feature, or simply means that the first feature is at a lower level than the second feature.

[0022] Refer to the following Figures 1 to 14 The present invention describes a powder cleaning device for additive printing equipment provided by an embodiment of the present invention.

[0023] like Figures 1 to 2 As shown, the powder cleaning device for additive printing equipment provided by the present invention is particularly suitable for performing powder cleaning operations in the field of metal 3D printing technology. Of course, it can also be used for powder cleaning treatment under other working conditions under appropriate circumstances.

[0024] Specifically, the powder cleaning device for additive printing equipment includes a main shell and a sealing cylinder 112. The main shell includes a body shell 101 and a body frame 100, and the body frame 100 is fixedly connected to the body shell 101. The body shell 101 and the body frame 100 serve as the installation basis for other components. Other components can be directly or indirectly installed on the body shell 101 and the body frame 100, and form a relative whole after installation. An observation window 113 and an inspection door 114 are provided on the side wall of the body shell 101. The observation window 113 is used to observe the internal situation of the body shell 101 in real time; the inspection door 114 is detachably connected to the body shell 101 and serves as a maintenance and inspection window for replacing or maintaining internal components.

[0025] Among them, the sealing cylinder 112 serves as the bearing cavity for the printing operation. The printing process is completed inside the sealing cylinder 112, which can prevent powder from splashing during the printing process. A sealing chamber 111 is provided inside the body shell 101. The side wall of the sealing chamber 111 is provided with a bay opening. The sealing cylinder 112 can be detachably placed in or taken out of the sealing chamber 111 through the bay opening, and the sealing cylinder 112 can be flipped around a direction perpendicular to its own central axis. A piston 120 is provided inside the sealing cylinder 112, and the piston 120 can slide along the central axis direction of the sealing cylinder 112. In addition, a limit member 115 and a movable sealing door 116 are also provided on the body frame 100. The sealing door 116 is used to seal the bay opening of the sealing chamber 111 to ensure the sealing and safety of the sealing chamber 111 during the cleaning process; the limit member 115 is used to control the opening and closing of the sealing door 116 to prevent safety hazards caused by misoperation.

[0026] Furthermore, the powder cleaning device for additive printing equipment also includes a positioning mechanism and an air-jet mechanism. The air-jet mechanism is located within the sealed chamber 111 and is used to blow away powder. The positioning mechanism is located within the sealed chamber 111 and includes a clamping assembly 300 and a vibrating assembly 400. The clamping assembly 300 is used to clamp the sealed cylinder 112 to ensure its stability, while the vibrating assembly 400 is used to vibrate the surface of the piston 120 to loosen any agglomerated powder adhering to the piston 120.

[0027] Specifically, after the printing job is completed, the stopper 115 releases the restriction on the sealing door 116, opening the sealing chamber 111. The sealing cylinder 112 containing residual powder is placed into the sealing chamber 111 and secured by the clamping assembly 300. At this point, the piston 120 rests at the bottom of the sealing cylinder 112 due to its own gravity. Furthermore, the bottom of the sealing chamber 111 is an inwardly contracting opening, and a powder collection box is provided at the bottom of the housing 101. Subsequently, the sealing cylinder 112 is flipped about a direction perpendicular to its central axis to an inverted position, allowing most of the powder in the sealing cylinder 112 to naturally pour out through the opening at the bottom of the sealing chamber 111 into the powder collection box at the bottom of the housing 101. Simultaneously, the piston 120, relying on its own gravity, slides along the inner wall of the sealing cylinder 112 toward the open end of the sealing cylinder 112, scraping off any agglomerated powder adhering to the inner wall of the sealing cylinder 112, assisting in the rapid pouring of the powder and completing the initial cleaning of the powder. After the initial dumping is complete, the sealing cylinder 112 is reversed in a direction perpendicular to its central axis to an upright position. The vibration assembly 400 drives the piston 120 to vibrate, loosening any agglomerated powder adhering to the surface of the piston 120. The sealing cylinder 112 is then reversed in a direction perpendicular to its central axis to an inverted position, and the air jet mechanism is activated to spray air from the bottom of the sealing cylinder 112 into the interior of the sealing cylinder 112, dispersing the loosened powder and expelling it from the sealing cylinder 112. Finally, the sealing cylinder 112 is reversed in a direction perpendicular to its central axis to an upright position, and the air jet mechanism sprays air from the top of the sealing cylinder 112 into the sealing cylinder 112 to further remove any powder remaining within the sealing cylinder 112.

[0028] It is understandable that the above-mentioned entire process constitutes a complete powder removal cycle. By repeating the above-mentioned operation, the sealing cylinder 112 and the piston 120 can be thoroughly cleaned.

[0029] In one embodiment, the powder cleaning device for additive printing equipment further includes a drive mechanism 200, which includes a power assembly and a displacement housing 202. The clamping assembly 300 and the vibration assembly 400 are both disposed inside the displacement housing 202, and the sealing cylinder 112 is detachably mounted on the displacement housing 202. Furthermore, the power assembly includes a displacement servo motor 201 and a single-axis positioner 203, wherein the single-axis positioner 203 is rotationally connected to the displacement housing 202. The displacement servo motor 201 drives the displacement housing 202 and the clamping assembly 300, the vibration assembly 400, and the sealing cylinder 112 inside the displacement housing 202 to rotate synchronously through the single-axis positioner 203, thereby achieving coordinated linkage of various functional components during the powder cleaning process. Therefore, not only is the stability of the sealing cylinder 112 during the flipping process ensured, but the continuity and efficiency of powder cleaning are also improved, ensuring that each cleaning step is connected in an orderly manner, and effectively improving the overall cleaning effect.

[0030] In one embodiment, the clamping assembly 300 includes two groups of clamping units 310, and the two groups of clamping units 310 are symmetrically arranged on the central axis of the sealing cylinder 112. Each group of clamping units 310 includes a first clamping plate 331, a second clamping plate 332, a first support plate 321, a second support plate 322, a guide rail 314, a cylinder 313, a first bracket 315, a second bracket 316 and a driving source. The guide rail 314 is fixedly connected to the displacement housing 202, the first bracket 315 is slidably connected to the guide rail 314, and the second bracket 316 is slidably connected to the guide rail 314. The first clamping plate 331 is fixedly connected to the first support plate 321, and the first support plate 321 is fixedly connected to the first bracket 315. The second clamping plate 332 is fixedly connected to the second support plate 322, and the second support plate 322 is fixedly connected to the second bracket 316. The driving source is used to drive the first support plate 321 and the second support plate 322 to slide relative to each other.

[0031] Furthermore, the driving source includes a cylinder 313 and a damping unit. The cylinder 313 is used to move the first support plate 321 and the second support plate 322 closer to or farther from each other in the extending direction of the guide rail 314, while the damping unit is used to control the movement timing of the first support plate 321 and the second support plate 322.

[0032] In particular, the guide rails 314 , the first brackets 315 and the second brackets 316 of each clamping unit 310 are provided in two groups to better control the sliding of the first clamping plate 331 and the second clamping plate 332 .

[0033] In one embodiment, the damping unit includes an intermediate plate 311, at least one set of first tension springs 341, and at least one set of second tension springs 342. The intermediate plate 311 is fixedly connected to the guide rail 314. One end of the first tension spring 341 is fixedly connected to the first clamping plate 331, and the other end of the first tension spring 341 is fixedly connected to the intermediate plate 311. One end of the second tension spring 342 is fixedly connected to the second clamping plate 332, and the other end of the second tension spring 342 is fixedly connected to the intermediate plate 311. The elastic force of the first tension spring 341 is greater than the elastic force of the second tension spring 342.

[0034] In one embodiment, the damping unit further includes a limiting rod 312. One end of the limiting rod 312 is fixedly connected to the intermediate plate 311, and the other end of the limiting rod 312 is slidably connected to the second clamping plate 332. The limiting rod 312 is used to limit the tensile displacement of the second tension spring 342 in the direction of the central axis of the limiting rod 312.

[0035] Specifically, before placing the sealing cylinder 112, the cylinders 313 of the two clamping units 310 are first activated, causing the piston rods within the cylinders 313 to extend, pushing the first and second support plates 321, 322 of the two clamping units 310 to slide away from each other along the central axis of the limiting rod 312. Because the elastic force of the first tension spring 341 is greater than the elastic force of the second tension spring 342, the elastic damping of the first tension spring 341 is greater than the elastic damping of the second tension spring 342 during the process of the first and second support plates 321, 322 moving away from each other. This causes the second tension spring 342 to be stretched first, leading to the second support plate 322 sliding first. At this point, the second support plate 322 drives the second clamping plate 332 to slide until the end of the second tension spring 342 connected to the second clamping plate 332 abuts the end of the limiting rod 312 away from the intermediate plate 311, at which point the second clamping plate 332 stops sliding and the second tension spring 342 ceases to stretch. Subsequently, the first tension spring 341 begins to be stretched, and the first supporting plate 321 drives the first clamping plate 331 to slide. At this time, the first clamping plate 331 and the second clamping plate 332 are in an open state, reserving enough space for the placement of the sealing cylinder 112.

[0036] Subsequently, the sealing cylinder 112 is placed on the displacement housing 202, and the cylinders 313 of the two clamping units 310 are activated, causing the piston rods inside the cylinders 313 to retract, driving the first support plate 321 and the second support plate 322 to slide in opposite directions and reset. Because the elastic force of the first tension spring 341 is greater than the elastic force of the second tension spring 342, during the process of sliding and resetting the first and second support plates 321 and 322 in opposite directions, the rebound force of the first tension spring 341 is greater than the rebound force of the second tension spring 342, causing the first tension spring 341 to contract first, and the first support plate 321 then drives the first clamping plate 331 to slide in the opposite direction until the first clamping plate 331 abuts the sealing cylinder 112, and the cylinder 313 stops working. At this point, the second clamping plates 332 of the two clamping units 310 abut the sealing cylinder 112, thereby firmly clamping and positioning the sealing cylinder 112 on the displacement housing 202.

[0037] Furthermore, the position shifting servo motor 201 drives the position shifting housing 202 to rotate through the single-axis positioner 203, thereby flipping the sealing cylinder 112 to an inverted state, and then the piston 120 slides downward along the inner wall of the sealing cylinder 112 by its own gravity, that is, Figure 12 In the up and down direction, in order to achieve the initial pouring of powder.

[0038] In one embodiment, the vibration assembly 400 includes a single-sided corrugated plate 401 , which is disposed at the bottom of the piston 120 , and a corrugated structure 402 is disposed on the surface of the second clamping plate 332 .

[0039] Specifically, after the powder in the sealing cylinder 112 is initially dumped, the position servo motor 201 drives the position housing 202 to rotate via the single-axis positioner 203, flipping the sealing cylinder 112 back to its upright position. The air cylinder 313 is then activated, causing the piston rod within the cylinder 313 to extend further. This causes the second tension spring 342 to contract, and the second support plate 322 to drive the second clamping plate 332 to slide back to its original position. This in turn causes the corrugated structure 402 on the surface of the second clamping plate 332 to slide with the single-sided corrugated plate 401 at the bottom of the piston 120, causing the piston 120 to vibrate and loosen any agglomerated powder adhering to its surface.

[0040] In one embodiment, the clamping unit 310 further includes a top block 343. A first connecting rod 351, a second connecting rod 352, and multiple movable rods 353 are disposed on the inner walls of both sides of the sealing cylinder 112. The top block 343 is fixedly mounted on the first clamping plate 331. When the first clamping plate 331 clamps the sealing cylinder 112, the top block 343 abuts the first connecting rod 351. The first connecting rod 351 and the second connecting rod 352 are movably connected via multiple movable rods 353, which are movably connected in sequence. Furthermore, the first connecting rod 351 is positioned near the bottom of the sealing cylinder 112, and the second connecting rod 352 is positioned near the top of the sealing cylinder 112.

[0041] Specifically, during the clamping process, as the first clamping plate 331 moves along the central axis of the limiting rod 312 toward the second clamping plate 332, the top block 343 pushes one end of the first connecting rod 351 toward the interior of the sealing cylinder 112, while the other end of the first connecting rod 351 moves in the opposite direction. Consequently, the multiple movable rods 353 between the first connecting rod 351 and the second connecting rod 352 sequentially interact, transmitting power to the second connecting rod 352. At this time, the end of the second connecting rod 352 away from the piston 120 moves toward the interior of the sealing cylinder 112, forming a limiting structure. When the sealing cylinder 112 is inverted, and the piston 120 moves downward along the central axis of the sealing cylinder 112 toward the open end of the sealing cylinder 112 under the action of gravity, the second connecting rods 352 on both sides of the sealing cylinder 112 effectively limit the range of movement of the piston 120, preventing it from escaping from the sealing cylinder 112, thereby ensuring the stability and safety of the entire cleaning process.

[0042] In one embodiment, the positioning mechanism further includes a linkage unit. Specifically, the linkage unit is used to control the jet mechanism to jet air into the sealing cylinder 112 when the second clamping plate 332 slides along the central axis of the limiting rod 312 .

[0043] In one embodiment, the linkage unit includes an insert plate 503 and a vent block 504. The insert plate 503 and the vent block 504 are slidably engaged, and the insert plate 503 is fixedly connected to the second clamping plate 332. The vent block 504 is slidably connected to the piston 120. A vent groove 506 is formed between the vent block 504 and the bottom end of the piston 120. The vent groove 506 connects the internal and external environments of the sealing cylinder 112. When the insert plate 503 slides toward or away from the vent block 504, the vent block 504 slides along the central axis of the sealing cylinder 112 to open or close the vent groove 506.

[0044] Furthermore, the linkage unit further includes a compression spring 505. One end of the compression spring 505 is fixedly connected to the vent block 504, and the other end of the compression spring 505 is fixedly connected to the piston 120. The elastic force of the compression spring 505 always causes the vent block 504 to have a tendency to slide toward the inside of the sealing cylinder 112.

[0045] Furthermore, the jet mechanism includes a plurality of first pneumatic spray guns 501 and a plurality of second pneumatic spray guns 502. The plurality of first pneumatic spray guns 501 are symmetrically fixed on the inner side walls of the left and right ends of the displacement housing 202 and are kept parallel to the bottom end of the piston 120, that is, Figure 2 The left and right directions, and the nozzle of the first pneumatic spray gun 501 is toward the bottom end of the piston 120; the second pneumatic spray gun 502 is provided on the inner wall of the upper end of the housing 101, that is, Figure 13 In the up and down direction, the nozzle of the second pneumatic spray gun 502 is directed toward the inside of the sealing cylinder 112.

[0046] Specifically, during the sliding engagement between the corrugated structure 402 on the surface of the second clamping plate 332 and the single-sided corrugated plate 401 at the bottom of the piston 120, the inserting plate 503 slides synchronously with the second clamping plate 332. Because the sliding contact surface between the vent block 504 and the inserting plate 503 is an inclined surface, when the inserting plate 503 slides toward the vent block 504, the sliding engagement between the inserting plate 503 and the vent block 504 causes the vent block 504 to slide downward, i.e. Figure 11 In the up and down direction, the compression spring 505 is compressed, thereby opening the vent groove 506, and the cylinder 313 stops working. Subsequently, the displacement servo motor 201 drives the displacement housing 202 to rotate through the uniaxial positioner 203, flipping the sealing cylinder 112 to an inverted state. At this time, the first pneumatic spray gun 501 is started, and the air is sprayed into the interior of the sealing cylinder 112 through the opened vent groove 506. Since the cooperation between the insert plate 503 and the vent block 504 limits the sliding of the piston 120, the injected gas can effectively blow away the loosened agglomerated powder on the surface of the piston 120 and discharge it from the sealing cylinder 112. Then, the displacement servo motor 201 drives the displacement housing 202 to rotate again through the uniaxial positioner 203, flipping the sealing cylinder 112 back to an upright state. Next, the air cylinder 313 is activated, extending the piston rod inside the cylinder 313. This causes the second tension spring 342 to be stretched first, and the second support plate 322 drives the second clamping plate 332 to slide along the central axis of the limiting rod 312 in a direction away from the vent block 504, causing the inserting plate 503 to disengage from the vent block 504, thereby closing the vent slot 506. At this point, the second pneumatic spray gun 502 is activated to spray air into the sealing cylinder 112, further cleaning the powder remaining in the sealing cylinder 112.

[0047] The technical features of the above embodiments can be combined arbitrarily. To make the description concise, not all possible combinations of the technical features in the above embodiments are described. However, as long as there is no contradiction in the combination of these technical features, they should be considered to be within the scope of this specification.

[0048] The above-described embodiments merely illustrate several embodiments of the present invention, and while the descriptions are relatively specific and detailed, they should not be construed as limiting the scope of the present invention. It should be noted that a person skilled in the art would be able to make various modifications and improvements without departing from the spirit of the present invention, all of which fall within the scope of protection of the present invention. Therefore, the scope of protection of the present invention shall be determined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A powder cleaning device for additive printing equipment, characterized in that: include: A main housing, wherein a sealed chamber is provided inside the main housing, a chamber opening is provided on a side wall of the sealed chamber, and an opening is provided at the bottom of the sealed chamber for discharging powder; a sealing cylinder, the sealing cylinder being detachably placed in the sealing chamber through the chamber opening, the sealing cylinder being capable of turning around a direction perpendicular to its own central axis; a piston being provided in the sealing cylinder, the piston being capable of sliding along the central axis of the sealing cylinder; A positioning mechanism, comprising a clamping assembly and a vibration assembly, wherein the clamping assembly is used to clamp and fix the sealing cylinder, and the vibration assembly is used to loosen agglomerated powder on the surface of the piston; An air jet mechanism is arranged in the sealed chamber and is used to blow away powder; in the powder cleaning stage, the sealed cylinder is flipped to an inverted state, and the piston slides along the central axis of the sealed cylinder to scrape off the powder on the side wall of the sealed cylinder; the sealed cylinder is flipped back to an upright state, and the piston loosens the agglomerated powder under the action of the vibration component; the sealed cylinder is flipped back to an inverted state again, and the air jet mechanism clears the powder on the piston; the sealed cylinder is flipped back to an upright state again, and the air jet mechanism clears the residual powder in the sealed cylinder.

2. The powder cleaning device for additive printing equipment according to claim 1, characterized in that: It also includes a driving mechanism, which includes a power component and a displacement shell. The clamping component and the vibration component are both arranged inside the displacement shell, and the sealing cylinder is detachably connected to the displacement shell; the power component is used to drive the displacement shell, the clamping component, the vibration component and the sealing cylinder to flip synchronously.

3. The powder cleaning device for additive printing equipment according to claim 2, characterized in that: The clamping assembly includes two groups of clamping units, and the two groups of clamping units are symmetrically arranged in the direction of the central axis of the sealing cylinder; each group of the clamping units includes a first clamping plate, a second clamping plate, a first support plate, a second support plate, a cylinder, a guide rail, a first bracket and a second bracket; the guide rail is fixedly connected to the displacement shell, the first bracket is slidably connected to the guide rail, and the second bracket is slidably connected to the guide rail; the first clamping plate is fixedly connected to the first support plate, and the first support plate is fixedly connected to the first bracket; the second clamping plate is fixedly connected to the second support plate, and the second support plate is fixedly connected to the second bracket; each group of the clamping units also includes a driving source, and the driving source is used to drive the first support plate and the second support plate to slide relative to each other.

4. The powder cleaning device for additive printing equipment according to claim 3, characterized in that: The driving source includes a cylinder and a damping unit. The cylinder is used to make the first and second pallets approach or move away from each other in the extension direction of the guide rail. The damping unit is used to control the movement timing of the first and second pallets.

5. The powder cleaning device for additive printing equipment according to claim 4, characterized in that: The damping unit includes an intermediate plate, at least one group of first tension springs and at least one group of second tension springs; the intermediate plate is fixedly connected to the guide rail, one end of the first tension spring is fixedly connected to the first clamping plate, and the other end of the first tension spring is fixedly connected to the intermediate plate; one end of the second tension spring is fixedly connected to the second clamping plate, and the other end of the second tension spring is fixedly connected to the intermediate plate; the elastic force of the first tension spring is greater than the elastic force of the second tension spring.

6. The powder cleaning device for additive printing equipment according to claim 5, characterized in that: The damping unit also includes a limiting rod, one end of which is fixedly connected to the intermediate plate, and the other end of which is slidably connected to the second clamping plate. The limiting rod is used to limit the tensile displacement of the second tension spring in the direction of the central axis of the limiting rod.

7. The powder cleaning device for additive printing equipment according to claim 3, characterized in that: The vibration component includes a single-sided corrugated plate, which is arranged at the bottom of the piston; the surface of the second clamping plate is provided with a corrugated structure; when the second clamping plate slides in the extension direction of the guide rail, the corrugated structure slides with the single-sided corrugated plate to cause the piston to vibrate.

8. The powder cleaning device for additive printing equipment according to claim 7, characterized in that: The positioning mechanism further includes a linkage unit, which is used to control the jet mechanism to spray air into the interior of the sealing cylinder when the second clamping plate slides in the extending direction of the guide rail.

9. The powder cleaning device for additive printing equipment according to claim 8, characterized in that: The linkage unit includes an insert plate and a ventilation block, the insert plate and the ventilation block are slidably matched, and the insert plate is fixedly connected to the second clamping plate; the ventilation block is slidably connected to the piston, and a ventilation groove is formed between the ventilation block and the bottom end of the piston, and the ventilation groove connects the internal and external environments of the sealing cylinder; when the insert plate slides toward or away from the ventilation block, the ventilation block can slide along the central axis direction of the sealing cylinder to open or close the ventilation groove.

10. The powder cleaning device for additive printing equipment according to claim 3, characterized in that: Each group of the clamping units also includes a top block, and a first connecting rod, a second connecting rod and a plurality of movable rods are provided on the inner walls on both sides of the sealing cylinder; the top block is fixedly set on the first clamping plate, the first connecting rod is set near the bottom of the sealing cylinder, and the second connecting rod is set near the top of the sealing cylinder; the first connecting rod and the second connecting rod are movably connected by a plurality of movable rods, and the plurality of movable rods are movably connected in sequence.

Images