Curing system, printer, and second curing container

Abstract

The invention provides a curing system, a printer and a second curing container, and the curing system comprises a first curing container which comprises a shell with a first opening and a door configured to open and close the first opening, and the first curing container is internally provided with a curing light source and a heating assembly; the second curing container can be put into the first curing container through the first opening and can be taken out of the first curing container, the second curing container is provided with a cavity configured to contain a printed piece, and the second curing container is provided with an air inlet and an air outlet which are communicated with the cavity; and at least part, facing the curing light source, of the second curing container is configured to be light-transmitting. The second curing container can be placed in the first curing container and taken out of the first curing container, the gas inlet is connected with a gas source, at least one of nitrogen or carbon dioxide or inert gas is filled, and the aerobic inhibition phenomenon caused by curing of the second curing container in the aerobic environment is avoided.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of 3D printing technology, and more particularly to a curing system, a printer, and a second curing container. Background Technology

[0002] Additive manufacturing (e.g., 3D printing) refers to the technique of creating objects by solidifying portions of building material at specific locations. Additive manufacturing techniques may include stereolithography (SLA), digital light processing (DLP), selective or fused deposition modeling, direct composite manufacturing, laminated object manufacturing, selective phase region deposition, multiphase jet solidification, ballistic particle manufacturing, particle deposition, laser sintering, or combinations thereof.

[0003] In the methods or systems involved in stereolithography or digital light processing in additive manufacturing, the printed objects taken out from the forming platform are usually not usable directly, but need to go through processes such as cleaning, secondary curing, and polishing.

[0004] In some secondary curing scenarios, the curing chamber is entirely located within the printing equipment and cannot be freely removed. To accommodate larger printed objects, it is typically large in size, and methods such as filling with nitrogen, carbon dioxide, or vacuuming are used to create an oxygen-free environment for the printed items. For smaller printed items, it is still necessary to fill the entire curing chamber with nitrogen or vacuum, resulting in long nitrogen filling / vacuuming times, large nitrogen consumption, and low utilization rates. Summary of the Invention

[0005] To address the aforementioned issues, embodiments of this application provide a curing system, a printer, and a second curing container to resolve the problems of long nitrogen filling time, low work efficiency, and low nitrogen utilization rate in the curing chamber.

[0006] To achieve the above objectives, the embodiments of this application provide the following technical solutions:

[0007] A first aspect of this application provides a curing system, comprising:

[0008] A first curing container, the first curing container including a shell having a first opening and a door configured to open and close the first opening, the first curing container being provided with a curing light source and a heating assembly;

[0009] A second curing container, which can be inserted into and removed from the first curing container through the first opening, is provided with a cavity configured to hold the printed part, and has an air inlet and an air outlet communicating with the cavity; and

[0010] At least a portion of the second curing container facing the curing light source is configured to be light-transmitting.

[0011] In one possible implementation, the second curing container includes a housing having a second opening and a lid movably connected to the housing and configured to open and close the second opening, through which the print is inserted into and removed from the cavity, and a seal is provided between the housing and the lid.

[0012] In one possible implementation, one side of the lid is hinged to the box body, and the other side of the lid is snap-fitted to the box body.

[0013] In one possible implementation, the air inlet is located on the side of the box that is not the second opening, and the air outlet is located on the side of the lid; or, the air inlet is located on the side of the lid, and the air outlet is located on the side of the box that is not the second opening; or, both the air inlet and the air outlet are located on the side of the box that is not the second opening; or, both the air inlet and the air outlet are located on the side of the lid. The air inlet is provided with a one-way air inlet valve, and / or the air outlet is provided with a one-way air outlet valve.

[0014] In one possible implementation, the number of air inlets is one or more, and the number of air outlets is one or more.

[0015] In one possible implementation, the first opening is located on a first side of the housing, the second side of the housing has a third opening, the curing light source is located at the bottom and / or top of the housing, and the heating assembly is positioned facing the third opening.

[0016] In one possible implementation, the first side and the second side are two opposing sides of the housing, or the first side and the second side are two adjacent sides of the housing.

[0017] In one possible implementation, the curing light source includes a plurality of ultraviolet lamps, which are evenly spaced at the bottom and / or top of the housing. The housing is provided with a light-transmitting plate relative to the light emission direction of the curing light source. The heating assembly includes a fan and a heating element. The air outlet of the fan faces the third opening, and the heating element is located between the air outlet of the fan and the third opening.

[0018] In one possible implementation, the second curing container is configured to be entirely transparent.

[0019] In one possible implementation, the cavity is further configured to contain at least one of nitrogen, carbon dioxide, or an inert gas, which is introduced into the cavity from the inlet after the printed part is placed therein and released from the outlet after the printed part has cured.

[0020] In one possible implementation, one side of the door is hinged to the housing, and the other side of the door is snap-fitted or magnetically attached to the housing;

[0021] Alternatively, the housing may be configured as a drawer, the door as the front panel of the drawer, and at least the portion of the drawer facing the curing light source may be light-transmitting and slidably connected to the inner wall of the housing.

[0022] In one possible implementation, the printed part has a fourth opening, and the curing system further includes:

[0023] The support platform is configured to fit the cavity and has multiple holes on its surface.

[0024] One or more support pillars, one end of which is configured to mate with the hole, and the printout is placed at the other end of the one or more support pillars through the fourth opening.

[0025] A second aspect of this application provides a printer, including a printer body and a curing system provided in the first aspect, wherein the curing system is disposed inside the printer body.

[0026] In one possible implementation, a processor is further included, which is communicatively coupled to the sensor of the door, the curing light source, and the heating assembly, respectively, and the processor is configured to:

[0027] The sensor acquires the opening and closing status information of the door. When the door changes from the open state to the closed state, the curing light source and the heating component are turned on; when the door changes from the closed state to the open state, the curing light source and the heating component are turned off.

[0028] In one possible implementation, a processor is further included, the processor being communicatively coupled to both the curing light source and the heating assembly, the processor being configured to:

[0029] In response to receiving a command to turn on heating, the curing light source and the heating component are controlled to turn on;

[0030] In response to receiving a command to turn off heating, the curing light source and the heating component are controlled to turn off.

[0031] A third aspect of this application provides a curing method, wherein the second curing container is provided with a cavity configured to hold a printed part, and the second curing container is provided with an air inlet and an air outlet communicating with the cavity; and

[0032] The second curing container is at least partially configured to be light-transmitting.

[0033] In one possible implementation, the second curing container includes a housing having a second opening and a lid movably connected to the housing and configured to open and close the second opening, through which the print is inserted into and removed from the cavity, and a seal is provided between the housing and the lid.

[0034] In one possible implementation, one side of the lid is hinged to the box body, and the other side of the lid is snap-fitted to the box body.

[0035] In one possible implementation, the air inlet is located on the side of the box that is not the second opening, and the air outlet is located on the side of the lid; or, the air inlet is located on the side of the lid, and the air outlet is located on the side of the box that is not the second opening; or, both the air inlet and the air outlet are located on the side of the box that is not the second opening; or, both the air inlet and the air outlet are located on the side of the lid. The air inlet is provided with a one-way air inlet valve, and / or the air outlet is provided with a one-way air outlet valve.

[0036] In one possible implementation, the number of air inlets is one or more, and the number of air outlets is one or more.

[0037] In one possible implementation, the second curing container is configured to be entirely transparent.

[0038] In one possible implementation, the cavity is further configured to contain at least one of nitrogen, carbon dioxide, or an inert gas, which is introduced into the cavity from the inlet after the printed part is placed therein and released from the outlet after the printed part has cured.

[0039] In one possible implementation, the printout has a fourth opening, and the second curing container further includes:

[0040] The support platform is configured to fit the cavity and has multiple holes on its surface.

[0041] One or more support pillars, one end of which is configured to mate with the hole, and the printout is placed at the other end of the one or more support pillars through the fourth opening.

[0042] A fourth aspect of this application provides a curing method applied to the curing system provided in the first aspect, comprising:

[0043] Place the printed part into the second curing container;

[0044] The second curing container is filled with at least one of nitrogen, carbon dioxide, or an inert gas;

[0045] Place the second curing container into the first curing container.

[0046] A fifth aspect of this application provides a printer, including a printer body and a first curing container disposed at the bottom of the printer body. The first curing container includes a housing having a first opening and a door configured to open and close the first opening. A curing light source and a heating assembly are disposed in the first curing container.

[0047] The curing system provided in this application embodiment includes a second curing container that can be placed inside and removed from a first curing container. Inside the second curing container is a cavity for holding the printed part. The second curing container has an air inlet and an air outlet that communicate with and can be sealed. In use, the second curing container can be removed from the first curing container. An air source, such as a small gas canister, is connected to the air inlet to fill the cavity of the second curing container with at least one of nitrogen, carbon dioxide, or an inert gas. The existing air in the cavity is discharged through the air outlet, thus replacing the gas in the second curing container. Then, the air inlet and outlet are sealed, and the second curing container, filled with at least one of nitrogen, carbon dioxide, or an inert gas, is placed back into the first curing container. Curing is then performed using a curing light source and a heating assembly. The curing system provided in this application has a second curing container with a volume smaller than that of the first curing container. It can also be configured with a second curing container of a size that is adapted to the volume of the printed part. During curing, it is only necessary to fill the second curing container with at least one of nitrogen, carbon dioxide, or inert gas. Compared with the related technology of filling the first curing container with nitrogen, it can effectively shorten the filling time, improve work efficiency, and improve the utilization rate of at least one of nitrogen, carbon dioxide, or inert gas. Attached Figure Description

[0048] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and form part of this specification, illustrate embodiments consistent with this application and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of this application.

[0049] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the curing system provided in this application in its usage state;

[0050] Figure 2A three-dimensional structural diagram of the second curing container provided in this application;

[0051] Figure 3 A cross-sectional schematic diagram of the second curing container provided in this application;

[0052] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the explosion state of the second curing container provided in this application;

[0053] Figure 5 A three-dimensional structural schematic diagram of the first curing container is provided for this application;

[0054] Figure 6 This application provides a schematic diagram of the explosion state of the first curing container;

[0055] Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of the printer provided in this application.

[0056] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached figures:

[0057] 100. Second curing container; 110. Box body; 111. Air inlet; 112. Male thread; 120. Lid; 121. Air outlet; 122. Female thread; 130. One-way air inlet valve; 140. One-way air outlet valve; 150. Seal;

[0058] 200. First curing container; 210. Shell; 220. Heating element; 230. Fan; 240. Curing light source; 250. Light-transmitting plate; 260. Door;

[0059] 300. Printer; 310. Printer body.

[0060] The accompanying drawings illustrate specific embodiments of this application, which will be described in more detail below. These drawings and descriptions are not intended to limit the scope of the concept in any way, but rather to illustrate the concept of this application to those skilled in the art through reference to particular embodiments. Detailed Implementation

[0061] First, those skilled in the art should understand that these embodiments are merely for explaining the technical principles of this application and are not intended to limit the scope of protection of this application. Those skilled in the art can make adjustments as needed to adapt to specific application scenarios.

[0062] Secondly, it should be noted that, in the description of the embodiments of this application, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, the terms "connected" and "linked" should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; they can refer to a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; and they can refer to the internal connection of two components. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in the embodiments of this application according to the specific circumstances.

[0063] Additive manufacturing (e.g., 3D printing) refers to the technique of creating objects by solidifying portions of building material at specific locations. Additive manufacturing techniques may include stereolithography (SLA), digital light processing (DLP), selective or fused deposition modeling, direct composite manufacturing, laminated object manufacturing, selective phase region deposition, multiphase jet solidification, ballistic particle manufacturing, particle deposition, laser sintering, or combinations thereof.

[0064] In additive manufacturing methods or systems involving stereolithography or digital light processing, the printed object removed from the forming platform is typically not usable directly but requires processes such as cleaning, secondary curing, and polishing. Secondary curing helps complete the polymerization of the printed object, helping it achieve optimal material properties.

[0065] In some secondary curing scenarios, the curing chamber is entirely located within the printing equipment and cannot be freely removed. To accommodate larger printed objects, it is typically large in size, and methods such as filling with nitrogen or vacuuming are used to create an oxygen-free environment for the printed items. For smaller printed items, it is still necessary to fill the entire curing chamber with nitrogen or vacuum, resulting in long nitrogen filling / vacuuming times, large nitrogen consumption, and low utilization rates.

[0066] In recent years, digital dentistry has reduced the risks and uncertainties associated with human factors, providing greater consistency, accuracy, and precision at every stage of the workflow to improve patient care. From models to surgical guides or clear aligners, 3D printers can produce a range of high-quality intraoral devices, such as dental equipment. However, this also brings the challenge of secondary curing of intraoral devices manufactured using additive manufacturing technology.

[0067] 3D printing dental post-processing curing chambers can be filled with nitrogen or use vacuum curing. Vacuum curing chambers are larger in overall size, and their aesthetic effect in dental applications is not as good as nitrogen-filled curing chambers. They are also noisier during vacuuming. Nitrogen-filled curing chambers, because the air inside is replaced with nitrogen, reduce oxygen inhibition in the nitrogen environment, resulting in more complete and uniform mechanical properties in cured dental applications. The surface dryness and aesthetic effect of the model are also better. However, existing 3D printing post-processing nitrogen-filled curing chambers are still relatively large and lack sufficient safety measures. Firstly, a nitrogen source, such as a nitrogen tank, needs to be connected during nitrogen filling; if the nitrogen tank is not properly connected, there may be safety risks. Secondly, due to the large internal space of the curing chamber, replacing all the air inside with nitrogen takes a long time, even for small printed parts, resulting in low work efficiency and low nitrogen utilization.

[0068] To address the aforementioned issues, this application provides a curing system and printer. The curing system includes: a first curing container, comprising a housing with a first opening and a door configured to open and close the first opening; a curing light source and a heating assembly disposed within the first curing container; and a second curing container, which can be placed into and removed from the first curing container through the first opening; the second curing container has a cavity configured to hold printed materials; and an air inlet and an air outlet communicating with the cavity; at least a portion of the second curing container facing the curing light source is configured to be light-transmitting.

[0069] The curing system provided in this application includes a second curing container that can be placed inside and removed from a first curing container. Inside the second curing container is a cavity for holding the printed part, and the second curing container has an air inlet and an air outlet that communicate with and can be sealed. In use, the second curing container can be removed from the first curing container, and a gas source, such as a small gas canister, can be connected through the air inlet to fill the cavity of the second curing container with at least one of nitrogen, carbon dioxide, or an inert gas. The existing air in the cavity is discharged through the air outlet, thus replacing the gas in the second curing container. Then, the air inlet and outlet are sealed, and the second curing container filled with at least one of nitrogen, carbon dioxide, or an inert gas is placed back into the first curing container. Curing is then performed using a curing light source and a heating assembly. In this curing system, the volume of the second curing container is smaller than that of the first curing container. Furthermore, second curing containers of varying sizes can be provided to accommodate different volumes of printed parts; for example, multiple second curing containers of different sizes can be provided. During curing, it is only necessary to fill the second curing container with at least one of nitrogen, carbon dioxide, or an inert gas. Compared with filling the first curing container with nitrogen in related technologies, this can effectively shorten the filling time, improve work efficiency, and increase the utilization rate of at least one of nitrogen, carbon dioxide, or an inert gas.

[0070] It is understood that, for example, some printed parts that do not need to be cured in a nitrogen, carbon dioxide, or inert gas environment can be placed in the first curing container provided in the embodiments of this application, instead of being placed in the second curing container.

[0071] To make the above-mentioned objectives, features, and advantages of the embodiments of this application more apparent and understandable, the technical solutions of the embodiments of this application will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only a part of the embodiments of this application, and not all of them. All other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art based on the embodiments of this application without creative effort are within the scope of protection of this application.

[0072] Please refer to Figures 1-7This application provides a curing system, including: a first curing container 200, the first curing container 200 including a shell 210 having a first opening and a door 260 configured to open and close the first opening, the first curing container 200 being provided with a curing light source 240 and a heating assembly; a second curing container 100, the second curing container 100 being able to be placed into and removed from the first curing container 200 through the first opening, the second curing container 100 being provided with a cavity configured to hold a printed part, the second curing container 100 being provided with an air inlet 111 and an air outlet 121 communicating with the cavity; at least a portion of the second curing container 100 facing the curing light source 240 is configured to be light-transmitting.

[0073] In use, the curing system provided in this application allows the second curing container 100 to be removed from the first curing container 200. A small gas cylinder is connected via the air inlet 111, and at least one of nitrogen, carbon dioxide, or an inert gas is introduced into the cavity of the second curing container 100. The existing air in the cavity is discharged through the air outlet 121, thus replacing the gas in the second curing container 100. After air replacement, the second curing container 100 is sealed at both the air inlet 111 and the air outlet 121, and then placed back into the first curing container 200. Curing is then performed using the curing light source 240 and the heating assembly. The curing system provided in this application allows for the selection of a second curing container 100 with a size adapted to the volume of the printed part. During curing, only at least one of nitrogen, carbon dioxide, or an inert gas needs to be introduced into the second curing container 100. Compared to related technologies that require at least one of nitrogen, carbon dioxide, or an inert gas to be introduced into the first curing container 200, this system effectively shortens the gas introduction time, improves work efficiency, and increases the utilization rate of at least one of nitrogen, carbon dioxide, or an inert gas. For example, when preparing dental restorations, a second curing container 100 matching the size of the restoration can be used. The second curing container 100 can be filled with at least one of nitrogen, carbon dioxide, or an inert gas in just a few seconds to a dozen seconds. If the first curing container 200 is filled with gas, it will take longer. This solution shortens the filling time, improves work efficiency, and increases the utilization rate of at least one of nitrogen, carbon dioxide, or an inert gas. It is understood that the curing system provided in this application can also be applied to the curing of other printed parts, and this application does not limit its application.

[0074] In some examples, the bottom of the second curing container 100 (the portion relative to the lid 120) faces the curing light source 240 in actual use, and therefore part or all of the bottom is configured to be translucent so that the light from the curing light source 240 can illuminate the printed part. It should be noted that in actual use, other parts of the second curing container 100, such as the sides or the lid 120, may also face the curing light source 240, and therefore these parts may also be configured to be partially translucent; this application does not limit this.

[0075] In some embodiments of this application, see Figures 2-4 The second curing container 100 includes a box body 110 having a second opening and a lid 120 movably connected to the box body 110 and configured to open and close the second opening. Printed parts are inserted into and removed from the cavity through the second opening. A seal 150 is provided between the box body 110 and the lid 120.

[0076] Before curing, open the lid 120, place the printed part into the box 110, and then close the lid 120. After curing, open the lid 120 and remove the cured printed part. A sealing element 150 is provided to seal the gap between the box 110 and the lid 120, preventing oxygen from entering the second curing container 100 through the gap and causing oxygen inhibition polymerization, which would affect the mechanical properties and aesthetics of the printed part. In this embodiment, the sealing element 150 is a sealing ring. In other embodiments of this application, the sealing element 150 may also adopt other sealing structures, which are not limited in this application.

[0077] In some embodiments of this application, see Figures 2-4 One side of the lid 120 is hinged to the box body 110, and the other side of the lid 120 is snapped to the box body 110.

[0078] For details, please refer to Figure 2 and Figure 4 The lid 120 is provided with a female buckle 122, and the box body 110 is provided with a male buckle 112. When the lid 120 is closed, the female buckle 122 and the male buckle 112 are engaged.

[0079] In other embodiments of this application, the lid 120 and the box body 110 may also be of a separate structure, connected only by snap-fit. For example, multiple female snaps 122 may be provided around or on both sides of the lid 120, and multiple male snaps 112 may be provided at corresponding positions on the box body 110, connected by the multiple female snaps 122 and the multiple male snaps 112.

[0080] In some embodiments of this application, see Figures 2-4The air inlet 111 is located on the side of the box body 110 that is not the second opening, and the air outlet 121 is located on the side of the cover 120. For example, the air inlet 111 can be located on the side and bottom of the box body 110, and the air outlet 121 can be located on the cover 120.

[0081] In some other embodiments of this application, the air inlet 111 is provided on the cover 120, and the air outlet 121 is provided on the side of the box 110 that is not the second opening, that is, the side and bottom of the box 110.

[0082] In some other embodiments of this application, the air inlet 111 and the air outlet 121 are both located on the side of the housing 110 that is not the second opening, that is, the air inlet 111 and the air outlet 121 are respectively located on the side and bottom of the housing 110. It can be understood that the air inlet 111 and the air outlet 121 may also both be located on the cover 120.

[0083] In some embodiments of this application, a one-way inlet valve 130 is provided in the air inlet 111, and a one-way outlet valve 140 is provided in the air outlet 121. The one-way inlet valve 130 allows gas to flow in only one direction, and the one-way outlet valve 140 allows gas to flow out only one direction, thereby achieving automatic sealing of the second curing container 100.

[0084] For details, please refer to Figure 4 In one embodiment of this application, the one-way air inlet valve 130 is cylindrical at one end located outside the housing 110 for connecting to an air source, such as a small air canister. The other end, located inside the housing 110, is flat and consists of two sheet-like rubber parts abutting each other. When the small air canister is connected, the gas can expand the two sheet-like rubber parts, allowing it to enter the housing 110. However, the gas cannot expand the two rubber parts from the other side, thus achieving one-way gas flow.

[0085] See Figure 4 In one embodiment of this application, the one-way air valve 140 is made of a circular rubber part, and the rubber part is provided with a cross opening. When air is injected into the box 110, the airflow will open the cross opening. When the inflation stops, the rubber part will close the cross opening under its own elasticity to achieve a seal and prevent outside air from entering the box 110.

[0086] In other embodiments of this application, the one-way inlet valve 130 and the one-way outlet valve 140 may also adopt other structures as long as they can achieve automatic sealing, and this application does not limit them.

[0087] In some embodiments of this application, the number of air inlets 111 is one or more, and the number of air outlets 121 is one or more.

[0088] In some embodiments of this application, see Figure 5 and Figure 6 The first opening is provided on the first side of the housing 210, the second side of the housing 210 has a third opening, the curing light source 240 is located at the bottom and / or top of the housing 210, and the heating assembly is positioned facing the third opening.

[0089] In some embodiments of this application, the first side and the second side are two opposing sides of the housing 210.

[0090] In some other embodiments of this application, the first side and the second side are two adjacent sides of the housing 210, for example, the second side is located to the left of the first side, or the second side is located to the right of the first side.

[0091] In some embodiments of this application, see Figure 5 and Figure 6 The curing light source 240 includes multiple ultraviolet lamps, which are evenly spaced at the bottom and / or top of the housing 210. The housing 210 is provided with a light-transmitting plate 250 relative to the light emission direction of the curing light source 240. The heating component includes a fan 230 and a heating element 220. The air outlet of the fan 230 faces the third opening, and the heating element 220 is located between the air outlet of the fan 230 and the third opening.

[0092] The light-transmitting plate 250 supports the second curing container 100. Ultraviolet light emitted from the ultraviolet lamp can pass through the light-transmitting plate 250 and the second curing container 100, activating the photoinitiator in the photosensitive resin, causing it to crosslink and solidify from a liquid state, thereby curing the printed part. The ultraviolet lamps are uniformly arranged on the inner bottom wall and / or inner top wall of the housing 210, allowing for uniform irradiation of the printed part. It is understood that the curing light source 240 can also employ a 355nm ultraviolet laser, a 405nm ultraviolet LED lamp, a mercury lamp, an ultraviolet LED backlight, etc., and this application does not impose any limitations.

[0093] The heating element 220 can heat the inside of the first curing container 200 to accelerate the curing of the printed part. The fan 230 can accelerate the circulation of air inside the first curing container 200, so that the temperature of each part inside the first curing container 200 is consistent, thereby making the curing degree of each part of the printed part the same.

[0094] In some embodiments of this application, the second curing container 100 is configured to be entirely transparent. By making the second curing container 100 entirely transparent, the curing light source 240 can pass through the second curing container 100 to cure the printed parts placed inside.

[0095] In some embodiments of this application, the cavity is further configured to contain at least one of nitrogen, carbon dioxide, or an inert gas, which is introduced into the cavity through the inlet 111 after the printed part is placed therein, and released through the outlet 121 after the printed part has cured.

[0096] By filling the cavity with at least one of nitrogen, carbon dioxide, or an inert gas, the oxygen in the cavity is replaced with at least one of these gases, thereby reducing oxygen inhibition. For printed dental restorations, the cured dental restorations exhibit more complete and uniform mechanical properties, and the surface drying and aesthetic effects of the model are also better.

[0097] In some embodiments of this application, see Figure 1 and Figure 7 One side of the door 260 is hinged to the housing 210, and the other side of the door 260 is snap-fitted or magnetically connected to the housing 210. In this embodiment, the lower side of the door 260 is hinged to the housing 210, and the door 260 is flush with the bottom of the housing 210 when opened. It is understood that the left, right, and upper sides of the door 260 can also be hinged to the housing 210, and this application does not limit this.

[0098] In some other embodiments of this application, the housing 210 is configured as a drawer, and the door 260 is configured as the front panel of the drawer. At least the portion of the drawer facing the curing light source 240 is made of a light-transmitting material. In use, the drawer is pulled out by pulling the door 260, the second curing container 100 is placed in the drawer, and then the drawer is pushed back in, making it more convenient to take out and put in the second curing container 100.

[0099] It is understood that when the second curing container 100 is designed as a drawer, the door 260 can be the front panel of the drawer. The front panel may include, for example, a handle or a slot adapted for extension. The drawer can be pulled out or pushed in from the printer body through the front panel. At this time, the opening facing upwards of the drawer body is the first opening described herein. When the drawer is pulled out from the printer body 310, the first opening is exposed to the environment, and the second curing container 100 can be placed inside. When the drawer is pushed into the printer body 310, the first opening is closed.

[0100] In other embodiments of this application, the printed part has a fourth opening, and the curing system further includes:

[0101] The support platform is configured to fit the cavity and has multiple holes on its surface.

[0102] One or more support pillars, one end of which is configured to mate with a hole, and the print is placed at the other end of the one or more support pillars through a fourth opening.

[0103] This application provides a printer 300, including a printer body 310 and a curing system provided in the first aspect, wherein the curing system is disposed inside the printer body 310.

[0104] Since the printer 300 provided in this embodiment includes the curing system described in any of the above embodiments, the structure of the printer 300 including the curing system and the beneficial effects brought by the curing system will not be described in detail here. Furthermore, by integrating the curing system into the printer body 310, the printer 300 can complete both printing and curing steps. Some printed parts do not require secondary curing in a non-oxygen environment; after printing, the printed parts can be placed in the built-in first curing container 200 (before this, the second curing container 100 can be removed from the first curing container 200). Other printed parts require secondary curing in a non-oxygen environment; after printing, the printed parts can be placed in the second curing container 100.

[0105] Of course, in other examples, even if some printed parts do not require secondary curing in a non-oxygen environment, the printed parts can be placed in the second curing container 100 for secondary curing. Obviously, in this case, it is not necessary to fill the second curing container 100 with any nitrogen, carbon dioxide or inert gas for gas replacement.

[0106] In some embodiments of this application, the printer 300 further includes a processor, which is communicatively coupled to the sensor (not shown) of the door 260, the curing light source 240, and the heating assembly, respectively. The processor is configured to:

[0107] The sensor acquires the opening and closing status information of the door 260. When the door 260 changes from the open state to the closed state, the curing light source 240 and heating components such as the heating element 220 and the fan 230 are controlled to turn on; when the door 260 changes from the closed state to the open state, the curing light source 240 and heating components such as the heating element 220 and the fan 230 are controlled to turn off.

[0108] The sensor detects the opening and closing status of the door 260. When the door 260 moves from the open state to the closed state, the printed part has entered the curing space, for example, into the first curing container 200 or the second curing container 100. The controller controls the curing light source 240 and heating components, such as the heating element 220 and the fan 230, to turn on and cure the printed part. When the door 260 moves from the closed state to the open state, the printed part is removed from the curing space. The controller controls the curing light source 240 and heating components, such as the heating element 220 and the fan 230, to turn off and dissipate heat from the first curing container 200 and / or the second curing container 100.

[0109] In some embodiments of this application, a temperature sensor is provided inside the first curing container 200. The temperature sensor is electrically connected to the controller. The temperature sensor detects the temperature inside the first curing container 200 and transmits the temperature data to the controller. If the temperature exceeds a set threshold range, the controller adjusts the power of the heating components, such as the heating element 220 and the fan 230, to control the temperature inside the first curing container 200, thereby controlling the temperature inside the second curing container 100 inside the first curing container 200.

[0110] In some embodiments of this application, the sensor used to detect the open state of the door 260 may be an open detection switch. In other embodiments of this application, other components may also be used, such as photoelectric sensors. This application does not limit the use of such components.

[0111] In some embodiments of this application, the printer 300 further includes a processor, which is communicatively coupled to the sensor (not shown) of the door 260, the curing light source 240, and the heating assembly, respectively. The processor is configured to:

[0112] In response to receiving a command to turn on heating, the curing light source 240 and the heating components are turned on.

[0113] In response to receiving a command to turn off heating, the curing light source 240 and the heating components are controlled to shut down.

[0114] It is understood that the heating assembly may include, for example, the combination of heating element 220 and fan 230 mentioned above, or may include only heating element 220 without fan 230, for example, only heating element 220 is turned on or only heating element 220 is turned off.

[0115] In some examples, the instructions to turn on heating and / or turn off heating may be generated based on the touch panel or physical buttons of the touch printer, or by detecting other things such as voice or gestures, or may be transmitted by electronic devices such as mobile phones, computers, or wearable devices that are communicatively coupled to the printer. This application does not limit this.

[0116] Referring to the description of the foregoing embodiments herein, embodiments of this application may also provide a second curing container 100, the second curing container 100 being provided with a cavity configured to hold a printed component, and the second curing container 100 being provided with an air inlet 111 and an air outlet 121 communicating with the cavity; and

[0117] The second curing container 100 is at least partially configured to be light-transmitting.

[0118] It is understood that the second curing container 100 described above can be used with the curing system and printer described herein, or with other suitable systems or devices.

[0119] In some embodiments of this application, the second curing container 100 includes a box body 110 having a second opening and a lid 120 movably connected to the box body 110 and configured to open and close the second opening, through which the printed part is inserted into and removed from the cavity, and a seal 150 is provided between the box body 110 and the lid 120.

[0120] In some embodiments of this application, one side of the lid is hinged to the box body 110, and the other side of the lid is snap-fitted to the box body 110.

[0121] In some embodiments of this application, the air inlet 111 is located on the side of the box 110 that is not the second opening, and the air outlet 121 is located on the side of the lid; or, the air inlet 111 is located on the side of the lid 120, and the air outlet 121 is located on the side of the box 110 that is not the second opening; or, both the air inlet 111 and the air outlet 121 are located on the side of the box 110 that is not the second opening; or, both the air inlet 111 and the air outlet 121 are located on the side of the lid 120. In these embodiments, the air inlet 111 is provided with a one-way air inlet valve, and / or the air outlet 121 is provided with a one-way air outlet valve.

[0122] In some embodiments of this application, the number of air inlets 111 is one or more, and the number of air outlets 121 is one or more.

[0123] In some embodiments of this application, the second curing container 100 is configured to be entirely transparent.

[0124] In one possible implementation, the cavity is further configured to contain at least one of nitrogen, carbon dioxide, or an inert gas, which is introduced into the cavity from the inlet 111 after the printed part is placed therein, and released from the outlet 121 after the printed part has cured.

[0125] In some embodiments of this application, the printed part has a fourth opening, and the second curing container 100 further includes:

[0126] The support platform is configured to fit the cavity and has multiple holes on its surface.

[0127] One or more support pillars, one end of which is configured to mate with a hole, and a printed part is placed at the other end of the one or more support pillars through a fourth opening. Referring to the description of the foregoing embodiments herein, embodiments of this application may also provide a curing method applied to the curing system provided in the embodiments of this application, comprising:

[0128] Place the printed part into the second curing container 100;

[0129] The second curing container 100 is filled with at least one of nitrogen, carbon dioxide, or an inert gas;

[0130] Place the second curing container 100 into the first curing container.

[0131] It is understood that after opening the lid 120 of the second curing container 100 and placing the printed part inside, the lid 120 needs to be closed, and at least one of nitrogen, carbon dioxide, or an inert gas needs to be introduced through the air inlet 111. The air originally in the second curing container 100 will be expelled from the air outlet 121 under pressure. After a period of inflation and deflation, gas replacement will be completed. Then, the second curing container 100, which has undergone gas replacement and contains the printed part, is placed into the first curing container, and the door of the first curing container is closed to start curing.

[0132] The various embodiments or implementation methods described in this specification are presented in a progressive manner. Each embodiment focuses on the differences from other embodiments, and the same or similar parts between the embodiments can be referred to each other.

[0133] It should be noted that the terms "one embodiment," "embodiment," "exemplary embodiment," "some embodiments," etc., mentioned in the specification indicate that the described embodiment may include a specific feature, structure, or characteristic, but not every embodiment necessarily includes that specific feature, structure, or characteristic. Furthermore, such phrases do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment. Moreover, when a specific feature, structure, or characteristic is described in connection with an embodiment, implementing such a feature, structure, or characteristic in conjunction with other embodiments, whether explicitly described or not, is within the knowledge scope of those skilled in the art.

[0134] Finally, it should be noted that other embodiments of this application will readily conceive of by those skilled in the art upon consideration of the specification and practice of the application disclosed herein. This application is intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of this application that follow the general principles of this application and include common knowledge or customary techniques in the art not disclosed herein, and is not limited to the precise structures described above and shown in the accompanying drawings, and various modifications and alterations may be made without departing from its scope. The scope of this application is limited only by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A curing system characterized by, The application relates to a curing device, comprising: a first curing container, which comprises a shell with a first opening and a door configured to open and close the first opening, and is provided with a curing light source and a heating assembly; a second curing container, which is put into and taken out of the first curing container through the first opening, is provided with a cavity configured to place a printed object, and is provided with an air inlet and an air outlet communicating with the cavity; and at least part of the second curing container facing the curing light source is configured to be light-transmissive. The second curing container comprises a box body with a second opening and a cover configured to open and close the second opening and movably connected with the box body, and the printed object is put into and taken out of the cavity through the second opening, and a sealing element is arranged between the box body and the cover.

2. The curing system of claim 1, wherein, One side of the cover is hinged to the box body, and the other side of the cover is snap-connected to the box body.

3. The curing system of claim 2, wherein, The air inlet is arranged on the surface of the box body other than the second opening, the air outlet is arranged on the surface of the cover, or the air inlet is arranged on the surface of the cover, the air outlet is arranged on the surface of the box body other than the second opening, or the air inlet and the air outlet are both arranged on the surface of the box body other than the second opening, or the air inlet and the air outlet are both arranged on the surface of the cover, wherein a one-way air inlet valve is arranged in the air inlet, and / or a one-way air outlet valve is arranged in the air outlet.

4. The curing system of claim 2, wherein, The number of air inlets is one or more, and the number of air outlets is one or more.

5. The curing system of claim 4, wherein, The first opening is arranged on a first side of the shell, a second side of the shell is provided with a third opening, the curing light source is arranged on the bottom and / or top of the shell, and the heating assembly is arranged opposite the third opening.

6. The curing system of claim 1, wherein, The first side and the second side are two opposite sides of the shell, or the first side and the second side are two adjacent sides of the shell.

7. The curing system of claim 6, wherein, The curing light source comprises a plurality of ultraviolet lamps, the plurality of ultraviolet lamps are uniformly and spacedly arranged on the bottom and / or top of the shell, the shell is provided with a light-transmissive plate relative to the light-emitting direction of the curing light source, the heating assembly comprises a fan and a heating element, the air outlet of the fan is arranged opposite the third opening, and the heating element is arranged between the air outlet of the fan and the third opening.

8. The curing system of claim 6, wherein, The second curing container is entirely configured to be light-transmissive.

9. The curing system of claim 1, wherein, The cavity is further configured to contain at least one of nitrogen, carbon dioxide or inert gas, at least one of the nitrogen, the carbon dioxide or the inert gas is filled into the air inlet after the cavity places the printed object, and is discharged from the air outlet after the printed object is completely cured.

10. The curing system of claim 1, wherein, One side of the door is hinged to the shell, and the other side of the door is snap-connected or magnetically connected to the shell.

11. The curing system of claim 1, wherein, Alternatively, the shell is configured as a drawer, the door is configured as a front panel of the drawer, and at least part of the drawer facing the curing light source is configured to be light-transmissive. ​ 12. The curing system according to any one of claims 1-11, wherein, The printed object has a fourth opening, and the curing system further comprises: a bearing platform configured to be fitted with the cavity and having a surface with a plurality of holes; one or more support columns, one end of the one or more support columns being configured to be fitted with the holes, and the printed object being placed on the other end of the one or more support columns through the fourth opening.

13. A printer characterized by comprising: The curing system of any one of claims 1-12 is disposed inside a printer body.

14. The printer of claim 13, wherein, The processor is communicatively coupled with the sensor of the door, the curing light source, and the heating assembly, respectively, and is configured to: acquire opening and closing state information of the door through the sensor, and control the curing light source and the heating assembly to be turned on when the door enters the closing state from the opening state, and to be turned off when the door enters the opening state from the closing state.

15. The printer of claim 13, wherein, The processor is communicatively coupled with the curing light source and the heating assembly, respectively, and is configured to: control the curing light source and the heating assembly to be turned on in response to receiving an instruction to turn on the heating, and to be turned off in response to receiving an instruction to turn off the heating. The second curing container is provided with a cavity configured to place a printed object, and is provided with an air inlet and an air outlet in communication with the cavity; and 16. A second curing vessel characterized by, The second curing container is at least partially configured to be light-transmissive. The second curing container comprises a box body having a second opening and a cover movably connected with the box body and configured to open and close the second opening, the printed object being placed into and taken out of the cavity through the second opening, and a sealing member being arranged between the box body and the cover.

17. The second curing vessel of claim 16, wherein, One side of the cover is hinged to the box body, and the other side of the cover is snap-connected to the box body.

18. The second curing vessel of claim 17, wherein, The air inlet is arranged on a surface of the box body other than the second opening, the air outlet is arranged on a surface of the cover, or the air inlet is arranged on a surface of the cover and the air outlet is arranged on a surface of the box body other than the second opening, or the air inlet and the air outlet are both arranged on a surface of the box body other than the second opening, or the air inlet and the air outlet are both arranged on a surface of the cover, wherein a one-way air inlet valve is arranged in the air inlet, and / or a one-way air outlet valve is arranged in the air outlet.

19. The second curing vessel of claim 17, wherein, The number of air inlets is one or more, and the number of air outlets is one or more.

20. The second curing vessel of claim 19, wherein, The second curing container is entirely configured to be light-transmissive.

21. The second curing vessel of claim 16, wherein, The cavity is further configured to contain at least one of nitrogen, carbon dioxide, or an inert gas, and the at least one of nitrogen, carbon dioxide, or an inert gas is filled into the air inlet after the cavity places the printed object, and is discharged from the air outlet after the printed object is cured.

22. The second curing vessel of claim 16, wherein, The printed object has a fourth opening, and the curing system further comprises:

23. The second curing vessel according to any one of claims 16-22, characterized in that, a bearing platform configured to be fitted with the cavity and having a surface with a plurality of holes; one or more support columns, one end of the one or more support columns being configured to be fitted with the holes, and the printed object being placed on the other end of the one or more support columns through the fourth opening. one or more support columns, one end of the one or more support columns configured to fit with the hole, the printed piece placed on the other end of the one or more support columns through the fourth opening.

24. A curing method applied to the curing system of any one of claims 1-12, comprising: placing a printed piece into the second curing container; filling the second curing container with at least one of nitrogen, carbon dioxide, or an inert gas; placing the second curing container into the first curing container.

25. A printer characterized by comprising: a printer body and a first curing container disposed at the bottom of the printer body, the first curing container comprising a housing having a first opening and a door configured to open and close the first opening, the first curing container having a curing light source and a heating assembly disposed therein.

Images