Hopper device and printing apparatus

Abstract

The application discloses a hopper device and a printing equipment. The hopper device comprises a cover body, a box body and a connecting rod. The cover body and the box body are movably connected through the connecting rod. At least one of the cover body and the box body is provided with a sliding groove. The connecting rod can move in the sliding groove. The sliding groove comprises a first sliding groove, a second sliding groove and a supporting position. The first sliding groove is communicated with the supporting position. The supporting position is communicated with the second sliding groove. The sliding groove structure comprising the first sliding groove, the second sliding groove and the supporting position cooperates with the connecting rod. The design of the double sliding grooves optimizes the movement track of the connecting rod, improves the smoothness and reliability of the movement of the cover body. The supporting position can form one-way limiting support for the connecting rod, so that the cover body can be kept in an open state. The problem that the cover body is easily closed accidentally is effectively solved, and the operation safety and user convenience are improved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of 3D printing technology, and in particular to a hopper device and printing equipment. Background Technology

[0002] The filament hopper is an auxiliary component of 3D printing equipment, primarily used to hold and store consumables such as printing filaments required for 3D printing. In existing technologies, the filament hopper cover often employs a simple rotating connection structure. Once opened, the cover is prone to accidental closure due to gravity or external interference, affecting not only the user's ability to add or replace materials but also potentially creating safety hazards. Furthermore, existing filament hopper cover connections often use a linkage and single-slide structure. During cover rotation, the linkage is prone to jamming or sticking, impacting consumable replenishment efficiency. Summary of the Invention

[0003] In a first aspect, embodiments of this application provide a hopper device, which includes a cover, a box, and a connecting rod; The lid and the box are movably connected by a connecting rod. At least one of the lid and the box is provided with a sliding groove. At least part of the connecting rod can move in the sliding groove. The lid and the box cooperate to form a storage space. The slide includes a first slide, a second slide, and a support position. The first slide is connected to the support position, and the support position is connected to the second slide. The hopper device is configured such that: during the process of the cover moving from a closed state to a fully open state relative to the box, a portion of the connecting rod moving within the chute moves along the first chute; during the first fall of the cover from the fully open state, the connecting rod abuts against the support position, forming a limiting support for the connecting rod, so that the cover is in an open-holding state; during the second fall of the cover after it moves from the open-holding state to the fully open state again, a portion of the connecting rod moving within the chute moves along the second chute.

[0004] In some embodiments, the slide is located in the box body, and the support is located between the first slide and the second slide. The support is a groove with its opening facing the cover, and the ends of the first slide and the second slide near the cover face the groove.

[0005] In some embodiments, the housing includes a mounting member detachably connected to the housing, a slide groove is disposed on the mounting member, and a reinforcing structure is provided around the slide groove.

[0006] In some embodiments, the side of the cover is rotatably connected to the side of the box, and the connecting rod is located near the rotatable connection between the cover and the box.

[0007] In some embodiments, the connecting rod includes a connecting portion that is rotatably connected to the cover. The hopper device includes a drive unit, one part of which is connected to the cover or box, and the other part is connected to the connecting rod; The drive element is configured to provide a force to the connecting rod from the first slide groove toward the second slide groove.

[0008] In some embodiments, the driving element is an elastic element, one end of which is connected to the cover and the other end is connected to the connecting rod near the connecting part; During the process of the cover moving from the closed state to the ultimate open state, some of the connecting rods slide along the first slide groove, and the elastic element undergoes elastic deformation and stores elastic potential energy. When part of the connecting rod slides to the end of the first groove facing the support position, the elastic element releases elastic potential energy and drives part of the connecting rod to slide to the support position, and the cover is in the open and retaining state. When the cover rotates from the open holding state to the limit open state again, the elastic element continues to release elastic potential energy, driving part of the connecting rod to slide to the second slide groove.

[0009] In some embodiments, the driving component is a magnetic component, which includes a first magnet and a second magnet capable of generating magnetic force. The first magnet is connected to the cover, and the second magnet is connected to the connecting rod near the connecting portion. During the process of the cover moving from the closed state to the ultimate open state, part of the connecting rod slides along the first groove, and the first magnet and the second magnet generate a magnetic force that interacts with each other. When part of the connecting rod slides to the end of the first groove facing the support position, the magnetic force drives part of the connecting rod to slide to the support position, and the cover is in the open and held state. When the cover rotates from the open holding state to the limit open state again, the magnetic force continues to drive part of the connecting rod to slide to the second slide groove.

[0010] In some embodiments, the slide rail further includes a junction and a third slide rail, the junction and the support are spaced apart, the end of the first slide rail away from the support, the end of the second slide rail away from the support and the third slide rail are connected to each other at the junction, and the third slide rail extends obliquely along the depth direction or gravity direction of the box body. When the connecting rod moves in the first plane and abuts against the support, the projection of the line connecting the connecting part and the support in the first plane is parallel to the extension direction of the projection of the third slide groove in the first plane, or the deviation angle between the two is less than 5 degrees.

[0011] In some embodiments, the hopper device further includes a guide assembly movably connected to the chute and disposed at the junction; The guide assembly has a first state and a second state; in the first state, the guide assembly blocks the connection between the second slide and the junction; in the second state, the guide assembly is located in the first slide to open the connection between the second slide and the junction.

[0012] In some embodiments, the guide assembly includes a guide member and a reset member. The guide member is oscillatingly disposed in a groove, and the reset member is connected between the guide member and the groove to provide a force for the guide assembly to reset from a second state to a first state. During the process of the cover body driving the connecting rod to slide from the third slide groove to the first slide groove, the reset component drives the guide component to abut against the communication port between the second slide groove and the intersection, and the guide component is in the first state; During the process of the cover body driving some of the connecting rods to slide along the second slide groove, some of the connecting rods can push the guide to swing to the first slide groove to open the communication port between the second slide groove and the intersection, so that the guide assembly switches from the first state to the second state; After part of the connecting rod passes through the connection between the second slide and the intersection, the reset member drives the guide member to swing to the connection between the second slide and the intersection, so that the guide assembly returns from the second state to the first state.

[0013] In some embodiments, the guide assembly includes a guide member with elastic deformation capability. During the process of the cover body driving part of the connecting rod to slide from the third slide groove to the first slide groove, the guide member blocks the communication port between the second slide groove and the intersection position, and the guide assembly is in the first state. During the process of the cover body driving some of the connecting rods to slide along the second slide groove, some of the connecting rods push against the guide, causing the guide to undergo elastic deformation and open the communication port between the second slide groove and the intersection, and the guide assembly switches from the first state to the second state. After part of the connecting rod passes through the connection between the second slide and the intersection, the guide component relies on its own elasticity to restore its initial shape, re-seal the connection between the second slide and the intersection, so that the guide component returns from the second state to the first state.

[0014] In some embodiments, a first material placement unit and a second material placement unit are arranged side by side in the storage space. The first material placement unit and the second material placement unit are used to store material trays or rolls. The radius of the material tray or roll is R, and the depth of the box is between 0.3R and 0.65R. The first material placement unit is closer to the rotational connection between the lid and the box body than the second material placement unit; along the depth direction or the direction of gravity of the box body, the first material placement unit is higher than the second material placement unit; The connecting rod is located in the area where the first material feeding unit is located.

[0015] In some embodiments, the orthographic projection of the center of the material tray or roll received by the first material feeding unit onto the plane of the chute falls into the chute or the area enclosed by the chute, or the distance between the projection and the center of the support position is less than or equal to 30 mm.

[0016] In some embodiments, the connecting rod includes a sliding portion, and the portion of the connecting rod that moves within the groove is the sliding portion, which is slidably disposed within the groove. The sliding part protrudes from the main body of the connecting rod and cooperates with the support position to provide unidirectional support for the connecting rod and the cover.

[0017] In some embodiments, the connecting portion and the sliding portion are located on opposite sides of the connecting rod.

[0018] Secondly, embodiments of this application provide a printing apparatus, including a printer and a hopper device as described in any of the above embodiments, the hopper device being arranged on top of the printer.

[0019] In some embodiments, the printing device further includes a bracket, the hopper device is fixed to the bracket, and is mounted on top of the printer via the bracket; Along the depth direction or gravity direction of the silo device, one end of the support near the first material placement unit of the silo device is higher than one end of the support near the second material placement unit of the silo device, so that the first material placement unit is higher than the second material placement unit.

[0020] The beneficial effects of the silo device provided in this application are: This application employs a sliding structure comprising a first sliding groove, a second sliding groove, and a support position, which works in conjunction with a connecting rod. The double sliding groove design optimizes the movement trajectory of the connecting rod, improving the smoothness and reliability of the cover's movement. Furthermore, the support position provides limiting support for the connecting rod, keeping the cover open and effectively solving the problem of accidental closure, thus enhancing operational safety and user convenience. In addition, this hopper device has a simple structure, few parts, is easy to manufacture and maintain, and is suitable for various 3D printing environments. Attached Figure Description

[0021] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of this application, the accompanying drawings used in the embodiments will be briefly described below. Obviously, the drawings described below are merely some embodiments of this application. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without any creative effort.

[0022] Figure 1 This is a schematic plan view of the silo device provided in some embodiments of this application; Figure 2 This is a three-dimensional structural diagram of the hopper device provided in some embodiments of this application in the open and holding state; Figure 3 This is a partial structural schematic diagram of a silo device provided in some embodiments of this application; Figure 4 yes Figure 3A partial structural diagram of the silo device in another state in the embodiment; Figure 5 This is a partial structural schematic diagram of a silo device provided in some embodiments of this application; Figure 6 yes Figure 5 An exploded view of the silo device in the embodiment; Figure 7 This is a three-dimensional structural diagram of the hopper device provided in some embodiments of this application in the open and holding state; Figure 8 This is a partial structural schematic diagram of a silo device provided in some embodiments of this application; Figure 9 This is a partial structural diagram of the guiding component provided in some embodiments of this application in a first state; Figure 10 This is a partial structural diagram of the guide component provided in some embodiments of this application in a second state; Figure 11 This is a three-dimensional structural schematic diagram of a printing device provided in some embodiments of this application; Figure 12 This is a schematic diagram of the planar structure of a printing device provided in some embodiments of this application.

[0023] The accompanying diagrams are labeled as follows: 1-Printing equipment, 10-Hopper device, 100-Cover, 200-Box, 300-Connecting rod, 301-Connecting part, 302-Sliding part, 400-Slide groove, 401-First slide groove, 402-Second slide groove, 403-Support position, 404-Intersection position, 405-Third slide groove, 500-Mounting component, 501-Reinforcing structure, 600-Driver, 700-First feeding unit, hopper 701, 800-Second feeding unit, 900-Guiding assembly, 901-Guiding component, 902-Reset component, 20-Printer, 30-Bracket. Detailed Implementation

[0024] In the following description, specific details such as particular system architectures and techniques are set forth for illustrative purposes and not for limitation, in order to provide a thorough understanding of the embodiments of this application. However, those skilled in the art will understand that this application may also be implemented in other embodiments without these specific details. In other instances, detailed descriptions of well-known systems, apparatuses, circuits, and methods have been omitted so as not to obscure the description of this application with unnecessary detail.

[0025] To make the above-mentioned objectives, features, and advantages of this application more apparent and understandable, the specific embodiments of this application will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. It should be understood that 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 inventive effort are within the scope of protection of this application.

[0026] This application provides a silo device; please refer to [link / reference]. Figures 1 to 3 , Figure 1 This is a schematic plan view of the silo device provided in some embodiments of this application. Figure 2 This is a three-dimensional structural diagram of the hopper device provided in some embodiments of this application in the open and held state. Figure 3 This is a partial structural schematic diagram of a silo device provided in some embodiments of this application.

[0027] In some embodiments, the hopper device 10 includes a cover 100, a box 200, and a connecting rod 300. The cover 100 and the box 200 are the main structures of the hopper device 10, and the two can cooperate to form a storage space. The storage space can be equipped with a material placement area as needed to stably support 3D printing consumables.

[0028] The cover 100 and the box 200 are movably connected by a connecting rod 300, allowing the cover 100 to move relative to the box 200, thereby opening or closing the storage space. This relative movement can be a rotation, sliding, or a combination of movements of the cover 100 relative to the box 200, as long as it can open the cover to load or retrieve printing consumables into the storage space, and is not limited here.

[0029] Please see Figures 4 to 6 , Figure 4 yes Figure 3 A partial structural diagram of the silo device in another state in the embodiment. Figure 5 This is a partial structural schematic diagram of a silo device provided in some embodiments of this application. Figure 6 yes Figure 5 An exploded view of the silo device in the embodiment.

[0030] In some embodiments, at least one of the cover 100 and the box 200 is provided with a groove 400, and at least a portion of the connecting rod 300 can move within the groove 400. It is understood that the groove 400 can be provided on the cover 100, the box 200, or both can have mutually cooperating grooves 400. At least a portion of the connecting rod 300 can extend into and move along the groove 400. The connecting rod 300 can be made of a high-strength, wear-resistant material, such as aluminum alloy or high-strength engineering plastic, to reduce wear caused by long-term sliding.

[0031] The chute 400 may include a first chute 401, a second chute 402, and a support position 403. The extended shape of the chute 400 can be flexibly set according to the overall layout of the hopper device 10. For example, it can be set as an arc, a straight line, or other shape adapted to the movement trajectory of the connecting rod 300, so as to realize the smooth sliding of the connecting rod 300 within the chute 400. In some embodiments, the support position 403 may be located between the first chute 401 and the second chute 402, and communicate with the first chute 401 and the second chute 402 respectively, forming a shape in which the two chute 400s surround the support position 403. In other embodiments, the support position 403 may be located at one end of the first chute 401 and the second chute 402, and the support position 403 communicates with the ports of the two chute 400s respectively, with the two chute 400s converging at the support position 403 from the side.

[0032] The movement process of the hopper device 10 is as follows: In the initial state, the cover 100 and the box 200 are in a closed state; when it is necessary to open the cover, the user can drive the cover 100 to move relative to the box 200. Starting from the closed state, during the process of the cover 100 moving relative to the box 200 to the limit opening state, part of the connecting rod 300 in the slide 400 can move along the first slide 401 and slide towards the support position 403. When the cover 100 moves to the limit opening state, part of the connecting rod 300 in the slide 400 just moves to one end of the first slide 401 near the support position 403. At this time, the groove wall of the slide 400 can abut against part of the connecting rod 300, restricting the connecting rod 300 from continuing to move upward, thereby restricting the cover 100 from continuing to open. At this point, the user can perceive that the cover 100 has reached its maximum opening state. The cover 100 can then be lowered from this state for the first time. During this process, part of the connecting rod 300 can slide from the first groove 401 into the support position 403 and abut against it. The support position 403 provides unidirectional limiting support for the connecting rod 300, keeping the cover 100 stably in the open position. This facilitates the user's consumable replenishment and maintenance operations without requiring continuous manual support. Specifically, the unidirectional limiting support means that when part of the connecting rod 300 abuts against the support position 403, without external force, the support position 403 can stably restrict the downward movement of the connecting rod 300, thus keeping the cover 100 stably in the open state without continuous manual support. When an external force is applied to drive the cover 100 back to the maximum opening state, this force can drive the connecting rod 300 upward, overcoming the limiting effect of the support position 403, causing the connecting rod 300 to disengage from the support position 403 and continue moving towards the maximum opening state. That is, the support position 403 does not restrict the upward movement of the connecting rod 300, but only limits the downward movement of the connecting rod 300. During the process of the cover 100 moving from the open-holding state back to the fully open state, part of the connecting rod 300 can overcome the limiting effect of the support position 403 and move upward, sliding into the second slide groove 402. During the second descent of the cover 100 after moving from the open-holding state back to the fully open state, part of the connecting rod 300 moving within the slide groove 400 can move downward along the second slide groove 402, ultimately causing the cover 100 to close onto the box 200, completing the closure.

[0033] This embodiment of the application, by setting a slide groove 400 structure including a first slide groove 401, a second slide groove 402, and a support position 403, works in conjunction with the connecting rod 300 to optimize the movement trajectory of the connecting rod 300 and improve the smoothness and reliability of the rotation of the cover 100. The support position 403 can form a unidirectional limiting support for the connecting rod 300, keeping the cover 100 in the open state and effectively solving the problem of the cover 100 being prone to accidental closure. The overall structure is simple and compact. Users only need to repeatedly lift and lower the cover 100 to sequentially realize the entire process of opening, maintaining position, and closing the cover, making operation simple and convenient.

[0034] Understandably, all directional indications (such as up, down, left, right, front, back, etc.) in the embodiments of this application are only used to explain the relative positional relationship and movement of each component in a certain specific posture (as shown in the figure). If the specific posture changes, the directional indication will also change accordingly.

[0035] It should be understood that the terms "comprising" and "having," and any variations thereof, used in this application and the appended claims, are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion. For example, a process, method, system, product, or apparatus that includes a series of steps or units is not limited to the steps or units listed, but may optionally include steps or units not listed, or may optionally include other steps or units inherent to such process, method, product, or apparatus.

[0036] In some embodiments, the ends of the first slide groove 401 and the second slide groove 402 away from the support position 403 at least partially overlap. This overlap means that the ends of the first slide groove 401 and the second slide groove 402 away from the support position 403 form an overlapping region, which is defined as the third slide groove 405. That is, the slide groove 400 further includes the third slide groove 405, which is interconnected with the ends of the first slide groove 401 and the second slide groove 402 away from the support position 403.

[0037] In some embodiments, the slide 400 further includes a junction 404. The junction 404 is spaced apart from the support position 403, and the end of the first slide 401 away from the support position 403, the end of the second slide 402 away from the support position 403, and the third slide 405 are interconnected at the junction 404. Specifically, the first slide 401 and the second slide 402 extend from the junction 404 to form the third slide 405. The first slide 401 and the second slide 402 can not only communicate with each other at the support position 403, but also communicate with each other through the junction 404. The part of the connecting rod 300 that moves within the slide 400 can slide along the first slide 401 through the support position 403 into the second slide 402, or it can slide along the second slide 402 through the junction 404 into the third slide 405, and then slide back into the first slide 401 from the third slide 405, forming a continuous loop.

[0038] In conjunction with the overall movement process, when the cover 100 moves from the closed state to the maximum open state, part of the connecting rod 300 can slide from the third slide groove 405 through the intersection 404 to the first slide groove 401; when the cover 100 rotates from the open holding state to the maximum open state again and falls back for the second time, part of the connecting rod 300 can slide from the second slide groove 402 through the intersection 404 to the third slide groove 405; when the cover 100 is opened again, part of the connecting rod 300 can slide from the third slide groove 405 to the first slide groove 401 again.

[0039] In other embodiments, the third slide 405 may not be provided at the ends of the first slide 401 and the second slide 402 away from the support position 403. Optionally, the ends of the first slide 401 and the second slide 402 away from the support position 403 do not overlap. By adding an additional transition groove or connecting groove structure, the first slide 401 and the second slide 402 are connected to each other, and the path connection of the two slides 400 is achieved by relying on the transition structure. During the closing and falling process of the cover 100, after some of the connecting rods 300 slide along the second slide 402 to the end, they can smoothly slide into the interior of the first slide 401 through the transition groove or connecting groove, thereby ensuring that after each closing, some of the connecting rods 300 can return to the initial stroke position of the first slide 401, preparing for the next opening action. Alternatively, the ends of the first slide 401 and the second slide 402 away from the support position 403 may also be separated from each other without any connecting structure. In this structure, when the cover 100 performs its first opening and closing action, part of the connecting rod 300 can slide from the first slide groove 401 through the support position 403 into the second slide groove 402, and finally stop at the end of the second slide groove 402 away from the support position 403. When the cover 100 performs its second opening and closing action, part of the connecting rod 300 can slide from the second slide groove 402 through the support position 403 into the first slide groove 401, and finally stop at the end of the first slide groove 401 away from the support position 403. This cycle repeats, so that each time the opening and closing action is completed, part of the connecting rod 300 alternately stops at the end of the second slide groove 402 and the end of the first slide groove 401.

[0040] In some embodiments, the third slide 405 extends obliquely along the depth direction or gravity direction of the housing 200, forming an oblique transition shape to accommodate the swing trajectory of the connecting rod 300 as it rotates with the cover 100. The routing of the slide 400 can be flexibly selected and adapted according to the actual assembly space, the swing trajectory of the connecting rod 300, and the force requirements. This includes, but is not limited to, setting the first slide 401 and the second slide 402 as arc-shaped slides and the third slide 405 as a straight slide; alternatively, the first slide 401, the second slide 402, and the third slide 405 can be uniformly designed as a completely straight groove structure for easier processing; or the first slide 401, the second slide 402, and the third slide 405 can all be set as arc-shaped slides, better conforming to the arc-shaped swing path of the connecting rod 300 as it rotates with the cover 100, resulting in a smoother transition.

[0041] In some embodiments, the first slide 401 and the second slide 402 are configured as arc-shaped slides, and the third slide 405 is configured as a straight slide. The guide path of the third slide 405 is regular and straight, which can play a stable limiting and guiding role for the connecting rod 300, effectively constrain the sliding posture of the connecting rod 300, and prevent the connecting rod 300 from deviating. The first slide 401 and the second slide 402 are adjacent to the support position 403 and connected to the reversing area. They are configured as arc-shaped slides, which can fit the arc-shaped swing path of the connecting rod 300 when the cover 100 rotates, buffer the motion impact of the connecting rod 300 when reversing, and achieve a smooth transition.

[0042] The first plane is defined as the plane in which the connecting rod 300 moves. When the connecting rod 300 abuts against the support position 403, the projection of the line connecting the connecting part 301 and the support position 403 onto the first plane is parallel to the extension direction of the projection of the third slide groove 405 onto the first plane, or the deviation angle between the two is less than 5 degrees. This parallel or small-angle layout makes the force direction of the connecting rod 300 when it abuts against the support position 403 more consistent with the direction of the third slide groove 405. The overall direction of the slide groove 400 matches the force direction of the connecting rod 300, which is beneficial for a straighter force transmission path, reduces the bending stress generated locally in the slide groove 400, and improves the structural strength and service life of the slide groove 400.

[0043] In some embodiments, the slide 400 is located in the housing 200. The housing 200 serves as the base of the hopper device 10, and most of the internal structure of the hopper device 10 is housed in the base. Therefore, the base is relatively stable and not easily moved. Thus, placing the slide 400 in the housing 200 can improve the stability and accuracy of the linkage 300's movement. Simultaneously, this simplifies the design of the cover 100, reduces its overall weight, and makes opening, closing, and rotating the cover 100 easier and less strenuous, resulting in a more compact and rational overall assembly structure.

[0044] In other embodiments, the slide groove 400 may also be provided on the cover 100. The cover 100 is a relatively movable structure, and the slide groove 400 moves synchronously with the cover 100, which can adapt to the movement changes of the connecting rod 300, making the fit between the connecting rod 300 and the slide groove 400 more precise. This structure can also reduce the impact of the space constraints of the housing 200 on the movement of the connecting rod 300, and improve installation adaptability.

[0045] In some embodiments, the support position 403 is located between the first slide groove 401 and the second slide groove 402. The support position 403 is a groove with its opening facing the cover 100. The ends of the first slide groove 401 and the second slide groove 402 near the cover 100 face the groove. The support position 403 adopts the form of an upward-facing groove, which can stably support the part of the connecting rod 300 that slides down from the first slide groove 401 to the support position 403, forming a reliable one-way limiting support effect. The ends of the first slide groove 401 and the second slide groove 402 near the cover 100 are aligned with the groove, so that each section of the sliding path is connected to each other. During the opening and closing process of the cover 100, the connecting rod 300 can slide along the extension direction of the first slide groove 401 and smoothly enter the groove of the support position 403 to complete the abutment and limiting. When the cover 100 is lifted again, the connecting rod 300 can smoothly disengage from the groove and transition to the second slide groove 402. The orientation design of the groove opening matches the end opening of the slide 400, which can reduce the resistance of the reversing motion of the connecting rod 300 and reduce the risk of jamming.

[0046] In other embodiments, the support position 403 may also be located at one end of the first slide groove 401 and the second slide groove 402. The ends of the first slide groove 401 and the second slide groove 402 near the cover 100 are connected to the support position 403. The support position 403 is connected to the ends of the two slide grooves 400, and there is no structure in which the two slide grooves 400 surround the support position 403. In this embodiment, the support position 403 may adopt a flat limiting platform structure. When part of the connecting rod 300 moves along the first slide groove 401 to the side near the support position 403, it can slide into the support position 403 and abut against the limiting platform. When a force is applied to the connecting rod 400 toward the second slide groove 402, part of the connecting rod 300 can slide from the support position 403 into the second slide groove 402, which can also realize the process of receiving the connecting rod 300 and completing the reversing movement of the connecting rod 300.

[0047] In some embodiments, the housing 200 includes a mounting member 500. The mounting member 500 is detachably connected to the housing 200, and a sliding groove 400 is correspondingly formed on the mounting member 500. The mounting member 500 and the housing 200 can be connected by bolts, snap-fit, or pins, etc., using a detachable assembly structure to facilitate the disassembly, replacement, and maintenance of the mounting member 500. The sliding groove 400 is provided on the detachable mounting member 500. When the sliding groove 400 is worn, deformed, or damaged, it is not necessary to disassemble the entire housing 200; only the mounting member 500 needs to be disassembled for repair or replacement, significantly reducing maintenance costs and operational difficulty. Furthermore, the size and orientation of the sliding groove 400 can be adjusted according to different specifications of the connecting rod 300 and the opening and closing stroke requirements of different covers, reducing the assembly difficulty of the sliding groove 400 and the connecting rod 300 and improving reliability.

[0048] In some embodiments, a reinforcing structure 501 is provided around the periphery of the slide 400. The reinforcing structure 501 can be provided on the mounting member 500 to enhance the structural strength of the area of ​​the slide 400 and extend the service life of the slide 400. Optionally, the slide 400 and the reinforcing structure 501 can be integrally formed, or the reinforcing structure 501 can be fixed to the periphery of the slide 400 by welding, bolting, or other methods. Specifically, the reinforcing structure 501 can be configured as a reinforcing rib, a thickened boss arranged around the edge of the slide 400, or a reinforcing plate structure covering the periphery of the slide 400, which is not limited here.

[0049] Please continue reading. Figure 2 and Figure 6 , Figure 2 This is a three-dimensional structural diagram of the hopper device provided in some embodiments of this application in the open and held state. Figure 6 yes Figure 5 An exploded view of the silo device in the embodiment.

[0050] In some embodiments, the side of the cover 100 is rotatably connected to the side of the box 200. The cover 100 rotates relative to the box 200 to achieve the opening and closing movement. Unlike translation or sliding, the side rotation is more stable and regular. Optionally, the connecting rod 300 is positioned near the rotatable connection between the cover 100 and the box 200. This allows for a reasonable control of the overall length of the connecting rod 300, facilitating the compact planning and arrangement of the overall orientation and layout of the first slide 401, the second slide 402, and the support position 403 within the limited installation space of the box 200. This avoids structural interference caused by excessively long or cluttered grooves.

[0051] In some embodiments, the cover 100 can be connected to the box 200 by a sliding motion. For example, the cover 100 can be opened by sliding along a horizontal or vertical direction using a guide rail or slide rail mechanism. In this case, the connecting rod 300 can be connected to the middle or edge of the cover 100 for auxiliary support and limiting. In other embodiments, the cover 100 and the box 200 can also maintain a side-rotational connection, with the connecting rod 300 positioned away from the rotational connection. In this case, the length of the connecting rod 300 and the direction and length of the slide groove 400 can be correspondingly lengthened and optimized. This design can increase the lever arm for opening and closing the cover 100, making the opening operation easier; at the same time, it can accommodate a larger cover swing stroke, meeting the needs of large-diameter feeding and large-area material handling.

[0052] In some embodiments, the connecting rod 300 includes a connecting portion 301, which is rotatably connected to the cover 100. Specifically, the connecting rod 300 can be hinged to the cover 100 via the connecting portion 301. The connecting portion 301 serves as the movable connection point between the connecting rod 300 and the cover 100, allowing the connecting rod 300 to rotate freely relative to the cover 100. Relying on the rotatable engagement of the connecting portion 301, the connecting rod 300 can adaptively adjust its angle while following the overall rotation of the cover 100, matching the direction and curvature of the slide groove 400 in real time, thus preventing the connecting rod 300 from jamming due to rigid connection.

[0053] In some embodiments, the hopper device 10 includes a drive member 600. A portion of the drive member 600 is connected to the cover 100 or the housing 200, and another portion is connected to the connecting rod 300. The drive member 600 is used to provide a force to the connecting rod 300 from the first groove 401 toward the second groove 402. Specifically, the drive member 600 may be selectively arranged on the side of the connecting rod 300 near or away from the rotatable connection position between the cover 100 and the housing 200. When the drive member 600 is arranged on the side of the connecting rod 300 near the rotatable connection position, the drive member 600 continuously applies a pulling force to the connecting rod 300 from the first groove 401 toward the second groove 402; when the drive member 600 is arranged on the side of the connecting rod 300 away from the rotatable connection position, the drive member 600 applies a pushing force to the connecting rod 300 from the first groove 401 toward the second groove 402. Whether the force is specifically tensile or thrust, it can actively pull the connecting rod 300 away from the first groove 401 and into the support position 403 when the cover 100 rotates from the closed state to the maximum open state and the connecting rod 300 slides to the end of the first groove 401 near the support position 403. This allows the connecting rod 300 to be held against the support position 403. When the cover 100 is lifted again and rotated from the open holding state to the maximum open state, the force of the driving member 600 can further drive the connecting rod 300 away from the support position 403 and slide it from the support position 403 to the second groove 402. This automatically realizes the orderly switching of the connecting rod 300 between the first groove 401, the support position 403, and the second groove 402, eliminating the need for manual adjustment of the connecting rod 300 and improving the automation level and stability of the overall structure.

[0054] In some embodiments, the drive element 600 is an elastic element. Figure 6In the illustrated embodiment, the elastic element is a spring. It is understood that the elastic element can also be a structure such as an elastic rubber component. One end of the elastic element can be connected to the cover 100, and the other end can be connected to the connecting rod 300 near the connecting portion 301. Utilizing the elastic extension and contraction characteristics of the elastic element itself, a stable and continuous elastic force is provided to the connecting rod 300. Specifically, during the process of the cover 100 moving from a closed state to its maximum open state, part of the connecting rod 300 slides along the first groove 401, causing the position of the connecting rod 300 to shift and pull or compress the elastic element, causing elastic deformation and storing elastic potential energy. This process can be completed by manually lifting the cover 100, without any additional operation. When part of the connecting rod 300 slides to the opening end of the first groove 401 facing the support position 403, part of the connecting rod 300 is no longer blocked and restricted by the groove wall of the first groove 401. The elastic element can release elastic potential energy, automatically driving part of the connecting rod 300 to slide to the support position 403, so that the connecting rod 300 abuts against the support position 403, and the cover 100 remains in the open holding state. When the cover 100 rotates from the open holding state to the extreme open state again, the rotation of the cover 100 releases the locking restriction of the support position 403 on the connecting rod 300. The elastic element continues to release elastic potential energy, driving part of the connecting rod 300 to slide to the second groove 402, completing the automatic switching of the motion trajectory.

[0055] In other embodiments, the drive member 600 may also be a magnetic structure. For example, the drive member 600 is a magnetic member, which includes a first magnet and a second magnet capable of generating magnetic force. The first magnet is connected to the cover 100, and the second magnet is connected to the connecting rod 300 near the connecting portion 301.

[0056] The magnetic force generated by the two magnets can be either an attraction force formed by opposite poles facing each other, or a repulsion force formed by like poles facing each other. When the two magnets are positioned on the side of the connecting rod 300 near the rotational connection position, two magnets with opposite poles are selected. In this case, the driving member 600 continuously applies a magnetic attraction force from the first slide groove 401 to the second slide groove 402 to the connecting rod 300. When the two magnets are positioned on the side of the connecting rod 300 away from the rotational connection position, two magnets with like poles are selected. In this case, the driving member 600 applies a magnetic repulsion force from the first slide groove 401 to the second slide groove 402 to the connecting rod 300.

[0057] During the movement of the cover 100 from the closed state to the fully open state, a portion of the connecting rod 300 slides along the first groove 401, and the first magnet and the second magnet generate a magnetic force through their interaction. When a portion of the connecting rod 300 slides to the end of the first groove 401 facing the support position 403, the magnetic force drives the portion of the connecting rod 300 to slide to the support position 403, and the cover 100 is in the open-holding state. When the cover 100 rotates again from the open-holding state to the fully open state, the magnetic force continues to drive the portion of the connecting rod 300 to slide to the second groove 402. Relying on this magnetic force, after the connecting rod 300 is released from the restriction of the groove wall of the first groove 401, it can be automatically guided into the support position 403. Subsequently, when the cover 100 is lifted again from the open-holding state to the fully open state, causing the connecting rod 300 to be released from the restriction of the groove wall of the support position 403, the connecting rod 300 is driven to switch to the second groove 402, thereby achieving the same automatic reversing and smooth opening and closing effect as the elastic element driving method.

[0058] Please see Figures 7 to 10 , Figure 7 This is a three-dimensional structural diagram of the hopper device provided in some embodiments of this application in the open and held state. Figure 8 This is a partial structural schematic diagram of a silo device provided in some embodiments of this application. Figure 9 This is a partial structural diagram of the guide component provided in some embodiments of this application in a first state. Figure 10 This is a partial structural diagram of the guide component provided in some embodiments of this application in a second state.

[0059] In some embodiments, the connecting rod 300 includes a sliding portion 302. The portion of the connecting rod 300 that can move within the groove 400 is the sliding portion 302, which is slidably disposed within the groove 400. The sliding portion 302 protrudes from the main body of the connecting rod 300 and cooperates with the support position 403 to provide unidirectional support for the connecting rod 300 and the cover 100. The sliding portion 302 serves as the contact point where the connecting rod 300 directly engages with the groove 400. It is disposed within the groove 400 and can smoothly slide along the continuous path formed by the first groove 401, the support position 403, and the second groove 402. By providing a dedicated sliding portion 302, the movement posture of the connecting rod 300 can be defined, preventing the connecting rod 300 from swaying, twisting, or dislodging from the groove during sliding, thus ensuring stable and reliable movement. Meanwhile, the sliding part 302 can be made of wear-resistant material or have an optimized contact surface structure to reduce friction loss between it and the groove wall of the slide 400, improve the smoothness of the overall opening and closing, and extend the service life of the structure. The remaining rod parts do not need to be adapted to sliding requirements, making the structural design more flexible and facilitating overall processing and assembly.

[0060] In some embodiments, the connecting portion 301 and the sliding portion 302 are located on opposite sides of the connecting rod 300. This arrangement can reasonably stagger the rotational hinge position and the sliding guide position, effectively avoiding motion interference or stress concentration in the connecting rod 300 during rotation, making the overall force distribution of the connecting rod 300 more balanced, while reducing the space occupied by the entire connecting rod 300.

[0061] In some embodiments, a first material placement unit 700 and a second material placement unit 800 are arranged side by side within the storage space. The first material placement unit 700 and the second material placement unit 800 are used to store trays or rolls of material. With the radius of the tray or roll set to R, the depth of the box body 200 is between 0.3R and 0.65R. This dimensional ratio ensures that the center of gravity of the tray or roll falls within the depth range of the box body 200, providing circumferential protection for the tray or roll and achieving stable material storage. Simultaneously, the upper part of the tray or roll protrudes outside the box body 200, facilitating operator observation of the remaining material and convenient handling of the tray and roll.

[0062] The first material placement unit 700 is closer to the rotational connection between the cover 100 and the box 200 than the second material placement unit 800; along the depth direction or gravity direction of the box 200, the first material placement unit 700 is higher than the second material placement unit 800. In this embodiment, the material storage device 10 is assembled and arranged at an overall angle, so that the two material placement units form a staggered arrangement with the front lower and the back higher. Specifically, the second material placement unit 800 is far away from the rotational connection position of the cover and is located in an open area outside the storage space, with sufficient operating space, making it convenient for users to directly pick up and put in consumables. The first material placement unit 700 is close to the rotational connection position and is easily blocked and interfered with by the cover 100 and the second material placement unit 800 due to the swing stroke limitation of the cover 100. Therefore, raising it can effectively reduce the impact of the first material placement unit 700 being blocked by the second material placement unit 800. Furthermore, the cover 100 does not need to be flipped open to a large angle to fully expose the first material feeding unit 700 and the second material feeding unit 800. The consumable trays in both material feeding units are unobstructed, making it easy for operators to handle and retrieve them. This design not only solves the problem of the material feeding units obstructing each other, but also avoids the problem of the cover 100 being too high and difficult for users to touch and grasp due to a large opening angle.

[0063] Meanwhile, the smaller opening and flipping stroke can be adapted to a miniaturized mechanical self-locking structure, reducing the overall size of the self-locking mechanism and effectively reducing the space occupied by the self-locking components on the cover, which is conducive to the miniaturized design of the hopper device 10.

[0064] Furthermore, in some embodiments of this application, the material storage device 10 is placed above the printer of the 3D printing equipment at a relatively high height. This makes the first material placement unit 700 more susceptible to obstruction and interference from the cover 100 and the second material placement unit 800, hindering user access and replacement operations. Therefore, raising the first material placement unit 700 effectively reduces the impact of the second material placement unit 800 obstructing it.

[0065] In some embodiments, the orthographic projection of the center of the material tray or roll received by the first material placement unit 700 onto the plane of the slide 400 falls into the slide 400 or the space enclosed by the slide 400. In some embodiments, the distance between the projection of the slide 400 and the support position 403 is less than or equal to 30 mm. The first material placement unit 700 has multiple material bins 701 arranged side-by-side along the connecting axis of the cover 100 and the box 200. The material bins 701 are used to hold material trays wound with printing material lines. The center of the first material placement unit 700 refers to the geometric center point of the first material placement unit 700, which is the position of the orthographic projection when projected onto the plane of the slide 400 in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the slide 400. Alternatively, the center of the first material placement unit 700 refers to the position where the axis of the material tray or roll placed in the material bin 701 is orthographically projected onto the plane of the slide 400 in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the slide 400. The distance between the center of the material tray or roll stored in the first material feeding unit 700 and the support position 403 is approximately (less than or equal to 30mm), so that the support position 403 is arranged close to the upper edge of the box body 200, effectively expanding the space for the connecting rod 300 to be accommodated and slide inside the box body 200. The longer the length of the connecting rod 300 and the longer the sliding path, the greater the opening angle of the cover 100, thus meeting the opening and closing requirements of the hopper device 10.

[0066] In some embodiments, the hopper device 10 further includes a guide assembly 900. The guide assembly 900 is movably connected to the chute 400 and disposed at the junction 404. Specifically, the guide assembly 900 is integrally assembled at the junction 404. One end of the guide assembly 900 can be movably connected to the wall of the chute 400, and the other end can reciprocate within the area of ​​the junction 404. The guide assembly 900 can switch positions and change attitudes relative to the chute 400. The guide assembly 900 has a first state and a second state. In the first state, the guide assembly 900 is entirely displaced to the communication port between the second chute 402 and the junction 404, and the communication port is blocked to prevent part of the connecting rod 300 from accidentally entering the second chute 402 when it slides into the first chute 401 along the third chute 405. In the second state, part of the connecting rod 300 can abut against and push the guide component 900 to move towards the first sliding groove 401 within the second sliding groove 402, so that the guide component 900 moves into the first sliding groove 401 to open the communication port between the second sliding groove 402 and the intersection 404, thereby removing the obstruction to the port of the second sliding groove 402. Part of the connecting rod 300 can then slide along the second sliding groove 402 through the intersection 404 into the third sliding groove 405.

[0067] In some embodiments, the guide assembly 900 may include a guide member 901 and a reset member 902. The guide member 901 is pivotally disposed in the groove 400, for example, it can be hinged to the groove wall of the groove 400 corresponding to the junction 404 via a pivot. The reset member 902 is connected between the guide member 901 and the mounting base 500, and is used to provide a force for the guide assembly 900 to reset from the second state to the first state. The reset member 902 may be an elastic element such as a torsion spring, a tension spring, or an elastic sheet, which can always push or pull the guide member 901 toward the position that blocks the communication between the second groove 402 and the junction 404.

[0068] During the process of the cover 100 driving part of the connecting rod 300 to slide from the third slide groove 405 to the first slide groove 401, the guide member 901 is held against the communication port between the second slide groove 402 and the intersection position 404 under the drive of the reset member 902. That is, the guide member 900 is in the first state, thereby effectively preventing part of the connecting rod 300 from accidentally entering the second slide groove 402 when it slides from the third slide groove 405 into the first slide groove 401, ensuring that it moves along the correct trajectory direction to the support position 403 to form an open holding state. When the user needs to close the cover 100, as the cover 100 slides along the second slide groove 402 with part of the connecting rod 300, part of the connecting rod 300 will contact and push the guide member 901 at the end of the second slide groove 402. The pushing force of the connecting rod 300 can overcome the force of the reset member 902, causing the guide member 901 to swing into the first slide groove 401, thereby opening the port of the second slide groove 402. At this time, the guide assembly 900 switches from the first state to the second state, and part of the connecting rod 300 can slide along the second slide groove 402 through the intersection 404 into the third slide groove 405. After part of the connecting rod 300 passes through the port of the second slide groove 402, since the pushing force of the connecting rod 300 on the guide member 901 disappears, the reset member 902 can drive the guide member 901 to swing and re-abut against the port of the second slide groove 402. The guide assembly 900 returns from the second state to the first state, preparing for the next opening and closing action.

[0069] This design fully utilizes the automatic reset capability of the reset component 902, enabling the guide component 900 to automatically return to the initial sealing position after each opening and closing operation, without the need for additional user intervention, thereby improving the stability and reliability of the connecting rod 300 in switching paths within the double slide groove 400.

[0070] It is understandable that in some embodiments, the guide assembly 900 may only have a guide member 901 without a reset member 902. For example, in some embodiments, one end of the guide member 901 is fixed. Under the action of gravity, the guide member 901 is in a natural hanging state, and the guide assembly 900 is in a first state. At this time, the guide member 901 abuts against the communication port between the second slide groove 402 and the intersection position 404, thereby effectively preventing part of the connecting rod 300 from accidentally entering the second slide groove 402 when it slides from the third slide groove 405 into the first slide groove 401, ensuring that it moves along the correct trajectory direction to the support position 403 to form an open holding state. When the user needs to close the cover 100, as the cover 100 slides along the second slide groove 402, part of the connecting rod 300 contacts and pushes the guide member 901 at the end of the second slide groove 402. The thrust of the connecting rod 300 overcomes gravity, causing the guide member 901 to swing into the first slide groove 401, thereby opening the port of the second slide groove 402. At this time, the guide assembly 900 switches from the first state to the second state, and part of the connecting rod 300 can slide along the second slide groove 402 through the intersection 404 into the third slide groove 405. After part of the connecting rod 300 passes the port of the second slide groove 402, the thrust of the connecting rod 300 on the guide member 901 disappears. At this time, the guide member 901 swings under the action of gravity and abuts against the port of the second slide groove 402 again. The guide assembly 900 returns from the second state to the first state, preparing for the next opening and closing action.

[0071] In some embodiments of this application, the guide assembly 900 includes a guide member 901 with elastic deformation capability, which can be an elastic member such as a rubber component. In the first state, the guide member 901 is in a natural state. That is, during the process of the cover 100 driving part of the connecting rod 300 to slide from the third slide groove 405 to the first slide groove 401, the guide assembly 900 is in the first state, the guide member 901 is in a natural state, and the guide member 901 blocks the position of the port of the second slide groove 402. During the process of the cover 100 changing from an open state to a closed state relative to the box 200, when part of the connecting rod 300 moves to the port of the second slide groove 402, part of the connecting rod 300 generates a pushing force on the guide member 901, causing the guide member 901 to undergo elastic deformation and open the port of the second slide groove 402. The guide assembly 900 switches from the first state to the second state, and part of the connecting rod 300 can then slide from the port of the second slide groove 402 into the third slide groove 405. After part of the connecting rod 300 slides from the port of the second slide groove 402 to the third slide groove 405, the pushing force of part of the connecting rod 300 on the guide member 901 disappears. The guide member 901 returns to its initial natural state by its own elasticity and abuts against the port of the second slide groove 402 again, preparing for the next opening and closing action.

[0072] Embodiments of this application also provide a printing device; please continue reading. Figure 7 And see Figure 11 and Figure 12 , Figure 7 This is a three-dimensional structural diagram of the hopper device provided in some embodiments of this application in the open and held state. Figure 11 This is a three-dimensional structural schematic diagram of the printing device provided in some embodiments of this application. Figure 12 This is a schematic diagram of the planar structure of a printing device provided in some embodiments of this application.

[0073] In some embodiments, the printing device 1 includes a printer 20 and a hopper device 10 as described in any of the above embodiments. The hopper device 10 is disposed on top of the printer 20. The printer 20 typically has a feed inlet on its top or side for introducing printing consumables. By distributing the hopper device 10 on top of the printer 20, the discharge port of the hopper device 10 can directly connect with the feed inlet of the printer 20, allowing the consumables to be drawn from the hopper device 10 and enter the printer 20 along a nearly vertical short path. This reduces tubing bends, lowers feeding resistance, and avoids feeding difficulties or wire breakage caused by bends. Simultaneously, it facilitates the user opening the cover 100 from above to add consumables, saves side space, and makes the overall layout compact.

[0074] In some embodiments, the printing device 1 further includes a bracket 30. A hopper device 10 is fixed to the bracket 30 and mounted on top of the printer 20 via the bracket 30. The hopper device 10 can be mounted on top of the printer 20 in an inclined manner. Specifically, a first feeding unit 700 and a second feeding unit 800 are arranged side-by-side in the storage space of the hopper device 10; along the depth direction or gravity direction of the hopper device 10, the end of the bracket 30 near the first feeding unit 700 is higher than the end of the bracket 30 near the second feeding unit 800, so that the first feeding unit 700 is higher than the second feeding unit 800.

[0075] Because the first material placement unit 700 is closer to the rotational connection between the cover 100 and the box 200 than the second material placement unit 800, this raised first material placement unit 700 arrangement can reduce the obstruction of the second material placement unit 800 by relying on the height difference between the first material placement unit 700 and the second material placement unit 800. This allows the cover 100 to be opened with only a small angle to fully expose all material placement units, solving the problem of mutual obstruction between material placement units and avoiding the problem of the cover 100 being too high and difficult for users to touch and grasp due to a large opening angle. At the same time, the smaller opening and flipping stroke can be adapted to a miniaturized mechanical self-locking structure, reducing the overall size of the self-locking mechanism and effectively reducing the space occupied by the self-locking components on the cover, which is conducive to the miniaturization design of the hopper device 10.

[0076] Furthermore, as the core forming mechanism of the printing equipment 1, the printer 20 can integrate an extrusion drive assembly, a hot end assembly, a motion transmission mechanism, and a control motherboard. When the printing equipment 1 is working, the printer 20 can provide traction force through its internal feeding motor to continuously pull consumables from the hopper device 10 and transport them to the hot end assembly through the feeding pipe; after the consumables are heated and melted, they are extruded and stacked layer by layer according to the preset model path, and finally the object is printed.

[0077] It should be understood that the terminology used in this specification and appended claims is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to limit the application. As used in this specification and appended claims, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. Similarly, the terms “first” and “second” in the description of this application are for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of indicated technical features. Thus, a feature defined as “first” or “second” may explicitly or implicitly include one or more of the stated features. Furthermore, the term “multiple” in the description of this application means two or more, unless otherwise explicitly specified.

[0078] In the description of this application, the references to terms such as "one embodiment," "some embodiments," "example," "specific example," or "some examples," etc., refer to specific features, structures, materials, or characteristics described in connection with that embodiment or example, which are included in at least one embodiment or example of this application. In this specification, the illustrative expressions of the above terms do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment or example. Furthermore, the specific features, structures, materials, or characteristics described may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments or examples. Moreover, without contradiction, those skilled in the art can combine and integrate the different embodiments or examples described in this specification, as well as the features of different embodiments or examples.

[0079] The above description is only a partial embodiment of this application and does not limit the patent scope of this application. Any equivalent structural or procedural changes made based on the content of this application's specification and drawings, or direct or indirect applications in other related technical fields, are similarly included within the patent protection scope of this application.

Claims

1. A silo device, characterized in that, The hopper device includes a cover, a box, and a connecting rod; The cover and the box are movably connected by the connecting rod. At least one of the cover and the box is provided with a sliding groove. At least part of the connecting rod can move in the sliding groove. The cover and the box cooperate to form a storage space. The slide rail includes a first slide rail, a second slide rail, and a support position. The first slide rail is connected to the support position, and the support position is connected to the second slide rail. The hopper device is configured such that: during the process of the cover moving from a closed state to a fully open state relative to the box body, the portion of the connecting rod moving within the slide groove moves along the first slide groove; during the process of the cover falling back from the fully open state for the first time, the connecting rod abuts against the support position, forming a limiting support for the connecting rod, so that the cover is in an open holding state; during the process of the cover falling back from the open holding state to the fully open state for the second time, the portion of the connecting rod moving within the slide groove moves along the second slide groove.

2. The silo device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The slide is located in the box body, and the support position is located between the first slide and the second slide. The support position is a groove with its opening facing the cover body, and the ends of the first slide and the second slide near the cover body face the groove.

3. The silo device according to claim 2, characterized in that, The box body includes a mounting component that is detachably connected to the box body. The sliding groove is disposed on the mounting component, and a reinforcing structure is provided around the sliding groove.

4. The silo device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The side of the cover is rotatably connected to the side of the box, and the connecting rod is located near the rotatable connection between the cover and the box.

5. The silo device according to claim 4, characterized in that, The connecting rod includes a connecting part, which is rotatably connected to the cover. The hopper device includes a drive unit, a part of which is connected to the cover or box, and another part is connected to the connecting rod; The drive element is configured to provide a force to the connecting rod from the first groove toward the second groove.

6. The silo device according to claim 5, characterized in that, The driving component is an elastic component, with one end connected to the cover and the other end connected to the connecting rod near the connecting part; During the process of the cover moving from the closed state to the ultimate open state, part of the connecting rod slides along the first slide groove, and the elastic element undergoes elastic deformation and stores elastic potential energy. When part of the connecting rod slides to the end of the first groove facing the support position, the elastic element releases elastic potential energy and drives part of the connecting rod to slide to the support position, and the cover is in the open holding state; When the cover rotates from the open holding state to the limit open state again, the elastic element continues to release elastic potential energy, driving part of the connecting rod to slide to the second slide groove.

7. The silo device according to claim 5, characterized in that, The driving component is a magnetic component, which includes a first magnet and a second magnet capable of generating magnetic force. The first magnet is connected to the cover, and the second magnet is connected to the connecting rod near the connecting part. During the process of the cover moving from the closed state to the ultimate open state, part of the connecting rod slides along the first groove, and the first magnet and the second magnet generate a magnetic force that interacts with each other. When part of the connecting rod slides to the end of the first groove facing the support position, the magnetically driven part of the connecting rod slides to the support position, and the cover is in the open holding state; When the cover rotates from the open holding state to the ultimate open state again, the magnetic force continues to drive part of the connecting rod to slide into the second slide groove.

8. The silo device according to claim 5, characterized in that, The slide rail also includes a junction and a third slide rail. The junction is spaced apart from the support. The end of the first slide rail away from the support, the end of the second slide rail away from the support, and the third slide rail are connected to each other at the junction. The third slide rail extends inclinedly along the depth direction or gravity direction of the box body. When the connecting rod moves in the first plane and abuts against the support position, the projection of the line connecting the connecting part and the support position in the first plane is parallel to the extension direction of the projection of the third slide groove in the first plane, or the deviation angle between the two is less than 5 degrees.

9. The silo device according to claim 8, characterized in that, The hopper device further includes a guide assembly, which is movably connected to the chute and disposed at the confluence position; The guide component has a first state and a second state; in the first state, the guide component blocks the connection between the second slide and the intersection; in the second state, the guide component is located in the first slide to open the connection between the second slide and the intersection.

10. The silo device according to claim 9, characterized in that, The guiding assembly includes a guide member and a reset member. The guide member is oscillatingly disposed in the slide groove, and the reset member is connected between the guide member and the slide groove to provide the guiding assembly with a force to reset from the second state to the first state. During the process of the connecting rod moving from the third slide groove to the first slide groove, the reset member drives the guide member to abut against the communication port between the second slide groove and the intersection position, and the guide component is in the first state; During the process of the cover body driving part of the connecting rod to slide along the second slide groove, part of the connecting rod can push the guide to swing to the first slide groove to open the communication port between the second slide groove and the intersection position, so that the guide component switches from the first state to the second state; After part of the connecting rod passes through the communication port between the second slide and the intersection, the reset member drives the guide member to swing to the communication port between the second slide and the intersection, so that the guide assembly returns from the second state to the first state.

11. The silo device according to claim 9, characterized in that, The guiding component includes a guide member with elastic deformation capability. During the process of the cover body driving part of the connecting rod to slide from the third slide groove to the first slide groove, the guide member blocks the communication port between the second slide groove and the intersection position, and the guiding component is in the first state. During the process of the cover body driving part of the connecting rod to slide along the second slide groove, part of the connecting rod pushes against the guide member, causing the guide member to undergo elastic deformation and open the communication port between the second slide groove and the intersection position, and the guide assembly switches from the first state to the second state; After part of the connecting rod passes through the communication port between the second slide and the intersection, the guide member relies on its own elasticity to restore its initial shape, re-seal the communication port between the second slide and the intersection, so that the guide assembly returns from the second state to the first state.

12. The silo device according to claim 4, characterized in that, The storage space is provided with a first material placement unit and a second material placement unit arranged side by side. The first material placement unit and the second material placement unit are used to store material trays or rolls. The radius of the material tray or roll is R, and the depth of the box is between 0.3R and 0.65R. The first material placement unit is closer to the position where the cover and the box are rotatably connected relative to the second material placement unit; along the depth direction or the direction of gravity of the box, the first material placement unit is higher than the second material placement unit; The connecting rod is located in the area where the first material feeding unit is located.

13. The silo device according to claim 12, characterized in that, The center of the material tray or roll received by the first material feeding unit is projected onto the plane of the chute and falls into the chute or the area enclosed by the chute, or the distance between the projection and the center of the support position is less than or equal to 30mm.

14. The silo device according to any one of claims 1-13, characterized in that, The connecting rod includes a sliding part, and the part of the connecting rod that moves within the slide groove is the sliding part, which is slidably disposed in the slide groove; The sliding part protrudes from the main body of the connecting rod and cooperates with the support position to provide unidirectional support for the connecting rod and the cover.

15. The silo device according to claim 14, characterized in that, The connecting part and the sliding part are located on opposite sides of the connecting rod, respectively.

16. A printing device, characterized in that, The printing device includes a printer and a hopper device as described in any one of claims 1-15, the hopper device being disposed on top of the printer.

17. The printing apparatus according to claim 16, characterized in that, The printing equipment also includes a bracket, the hopper device is fixed to the bracket, and is mounted on the top of the printer via the bracket; Along the depth direction or gravity direction of the silo device, the end of the support near the first material placement unit of the silo device is higher than the end of the support near the second material placement unit of the silo device, so that the first material placement unit is higher than the second material placement unit.

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