Automatic feeding device

Abstract

The present application discloses an automatic feeding device, which comprises: a plurality of material channels through which material passes and provided with a feeding port and a discharging port; and a feeding module, which comprises: a swing rod unit configured to swing clockwise or counterclockwise by a predetermined angle about a first rotation axis from an initial position; a driving unit configured to drive the material to pass through one of the material channels; and a swing rod rotation unit configured to swing the swing rod unit clockwise or counterclockwise by the predetermined angle. The swing rod rotation unit comprises: a damping unit configured to swing the swing rod unit clockwise or counterclockwise by the predetermined angle by friction.

Description

Cross-references to related applications

[0001] This application claims priority to Chinese patent application 202511043140.1, filed on July 28, 2025, entitled “Automatic Feeding Device,” the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. Technical Field

[0002] This invention relates to the field of 3D printing, and more specifically, to an automatic feeding device. Background Technology

[0003] Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) 3D printers typically use a manual loading method. Material is placed into the feed tube and fed from the feed inlet to the feed roller of the print head, triggering a Hall sensor. The feed motor then starts, driving the feed roller to feed the material and initiate printing. This not only affects material changing efficiency but also limits the level of intelligence in switching between different colors during multi-color printing.

[0004] There is a need in this field to develop an improved, faster, more reliable and stable automatic feeding device to mitigate or overcome the shortcomings of the prior art and to obtain other beneficial technical effects.

[0005] The information included in this background section of the present invention specification, including any references cited herein and any descriptions or discussions thereof, is included for technical reference purposes only and is not intended to limit the scope of the invention. Summary of the Invention

[0006] The present invention is proposed in view of the foregoing and other further ideas.

[0007] According to one aspect of the present invention, an automatic feeding device is provided, the automatic feeding device comprising: Multiple material channels, each channel being for material passage and equipped with an inlet and an outlet; and The feeding module includes: a swing arm unit configured to swing clockwise or counterclockwise around a first axis from an initial position by a predetermined angle; a drive unit configured to drive the material through one of the material channels; and a swing arm rotation unit configured to cause the swing arm unit to swing clockwise or counterclockwise by the predetermined angle.

[0008] In one embodiment, the swing arm rotation unit includes a damping unit, the damping unit including a damping sleeve and an elastic element connected at one end to the damping sleeve, the damping unit being configured to cooperate with the drive unit to swing the swing arm unit clockwise or counterclockwise by a predetermined angle.

[0009] In one embodiment, the drive unit includes a motor, a first gear connected to the output end of the motor and rotating about the first shaft, and a second gear set meshing with the first gear.

[0010] In one embodiment, the other end of the elastic element away from the damping sleeve is connected to the first gear, and the damping sleeve is configured to rotate with the first gear under the drive of the elastic element.

[0011] In one embodiment, the drive unit includes a plurality of driven wheels corresponding to the plurality of material channels, the driven wheels cooperating with the second gear set to cause the material to pass through one of the material channels.

[0012] In one embodiment, the second gear set includes a drive wheel disposed on the first rotating shaft and rotatable with the first rotating shaft, and a take-up wheel disposed on the rocker arm unit and meshing with the drive wheel.

[0013] In one embodiment, the rocker arm unit is disposed between and in contact with the damping sleeve and the drive wheel, and the rocker arm unit is configured to rotate clockwise or counterclockwise by the damping sleeve and the drive wheel.

[0014] In one embodiment, the automatic feeding device includes a cleaning brush corresponding to the driven wheel, the cleaning brush being configured to clean the feed wheel.

[0015] In one embodiment, the automatic feeding device includes a sensor corresponding to the material channel, the sensor being configured to detect the material, and when the sensor in one of the material channels detects the material, the rocker unit rotates the predetermined angle to cause the picking wheel to engage with the driven wheel to feed the material.

[0016] In one embodiment, the automatic feeding device includes a control system configured to perform the following steps: When the material is fed into one of the material channels and the sensor detects the material, the rocker arm unit rotates the predetermined angle to engage the picking wheel with the driven wheel to feed the material; and When the material is fed into the print head, the motor stops rotating, or the motor reverses to return the swing arm unit to the initial position.

[0017] In one embodiment, the first rotating shaft passes through the elastic element and the damping sleeve.

[0018] In one embodiment, the driven wheel is a mileage wheel, and the automatic feeding device includes a magnetic encoder disk. When the print head is printing and the automatic feeding device is in the initial position, the material rubs against the mileage wheel, causing the mileage wheel to rotate, thereby driving the magnetic encoder disk to rotate, so as to detect the feeding speed of the material.

[0019] In one embodiment, the material-grabbing wheel is provided with a first tooth that meshes with the drive wheel and a second tooth for gripping material.

[0020] In one embodiment, the angle between the feeding direction of the material and the line connecting the center of the drive wheel and the take-up wheel is greater than 90 degrees.

[0021] In the field of 3D printers, to achieve automatic feeding, an automatic feeding device can be added to the feeding end of the 3D printer. During loading, the material is simply inserted into the material channel through the feed port of the automatic feeding device until a sensor, such as a Hall sensor, triggers the automatic feeding switch, thus realizing the automatic feeding function. Furthermore, the automatic feeding device of this invention uses a single motor drive. The forward and reverse rotation of the motor controls the rotation of the swing arm unit clockwise or counterclockwise by a certain angle, enabling the alternating feeding of multiple materials (e.g., two types). The automatic feeding device of this invention achieves the switching operation of multiple material feeding and neutral (swing arm unit returns to its initial position) by controlling the rotation angle of the motor. Moreover, when the 3D printer's automatic feeding device is switched to neutral, the pick-up wheel disengages from the material, and at this time, the pick-up wheel is unloaded, which can extend the service life of the pick-up wheel and other devices.

[0022] Further embodiments of the present invention can achieve other advantageous technical effects not listed hereafter, which may be partially described below and can be expected and understood by those skilled in the art after reading the present invention. Attached Figure Description

[0023] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments or the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of the present invention. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0024] Figure 1 This is a cross-sectional view of the structure of the automatic feeding device of this application.

[0025] Figure 2 This is a perspective view of the rocker arm unit, drive unit, and damping unit of this application.

[0026] Figure 3This is a perspective view of the material channel, rocker arm unit, drive unit, and damping unit of this application.

[0027] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the rotation of the drive wheel, the picking wheel, and the driven wheel of the automatic feeding device of this application during feeding.

[0028] Reference numerals: 1. Material channel; 2. Swing arm unit; 3. Drive unit; 4. Damping unit; 5. Base; 6. Front cover; 7. Cleaning brush; 8. Sensor; 1A. Feed inlet; 1B. Discharge outlet; 20. First rotating shaft; 30. Motor; 31. First gear; 32. Second gear set; 33. Driven wheel; 320. Drive wheel; 321. Picking wheel; 40. Damping sleeve; 41. Elastic element. Detailed Implementation

[0029] In the following description of the accompanying drawings and detailed embodiments, details of one or more embodiments of the invention will be set forth. Other features, objects, and advantages of the invention will become apparent from these descriptions, drawings, and claims.

[0030] It should be understood that the illustrated and described embodiments are not limited in application to the details of the construction and arrangement of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The illustrated embodiments may be other embodiments and can be implemented or performed in various ways. The examples are provided by way of explanation rather than limitation of the disclosed embodiments. Indeed, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made to the embodiments of the invention without departing from the scope or spirit of the disclosure. For example, features illustrated or described as part of one embodiment may be used with another embodiment to still produce another embodiment. Therefore, this disclosure covers such modifications and variations that fall within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.

[0031] Similarly, it is understood that the phrases and terms used in this document are for descriptive purposes and should not be considered restrictive. The use of “including,” “contains,” or “has,” and their variations, in this document is intended to include, in an open-ended manner, the items listed thereafter, their equivalents, and any additional items.

[0032] The term "3D printer" includes not only three-dimensional printing equipment in the general sense of the art, such as industrial-grade 3D printers, including consumer-grade 3D printers, but also laser processing equipment with 3D printing capabilities and 3D printing equipment with laser processing capabilities, all of which fall within the scope of "3D printer" in this application.

[0033] As used herein, the terms “first,” “second,” etc., are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of technical features indicated. Therefore, a feature defined with “first,” “second,” etc., may explicitly or implicitly include one or more of that feature. In this document, “multiple” means two or more, unless otherwise explicitly specified.

[0034] As used herein, the terms "installation," "connection," "linking," and "fixing," etc., 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 between two components. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this document according to the specific circumstances.

[0035] The present invention will now be described in more detail with reference to specific embodiments thereof.

[0036] 3D printer 3D printers have a print head, which typically includes a feed motor, feed rollers, feed channel, and Hall effect sensors. Traditional 3D printers usually use a manual loading method, where material is placed into the feed tube and fed from the feed inlet to the feed rollers of the print head. This triggers the Hall effect sensor, starts the feed motor, and drives the feed rollers to feed the material and begin printing. Automatic feeding is achieved by connecting an automatic feeding device to the print head.

[0037] Automatic feeding device like Figure 1-3 As shown, the automatic feeding device includes: multiple material channels 1, each material channel 1 having an inlet 1A and an outlet 1B for material passage; and a feeding module, which includes: a rocker arm unit 2 configured to swing clockwise or counterclockwise around a first rotating axis 20 from an initial position by a predetermined angle; a drive unit 3 configured to drive the material through one of the material channels 1; and a rocker arm rotation unit configured to cause the rocker arm unit 2 to swing clockwise or counterclockwise by a predetermined angle. The rocker arm rotation unit may include: a damping unit 4 configured to cause the rocker arm unit 2 to swing clockwise or counterclockwise by a predetermined angle through friction. The automatic feeding device may also include a base 5 and a front cover 6. The material channels 1 and the feeding module are both mounted on the base 5. Of course, this document does not limit the installation positions of the material channels 1 and the feeding module.

[0038] During operation, the multiple material channels 1 of the automatic feeding device can accommodate materials of different colors or materials. Users can perform multi-color printing through these channels. The number of material channels 1 can be set to two, symmetrically distributed on both sides of the first rotating shaft 20. To facilitate material passage, the material channels 1 are designed as straight, through-passage channels.

[0039] In one embodiment, the feed port 1A is located at the top or side of the material channel 1 to receive material inserted by the user; the discharge port 1B is located at the bottom or side of the material channel 1 and is connected to the feed end of the print head.

[0040] In one embodiment, the feed inlet 1A is configured as a trumpet-shaped or conical structure to guide the material smoothly into the material channel 1 and align it with the center of the channel.

[0041] In one embodiment, the feed inlet 1A is provided with a limiting structure to limit the depth or angle of material insertion, preventing the material from being skewed or not inserted properly.

[0042] In one embodiment, the discharge port 1B is connected to the feed end of the print head by a snap-fit, thread, or interference fit, which facilitates disassembly and replacement.

[0043] In one embodiment, the discharge port 1B is provided with a sealing ring or sealing gasket to maintain a seal when the print head is connected, preventing material leakage.

[0044] like Figure 1-2 As shown, the pendulum unit 2 can be any shape of pendulum or arm. The pendulum unit 2 can be configured to rotate clockwise or counterclockwise by a predetermined angle about a fulcrum or center of rotation.

[0045] like Figure 1-3 As shown, the drive unit 3 may include a motor 30, a first gear 31 connected to the output end of the motor 30 and rotating about a first shaft 20, and a second gear set 32 ​​meshing with the first gear 31. The motor 30 can rotate forward or backward. The first gear 31 may be a worm gear. The output end of the motor 30 may be a worm.

[0046] like Figure 2 As shown, the damping unit 4 includes a damping sleeve 40 and an elastic element 41 connected at one end to the damping sleeve 40. The elastic element 41 may include a spring or other elastic element. The other end of the elastic element 41, away from the damping sleeve 40, is connected to a first gear 31, and the damping sleeve 40 is configured to rotate with the first gear 31 under the drive of the elastic element 41. In other words, the automatic feeding device of the present invention provides damping effect through the damping unit 4 formed by the damping sleeve 40 and the elastic element 41.

[0047] In one embodiment, the damping unit includes a permanent magnet and a conductor. The permanent magnet is disposed on or adjacent to the pendulum unit, and the conductor is positioned opposite the permanent magnet with a gap between them. When the pendulum unit swings, relative motion occurs between the permanent magnet and the conductor. According to the principle of electromagnetic induction, an induced current in the conductor forms a reverse magnetic field, thereby damping the swing of the pendulum unit. The damping unit is configured to cause the pendulum unit to swing clockwise or counterclockwise by a predetermined angle through the magnetic damping effect.

[0048] In one embodiment, the damping unit includes a damping cavity and damping fluid filling the damping cavity. The damping cavity is disposed on the pendulum unit or an adjacent component and is provided with a throttling orifice or slit. The damping unit is configured such that when the pendulum unit oscillates, the damping fluid flows through the throttling orifice or slit, generating a pressure difference to form a damping force, causing the pendulum unit to oscillate clockwise or counterclockwise by a predetermined angle.

[0049] like Figure 1As shown, the drive unit 3 includes multiple driven wheels 33 corresponding to multiple material channels 1. The driven wheels 33 cooperate with the second gear set 32 ​​to allow the material to pass through one of the material channels 1. The driven wheels 33 can be mileage wheels and rotate under the drive of the material. The driven wheels 33 can be mounted on a second rotating shaft. The second gear set 32 ​​includes a drive wheel 320 mounted on a first rotating shaft 20 and rotatable with the first rotating shaft 20, and a pick-up wheel 321 mounted on the rocker arm unit 2 and meshing with the drive wheel 320. In one embodiment, the driven wheels 33 and the pick-up wheel 321 in the second gear set 32 ​​cooperate to jointly complete the clamping, conveying and speed detection of the material. The specific working process is as follows: When the user inserts the material into the material channel 1 through the feed port 1A and pushes it to the detection area of ​​the sensor 8, the sensor 8 detects the material and sends a detection signal to the control system. The control system then controls the motor 30 to start. The motor 30 drives the first gear 31 to rotate through the worm gear transmission. The first gear 31 drives the drive wheel 320 set on the first rotating shaft 20 to rotate synchronously. The drive wheel 320 meshes with the picking wheel 321 set on the swing arm unit 2, driving the picking wheel 321 to rotate clockwise. The second tooth of the outer ring of the picking wheel 321 grabs the material and conveys it upward. At the same time, when the material moves downward, it applies friction to the driven wheel 33. The driven wheel 33 rotates synchronously under the friction of the material, forming a two-way clamping structure for the material, ensuring that the material is stably conveyed to the print head. Furthermore, the driven wheel 33 can be a mileage wheel, whose rotation number is proportional to the material conveying length. When the print head is printing and the automatic feeding device is in the initial position, the material rubs against the mileage wheel, causing it to rotate. The mileage wheel further drives the magnetic encoder disk to rotate. The control system can detect the material feeding speed in real time by reading the pulse signal from the magnetic encoder disk, achieving precise monitoring and closed-loop control of the feeding process. When it is necessary to switch material channels for multi-color printing, the control system controls the motor 30 to reverse, driving the swing arm unit 2 to swing in the opposite direction within a predetermined angle range. The picking wheel 321 disengages from the material in the current channel. At the same time, the swing arm unit 2 swings to another material channel, and the picking wheel 321 of that channel engages with the corresponding driven wheel 33 under the drive of the drive wheel 320, starting the feeding of the next channel. By controlling the forward and reverse rotation of the motor 30, multiple materials can be fed alternately. During the neutral switching, the picking wheel 321 completely disengages from the material, operating without load, effectively extending the service life of the picking wheel 321 and other devices. Figure 2 As shown, the material-grabbing wheel 321 may be provided with a first tooth that meshes with the drive wheel 320 and a second tooth for gripping the material.

[0050] In one embodiment, the picking wheel 321 is mounted on and fixedly connected to the rocker arm unit 2, and swings around the first rotating shaft 20 together with the rocker arm unit 2. The specific structure is as follows: the rocker arm unit 2 is provided with a mounting part, which can be a bushing, a bearing seat, or an integrally formed mounting hole; the picking wheel 321 is mounted on the mounting part via a bearing, allowing the picking wheel 321 to rotate freely relative to the rocker arm unit 2 around its own axis, while simultaneously swinging around the first rotating shaft 20 together with the rocker arm unit 2. The picking wheel 321 specifically includes an inner ring, an outer ring, and teeth disposed between the inner and outer rings; the inner ring is fixed to the mounting shaft via a key connection, interference fit, or spline connection, ensuring that the picking wheel 321 moves synchronously with the rocker arm unit 2; the teeth are disposed on the outer circumference of the picking wheel 321, including a first tooth for meshing with the drive wheel 320 to transmit power and a second tooth for gripping and holding the material. The first tooth matches the drive wheel 320, exhibiting a trapezoidal or involute shape to ensure full-width meshing with the drive wheel 320 and reliable transmission. The second tooth extends axially or radially along the material-taking wheel 321, and its shape can be V-shaped, sawtooth-shaped, or hook-shaped, with an inclined arrangement to increase the contact area with the material and the gripping friction. When the drive wheel 320 rotates, power is transmitted to the material-taking wheel 321 via the first tooth. After receiving rotational power, the second tooth on its outer ring contacts the material, and the material is stably conveyed upward through friction and mechanical engagement. Furthermore, the outer ring surface of the material-taking wheel 321 can be covered with a rubber or silicone layer to increase the coefficient of friction with the material and prevent slippage. The inclination angle of the second tooth can be adaptively adjusted according to the diameter and material of the material, generally set at an angle of 30° to 60° with the material axis.

[0051] like Figure 2As shown, the rocker arm unit 2 can be disposed between the damping sleeve 40 and the drive wheel 320 and in contact with both the damping sleeve 40 and the drive wheel 320. The rocker arm unit 2 is configured to rotate clockwise or counterclockwise by a predetermined angle under the drive of the damping sleeve 40 and the drive wheel 320. In one embodiment, the rocker arm unit 2 is disposed between the damping sleeve 40 and the drive wheel 320 and maintains contact with both the damping sleeve 40 and the drive wheel 320, forming a three-point supported friction drive structure. The specific structure and working principle are as follows: The rocker arm unit 2 has an arc-shaped contact surface or a planar contact surface, and both ends of the contact surface are in contact with the outer circular surface of the damping sleeve 40 and the outer circular surface of the drive wheel 320, respectively; one end is driven by the drive wheel 320, and the other end is limited by the damping sleeve 40. Specifically, the drive wheel 320 is fixed to the first rotating shaft 20 via a key connection or interference fit, and rotates synchronously with the first rotating shaft 20. When the motor 30 drives the first rotating shaft 20 to rotate, the drive wheel 320 rotates accordingly, and friction is generated between its outer circular surface and the contact surface of the rocker arm unit 2. This friction drives the rocker arm unit 2 to rotate in a predetermined direction. The damping sleeve 40 is sleeved on the first rotating shaft 20 and connected to the first gear 31 via an elastic element 41. Specifically, one end of the elastic element 41 is fixedly connected to the damping sleeve 40, and the other end is fixedly connected to the first gear 31. When the first gear 31 rotates, the elastic element 41 is torsional deformed, accumulating elastic potential energy, and pushing the damping sleeve 40 to rotate in the same direction as the first gear 31. Under the elastic force of the elastic element 41, the damping sleeve 40 always maintains contact with the rocker arm unit 2 and provides a damping effect to the rocker arm unit 2 through friction. Specifically, when the drive wheel 320 drives the rocker arm unit 2 to swing clockwise, the damping sleeve 40 rotates clockwise synchronously. The frictional force generated between the damping sleeve 40 and the contact surface of the rocker arm unit 2 is opposite to the direction of the rocker arm unit 2's movement, limiting the swing speed of the rocker arm unit 2 and allowing it to swing smoothly within a predetermined angle range. When the rocker arm unit 2 swings to its maximum angle, it stops swinging due to the limiting effect of the material, the mechanical stop of the drive wheel 320, and the reverse elastic force provided by the damping sleeve 40 through the elastic element 41, completing one feeding or switching cycle. The coefficient of friction between the damping sleeve 40 and the rocker arm unit 2 can be adjusted by the material, surface roughness, or lubrication treatment of the damping sleeve 40 to adapt to different swing speeds and damping requirements. Furthermore, grooves or protrusions can be provided on the contact surfaces of the rocker arm unit 2 with the damping sleeve 40 and the drive wheel 320 to increase the reliability of frictional force transmission and prevent slippage.

[0052] The rocker arm unit 2, positioned between the damping sleeve 40 and the drive wheel 320, has contact surfaces that respectively contact the damping sleeve 40 and the drive wheel 320. Both the drive wheel 320 and the first gear 31 are mounted on the first rotating shaft 20, thus the drive wheel 320 rotates synchronously with the first gear 31. Furthermore, the damping sleeve 40 is connected to the first gear 31 via an elastic element 41, such as a spring, so the damping sleeve 40 rotates under the drive of the first gear 31. The damping sleeve 40 and the drive wheel 320 rotate in the same direction, thus generating friction on the contact surfaces of the rocker arm unit 2 with the damping sleeve 40 and the drive wheel 320, causing the rocker arm unit 2 to rotate. After the rocker arm unit 2 has rotated a certain angle or a predetermined angle, due to the limiting effect of the drive wheel 320 or the material, the rocker arm unit 2 can no longer continue to rotate and reach its maximum rotation or swing angle.

[0053] like Figure 4 As shown, in one embodiment, the angle between the material feeding direction (indicated by the arrow) and the line connecting the centers of the drive wheel 320 and the take-up wheel 321 (indicated by the number 2) can be greater than 90 degrees. Figure 4 As shown, the damping unit 4 rotates counterclockwise, driving the rocker arm unit 2 to rotate counterclockwise. Simultaneously, the drive wheel 320 drives the picking wheel 321 to rotate clockwise. The second tooth on the outer ring of the picking wheel 321 grips the material, enabling upward feeding. The downward frictional force provided by the material to the picking wheel 321 causes the picking wheel 321 to apply pressure to the left, thereby increasing the picking force. Through the above settings, it can be ensured that the picking wheel 321 has pressure relative to the material during picking, preventing slippage during picking.

[0054] like Figure 2-3 As shown, the first rotating shaft 20 passes through the elastic element 41, the damping sleeve 40 and the drive wheel 320 in sequence.

[0055] In one embodiment, the cleaning brush 7 is disposed beside the material-collecting wheel 321 and fixed to the base 5 or the front cover 6, for removing residues, impurities, and clumps adhering to the material-collecting wheel 321. The specific structure and installation method are as follows: The cleaning brush 7 includes a brush holder, a brush shaft, and bristles; the brush holder is fixed to the corresponding mounting position on the base 5 or the front cover 6 by screws, clips, or welding to ensure stable positioning; the brush shaft is rotatably mounted on the brush holder, and the bristles are disposed on the outer circumference of the brush shaft; alternatively, the bristles are directly injection molded or bonded to the brush holder to form an integral structure. The material of the bristles can be selected according to the characteristics of the material and the usage environment. Commonly used materials include nylon, polyamide, silicone, carbon fiber, or brass wire, requiring wear resistance, high temperature resistance, and minimal chemical reaction with the material; the hardness of the bristles is set slightly lower than the hardness of the outer ring material of the material-collecting wheel 321 to ensure cleaning effectiveness while avoiding wear on the material-collecting wheel 321. The cleaning brush 7 can be engaged with the material-collecting wheel 321 in either a contact or non-contact manner. In the contact manner, the bristles abut against the outer surface or side of the material-collecting wheel 321. As the material-collecting wheel 321 rotates, the bristles continuously scrape the surface of the material-collecting wheel 321, removing the residue adhering to the second teeth. In the non-contact manner, the cleaning brush 7 is positioned beside the material-collecting wheel 321 with a small gap, only removing any loose residue. This is suitable for scenarios where cleaning requirements are not high but wear reduction is desired. Furthermore, in the contact method, the cleaning brush 7 can be positioned above the material-collecting wheel 321 to allow gravity to automatically remove scraped residue, preventing it from re-adhering to the material-collecting wheel 321; or it can be positioned below the material-collecting wheel 321, allowing the residue to fall naturally under gravity. The number of cleaning brushes 7 can be one or more depending on the size of the material-collecting wheel 321 and the amount of residue. Multiple cleaning brushes 7 can be evenly arranged around the material-collecting wheel 321 to achieve 360° cleaning. like Figure 1 As shown, the automatic feeding device may also include a cleaning brush 7 corresponding to the driven wheel 33, the cleaning brush 7 being configured to clean the material picking wheel 321.

[0056] like Figure 1As shown, the automatic feeding device may also include a sensor 8 corresponding to the material channel, such as a Hall sensor. In one embodiment, the sensor 8 is disposed in the material channel 1 to detect whether the material has reached a designated position, thereby triggering automatic feeding control. The specific installation position and detection method are as follows: The sensor 8 can be disposed near the inlet 1A of the material channel 1 to detect whether the material has been inserted into place; it can also be disposed near the outlet 1B of the material channel 1 to detect whether the material has been successfully fed to the print head; or it can be disposed in the middle of the material channel 1 to detect the real-time position of the material. The type of sensor 8 can be selected according to the detection requirements, preferably a Hall sensor, photoelectric sensor, proximity switch, capacitive sensor, or pressure sensor, or one or more of these. In the Hall sensor solution, a magnetic mark is set on the material or the inner wall of the material channel 1. When the material is inserted and passes through the detection area of ​​the Hall sensor, the change in the magnetic field triggers the Hall sensor to output a detection signal; this solution has no special requirements for the material material and has high detection reliability. In the photoelectric sensor solution, light-emitting elements and photosensitive elements are respectively set on opposite side walls of the material channel 1. The light-emitting elements emit a light beam that passes through the material channel 1, and the photosensitive elements receive it. When the material is inserted and blocks the light beam, the photosensitive element outputs a signal change, thereby detecting the presence of the material. This solution has a fast response speed and is suitable for high-speed detection. In the capacitive sensor solution, the sensing end of the sensor 8 faces the inside of the material channel 1. When the material enters the sensing area, the sensor 8 detects a change in capacitance and outputs a detection signal. This solution can achieve non-contact detection and has no requirements on the transparency or color of the material. In the pressure sensor solution, a pressure sensor is set on the bottom wall of the material channel 1. When the material is placed in the channel and presses against the pressure sensor, the sensor 8 outputs a detection signal. During the detection process, when the sensor 8 detects that the material has reached the preset position, it sends a detection signal to the control system. The control system determines that material has entered based on this signal and then controls the motor 30 to start feeding. When the sensor 8 detects that the material has been fed completely, or when the Hall sensor at the print head is triggered, the control system controls the motor 30 to stop or reverse, completing the feeding process. Furthermore, multiple sensors 8 can be installed on the material channel 1 to detect different positions. The control system calculates the feeding speed and position of the material based on the timing signals of the multiple sensors, thereby achieving more precise feeding control. The sensors 8 can be configured to detect the material. When a sensor 8 in one of the material channels detects the material, the rocker arm unit 2 rotates by a predetermined angle to make the picking wheel 321 cooperate with the driven wheel 33 to feed the material.

[0057] In one embodiment, the automatic feeding device may further include a control system, which may be configured to perform the following steps: When material is fed into one of the material channels 1 and sensor 8 detects the material, the rocker arm unit 2 rotates by a predetermined angle to engage the feeding wheel 321 with the driven wheel 33 to feed the material; and When the material is fed into the print head, the motor 30 stops rotating, or the motor 30 reverses to return the rocker arm unit 2 to its initial position.

[0058] The automatic feeding device may also include a magnetic encoder disk. When the print head is printing and the automatic feeding device is in the initial position, the material rubs against the odometer wheel, causing the odometer wheel to rotate, which in turn drives the magnetic encoder disk to rotate, thereby detecting the material feeding speed.

[0059] The foregoing description of several embodiments of the invention has been provided for illustrative purposes. The foregoing description is not intended to be exhaustive, nor is it intended to limit the invention to the precise steps and / or forms disclosed; clearly, many modifications and variations can be made in light of the teachings above. The scope of the invention and all its equivalents are intended to be defined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. An automatic feeding device, characterized in that, The automatic feeding device includes: Multiple material channels, each channel being for material passage and equipped with an inlet and an outlet; and The feeding module includes: a swing arm unit configured to swing clockwise or counterclockwise around a first axis from an initial position by a predetermined angle; a drive unit configured to drive the material through one of the material channels; and a swing arm rotation unit configured to cause the swing arm unit to swing clockwise or counterclockwise by the predetermined angle.

2. The automatic feeding device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The swing arm rotation unit includes a damping unit, which includes a damping sleeve and an elastic element connected at one end to the damping sleeve. The damping unit is configured to cooperate with the drive unit to make the swing arm unit swing clockwise or counterclockwise by a predetermined angle.

3. The automatic feeding device according to claim 2, characterized in that, The drive unit includes a motor, a first gear connected to the output end of the motor and rotating around the first shaft, and a second gear set meshing with the first gear.

4. The automatic feeding device according to claim 3, characterized in that, The other end of the elastic element, away from the damping sleeve, is connected to the first gear, and the damping sleeve is configured to rotate with the first gear under the drive of the elastic element.

5. The automatic feeding device according to claim 4, characterized in that, The drive unit includes a plurality of driven wheels corresponding to the plurality of material channels. The driven wheels cooperate with the second gear set to cause the material to pass through one of the material channels.

6. The automatic feeding device according to claim 5, characterized in that, The second gear set includes a drive wheel disposed on the first rotating shaft and rotatable with the first rotating shaft, and a take-up wheel disposed on the rocker arm unit and meshing with the drive wheel.

7. The automatic feeding device according to claim 6, characterized in that, The swing arm unit is disposed between the damping sleeve and the drive wheel and is in contact with the damping sleeve and the drive wheel. The swing arm unit is configured to rotate clockwise or counterclockwise by a predetermined angle under the drive of the damping sleeve and the drive wheel.

8. The automatic feeding device according to claim 6, characterized in that, The automatic feeding device includes a cleaning brush corresponding to the driven wheel, the cleaning brush being configured to clean the feeding wheel.

9. The automatic feeding device according to claim 6, characterized in that, The automatic feeding device includes a sensor corresponding to the material channel. The sensor is configured to detect the material. When the sensor in one of the material channels detects the material, the rocker unit rotates the predetermined angle to make the picking wheel cooperate with the driven wheel to feed the material.

10. The automatic feeding device according to claim 9, characterized in that, The automatic feeding device includes a control system configured to perform the following steps: When the material is fed into one of the material channels and the sensor detects the material, the rocker arm unit rotates the predetermined angle to make the picking wheel cooperate with the driven wheel to feed the material; and When the material is fed into the print head, the motor stops rotating, or the motor reverses to return the swing arm unit to the initial position.

Images