Automatic liquid supplementing device for SLA type 3D printer

Abstract

The utility model belongs to the technical field of 3D printing, and particularly relates to an automatic liquid supplementing device for an SLA type 3D printer, the device comprises a liquid injection unit, a liquid storage tank, a liquid homogenizing plate, an electromagnetic valve, a control unit and a pressure sensor, the liquid injection unit is connected with a liquid inlet of the liquid homogenizing plate through a pipeline, and the electromagnetic valve is arranged on the pipeline for connecting the liquid injection unit and the liquid homogenizing plate; the liquid homogenizing plate is located in the liquid storage tank, a liquid level sensor is arranged on the inner wall of the liquid storage tank, the control unit is electrically connected with the liquid level sensor, the electromagnetic valve and the liquid injection unit, and the pressure sensor is arranged at the bottom of the liquid storage tank. The automatic liquid supplementing device can automatically and uniformly add feed liquid, so that the liquid level with uniform height is kept in the liquid storage tank.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The utility model belongs to the technical field of 3D printing, and in particular relates to an automatic liquid replenishing device for an SLA type 3D printer. Background Art

[0002] 3D printing, also known as additive manufacturing, is a technology that creates three-dimensional objects by stacking materials layer by layer. The basic principle is to decompose the digital model into slices, and then print the materials layer by layer through the printer to finally form a complete object. Common 3D printing technologies include fused deposition modeling (FDM), stereolithography (SLA), selective laser melting (SLM), etc.

[0003] The SLA 3D printers currently on the market usually lack a liquid replenishing device, which means that during the 3D printing process, as the liquid in the reservoir decreases, it is necessary to manually add liquid. Moreover, since the liquid is usually in a viscous state, when it is added to the reservoir at one time, the liquid level in the reservoir will be inconsistent, which will lead to a decrease in product quality. Utility Model Content

[0004] The purpose of the utility model is to solve the problem described in the above background technology that the addition of liquid causes uneven liquid levels in the liquid storage tank and there is a lack of an automatic method for adding liquid. A new automatic liquid replenishing device for an SLA type 3D printer is proposed. The automatic liquid replenishing device can automatically and evenly add liquid to maintain a uniform liquid level in the liquid storage tank.

[0005] The technical solution adopted to achieve the above-mentioned purpose is an automatic liquid replenishing device for an SLA type 3D printer, the automatic liquid replenishing device comprising:

[0006] The liquid injection unit comprises a cylinder, a hydraulic cylinder, a telescopic rod and a plug body, the upper side wall of the cylinder is provided with a feed port, the lower side wall of the cylinder is provided with an air valve, the hydraulic cylinder is arranged above the cylinder, the output end of the hydraulic cylinder passes through the top wall of the cylinder and is connected to one end of the telescopic rod, and the other end of the telescopic rod is connected to the plug body;

[0007] A liquid storage tank, wherein a liquid level sensor is provided on the inner wall of the liquid storage tank;

[0008] A liquid balancing plate, the liquid balancing plate comprising a plate body, a plurality of connecting tubes and a connecting rod, the plate body is hollow inside, a liquid inlet is provided on one side of the plate body, the other side of the plate body is fixedly connected to the connecting rod, the connecting tube is arranged inside the plate body, the connecting tube is connected to the top wall and / or bottom wall of the plate body, the side wall of the connecting tube is provided with an opening, and the injection unit is connected to the liquid inlet of the liquid balancing plate through a pipeline;

[0009] The electromagnetic valve is arranged on a pipeline connecting the liquid balancing plate and the liquid injection unit.

[0010] In the above technical solution, the liquid loaded in the cylinder is pressed out into the liquid equalizing plate through the liquid injection unit, and the liquid is slowly and evenly injected into the liquid storage tank through the liquid equalizing plate to reduce the liquid level difference in the liquid storage tank and improve product quality. The residual liquid in the pipeline connecting the liquid injection unit and the liquid equalizing plate can be discharged by pushing the plug to compress the air inside the cylinder, which is convenient for cleaning.

[0011] Furthermore, the connecting pipe further comprises a first closing piece and a second closing piece, and the first closing piece and the second closing piece are respectively arranged at two ends of the opening.

[0012] In the above technical solution, the first closing piece and the second closing piece play the role of controlling the discharge of the slurry. When the slurry in the liquid equalizing plate is filled, the pressure received by the first closing piece and the second closing piece gradually increases. When a certain pressure value is reached, the first closing piece and the second closing piece open, and the slurry enters the liquid storage tank from the connecting pipe, so that the liquid level in the liquid storage tank is stable.

[0013] Furthermore, the liquid balancing plate is located inside the liquid storage tank, and the liquid balancing plate is located below the liquid level sensor.

[0014] In the above technical solution, the liquid level sensor is used to monitor the liquid level in the liquid storage tank in real time.

[0015] Furthermore, an observation window is provided on one side of the cylinder.

[0016] Furthermore, the liquid injection unit also includes a shielding plate, which is hinged to the side wall of the cylinder and is located outside the observation window.

[0017] In the above technical solution, the remaining amount of liquid in the cylinder can be observed through the observation window. In order to prevent the liquid from solidifying due to light, the baffle can be closed to avoid light after the observation is completed.

[0018] Furthermore, the automatic liquid replenishing device also includes a control unit, which includes a receiver and a controller. The receiver is electrically connected to the liquid level sensor, and the controller is electrically connected to the hydraulic cylinder and the solenoid valve.

[0019] In the above technical solution, the signal from the liquid level sensor can be received by the control unit. When the liquid level is lower than the set value, the solenoid valve and the hydraulic cylinder are opened to input the liquid in the cylinder into the liquid storage tank to maintain a certain liquid level height.

[0020] Furthermore, the plurality of connecting pipes are evenly spaced apart.

[0021] In the above technical solution, the feed liquid is further allowed to enter the liquid storage tank evenly by setting the feed liquid at even intervals, so that the liquid level in the liquid storage tank is constant.

[0022] Furthermore, the connecting pipe is connected to the top wall of the plate body.

[0023] Furthermore, a pressure sensor is provided at the bottom of the liquid storage tank.

[0024] In the above technical solution, the pressure sensor is combined with the density of the liquid to monitor the amount of liquid in the storage tank in real time. The height of the liquid level drop is calculated based on the bottom area of ​​the storage tank. Combined with the information obtained by the liquid level sensor, it can be determined whether the liquid level in the storage tank is uneven, and manual intervention or a preset automatic scraper device can be used for scraping.

[0025] The advantages of the utility model are:

[0026] 1. The utility model arranges the liquid balancing plate so that the feed liquid can be evenly dispersed into the liquid storage tank through evenly arranged connecting pipes before entering the liquid storage tank, so that the liquid level in the liquid storage tank remains flat during the liquid replenishment process.

[0027] 2. The utility model can operate the liquid injection unit empty and compress the air to pressurize the residual material in the pipeline.

[0028] 3. The utility model can detect whether the liquid level in the liquid storage tank is different through the combination of the liquid level sensor and the pressure sensor, so as to facilitate real-time adjustment. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0029] In order to more clearly illustrate the embodiments of the utility model or the technical solutions in the prior art, the drawings required for use in the embodiments or the description of the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings in the following description are only embodiments of the utility model. For ordinary technicians in this field, other drawings can be obtained based on the provided drawings without paying creative work.

[0030] Figure 1 It is a schematic diagram of the structure of the utility model;

[0031] Figure 2 It is a structural schematic diagram of the liquid equalizing plate of the utility model.

[0032] Illustrations: 1. Liquid injection unit, 2. Liquid storage tank, 3. Liquid equalizing plate, 4. Solenoid valve, 5. Control unit, 6. Pressure sensor, 101. Cylinder, 102. Hydraulic cylinder, 103. Telescopic rod, 104. Plug body, 105. Feed port, 106. Air valve, 107. Observation window, 108. Shielding plate, 201. Liquid level sensor, 301. Plate body, 302. Connecting pipe, 303. Connecting rod, 304. Liquid inlet, 305. Opening, 306. First closing piece, 307. Second closing piece. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0033] In order to enable those skilled in the art to better understand the present invention, the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below in conjunction with the drawings in the embodiments of the present invention. Obviously, the described embodiments are only embodiments of a part of the present invention rather than all of the embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by ordinary technicians in this field without creative work belong to the protection scope of the present invention.

[0034] In the description of the present invention, it should be understood that the terms "longitudinal", "lateral", "length", "width", "thickness", "up", "down", "front", "back", "left", "right", "vertical", "horizontal", "top", "bottom", "inside", "outside" and the like indicate orientations or positional relationships based on the orientations or positional relationships shown in the accompanying drawings, and are only for the convenience of describing the present invention and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the referred device or element must have a specific orientation, be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore should not be understood as a limitation on the present invention.

[0035] like Figure 1 As shown, an automatic liquid replenishing device for an SLA type 3D printer is composed of a liquid injection unit 1, a liquid storage tank 2, a liquid equalizing plate 3, a solenoid valve 4, a control unit 5 and a pressure sensor 6, wherein a feed port 105 is provided on the upper side wall of the cylinder, an air valve 106 is provided on the lower side wall of the cylinder, a hydraulic cylinder is arranged above the cylinder, an output end of the hydraulic cylinder passes through the top wall of the cylinder and is fixedly connected to one end of a telescopic rod, and the other end of the telescopic rod is fixedly connected to the plug body.

[0036] A liquid level sensor 201 is provided on the inner wall of the liquid storage tank for monitoring the liquid level in the liquid storage tank.

[0037] like Figure 2 As shown, the liquid equalizing plate consists of a plate body 301, a plurality of connecting tubes 302 and a connecting rod 303, wherein the interior of the plate body is hollow, a liquid inlet 304 is provided on the left side of the plate body, and the right side is fixedly connected to the connecting rod, the right side of the connecting rod is connected to the inner wall of the liquid storage tank, the connecting tube is arranged inside the plate body, the connecting tube is connected to the top wall of the plate body, the side wall of the connecting tube is provided with an opening 305, the injection unit is connected to the liquid inlet of the liquid equalizing plate through a pipeline, and a first closing piece 306 and a second closing piece 307 are provided at the opening of the connecting tube. The first closing piece and the second closing piece are elastic materials, and are in a closed state when they are not subjected to pressure, thereby blocking the connecting tube and the interior of the liquid equalizing plate, and a plurality of connecting tubes are evenly spaced.

[0038] In this embodiment, the liquid balancing plate is located inside the liquid storage tank, and the liquid balancing plate is located below the liquid level sensor.

[0039] In this embodiment, an observation window 107 is provided on one side of the cylinder, and a shielding plate 108 is provided outside the observation window, and the shielding plate is hinged to the side wall of the cylinder.

[0040] In this embodiment, a pressure sensor 6 is provided on the bottom wall of the liquid storage tank.

[0041] The control unit consists of a receiver and a controller. The receiver is electrically connected to the liquid level sensor, and the controller is electrically connected to the hydraulic cylinder and the solenoid valve.

[0042] The working principle and process of the utility model are as follows: liquid is added into the cylinder through the feed port. When the liquid level sensor detects that the liquid level in the liquid storage tank drops, the signal is transmitted to the control unit. The control unit controls the solenoid valve and the hydraulic cylinder to start. The hydraulic cylinder drives the telescopic rod to extend downward. The telescopic rod pushes the plug body downward. The plug body pushes the liquid into the liquid equalizing plate. The liquid in the liquid equalizing plate is gradually filled. The pressure exerted on the first closing piece and the second closing piece gradually increases. When the predetermined value is reached, the liquid pushes the first closing piece and the second closing piece into the connecting pipe and enters the liquid storage tank from the upper end of the connecting pipe.

[0043] Finally, it should be noted that this embodiment is only used to illustrate the present invention and does not limit the scope of the present invention. In addition, it should be understood that after reading the content of the present invention, those skilled in the art can make various changes or modifications to the present invention, and these equivalent forms also fall within the scope defined by the claims attached to this application.

Claims

1. An automatic liquid replenishing device for an SLA type 3D printer, characterized in that: The automatic liquid replenishing device comprises: A liquid injection unit (1), the liquid injection unit comprising a barrel (101), a hydraulic cylinder (102), a telescopic rod (103) and a plug body (104), the upper side wall of the barrel being provided with a feed port (105), the lower side wall of the barrel being provided with an air valve (106), the hydraulic cylinder being arranged above the barrel, the output end of the hydraulic cylinder penetrating the top wall of the barrel and connected to one end of the telescopic rod, and the other end of the telescopic rod being connected to the plug body; A liquid storage tank (2), wherein a liquid level sensor (201) is provided on the inner wall of the liquid storage tank; A liquid balancing plate (3), the liquid balancing plate comprising a plate body (301), a plurality of connecting tubes (302) and a connecting rod (303), the plate body being hollow inside, a liquid inlet (304) being provided on one side of the plate body, the other side of the plate body being fixedly connected to the connecting rod, the connecting tube being arranged inside the plate body, the connecting tube being connected to the top wall and / or the bottom wall of the plate body, the side wall of the connecting tube being provided with an opening (305), and the liquid injection unit being connected to the liquid inlet of the liquid balancing plate via a pipeline; A solenoid valve (4) is arranged on a pipeline connecting the liquid balancing plate and the liquid injection unit.

2. The automatic liquid replenishing device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The connecting pipe further comprises a first closing piece (306) and a second closing piece (307), wherein the first closing piece and the second closing piece are respectively arranged at two ends of the opening.

3. The automatic liquid replenishing device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The liquid balancing plate is located inside the liquid storage tank, and the liquid balancing plate is located below the liquid level sensor.

4. The automatic liquid replenishing device according to claim 1, characterized in that: An observation window (107) is provided on one side of the cylinder.

5. The automatic liquid replenishing device according to claim 4, characterized in that: The liquid injection unit also includes a shielding plate (108), which is hinged to the side wall of the cylinder and is located outside the observation window.

6. The automatic liquid replenishing device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The automatic liquid replenishing device also includes a control unit (5), which includes a receiver and a controller, wherein the receiver is electrically connected to the liquid level sensor, and the controller is electrically connected to the hydraulic cylinder and the solenoid valve.

7. The automatic liquid replenishing device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The plurality of connecting pipes are arranged at even intervals.

8. The automatic liquid replenishing device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The communication pipe is communicated with the top wall of the plate body.

9. The automatic liquid replenishing device according to claim 1, characterized in that: A pressure sensor (6) is provided at the bottom of the liquid storage tank.

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