Powder feeding mechanism for 3D printer

Abstract

The utility model relates to the technical field of 3D printing equipment, in particular to a powder feeding mechanism for a 3D printer, comprising a case, the case is provided with a partition plate, the middle of the partition plate is slidably provided with a sinter molding plate in a penetrating manner along the vertical direction, one side of the case is provided with a discharge bin, and the side wall of the lower part of the discharge bin is provided with a powder outlet located above the partition plate; the upper portion of the powder measuring cylinder is open, the upper end face of the powder measuring cylinder is flush with the upper end face of the partition plate, an inner cavity of the powder measuring cylinder is in sliding connection with a lifting plate in the vertical direction, and the upper end face of the partition plate is in sliding connection with a powder pushing roller in the horizontal direction. The powder feeding device has the effect of improving the powder feeding precision.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The application relates to the technical field of 3D printing equipment, in particular to a powder feeding mechanism for a 3D printer. BACKGROUND

[0002] 3D printing is a kind of rapid prototyping technology, also known as additive manufacturing, which is based on a digital model file. Rapid prototyping technologies include 3DP technology, FDM fusion deposition modeling technology, SLA stereolithography technology, SLS laser sintering technology, DLP laser forming technology and UV ultraviolet forming technology.

[0003] In SLS laser sintering, a powder feeding mechanism is used to transport powder materials (metal powder or non-metal powder), and a powder laying mechanism is used to lay a layer of powder material on the workbench, and then laser is used to sinter the powder according to the interface contour information under the control of a computer, and the process is repeated to accumulate layer by layer to form a shape. In the prior art, the powder feeding mechanism adopts traditional gravity drop or airflow transportation. Although these traditional methods are simple and easy to implement, they have the defect of low feeding precision in actual application, and therefore need to be further improved. CONTENT OF THE UTILITY MODEL

[0004] In order to improve the powder feeding precision, the application provides a powder feeding mechanism for a 3D printer.

[0005] The powder feeding mechanism for a 3D printer provided by the application adopts the following technical scheme:

[0006] The powder feeding mechanism for a 3D printer comprises a cabinet, the cabinet is provided with a partition plate, a sintering forming plate is vertically slid through the middle part of the partition plate, a feeding bin is arranged on one side of the cabinet, a powder outlet is formed in the lower side wall of the feeding bin and located above the partition plate, the partition plate is provided with a powder measuring cylinder which is located between the feeding bin and the sintering forming plate and has an open upper part, the upper end surface of the powder measuring cylinder is flush with the upper end surface of the partition plate, a lifting plate is vertically slid in the inner cavity of the powder measuring cylinder, and a powder pushing roller is horizontally slid on the upper end surface of the partition plate.

[0007] In the initial state, the lifting plate is lowered, the powder in the feeding bin falls by gravity and enters the inner cavity of the powder measuring cylinder for quantitative measurement, the powder pushing roller slides towards the feeding bin, the powder above the upper end surface of the powder measuring cylinder is flattened when passing through the powder measuring cylinder, then the lifting plate is raised to make the upper end surface of the lifting plate flush with the upper end surface of the powder measuring cylinder, so that the powder in the inner cavity of the powder measuring cylinder is raised, and finally the powder pushing roller slides towards the sintering forming plate, so that the powder on the lifting plate is pushed to the sintering forming plate for laser sintering operation. The accurate measurement of the powder measuring cylinder improves the powder feeding precision.

[0008] Preferably, the lower end surface of the powder measuring cylinder is fixedly connected with a support, the support is fixedly provided with a shaft sleeve, the lower end surface of the lifting plate is fixedly connected with a polished rod which is slidably arranged in the shaft sleeve, the lower end of the polished rod is fixedly connected with a movable plate which is located below the support, and the support is provided with a lifting driving assembly for driving the movable plate to slide up and down.

[0009] By adopting the above technical scheme, the shaft sleeve and the polished rod are additionally arranged to realize accurate control of the lifting plate, thereby ensuring the accuracy and stability of powder measurement in the powder measuring cylinder and improving the accuracy and reliability of the whole powder feeding process.

[0010] Preferably, the lifting driving assembly comprises an eccentric wheel which is located below the movable plate and abuts against the lower end surface of the movable plate, and a powder measuring motor which is fixedly connected with the support to drive the eccentric wheel to rotate, and the eccentric wheel is fixedly connected with the output shaft of the powder measuring motor.

[0011] By adopting the above technical scheme, the combination of the eccentric wheel and the powder measuring motor can realize accurate lifting movement of the movable plate, thereby ensuring stable up-and-down movement of the lifting plate in the powder measuring cylinder.

[0012] Preferably, a spring is arranged between the movable plate and the support.

[0013] By adopting the above technical scheme, the spring is arranged between the movable plate and the support, and the spring can effectively buffer and stabilize the movement of the movable plate during the up-and-down movement of the movable plate driven by the lifting driving assembly, thereby avoiding impact caused by sudden change and ensuring smooth lifting and lowering of the lifting plate, so as to ensure more accurate powder measurement in the powder measuring cylinder and improve powder feeding accuracy.

[0014] Preferably, the lower part of the discharging bin is provided with a stirring assembly for stirring the powder.

[0015] By adopting the above technical scheme, the stirring assembly arranged in the lower part of the discharging bin can effectively prevent the powder from being blocked and caked in the discharging bin, thereby ensuring that the powder uniformly and smoothly enters the powder measuring cylinder from the powder outlet, so as to improve powder feeding accuracy.

[0016] Preferably, the stirring assembly comprises a stirring shaft which is rotatably connected to the inner wall of the lower part of the discharging bin, stirring blades which are spirally arranged on the outer peripheral wall of the stirring shaft, and a stirring motor which drives the stirring shaft to rotate.

[0017] By adopting the above technical scheme, the structure design of the stirring shaft and the stirring blades can uniformly stir the powder and avoid blocking caused by powder adhesion, and the driving effect of the stirring motor ensures continuous and stable stirring effect, thereby improving the stability and reliability of the powder feeding process.

[0018] Preferably, the upper end surface of the partition plate is fixedly connected with a powder pushing guide rod, the powder pushing guide rod is sleeved with a sliding block, the sliding block is fixedly connected with a powder pushing frame, the powder pushing roller is arranged in the powder pushing frame, and the partition plate is provided with a horizontal driving assembly for driving the powder pushing frame to slide.

[0019] By adopting the above technical scheme, the powder pushing guide rod cooperates with the sliding block to ensure the stability and accuracy of the powder pushing frame during horizontal movement, and to avoid uneven powder feeding caused by position deviation during powder pushing.

[0020] Preferably, the powder pushing roller is rotationally connected to the powder pushing frame, the partition plate is fixedly connected with a rack, and the end portion of the powder pushing roller is coaxially fixedly sleeved with a gear, which is engaged with the rack.

[0021] By adopting the above technical scheme, the powder pushing roller can rotate during horizontal movement, ensuring that the powder is uniformly and smoothly pushed onto the sintering forming plate, avoiding printing quality problems caused by uneven powder accumulation, and further improving the powder feeding accuracy and consistency of 3D printing products.

[0022] In summary, the utility model has the following beneficial effects:

[0023] 1. In the initial state, the lifting plate moves downward, the powder falls from the powder discharge port into the powder measuring cylinder for quantitative feeding by self-weight, the powder pushing roller slides towards the powder discharge port, the powder above the upper end surface of the powder measuring cylinder is swept flat when passing through the powder measuring cylinder, then the lifting plate moves upward so that the upper end surface of the lifting plate is flush with the upper end surface of the powder measuring cylinder, thereby moving the powder in the powder measuring cylinder upward, finally the powder pushing roller slides towards the sintering forming plate, thereby pushing the powder on the lifting plate to the sintering forming plate for laser sintering operation, the accurate measurement of the powder measuring cylinder improves the powder feeding accuracy.

[0024] 2. The lower part of the powder discharge bin is provided with a stirring assembly for stirring the powder, which can effectively prevent the powder from blocking and caking in the powder discharge bin, ensuring that the powder uniformly and smoothly enters the powder measuring cylinder from the powder discharge port, thereby improving the powder feeding accuracy. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0025] Figure 1 It is a whole structure schematic view of a powder feeding mechanism for a 3D printer.

[0026] Figure 2 It is a structure schematic view of a partition plate and a powder discharge bin.

[0027] Figure 3 It is a structure schematic view of a stirring assembly.

[0028] Figure 4 It is a structure schematic view of an upper end surface of a partition plate.

[0029] Figure 5 It is a structure schematic view of a lifting driving assembly.

[0030] Figure 6 is a structural schematic diagram of the powder pushing frame.

[0031] In the figure, 1, the machine box; 2, the partition; 21, the sintering forming plate; 22, the baffle; 23, the powder pushing guide rod; 24, the sliding block; 25, the powder pushing frame; 251, the powder pushing horizontal plate; 252, the connecting block; 26, the powder pushing roller; 261, the gear; 27, the rack; 3, the feeding bin; 31, the powder outlet; 32, the stirring assembly; 321, the stirring shaft; 322, the stirring vane; 323, the stirring motor; 4, the powder measuring cylinder; 41, the lifting plate; 42, the light pole; 43, the support; 431, the support plate; 432, the support rod; 433, the shaft sleeve; 434, the vertical plate; 44, the movable plate; 45, the lifting driving assembly; 451, the eccentric wheel; 452, the powder measuring motor. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0032] The following will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings Figures 1-6 The application is further described in detail.

[0033] The embodiment of the application discloses a powder feeding mechanism for a 3D printer, which refers to Figure 1 , Figure 2 , including the machine box 1, the middle part of the machine box 1 is fixedly connected with the horizontally arranged partition 2, the middle part of the partition 2 is vertically slidably provided with the sintering forming plate 21, in the initial state, the upper end surface of the sintering forming plate 21 is flush with the upper end surface of the partition 2. One side of the machine box 1 is provided with the feeding bin 3 which is arranged in an open upper part, the side wall of the feeding bin 3 near the sintering forming plate 21 is provided with the powder outlet 31 in the lower part, the powder outlet 31 is a strip-shaped opening, the length direction of the powder outlet 31 is parallel to the width direction of the partition 2, and the powder outlet 31 is located above one side of the partition 2.

[0034] Referring to Figure 3 , the lower part of the feeding bin 3 is provided with the stirring assembly 32 for stirring the powder, the stirring assembly 32 comprises the stirring shaft 321 rotatably connected to the inner wall of the lower part of the feeding bin 3, the stirring vane 322 fixedly and spirally arranged on the outer peripheral wall of the stirring shaft 321 and the stirring motor 323 for driving the stirring shaft 321 to rotate, the stirring motor 323 is fixedly connected to the lower end surface of the feeding bin 3, and the output shaft of the stirring motor 323 and the stirring shaft 321 are driven through the synchronous belt.

[0035] Referring to Figure 4 , Figure 5The partition 2 is equipped with a powder measuring cylinder 4 located between the feeding bin 3 and the sintering forming plate 21, with an open upper part. The length direction of the powder measuring cylinder 4 is parallel to the width direction of the partition 2, and the upper end face of the powder measuring cylinder 4 is flush with the upper end face of the partition 2. A lifting plate 41 is vertically slidably connected to the inner cavity of the powder measuring cylinder 4, and a bracket 43 is fixedly connected to the lower end face of the powder measuring cylinder 4. The bracket 43 includes a support plate 431 located below the powder measuring cylinder 4 and a support rod 432 fixedly connected between the support plate 431 and the powder measuring cylinder 4. A bushing 433 is fixedly inserted through the support plate 431, and a smooth rod 42 that slides through the bushing 433 is fixedly connected to the lower end face of the lifting plate 41. A movable plate 44 located below the support plate 431 is fixedly connected to the lower end of the smooth rod 42.

[0036] A vertical plate 434 is fixedly connected to one side of the support plate 431. The vertical plate 434 is equipped with a lifting drive assembly 45 for driving the movable plate 44 to move up and down. The lifting drive assembly 45 includes an eccentric wheel 451 located below the movable plate 44 and abutting against the lower end face of the movable plate 44, and a powder metering motor 452 fixedly connected to the vertical plate 434 to drive the eccentric wheel 451 to rotate. The eccentric wheel 451 is fixedly connected to the output shaft of the powder metering motor 452. A spring is fixedly connected between the movable plate 44 and the support plate 431.

[0037] Reference Figure 4 , Figure 6 A baffle 22 is fixedly connected to the upper end face of the partition 2. The length direction of the baffle 22 is parallel to the length direction of the partition 2. Two baffles 22 are provided and located on both sides of the sintered plate 21. A powder pushing guide rod 23 located outside the baffle 22 is fixedly connected to the upper end face of the partition 2. The axial direction of the powder pushing guide rod 23 is parallel to the length direction of the baffle 22. A slider 24 is slidably sleeved on the powder pushing guide rod 23. A powder pushing frame 25 is fixedly connected between the two sliders 24. The powder pushing frame 25 includes a powder pushing horizontal plate 251 fixedly connected between the two sliders 24 and a connecting block 252 fixedly connected to the lower end face of the powder pushing horizontal plate 251 and located inside the baffle 22. A powder pushing roller 26 is rotatably connected to the connecting block 252. The axial direction of the powder pushing roller 26 is parallel to the width direction of the partition 2. Under normal conditions, the lower peripheral wall of the powder pushing roller 26 abuts against the upper end face of the partition 2.

[0038] The partition 2 is equipped with a horizontal drive assembly for driving the slider 24 to slide. In this embodiment, the horizontal drive assembly adopts a transmission belt. In other embodiments, the horizontal drive assembly can adopt a rodless cylinder. A rack 27 is fixedly connected to the upper part of the inner side wall of one of the baffles 22. The length direction of the rack 27 is parallel to the length direction of the baffle 22. A gear 261 is coaxially fixedly sleeved at the end of the powder pushing roller 26, and the gear 261 meshes with the rack 27.

[0039] The implementation principle of the powder feeding mechanism for the 3D printer is as follows: in the initial state, the powder pushing roller 26 is located between the sintering forming plate 21 and the powder measuring cylinder 4, the lifting plate 41 moves downward, the powder in the powder storage bin 3 falls by gravity, is stirred by the stirring rotating blade 322, and then enters the inner cavity of the powder measuring cylinder 4 through the powder outlet 31 to be quantitatively measured, the horizontal driving assembly drives the powder pushing roller 26 to slide towards the powder storage bin 3, and the powder that is higher than the upper end surface of the powder measuring cylinder 4 is swept and compacted when passing through the powder measuring cylinder 4, then the lifting plate 41 moves upward so that the upper end surface of the lifting plate 41 is flush with the upper end surface of the powder measuring cylinder 4, so that the powder in the inner cavity of the powder measuring cylinder 4 is moved upward, finally the horizontal driving assembly drives the powder pushing roller 26 to slide towards the sintering forming plate 21, so that the powder on the lifting plate 41 is pushed to the sintering forming plate 21 to perform laser sintering work, and the accurate measurement of the powder measuring cylinder 4 improves the powder feeding precision.

[0040] The above are preferred embodiments of the present application, and do not limit the protection scope of the present application, so: equivalent changes made according to the structure, shape, principle of the present application should be covered within the protection scope of the present application.

Claims

1. A toner feeding mechanism for a 3D printer, characterized in that: Includes a chassis (1), the chassis (1) is provided with a partition (2), a sintered forming plate (21) is slidably inserted through the middle of the partition (2) in a vertical direction, a feeding bin (3) is provided on one side of the chassis (1), a powder outlet (31) is opened on the lower side wall of the feeding bin (3) above the partition (2), a powder measuring cylinder (4) is provided between the feeding bin (3) and the sintered forming plate (21) and is open at the top, the upper end face of the powder measuring cylinder (4) is flush with the upper end face of the partition (2), the inner cavity of the powder measuring cylinder (4) is slidably connected to a lifting plate (41) in a vertical direction, and a powder pushing roller (26) is slidably connected to the upper end face of the partition (2) in a horizontal direction.

2. The powder feeding mechanism for a 3D printer according to claim 1, characterized in that: The lower end face of the powder measuring cylinder (4) is fixedly connected to a bracket (43), and a bushing (433) is fixedly inserted through the bracket (43). The lower end face of the lifting plate (41) is fixedly connected to a light rod (42) that slides through the bushing (433). The lower end of the light rod (42) is fixedly connected to a movable plate (44) located below the bracket (43). The bracket (43) is provided with a lifting drive assembly (45) that drives the movable plate (44) to lift and slide.

3. The powder feeding mechanism for a 3D printer according to claim 2, characterized in that: The lifting drive assembly (45) includes an eccentric wheel (451) located below the movable plate (44) and abutting against the lower end face of the movable plate (44), and a powder metering motor (452) fixedly connected to the bracket (43) to drive the eccentric wheel (451) to rotate. The eccentric wheel (451) is fixedly connected to the output shaft of the powder metering motor (452).

4. The powder feeding mechanism for a 3D printer according to claim 3, characterized in that: A spring is provided between the movable plate (44) and the bracket (43).

5. The powder feeding mechanism for a 3D printer according to claim 1, characterized in that: The lower part of the feeding hopper (3) is provided with a stirring component (32) for agitating the powder.

6. The powder feeding mechanism for a 3D printer according to claim 5, characterized in that: The stirring assembly (32) includes a stirring shaft (321) rotatably connected to the lower inner wall of the discharge bin (3), stirring vanes (322) spirally wound around the outer peripheral wall of the stirring shaft (321), and a stirring motor (323) that drives the stirring shaft (321) to rotate.

7. The powder feeding mechanism for a 3D printer according to claim 1, characterized in that: The upper end face of the partition (2) is fixedly connected to a powder pushing guide rod (23), the powder pushing guide rod (23) is slidably sleeved with a slider (24), the slider (24) is fixedly connected to a powder pushing frame (25), the powder pushing roller (26) is set on the powder pushing frame (25), and the partition (2) is provided with a horizontal drive component for driving the powder pushing frame (25) to slide.

8. A powder feeding mechanism for a 3D printer according to claim 7, characterized in that: The powder pushing roller (26) is rotatably connected to the powder pushing frame (25), and the partition (2) is fixedly connected to the rack (27). The end of the powder pushing roller (26) is coaxially fixedly sleeved with a gear (261), and the gear (261) meshes with the rack (27).

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