Particle machine head device of 3D printer

Abstract

The utility model discloses a particle machine head device of a 3D printer, and belongs to the technical field of additive manufacturing. Comprising a feeding structure, a discharging structure, a heat dissipation assembly, a heating structure and a model cooling structure, and has the beneficial effects that a screw part of the discharging structure has the advantages of reducing, high hardness and wear resistance; and reasonable compression ratio and exhaust can be achieved, and the service life is long. The three-section heating part of the heating structure has the advantages of reasonability and high efficiency; step-by-step heating can be achieved, and the heating process is optimized. And the three sections of different temperatures enable the granules to be in different heating deformation states, so that extrusion is smoothly realized. The model cooling structure has the advantages of large area and strong wind power; and the four cooling fans with high rotating speeds and the honeycomb-shaped annular air outlet can ensure large-area heat dissipation and ensure the air volume at the same time. The pressure sensor part has the advantages of stable extrusion, refinement and controllability; and through cooperation with a main control system, the printing effect of accurate and uniform wire output can be achieved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to a 3D printer pellet head device, belonging to the field of additive manufacturing technology. Background Technology

[0002] As a core component of industrial additive manufacturing, the printhead of a pellet 3D printer has seen significant performance improvements in recent years due to technological advancements and material modification optimization. However, existing technologies still face numerous challenges, particularly in durability, stability, and maintainability. Common pellet printheads on the market suffer from the following problems: some printheads lack sufficient power, easily leading to feeding difficulties, material shortages, or step loss when processing hard or dense pellet materials; others have screws with poor wear resistance, especially when printing reinforcing materials such as carbon fiber, resulting in severe wear, short service life, and frequent component replacements. These problems not only reduce printing efficiency but also increase maintenance costs, limiting the widespread application of pellet 3D printing technology in industrial fields. Therefore, there is an urgent need for a structurally optimized and performance-stable pellet printhead device to address these challenges. Utility Model Content

[0003] The purpose of this invention is to provide a 3D printer pellet head device that can effectively solve the above-mentioned problems.

[0004] To solve the above-mentioned technical problems, this utility model is achieved through the following technical solution:

[0005] It includes a feeding structure and a discharging structure; the feeding structure includes a feeding box, a feeding pipe is provided on one side of the feeding box, and a discharging port is provided at the lower end of the feeding box; the discharging structure includes a discharging box, a discharging pipe is provided inside the discharging box, the discharging pipe is connected to the lower end of the discharging port, a screw is provided inside the discharging pipe, one end of the screw is connected to a motor through a coupling, and a nozzle is threadedly connected to the lower end of the discharging pipe.

[0006] Furthermore: the discharge pipe includes a connecting section and a discharge section, and the inner tube surface of the connecting section is trumpet-shaped.

[0007] Furthermore: a heat dissipation component is provided on the outer periphery of the discharge section near the feed box. The heat dissipation component includes a mounting ring installed on the discharge section, and heat dissipation plates are evenly distributed on the outer circumference of the mounting ring.

[0008] Furthermore, the heat dissipation assembly also includes a mounting box disposed outside the discharge pipe, a heat dissipation fan disposed in the mounting box, the mounting box being connected to the discharge box and fixed on both sides of the discharge box; an air outlet is provided on the front end of the discharge box, and the air from the heat dissipation fan blows towards the heat dissipation plate.

[0009] Furthermore: a heating structure is also provided on the outer periphery of the discharge section below the heat dissipation component; the heating structure 4 includes three circumferentially distributed mounting arc plates 41, which are fixed together by bolts; a mounting groove 42 is provided in the mounting arc plate 41, and a heating rod 43 is provided in the mounting groove 42.

[0010] Furthermore, a pressure sensor and a temperature controller are installed on the discharge section.

[0011] Furthermore: a model cooling structure is provided around the nozzle, the model cooling structure includes a heat dissipation ring provided around the bottom of the discharge box, a cooling fan is provided at the top of the heat dissipation ring, and heat dissipation holes are provided at the bottom of the heat dissipation ring.

[0012] Furthermore, an asbestos gasket is provided between the nozzle and the bottom of the discharge box.

[0013] The beneficial effects are:

[0014] The screw part of this invention has the advantages of variable diameter, high hardness, and wear resistance; it can achieve a reasonable compression ratio, exhaust gas, and long service life.

[0015] The three-stage heating section of this invention has the advantages of being reasonable and efficient; it can heat step by step, optimizing the heating process. The three different temperatures place the granules in different heating and deformation states, thereby successfully achieving extrusion.

[0016] The cooling section of this invention has the advantages of large area and strong airflow; four high-speed cooling fans and honeycomb-shaped annular air outlets can ensure large-area heat dissipation while ensuring airflow.

[0017] The pressure sensor part of this invention has the advantages of stable extrusion and precise controllability; by cooperating with the main control system, it can achieve accurate and uniform filament output during printing. Attached Figure Description

[0018] For ease of explanation, this utility model is described in detail below with reference to the specific embodiments and accompanying drawings.

[0019] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of this utility model;

[0020] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the internal structure of the discharge mechanism of this utility model;

[0021] Figure 3 for Figure 2 Enlarged view of a portion of the image;

[0022] Figure 4 This is a cross-sectional view of the discharge structure of this utility model;

[0023] Figure 5This is a cross-sectional view of the present invention;

[0024] Figure 6 for Figure 5 Enlarged view of a portion of the image.

[0025] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached figures:

[0026] 1. Feeding structure; 11. Feeding box; 12. Feeding pipe; 13. Discharge port; 2. Discharge structure; 21. Discharge box; 22. Discharge pipe; 221. Connecting section; 222. Discharge section; 23. Screw; 24. Coupling; 25. Motor; 26. Nozzle; 3. Heat dissipation assembly; 31. Mounting ring; 32. Heat dissipation plate; 33. Mounting box; 34. Heat dissipation fan; 35. Air outlet; 4. Heating structure; 41. Mounting arc plate; 42. Mounting groove; 43. Heating rod; 5. Model cooling structure; 51. Heat dissipation ring; 52. Cooling fan; 53. Heat dissipation hole; 6. Asbestos gasket. Detailed Implementation

[0027] The embodiments of the present invention are described in detail below, examples of which are shown in the accompanying drawings. The embodiments described below with reference to the accompanying drawings are exemplary and intended to explain the present invention, and should not be construed as limiting the present invention.

[0028] It should be noted that, in the description of this utility model, unless otherwise stated, "a plurality of" means two or more; the terms "upper", "lower", "left", "right", "inner", "outer", "front end", "rear end", "head", "tail", etc., indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings, and are only for the convenience of describing this utility model and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore should not be construed as a limitation of this utility model.

[0029] Furthermore, the terms “first,” “second,” “third,” etc., are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be interpreted as indicating or implying relative importance.

[0030] Furthermore, in the description of this utility model, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, the terms "connected" and "linked" should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; they can refer to a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this utility model based on the specific circumstances.

[0031] See Figure 1-6 This is one embodiment of a 3D printer pellet head device according to the present invention.

[0032] The 3D printer particle head device in this embodiment mainly consists of a feeding structure 1 and a discharging structure 2. It is suitable for the 3D printing needs of industrial-grade particle materials, and performs particularly well when processing high-hardness or reinforced materials (such as carbon fiber composite particles).

[0033] Assembly and function of feeding structure 1: Feeding structure 1 consists of feeding box 11, feeding pipe 12 and discharge port 13.

[0034] The feed hopper 11 is made of stainless steel or aluminum alloy and has a rectangular structure. It features a removable cover and a detection switch on the side. The removable cover facilitates cleaning and inspection. The detection switch, upon detecting that the granules in the hopper have reached the lower limit, activates the automatic feeding system, automatically feeding granules into the hopper from the outside. It typically fills the hopper in 5 seconds. The detection switch is a flat, capacitive type, model SW-WL-T201. The other side is connected to the feed pipe 12 by welding or bolts.

[0035] The feed pipe 12 is a circular pipe bent at ninety degrees. The upper end of the feed pipe 12 serves as the feed inlet. After being bent at ninety degrees, it is installed horizontally on one side of the feed box 11. The outlet end is connected to the inside of the feed box 11 to ensure that the granular material flows in smoothly by gravity and external thrust.

[0036] The discharge port 13 is located at the bottom of the feed box 11 and is designed as a circular opening, with its lower end connecting to the discharge structure 2. To prevent material accumulation, the inner wall of the discharge port 13 can be polished to reduce frictional resistance.

[0037] Core components and assembly of discharge structure 2: Discharge structure 2 includes discharge box 21, discharge pipe 22, screw 23, coupling 24, motor 25 and nozzle 26.

[0038] The discharge box 21 is a hollow shell made of high-temperature resistant metal material (such as stainless steel). It can be rectangular in shape and houses the discharge pipe 22 and its related components. The top of the discharge box 21 is fixedly connected to the bottom of the feed box 11 by bolts or flanges to ensure the stability of the overall structure.

[0039] See Figure 2-4 The discharge pipe 22 is installed inside the discharge box 21. Its upper end is tightly connected to the discharge port 13 via threads or a flange, and its lower end extends to the bottom of the discharge box 21. The discharge pipe 22 is divided into two sections:

[0040] The inner tube of the connecting section 221 is flared, with a larger diameter at the top (near the discharge port 13) and gradually narrowing towards the discharge section 222. This design reduces the resistance when material enters the screw 23, and is particularly suitable for high-density granular materials. The outer wall of the connecting section 221 can be thickened to enhance durability.

[0041] The discharge section 222 is a straight tube with a smooth inner wall, responsible for melting and pushing the material. The lower outer surface of the discharge section 222 is provided with external threads to match the nozzle 26.

[0042] The screw 23 is located inside the discharge pipe 22 and is made of highly wear-resistant and high-temperature-resistant materials (such as alloy steel with surface carburizing treatment). The diameter of the screw 23 is designed to be gradually changing (the diameter of the screw 23 is smaller near the connecting section 221 and larger near the nozzle 26) to gradually compress and push the material. The mounting end of the screw 23 extends out of the discharge pipe 22 and is connected to the motor 25 through the coupling 24, while the other end is close to the nozzle 26 but does not contact it.

[0043] The coupling 24 is installed between the screw 23 and the motor 25 and is fixed by keyway or clamping to absorb vibration and transmit torque.

[0044] The electric motor 25 is a servo motor or a stepper motor, fixed on the reserved mounting base at the upper end of the feed box 11, and equipped with a reducer to provide sufficient torque to ensure stable rotation of the screw 23. A protective cover can be added to the housing of the electric motor 25 to prevent dust from entering.

[0045] The printhead 26 is screwed onto the lower end of the discharge section 222 via a thread. The nozzle orifice diameter can be selected according to printing requirements, and the material is hard alloy or ceramic to withstand high temperatures and wear. A sealing ring can be installed at the connection between the printhead 26 and the discharge section 222 to prevent leakage of molten material.

[0046] Detailed configuration of heat dissipation component 3: Heat dissipation component 3 is installed on the outer periphery of the discharge section 222 near the feed box 11 to prevent the discharge pipe 22 from overheating.

[0047] The mounting ring 31 is circular, with its inner diameter matching the outer diameter of the discharge section 222. It is fixed to the discharge section 222 by fastening screws or clamps. Multiple heat dissipation plates 32 are evenly distributed around the outer circumference of the mounting ring 31.

[0048] The heat sink 32 is made of aluminum alloy or copper and is in the shape of a rectangular sheet. It is arranged perpendicular to the surface of the mounting ring 31 and fixed by welding or integral molding to increase the heat dissipation area. It relies on natural convection for heat dissipation, and the convection can be enhanced by the cooling fan 34.

[0049] The mounting box 33 is a rectangular cover that covers the upper part of the discharge pipe 22 and is fixed to both sides of the discharge box 21 by bolts. The mounting box 33 is equipped with a cooling fan 34. The cooling fan 34 is an axial flow type with moderate power. The air inlet is aligned with the heat sink 32. After the cold air from the outside blows onto the heat sink 32, it carries away the heat of the heat sink 32 and finally outputs it from the air outlet 35 at the front end of the discharge box 21.

[0050] The purpose of setting up heat dissipation component 3 is to ensure that the material does not melt in the upper part of the discharge section 222.

[0051] The heating structure 4 includes three circumferentially distributed mounting arc plates 41, which are fixed together by bolts; each mounting arc plate 41 has a mounting groove 42, and a heating rod 43 is disposed in the mounting groove 42.

[0052] The heating system is divided into three groups, labeled from top to bottom as Heating Group 1, Heating Group 2, and Heating Group 3. Each group has three heating rods 43 and a temperature controller. The three heating structures 4 are evenly distributed in a ring to ensure maximum heating uniformity. Each heating group can be individually temperature-set. The function of the first heating group is preheating, raising the temperature of the material but not too high, maintaining the material's inherent hardness. The function of the second heating group is softening; its temperature is set higher than the preheating temperature, softening the material and initiating compression, preparing it for the next melting step. The function of the third heating group is melting; its temperature is set to the highest level, the material's melting point. After preheating and softening at the top, the material is completely melted at the bottom, compressed, and vented, then extruded through a nozzle and die to form the final product.

[0053] The pressure after the molten filament melts at the bottom directly affects the smoothness, uniformity, and stability of the extrusion, and consequently, the quality of the molded model. A pressure sensor at the bottom monitors and provides real-time feedback on the molten pressure during extrusion. If the pressure is too high, the rotation speed and extrusion volume are reduced accordingly; if the pressure is too low, the rotation speed and extrusion volume are increased, or printing may even be paused until the pressure returns to normal before resuming. This significantly improves the success rate of the molded model.

[0054] The heating section is to ensure that the material does not melt in the middle part of the discharge section 222.

[0055] Cooling and heat insulation design of the model: The model cooling structure 5 is arranged around the discharge box 21 and is at the same horizontal level as the nozzle 26, including heat dissipation ring 51, cooling fan 52 and heat dissipation hole 53.

[0056] The heat dissipation ring 51 is a rectangular ring, fixed around the bottom of the discharge box 21 by bolts or clips, and its inner diameter is slightly larger than the outer diameter of the discharge box 21. The cooling fan 52 is installed on top of the heat dissipation ring 51. It is a small axial flow fan that blows air downwards toward the nozzle 26 and is fixed by a bracket.

[0057] The heat dissipation holes 53 are distributed at the bottom of the heat dissipation ring 51. They are multiple small holes arranged evenly to form a honeycomb pattern. When the cooling fan 52 is working, the cold air is blown into the heat dissipation ring 51 and then blown down onto the printing model through the heat dissipation holes 53 to cool the printing model.

[0058] The asbestos gasket 6 is an annular gasket sandwiched between the nozzle 26 and the bottom of the discharge box 21. It is fixed by the pressure when the nozzle 26 is tightened. It is used to separate the heating section from the external space and prevent the air generated by the model cooling structure 5 from entering and affecting the heating near the nozzle, thereby affecting the extrusion.

[0059] Detailed work process

[0060] 1. Particulate materials (such as carbon fiber reinforced nylon particles) enter the feed box 11 through the feed pipe 12 and fall to the discharge port 13 under the action of gravity and external thrust.

[0061] 2. The material enters the discharge pipe 22 through the trumpet-shaped connecting section 221. The motor 25 drives the screw 23 to rotate through the coupling 24. The screw 23 gradually compresses the material and pushes it to the discharge section 222.

[0062] 3. In the discharge section 222, the heating structure 4 heats the material to a molten state. Pressure and temperature sensors monitor and provide feedback on the pressure and temperature of the molten material in real time to ensure process stability.

[0063] 4. The molten material is extruded through the nozzle 26 and formed. The cooling fan 52 is started, and the heat dissipation holes 53 are used to cool the model printed by the nozzle 26.

[0064] Obviously, the above embodiments are merely illustrative examples for clear explanation and are not intended to limit the implementation. Those skilled in the art will recognize that other variations or modifications can be made based on the above description. It is neither necessary nor possible to exhaustively list all possible implementations here. However, obvious variations or modifications derived therefrom are still within the protection scope of this invention.

Claims

1. A 3D printer granulator head apparatus, characterized by: Including feed structure (1) and discharge structure (2);The feed structure (1) includes feed tank (11), the feed tank (11) one side is provided with feed pipe (12), the feed tank (11) lower end is provided with discharge port (13);The discharge structure (2) includes discharge tank (21), the discharge tank (21) is provided with discharge pipe (22), the discharge pipe (22) is connected in the lower end of the discharge port (13), the discharge pipe (22) is provided with screw rod (23), and the screw rod (23) one end is connected with motor (25) through coupling (24), and the lower end of the discharge pipe (22) is threadedly connected with spray head (26).

2. The 3D printer pellet head apparatus of claim 1, wherein: The discharge pipe (22) includes connecting section (221) and discharge section (222), and the inner pipe surface of the connecting section (221) is trumpet-shaped.

3. The 3D printer pellet head apparatus of claim 2, wherein: The discharge section (222) is provided with a heat dissipation assembly (3) close to the outer periphery of the feed tank (11), the heat dissipation assembly (3) includes a mounting ring (31) mounted on the discharge section (222), and the outer surface of the mounting ring (31) is circumferentially distributed with heat dissipation plates (32).

4. The 3D printer pellet head apparatus of claim 3, wherein: The heat dissipation assembly (3) further includes a mounting box (33) arranged outside the discharge pipe (22), the mounting box (33) is provided with a heat dissipation fan (34), the mounting box (33) is communicated with the discharge tank (21), and is fixed on both sides of the discharge tank (21); The front end of the discharge tank (21) is provided with an air outlet hole (35), and the air of the heat dissipation fan (34) blows towards the heat dissipation plate (32).

5. The 3D printer pellet head apparatus of claim 4, wherein: The outer periphery of the discharge section (222) is further provided with a heating structure (4) below the heat dissipation assembly (3);The heating structure (4) includes three circumferentially distributed mounting arc plates (41), and the mounting arc plates (41) are fixed together by bolts;The mounting arc plate (41) is provided with a mounting groove (42), and the mounting groove (42) is provided with a heating rod (43).

6. The 3D printer pellet head apparatus of claim 5, wherein: The discharge section (222) is provided with a pressure sensor and a temperature controller.

7. The 3D printer pellet head apparatus of claim 6, wherein: The spray head (26) is provided with a mold cooling structure (5) around it, the mold cooling structure (5) includes a heat dissipation ring (51) arranged around the bottom of the discharge tank (21), the heat dissipation ring (51) is provided with a cooling fan (52) on the top, and the heat dissipation ring (51) is provided with a heat dissipation hole (53) on the bottom.

8. The 3D printer pellet head apparatus of claim 7, wherein: The spray head (26) and the bottom of the discharge tank (21) are provided with an asbestos gasket (6).

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