Spray head cleaning device of 3D printer

Abstract

The utility model provides a nozzle cleaning device of a 3D printer, which comprises three printing nozzles distributed in the shape of a Chinese character'pin ', and the outlet ends of nozzles of the printing nozzles face downwards; the cleaning tray is arranged below the printing nozzle and can reciprocate in the horizontal direction; the soft scraping blade is fixedly arranged on the upper surface of the cleaning tray, and the scraping surface of the soft scraping blade is in contact fit with the outlet end of a nozzle of the printing spray head; wherein a horizontal friction pair is formed between the printing spray head and the soft scraper, and the end face of the spray head is scraped and cleaned through horizontal reciprocating motion of the cleaning tray. According to the spray head cleaning device, the three printing spray heads distributed in the shape like the Chinese character'pin 'are scraped and cleaned, the cleaning efficiency is improved, space is saved, the cleaning tray covers all the spray heads at a time when moving through geometric symmetry, the cleaning stroke is reduced, and the problem that the efficiency is low due to the fact that a traditional single spray head is cleaned gradually or cleaned manually is solved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of 3D printer equipment technology, and in particular to a nozzle cleaning device for 3D printers. Background Technology

[0002] 3D printing technology is a technique for creating three-dimensional objects by depositing materials layer by layer, and it is widely used in industrial manufacturing, medical, and educational fields. In the 3D printing process, the nozzle is one of the key components, responsible for precisely ejecting and depositing printing materials (such as plastics, metals, resins, waxes, etc.) to form the desired shape. Wax-spray 3D printers, a type of additive manufacturing equipment, use blue wax as the model material and white wax as the support material. High-temperature heated wax is sprayed onto the printing platform, and the model is built layer by layer. Due to the advantages of high precision and smooth surface of wax-spray 3D printed models, wax-spray 3D printers are widely used in the jewelry, aerospace, and engine manufacturing industries. The printing materials used in wax-spray 3D printers are white wax and blue wax. The wax is contained in a container, which is then inserted into an ink supply assembly. The blue wax in the container flows into the ink supply assembly, is heated at high temperature, and flows into the nozzle. The nozzle sprays the wax layer by layer onto the printing panel to build the three-dimensional model.

[0003] After printing with existing wax pattern 3D printers, residual waste wax remains in the wax chamber and nozzle of the printhead. This residual waste wax may clog the nozzle, preventing the printhead from ejecting ink. Therefore, the printhead needs to be cleaned regularly. Current printhead cleaning methods involve cleaning each printhead sequentially or manual cleaning. During cleaning, the printhead needs to be heated to melt the wax, but this cleaning method is not very efficient. Utility Model Content

[0004] In view of the shortcomings of the existing technology, the purpose of this utility model is to provide a nozzle cleaning device for 3D printers, which greatly improves the nozzle cleaning efficiency.

[0005] This utility model proposes a nozzle cleaning device for a 3D printer, including three printing nozzles arranged in a triangular pattern, with the nozzle outlet end of the printing nozzles facing downwards;

[0006] The cleaning tray is located below the print head and can move back and forth horizontally.

[0007] A soft scraper is fixedly mounted on the upper surface of the cleaning tray, and its scraping surface is in contact with the nozzle outlet end of the print head.

[0008] The printhead and the soft scraper form a horizontal friction pair, and the printhead end face is scraped and cleaned by the horizontal reciprocating motion of the cleaning tray.

[0009] Preferably, it also includes a heater embedded in the bottom of the cleaning tray, the heating area of ​​which corresponds to the installation position of the soft scraper.

[0010] Preferably, the heater is a heating tube or an electric heating film, and its heating temperature range is 50-120℃.

[0011] Preferably, it also includes a temperature controller electrically connected to the heater for adjusting and maintaining the operating temperature of the soft scraper in real time.

[0012] Preferably, the upper surface of the cleaning tray is provided with an installation groove for fixing the soft scraper, and the depth of the installation groove is 1 / 3 to 1 / 2 of the thickness of the soft scraper.

[0013] Preferably, the mounting groove is provided with a clamping piece to fix the soft scraper to the mounting groove.

[0014] Preferably, the cleaning tray is connected to a drive mechanism, which is electrically driven or cylinder-driven.

[0015] Preferably, the three printheads are arranged in a triangular pattern: two printheads are on the same horizontal axis, and the third printhead is located directly below the axis, with the center line of the three forming an isosceles triangle.

[0016] The technical advantages of the nozzle cleaning device for 3D printers provided by this utility model are as follows:

[0017] Simultaneous scraping and cleaning of three printheads arranged in a triangular pattern improves cleaning efficiency and saves space. Utilizing geometric symmetry, the cleaning tray covers all printheads at once when it moves, reducing the cleaning stroke and avoiding the inefficiency of traditional single-printhead cleaning or manual cleaning. Attached Figure Description

[0018] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of this utility model or the prior art, 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 this utility model. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0019] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the nozzle cleaning device of the 3D printer according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0020] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the cleaning tray and tray support of the nozzle cleaning device for a 3D printer according to an embodiment of this utility model;

[0021] Figure 3This is a schematic diagram of the printhead structure of the printhead cleaning device for a 3D printer according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0022] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the cleaning tray and soft scraper of the nozzle cleaning device for a 3D printer according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0023] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the cleaning tray and soft scraper of the nozzle cleaning device of the 3D printer according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[0024] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the cleaning tray and tray cover of the nozzle cleaning device for a 3D printer according to an embodiment of this utility model;

[0025] Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of the soft scraper and mounting groove of the nozzle cleaning device for a 3D printer according to an embodiment of this utility model;

[0026] Figure 8 This is a schematic diagram of the soft scraper and clamping blades of the nozzle cleaning device for a 3D printer according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0027] Reference numerals: Printer head 1; Printer head base plate 11; Cleaning tray 2; Tray support 21; Soft scraper 3; Scraping part 31; Fixing part 32; Heater 4; Mounting groove 5; Clamping piece 6; Drive mechanism 7; Tray cover 8 Detailed Implementation

[0028] The technical solutions of the present utility model will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings of the embodiments. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present utility model, and not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present utility model, all other embodiments obtained by those of ordinary skill in the art without creative effort are within the protection scope of the present utility model.

[0029] Please see Figure 1 , Figure 2 , Figure 3 and Figure 4 As shown, the nozzle cleaning device for the 3D printer in this embodiment includes three printheads 1, a cleaning tray 2, and a soft scraper 3. The three printheads 1 are arranged in a triangular pattern on the mounting port of the printhead base plate 11, with the nozzle outlet end of each printhead 1 facing downwards. The triangular arrangement of the three printheads 1 is such that two printheads are on the same horizontal axis, and the third printhead is located directly below this axis, with the center line of the three forming an isosceles triangle.

[0030] A cleaning tray 2 is positioned below the printhead 1. The cleaning tray 2 is connected to a drive mechanism 7 via a tray support 21. The drive mechanism is either electrically driven or pneumatically driven, preferably electrically driven. Under the drive of the drive mechanism 7, the cleaning tray 2 can reciprocate horizontally. Three flexible scrapers 3 are fixedly mounted on the upper surface of the cleaning tray 2, corresponding to the three printheads 1 on the mounting port of the printhead base plate 11. The scraping surface of each flexible scraper 3 maintains contact with the nozzle exit end of the printhead 1. A horizontal friction pair is formed between the printhead 1 and the flexible scraper 3, and the horizontal reciprocating motion of the cleaning tray 2 achieves the scraping and cleaning of the printhead end face.

[0031] In use, the nozzle outlet end of the print head 1 moves above the cleaning tray 2, and the scraping surface of each soft scraper 3 keeps in contact with the nozzle outlet end of the print head 1. Under the drive of the drive mechanism 7, the cleaning tray 2 moves horizontally and reciprocates to scrape the nozzle end face, scraping off the residual waste wax on the nozzle outlet end face of the print head 1, thus achieving the purpose of cleaning.

[0032] like Figure 5 and Figure 6 As shown, there are three heaters 4 embedded in the bottom of the cleaning tray 2. The heating area of ​​each heater 4 corresponds to the installation position of the three soft scrapers 3, ensuring that the soft scrapers 3 maintain a heating temperature. The heaters 4 can be heating tubes or electric heating films, with a heating temperature range of 50-120℃. The heaters 4 are connected to a temperature controller, which controls the heating and adjusts and maintains the working temperature of the soft scrapers 3 in real time, making it easy for the soft scrapers 3 to scrape off the wax residue at the nozzle exit end of the print head 1. A tray cover 8 is provided on the upper part of the cleaning tray 2, which can be placed on the cleaning tray 2 when the print head 1 is not being cleaned to prevent debris from getting in.

[0033] like Figure 7 and Figure 8 As shown, the upper surface of the cleaning tray 2 is provided with an installation groove 5 for fixing the soft scraper 3. The depth ab of the installation groove 5 is 1 / 3 to 1 / 2 of the thickness cd of the soft scraper 3. The soft scraper 3 can be made of rubber or silicone material, and includes a scraping part 31 and a fixing part 32. The scraping part 31 is arc-shaped, and the thickness gradually decreases from the bottom to the end of the arc. A clamping piece 6 is provided on one side of the installation groove 5. The fixing part 32 of the soft scraper 3 is fixed to the installation groove 5 by the clamping piece 6. Screw holes are respectively provided on the side walls of the clamping piece 6, the soft scraper 3, and the installation groove 5. The fixing part 32 of the soft scraper 3 is fixed between the clamping piece 6 and the side wall of the installation groove 5 by screws, which facilitates disassembly and replacement.

[0034] The beneficial technical effects of this embodiment are: simultaneous scraping and cleaning of three printheads distributed in a triangular pattern, which improves cleaning efficiency, saves space, and utilizes geometric symmetry to cover all printheads at once when the cleaning tray moves, reducing the cleaning stroke and avoiding the inefficiency of traditional single-printhead cleaning or manual cleaning.

[0035] In this utility model, unless otherwise stated, directional terms such as "up, down, left, right, front, back, inside, outside, and vertical and horizontal" in the terminology only represent the orientation of the term in its conventional use or are common names understood by those skilled in the art, and should not be regarded as limitations on the term. At the same time, numerals such as "first," "second," and "third" do not represent specific quantities or orders, but are only used to distinguish names. Moreover, the terms "comprising," "including," or any other variations thereof are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises a series of elements includes not only those elements, but also other elements not expressly listed, or elements inherent to such process, method, article, or apparatus.

[0036] The above description is only a preferred embodiment of the present utility model and is not intended to limit the present utility model. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, improvements, etc., made within the spirit and principles of the present utility model should be included within the protection scope of the present utility model.

Claims

1. A nozzle cleaning device of a 3D printer, characterized in that, The application relates to a cleaning device for a printing head, comprising: three printing heads (1) arranged in a triangle shape, the nozzle outlet ends of the printing heads (1) being directed downwards, the triangle shape of the three printing heads (1) being that two printing heads are located on the same horizontal axis and the third printing head is located directly below the axis, and the central lines of the three printing heads form an isosceles triangle; a cleaning tray (2) arranged below the printing heads (1) and capable of reciprocating horizontally; a soft scraping sheet (3) fixedly arranged on the upper surface of the cleaning tray (2) and capable of being in contact with the nozzle outlet ends of the printing heads (1); a heater (4) embedded in the bottom of the cleaning tray (2) and capable of heating the mounting position of the soft scraping sheet (3); wherein the printing heads (1) and the soft scraping sheet (3) form a horizontal friction pair, and the horizontal reciprocating movement of the cleaning tray (2) realizes the scraping and cleaning of the end surface of the printing heads.

2. The showerhead cleaning apparatus of claim 1, wherein The heater (4) is a heating pipe or an electric heating film, and the heating temperature range is 50-120 DEG C.

3. The showerhead cleaning apparatus of claim 2, wherein The application further comprises a temperature controller electrically connected with the heater (4) and used for adjusting and maintaining the working temperature of the soft scraping sheet (3) in real time.

4. The showerhead cleaning apparatus of claim 1, wherein The upper surface of the cleaning tray (2) is provided with a mounting inclined groove (5) for fixing the soft scraping sheet (3), and the depth of the mounting inclined groove (5) is 1 / 3-1 / 2 of the thickness of the soft scraping sheet (3).

5. The showerhead cleaning apparatus of claim 4, wherein The mounting inclined groove (5) is provided with a clamping sheet (6) for fixing the soft scraping sheet (3) on the mounting inclined groove (5).

6. The showerhead cleaning apparatus of claim 1, wherein The cleaning tray (2) is connected with a driving mechanism (7), and the driving mechanism (7) is electrically driven or cylinder driven.

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