Scraper for photocuring printer

Abstract

In order to overcome the defects in the prior art, the utility model provides a scraper for a photocuring printer, which comprises at least one scraper, a plurality of first resin circulating holes for circulating resin back and forth are formed on the scraper and / or between adjacent scrapers along the moving direction of the scraper, and a heating assembly for heating the scraper is arranged. According to the utility model, the scraper of the existing printer is improved, so that the scraper has the function of cleaning the printing platform and also can stir resin in a multi-runner manner, and on one hand, the stirring function on the resin can be realized, so that the temperature of each region of the resin is uniform. On the other hand, the problem that the resin overflows due to the fact that the resin is excited by the scraper to fluctuate too much when the resin is too much can be solved. The heating mechanism is arranged on the scraper, resin can be heated in the moving process of the scraper according to a preset mode, and the resin is stirred while being heated, so that the resin can be heated more uniformly.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model belongs to the technical field of additive manufacturing equipment components, specifically relating to a desktop photopolymer printer. Background Technology

[0002] Desktop photopolymer printers are compact 3D printing devices based on photopolymerization technology (SLA / DLP / LCD), suitable for home, education, and creative design scenarios. The scraper is a crucial component of a photopolymer printer; its main function is to remove residual resin and semi-cured resin from the printing surface, thus keeping the surface smooth and preventing residual resin and semi-cured resin from affecting subsequent prints, or from solidifying and becoming unusable due to prolonged retention.

[0003] Existing UV curing printers typically use spatula-type doctor blades, with the spatula's spatula surface in contact with the printing surface. However, this type of doctor blade can generally only be activated after the resin has mostly been expelled from the printing chamber. This is because, during the movement of a traditional spatula-type doctor blade, resin is pushed upwards and to the sides of the blade, resulting in a violent outward flow of resin. When this resin flow collides with the sidewalls of the resin tank, it creates strong turbulence, which can easily lead to resin splashing. Since the resin used during printing is at a high temperature, splashed resin is not only difficult to clean but also poses a potential risk of burns to the user.

[0004] Therefore, the scraper function of existing UV curing printers is limited. It can only scrape the resin after most of the resin liquid has been discharged from the resin tank after printing. The necessary heating and resin liquid stirring functions of the printer during the printing process need to be achieved by corresponding heating and stirring mechanisms respectively. Utility Model Content

[0005] This utility model addresses the problems existing in the prior art by providing a scraper for a photopolymer printer, comprising: at least one scraper, wherein a plurality of first resin flow holes are formed on the scraper and / or between adjacent scrapers along the movement direction of the scraper to allow resin to flow back and forth, and a heating assembly for heating the scraper is provided.

[0006] Furthermore, the scraper is detachably fixed in a scraper mounting groove provided in the scraper fixing plate. The scraper mounting groove is provided with a matching second resin flow hole at the position of the first resin flow hole of the scraper.

[0007] Furthermore, one end of the scraper fixing plate extends across one side wall of the resin tank and is fixed or detachably fixed to the scraper driving mechanism, while the other end extends across the opposite side wall of the resin tank, and a roller is rotatably mounted on the outer end of the resin tank side wall. The roller moves along the printing platform where the resin tank is located or along a roller groove added to the printing platform that matches the roller.

[0008] Furthermore, the scraper driving mechanism includes: a first driving device connected to the control system signal; the driving output end of the first driving device is fixedly or detachably connected to one end of a first screw disposed along the printing surface of the resin tank, and drives the first screw to rotate; the other end of the first screw is rotatably connected to the resin tank or printing platform. A scraper fixing plate connecting sleeve is screwed onto the first screw, and the scraper fixing plate connecting sleeve is fixedly or detachably fixedly connected to the scraper fixing plate.

[0009] Furthermore, the inner side of the scraper mounting groove is in contact with the scraper through a heat insulation layer.

[0010] Furthermore, the scraper is provided with a first mounting screw hole, and the scraper mounting groove of the scraper fixing plate is provided with a second mounting screw hole at the corresponding location of the first mounting screw hole. The first fixing screw is screwed and tightened to the first mounting screw hole and the second mounting screw hole respectively, so that the scraper can be detachably fixed in the scraper mounting groove.

[0011] Furthermore, the scraper fixing plate has a third mounting screw hole on the side facing the scraper fixing plate connecting sleeve, and the scraper fixing plate connecting sleeve has a fourth mounting screw hole at a position corresponding to the third mounting screw hole. The second fixing screw is screwed into the third mounting screw hole and the fourth mounting screw hole respectively, so that the scraper fixing plate and the scraper fixing plate connecting sleeve are detachably and fixedly connected.

[0012] Furthermore, the heating component is a thermocouple. The scraper has heating holes, and the scraper mounting groove has wiring holes at corresponding positions of the heating holes. The heating part of the heating component is inserted into the heating holes, and the control wire passes through the wiring holes to connect to the control system signal.

[0013] This utility model has at least one of the following advantages:

[0014] 1. This utility model improves upon the existing printer's scraper, enabling it to clean the printing platform while simultaneously agitating the resin through multiple channels. This achieves resin mixing, resulting in uniform temperature across all resin zones. Furthermore, it avoids excessive resin overflow caused by large fluctuations agitated by the scraper when there is a large amount of resin.

[0015] 2. This utility model sets the heating mechanism on the scraper, which can heat the resin during the scraper's movement according to a preset method. At the same time, the resin is stirred, so that the resin can be heated more evenly. Attached Figure Description

[0016] Figure 1 The diagram shown is a structural schematic of a scraper according to this utility model;

[0017] Figure 2The diagram shown is a schematic of the installation structure of the scraper, scraper fixing plate, and scraper driving mechanism of this utility model.

[0018] Figure 3 The diagram shown is a structural schematic of the scraper fixing plate of this utility model;

[0019] Figure 4 The diagram shown is a structural schematic of the scraper drive mechanism of this utility model;

[0020] Figure 5 The diagram shown is a schematic of an exemplary photopolymer printer. Detailed Implementation

[0021] The present invention will now be described in further detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. These drawings are simplified schematic diagrams, illustrating only the basic structure of the present invention, and therefore only show the components relevant to the present invention.

[0022] Please note that the terms "above", "below", "left", "right", "top", "bottom", "end", "full", etc. used in this utility model to describe positional relationships do not represent the absolute positional relationship between modules / components / assemblies / parts / components, but rather the relative positional relationship between modules / components / assemblies / parts / components.

[0023] Example 1

[0024] A scraper for a photopolymer printer includes: one, two, three, or other quantities of scrapers 1 as required by design, such as... Figure 1 As shown, the scraper 1 is provided with eight first resin flow holes 2 formed along the movement direction of the scraper 1, and a heating component 3 for heating the scraper 1 is provided.

[0025] Example 2

[0026] A squeegee for a photopolymer printer includes: three, four, five, or other squeegees 1 as required by design; a first resin flow hole 2 formed between adjacent squeegees 1 along the direction of movement of the squeegee 1 to allow resin to flow back and forth; and a heating assembly 3 for heating the squeegees 1.

[0027] Example 3

[0028] A squeegee for a photopolymer printer includes: three, four, five, or other squeegees 1 as required by design; first resin flow holes 2 formed between adjacent squeegees 1 along the movement direction of the squeegees 1 to allow resin to flow back and forth; and at least one, two, or other squeegees 2 formed along the movement direction of the squeegees 1 to allow resin to flow back and forth, and a heating assembly 3 for heating the squeegees 1.

[0029] This invention improves upon the scraper structure of existing UV curing machines. The scraper 1 features a first resin flow hole 2. When the scraper 1 reciprocates, resin flows through the first resin flow hole 2, forming multiple streams of turbulence and mixing that are relatively weaker than those formed by the scraper structure. On one hand, these multiple streams of turbulent and mixed resin mix and disperse, achieving the purpose of resin stirring. On the other hand, this turbulence and mixing is weaker than the turbulence formed by the scraper, and the forces between adjacent turbulent streams cancel each other out, thus preventing the resin from forming a significant and violent flow towards the outside of the resin tank. This significantly reduces the possibility of resin splashing during the stirring process.

[0030] This invention's scraper, while fulfilling the basic function of cleaning resin from the printing surface, significantly reduces the possibility of resin splashing when moving through the resin liquid. Furthermore, the scraper's movement within the resin liquid creates turbulent interactions, effectively mixing and agitating the resin, thus saving space and cost associated with installing a dedicated resin mixing mechanism.

[0031] Existing UV curing printers typically use a fixed-position heating mechanism to heat the resin solution at a specific point. However, the thermal conductivity of resin is generally poor, which easily leads to excessively high temperatures near the heating mechanism and excessively low temperatures further away. The temperature of the resin solution significantly affects its flowability and curing time, and uneven heating can easily cause uncontrollable printing defects. This invention addresses this issue by using a scraper 1 to move the heating component 3 back and forth within the resin solution, thus heating the resin solution more evenly rather than confining it to a fixed heating position. Furthermore, the movement of the scraper 1 within the resin solution also acts as a stirrer, further enhancing the uniformity of the heating process.

[0032] Example 4

[0033] A scraper for a photocurable printer based on any of the embodiments 1 to 3, such as Figure 2 As shown, the scraper 1 is detachably fixed in the scraper mounting groove provided in the scraper fixing plate 4. The scraper mounting groove is provided with a matching second resin flow hole 5 at the position of the first resin flow hole 2 of the scraper 1.

[0034] By detachably installing the scraper 1 in the scraper mounting slot of the scraper fixing plate 4, the scraper 1 can be easily removed and maintained.

[0035] Example 5

[0036] A scraper for a photocurable printer based on any of the embodiments 1 to 3, such as Figure 2 , Figure 3 , Figure 5 As shown. One end of the scraper fixing plate 4 crosses one side wall of the resin tank 6 and is fixed or detachably fixed to the scraper driving mechanism 7, while the other end crosses the opposite side wall of the resin tank 6, and a roller 8 is rotatably mounted on the outer end of the side wall of the resin tank 6. The roller 8 moves along the printing platform 9 where the resin tank 6 is located or along a roller groove on the printing platform 9 that matches the roller 8.

[0037] like Figure 2 , Figure 4 , Figure 5 As shown. The scraper drive mechanism 7 includes: a first drive device 10 connected to the control system signal; the drive output end of the first drive device 10 is fixedly or detachably connected to one end of a first screw 11 arranged along the printing surface of the resin tank 6, and drives the first screw 11 to rotate; the other end of the first screw 11 is rotatably connected to the resin tank 6 or the printing platform 9. A scraper fixing plate connecting sleeve 12 is screwed onto the first screw 11, and the scraper fixing plate connecting sleeve 12 is fixedly or detachably fixedly connected to the scraper fixing plate 4.

[0038] The basic structure of a typical UV-curing printer includes: a resin tank 6 for filling with resin liquid, which is usually mounted on a printing platform 9. An optical mechanism is located below the resin tank 6 on the printing platform 9, and a Z-axis displacement mechanism is located on one side of the resin tank 6. The Z-axis displacement mechanism moves the molding substrate vertically up and down, while the optical mechanism emits a laser upwards through the printing surface of the printing platform 9 into the interior region of the resin tank 6. At the start of printing, the molding substrate is located inside the resin tank 6, close to the printing surface of the printing platform 9. The laser emitted by the optical mechanism causes the resin liquid near the molding substrate to solidify and adhere to the substrate. After the laser from the optical mechanism completes the printing of one layer according to the programmed displacement, the Z-axis moves the molding substrate upwards by a certain distance.

[0039] At this time, when it is necessary to control the scraper 1 to perform actions such as stirring, scraping the printing platform 9, and heating, the control system controls the first drive device 10 to start, thereby causing the first screw 11 to rotate, and then causing the scraper fixing plate connecting sleeve 12 to reciprocate along the first screw 11 according to the rotation mode of the first screw 11. At this time, the scraper fixing plate connecting sleeve 12 drives the scraper fixing plate 4 and the scraper 1 installed in the scraper mounting groove to reciprocate together. The scraper fixing plate 4 forms a clamping groove matching the side wall of the resin tank 6 at the position opposite to the first drive device 10 through the side wall of the scraper mounting groove and the support plate of the roller 8. This setting reduces the movement resistance through the setting of the roller 8. On the other hand, the clamping groove clamps the side wall of the resin tank 6, so that when the scraper fixing plate connecting sleeve 12 drives the scraper fixing plate 4 to move, the scraper fixing plate 4 can drive the scraper 1 to reciprocate together.

[0040] Example 6

[0041] Based on the photopolymer printer scraper of Embodiment 5, the inner side of the scraper mounting groove is in contact with the scraper 1 through a heat insulation layer.

[0042] This invention adds a heat insulation layer between the scraper 1 and the scraper mounting groove, which can prevent the heat of the scraper 1 heated by the heating component 3 from being transferred to the scraper fixing plate 4 as much as possible. This avoids heat energy waste and also avoids the possibility of the scraper fixing plate 4 overheating and causing burns to the user.

[0043] Example 7

[0044] Based on the photopolymer printer scraper of Example 5, such as Figures 1 to 3 As shown, the scraper 1 is provided with a first mounting screw hole 13, and the scraper mounting groove of the scraper fixing plate 4 is provided with a second mounting screw hole 14 at the corresponding location of the first mounting screw hole 13. The first fixing screw is screwed and tightened to the first mounting screw hole 13 and the second mounting screw hole 14 respectively, so that the scraper 1 can be detachably fixed in the scraper mounting groove.

[0045] This design allows the scraper 1 and the scraper fixing plate 4 to be detachably screwed together using the first fixing screw, facilitating subsequent disassembly and maintenance.

[0046] Example 8

[0047] Based on the photopolymer printer scraper of Example 5, such as Figures 1 to 3 As shown, the scraper fixing plate 4 has a third mounting screw hole 15 on the side facing the scraper fixing plate connecting sleeve 12, and the scraper fixing plate connecting sleeve 12 has a fourth mounting screw hole at the corresponding position of the third mounting screw hole 15. The second fixing screw 16 is screwed and tightened into the third mounting screw hole 15 and the fourth mounting screw hole respectively, so that the scraper fixing plate 4 and the scraper fixing plate connecting sleeve 12 are detachably and fixedly connected.

[0048] This configuration allows the scraper fixing plate 4 and the scraper fixing plate connecting sleeve 12 to be detachably screwed together by the second fixing screw 16, which facilitates subsequent disassembly and maintenance.

[0049] Example 9

[0050] Based on the photopolymer printer scraper of Example 5, such as Figures 1 to 3 As shown, the heating component 3 is a thermocouple. The scraper 1 has a heating hole 17, and the scraper mounting groove has a wiring hole 18 at the corresponding position of the heating hole 17. The heating part of the heating component 3 is inserted into the heating hole 17, and the control wire passes through the wiring hole 18 to connect to the control system signal.

[0051] This configuration allows the heating component 3 to be detachably fixed to the scraper 1 via a plug-in connection, facilitating subsequent disassembly and maintenance.

[0052] Based on the above-described preferred embodiments of this utility model, and through the foregoing description, those skilled in the art can make various changes and modifications without departing from the technical concept of this utility model. The technical scope of this utility model is not limited to the contents of the specification, but must be determined according to the scope of the claims.

Claims

1. A doctor blade for a light-cured printer, characterized by, include: At least one scraper (1) is provided with a plurality of first resin flow holes (2) formed on the scraper (1) and / or between adjacent scrapers (1) along the movement direction of the scraper (1) to allow resin to flow back and forth, and a heating assembly (3) for heating the scraper (1) is provided.

2. The doctor blade for a light-curing printer according to claim 1, wherein The scraper (1) is detachably fixed in the scraper mounting groove provided in the scraper fixing plate (4); the scraper mounting groove is provided with a matching second resin flow hole (5) at the position of the first resin flow hole (2) of the scraper (1).

3. The doctor blade for a light-curing printer according to claim 2, wherein One end of the scraper fixing plate (4) spans one side wall of the resin tank (6) and is fixed or detachably fixed to the scraper driving mechanism (7). The other end spans the opposite side wall of the resin tank (6), and a roller (8) is rotatably installed on the outer end of the side wall of the resin tank (6). The roller (8) moves along the printing platform (9) where the resin tank (6) is located or along a roller groove that matches the roller (8) added to the printing platform (9).

4. The doctor blade for a light-curing printer according to claim 3, wherein The scraper drive mechanism (7) includes: a first drive device (10) connected to the control system signal, the drive output end of the first drive device (10) being fixedly or detachably connected to one end of a first screw (11) arranged along the printing surface of the resin tank (6), and driving the first screw (11) to rotate, the other end of the first screw (11) being rotatably connected to the resin tank (6) or the printing platform (9); a scraper fixing plate connecting sleeve (12) is screwed onto the first screw (11), and the scraper fixing plate connecting sleeve (12) is fixedly or detachably fixedly connected to the scraper fixing plate (4).

5. The doctor blade for a light-curing printer according to claim 2, wherein The inner side of the scraper mounting groove is in contact with the scraper (1) through a heat insulation layer.

6. The doctor blade for a light-curing printer according to claim 2, wherein The scraper (1) is provided with a first mounting screw hole (13), and the scraper mounting groove of the scraper fixing plate (4) is provided with a second mounting screw hole (14) at the corresponding location of the first mounting screw hole (13). The first fixing screw is screwed and tightened to the first mounting screw hole (13) and the second mounting screw hole (14) respectively, so that the scraper (1) can be detachably fixed in the scraper mounting groove.

7. The doctor blade for a light-curing printer according to claim 4, wherein The scraper fixing plate (4) has a third mounting screw hole (15) on the side facing the scraper fixing plate connecting sleeve (12), and the scraper fixing plate connecting sleeve (12) has a fourth mounting screw hole at the position corresponding to the third mounting screw hole (15); the second fixing screw (16) is screwed and tightened to the third mounting screw hole (15) and the fourth mounting screw hole respectively, so that the scraper fixing plate (4) and the scraper fixing plate connecting sleeve (12) can be detachably fixed.

8. The scraper for a photopolymer printer according to claim 2, characterized in that, The heating component (3) is a heating coupler; the scraper (1) is provided with a heating hole (17), and the scraper mounting groove is provided with a wiring hole (18) at the corresponding position of the heating hole (17); the heating part of the heating component (3) is inserted into the heating hole (17), and the control line part passes through the wiring hole (18) and is connected to the control system signal.

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