screw conveyor
By combining a material blocking mechanism and a sealing component in the screw conveyor, the problem of solid consumable leakage caused by the wear of the sealing component is solved, achieving efficient sealing protection and stable equipment operation, and extending service life.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Utility models(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- HUNAN APPLE INTELLIGENT EQUIP MFG CO LTD
- Filing Date
- 2025-08-12
- Publication Date
- 2026-06-30
AI Technical Summary
In 3DP printing equipment, the sealing components of the screw conveyor are prone to wear, which can cause solid consumables to leak into the bearings, resulting in problems such as bearing seizure.
The design employs a combination of a material-blocking mechanism and sealing components, including a sand-blocking ring and a sand-receiving disc, to form a multi-stage seal that prevents solid consumables from leaking into the bearing. The sealing condition is monitored in real time by a monitoring mechanism.
It effectively prevents solid consumable leakage, reduces the probability of equipment failure, ensures the stable operation of the screw conveyor, and extends its service life.
Smart Images
Figure CN224428964U_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] This utility model relates to the field of feeding device technology, and in particular to a screw conveyor. Background Technology
[0002] During the operation of a 3DP (Three-Dimensional Printing) printer, the solid consumables required for printing, such as printing sand or metal powder, need to be conveyed to the print head through a series of conveying methods to carry out additive manufacturing. In the process of conveying and printing solid consumables, a screw conveyor is typically used for conveying the solid consumables.
[0003] During the upward conveying process, the solid consumables need to run inside the conveyor. The sealing components at the bottom of the screw conveyor need to withstand the weight of the solid consumables and the squeezing force exerted on the solid consumables by the equipment during upward conveying. After the equipment has been running for a period of time, the sealing components are prone to wear and failure, which can lead to leakage of solid consumables and allow them to enter the bearing, causing bearing lubrication failure and jamming, as well as a series of problems such as the screw conveyor stopping and the motor burning out. Utility Model Content
[0004] Therefore, in order to overcome at least some of the defects and deficiencies in the prior art, this utility model provides a screw conveyor that effectively prevents leaked solid consumable particles from entering the bearing and causing problems such as bearing jamming.
[0005] Specifically, this utility model provides a screw conveyor, comprising: a housing with a feed inlet at one end along its length and a discharge outlet at the opposite end along its length; a screw conveying mechanism including a screw rod, a first bearing, and a second bearing, the screw rod passing through the housing along its length, the first bearing and the second bearing respectively sleeved on both ends of the screw rod, the feed inlet being located near the second bearing, and the discharge outlet being located near the first bearing; a sealing assembly sleeved on the screw rod and located between the housing and the screw rod, the sealing assembly being located at one end of the housing and between the second bearing and the feed inlet; and a material blocking mechanism located on the side of the sealing assembly near the second bearing, the material blocking mechanism including a sand-blocking ring and a sand-receiving disc, the sand-blocking ring being sleeved on the screw rod and located between the second bearing and the sealing assembly, the sand-receiving disc being connected to the housing and correspondingly arranged with the sand-blocking ring, the sand-receiving disc being located on the side of the sand-blocking ring adjacent to the second bearing.
[0006] In an embodiment of this utility model, the sand-blocking ring has a sand-blocking surface on the side away from the second bearing, and the sand-blocking surface is inclined from the inside to the outside along the direction from the first bearing to the second bearing.
[0007] In an embodiment of this utility model, a sand-receiving cavity is provided on the side of the sand receiving disc adjacent to the sand-blocking ring, the radius of the outer edge of the sand-blocking ring is smaller than the radius of the sand-receiving cavity, and the radius of the outer edge of the sand-blocking ring is larger than the maximum radius of the second bearing.
[0008] In an embodiment of this utility model, the screw conveying mechanism further includes a second bearing seat, the second bearing being connected to the second bearing seat, the second bearing seat being sleeved on the screw rod and connected to the housing. The second bearing seat is provided with a material guiding channel, one end of which corresponds to the outer edge of the sand-blocking ring, and the other end corresponds to the sand-receiving cavity of the sand-receiving disc.
[0009] In an embodiment of this utility model, the screw conveyor further includes a monitoring mechanism, which is disposed on the second bearing seat and is configured corresponding to the sand-containing cavity.
[0010] In an embodiment of this utility model, the orthographic projection of the monitoring mechanism on the sand receiving plate is located within the sand receiving cavity.
[0011] In an embodiment of this utility model, the monitoring mechanism is a laser sensor.
[0012] In an embodiment of this utility model, the sealing assembly includes a second sealing packing, a second sealing seat, and a pressure ring respectively sleeved on the spiral rod. The second sealing packing is disposed between the second sealing seat and the spiral rod. The second sealing seat is connected to the housing, and the pressure ring is connected to the second sealing seat. The second sealing packing includes a first sealing felt, a graphite ring, and a second sealing felt stacked sequentially, with the second sealing felt located between the graphite ring and the pressure ring.
[0013] In an embodiment of this utility model, the second sealing seat and the second bearing seat are detachably connected to one end of the housing adjacent to the feed inlet.
[0014] In an embodiment of this utility model, the screw conveyor mechanism further includes a first bearing seat, which is connected to the housing, and the first bearing is connected between the first bearing seat and the screw rod. The screw conveyor also includes a first sealing packing material, which is disposed between the first bearing seat and the screw rod, and includes a first sealing felt. The screw conveyor further includes a drive mechanism, which is located on the side of the second bearing away from the feed inlet and is connected to the screw rod.
[0015] As can be seen from the above, the technical features of this utility model can have one or more of the following beneficial effects:
[0016] 1. By setting a baffle mechanism between the sealing assembly and the second bearing, it can act as a secondary protection to effectively prevent solid consumables from leaking directly into the bearing when the sealing assembly is worn or fails, thus avoiding bearing seizure.
[0017] 2. The combination of sealing components and material blocking mechanism forms a multi-stage seal, providing high sealing conditions for the screw conveyor. The dual protection enhances the interception effect of solid consumables, effectively reducing the risk of leakage and the probability of equipment failure, ensuring the stable operation of the screw conveyor and extending its service life. Attached Figure Description
[0018] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions of the embodiments of this utility model, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments 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 A schematic diagram of the structure of a screw conveyor provided in an embodiment of this utility model;
[0020] Figure 2 for Figure 1 A cross-sectional schematic diagram of a screw conveyor;
[0021] Figure 3 for Figure 2 A magnified view of a portion of region A in the middle;
[0022] Figure 4 for Figure 2 A magnified view of a portion of region B in the middle;
[0023] Figure 5 for Figure 1 A magnified view of a portion of region C in the middle;
[0024] Figure 6 for Figure 3 A schematic diagram showing the data annotations for the intermediate sand plate, sand retaining ring, and second bearing.
[0025] [Explanation of Key Figure Markings]
[0026] 1: Screw conveyor; 10: Shell; 101: Inlet; 103: Outlet; 20: Screw conveying mechanism; 201: Screw rod; 2011: Screw blade; 202: First bearing; 203: Second bearing; 204: Second bearing seat; 2041: Guide channel; 205: First bearing seat; 30: Sealing assembly; 301: Second sealing packing; 3011: First sealing felt; 3012: Graphite ring; 3013: Second sealing felt; 302: Second sealing seat; 303: First sealing packing; 304: Pressure ring; 40: Material blocking mechanism; 401: Sand blocking ring; 4011: Sand blocking surface; 403: Sand receiving plate; 4031: Sand receiving cavity; 50: Monitoring mechanism; 51: Drive mechanism. Detailed Implementation
[0027] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of the embodiments of this utility model clearer, the technical solutions of the embodiments of this utility model will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of this utility model, and not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments described in this utility model, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the protection scope of this utility model.
[0028] In this embodiment of the invention, the use of terms such as "first" and "second" is for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying their relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of technical features indicated. Therefore, a feature defined with "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include at least one of those features.
[0029] Reference Figure 1 , Figure 2 , Figure 3 and Figure 4As shown in the figure, an embodiment of the present invention provides a screw conveyor 1, comprising: a housing 10, one end of which is provided with a feed inlet 101, and the other end of which is provided with a discharge outlet 103. A screw conveying mechanism 20, comprising a screw rod 201, a first bearing 202, and a second bearing 203, wherein the screw rod 201 passes through the housing 10 along the length direction, and the first bearing 202 and the second bearing 203 are respectively sleeved on both ends of the screw rod 201, the feed inlet 101 is disposed near the second bearing 203, and the discharge outlet 103 is disposed near the first bearing 202. A sealing assembly 30 is sleeved on the screw rod 201 and located between the housing 10 and the screw rod 201, wherein the sealing assembly 30 is disposed at one end of the housing 10 and between the second bearing 203 and the feed inlet 101. The material blocking mechanism 40 is located on the side of the sealing assembly 30 near the second bearing 203. The material blocking mechanism 40 includes a sand blocking ring 401 and a sand receiving disc 403. The sand blocking ring 401 is sleeved on the spiral rod 201 and located between the second bearing 203 and the sealing assembly 30. The sand receiving disc 403 is connected to the housing 10 and is correspondingly arranged with the sand blocking ring 401. The sand receiving disc 403 is located on the side of the sand blocking ring 401 adjacent to the second bearing 203.
[0030] Specifically, in this utility model, the screw conveyor 1 is used to convey solid consumables upwards. The housing 10 is an internally cylindrical cavity, connected to the inlet 101 and outlet 103. The screw rod 201 is rotatably disposed within the cavity of the housing 10 and is coaxial with the internal cavity. The screw rod 201 is provided with screw blades 2011 for conveying solid consumables. The sealing assembly 30 is disposed at the end of the housing 10 and sleeved on the screw rod 201, coaxial with the screw rod 201. Exemplarily, the sealing assembly 30 is a packing seal. The sand-blocking ring 401 and the sand-receiving disc 403 are independently sleeved and fixed on the screw rod 201, coaxial with the screw rod 201. Exemplarily, the sand-blocking ring 401 is a disc with a sand-blocking surface 4011, and the sand-receiving disc 403 is a trough with a holding space. During the upward conveying of solid consumables, the sealing component 30 serves as the basic defense line to prevent the solid consumables from continuing to leak downwards. When the sealing component 30 fails, the leaked solid consumables are blocked by the sand-blocking ring 401 and fall into the sand-receiving plate 403, effectively preventing the solid consumables from leaking into the second bearing 203.
[0031] The sealing assembly 30 forms a basic seal between the screw rod 201 and the housing 10, preventing solid consumables from leaking towards the bearing. The sand-blocking mechanism 40, with the sand-blocking ring 401 and sand-receiving disc 403 fitted onto the screw rod 201 and the second bearing 203 located between them, provides additional protection on the side of the sealing assembly 30 near the second bearing 203, further intercepting potentially leaking solid consumables and forming multiple sealing barriers, significantly reducing the risk of leakage. The sealing assembly 30, as the first line of defense, effectively blocks normal leakage of solid consumables. The material-blocking mechanism 40, as the second barrier, promptly intercepts potentially leaking solid consumables in case of wear, failure, or other unexpected situations with the sealing assembly 30, preventing them from entering the bearing. This dual protection enhances the interception effect of solid consumables, effectively reducing the risk of leakage and the probability of equipment failure, ensuring the stable operation of the screw conveyor 1, and extending its service life.
[0032] Reference Figure 3 As shown in the embodiment of this utility model, the sand-blocking ring 401 has a sand-blocking surface 4011 on the side away from the second bearing 203. The sand-blocking surface 4011 is inclined from the inside to the outside along the direction from the first bearing 202 to the second bearing 203. When the sealing assembly 30 fails and solid consumables leak towards the sand-blocking ring 401, the sand-blocking surface 4011 can use its slope to guide the solid consumables that might have accumulated on the surface of the sand-blocking ring 401 to the sand-receiving disc 403. The inclined design of the sand-blocking ring 401 effectively reduces the retention of solid consumables on the planar structure of the sand-blocking ring 401, avoiding the accumulation of solid consumables.
[0033] Reference Figure 6 As shown in the embodiment of this utility model, a sand-receiving cavity 4031 is provided on the side of the sand-receiving disc 403 adjacent to the sand-retaining ring 401. The radius R1 of the outer edge of the sand-retaining ring 401 is smaller than the radius R2 of the sand-retaining cavity 4031, and the radius R1 of the outer edge of the sand-retaining ring 401 is larger than the maximum radius R3 of the second bearing 203. The larger radius R1 of the sand-retaining ring 401 ensures that the sand-retaining ring 401 provides comprehensive protection for the second bearing 203. When solid consumables leak from the sealing assembly 30, the sand-retaining ring 401 effectively prevents the consumables from directly impacting the second bearing 203. Simultaneously, the larger radius of the sand-retaining cavity 4031 completely covers the periphery of the sand-retaining ring 401, preventing leakage when solid consumables slip from the edge of the sand-retaining ring 401 and ensuring that leaked solid consumables are collected.
[0034] Reference Figure 3As shown in the embodiment of this utility model, the screw conveying mechanism 20 further includes a second bearing seat 204, the second bearing 203 is connected to the second bearing seat 204, the second bearing seat 204 is sleeved on the screw rod 201 and connected to the housing 10. A material guiding channel 2041 is provided on the second bearing seat 204, one end of the material guiding channel 2041 corresponding to the outer edge of the sand-blocking ring 401, and the other end corresponding to the sand-receiving cavity 4031 of the sand-receiving disc 403.
[0035] The second bearing housing 204 is sleeved and fixed outside the second bearing 203 and connected to the sealing assembly 30. Exemplarily, the second bearing housing 204 is connected to the sealing assembly 30 by bolts. One end of the material guide channel 2041 corresponds to the edge of the sand-blocking ring 401, and the other end corresponds to the sand-receiving cavity 4031 inside the sand disc 403. When solid consumables blocked by the sand-blocking ring 401 slide off the edge, they can directly enter the material guide channel 2041 and be precisely guided into the sand-receiving cavity 4031 through the channel. This prevents consumables from scattering onto the second bearing housing 204 or other component surfaces during the sliding process, ensuring that leaked solid consumables are completely collected, reducing the possibility of internal equipment contamination, and facilitating the recycling and reuse of leaked consumables.
[0036] The material guide channel 2041 is inclinedly disposed within the second bearing seat 204. The inclined material guide channel 2041 allows solid consumables entering the channel from the edge of the sand baffle ring 401 to slide downwards more smoothly with the help of gravity.
[0037] Reference Figure 3 and Figure 5 As shown in the embodiment of this utility model, the screw conveyor 1 further includes a monitoring mechanism 50, which is disposed on the second bearing seat 204 and is configured corresponding to the sand-containing cavity 4031. The monitoring mechanism 50 is used to monitor the material in the sand-containing cavity 4031 and can promptly reflect the sealing status of the sealing assembly 30 based on the material condition in the sand-containing cavity 4031.
[0038] Reference Figure 3 and Figure 5 As shown in the embodiment of this utility model, the orthographic projection of the monitoring mechanism 50 on the sand receiving tray 403 is located within the sand receiving cavity 4031. By monitoring the solid consumables in the sand receiving tray 403, the monitoring mechanism 50 can promptly detect sealing abnormalities, allowing staff to identify problems before serious equipment malfunctions occur.
[0039] Reference Figure 3As shown, in an embodiment of this utility model, the sealing assembly 30 includes a second sealing packing 301, a second sealing seat 302, and a pressure ring 304 respectively sleeved on the spiral rod 201. The second sealing packing 301 is disposed between the second sealing seat 302 and the spiral rod 201. The second sealing seat 302 is connected to the housing 10, and the pressure ring 304 is connected to the second sealing seat 302. The second sealing packing 301 includes a first sealing felt 3011, a graphite ring 3012, and a second sealing felt 3013 stacked sequentially. The second sealing felt 3013 is located between the graphite ring 3012 and the pressure ring 304.
[0040] Specifically, the second sealing seat 302 is connected to the housing 10 and the spiral rod 201. The second sealing filler 301 fills the space between the second sealing seat 302 and the spiral rod 201, with the pressure ring 304 covering the second sealing filler 301 and connected to the second sealing seat 302. The first sealing felt 3011, the graphite ring 3012, and the second sealing felt 3013 of the second sealing filler 301 are sequentially stacked along the length of the spiral rod 201. The high-density felt has good elasticity and sealing properties, which can buffer the impact of solid consumables while reducing its own wear. The high wear resistance of the graphite ring 3012 can resist the continuous scratching of fine-particle consumables, preventing rapid damage to the sealing layer. This combination of soft and hard materials leverages the tight fit of the sealing felt and the wear resistance of the graphite ring 3012, slowing down the overall wear rate of the sealing filler and reducing the failure cycle of the sealing assembly 30.
[0041] Reference Figure 3 As shown, in this embodiment of the invention, the second sealing seat 302 and the second bearing seat 204 are detachably connected to one end of the housing 10 adjacent to the feed inlet 101. When the second sealing packing 301, the second sealing seat 302, and the pressure ring 304 are damaged, the detachable connection means that workers do not need to perform large-scale disassembly of the screw conveyor 1; they only need to replace them individually. This effectively shortens maintenance time and reduces downtime caused by maintenance.
[0042] In this embodiment of the invention, the monitoring mechanism 50 is a laser sensor. Laser sensors are characterized by high precision and fast response speed, enabling them to monitor the stacking height or quantity of solid consumables within the sand receiving tray 403 in real time and quickly send signals. Even for consumables with fine particles (70-200 mesh), they can accurately capture changes in their state, avoiding misjudgments of the sealing component 30's failure due to monitoring errors.
[0043] Reference Figure 3 and Figure 4As shown in the embodiment of this utility model, the screw conveyor mechanism 20 further includes a first bearing seat 205, which is connected to the housing 10, and a first bearing 202 is connected between the first bearing seat 205 and the screw rod 201. The screw conveyor 1 further includes a first sealing packing 303, which is disposed between the first bearing seat 205 and the screw rod 201, and includes a first sealing felt 3011. The screw conveyor 1 further includes a drive mechanism 51, which is located on the side of the second bearing 203 away from the feed inlet 101 and is connected to the screw rod 201.
[0044] Specifically, the first bearing housing 205 is sleeved on the outside of the first bearing 202 and fixedly connected to the housing 10 and the screw rod 201. The first sealing filler 303 is located on the side of the first bearing 202 near the discharge port 103 and fills the space between the first bearing housing 205 and the screw rod 201. For example, the drive mechanism 51 can be a pulley, located on the side of the sand receiving disc 403 away from the sand-blocking ring 401. The first sealing filler 303, located between the first bearing housing 205 and the screw rod 201, is made of sealing felt material, effectively preventing solid consumables from splashing into the first bearing 202 during upward conveying, thus ensuring the normal operation of the first bearing 202. The drive mechanism 51, in cooperation with a power source such as a motor, forms a transmission system that transmits the rotational power of the motor to the screw rod 201. For example, the drive mechanism 51 is a pulley. When the motor is running, the motor pulley drives the pulley on the screw rod 201 to rotate synchronously through the belt, thereby driving the screw rod 201 to rotate and realize the delivery of solid consumables.
[0045] Furthermore, it is understood that the foregoing embodiments are merely illustrative examples of this utility model. Provided that the technical features do not conflict, the structure is not contradictory, and the purpose of this utility model is not violated, the technical solutions of the various embodiments can be arbitrarily combined and used.
[0046] Finally, it should be noted that the above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of this utility model, and not to limit it. Although this utility model has been described in detail with reference to the foregoing embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that modifications can still be made to the technical solutions described in the foregoing embodiments, or equivalent substitutions can be made to some of the technical features. Such modifications or substitutions do not cause the essence of the corresponding technical solutions to deviate from the spirit and scope of the technical solutions of the embodiments of this utility model.
Claims
1. A screw conveyor (1), characterized in that include: The housing (10) has an inlet (101) at one end along its length and an outlet (103) at the opposite end along its length. The screw conveyor mechanism (20) includes a screw rod (201), a first bearing (202) and a second bearing (203). The screw rod (201) passes through the housing (10) along the length direction. The first bearing (202) and the second bearing (203) are respectively sleeved on both ends of the screw rod (201). The feed port (101) is located near the second bearing (203), and the discharge port (103) is located near the first bearing (202). A sealing assembly (30) is sleeved on the spiral rod (201) and located between the housing (10) and the spiral rod (201). The sealing assembly (30) is located at one end of the housing (10) and between the second bearing (203) and the feed port (101). The material blocking mechanism (40) is located on the side of the sealing assembly (30) near the second bearing (203). The material blocking mechanism (40) includes a sand blocking ring (401) and a sand receiving disc (403). The sand blocking ring (401) is sleeved on the spiral rod (201) and located between the second bearing (203) and the sealing assembly (30). The sand receiving disc (403) is connected to the housing (10) and is correspondingly arranged with the sand blocking ring (401). The sand receiving disc (403) is located on the side of the sand blocking ring (401) adjacent to the second bearing (203).
2. Screw conveyor (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that The sand-blocking ring (401) has a sand-blocking surface (4011) on the side away from the second bearing (203), and the sand-blocking surface (4011) is inclined from the inside to the outside along the direction from the first bearing (202) to the second bearing (203).
3. Screw conveyor (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that The sand receiving plate (403) has a sand-containing cavity (4031) on the side adjacent to the sand-blocking ring (401). The radius of the outer edge of the sand-blocking ring (401) is smaller than the radius of the sand-containing cavity (4031), and the radius of the outer edge of the sand-blocking ring (401) is larger than the maximum radius of the second bearing (203).
4. Screw conveyor (1) according to claim 3, characterized in that The screw conveying mechanism (20) further includes a second bearing seat (204), the second bearing (203) is connected to the second bearing seat (204), the second bearing seat (204) is sleeved on the screw rod (201) and connected to the housing (10); The second bearing seat (204) is provided with a material guiding channel (2041). One end of the material guiding channel (2041) is provided corresponding to the outer edge of the sand blocking ring (401), and the other end is provided corresponding to the sand receiving cavity (4031) of the sand receiving plate (403).
5. Screw conveyor (1) according to claim 4, characterized in that The screw conveyor (1) further includes a monitoring mechanism (50), which is located on the second bearing seat (204) and is configured corresponding to the sand chamber (4031).
6. The screw conveyor (1) according to claim 5, characterized in that, The orthographic projection of the monitoring mechanism (50) on the sand receiving plate (403) is located inside the sand receiving cavity (4031).
7. The screw conveyor (1) according to claim 5, characterized in that, The monitoring device (50) is a laser sensor.
8. The screw conveyor (1) according to claim 4, characterized in that, The sealing assembly (30) includes a second sealing filler (301), a second sealing seat (302), and a pressure ring (304) respectively sleeved on the spiral rod (201). The second sealing filler (301) is disposed between the second sealing seat (302) and the spiral rod (201). The second sealing seat (302) is connected to the housing (10). The pressure ring (304) is connected to the second sealing seat (302). The second sealing filler (301) includes a first sealing felt (3011), a graphite ring (3012), and a second sealing felt (3013) stacked in sequence, with the second sealing felt (3013) located between the graphite ring (3012) and the pressure ring (304).
9. The screw conveyor (1) according to claim 8, characterized in that, The second sealing seat (302) and the second bearing seat (204) are detachably connected to one end of the housing (10) adjacent to the feed port (101).
10. The screw conveyor (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that, The screw conveying mechanism (20) further includes a first bearing seat (205), which is connected to the housing (10), and the first bearing (202) is connected between the first bearing seat (205) and the screw rod (201); The screw conveyor (1) further includes a first sealing packing (303), which is disposed between the first bearing seat (205) and the screw rod (201). The first sealing packing (303) includes a first sealing felt (3011). The screw conveyor (1) further includes a drive mechanism (51), which is located on the side of the second bearing (203) away from the feed inlet (101) and is connected to the screw rod (201).