A flexible consumable material guiding device

Abstract

A flexible filament guiding device, relating to the field of 3D printing technology, includes an elastic conduit. One end of the elastic conduit is a fixed end, and the other end is a suspended free end. This invention uses two elastic conduits in cooperation, fixed to the conveying end and extrusion end of the printing filament respectively, ensuring continuity and smoothness during the printing process. Positioning the free ends of the two elastic conduits upwards allows the printing filament located between them to naturally arch upwards, avoiding printing interruptions or quality problems caused by filament sagging. Furthermore, the elastic conduit not only provides a guiding function, preventing friction between the printing filament and other printer components, but also provides support to the filament through its own elasticity, ensuring stability during printhead movement. Moreover, the elastic conduit can be made of spring wire spirally wound, greatly improving the fatigue resistance of the conduit, thereby significantly extending its service life and reducing replacement frequency.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of 3D printing technology, and in particular to a material guiding device for flexible consumables. Background Technology

[0002] Currently, the feed and extrusion ends of 3D printers are typically connected directly by a single feed tube to ensure smooth material transport. As the print head moves during printing, the distance between the feed and extrusion ends changes. To ensure the print head is not limited by the length of the feed tube, its design length usually exceeds the maximum possible distance between them. However, this design leads to a problem: during printing, due to the frequent changes in distance between the feed and extrusion ends, the feed tube is prone to sagging or even snagging with other components, severely impacting the smooth operation of the printing process.

[0003] Furthermore, existing feed tubes are mostly made of Teflon. Although this material has good sliding properties and high-temperature resistance, it is prone to bending damage after repeated stretching and bending, especially at the connection between the feeding end and the extrusion end. This damage significantly increases the feeding resistance, thus affecting the normal feeding process. The aforementioned defects have become one of the problems that technicians in the field urgently need to solve. To ensure printing quality and efficiency, improving the design of the feed tube is particularly important. Utility Model Content

[0004] In order to overcome the shortcomings of the prior art, this utility model discloses a feeding device for flexible consumables.

[0005] To achieve the above-mentioned objectives, the present invention adopts the following technical solution:

[0006] A flexible consumable feeding device includes an elastic conduit; one end of the elastic conduit is a fixed end, and the other end is a suspended free end.

[0007] Preferably, the elastic conduit is made of spring wire spirally wound.

[0008] Preferably, the pitch of the fixed end of the elastic conduit is smaller than the pitch of the free end; or the pitch of the elastic conduit gradually increases from the fixed end to the free end.

[0009] Preferably, the free end and / or fixed end of the elastic conduit has an outwardly flared tapered structure.

[0010] Preferably, the spring wire is a hollow tubular wire.

[0011] Preferably, the elastic conduit is provided with an inner liner.

[0012] Preferably, the elastic conduit is embedded within a protective tube.

[0013] Preferably, the fixed end of the elastic conduit is provided with a fixing seat.

[0014] Preferably, the fixing seat includes a mounting seat and a clamping seat, the clamping seat is bolted to one side of the mounting seat, and an arc-shaped groove for fixing the elastic conduit is provided between the mounting seat and the clamping seat.

[0015] Preferably, the elastic conduit's fixed end is provided with a fixing part that extends out of the elastic conduit.

[0016] By adopting the technical solution described above, this utility model has the following beneficial effects:

[0017] This utility model discloses a flexible consumable guiding device with a simple structure and easy assembly. Two elastic guide tubes are used in conjunction, fixed to the conveying end and extrusion end of the printing consumable respectively, ensuring continuity and smoothness during the printing process. Furthermore, by setting the free ends of the two elastic guide tubes upwards, the printing consumable located between them naturally arches upwards, effectively preventing printing interruptions or quality problems caused by consumable sagging. In addition, the elastic guide tubes not only provide a guiding function, preventing the printing consumable from rubbing against other printer components or excessive bending, but also provide a certain supporting force to the consumable through their own elasticity, ensuring the stability of the print head during movement.

[0018] This invention further employs an elastic conduit made of spring wire spirally wound. This design greatly improves the fatigue resistance of the conduit, thereby significantly extending its service life, reducing replacement frequency, and lowering maintenance costs.

[0019] This invention further provides a fixing seat at the fixed end of the elastic conduit, which not only greatly simplifies the installation process but also improves the reliability of the elastic conduit. Attached Figure Description

[0020] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the installation structure of the first type of elastic conduit;

[0021] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the second type of elastic catheter;

[0022] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the third type of elastic catheter;

[0023] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the fourth type of elastic catheter;

[0024] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the fifth type of elastic catheter;

[0025] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the inner lining tube.

[0026] Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of the protective tube structure;

[0027] Figure 8 This is an exploded view of the fixed base.

[0028] In the diagram: 1. Elastic conduit; 2. Inner liner; 3. Protective tube; 4. Fixing seat; 4-1. Mounting seat; 4-2. Compression seat. Detailed Implementation

[0029] The present invention will be explained in detail through the following embodiments. The purpose of disclosing the present invention is to protect all technical improvements within the scope of the present invention. In the description of the present invention, it should be understood that if there are terms such as "upper", "lower", "front", "rear", "left", "right" indicating the orientation or positional relationship, they are only corresponding to the drawings of this application for the convenience of describing the present invention, and are not intended to indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation.

[0030] Example 1:

[0031] Combined with appendix Figure 1 A flexible filament feeding device includes an elastic conduit 1; one end of the elastic conduit 1 is a fixed end, and the other end is a suspended free end. In this example, the elastic conduit 1 is made of Teflon material to provide excellent flexibility and abrasion resistance. However, to ensure the smooth operation of the 3D printing process, it is usually necessary to configure two such elastic conduits 1 to work together. The fixed end of one elastic conduit 1 is installed at the feeding end of the printing filament, such as the output port of a remote filament feeder or on the frame of the 3D printer; the fixed end of the other elastic conduit 1 is fixed at the filament extrusion end, usually the feed port of a near-end filament feeder or the feed port of the print head.

[0032] It is particularly important to note that the free ends of these two flexible conduits 1 should face upwards. This allows the printing filament located between the two conduits to naturally arch upwards, preventing sagging that could interrupt the printing job or degrade quality. In actual operation, the printing filament first passes through one of the flexible conduits 1, then enters the other, and finally reaches the print head. During this process, the flexible conduits 1 not only act as guides, preventing the printing filament from rubbing against other components or bending excessively, but also provide support for the filament with their own elasticity, maintaining appropriate tension and an upwardly arched curvature.

[0033] Example 2:

[0034] Although Teflon material has good flexibility, it has been found in practical use to have insufficient fatigue resistance and a short service life, requiring frequent replacement. To address this issue, this embodiment proposes an improved solution:

[0035] Combined with appendix Figures 1-7 A flexible consumable guiding device, which differs from Embodiment 1 in that, based on Embodiment 1, the elastic conduit 1 is made of spring wire spirally wound, as shown in the attached figure. Figure 2 As shown, the fatigue resistance of the elastic conduit 1, which is made of spring wire spirally wound, is greatly improved compared to Teflon tubing, thereby effectively extending the service life of the elastic conduit 1.

[0036] Furthermore, the pitch of the fixed end of the elastic conduit 1 is smaller than the pitch of the free end, as shown in the attached figure. Figure 3 As shown; or the pitch of the elastic conduit 1 gradually increases from the fixed end to the free end; that is, the bending resistance of the fixed end of the elastic conduit 1 is greater than the bending resistance of its free end; so that the elastic conduit 1 can adapt to bending as it moves with the print head, and at the same time has a good recovery ability, ensuring that the free end of the elastic conduit 1 always has an upward trend.

[0037] It should be noted that elastic conduits with uniform pitch 1 can also be used.

[0038] Furthermore, the free end and / or fixed end of the elastic conduit 1 have an outwardly flared tapered structure, as shown in the attached figure. Figure 4 As shown, this can effectively reduce the friction between the printing consumable and the free end and / or fixed end of the elastic conduit 1, and at the same time facilitate the filament threading operation when changing printing consumables.

[0039] Furthermore, the spring wire is a hollow tubular wire, as shown in the attached figure. Figure 5 As shown, the tubular filament is made of non-metallic material and can be made into a large-sized elastic conduit 1, which is suitable for printing consumables with thicker wire diameters, or for inserting multiple printing consumables at the same time.

[0040] Another way to use spring wire, which is a hollow tubular wire, is to use the through holes of the tubular wire as a guide channel, that is, the printing consumables are passed through the tubular wire during use. In addition to the bending deformation of the tubular wire compensating for the movement distance of the printing head during the movement of the print head, the elongation deformation of the tubular wire can also compensate for the movement distance of the print head, which is more suitable for large-size printing jobs.

[0041] Furthermore, the elastic conduit 1 is provided with an inner liner 2, as shown in the attached figure. Figure 6 As shown, or the elastic conduit 1 is embedded within the protective tube 3, as indicated in the attached diagram. Figure 7 As shown, this can prevent the spring wire from scratching the printing filament.

[0042] It should be noted that both the inner liner tube 2 and the protective tube 3 can be made of transparent material, so that users can easily see the internal condition of the elastic conduit 1.

[0043] Example 3:

[0044] In actual use, it was found that the elastic conduit 1 is difficult to install at the delivery end or extrusion end of the printing consumable. In order to solve this technical problem, this embodiment makes further improvements.

[0045] Combined with appendix Figure 1 and 8 A flexible consumable guiding device, based on embodiment 1 or 2, wherein the fixed end of the elastic conduit 1 is provided with a fixing seat 4; the fixing seat 4 includes a mounting seat 4-1 and a clamping seat 4-2, and the clamping seat 4-2 is bolted to one side of the mounting seat 4-1, and an arc-shaped groove for fixing the elastic conduit 1 is provided between the mounting seat 4-1 and the clamping seat 4-2; that is, the elastic conduit 1 can be placed in the arc-shaped groove between the mounting seat 4-1 and the clamping seat 4-2, and the clamping seat 4-2 can press the elastic conduit 1 by tightening the bolt between the mounting seat 4-1 and the clamping seat 4-2, so as to prevent the elastic conduit 1 from accidentally falling off.

[0046] When in use, the mounting base 4-1 is fixed to the conveying end or extrusion end of the printing consumables by screws, which achieves the purpose of fixing the elastic conduit 1.

[0047] Furthermore, the fixed end of the elastic conduit 1 is provided with a fixing part that extends out of the elastic conduit 1. The shape of the fixing part is not limited, as long as it can be tightly pressed between the mounting seat 4-1 and the pressing seat 4-2, to further prevent the elastic conduit 1 from accidentally falling off.

[0048] The parts of this utility model not described in detail are prior art. It is obvious to those skilled in the art that this utility model is not limited to the details of the above exemplary embodiments, and that this utility model can be implemented in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or basic characteristics of this utility model. Therefore, the embodiments should be regarded as exemplary and non-limiting in all respects, and are intended to include all changes that fall within the meaning and scope of equivalents within this utility model.

Claims

1. A feeding device for flexible consumables, characterized in that: It includes an elastic catheter (1); one end of the elastic catheter (1) is a fixed end, and the other end is a free end that is suspended.

2. The feeding device for flexible consumables as described in claim 1, characterized in that: The elastic conduit (1) is made of spring wire spirally wound.

3. The feeding device for flexible consumables as described in claim 2, characterized in that: The pitch of the fixed end of the elastic conduit (1) is smaller than the pitch of the free end; or the pitch of the elastic conduit (1) gradually increases from the fixed end to the free end.

4. The feeding device for flexible consumables as described in claim 2, characterized in that: The free end and / or fixed end of the elastic conduit (1) have an outwardly flared conical structure.

5. The feeding device for flexible consumables as described in claim 2, characterized in that: The spring wire is a hollow tubular wire.

6. The feeding device for flexible consumables as described in any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that: The elastic conduit (1) is provided with an inner liner (2).

7. The feeding device for flexible consumables as described in any one of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that: The elastic conduit (1) is embedded in the protective tube (3).

8. The feeding device for flexible consumables as described in claim 1, characterized in that: The fixed end of the elastic conduit (1) is provided with a fixing seat (4).

9. The feeding device for flexible consumables as described in claim 8, characterized in that: The fixing seat (4) includes a mounting seat (4-1) and a clamping seat (4-2). The clamping seat (4-2) is bolted to one side of the mounting seat (4-1). An arc-shaped groove for fixing the elastic conduit (1) is provided between the mounting seat (4-1) and the clamping seat (4-2).

10. The feeding device for flexible consumables as described in claim 9, characterized in that: The elastic conduit (1) has a fixed end that extends out of the elastic conduit (1).

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