Quantitative feeding device for 3D printer

Abstract

The utility model discloses a kind of quantitative feeding devices for 3D printer, comprising: 3D printer, the input end of 3D printer is equipped with barrel;Spherical shell is fixedly connected to the top of barrel, the spherical shell is connected in barrel;Feed hopper is fixedly connected to the top of spherical shell;Quantitative feeding ball is movably arranged in spherical shell, quantitative groove is opened in quantitative feeding ball;Turnover motor is installed on the back of spherical shell.This application is maximized to utilize space by the matching design of spherical shell and quantitative feeding ball, and quantitative feeding ball is periodically rotated by turnover motor drive, realizes the continuous action of "filling-closing-discharge", and the size matching of feed hopper bottom and quantitative groove top ensures that material is filled quickly, and the tapering circular-truncated-cone structure of discharge port guides material to fall in concentration, avoids spilling or clogging, and overall process is automatically operated, which significantly improves feeding efficiency and reduces energy consumption.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of additive manufacturing technology, specifically a quantitative feeding device for a 3D printer. Background Technology

[0002] In recent years, granular 3D printing technology has gradually become an important branch of additive manufacturing, achieving efficient and low-cost molding of complex structures by directly melting and extruding granular materials (such as plastics and composites). Existing granular 3D printers typically employ a screw extrusion mechanism, relying on the screw's rotation to propel the granules into a heated melting chamber. The feeding process often uses an open hopper combined with gravity feeding or a simple volumetric metering device. For example, some devices periodically release a fixed amount of granules through a rotary valve in a fixed cavity, or use a baffle structure at the bottom of the hopper to control the amount of material falling. In addition, some solutions utilize vibrating feeders or pneumatic conveying systems to achieve continuous granule supply.

[0003] However, existing granular material feeding technologies have significant shortcomings: open gravity feeding is prone to uneven feeding due to differences in granular flowability, and is prone to clumping and clogging when humidity is high; fixed-volume metering devices are difficult to adapt to materials with different particle sizes or densities, and the cavity adjustment is difficult, failing to meet the requirements of high-precision printing. Although screw extrusion mechanisms can provide stable feeding, their complex structure and high maintenance costs, as well as the tendency to jam and wear on fine particles or low-flowability materials, make them particularly problematic. Furthermore, existing feeding devices lack anti-adhesion designs, and material residue after long-term use can easily affect metering accuracy, with cleaning being a particularly prominent issue.

[0004] In view of this, there is an urgent need for a quantitative feeding device specifically designed for granular 3D printing, which can achieve high-precision and adjustable quantitative feeding, while also being anti-clogging, easy to maintain and widely compatible, so as to improve printing quality and reduce the difficulty of equipment operation and maintenance. Utility Model Content

[0005] The purpose of this invention is to provide a quantitative feeding device for 3D printers to solve the problems of existing granular material feeding devices for 3D printers mentioned in the background art.

[0006] To achieve the above objectives, this utility model provides the following technical solution: a quantitative feeding device for a 3D printer, comprising: A 3D printer, wherein the input end of the 3D printer is provided with a material cylinder; A spherical shell is fixedly connected to the top of the material cylinder, and the spherical shell communicates with the inside of the material cylinder; A feed funnel is fixedly connected to the top of the spherical shell; A metering feed ball is movably disposed within the spherical shell, and a metering groove is provided inside the metering feed ball; A flip motor is installed on the back of the spherical shell, and the motor shaft of the flip motor is fixedly connected to the metering feed ball; The flipping motor drives the metering feed ball to rotate so as to meter the granular material in the feed funnel into the feed cylinder.

[0007] Preferably, a protective cover is connected to the top of the feed funnel, and an observation window is fixedly provided on the surface of the feed funnel, the observation window being arranged along the height extension direction of the feed funnel.

[0008] Preferably, the inner diameter of the top opening of the spherical shell is adapted to the inner diameter of the bottom opening of the feed funnel, and a discharge port is provided through the bottom of the spherical shell. The discharge port has a frustum-shaped structure, and the inner diameter of the spherical shell is adapted to the outer diameter of the quantitative feeding ball.

[0009] Preferably, the metering trough has a conical structure, the inner diameter of the top opening of the metering trough is adapted to the inner diameter of the bottom opening of the feed funnel, and an adjusting block is connected inside the metering trough, the adjusting block having a conical structure.

[0010] Preferably, the adjusting block includes a magnetic part and a rubber part, and the magnetic part and the rubber part are fixedly connected; The magnetic suction part is magnetically connected to the center of the quantitative feeding ball.

[0011] Preferably, the metering feed ball is rotated so that the metering trough corresponds successively to the bottom of the feed funnel and the discharge port.

[0012] Preferably, the outer surface of the adjusting block, the outer surface of the metering ball, the inner wall of the feeding funnel, the inner wall of the metering groove, and the inner wall of the material cylinder are all coated with polytetrafluoroethylene.

[0013] Compared with the prior art, the beneficial effects of this utility model are: 1) This application achieves closed-loop quantitative supply of granular material through the dynamic cooperation between the spherical shell and the quantitative feeding ball. During the rotation of the quantitative feeding ball, the opening of its internal quantitative groove faces upward and is connected to the feeding funnel during the feeding stage. The granular material fills the quantitative groove by gravity. When the quantitative feeding ball rotates to the closed position, the spherical shell completely seals the top opening of the quantitative groove, forming an independent cavity to ensure that the material in the quantitative groove does not leak or receive external interference. Until the quantitative feeding ball continues to rotate to the discharge port position, the opening of the quantitative groove faces downward and aligns with the discharge channel, and the material falls accurately into the material cylinder. This process effectively avoids feeding fluctuations and significantly improves quantitative accuracy through physical sealing and dynamic switching. 2) The metering trough of this application adopts a conical structure and has a built-in adjustable module. The effective volume of the metering trough can be changed by replacing the adjustment module to adapt to the needs of granular materials with different particle sizes or densities. The adjustment module is fixed by a combination of magnetic adsorption and elastic buffer, which not only ensures the stability of adjustment, but also facilitates quick disassembly and assembly. The inner wall of the metering trough, the surface of the adjustment module and the inner side of the spherical shell are all covered with a low-friction non-stick coating, which effectively solves the problem of material residue and ensures that accurate metering can still be maintained after long-term use. 3) The matching design of the spherical shell and the quantitative feeding ball in this application maximizes the use of space. The quantitative feeding ball is driven to rotate periodically by a flip motor to realize the continuous action of "filling-closing-discharging". The size matching between the bottom of the feeding funnel and the top of the quantitative tank ensures that the material is filled quickly. The tapered frustum structure of the discharge port guides the material to fall in a concentrated manner, avoiding spillage or blockage. The whole process is automated, which significantly improves the feeding efficiency and reduces energy consumption. 4) This application is compatible with various granular 3D printer models. The transparent observation window of the feed funnel supports real-time monitoring of the material level. The protective cover has both sealing and moisture-proof functions as well as rapid material replenishment. Key components are made of wear-resistant materials and have an anti-drop structure. The flipping action of the quantitative feeding ball is controlled by a high-precision motor to ensure long-term operational stability, greatly reduce maintenance difficulty, and meet the printing needs of high intensity and multiple scenarios. Attached Figure Description

[0014] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of this application; Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the barrel structure of this application; Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the spherical shell structure of this application; Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the quantitative feeding ball structure of this application; Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the adjustment block structure in this application; Figure 6 This is a partial sectional view of this application; Figure 7 This is a partial front sectional view of the present application when the material is being filled; Figure 8 This is a partial front sectional view of the present application when the material is enclosed; Figure 9 This is a partial front sectional view of the material being disposed of in this application; Figure 10 This is a partial front sectional view of the present application after the adjustment block has been replaced.

[0015] In the picture: 1. 3D printer; 2. Material cylinder; 3. Spherical shell; 4. Feed funnel; 5. Protective cover; 6. Observation window; 7. Quantitative feeding ball; 8. Tilting motor; 9. Metering tank; 10. Discharge port; 11. Adjusting block; 1101. Magnetic suction unit; 1102. Rubber section. Detailed Implementation

[0016] 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.

[0017] In the description of this utility model, it should be noted that the terms "upper," "lower," "inner," "outer," "front end," "rear end," "both ends," "one end," and "the other end," etc., indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings. They are used solely for the convenience of describing this utility model and for 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. Therefore, they should not be construed as limitations on this utility model. Furthermore, the terms "first" and "second" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance.

[0018] In the description of this utility model, it should be noted that, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, the terms "installed," "equipped with," and "connected," etc., should be interpreted broadly. For example, "connected" can be a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; it can be a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; it can be a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; it can be a connection within two components. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this utility model based on the specific circumstances.

[0019] Please see Figure 1-10 This utility model provides a technical solution: a quantitative feeding device for a 3D printer, comprising: 3D printer 1, the input end of 3D printer 1 is equipped with a material cylinder 2; The spherical shell 3 is fixedly connected to the top of the material cylinder 2, and the spherical shell 3 is connected to the inside of the material cylinder 2; The feed funnel 4 is fixedly connected to the top of the spherical shell 3; A metering feed ball 7 is movably disposed inside a spherical shell 3, and a metering groove 9 is provided inside the metering feed ball 7; The flip motor 8 is installed on the back of the spherical housing 3, and the motor shaft of the flip motor 8 is fixedly connected to the metering feeding ball 7; The flipping motor 8 drives the quantitative feeding ball 7 to rotate so as to quantitatively feed the granular material in the feed funnel 4 into the material cylinder 2.

[0020] Specifically, this application achieves a closed-loop quantitative supply of granular material through the dynamic cooperation between the spherical shell 3 and the quantitative feeding ball 7, combined with the precise drive of the flipping motor 8. This ensures that the material in the quantitative tank 9 is free from leakage, external contamination, or moisture interference during transfer. Furthermore, the high-precision control of the flipping motor 8 allows for adjustable rotation angle and speed of the quantitative feeding ball 7, further adapting to the feeding rhythm requirements of different printing tasks, while reducing reliance on complex sensors and lowering system costs.

[0021] Specifically, the flip motor 8 can be a TMC2209 silent stepper motor, which can precisely control the rotation angle of the quantitative feeding ball 7 to ensure the alignment accuracy of the quantitative trough 9 with the feeding funnel 4 and the discharge port 10. Its motor shaft can be controlled by a program to achieve forward and reverse rotation. For example, after the discharge stage is completed, it can perform a small-amplitude forward and reverse rotation (such as reciprocating motion of ±5°~10°) to use inertial vibration to make the residual particles in the quantitative trough 9 completely shake off.

[0022] Reference manual attached Figure 1-2 The top of the feed funnel 4 is connected to a protective cover 5, and an observation window 6 is fixedly provided on the surface of the feed funnel 4, extending along the height of the feed funnel 4. Specifically, the protective cover 5 on the top of the feed funnel 4 can effectively isolate external dust and moisture, preventing the granular material from becoming damp, clumping, or contaminated; the transparent observation window 6 extending along the height of the feed funnel 4 is made of high-strength wear-resistant glass, allowing real-time observation of the remaining material in the funnel, avoiding interruptions in material supply due to insufficient or excessive filling. The protective cover 5 can be quickly connected to the feed funnel 4 via a threaded structure, facilitating replenishment or cleaning maintenance during use, and is suitable for industrial environments with high humidity or high dust levels.

[0023] Reference manual attached Figure 6 The inner diameter of the top opening of the spherical shell 3 is matched with the inner diameter of the bottom opening of the feed funnel 4. A discharge port 10, which is a frustum-shaped structure, is provided through the bottom of the spherical shell 3, and its inner diameter is matched with the outer diameter of the metering feed ball 7. Specifically, the matching of the inner diameter of the top opening of the spherical shell 3 with the inner diameter of the bottom opening of the feed funnel 4 ensures rapid transfer of granular material from the feed funnel 4 to the metering trough 9, preventing material accumulation at the interface. The frustum-shaped tapering structure of the discharge port 10 gradually narrows the discharge channel from top to bottom, guiding the granular material to fall into the feed cylinder 2, reducing the risk of spillage or jamming. The inner wall of the spherical shell 3 and the outer surface of the metering feed ball 7 are precisely spherically matched, ensuring a uniform gap between the metering feed ball 7 and the inner wall of the spherical shell 3 during rotation, preventing material leakage from the gap and reducing rotational friction resistance. (See attached instruction manual) Figure 9 The inclined inner wall of the frustum-shaped discharge port 10 and the bottom opening of the metering trough 9 form a smooth transition, further reducing material residue, which is especially suitable for feeding composite materials or fine particles that are easy to adhere.

[0024] Reference manual attached Figure 4-6 The metering trough 9 has a conical structure. The inner diameter of the top opening of the metering trough 9 is matched with the inner diameter of the bottom opening of the feed funnel 4. An adjusting block 11, also a conical structure, is connected inside the metering trough 9. Specifically, the conical design of the metering trough 9, combined with the replaceable adjusting block 11, allows for flexible adjustment of the feed rate per cycle. The adjusting block 11 is a cone that matches the inner wall of the metering trough 9. (Refer to the attached instruction manual.) Figure 6-7 The height of adjusting block 11 is 2 / 5 of the height of metering tank 9. Refer to the instruction manual. Figure 10 The height of the adjusting block 11 is half the height of the metering groove 9. By replacing the adjusting block 11 with different heights, the effective volume of the metering groove 9 can be changed, thereby adapting to the needs of granular materials with different particle sizes (such as 0.5mm to 5mm) or densities (such as PLA, ABS, nylon), and also meeting the different single material quantity adjustments required in different printing processes.

[0025] Reference manual attached Figure 5 The adjusting block 11 includes a magnetic suction part 1101 and a rubber part 1102, which are fixedly connected. The magnetic suction part 1101 is magnetically connected to the center of the quantitative feeding ball 7.

[0026] Specifically, the center of the metering ball 7 is made of magnetically adsorbable metal, which is fixed to the center of the metering ball 7 by strong magnetic adsorption, ensuring the positioning and connection of the adjusting block 11 at the deepest point of the metering groove 9. The elastic material of the rubber part 1102 can absorb the impact energy when the granular material falls into the metering groove 9. This design not only ensures the stability of the adjusting block 11 during high-speed flipping, but also extends the service life of the metering ball 7 and the adjusting block 11 through elastic buffering, which is especially suitable for industrial-grade 3D printers 1 with high-frequency continuous feeding.

[0027] Reference manual attached Figure 7-9 Rotate the metering feed ball 7 so that the metering trough 9 aligns successively with the bottom of the feed funnel 4 and the discharge port 10. Specifically, the metering feed ball 7 can be rotated by the flipping motor 8, causing the metering trough 9 to go through three stages in sequence: refer to the attached instruction manual. Figure 6-7 First, the metering trough 9 is aligned with the bottom of the feed funnel 4, and the granules fill the metering trough 9 under gravity; refer to the attached instruction manual. Figure 8Subsequently, the metering ball 7 rotates to a closed position after a certain angle, and the inner wall of the spherical shell 3 completely seals the top opening of the metering groove 9, forming an independent cavity to block external environmental interference with the material; refer to the attached instruction manual. Figure 9 Finally, the metering ball 7 continues to rotate at a certain angle to the discharge port 10 position, with the metering groove 9 opening downwards, and the material falls precisely into the material cylinder 2 through the frustum-shaped discharge port 10. This "fill-close-discharge" cycle process achieves fully enclosed feeding through a mechanical structure, eliminating material spillage or metering deviation caused by air flow, humidity changes, or vibration in traditional open feeding systems. It is especially suitable for precision printing scenarios with extremely high requirements for feeding consistency.

[0028] The outer surfaces of the adjusting block 11, the metering ball 7, the inner wall of the feeding funnel 4, the inner wall of the metering groove 9, and the inner wall of the barrel 2 are all coated with polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE). Specifically, the PTFE coating has extremely low surface energy, making it difficult for granules to adhere and leaving no residue even after long-term use; its high-temperature resistance (withstanding -200℃ to 260℃) can adapt to the temperature environment of the heating zone of the barrel 2 during 3D printing, preventing the coating from failing due to high temperatures. In addition, the hydrophobic properties of the coating reduce the risk of granule clumping in humid environments, further ensuring smooth feeding. This design significantly reduces the frequency of cleaning and maintenance; users only need to wipe periodically to restore the surface finish, making it particularly suitable for scenarios involving multiple material switching or frequent printing job changes.

[0029] Although the present invention has been described in detail with reference to the foregoing embodiments, those skilled in the art can still modify the technical solutions described in the foregoing embodiments or make equivalent substitutions for some of the technical features. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, improvements, etc., made within the spirit and principles of the present invention should be included within the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A quantitative feeding device for a 3D printer, characterized in that, include: 3D printer (1), the input end of the 3D printer (1) is provided with a material cylinder (2); A spherical shell (3) is fixedly connected to the top of the material cylinder (2), and the spherical shell (3) is connected to the inside of the material cylinder (2); The feed funnel (4) is fixedly connected to the top of the spherical shell (3); A quantitative feeding ball (7) is movably disposed inside the spherical shell (3), and a quantitative groove (9) is provided inside the quantitative feeding ball (7). A flip motor (8) is installed on the back of the spherical shell (3), and the motor shaft of the flip motor (8) is fixedly connected to the quantitative feeding ball (7); The flipping motor (8) drives the quantitative feeding ball (7) to rotate so as to quantitatively feed the granular material in the feeding funnel (4) into the material cylinder (2).

2. The quantitative feeding device for a 3D printer according to claim 1, characterized in that, The top of the feed funnel (4) is connected to a protective cover (5), and an observation window (6) is fixedly provided on the surface of the feed funnel (4). The observation window (6) is set along the height extension direction of the feed funnel (4).

3. The quantitative feeding device for a 3D printer according to claim 1, characterized in that, The inner diameter of the top opening of the spherical shell (3) is adapted to the inner diameter of the bottom opening of the feed funnel (4). The bottom of the spherical shell (3) is provided with a discharge port (10), which is a frustum-shaped structure. The inner diameter of the spherical shell (3) is adapted to the outer diameter of the quantitative feeding ball (7).

4. The quantitative feeding device for a 3D printer according to claim 1, characterized in that, The metering trough (9) has a conical structure. The inner diameter of the top opening of the metering trough (9) is adapted to the inner diameter of the bottom opening of the feed funnel (4). An adjusting block (11) is connected inside the metering trough (9). The adjusting block (11) has a conical structure.

5. The quantitative feeding device for a 3D printer according to claim 4, characterized in that, The adjusting block (11) includes a magnetic suction part (1101) and a rubber part (1102), and the magnetic suction part (1101) and the rubber part (1102) are fixedly connected; The magnetic suction part (1101) is magnetically connected to the center of the quantitative feeding ball (7).

6. The quantitative feeding device for a 3D printer according to claim 3, characterized in that, Rotate the quantitative feeding ball (7) so that the quantitative trough (9) corresponds to the bottom of the feed funnel (4) and the discharge port (10) in turn.

7. The quantitative feeding device for a 3D printer according to claim 4, characterized in that, The outer surface of the adjusting block (11), the outer surface of the quantitative feeding ball (7), the inner wall of the feeding funnel (4), the inner wall of the quantitative groove (9), and the inner wall of the material cylinder (2) are all coated with polytetrafluoroethylene.

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