A dust-free feeding device for 3D printing material particles

Abstract

The application discloses a 3D printing material particle dust-free feeding device, which comprises a feeding unit, a mechanical arm and a 3D printing nozzle carried on the mechanical arm; a discharge port of the feeding unit is connected with a feeding port of the 3D printing nozzle through a flexible conveying pipeline; a first sleeve structure with filtering micropores is arranged outside the feeding port of the 3D printing nozzle and is connected with the feeding port; a second sleeve structure is sleeved outside the first sleeve structure, and an annular gap space is formed between the first sleeve structure and the second sleeve structure; a dust suction through hole is formed in the second sleeve structure and is connected with a dust suction device; when the dust suction device is started, the dust carried by the material particles can be removed; and the dust suction device only needs to maintain a micro-negative pressure in the annular gap, so that the energy consumption is greatly reduced compared with a traditional dust removal system.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application belongs to the field of 3D printing, and in particular relates to a dust-free feeding device for 3D printing material particles. Background Technology

[0002] 3D printing, as an additive manufacturing technology, has been widely applied in many fields due to its unique manufacturing concept and advantages. By layer-by-layer material deposition, it can quickly and accurately transform digital models into physical products, eliminating the need for complex steps such as mold making in traditional manufacturing processes, greatly shortening product development cycles. 3D printing technology has demonstrated enormous application potential and value in many industries. Among the many material systems used in 3D printing, plastic materials have become one of the most widely used materials due to their low cost, ease of processing, and diverse properties. Currently, a prominent problem with some 3D printed plastic granules on the market is the presence of a certain amount of powder on the surface or inside the granules. The source of this powder is complex. It may occur during the production process of plastic granules due to improper operation in the grinding, mixing, and granulation processes, resulting in some fine particles failing to fully fuse and forming powder; or it may occur during the storage and transportation of plastic granules due to friction, collisions, and other factors, causing wear on the surface of the granules and thus producing powder.

[0003] In the feeding system of 3D printing equipment, plastic granules need to be transported from the hopper to the print head via a specific conveying device. When the plastic granules contain a large amount of powder, this powder easily accumulates inside the conveying device during the conveying process, causing blockages, reducing printing efficiency, and polluting the air when released into the environment. Furthermore, the presence of powder reduces the fluidity of the molten plastic, leading to instability in the extrusion process and potentially resulting in uneven filament thickness. This reduces the interlayer bonding strength of the printed product, deteriorates the surface quality, and causes defects such as roughness, burrs, and layer lines, severely affecting the product's appearance and performance. Therefore, developing a technology or method that can effectively solve the problem of powder content in 3D printed plastic granules is of significant practical importance for improving the quality and efficiency of 3D printing and promoting the further development of 3D printing technology. It is evident that existing technologies require further improvement and enhancement. Utility Model Content

[0004] This invention provides a dust-free feeding device for 3D printing material particles, which solves the problems of reduced 3D printing efficiency and quality defects caused by powder in 3D printing plastic particles, and pollution caused by direct discharge into the environment.

[0005] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention provides the following technical solution: A dust-free feeding device for 3D printing material particles includes a feeding unit, a robotic arm, and a 3D printing nozzle mounted on the robotic arm. The discharge port of the feeding unit is connected to the feed port of the 3D printing nozzle via a flexible conveying pipeline. A first sleeve structure with filter micropores is disposed outside the feed port of the 3D printing nozzle and is connected to the feed port. A second sleeve structure is fitted outside the first sleeve structure, forming an annular gap space between the first sleeve structure and the second sleeve structure. A dust suction hole is opened on the second sleeve structure, and a dust suction device is connected to the dust suction hole. When the dust suction device is activated, it can remove the dust carried by the material particles, thereby improving the printing effect and preventing environmental pollution.

[0006] In a preferred embodiment, the filter micropores on the first sleeve structure are uniformly and annularly distributed on the sidewall of the first sleeve structure.

[0007] In a preferred embodiment, the first sleeve structure is provided with a partition plate, which divides the interior of the first sleeve structure into multiple chambers. One end of each chamber is connected to the flexible conveying pipeline, and the other end is connected to the feed port of the 3D printing nozzle. Each chamber is provided with a dust suction hole, and each dust suction hole is connected to a dust suction device.

[0008] In a preferred embodiment, the first sleeve structure is further provided with a dispersing component, which is disposed on the upper part of the partition plate and is used to disperse material particles from the flexible conveying pipeline into each chamber.

[0009] In a preferred implementation, the dispersed component is hemispherical.

[0010] In a preferred embodiment, the vacuuming device includes a vacuum fan, a main vacuum pipe connected to the vacuum fan duct, and branch vacuum pipes connected to the main vacuum pipe, wherein the number of branch vacuum pipes is the same as the number of chambers.

[0011] In a preferred implementation, the feeding unit includes a hopper and a discharge port disposed on the hopper. The discharge port is equipped with a discharge control valve, which is used to control the amount of material particles conveyed from the hopper to the flexible conveying pipeline.

[0012] In a preferred embodiment, a positive pressure conveying pipe is connected to the flexible conveying pipeline near the material outlet of the silo. The positive pressure conveying pipe is connected to an air jet device, which blows high-pressure gas into the positive pressure conveying pipe to achieve material conveying in the flexible conveying pipeline.

[0013] In a preferred implementation, the hopper is mounted on a mobile base for easy movement.

[0014] In a preferred implementation, the robotic arm is a multi-joint robotic arm with multiple degrees of freedom, capable of controlling the position and orientation of the 3D printing nozzle in three-dimensional space to meet the needs of 3D printing complex shapes.

[0015] The above structure has the following beneficial effects: The dust-free feeding device for 3D printing material particles disclosed in this application features a double-layer sleeve structure that enables graded separation of dust, preventing powder from entering the molten zone and causing poor flowability. Clean particles exhibit uniform flowability after melting, significantly reducing defects such as layer lines and burrs. Reduced dust leads to tighter bonding between molten plastic molecules, thereby increasing the tensile strength of the printed parts.

[0016] The dust-free feeding device for 3D printing material particles in this application has a closed dust collection device to collect dust and avoid dust pollution of the workshop environment.

[0017] The dust-free feeding device for 3D printing material particles disclosed in this application connects the feeding unit and the nozzle through a flexible pipeline, which can adapt to the complex motion trajectory of a multi-axis robotic arm and support the printing of large parts.

[0018] The dust-free feeding device for 3D printing material particles in this application only requires the dust collection device to maintain a slight negative pressure in the annular gap, which greatly reduces energy consumption compared to traditional dust removal systems. Attached Figure Description

[0019] The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of the present invention and constitute a part of this invention, illustrate exemplary embodiments of the present invention and, together with the description thereof, serve to explain this application and do not constitute an undue limitation of the present invention. In the drawings: Figure 1 A schematic three-dimensional structural diagram of one embodiment of the dust-free feeding device for 3D printing material particles of this application is shown. Figure 2 A schematic diagram illustrating one embodiment of the 3D printing nozzle of this application is shown. Figure 3 This application is illustrated. Figure 2 An enlarged structural schematic diagram of one embodiment of part A in the diagram; Label Explanation: 1. 3D printing nozzle; 10. First sleeve structure; 100. Filter micropores; 101. Separator plate; 102. Dispersed parts; 11. Second sleeve structure; 110. Dust suction through hole; 111. Branch dust suction pipe; 112. Main dust suction pipe; 2. Feeding unit; 20. Hopper; 21. Discharge port; 22. Discharge control valve; 23. Positive pressure conveying pipe; 24. Moving base frame; 3. Robotic arm; 4. Flexible conveying pipeline; 5. Printing platform. Detailed Implementation

[0020] In the following description, only certain exemplary embodiments are briefly described. As those skilled in the art will recognize, the described embodiments can be modified in various ways without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention. Therefore, the drawings and description are considered exemplary in nature and not restrictive.

[0021] In the description of this utility model, it should be understood that the terms "center," "upper," "lower," "front," "rear," "left," "right," "vertical," "horizontal," "top," "bottom," "inner," "outer," "axial," "radial," and "circumferential," etc., indicating the orientation or positional relationship, are based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings and are only for the convenience of describing this utility model and 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, and therefore should not be construed as a limitation of this utility model. In this utility model, unless otherwise expressly specified and limited, the first feature being "upper" or "lower" than the second feature can mean that the first and second features are in direct contact, or that the first and second features are in indirect contact through an intermediate medium.

[0022] In this utility model, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, the terms "installation," "connection," "joining," and "fixing," etc., should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral unit; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; they can refer to the internal communication of two components or the interaction between two components. However, specifying a direct connection indicates that the two main bodies at the connection point are not connected by an intermediate structure, but are simply connected to form a whole through a connecting structure. For those skilled in the art, the specific meaning of the above terms in this utility model can be understood according to the specific circumstances.

[0023] In this utility model, descriptions involving "first," "second," etc., are 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 that feature.

[0024] The present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0025] The specific solution adopted is as follows: like Figure 1-3As shown, this utility model provides a dust-free feeding device for 3D printing material particles, including a feeding unit, a robotic arm, and a 3D printing nozzle 1 mounted on the robotic arm; the discharge port of the feeding unit is connected to the feed port of the 3D printing nozzle through a flexible conveying pipeline; a first sleeve structure 10 with filter micropores 100 is provided outside the feed port of the 3D printing nozzle and is connected to the feed port; a second sleeve structure 11 is fitted outside the first sleeve structure, and an annular gap space is formed between the first sleeve structure and the second sleeve structure; a dust suction hole 110 is opened on the second sleeve structure, and a dust suction device is connected to the dust suction hole. When the dust suction device is activated, it can remove the dust carried by the material particles, thereby improving the printing effect and preventing environmental pollution.

[0026] By employing the dust-free feeding device for 3D printing material particles of this application, dust-free feeding is achieved through a closed-loop system of feeding unit - flexible conveying pipeline - 3D printing nozzle. The feeding unit conveys plastic particles to the nozzle feed port through the flexible pipeline. The first sleeve structure with filter micropores screens the particles, allowing powder to enter the annular gap through the micropores while plastic particles cannot pass through the micropores. The second sleeve structure is connected to a dust suction device and its dust suction through hole to suck up the dust in the annular gap, achieving separation. Clean particles enter the nozzle for melting and extrusion, and the dust is collected and processed.

[0027] The double-layer sleeve structure enables graded separation of dust, preventing powder from entering the melting zone and causing poor flowability. Clean granules melt and have uniform flowability, significantly reducing defects such as layering and burrs. Reduced dust leads to tighter bonding between molten plastic molecules, increasing the tensile strength of printed parts. The dust collection device encloses and collects dust, preventing dust pollution of the workshop environment. The feeding unit and printhead are connected via flexible tubing, adaptable to the complex motion trajectories of multi-axis robotic arms, supporting the printing of large parts. The dust collection device only needs to maintain a slight negative pressure in the annular gap, significantly reducing energy consumption compared to traditional dust removal systems.

[0028] In a preferred embodiment of this application, the filter micropores on the first sleeve structure are uniformly distributed in a ring on the side wall of the first sleeve structure, and the uniform pore distribution can improve the dust passage rate.

[0029] Furthermore, the first sleeve structure is equipped with a partition plate 101, which divides the interior of the first sleeve structure into multiple chambers. One end of each chamber's inlet is connected to a flexible conveying pipe, and the other end's outlet is connected to the feed port of the 3D printing nozzle. This divides the interior of the first sleeve into multiple independent chambers, each forming a closed airflow channel. Each chamber's suction port can be connected to an independent suction pipe. Compared to dust distribution in chambers without partitions, dust particles far from the suction ports encounter obstacles when they reach them, resulting in a low overall dust removal rate. Directly setting multiple suction ports would also lead to mutual interference due to inconsistent suction directions, resulting in poor dust removal. In this application, the volume of each chamber is reduced, and the suction ports can cover independent areas. The partition plate prevents the suction power of each suction port from affecting each other, significantly improving the dust removal rate.

[0030] Furthermore, the first sleeve structure is also provided with a dispersing component 102, which is located on the upper part of the partition plate and is used to disperse the material particles from the flexible conveying pipeline into each chamber. In a preferred embodiment, the dispersing component is hemispherical.

[0031] Specifically, when particles in the flexible conveying pipeline enter the first sleeve structure in free fall, they first impact the curved surface of the hemispherical dispersant. The curved surface disperses the particles in multiple directions, causing the originally aggregated particle group to slide along the curved surface to different chambers. When the particles impact the dispersant, the dust mixed in with the particle group and the fine dust attached to the particle surface are stripped off and diffused in all directions. A low-pressure zone is formed below the dispersant, which quickly transports the stripped dust to the dust suction port. The hemispherical dispersant is designed because its smooth surface results in low airflow friction loss, making it suitable for high-speed feeding scenarios.

[0032] In a preferred embodiment of this application, the vacuuming device includes a vacuum fan, a main vacuum pipe connected to the vacuum fan duct, and branch vacuum pipes connected to the main vacuum pipe. The number of branch vacuum pipes is the same as the number of chambers. The vacuum fan, as the power core of the entire system, generates negative pressure through high-speed rotation, driving airflow to carry dust from the branch vacuum pipes 111 into the main vacuum pipe 112, and finally discharges it to the dust collection device. The vacuum fan is prior art, and its principle is the same as that of the fans in household vacuum cleaners and industrial dust collectors, achieving the vacuuming function by creating an airflow pressure difference through impeller rotation. The main vacuum pipe, as an airflow gathering channel, connects the vacuum fan to all branch vacuum pipes, concentrating and transporting the dispersed dust airflow to the fan inlet. It also connects each chamber to the main vacuum pipe one-to-one, directionally transporting the dust generated in the chambers to the main pipe.

[0033] In addition, the branch suction hoses are made of flexible material and are designed to be longer, as they need to move with the robotic arm. The main suction hose and suction fan can be fixedly mounted on one side of the printing platform, ensuring that their position does not obstruct the operation of the robotic arm and other equipment. At the same time, it is necessary to avoid situations such as branch hose tangling that would affect the suction effect and normal operation of the equipment. Part of the branch suction hose can be detachably fixed to the robotic arm with straps, while the unsecured part is in a loose state to facilitate the movement of the robotic arm.

[0034] See Figure 1 The feeding unit 2 includes a hopper 20 and a discharge port 21 disposed on the hopper. The discharge port is equipped with a discharge control valve 22, which is used to control the amount of material particles conveyed from the hopper to the flexible conveying pipeline. The flexible conveying pipeline is connected to a positive pressure conveying pipe 23 near the discharge port of the hopper. The positive pressure conveying pipe is connected to an air jet device, which blows high-pressure gas into the positive pressure conveying pipe to realize the conveying of material in the flexible conveying pipeline.

[0035] The specific operation is as follows: Initial feeding stage: Material unloading from the silo The hopper of the feeding unit serves as the core for material storage and is equipped with a screw conveyor; the existing structure will not be described in detail here. When the system starts the feeding program, the screw conveyor begins to operate, gradually conveying the material particles in the hopper towards the discharge port according to a preset speed and rhythm. At this time, the discharge control valve opens, providing a channel for the material particles to flow out, and the material particles flow out of the discharge port in an orderly manner.

[0036] Material conveying stage: Flexible conveying pipeline support and positive pressure propulsion Material particles flowing from the hopper outlet first enter the connected flexible conveying pipeline. Due to its excellent flexibility, the positive pressure conveying pipeline begins to function simultaneously with the material entering the flexible conveying pipeline. The positive pressure conveying pipeline is connected to the flexible conveying pipeline 4 near the hopper outlet and is also connected to an air jetting device, such as an air compressor. Once activated, the air jetting device blows high-pressure gas into the positive pressure conveying pipeline. This high-pressure gas rapidly enters the flexible conveying pipeline, creating a powerful driving force that propels the pre-measured material particles forward until they are delivered to the first sleeve structure.

[0037] Dust removal start-up phase: Dust collection devices work in conjunction As high-pressure gas blows a measured amount of material particles toward the first sleeve structure, the dust collection device is activated simultaneously. A negative pressure zone is formed near the first sleeve structure. When the material particles reach the first sleeve structure and are ready to be further dispersed, the dust collection device can promptly remove the dust generated during the dispersion process, ensuring the purity of the material entering subsequent stages and guaranteeing high-quality 3D printing.

[0038] Material particles passing through the first sleeve structure are dispersed onto the dispersing element. As the material particles fall into each chamber, the dust collection device continuously operates, further removing dust from the material particles in each chamber to ensure that the material in each chamber meets the required cleanliness standards, thus preventing dust from adversely affecting the printing process and print quality.

[0039] After dust removal, the material particles enter the 3D printing stage. The existing 3D printing nozzle integrates a series of precision structures, including melting and extrusion, cooling, and quantitative delivery. After entering the print head, the material particles are first melted into a liquid state under the action of a heating device. Then, through a precise quantitative delivery structure, the molten material is extruded at a specific flow rate and speed according to preset printing parameters. The extruded molten material rapidly cools and solidifies on the printing platform 5, gradually accumulating to form the desired 3D printed product.

[0040] The entire process forms a closed-loop system. In each cycle, a small amount of material quantitatively delivered from the flexible conveying pipeline is cleaned of dust before 3D printing. Through this cyclical approach, the system can continuously and stably provide clean and appropriate amounts of material for 3D printing, ensuring the continuity of the printing process and the consistency of print quality, thus meeting the needs of large-scale, high-precision 3D printing production.

[0041] In a preferred embodiment of this application, the hopper is located on a movable base 24 to facilitate movement for position adjustment.

[0042] As a preferred embodiment of this application, the robotic arm is a multi-joint robotic arm, which is existing technology. It has multiple degrees of freedom and can control the position and orientation of the 3D printing nozzle in three-dimensional space. The flexible delivery tube is fixed to the robotic arm and moves with it through accessories such as cable ties to meet the needs of 3D printing of complex shapes.

[0043] For any parts not mentioned in this utility model, existing technologies can be used or referenced.

[0044] The above are merely specific embodiments of this utility model, but the protection scope of this utility model is not limited thereto. Any person skilled in the art can easily conceive of various variations or substitutions within the technical scope disclosed in this utility model, and these should all be included within the protection scope of this utility model. Therefore, the protection scope of this utility model should be determined by the scope of the claims.

Claims

1. A dust-free feeding device for 3D printing material particles, characterized in that, The system includes a feeding unit, a robotic arm, and a 3D printing nozzle mounted on the robotic arm. The discharge port of the feeding unit is connected to the feed port of the 3D printing nozzle via a flexible conveying pipeline. A first sleeve structure with filter micropores is provided outside the feed port of the 3D printing nozzle and is connected to the feed port. A second sleeve structure is fitted outside the first sleeve structure, forming an annular gap space between the first sleeve structure and the second sleeve structure. A dust suction hole is provided on the second sleeve structure, and a dust suction device is connected to the dust suction hole. When the dust suction device is activated, it can remove dust carried by the material particles, thereby improving the printing effect and preventing environmental pollution.

2. The dust-free feeding device for 3D printing material particles according to claim 1, characterized in that, The filter micropores on the first sleeve structure are uniformly distributed in a ring on the side wall of the first sleeve structure.

3. The dust-free feeding device for 3D printing material particles according to claim 2, characterized in that, The first sleeve structure is provided with a partition plate, which divides the interior of the first sleeve structure into multiple chambers. One end of the inlet of each chamber is connected to the flexible conveying pipeline, and the other end of the outlet is connected to the feed port of the 3D printing nozzle. Each chamber is provided with a dust suction hole, and each dust suction hole is connected to a dust suction device.

4. The dust-free feeding device for 3D printing material particles according to claim 3, characterized in that, The first sleeve structure is also equipped with a dispersing component, which is located on the upper part of the partition plate and is used to disperse the material particles from the flexible conveying pipeline into each chamber.

5. The dust-free feeding device for 3D printing material particles according to claim 4, characterized in that, The dispersion component is hemispherical.

6. The dust-free feeding device for 3D printing material particles according to claim 3, characterized in that, The vacuuming device includes a vacuum fan, a main vacuum pipe connected to the vacuum fan duct, and branch vacuum pipes connected to the main vacuum pipe. The number of branch vacuum pipes is the same as the number of chambers.

7. The dust-free feeding device for 3D printing material particles according to claim 1, characterized in that, The feeding unit includes a hopper and a discharge port disposed on the hopper. The discharge port is equipped with a discharge control valve, which is used to control the amount of material particles conveyed from the hopper to the flexible conveying pipeline.

8. The dust-free feeding device for 3D printing material particles according to claim 7, characterized in that, The flexible conveying pipeline is connected to the positive pressure conveying pipeline near the material outlet of the silo. The positive pressure conveying pipeline is connected to the jetting device, which blows high-pressure gas into the positive pressure conveying pipeline to realize the conveying of materials in the flexible conveying pipeline.

9. The dust-free feeding device for 3D printing material particles according to claim 7, characterized in that, The silo is mounted on a mobile base for easy relocation.

10. The dust-free feeding device for 3D printing material particles according to claim 1, characterized in that, The robotic arm is a multi-joint robotic arm with multiple degrees of freedom, capable of controlling the position and orientation of the 3D printing nozzle in three-dimensional space to meet the needs of 3D printing complex shapes.

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