Material feeding mechanism, cartridge and 3D printer system

Abstract

The present disclosure provides a material feeding mechanism, a cartridge and a 3D printer system, belonging to the technical field of 3D printing, comprising: a main body; a feeding assembly comprising a first extrusion wheel, a second extrusion wheel and a movable adjusting assembly, the second extrusion wheel being rotatably connected to the movable adjusting assembly; a switching assembly comprising a driving mechanism, a transmission shaft and an adjusting part, the transmission shaft being connected to the power output end of the driving mechanism, and the adjusting part being connected to the transmission shaft; wherein the first extrusion wheel is drivingly connected to the transmission shaft; under the driving of the driving mechanism, the transmission shaft drives the adjusting part to move, so that the movable adjusting assembly switches between a first position and a second position relative to the main body; when in the first position, the first extrusion wheel and the second extrusion wheel give the wire a first clamping force; when in the second position, the first extrusion wheel and the second extrusion wheel give the wire a second clamping force; the second clamping force is smaller than the first clamping force. The material feeding mechanism provided by the present disclosure can provide a larger clamping force and reduce the risk of material failure.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This disclosure relates to the field of 3D printing technology, and more particularly to a material feeding mechanism, a material bin, and a 3D printer system. Background Technology

[0002] 3D printing, a rapid prototyping technology, constructs three-dimensional objects by layering materials and is widely used in industrial design, architecture, medicine, education, and many other fields. In a 3D printing system, the material feeding mechanism is a key component, responsible for conveying printing material (such as filament) from the trolley to the print head, ensuring the smooth progress of the printing process.

[0003] Multi-color cartridges are widely used in 3D printing to achieve multi-material printing, providing consumables of various colors or materials to meet the needs of complex printing tasks. In related technologies, the material delivery mechanism of multi-color cartridges maintains a constant clamping force between the two extrusion rollers during feeding and unloading. During unloading, the filament tray needs to provide additional force to overcome this clamping force. To reduce the risk of unloading failure, the clamping force provided by the two extrusion rollers should not be too large, resulting in insufficient extrusion force from the feeding assembly. Some filaments, such as TPU, require higher extrusion force, making this technology unsuitable.

[0004] In addition, the force that pulls the wire back when the trolley is ejected mainly comes from the friction between the edge of the trolley and the drive roller. As the wire gradually decreases in weight during use, the edge of the environmentally friendly paper trolley wears down, reducing the friction. However, the clamping force between the two extrusion rollers remains constant, which can easily lead to wire ejection failure. Utility Model Content

[0005] To overcome the problems existing in related technologies, this specification provides a material feeding mechanism, a filament box, and a 3D printer system that can improve the extrusion force on the filament and reduce the risk of material ejection failure.

[0006] According to a first aspect of this disclosure, a material feeding mechanism is provided, comprising:

[0007] main body;

[0008] A feeding assembly is disposed on the main body. The feeding assembly includes a first extrusion wheel, a second extrusion wheel, and a movable adjustment assembly. The second extrusion wheel is rotatably connected to the movable adjustment assembly.

[0009] A switching component is disposed on the main body. The switching component includes a drive mechanism, a transmission shaft, and an adjustment part. The transmission shaft is connected to the power output end of the drive mechanism, and the adjustment part is connected to the transmission shaft.

[0010] The first extrusion wheel is connected to the drive shaft; under the drive of the drive mechanism, the drive shaft drives the adjustment part to move, and the adjustment part causes the movable adjustment component to switch between a first position and a second position relative to the main body.

[0011] When the movable adjustment component is in the first position, the first extrusion wheel and the second extrusion wheel apply a first clamping force to the wire;

[0012] When the movable adjustment component is in the second position, the first extrusion wheel and the second extrusion wheel apply a second clamping force to the wire.

[0013] The second clamping force is less than the first clamping force.

[0014] The material feeding mechanism disclosed herein includes a main body, a feeding assembly, and a switching assembly. The first and second extrusion wheels in the feeding assembly are switched in position via a movable adjusting assembly, which can adjust the clamping force between the two extrusion wheels.

[0015] When the active adjustment component is in the first position, it provides a larger initial clamping force to ensure that soft materials such as TPU can be stably conveyed during the feeding process, and that the material will not slip or the conveying will be unstable due to insufficient clamping force.

[0016] When the movable adjustment component is in the second position, a smaller second clamping force is provided to meet the wire unloading requirements. Specifically, when the movable adjustment component is in the second position, the first and second extrusion rollers apply a smaller second clamping force to the wire, significantly reducing the resistance that the trolley needs to overcome during unloading, making the unloading process smoother and reducing the risk of unloading failure. This design is particularly effective for lightweight and paper trolleys, preventing unloading difficulties caused by excessive clamping force.

[0017] In addition, the switching component includes a drive mechanism, a transmission shaft, and an adjustment unit. The transmission shaft is connected to the power output end of the drive mechanism, and the adjustment unit is connected to the transmission shaft, so that the movable adjustment component can accurately switch between the first position and the second position under the drive of the drive mechanism, further optimizing the efficiency and stability of power transmission.

[0018] In some exemplary embodiments of this disclosure, when the drive mechanism drives the transmission shaft to rotate, the adjusting part moves along the axial direction of the transmission shaft.

[0019] In this type of embodiment, the axial movement of the adjustment unit along the drive shaft provides a greater adjustment force, such as thrust, to the movable adjustment component compared to other modes of motion (such as radial or rotary motion), thereby reducing the load on the drive mechanism. Furthermore, the axial movement of the adjustment unit along the drive shaft makes the entire switching assembly more compact, reducing space requirements.

[0020] In some exemplary embodiments of this disclosure, the movable adjustment assembly includes a movable support and an elastic element. The movable support is disposed on the main body, the second extrusion wheel is rotatably connected to the movable support, one end of the elastic element is connected to the main body, and the other end can abut against the movable support.

[0021] The movable bracket rotates or reciprocates relative to the main body under the action of the adjustment part and the elastic element.

[0022] In this type of embodiment, the movable adjustment assembly includes a movable support and an elastic element. One end of the elastic element is connected to the main body, and the other end can abut against the movable support. In this design, the elastic abutment between the elastic element and the movable support achieves bidirectional force balance. While the adjustment unit applies an active thrust to the movable support, the elastic element provides a counterforce, forming a stable torque balance system. Under bidirectional forces, the movable support can achieve precise micro-displacement adjustment, which helps to achieve gradual and controllable changes in clamping force.

[0023] In some exemplary embodiments of this disclosure, driven by the transmission shaft, the adjusting part reciprocates along the axial direction of the transmission shaft, and the movable bracket reciprocates along a first direction under the action of the adjusting part and the elastic member, thereby the movable adjusting component switches between a first position and a second position relative to the main body;

[0024] The first direction is perpendicular to the axial direction of the drive shaft.

[0025] In this type of embodiment, the adjustment part reciprocates along the axial direction of the drive shaft, causing the movable bracket to reciprocate along the first direction. The first direction is perpendicular to the axial direction of the drive shaft, that is, the displacement space of the movable bracket and the axial space of the drive shaft form a three-dimensional cross layout, saving space in the axial direction of the drive shaft, which is particularly suitable for scenarios where multiple trays are installed side by side.

[0026] In some exemplary embodiments of this disclosure, when the active adjustment component is in the first position, a first gap is formed between the first extrusion wheel and the second extrusion wheel;

[0027] The adjusting part has a first abutting part, and the movable bracket includes a second abutting part. When the movable adjusting component is in the second position, the second abutting part abuts against the first abutting part, and a second gap is formed between the first extrusion wheel and the second extrusion wheel.

[0028] The first gap is smaller than the second gap.

[0029] In this type of embodiment, the clamping force variation of the first and second extrusion wheels is achieved by setting the difference between the first and second gaps and the contact limiting mechanism between the movable support and the adjustment part. When the movable adjustment component is in the first position, the first and second extrusion wheels form a small gap (the first gap), at which point the wire is subjected to bidirectional rigid constraint, and the clamping force reaches its maximum value. When switching to the second position, the first abutment part of the adjustment part and the second abutment part of the movable support form a hard contact, forcing the distance between the two extrusion wheels to widen to the second gap. The design of the first abutment part on the adjustment part, combined with the force of the elastic element, achieves mechanical self-adjustment of the clamping force of the two extrusion wheels through the synergistic effect of the rigid contact point and the elastic restoring force, without the need for sensor feedback.

[0030] In some exemplary embodiments of this disclosure, the adjusting part is a nut, which is helically connected to the drive shaft. The nut has a first end and a second end that are axially opposite to each other on the drive shaft. The second end is located on the side of the nut away from the first extrusion wheel. The outer diameter of the first end is smaller than the outer diameter of the second end. The first abutting part is located on the outer wall of the nut in the region near the second end.

[0031] In this type of embodiment, the nut is helically connected to the drive shaft. The tight fit of the threads reduces the possibility of loosening, thereby ensuring that the drive shaft and nut maintain high transmission accuracy during long-term operation and improving the adjustment accuracy of the clamping force on the first and second extrusion rollers. This design significantly improves the stability of the material feeding mechanism during the feeding and unloading processes, and reduces performance degradation caused by mechanical vibration or wear.

[0032] Secondly, the nut has a first end and a second end that are axially opposite each other on the drive shaft, with the outer diameter of the first end being smaller than that of the second end. This tapered design allows the position of the nut on the drive shaft to be precisely adjusted by changing its outer diameter. When the drive shaft rotates, the nut moves axially along the drive shaft, interacting with the second abutment portion of the movable support through its tapered structure, thereby achieving precise control of the position of the movable support and consequently controlling the clamping force between the first and second extrusion wheels. This design not only improves the system's adjustment accuracy but also simplifies the adjustment process, making operation more convenient.

[0033] In some exemplary embodiments of this disclosure, the first extrusion wheel is coaxially disposed with the drive shaft;

[0034] The movable support also includes a first connecting part, which is located on the side of the second abutting part along the axial direction of the drive shaft, and the second extrusion wheel is rotatably connected to the first connecting part;

[0035] The second extrusion wheel is located on one side of the first extrusion wheel in the first direction. When the adjustment part reciprocates along the axial direction of the transmission shaft, it drives the second extrusion wheel away from or closer to the first extrusion wheel through the movable bracket.

[0036] In this type of embodiment, the first extrusion wheel is coaxially arranged with the drive shaft. This design ensures the directness and efficiency of power transmission. The coaxial arrangement reduces energy loss and mechanical vibration during power transmission, improving the stability and reliability of the system.

[0037] Secondly, the movable support includes a first connecting part located on the side of the second abutment part axially aligned with the drive shaft, and the second extrusion wheel is rotatably connected to the first connecting part. This design allows the position of the second extrusion wheel to be precisely adjusted by moving the movable support. When the adjusting part moves axially along the drive shaft, the movable support drives the second extrusion wheel away from or towards the first extrusion wheel, thereby achieving precise control of the clamping force. This design not only improves the adjustment accuracy of the clamping force but also ensures the stability of the wire during the conveying process.

[0038] Furthermore, the coaxial arrangement of the first extrusion wheel and the drive shaft, along with the design of the movable support, makes the entire material feeding mechanism compact, reducing space occupation. This compact design improves the system's integration, making it easier to integrate into the material bin or other related equipment. The compact structure not only saves space but also improves the overall performance and reliability of the equipment.

[0039] In some exemplary embodiments of this disclosure, the surface of the movable support is provided with protrusions, which are used to reduce the contact area between the movable support and the main body.

[0040] In this type of embodiment, the surface of the movable support is provided with protrusions to reduce the contact area between the movable support and the main body. By reducing the contact area, the friction between mechanical components is significantly reduced, thereby reducing mechanical wear and improving the stability and reliability of the system. This design not only extends the service life of the equipment but also reduces noise and vibration during operation.

[0041] In some exemplary embodiments of this disclosure, the adjusting part reciprocates along the axial direction of the driving shaft under the drive of the driving shaft, and the movable bracket rotates relative to the main body under the action of the adjusting part and the elastic member, thereby the movable adjusting component switches between a first position and a second position relative to the main body.

[0042] In this type of embodiment, the movable support switches positions by rotation, and this movement method can achieve high-precision positioning through precise angle control.

[0043] In some exemplary embodiments of this disclosure, the movable bracket is provided with an adjusting wheel, the adjusting wheel is rotatably connected to the movable bracket, and the wheel surface of the adjusting wheel is in rolling contact with the adjusting part, and the rotation axis of the adjusting wheel is perpendicular to the transmission shaft.

[0044] In this type of embodiment, the movable support is equipped with an adjusting wheel, the wheel surface of which makes rolling contact with the adjusting part. This rolling contact design significantly reduces hard contact and friction between mechanical components, thereby reducing mechanical wear and improving the stability and reliability of the system. Rolling contact also reduces noise and vibration during operation, improving the comfort of the operating environment. Furthermore, the rotation axis of the adjusting wheel is perpendicular to the drive shaft; this design allows the adjusting wheel to make more stable contact with the adjusting part, improving adjustment accuracy. Through rolling contact, the adjusting wheel can respond more precisely to the movement of the adjusting part, further optimizing the position control of the movable support and ensuring precise adjustment of the clamping force.

[0045] In some exemplary embodiments of this disclosure, when the active adjustment component is in the first position, a first gap is formed between the first extrusion wheel and the second extrusion wheel;

[0046] The adjusting part has a third abutting part. When the movable adjusting component is in the second position, the adjusting wheel contacts and abuts the third abutting part, and a second gap is formed between the first extrusion wheel and the second extrusion wheel.

[0047] The first gap is smaller than the second gap.

[0048] In this type of embodiment, the clamping force variation of the first and second extrusion wheels is achieved by setting the difference between the first and second gaps and the contact limiting mechanism between the adjusting wheel and the adjusting part. When the movable adjusting component is in the first position, the first and second extrusion wheels form a small gap (the first gap), at which point the wire is subjected to bidirectional rigid constraint, and the clamping force reaches its maximum value. When switching to the second position, the third abutment part of the adjusting part forms a hard contact with the adjusting wheel, forcing the distance between the two extrusion wheels to widen to the second gap. The design of the third abutment part on the adjusting part, combined with the force of the elastic element, achieves mechanical self-adjustment of the clamping force of the two extrusion wheels through the synergistic effect of the rigid contact point and the elastic restoring force, without the need for sensor feedback.

[0049] In some exemplary embodiments of this disclosure, the adjusting part is a nut, which is helically connected to the drive shaft. The nut has a first end and a second end that are axially opposite to each other on the drive shaft. The outer diameter of the first end is smaller than the outer diameter of the second end. The third abutting part is located on the outer wall of the nut in the region near the second end.

[0050] In this type of embodiment, the clamping force variation of the first and second extrusion wheels is achieved by setting the difference between the first and second gaps and the contact limiting mechanism between the movable support and the adjustment part. When the movable adjustment component is in the first position, the first and second extrusion wheels form a small gap (the first gap), at which point the wire is subjected to bidirectional rigid constraint, and the clamping force reaches its maximum value. When switched to the second position, the first abutting part of the adjustment part and the second abutting part of the movable support form a hard contact, forcing the distance between the two extrusion wheels to widen to the second gap. The design of the third abutting part on the adjustment part, combined with the force of the elastic element, achieves mechanical self-adjustment of the clamping force of the two extrusion wheels through the synergistic effect of the rigid contact point and the elastic restoring force, without the need for sensor feedback.

[0051] In some exemplary embodiments of this disclosure, the movable bracket is located on one side of the drive shaft in a first direction, the first direction being perpendicular to the axial direction of the drive shaft;

[0052] The movable support is a bent structure, with one end of the bent structure rotatably connected to the main body and the other end bent and extended toward the drive shaft and rotatably connected to the adjusting wheel.

[0053] The second extrusion wheel is rotatably connected to the movable bracket, and the second extrusion wheel is located on one side of the drive shaft in the first direction, while the first extrusion wheel is located between the drive shaft and the second extrusion wheel.

[0054] When the adjusting part reciprocates along the axial direction of the transmission shaft, it drives the second extrusion wheel away from or closer to the first extrusion wheel through the movable bracket.

[0055] In this type of embodiment, the second extrusion wheel is rotatably connected to the movable bracket and located on one side of the drive shaft in the first direction, while the first extrusion wheel is located between the drive shaft and the second extrusion wheel. This arrangement allows the movable bracket to precisely move the second extrusion wheel away from or towards the first extrusion wheel as the adjusting part reciprocates along the axial direction of the drive shaft, thereby achieving precise control of the clamping force. This precise control not only improves the stability of material feeding and ensures the compatibility of wires of different materials, but also meets the requirements for material unloading, significantly reducing the material unloading failure rate.

[0056] Secondly, the movable support is located on one side of the drive shaft in the first direction and has a bent structure. This design makes the movable support more compact in space, reduces the overall size of the mechanism, and improves the system integration. One end of the bent structure is rotatably connected to the main body, and the other end bends and extends towards the drive shaft, where it is rotatably connected to the adjusting wheel. This design makes full use of the limited space, making the entire mechanism more compact.

[0057] In some exemplary embodiments of this disclosure, the feeding assembly further includes:

[0058] The fourth gear is connected to the drive shaft and is coaxially arranged with the drive shaft;

[0059] The fifth gear meshes with the fourth gear;

[0060] The first extrusion wheel and the fifth gear are coaxially arranged via a fixed shaft.

[0061] In this type of embodiment, the feeding assembly further includes a fourth gear and a fifth gear, with the first extrusion wheel and the fifth gear coaxially arranged via a fixed shaft. This design reduces energy loss and mechanical vibration during power transmission, improving the stability and reliability of the system.

[0062] In some exemplary embodiments of this disclosure, the switching component further includes a spring section located on at least one side of the adjusting section along the axial direction of the drive shaft, for providing spring force to the adjusting section.

[0063] In this type of embodiment, the design of the elastic part ensures that the adjusting part and the drive shaft are always engaged. Furthermore, the elasticity of the elastic part reduces wear caused by mechanical vibration or impact, extending the service life of the equipment. This design not only improves the stability and reliability of the system but also reduces maintenance costs.

[0064] In some exemplary embodiments of this disclosure, the drive shaft is provided with an external thread for helical transmission connection with the adjusting part; the elastic part is located on at least one side of the external thread in the axial direction of the drive shaft, and the distance between the elastic part and the external thread in the axial direction of the drive shaft is less than the size of the adjusting part in the axial direction of the drive shaft.

[0065] In this type of embodiment, the distance design between the elastic part and the external thread ensures that the nut can always engage with the drive shaft under the influence of the elastic element, avoiding transmission interruption or failure caused by the nut disengaging from the drive shaft.

[0066] In some exemplary embodiments of this disclosure, there are two elastic parts, namely a first elastic part and a second elastic part. The first elastic part and the second elastic part are sleeved on the transmission shaft, and the first elastic part and the second elastic part are respectively located on both sides of the adjustment part in the axial direction of the transmission shaft.

[0067] In this type of embodiment, there are two elastic parts, namely a first elastic part and a second elastic part. The first elastic part and the second elastic part are sleeved on the drive shaft and are located on both sides of the adjusting part along the axial direction of the drive shaft. This symmetrical design further improves the balance and stability of the system, so that the adjusting part can always be engaged with the drive shaft regardless of whether it moves forward or backward along the axial direction of the drive shaft, avoiding transmission interruption or failure due to disengagement from the drive shaft.

[0068] In some exemplary embodiments of this disclosure, the material feeding mechanism further includes:

[0069] The material ejection assembly is disposed on the main body;

[0070] The unloading assembly includes:

[0071] The connecting piece is rotatably connected to the drive shaft;

[0072] The first gear is connected to the connecting member and is coaxially arranged with the transmission shaft;

[0073] The second gear is rotatably connected to the connector and meshes with the first gear. The second gear and the connector are circumferentially pivoting around the transmission shaft as the transmission shaft and the first gear rotate.

[0074] The third gear is connected to the main body and coupled to the material tray drive;

[0075] When the movable adjustment component is in the first position and the unloading component is in the third position, the second gear and the third gear are disengaged; when the movable adjustment component is in the second position and the unloading component is in the fourth position, the second gear and the third gear are engaged to drive the material tray to rotate and wind the consumables.

[0076] In this type of embodiment, the rotating pair design of the connector allows the second gear to pivot circumferentially around the drive shaft while maintaining engagement with the first gear, thereby completing the switching between disengagement and coupling with the material tray drive, thus achieving precise switching of the unloading assembly between the third and fourth positions.

[0077] Through the transmission coupling of the third gear, the unloading assembly can drive the material tray to rotate more stably, further reducing the risk of unloading failure. This design improves the overall reliability of the system and extends the service life of the equipment.

[0078] In some exemplary embodiments of this disclosure, the main body is provided with a guide portion, and when the drive shaft rotates, the guide portion guides the adjusting portion to move axially along the drive shaft.

[0079] In this type of embodiment, the guide structure provides physical constraints on the motion trajectory. The groove contour is designed to match the shape of the adjustment part, precisely converting rotational motion into axial linear motion.

[0080] According to a second aspect of this disclosure, a material box is provided, comprising:

[0081] At least one trolley on which filament for 3D printing is wound;

[0082] And at least one material feeding mechanism as described in any embodiment of the first aspect;

[0083] Each of the aforementioned trays is equipped with a material feeding mechanism.

[0084] According to a third aspect of this disclosure, a 3D printer system is provided, comprising:

[0085] printer;

[0086] A material conveying device for conveying wire to the printer, including a material feeding mechanism as described in any embodiment of the first aspect.

[0087] It should be understood that the above general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only, and are not intended to limit this specification. Attached Figure Description

[0088] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and form part of this specification, illustrate embodiments consistent with this specification and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of this specification.

[0089] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the material feeding mechanism structure in an exemplary embodiment of this disclosure.

[0090] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the material feeding mechanism after removing part of its main body in an exemplary embodiment of this disclosure.

[0091] Figure 3 This is an exploded view of the material feeding mechanism in an exemplary embodiment of this disclosure.

[0092] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the state when the activity adjustment component is in the first position in an exemplary embodiment of this disclosure.

[0093] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the state when the ejection component is in the third position in an exemplary embodiment of this disclosure.

[0094] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the state when the activity adjustment component is in the second position in an exemplary embodiment of this disclosure.

[0095] Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of the state when the ejection component is in the fourth position in an exemplary embodiment of this disclosure.

[0096] Figure 8 This is a schematic diagram of a portion of the main body structure in an exemplary embodiment of this disclosure.

[0097] Figure 9 This is a schematic diagram of the adjustment section structure in an exemplary embodiment of this disclosure.

[0098] Figure 10 This is a schematic cross-sectional view of the material feeding mechanism in an exemplary embodiment of this disclosure.

[0099] Figure 11 This is a schematic diagram of the transmission shaft structure in an exemplary embodiment of this disclosure.

[0100] Figure 12 This is a schematic diagram of the material feeding mechanism structure in another exemplary embodiment of this disclosure.

[0101] Figure 13 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the active adjustment component and adjustment part in another exemplary embodiment of this disclosure.

[0102] Figure 14 This is a schematic diagram of the adjustment section structure in another exemplary embodiment of this disclosure.

[0103] Figure 15 This is a schematic diagram of the state when the activity adjustment component is in the first position in another exemplary embodiment of this disclosure.

[0104] Figure 16 This is a schematic diagram of the state when the activity adjustment component is in the second position in another exemplary embodiment of this disclosure.

[0105] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached figures

[0106] 100-Main body; 110-Guide part; 200-Feeding assembly; 210-First extrusion wheel; 220-Second extrusion wheel; 230-Modular adjustment assembly; 231-Modular bracket; 2311-Protrusion; 2312-Second abutment part; 2313-First connecting part; 232-Elastic element; 233-Adjusting wheel; 240-Fourth gear; 250-Fifth gear; 300-Switching assembly; 310-Drive mechanism; 311-Helical gear; 320-Drive shaft; 321 - Slot; 330 - Adjustment part; 331 - First end; 332 - Second end; 333 - Mounting slot; 334 - First abutment part; 335 - Third abutment part; 340 - Elastic part; 341 - First elastic part; 342 - Second elastic part; 400 - Unloading assembly; 410 - Connector; 411 - First connector; 412 - Second connector; 413 - Third connector; 420 - First gear; 430 - Second gear; 440 - Third gear; Y - First direction. Detailed Implementation

[0107] Exemplary embodiments will now be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, these exemplary embodiments can be implemented in many forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, they are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the concept of the exemplary embodiments to those skilled in the art. The same reference numerals in the drawings denote the same or similar structures, and therefore detailed descriptions of them will be omitted. Furthermore, the drawings are merely illustrative of this disclosure and are not necessarily drawn to scale.

[0108] Although relative terms such as "up" and "down" are used in this specification to describe the relative relationship of one component of an icon to another, these terms are used only for convenience, such as according to the orientation of the examples shown in the accompanying drawings. It is understood that if the device of the icon is flipped upside down, the component described as "up" will become the component described as "down." When a structure is "up" of another structure, it may mean that the structure is integrally formed on the other structure, or that the structure is "directly" mounted on the other structure, or that the structure is "indirectly" mounted on the other structure through another structure.

[0109] The terms “a,” “one,” “the,” “the,” and “at least one” are used to indicate the presence of one or more elements / components / etc.; the terms “including” and “having” are used to indicate an open-ended inclusion and to mean that there may be other elements / components / etc. in addition to the listed elements / components / etc.; the terms “first,” “second,” and “third,” etc., are used only as markers and are not a limitation on the number of objects.

[0110] In this disclosure, terms such as "perpendicular" and "equal" refer to perpendicularity and equality within the range of process error, not absolute perpendicularity and equality. Process error can be within ±10% or ±5%. For example, if the first direction and the second direction are perpendicular, it can be understood that the angle between the first direction and the second direction can be 90° ± 5°.

[0111] In 3D printing systems, the material feeding mechanism is one of the key mechanisms to ensure smooth material feeding and unfeeding during the printing process. However, in related technologies: whether feeding or unfeeding, the clamping force between the two extrusion rollers remains constant; when unfeeding is required, the unfeeding component drives the filament drive roller to rotate, thereby retrieving the filament. However, the clamping force between the extrusion roller and idler roller of the feeding component remains constant, resulting in the filament requiring additional force from the filament to overcome the clamping force during unfeeding. However, the force pulling the filament back during filament unfeeding mainly comes from the friction between the filament edge and the drive roller. Furthermore, as the filament weight gradually decreases during use, the filament edge (e.g., an environmentally friendly paper filament filament) wears down, reducing friction and making unfeeding more prone to failure. In addition, due to its structural characteristics, to reduce the risk of unfeeding failure, the clamping force provided by the feeding component should not be too large, resulting in insufficient extrusion force from the feeding component. For special consumables such as TPU, a larger extrusion force is required to achieve material feeding.

[0112] Therefore, how to provide a material feeding mechanism that can provide a large extrusion force to the wire during feeding and effectively reduce the risk of material return during unloading is a technical problem that urgently needs to be solved by those skilled in the art.

[0113] Based on this, such as Figures 1 to 4 , Figure 6 As shown, this disclosure provides a material feeding mechanism, including a main body 100, a feeding assembly 200, and a switching assembly 300. The feeding assembly 200 is disposed on the main body 100 and includes a first extrusion wheel 210, a second extrusion wheel 220, and a movable adjustment assembly 230. The second extrusion wheel 220 is rotatably connected to the movable adjustment assembly 230. The switching assembly 300 is disposed on the main body 100 and includes a drive mechanism 310, a transmission shaft 320, and an adjustment part 330. The transmission shaft 320 is connected to the power output end of the drive mechanism 310, and the adjustment part 330 is connected to the transmission shaft 320.

[0114] The first extrusion wheel 210 is connected to the drive shaft 320. Driven by the drive mechanism 310, the drive shaft 320 drives the adjustment part 330 to move, causing the movable adjustment component 230 to switch between a first position and a second position relative to the main body 100. When the movable adjustment component 230 is in the first position, the first extrusion wheel 210 and the second extrusion wheel 220 apply a first clamping force to the wire. When the movable adjustment component 230 is in the second position, the first extrusion wheel 210 and the second extrusion wheel 220 apply a second clamping force to the wire. The second clamping force is less than the first clamping force.

[0115] The material feeding mechanism disclosed herein includes a main body 100, a feeding assembly 200, and a switching assembly 300. The first extrusion wheel 210 and the second extrusion wheel 220 in the feeding assembly 200 are switched in position by the movable adjustment assembly 230, which can adjust the clamping force between the two extrusion wheels.

[0116] When the active adjustment component 230 is in the first position, it provides a larger first clamping force to ensure that soft materials such as TPU can be stably conveyed during the feeding process, and that the material will not slip or the conveying will be unstable due to insufficient clamping force.

[0117] When the movable adjustment component 230 is in the second position, a smaller second clamping force is provided to meet the wire unloading requirements. Specifically, when the movable adjustment component 230 is in the second position, the first extrusion wheel 210 and the second extrusion wheel 220 provide a smaller second clamping force to the wire, significantly reducing the resistance that the tray needs to overcome during unloading, making the unloading process smoother and reducing the risk of unloading failure. Especially for lightweight trays and paper trays, this design can effectively avoid unloading difficulties caused by excessive clamping force.

[0118] In addition, the switching component 300 includes a drive mechanism 310, a transmission shaft 320, and an adjustment part 330. The transmission shaft 320 is connected to the power output end of the drive mechanism 310, and the adjustment part 330 is connected to the transmission shaft 320, so that the movable adjustment component 230 can accurately switch between the first position and the second position under the drive of the drive mechanism 310, further optimizing the efficiency and stability of power transmission.

[0119] The various parts of the material feeding mechanism provided in the embodiments of this disclosure will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings:

[0120] like Figures 1 to 3As shown, the main body 100 can serve as a support structure for the material feeding mechanism to support other components. The main body 100 may include a lower housing and an upper housing connected to each other, with a detachable connection between the two housings. A cavity exists between the lower and upper housings, which can be used to accommodate other components of the material feeding mechanism, but is not limited thereto. The structure of the main body 100 can be varied, and the shapes of the lower and upper housings can also be varied. The specific structure can be set according to the shape and size of the components included in the material feeding mechanism, and this disclosure does not impose any special limitations in this regard. Figure 1 In the image, the main body 100 includes a lower shell and an upper shell. Figure 2 The main body 100 shown is the main body 100 after the upper shell has been removed.

[0121] Both the feeding assembly 200 and the unloading assembly 400 are disposed on the main body 100. The feeding assembly 200 includes a first extrusion wheel 210, a second extrusion wheel 220, and an adjustment assembly 230. The switching assembly 300 includes a drive mechanism 310, a transmission shaft 320, and an adjustment part 330.

[0122] The wire can be extruded between the first extrusion wheel 210 and the second extrusion wheel 220 to complete the feeding process. In this disclosure, the first extrusion wheel 210 is the driving wheel, and the second extrusion wheel 220 is the driven wheel. The first extrusion wheel 210 is connected to the drive shaft 320, which is connected to the power output end of the drive mechanism 310. When the drive mechanism 310 is activated, the drive shaft 320 rotates, which drives the first extrusion wheel 210 to rotate, and in turn drives the second extrusion wheel 220 to rotate, thus achieving feeding. The surface of the first extrusion wheel 210 can be textured to increase the friction between it and the wire.

[0123] like Figure 2 and Figure 12 As shown, the drive mechanism 310 can be a drive motor, and the transmission shaft 320 can be directly connected to the output shaft of the drive mechanism 310, or it can be indirectly connected to the drive mechanism 310 through other components, as long as the driving force of the drive mechanism 310 can drive the transmission shaft 320 to rotate. For example, the output shaft of the drive mechanism 310 is perpendicular to the transmission shaft 320, and a worm gear can be connected to the output shaft of the drive mechanism 310. A helical gear 311 can be connected to the transmission shaft 320, and the helical gear 311 meshes with the worm gear. When the drive mechanism 310 starts, the driving force is transmitted to the transmission shaft 320 through the worm gear and the helical gear 311, causing the transmission shaft 320 to start rotating. In addition, there are many other ways to connect the drive mechanism 310 and the transmission shaft 320, which will not be listed here.

[0124] The second extrusion wheel 220 is rotatably connected to the movable adjustment assembly 230, and the adjustment part 330 is connected to the drive shaft 320. Driven by the drive mechanism 310, the drive shaft 320 drives the adjustment part 330 to move, causing the movable adjustment assembly 230 to switch between a first position and a second position relative to the main body 100. When the movable adjustment assembly 230 is in the first position, the first extrusion wheel 210 and the second extrusion wheel 220 apply a first clamping force to the wire. The first clamping force is relatively large, which can meet the feeding requirements of wires that require a large extrusion force, such as thermoplastic polyurethane elastomer (TPU).

[0125] When the movable adjustment component 230 is in the second position, the first extrusion wheel 210 and the second extrusion wheel 220 apply a second clamping force to the wire. This second clamping force is relatively small and sufficient to meet the wire unloading requirements. The second clamping force can be zero. Specifically, when the movable adjustment component 230 is in the second position, the first extrusion wheel 210 and the second extrusion wheel 220 apply a small second clamping force to the wire, significantly reducing the resistance the material tray needs to overcome during unloading, making the unloading process smoother and reducing the risk of unloading failure.

[0126] Furthermore, the feeding assembly 200 of this disclosure includes a first extrusion wheel 210 that is driveably connected to a drive shaft 320, and a second extrusion wheel 220 that is rotatably connected to a movable adjustment assembly 230. During feeding, the first extrusion wheel 210 is the driving wheel, and the second extrusion wheel 220 is the driven wheel. When the movable adjustment assembly 230 switches positions, it drives the second extrusion wheel 220 to move, thereby adjusting the clamping force between the first extrusion wheel 210 and the second extrusion wheel 220.

[0127] When the drive mechanism 310 is driven, the transmission shaft 320 can drive the adjusting part 330 to reciprocate in a certain direction, thereby changing the position of the movable adjusting component 230 relative to the main body 100 by changing the position of the adjusting part 330. There are several ways to connect the drive mechanism 310 to drive the adjusting part 330 to reciprocate via the transmission shaft 320. For example, using the crank-slider mechanism principle, the transmission shaft 320 is connected to the output end of the drive mechanism 310, and a linkage mechanism connects the transmission shaft 320 and the adjusting part 330. When the drive mechanism 310 rotates, it drives the transmission shaft 320 to rotate, and the transmission shaft 320 drives the adjusting part 330 to reciprocate along a straight line via the linkage mechanism. Alternatively, using the threaded pair principle, the adjusting part 330 is threadedly connected to the transmission shaft 320. When the drive mechanism 310 drives the transmission shaft 320 to rotate, this connection method converts the rotational displacement of the transmission shaft 320 into the axial displacement of the adjusting part 330, allowing the adjusting part 330 to reciprocate along the axial direction of the transmission shaft 320. It should be noted that this is only an example, and the specific connection method between the drive shaft 320 and the adjustment part 330 is not limited to this.

[0128] The clamping force between the first extrusion roller 210 and the second extrusion roller 220 can be adjusted by changing the gap between them. The first clamping force corresponds to a smaller gap, and the second clamping force corresponds to a larger gap. Optionally, during the process of switching the movable adjustment component 230 from the first position to the second position, the clamping force between the first extrusion roller 210 and the second extrusion roller 220 can gradually decrease, and correspondingly, the gap between them can gradually increase. Similarly, during the process of switching the movable adjustment component 230 from the second position to the first position, the clamping force between the first extrusion roller 210 and the second extrusion roller 220 can gradually increase, and correspondingly, the gap between them can gradually decrease.

[0129] In some embodiments of this disclosure, when the drive mechanism 310 drives the transmission shaft 320 to rotate, the adjusting part 330 moves along the axial direction of the transmission shaft 320. For example, when the drive mechanism 310 rotates forward, the adjusting part 330 can move forward along the axial direction of the transmission shaft 320, and when the drive mechanism 310 rotates in reverse, the adjusting part 330 can move backward along the axial direction of the transmission shaft 320.

[0130] Compared to other motion methods (such as radial or rotary motion), the axial movement of the adjustment unit 330 along the drive shaft 320 provides the movable adjustment component 230 with a greater adjustment force, such as thrust, thereby reducing the load on the drive mechanism 310. Furthermore, the axial movement of the adjustment unit 330 along the drive shaft 320 avoids the need for additional connecting components, making the entire switching assembly 300 more compact and reducing space requirements.

[0131] like Figures 8 to 10 As shown, in order to ensure the stability of the adjustment part 330 moving along the axial direction of the transmission shaft 320, a guide part 110 can be provided on the adjustment part 330 and / or the main body 100. When the transmission shaft 320 rotates, the guide part 110 guides the adjustment part 330 to move along the axial direction of the transmission shaft 320.

[0132] The guide section 110 can have various structural forms. For example... Figure 8 and Figure 9 As shown, the guide portion 110 can be a long strip structure, specifically a long strip extending axially along the drive shaft 320 and disposed on the main body 100. The adjusting portion 330 is provided with a groove adapted to the long strip. The two are combined to restrict the rotation of the adjusting portion 330, thereby ensuring the axial movement of the adjusting portion 330. Alternatively, a groove can be provided on the main body 100 and a long strip structure can be provided on the adjusting portion 330, but it is not limited to this.

[0133] Furthermore, such as Figure 2 , Figure 3 , Figure 13 and Figure 14As shown, the switching assembly 300 also includes a spring portion 340, which is located on at least one side of the adjusting assembly 330 along the axial direction of the drive shaft 320, and is used to provide elastic force to the adjusting assembly 330. The spring portion 340 can be a spring, a rubber pad, or a metal spring, but is not limited to these. The spring portion 340 can be fixed to the main body 100 or to the drive shaft 320, as long as it can provide elastic force to the adjusting assembly 330, such as providing elastic force along the axial direction of the drive shaft. The provision of the spring portion 340 can reduce wear between the adjusting assembly 330 and other components, and to a certain extent, can also reduce noise and enhance the stability of the movement of the adjusting assembly 330. In addition, the spring portion 340 can limit the range of motion of the adjusting assembly 330, so that the adjusting assembly 330 can always drive the movable adjusting assembly 230 to switch between the first position and the second position.

[0134] Specifically, taking the screw drive connection between the adjusting part 330 and the drive shaft 320 as an example, when the drive mechanism 310 rotates forward, the adjusting part 330 moves away from the first extrusion wheel 210 and to its limit position. At this time, the movable adjusting component 230 is in the second position. When the drive mechanism 310 rotates in reverse, the adjusting part 330 moves towards the first extrusion wheel 210, causing the movable adjusting component 230 to switch from the second position to the first position. During this process, under the action of the elastic part 340, the adjusting part 330 remains engaged with the drive shaft 320, avoiding transmission interruption or failure caused by the adjusting part 330 disengaging from the drive shaft.

[0135] like Figure 2 , Figure 3 and Figure 11 As shown, the elastic part 340 is a spring-loaded structure that can be engaged with the drive shaft 320. Correspondingly, the drive shaft 320 is provided with a slot 321 for the spring-loaded piece to be engaged. The shape of the spring-loaded piece can be various, and this disclosure does not limit it. For example, Figure 13 and Figure 14 As shown, the elastic part 340 is a spring, which can be embedded on one side of the adjusting part 330, such as on the side of the adjusting part 330 away from the first extrusion wheel 210. When the drive mechanism 310 rotates forward, the adjusting part 330, along with the elastic part 340, moves away from the first extrusion wheel 210. When it reaches a certain position, the adjusting part 330 stops moving. At this time, the movable adjusting component 230 is in the second position, and the elastic part 340 abuts against other components on the drive shaft 320. When the drive mechanism 310 reverses, the adjusting part 330 moves towards the first extrusion wheel 210, causing the movable adjusting component 230 to switch from the second position to the first position. During this process, the adjusting part 330, under the action of the elastic part 340, remains engaged with the drive shaft 320, preventing transmission interruption or failure caused by the adjusting part 330 disengaging from the drive shaft.

[0136] Furthermore, such as Figure 11As shown, the drive shaft 320 is provided with an external thread for screw drive connection with the adjusting part 330; the elastic part 340 is located on at least one side of the external thread in the axial direction of the drive shaft 320, and the distance L1 between the elastic part 340 and the external thread in the axial direction of the drive shaft 320 is less than the dimension of the adjusting part 330 in the axial direction of the drive shaft 320. In this design, the elastic part 340 can be a metal spring or a rubber gasket, etc.

[0137] There are two elastic parts 340, namely a first elastic part 341 and a second elastic part 342. The first elastic part 341 and the second elastic part 342 are sleeved on the transmission shaft 320, and the first elastic part 341 and the second elastic part 342 are respectively located on both sides of the adjustment part 330 in the axial direction of the transmission shaft 320.

[0138] In this type of embodiment, there are two elastic parts 340, namely a first elastic part 341 and a second elastic part 342. The first elastic part 341 and the second elastic part 342 are sleeved on the transmission shaft 320 and are respectively located on both sides of the adjusting part 330 in the axial direction of the transmission shaft 320. This symmetrical design further improves the balance and stability of the system, so that the adjusting part 330 can always be engaged with the transmission shaft 320, regardless of whether it moves forward or backward in the axial direction of the transmission shaft 320, avoiding transmission interruption or failure due to disengagement from the transmission shaft.

[0139] Furthermore, such as Figure 2 and Figure 3 As shown, the material feeding mechanism also includes a material ejection assembly 400, disposed on the main body 100. When the movable adjustment assembly 230 switches between a first position and a second position relative to the main body 100, the material ejection assembly 400 switches between a third position and a fourth position relative to the main body 100; when the movable adjustment assembly 230 is in the first position, the material ejection assembly 400 is in the third position, and the material ejection assembly 400 is separated from the material tray drive. Figure 5 When the adjustment component 230 is in the second position, the unloading component 400 is in the fourth position, and the unloading component 400 is coupled to the material tray drive. Figure 7 ).

[0140] Optionally, the unloading assembly 400 includes a connector 410, a first gear 420, and a second gear 430. The connector 410 is rotatably connected to the drive shaft 320. The first gear 420 is connected to the connector 410 and coaxially arranged with the drive shaft 320. The second gear 430 is rotatably connected to the connector 410 and meshes with the first gear 420. The second gear 430 and the connector 410 can pivot circumferentially around the drive shaft 320 as the drive shaft 320 and the first gear 420 rotate. When the unloading assembly 400 is in the third position, the second gear 430 is disengaged from the material tray drive; when the unloading assembly 400 is in the fourth position, the second gear 430 is coupled to the material tray drive.

[0141] The connector 410 may include a first connector 411, a second connector 412, and a third connector 413. The first connector 411 and the second connector 412 may be located on opposite sides of the first gear 420 and the second gear 430 along the axial direction of the transmission shaft 320, respectively. The third connector 413 is used to fix the first connector 411 and the second connector 412. The third connector 413 can be snapped onto the first connector 411 and the second connector 412. Specifically, the third connector 413 may include two vertical pieces and a horizontal piece connecting the two vertical pieces, and the two vertical pieces can be snapped onto the first connector 411 and the second connector 412, respectively.

[0142] Optionally, the unloading assembly 400 further includes a third gear 440 connected to the main body 100 and coupled to the material tray drive. When the unloading assembly 400 is in the third position, the second gear 430 and the third gear 440 are disengaged. When the unloading assembly 400 is in the fourth position, the second gear 430 and the third gear 440 are engaged to drive the material tray to rotate and wind the consumables.

[0143] In this type of embodiment, the rotating pair design of the connector 410 allows the second gear 430 to pivot circumferentially about the drive shaft 320 while maintaining engagement with the first gear 420, thereby completing the switching between drive separation and drive coupling with the material tray, thus realizing the precise switching of the unloading assembly 400 between the third and fourth positions.

[0144] Through the transmission coupling of the third gear 440, the unloading assembly 400 can drive the material tray to rotate more stably, further reducing the risk of unloading failure. This design improves the overall reliability of the system and extends the service life of the equipment.

[0145] The movable adjustment assembly 230 includes a movable support 231 and an elastic element 232. The movable support 231 is disposed on the main body 100, and the second extrusion wheel 220 is rotatably connected to the movable support 231. One end of the elastic element 232 is connected to the main body 100, and the other end can abut against the movable support 231. Under the action of the adjustment part 330 and the elastic element 232, the movable support 231 rotates or reciprocates relative to the main body 100. Reciprocating motion refers to moving back and forth along a straight line.

[0146] The movable support 231 is movably disposed on the main body 100, and its arrangement can be sliding or rotating, etc., which is not limited in this disclosure. The elastic element 232 can be a spring or an elastic plastic structure, but is not limited to these. One end of the elastic element 232 can be fixed to the main body 100, and the other end is a free end, which can abut against the movable support 231 in some cases. For example, when the movable adjustment component 230 is in the second position, the other end of the elastic element 232 abuts against the movable support 231, and the elastic element 232 is in a compressed state. When the movable adjustment component 230 is in the first position, the other end of the elastic element 232 may or may not abut against the movable support 231.

[0147] In this disclosure, the movement of the movable support 231 relative to the main body 100 can be rotational or reciprocating. The material feeding mechanism provided in this disclosure will be described by way of example from the aspects of rotation and reciprocating motion.

[0148] like Figures 1 to 3 , Figure 6 As shown, when the movable bracket 231 reciprocates relative to the main body 100 under the action of the adjusting part 330 and the elastic element 232, its movement path can be multiple. Preferably, the movement path of the movable bracket 231 is perpendicular to the axis of the rotation shaft. That is, driven by the transmission shaft 320, the adjusting part 330 reciprocates along the axis of the transmission shaft 320, causing the movable bracket 231 to reciprocate along the first direction Y under the action of the adjusting part 330 and the elastic element 232, thereby switching the movable adjusting component 230 between the first position and the second position relative to the main body 100. The first direction Y is perpendicular to the axis of the transmission shaft 320. In this way, the displacement space of the movable bracket 231 and the axial space of the transmission shaft 320 form a three-dimensional cross layout, saving space in the axial direction of the transmission shaft 320, which is particularly suitable for scenarios where multiple trays are installed side by side.

[0149] Specifically, such as Figure 4 and Figure 6 As shown, when the movable adjustment component 230 is in the first position, a first gap is formed between the first extrusion wheel 210 and the second extrusion wheel 220. Figure 4 The adjusting part 330 has a first abutting part 334, and the movable support 231 includes a second abutting part 2312. When the movable adjusting part 230 is in the second position, the second abutting part 2312 abuts against the first abutting part 334, and a second gap is formed between the first extrusion wheel 210 and the second extrusion wheel 220. Figure 6The first gap is smaller than the second gap. In the second gap state, the clamping force of the first extrusion wheel 210 and the second extrusion wheel 220 can be 0. That is, the second clamping force can be 0. It should be noted that the first abutment portion 334 can be a point, a line, or a surface, specifically determined based on the abutment state between the second abutment portion 2312 and the adjustment portion 330. When the movable adjustment component 230 is in the first position, the movable bracket 231 may or may not abut against the adjustment portion 330; no specific limitation is made.

[0150] In this type of embodiment, by setting the difference between the first gap and the second gap, and the contact limiting mechanism between the movable support 231 and the adjustment part 330, the clamping force variation of the first extrusion wheel 210 and the second extrusion wheel 220 is realized. When the movable adjustment part 230 is in the first position, the first extrusion wheel 210 and the second extrusion wheel 220 form a small gap (the first gap), at which time the wire is subject to bidirectional rigid constraint, and the clamping force reaches its maximum value; when switching to the second position, the first abutment part 334 of the adjustment part 330 forms a hard contact with the second abutment part 2312 of the movable support 231, forcing the distance between the two extrusion wheels to expand to the second gap. The design of the first abutment part 334 on the adjustment part 330, combined with the force of the elastic element 232, achieves mechanical self-adjustment of the clamping force of the two extrusion wheels through the synergistic effect of the rigid contact point and the elastic restoring force, without the need for sensor feedback.

[0151] In this embodiment, the clamping force between the first extrusion wheel 210 and the second extrusion wheel 220 is mainly adjusted by the relative position of the adjusting part 330 and the second abutting part 2312. Optionally, one of the opposing surfaces of the adjusting part 330 and the second abutting part 2312 can be a plane and the other can be an inclined plane. In this way, when the two move relative to each other, the gap between them will change, thereby changing the gap between the first extrusion wheel 210 and the second extrusion wheel 220, and thus changing the clamping force.

[0152] For example, such as Figure 3 and Figure 9 As shown, the adjusting part 330 is a nut, which is screwed to the drive shaft 320. The nut has a first end 331 and a second end 332 that are axially opposite to each other on the drive shaft 320. The second end 332 is located on the side of the nut away from the first extrusion wheel 210. The outer diameter of the first end 331 is smaller than the outer diameter of the second end 332, and the outer diameter of the nut gradually increases from the first end 331 to the second end 332. The first abutting part 334 is located on the outer side wall of the nut near the second end 332. The nut can be approximately conical in shape, with the smaller outer diameter area corresponding to the movable adjusting component 230 being in the first position, and the larger outer diameter area corresponding to the movable adjusting component 230 being in the second position.

[0153] The nut has a first end 331 and a second end 332 axially opposite each other on the drive shaft 320, with the outer diameter of the first end 331 being smaller than that of the second end 332. This tapered design allows the position of the nut on the drive shaft 320 to be precisely adjusted by changing its outer diameter. When the drive shaft 320 rotates, the nut moves axially along the drive shaft 320, interacting with the second abutment portion 2312 of the movable support 231 through its tapered structure, thereby achieving precise control of the position of the movable support 231 and controlling the clamping force between the first extrusion wheel 210 and the second extrusion wheel 220. This design not only improves the adjustment accuracy of the system but also simplifies the adjustment process, making operation more convenient.

[0154] The first extrusion wheel 210 is coaxially arranged with the drive shaft 320. When the drive shaft 320 rotates, it can drive the first extrusion wheel 210 to rotate. The movable bracket 231 also includes a first connecting part 2313, which is located on the side of the second abutment part 2312 in the axial direction of the drive shaft 320. The second extrusion wheel 220 is rotatably connected to the first connecting part 2313. The second extrusion wheel 220 is located on the side of the first extrusion wheel 210 in the first direction Y. When the adjusting part 330 reciprocates along the axial direction of the drive shaft 320, it drives the second extrusion wheel 220 away from or closer to the first extrusion wheel 210 through the movable bracket 231.

[0155] In this type of embodiment, the elastic element 232 may be located on the side of the movable support 231 away from the first extrusion wheel 210. There may be multiple elastic elements 232. Optionally, the elastic element 232 is a spring, and the extension / retraction direction of the spring is parallel to the movement direction of the movable support 231. That is, the extension / retraction direction of the spring is perpendicular to the axial direction of the drive shaft 320. There may be two or more springs, distributed at different positions on the side of the movable support 231 away from the first extrusion wheel 210.

[0156] Optionally, the surface of the movable support 231 is provided with protrusions 2311, which are used to reduce the contact area between the movable support 231 and the main body 100. The specific location of the protrusions 2311 can be determined according to the relative positional relationship between the movable support 231 and the main body 100. Specifically, the surface of the movable support 231 that contacts the main body 100 may be partially or entirely provided with protrusions 2311. The protrusions 2311 can have various shapes, such as elongated, cylindrical, elliptical, or irregular shapes.

[0157] In other embodiments of this disclosure, such as Figure 12 and Figure 13As shown, the trajectory of the movable support 231's rotation relative to the main body 100 under the action of the adjusting part 330 and the elastic member 232 can be approximately arc-shaped. Specifically, driven by the transmission shaft 320, the adjusting part 330 reciprocates along the axial direction of the transmission shaft 320, causing the movable support 231 to rotate relative to the main body 100 under the action of the adjusting part 330 and the elastic member 232, thereby allowing the movable adjusting component 230 to switch between a first position and a second position relative to the main body 100.

[0158] The movable support 231 is equipped with an adjusting wheel 233, which is rotatably connected to the movable support 231. The wheel surface of the adjusting wheel 233 is in rolling contact with the adjusting part 330, and the rotation axis of the adjusting wheel 233 is perpendicular to the transmission shaft 320. The wheel surface of the adjusting wheel 233 can be a friction surface, but is not limited to this.

[0159] In this embodiment, the movable support 231 is equipped with an adjusting wheel 233, the wheel surface of which makes rolling contact with the adjusting part 330. This rolling contact design significantly reduces hard contact and friction between mechanical parts, thereby reducing mechanical wear and improving the stability and reliability of the system. The rolling contact also reduces noise and vibration during operation, improving the comfort of the operating environment. Furthermore, the rotation axis of the adjusting wheel 233 is perpendicular to the drive shaft 320. This design allows the adjusting wheel 233 to make more stable contact with the adjusting part 330, improving adjustment accuracy. Through rolling contact, the adjusting wheel 233 can respond more precisely to the movement of the adjusting part 330, further optimizing the position control of the movable support 231 and ensuring precise adjustment of the clamping force.

[0160] When the movable adjustment component 230 is in the first position, a first gap is formed between the first extrusion wheel 210 and the second extrusion wheel 220. Figure 15 In this case, the surface of the adjusting wheel 233 may or may not abut against the adjusting part 330; the specific contact is not limited. The adjusting part 330 has a third abutting part 335. When the movable adjusting assembly 230 is in the second position, the adjusting wheel 233 contacts and abuts against the third abutting part 335, and a second gap is formed between the first extrusion wheel 210 and the second extrusion wheel 220. Figure 16 The first gap is smaller than the second gap. It should be noted that the third contact part 335 can be a point, a line, or a surface, and is determined according to the contact state between the second contact part 2312 and the adjustment part 330.

[0161] Optionally, the surface of the adjusting part 330 facing the adjusting wheel 233 can be set as an inclined surface. In this way, when the adjusting part 330 moves axially along the drive shaft 320, the movable bracket 231 rotates relative to the main body 100 under the relative movement of the adjusting part 330 and the adjusting wheel 233, thereby changing the gap between the second extrusion wheel 220 and the first extrusion wheel 210 connected to the movable bracket 231, thereby changing the clamping force.

[0162] Optionally, the adjusting part 330 is a nut, which is screwed to the drive shaft 320. The nut has a first end 331 and a second end 332 that are axially opposite to each other on the drive shaft 320. The first end 331 is located on the side of the nut away from the first extrusion wheel 210. The outer diameter of the first end 331 is smaller than the outer diameter of the second end 332, and the outer diameter of the nut gradually increases from the first end 331 to the second end 332. The third abutting part 335 is located on the outer side wall of the nut near the second end 332. The nut may be generally tapered, with the smaller outer diameter area corresponding to the movable adjusting component 230 being in a first position, and the larger outer diameter area corresponding to the movable adjusting component 230 being in a second position.

[0163] The movable support 231 can have various structures. For example, such as... Figure 12 and Figure 13 As shown, the movable bracket 231 is located on one side of the drive shaft 320 in the first direction Y, which is perpendicular to the axial direction of the drive shaft 320. The movable bracket 231 has a bent structure, with one end rotatably connected to the main body 100, specifically via a rotating shaft. The other end of the bent structure bends and extends towards the drive shaft 320 and is rotatably connected to the adjusting wheel 233. The second extrusion wheel 220 is rotatably connected to the movable bracket 231, and is located on one side of the drive shaft 320 in the first direction Y. The first extrusion wheel 210 is located between the drive shaft 320 and the second extrusion wheel 220. When the adjusting part 330 reciprocates along the axial direction of the drive shaft 320, the movable bracket 231 drives the second extrusion wheel 220 away from or towards the first extrusion wheel 210. Specifically, when the adjusting part 330 reciprocates along the axial direction of the drive shaft 320, the movable bracket 231 rotates around its rotatable connection with the main body 100.

[0164] In this embodiment, an elastic element may be disposed between the portion of the movable bracket that bends and extends toward the drive shaft and the main body. The elastic element may be a spring, and the direction of extension and contraction of the spring is parallel to the axial direction of the drive shaft.

[0165] In this embodiment, the second extrusion wheel 220 is rotatably connected to the movable bracket 231 and located on one side of the drive shaft 320 in the first direction Y, while the first extrusion wheel 210 is located between the drive shaft 320 and the second extrusion wheel 220. This arrangement allows the adjusting part 330 to precisely move the second extrusion wheel 220 away from or towards the first extrusion wheel 210 via the movable bracket 231 when it reciprocates along the axial direction of the drive shaft 320, thereby achieving precise control of the clamping force. This precise control not only improves the stability of material conveying and ensures the compatibility of wires of different materials, but also meets the requirements for material unloading and significantly reduces the material unloading failure rate.

[0166] Secondly, the movable bracket 231 is located on one side of the drive shaft 320 in the first direction Y and has a bent structure. This design makes the movable bracket 231 more compact in space, reduces the overall size of the mechanism, and improves the system integration. One end of the bent structure is rotatably connected to the main body 100, and the other end bends and extends towards the drive shaft 320 and is rotatably connected to the adjusting wheel 233. This design makes full use of the limited space, making the entire mechanism more compact.

[0167] In this embodiment, the feeding assembly 200 further includes a fourth gear 240 and a fifth gear 250. The fourth gear 240 is connected to and coaxially arranged with the drive shaft 320. When the drive shaft 320 rotates, it drives the fourth gear 240 to rotate. The fifth gear 250 meshes with the fourth gear 240. The first extrusion wheel 210 and the fifth gear 250 are coaxially arranged via a fixed shaft. When the fourth gear 240 rotates, it drives the fifth gear 250 to rotate, which in turn drives the first extrusion wheel 210 to rotate.

[0168] This disclosure also provides a material tray, including at least one trolley and a material feeding mechanism from any of the above embodiments. Filament for 3D printing is wound on the trolley. Each trolley is equipped with a material feeding mechanism.

[0169] It is understood that the filament box may include a housing and at least one (or more) material feeding modules disposed within the housing. Each material feeding module may contain a filament tray and a material feeding mechanism. That is, the number of material feeding mechanisms and filament trays in the filament box corresponds one-to-one. Each filament tray may be wound with one type of filament and equipped with one material feeding mechanism. Additionally, a guide tube may be provided on the housing of the filament box to guide the filament toward the hot end of the 3D printer; multiple material feeding modules may share a single guide tube.

[0170] The specific structure of the material feeding mechanism can be referred to in the above embodiments, and will not be described in detail here.

[0171] This disclosure also provides a 3D printer system, including a printer and a material delivery device, the material delivery device being used to deliver filament to the printer, including a material feeding mechanism as described above.

[0172] A 3D printer has a hot end, and a material feed mechanism is used to deliver filament to the hot end during printing. The hot end heats and melts the filament, and the 3D printer can build a three-dimensional object layer by layer from the melted filament into the building material. The material feed device may include at least one trolley and at least one material feed mechanism. Each trolley may have a corresponding material feed mechanism, and different trolleys may be wound with different filaments for the 3D printer.

[0173] The specific structure of the material feeding mechanism can be referred to in the above embodiments, and will not be described in detail here.

[0174] Other embodiments of this disclosure will readily occur to those skilled in the art upon consideration of the specification and practice of the invention disclosed herein. This application is intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of this disclosure that follow the general principles of this disclosure and include common knowledge or customary techniques in the art not disclosed herein. The specification and examples are to be considered exemplary only, and the true scope and spirit of this disclosure are indicated by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A material feeding mechanism, characterized in that, include: main body; A feeding assembly is disposed on the main body. The feeding assembly includes a first extrusion wheel, a second extrusion wheel, and a movable adjustment assembly. The second extrusion wheel is rotatably connected to the movable adjustment assembly. A switching component is disposed on the main body. The switching component includes a drive mechanism, a transmission shaft, and an adjustment part. The transmission shaft is connected to the power output end of the drive mechanism, and the adjustment part is connected to the transmission shaft. The first extrusion wheel is connected to the drive shaft; under the drive of the drive mechanism, the drive shaft drives the adjustment part to move, and the adjustment part causes the movable adjustment component to switch between a first position and a second position relative to the main body. When the movable adjustment component is in the first position, the first extrusion wheel and the second extrusion wheel apply a first clamping force to the wire; When the movable adjustment component is in the second position, the first extrusion wheel and the second extrusion wheel apply a second clamping force to the wire; The second clamping force is less than the first clamping force.

2. The material feeding mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that, When the drive mechanism drives the transmission shaft to rotate, the adjustment part moves along the axial direction of the transmission shaft.

3. The material feeding mechanism according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The movable adjustment assembly includes a movable support and an elastic element. The movable support is disposed on the main body, the second extrusion wheel is rotatably connected to the movable support, and one end of the elastic element is connected to the main body, while the other end can abut against the movable support. The movable bracket rotates or reciprocates relative to the main body under the action of the adjustment part and the elastic element.

4. The material feeding mechanism according to claim 3, characterized in that, Driven by the transmission shaft, the adjusting part reciprocates along the axial direction of the transmission shaft, and the movable bracket reciprocates along the first direction under the action of the adjusting part and the elastic element, thereby the movable adjusting component switches between the first position and the second position relative to the main body. The first direction is perpendicular to the axial direction of the drive shaft.

5. The material feeding mechanism according to claim 4, characterized in that, When the movable adjustment component is in the first position, a first gap is formed between the first extrusion wheel and the second extrusion wheel; The adjusting part has a first abutting part, and the movable bracket includes a second abutting part. When the movable adjusting component is in the second position, the second abutting part abuts against the first abutting part, and a second gap is formed between the first extrusion wheel and the second extrusion wheel. The first gap is smaller than the second gap.

6. The material feeding mechanism according to claim 5, characterized in that, The adjusting part is a nut, which is helically connected to the drive shaft. The nut has a first end and a second end that are axially opposite to each other on the drive shaft. The second end is located on the side of the nut away from the first extrusion wheel. The outer diameter of the first end is smaller than the outer diameter of the second end. The first abutting part is located on the outer wall of the nut in the region near the second end.

7. The material feeding mechanism according to claim 5, characterized in that, The first extrusion wheel is coaxially arranged with the drive shaft; The movable support also includes a first connecting part, which is located on the side of the second abutting part along the axial direction of the drive shaft, and the second extrusion wheel is rotatably connected to the first connecting part; The second extrusion wheel is located on one side of the first extrusion wheel in the first direction. When the adjustment part reciprocates along the axial direction of the transmission shaft, it drives the second extrusion wheel away from or closer to the first extrusion wheel through the movable bracket.

8. The material feeding mechanism according to claim 3, characterized in that, Driven by the transmission shaft, the adjusting part reciprocates along the axial direction of the transmission shaft, and the movable bracket rotates relative to the main body under the action of the adjusting part and the elastic element, thereby the movable adjusting component switches between the first position and the second position relative to the main body.

9. The material feeding mechanism according to claim 8, characterized in that, The movable support is provided with an adjusting wheel, which is rotatably connected to the movable support. The wheel surface of the adjusting wheel is in rolling contact with the adjusting part, and the rotation axis of the adjusting wheel is perpendicular to the transmission shaft.

10. The material feeding mechanism according to claim 9, characterized in that, When the movable adjustment component is in the first position, a first gap is formed between the first extrusion wheel and the second extrusion wheel; The adjusting part has a third abutting part. When the movable adjusting component is in the second position, the adjusting wheel contacts and abuts the third abutting part, and a second gap is formed between the first extrusion wheel and the second extrusion wheel. The first gap is smaller than the second gap.

11. The material feeding mechanism according to claim 10, characterized in that, The adjusting part is a nut, which is helically connected to the drive shaft. The nut has a first end and a second end that are axially opposite to each other on the drive shaft. The outer diameter of the first end is smaller than the outer diameter of the second end. The third abutting part is located on the outer wall of the nut in the region near the second end.

12. The material feeding mechanism according to claim 9, characterized in that, The movable bracket is located on one side of the drive shaft in a first direction, which is perpendicular to the axial direction of the drive shaft; The movable support is a bent structure, with one end of the bent structure rotatably connected to the main body and the other end bent and extended toward the drive shaft and rotatably connected to the adjusting wheel. The second extrusion wheel is rotatably connected to the movable bracket, and the second extrusion wheel is located on one side of the drive shaft in the first direction, while the first extrusion wheel is located between the drive shaft and the second extrusion wheel. When the adjusting part reciprocates along the axial direction of the transmission shaft, it drives the second extrusion wheel away from or closer to the first extrusion wheel through the movable bracket.

13. The material feeding mechanism according to claim 12, characterized in that, The feeding assembly further includes: The fourth gear is connected to the drive shaft and is coaxially arranged with the drive shaft; The fifth gear meshes with the fourth gear; The first extrusion wheel and the fifth gear are coaxially arranged via a fixed shaft.

14. The material feeding mechanism according to claim 4 or 8, characterized in that, The switching component further includes a spring section located on at least one side of the adjusting section along the axial direction of the transmission shaft, for providing spring force to the adjusting section.

15. The material feeding mechanism according to claim 14, characterized in that, The drive shaft is provided with an external thread for helical connection with the adjusting part; the elastic part is located on at least one side of the external thread in the axial direction of the drive shaft, and the distance between the elastic part and the external thread in the axial direction of the drive shaft is less than the size of the adjusting part in the axial direction of the drive shaft.

16. The material feeding mechanism according to claim 15, characterized in that, The number of elastic parts is two, namely a first elastic part and a second elastic part. The first elastic part and the second elastic part are sleeved on the transmission shaft, and the first elastic part and the second elastic part are respectively located on both sides of the adjustment part in the axial direction of the transmission shaft.

17. The material feeding mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that, The material feeding mechanism further includes: a material unloading component, disposed on the main body; The unloading assembly includes: The connecting piece is rotatably connected to the drive shaft; The first gear is connected to the connecting member and is coaxially arranged with the transmission shaft; The second gear is rotatably connected to the connector and meshes with the first gear. The second gear and the connector are circumferentially pivoting around the transmission shaft as the transmission shaft and the first gear rotate. The third gear is connected to the main body and coupled to the material tray drive; When the movable adjustment component is in the first position, the unloading component is in the third position, and the second gear is disengaged from the third gear; when the movable adjustment component is in the second position, the unloading component is in the fourth position, and the second gear is engaged with the third gear to drive the material tray to rotate and wind the consumables.

18. The material feeding mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that, The main body and / or the adjusting part are provided with guide parts, and when the transmission shaft rotates, the guide parts guide the adjusting part to move along the axial direction of the transmission shaft.

19. A material box, characterized in that, include: At least one trolley on which filament for 3D printing is wound; And at least one material feeding mechanism as described in any one of claims 1 to 18; Each of the aforementioned trays is equipped with a material feeding mechanism.

20. A 3D printer system, characterized in that, include: printer; A material conveying device for conveying wire to the printer, including a material feeding mechanism as described in any one of claims 1 to 18.

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