Structure formation device

Abstract

To provide a structure formation device that can make a curable material flow easily.SOLUTION: A 3D printer includes a nozzle part 20 having a discharge port 24a formed therein and configured to discharge a wire 55 together with a curable material 50 from the discharge port 24a. The nozzle part 20 is formed with a material passage 30 through which the curable material 50 supplied from a material supply part advances toward the discharge port 24a, and a wire passage 28 through which the wire 55 supplied from the wire supply part passes. The material passage 30 has a bend part 31d so as to change a traveling direction 51 of the curable material 50. The wire passage 28 opens into an inner wall surface 32 of the material passage 30 at the bend part 31d.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a structure forming apparatus. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, a three-dimensional printer (3D printer) has been known as a structure forming device configured to form a structure by layering a hardenable material such as a hardenable cement composition. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses that a wire is embedded in the hardenable material when the hardenable material is extruded from a discharge port formed in a nozzle portion. The wire embedded in the hardenable material functions as a reinforcing material for the structure. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2022-184275 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In the conventional technology, a double-pipe structure is used in which the wire supply pipe is inserted from the side of the nozzle, which means that the supply pipe protruding into the nozzle may obstruct the flow of the hardenable material. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] A structure forming device that solves the above problem is a structure forming device configured to create a structure by stacking hardenable material, and is equipped with a material supply unit that supplies the hardenable material, a wire supply unit that supplies wire material, and a nozzle unit that has an outlet formed therein and is configured to eject the wire material from the outlet together with the hardenable material, wherein the nozzle unit is formed with a material passage through which the hardenable material supplied from the material supply unit proceeds toward the outlet, and a wire passage through which the wire material supplied from the wire supply unit passes, and the material passage has a bending portion so as to change the direction of travel of the hardenable material, and the wire passage opens to the inner wall surface of the material passage at the bending portion. [Effects of the Invention]

[0006] According to the present invention, it is possible to prevent the flow of the curable material from being hindered. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0007] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an outline of a 3D printer. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is an enlarged schematic view of the discharge nozzle of the 3D printer shown in FIG. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of the discharge nozzle taken along the cross-sectional line 3-3 shown in FIG. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing a cross section of a structure created using the 3D printer shown in FIG. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing a modified discharge nozzle. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0008] An embodiment of the structure forming device will be described below. <Outline of 3D printer> 1, a 3D printer 10, which is an example of a structure forming device, is configured to create a structure 60 by layering a curable material 50. The structure 60 is a structure used in construction, such as a wall, a pillar, a beam, a staircase, or a roof. The 3D printer 10 includes a main body 11, a robot arm 12, a work table 13, a material supply unit 14, a wire supply unit 15, a nozzle unit 20, and a control unit 40.

[0009] <Main body and robot arm> The main body 11 supports a base end of a robot arm 12, which is an example of a nozzle moving unit. A nozzle unit 20 is attached to the tip end of the robot arm 12. The robot arm 12 is, for example, a multi-axis robot arm equipped with multiple servo motors. The robot arm 12 is configured to be able to move the nozzle unit 20 along both the horizontal and vertical directions. However, the nozzle moving unit may be configured to be able to move the nozzle unit 20 along each of the X-axis and Y-axis extending horizontally and the Z-axis extending vertically.

[0010] <Work table> The work table 13 has a work surface 13a on which the curable material 50 discharged from the nozzle unit 20 is deposited. The work surface 13a may be, for example, a horizontal surface. The work table 13 is a fixed table. However, the work table 13 is not limited to this, and may be a movable table configured so that its position relative to the nozzle unit 20 can be changed.

[0011] <Material supply department> The material supply unit 14 includes, for example, a tank 14a that stores the curable material 50, and a pump 14c that pressure-feeds the curable material 50 stored in the tank 14a to the nozzle unit 20 via a material supply pipe 14b. The tank 14a may include a stirring mechanism that stirs the stored curable material 50. The material supply pipe 14b forms, for example, a material supply passage 14d through which the curable material 50 pressure-feed by the pump 14c passes.

[0012] <Wire supply section> The wire rod supply unit 15 is attached to, for example, the tip of the robot arm 12. The wire rod supply unit 15 includes a storage unit 15a that stores a reel around which a wire rod 55 is wound, and a feeder 15c that delivers the wire rod 55 to the nozzle unit 20 via a wire rod supply pipe 15b. The wire rod supply pipe 15b forms a delivery passage 15d through which the wire rod 55 delivered by the feeder 15c passes. The wire rod supply unit 15 may include a speed adjustment mechanism that adjusts the delivery speed of the wire rod 55 by the feeder 15c in accordance with the adjustment amount of an operation unit such as a knob.

[0013] <Nozzle section> The nozzle unit 20 includes a nozzle body 21 and a discharge nozzle 22. The nozzle body 21 supports, for example, the wire supply unit 15 and the discharge nozzle 22. The discharge nozzle 22 is a circular pipe-shaped portion extending vertically as a whole. A base end (upper end) 23 of the discharge nozzle 22 is connected to the material supply pipe 14b. A discharge outlet 24a for discharging the hardenable material 50 is formed at a tip 24 of the discharge nozzle 22 so as to open downward. The discharge outlet 24a is, for example, circular. However, the shape of the discharge outlet 24a is not limited to this, and it may be polygonal. A material passage 30 is formed in the discharge nozzle 22 through which the hardenable material 50 supplied from the material supply unit 14 advances toward the discharge outlet 24a.

[0014] The discharge nozzle 22 has one or more bent portions 26 between the base end 23 and the tip end 24. The portion of the material passage 30 corresponding to the bent portion 26 is a curved portion 31 configured to change the traveling direction 51 (see FIG. 2) of the hardenable material 50. As an example, the center lines of the base end 23 and the tip end 24 extend along the vertical direction and coincide with each other.

[0015] As an example, the discharge nozzle 22 has four bent portions 26a to 26d, so that the intermediate portion 25 between the base end portion 23 and the tip end portion 24 is U-shaped and protrudes laterally. The material passage 30 has four bent portions 31a to 31d corresponding to the bent portions 26a to 26d, respectively. The bending angle θ of each of the bent portions 26a to 26d is preferably 110° or more and 150° or less, and more preferably 120°.

[0016] 2 and 3, a wire passage 28 is formed in the most downstream bent portion 26d of the bent portions 26a to 26d, penetrating an upper portion of the wall of the bent portion 26d along the direction of the center line of the tip portion 24. A wire supply pipe 15b is connected to the bent portion 26d. The delivery passage 15d of the wire supply pipe 15b is connected to the wire passage 28 in the bent portion 26d. The center line of the wire passage 28 extends, for example, vertically and coincides with the center line of the tip portion 24.

[0017] The wire passage 28 opens to the inner wall surface 32 of the bent portion 31d of the material passage 30. In other words, the opening 28a of the wire passage 28 is formed in the bent portion 31d. The wire passage 28 opens, for example, toward the direction of travel 51 of the hardenable material 50 at the material passage 30 or the discharge port 24a. The discharge nozzle 22 does not have a wall surrounding the portion 32a of the inner wall surface 32 of the bent portion 31d where the wire passage 28 opens or the opening 28a. In other words, the tip 24 of the discharge nozzle 22 has a non-double pipe structure.

[0018] <Curable material> The hardenable material 50 used in the 3D printer 10 is, for example, a hardenable cement composition. The hardenable cement composition may include, for example, cement, fine aggregate, a hardening accelerator, and organic fibers. However, the hardenable material 50 may be a geopolymer containing aluminum silicate and coal ash instead of cement.

[0019] <Wire rod> In the 3D printer 10, the wire 55 is used as a reinforcing material that reinforces the structure 60. The wire 55 is a continuous linear member of a predetermined length. The wire 55 is, for example, a steel strand formed by twisting together a plurality of steel wires. However, the wire 55 is not limited to this, and may be a steel wire (single wire) or carbon fiber.

[0020] <Control unit> 1, the control unit 40 includes, for example, a processor and a memory. The control unit 40 is configured so that the processor controls the overall operation of the 3D printer 10 by executing a control program stored in the memory.

[0021] The control unit 40 controls, for example, the pump 14c to pressure-feed the hardenable material 50 stored in the tank 14a toward the discharge port 24a of the discharge nozzle 22. The control unit 40 controls, for example, the feeder 15c to send the wire 55 stored in the storage unit 15a from the opening 28a into the material passage 30. As a result, the hardenable material 50 and the wire 55 are discharged from the discharge port 24a toward the work table 13.

[0022] The control unit 40 moves the discharge nozzle 22 by controlling the robot arm 12 based on, for example, 3D data stored in memory or 3D data input from outside the 3D printer 10. The 3D data may include data defining the structure of the structure 60, or may include data defining the movement of the discharge nozzle 22. In the 3D printer 10, the structure 60 is created on the work table 13 by layering the hardenable material 50 with the wires 55 embedded in it.

[0023] <Operation of this embodiment> It is conceivable to give the discharge nozzle 22 a double-pipe structure by inserting the wire supply pipe 15b from the side of the discharge nozzle 22 so that it protrudes into the interior (material passage 30) of the discharge nozzle 22. However, if such a configuration is adopted, the portion of the wire supply pipe 15b protruding into the material passage 30 will obstruct the flow of the hardenable material 50 proceeding through the material passage 30.

[0024] 2 and 3, in the 3D printer 10 of this embodiment, the wire passage 28 opens at the inner wall surface 32 of the bent portion 31d of the material passage 30. In other words, the tip 24 of the discharge nozzle 22 has a non-double pipe structure. This prevents the flow of the hardenable material 50 traveling through the material passage 30 from being obstructed.

[0025] The wire passage 28 opens, for example, toward the traveling direction 51 of the hardenable material 50 in the material passage 30. The center line of the wire passage 28 coincides, for example, with the center line of the tip portion 24. Therefore, the wire 55 is supplied to the center of the hardenable material 50 in the material passage 30.

[0026] If the double-pipe structure described above is employed, the portion of the wire supply pipe 15b that protrudes into the material passage 30 may bend due to the flow of the hardenable material 50, making it difficult to supply the wire 55 to the center of the hardenable material 50. However, the 3D printer 10 of this embodiment does not employ a double-pipe structure, and therefore the wire 55 can be stably supplied to the center of the hardenable material 50.

[0027] 4, in the 3D printer 10 of this embodiment, the wire 55 is likely to be disposed at the center of the hardenable material 50 during the layering process of the hardenable material 50. Therefore, compared to when the wire 55 is unevenly distributed inside the hardenable material 50, the strength of the structure 60 can be made more uniform.

[0028] Furthermore, when the double-pipe structure described above is employed, the portion of the wire supply pipe 15b that protrudes into the material passage 30 may cause disturbances in the flow of the hardenable material 50. Traces of this may remain in the hardenable material 50 discharged from the discharge port 24a, which may impair the aesthetic appearance of the structure 60. In the 3D printer 10 of this embodiment, the wire supply pipe 15b does not protrude into the material passage 30, so disturbances in the flow of the hardenable material 50 can be suppressed.

[0029] <Effects of this embodiment> The effects of the embodiment will be described. (1) The 3D printer 10 employs a non-double pipe structure in which the wire passage 28 opens at the inner wall surface 32 of the bent portion 31d of the material passage 30. This prevents the flow of the hardenable material 50 traveling through the material passage 30 from being obstructed.

[0030] (2) The wire material 55 used in the 3D printer 10 is a steel strand made by twisting together multiple steel wires. Therefore, compared to when a steel wire (single wire) is used as the wire material 55, it is easier to create structural portions of the structure 60 that are bent in the horizontal direction.

[0031] (3) The wire rod 55 is fed into the material passage 30 using the feeder 15c. Therefore, the wire rod 55 can be fed in accordance with the discharge speed of the hardenable material 50. (4) The feeder 15c is configured to be able to adjust the delivery speed of the wire 55. Therefore, the delivery speed of the wire 55 is prevented from becoming too fast or too slow compared to the discharge speed of the hardenable material 50.

[0032] (5) The wire passage 28 opens toward the traveling direction 51 of the hardenable material 50 in the material passage 30. This makes the direction of delivery of the wire 55 coincide with the traveling direction 51 of the hardenable material 50. This makes it easier to discharge the wire 55 together with the hardenable material 50.

[0033] (6) The center line of the wire passage 28 coincides with the center line of the tip portion 24. Therefore, the wire 55 can be easily positioned at the center of the hardenable material 50. <Example of change> This embodiment can be modified as follows: This embodiment and the following modifications can be combined and implemented within the scope of technical compatibility.

[0034] As shown in FIG. 5, the discharge nozzle 22 may have a first material passage 30a and a second material passage 30b as multiple material passages 30 branching from the base end 23. The bending portion 31a is, for example, the portion where the material passage 30 branches into the material passages 30a and 30b. The material passages 30a and 30b merge at the bending portion 31d, for example. The hardenable material 50 flowing through the material passages 30a and 30b merges so as to horizontally sandwich the wire 55 supplied from the wire passage 28 (opening 28a). This reduces the portion of the hardenable material 50 that travels in a direction intersecting the longitudinal direction of the wire 55. This prevents the flow of the hardenable material 50 from being obstructed.

[0035] The number of bent portions 31 that the material passage 30 has may be one, two, or five or more. In other words, the discharge nozzle 22 may have at least one bent portion 26 and one bent portion 31.

[0036] The 3D printer 10 does not have to include the feeder 15c. The 3D printer 10 does not have to include the tank 14a that stores the hardenable material 50. The tip 24 of the discharge nozzle 22 may extend in a predetermined direction other than downward. In other words, the 3D printer 10 may be configured to have a discharge port 24a that opens in a predetermined direction and to discharge the curable material 50 in the predetermined direction.

[0037] The technical ideas that can be understood from the above-described embodiment and modified examples will be described. (Note 1) The wire passage is open toward the direction in which the hardenable material advances in the material passage.

[0038] (Note 2) The inner wall surface of the bent portion does not have a wall surrounding the portion where the wire passage opens. (Appendix 3) The hardenable material is a hardenable cement composition. [Explanation of symbols]

[0039] 10...3D printer, 11...main body, 12...robot arm, 13...work table, 13a...work surface, 14...material supply section, 14a...tank, 14b...supply pipe, 14c...pump, 14d...pressure feed passage, 15...wire supply section, 15a...accommodation section, 15b...wire supply pipe, 15c...feeder, 15d...delivery passage, 20...nozzle section, 21...nozzle body, 22...discharge Discharge nozzle, 23...base end portion, 24...tip portion, 24a...discharge port, 25...middle portion, 26, 26a to 26d...bent portion, 28...wire passage, 28a...opening, 30...material passage, 30a...first material passage, 30b...second material passage, 31, 31a to 31d...bent portion, 32...inner wall surface, 40...control portion, 50...hardenable material, 51...traveling direction, 55...wire, 60...structure.

Claims

1. A structure forming device configured to create a structure by stacking a curable material, a material supply unit that supplies the curable material; a wire rod supply unit that supplies a wire rod; a nozzle portion having a discharge port formed therein and configured to discharge the wire together with the curable material from the discharge port; The nozzle section is formed with a material passage through which the hardenable material supplied from the material supply section advances toward the discharge outlet, and a wire passage through which the wire supplied from the wire supply section passes, the material passage having a bending section to change the direction of advancement of the hardenable material, and the wire passage opening into the inner wall surface of the material passage at the bending section.

2. 2. The structure forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the wire material is a steel strand made by twisting together a plurality of steel wires.

3. the material passage includes a first material passage and a second material passage; 3. The structure forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the bent portion is a portion where the first material passage and the second material passage join together.

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