Dryer and three dimensional molding apparatus including the same

Abstract

To provide a dryer capable of sufficiently drying a resin product such as a filament without heating, and a three dimensional molding apparatus equipped with the same.SOLUTION: The present invention relates to a dryer (100) having a polyelectrolyte membrane type dehumidifying device (1), wherein an anode (1b) of the dehumidifying device (1) is located inside the dryer (100) and a cathode (1a) of the dehumidifying device is located outside the dryer, and wherein the dryer is configured so that the air pressure can be lowered in the vicinity of the cathode (1a).SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a dryer and a three-dimensional forming apparatus equipped with the same. [Background technology]

[0002] It is known that molding processes using moisture-absorbed resins can result in molding defects and a decrease in the strength of the molded product.

[0003] In three-dimensional molding devices, so-called 3D printers, which have become increasingly popular in recent years, moisture absorption by the filament can be a problem in 3D molding devices that use thermoplastic resin filaments, such as those made by fused deposition modeling, just as it is in molding processes using ordinary resins. For example, moisture absorption by the filament can cause nozzle clogging and adversely affect the quality of the model.

[0004] Therefore, filaments are vacuum-packed when sold, and it is recommended to use them up as soon as possible after opening. When storing filaments, they are placed in a dry box containing silica gel or similar.

[0005] It is also known to dry moisture-absorbed filaments in a dryer before use. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses such a dryer. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0006] [Patent Document 1] US Patent Application Publication No. 2023 / 0090184 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0007] Conventional filament dryers, including the filament dryer described in Patent Document 1, remove moisture by heating the filament for a long period of time at a temperature lower than the filament's melting temperature.

[0008] However, while the inventors were researching three-dimensional molding methods using the fused deposition modeling method, they noticed that when heated and dried filaments were used, molding defects were more likely to occur than when filaments immediately after being opened from vacuum packaging were used.

[0009] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a dryer that can sufficiently dry resin products such as filaments without heating them, and a three-dimensional molding device equipped with the same. [Means for solving the problem]

[0010] The present inventors have found that the above problems can be solved by the present invention described below.

[0011] As a first embodiment, the dryer of the present invention comprises: A dryer having a polymer electrolyte membrane type dehumidifier, an anode of the dehumidifier is located inside the dryer, and a cathode of the dehumidifier is located outside the dryer; The air pressure can be lowered in the vicinity of the cathode.

[0012] The inventors investigated various dehumidification methods and found no commercially available dehumidification method capable of sufficiently drying resin products without heating. However, the inventors discovered that by dehumidifying the drying chamber using a polymer electrolyte membrane-based dehumidifier and maintaining a lower air pressure near the cathode than the surrounding area, the humidity inside the drying chamber unexpectedly decreased. This made it possible to sufficiently dehumidify resin products such as filaments inside the dryer. This is thought to be because the lower air pressure makes it easier for hydrogen molecules and water molecules generated by the polymer electrolyte membrane to separate from the cathode, accelerating dehumidification by the dehumidifier and reducing the humidity inside the dryer.

[0013] In conventional filament dryers, filaments are dried by heating. However, it has been found that using filaments dried in such dryers results in problems such as a decrease in the strength of molded products. This is thought to be due to microscopic changes, although not visible to the naked eye, in the dispersion state of the fibers contained in the filament and the crystalline structure of the resin in the filament. In contrast, the dryer of the present invention can sufficiently dry the filament without heating, thereby advantageously preventing problems such as a decrease in the strength of molded products. This effect can be obtained not only for filaments used in three-dimensional molding devices, but also for other resin products.

[0014] In a second embodiment, the present invention provides a method for manufacturing a semiconductor device comprising: The dryer further includes a blower disposed near the cathode so as to blow air in a direction opposite to the direction of the cathode.

[0015] By disposing a blower outside the drying chamber of the dehumidifying device so as to blow air toward the outside of the drying chamber, the air pressure near the dehumidifying device can be easily made lower than the air pressure inside the drying chamber. In this embodiment, the humidity inside the drying chamber can be significantly reduced in a short time, and the filaments can be sufficiently dehumidified.

[0016] In a third embodiment, the present invention provides a method for manufacturing a semiconductor device comprising: The invention relates to a dryer as described above for drying filaments used in a three-dimensional forming device.

[0017] The dryer of the present invention is highly advantageous in drying filaments used in three-dimensional forming devices.

[0018] In a fourth embodiment, the present invention provides a method for manufacturing a semiconductor device comprising: The dryer has a tube connector for removing the filament.

[0019] The dryer of this embodiment can directly supply the filaments to the three-dimensional forming device, so that the filaments can be used in the three-dimensional forming device immediately after they come out of the dryer, thereby reducing defects such as a decrease in the strength of the formed product.

[0020] In a fifth embodiment, the present invention provides a method for manufacturing a semiconductor device comprising: the dryer as described above, comprising a filament; a tool head that melts and discharges the filament supplied from the dryer; a tool head moving mechanism that moves the tool head; a build plate on which a molded object to be ejected and formed from the tool head is placed; and A control device that controls these operations The present invention relates to a three-dimensional forming apparatus equipped with the above.

[0021] The three-dimensional molding device of this embodiment is advantageous because it does not cause problems such as a decrease in the strength of the molded product. [Effects of the Invention]

[0022] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a dryer capable of sufficiently drying a resin product such as a filament without heating it, and a three-dimensional molding device equipped with the dryer. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0023] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating the basic principle of the dryer according to the present invention. [Figure 2A] FIG. 2A shows a front view of one embodiment of a dryer according to the present invention. [Figure 2B] FIG. 2B shows the dryer of FIG. 2A with the door panel removed. [Figure 2C] FIG. 2C shows a state in which the blower is further removed from the state of FIG. 2B. [Figure 2D] FIG. 2D shows the interior of the dryer of FIG. 2A. [Figure 2E] FIG. 2E shows the rear of the dryer of FIG. 2A. [Figure 2F] FIG. 2F shows a tube connector for removing the filament from the dryer of FIG. 2A. [Figure 3A] FIG. 3A shows the changes in temperature and humidity over time when the dryer 100 according to the present invention shown in FIGS. 2A to 2F is operated. [Figure 3B] FIG. 3B shows the changes in temperature and humidity over time when the blower 2 is not operated in the dryer 100 shown in FIGS. 2A to 2F. [Figure 3C] FIG. 3C shows the changes in temperature and humidity over time when blower 2 is attached facing in the opposite direction in dryer 100 shown in FIGS. 2A to 2F and blows air toward dehumidifier 1. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 shows another embodiment of the dryer according to the present invention. [Figure 5A] FIG. 5A shows one embodiment of a three-dimensional forming apparatus according to the present invention. [Figure 5B] FIG. 5B shows the rear view of the three-dimensional forming apparatus of FIG. 5A. [Figure 5C] FIG. 5C illustrates the details of the configuration of the three-dimensional forming device body. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0024] The present invention will be specifically described using the following embodiments as examples, but the present invention is not limited thereto. Unless a specific description is given of each device, mechanism, means, etc. in this specification, those skilled in the art can use mechanical devices, mechanisms, means, etc. that are well known to those skilled in the art. Each embodiment can be combined based on the ordinary knowledge of those skilled in the art, and configurations not specifically described in each embodiment can have the same configuration as other embodiments or a configuration appropriate for that embodiment.

[0025] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating the basic principle of the dryer according to the present invention.

[0026] The dehumidifier 1 used in the dryer according to the present invention is a polymer electrolyte membrane type dehumidifier having a cathode 1a, an anode 1b, and a proton-conductive electrolyte membrane 1c sandwiched between the cathode 1a and the anode 1b. The dehumidifier 1 has the anode 1b on the indoor side where dehumidification is performed, where water is decomposed into oxygen and protons. The generated protons reach the cathode 1a through the electrolyte membrane 1c and consume oxygen at the cathode 1a located outside the room to become water or hydrogen molecules.

[0027] The dryer according to the present invention is configured to lower the air pressure near the cathode 1a located outside the chamber. That is, the dryer according to the present invention is configured to facilitate separation of water and / or hydrogen molecules generated at the cathode 1a from the cathode. The inventors have found that this configuration unexpectedly reduces the humidity inside the drying chamber. According to the inventors' investigations, when the blower 2 is arranged to blow air toward the cathode 1a so as to blow away the water and / or hydrogen molecules generated at the cathode 1a, the humidity inside the drying chamber actually increases.

[0028] In order to lower the air pressure near the cathode 1a, for example, as shown in FIG. 1, a blower 2 may be arranged to blow air in the direction opposite to the direction of the cathode 1a of the dehumidifier 1, or air near the cathode 1a may be sucked in using a pump or the like.

[0029] Here, the proximity of the cathode 1a is not particularly limited as long as the water and / or hydrogen molecules generated at the cathode 1a can be attracted and removed, but can be within 20 cm, 10 cm, or 5 cm. The blowing direction of the blower 2 does not need to be perpendicular (90°) to the cathode 1a as shown in Fig. 1, and the angle is not limited as long as the water and / or hydrogen molecules generated at the cathode 1a can be attracted and removed, and the blowing direction can be, for example, 20° to 160°, 60° to 120°, or 80° to 100° relative to the cathode 1a.

[0030] The various configurations of the dehumidifier 1 used in the present invention can be any of the well-known configurations of polymer electrolyte membrane type dehumidifiers.

[0031] 2A to 2F show one embodiment of a dryer according to the present invention.

[0032] 2A shows the front of one embodiment of a dryer according to the present invention. This dryer 100 is rectangular parallelepiped, with a door 10 at its front, which can be opened and closed using a handle 20. Door 10 has a transparent portion 11 made of a transparent resin or the like that allows the interior to be seen, allowing the thermo-hygrometer 30 inside dryer 100 to be seen. Door 10 also has an opaque panel portion 12, which has a vent 12a.

[0033] 2B shows the dryer 100 in FIG. 2A with panel portion 12 of door 10 removed. By removing panel portion 12, blower 2 that was inside panel portion 12 is exposed. Note that blower 2 is positioned corresponding to the position of vent 12a of panel portion 12. Furthermore, by removing panel portion 12, electronic circuit 40 that controls blower 2 and the like is exposed. Electronic circuit 40 is connected to power cable 50, and power is also supplied to blower 2 via cable 52.

[0034] 2C shows a state in which the blower 2 has been further removed from the state of FIG. 2B. In this state, the cathode 1a side of the dehumidifier 1 is exposed, and the electronic circuit 40 supplies power to the dehumidifier 1 through a cable 51.

[0035] FIG. 2D shows the interior of the dryer 100 with the door 10 open. This dryer 100 stores a filament reel 200 used in a three-dimensional forming apparatus using fused deposition modeling, along with a base 300 that rotatably supports the filament reel 200. The filament F from the filament reel 200 can be removed from the dryer 100 through an outlet 60 on the rear side of the dryer 100. The anode 1b side of the dehumidifier 1 is exposed on the back side of the door 10. A power cable 50 is routed from the interior side of the dryer 100 toward the electronic circuit 40 on the door 10. The base 300 for the filament reel 200 is placed on a shelf 70 inside the dryer 100.

[0036] In this embodiment, one filament reel 200 and one outlet 60 are present in the chamber, but multiple filament reels 200 and outlets 60 may be arranged so that multiple types of filaments F can be supplied to the three-dimensional forming device. Also, the filament F from the filament reel 200 may not be discharged from the outlet 60, and the dryer 100 may simply be used as a storage for the filament reel 200.

[0037] 2E shows the rear portion of the dryer 100 of FIG. 2A, and FIG. 2F shows a tube connector 80 for removing the filament F from the dryer 100 of FIG. 2A. A power cable 50 is present at the rear portion of the dryer 100. In addition, an outlet 60 for removing the filament F inside the dryer 100 is connected to the tube connector 80 at the rear portion, and outside the dryer 100, the filament F passes through a filament tube T and is supplied to the tool head of a three-dimensional forming device.

[0038] The tube connector 80 is not particularly limited as long as it can connect the filament tube T and allow the filament F to pass through the inside, and a tube joint, a grommet with a membrane, or the like can be used.

[0039] Figure 3A shows the changes in temperature and humidity over time when the dryer 100 of the present invention shown in Figures 2A to 2F is operated, Figure 3B shows the changes in temperature and humidity over time when the blower 2 is not operated in the dryer 100 shown in Figures 2A to 2F, and Figure 3C shows the changes in temperature and humidity over time when the blower 2 is installed in the opposite direction in the dryer 100 shown in Figures 2A to 2F and blows air toward the dehumidifier 1.

[0040] As can be seen from the results in Figure 3A, the dryer 100 of the present invention reaches a relative humidity of 10% at around 20°C more quickly than the cases in Figures 3B and 3C, and the absolute value of the relative humidity is also much lower.

[0041] As described above, the dryer 100 according to the present invention can achieve extremely low humidity inside, which is extremely advantageous for filaments used in three-dimensional molding devices. The dryer 100 according to the present invention is particularly advantageous for filaments made of relatively highly hygroscopic resins, such as PA, PLA, ABS, PET, PBT, PETG, PC, TPU, TPE, PPA, PEEK, PEI, etc. The dryer 100 according to the present invention is also particularly advantageous for filaments containing relatively highly hygroscopic fillers, such as carbon fiber, talc, cellulose-based materials, etc.

[0042] 4 shows another embodiment of the dryer 100 according to the present invention. The dryer 100 of this embodiment is sized to fit the filament reel 200, and it is assumed that one dryer 100 is used for one filament reel 200.

[0043] The filament reel 200 is rotatably held by a shaft 310, and can rotate when the filament F is pulled from the three-dimensional forming device. In this embodiment, the thermo-hygrometer 30 is digital, but the other components, such as the blower 2, electronic circuit 40, and power cable 50, can be the same as those in the embodiment shown in FIG. 2A, etc.

[0044] FIG. 5A shows a three-dimensional forming apparatus 1000 equipped with a dryer 100. FIG. 5B shows the rear of the three-dimensional forming apparatus 1000. The three-dimensional forming apparatus 1000 is composed of an upper three-dimensional forming apparatus main body 400 and a lower dryer 100 located within a housing 500. The dryer 100 is the same as the embodiment shown in FIGS. 2A to 2F, and the filament tube T extending from the tube connector 80 at the rear of the dryer 100 is taken out from an outlet hole 510 at the rear of the housing 500 and supplied to the tool head of the three-dimensional forming apparatus main body 400 through an introduction hole 410 at the rear of the three-dimensional forming apparatus main body 400.

[0045] It has been found that by placing the dryer 100 inside such a housing 500, it becomes less susceptible to the influence of the external environment, and furthermore, it becomes easier to reduce the humidity inside the dryer.

[0046] 5C shows an example of a three-dimensional molding apparatus main body 400. This three-dimensional molding apparatus main body 400 includes a tool head 420 to which a filament tube T is connected from a filament tube introduction hole 410 and which melts and discharges the filament F supplied from the dryer 100, a tool head movement mechanism 430 which moves the tool head horizontally, a build plate 440 on which a shaped object to be formed by discharging from the tool head 420 is placed, an elevation mechanism 450 which raises and lowers the build plate 440, and a control device 460 for these components.

[0047] For the three-dimensional molding device body 400, a well-known device for fused deposition modeling can be used. [Explanation of symbols]

[0048] 1...Dehumidifier 1a...Cathode 1b...Anode 1c...Electrolyte membrane 2...Blower 10...Door 11...Transparent part 12...Panel section 12a...Ventilation hole 20...Toride 30…Thermo-hygrometer 40...Electronic circuit 50...Power cable 51...Cable 60...Outlet 70…Shelf 80...Tube connector 100...Dryer 200...filament reel 300...Filament reel stand 310...Filament reel shaft 400…Three-dimensional molding equipment main body 410...Filament tube introduction hole 420...Tool head 430...Tool head moving mechanism 440...build plate 450...Lifting mechanism 460...Control device 500...Dryer housing 510...Filament tube outlet hole 1000…Three-dimensional molding equipment F: Filament T...filament tube

Claims

1. A dryer having a polymer electrolyte membrane type dehumidifier, an anode of the dehumidifier is located inside the dryer, and a cathode of the dehumidifier is located outside the dryer; The dryer is configured to allow a reduced air pressure in the vicinity of the cathode.

2. The dryer according to claim 1 , further comprising a blower disposed near the cathode so as to blow air in a direction opposite to the direction of the cathode.

3. 10. The dryer of claim 1 for drying filaments used in a three-dimensional forming device.

4. 4. The dryer of claim 3, further comprising a tube connector for removing the filament.

5. The dryer according to claim 3 or 4, a tool head that melts and discharges the filament supplied from the dryer; a tool head moving mechanism that moves the tool head; a build plate on which a molded object to be ejected and formed from the tool head is placed; and A control device that controls these operations A three-dimensional forming apparatus comprising:

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