Plasticizing device, three-dimensional shaping device, and injection molding device

Abstract

To ensure proper clearance between flat screw and barrel.SOLUTION: The plasticizer has a drive motor, a screw shaft rotated by the drive motor, a flat screw having a connection surface connected to the screw shaft and a groove forming surface with grooves and rotating around the screw shaft, a barrel having an opposite surface facing the groove forming surface and formed with a connecting hole, a heating section that heats material fed between the flat screw and the barrel, and a bearing section that can rotatably support the screw shaft and receive a thrust load applied to the screw shaft from the flat screw, and the groove forming surface and the opposing surface are separated by a predetermined distance.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a plasticizing device, a three-dimensional shaping device, and an injection molding device.

Background Art

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a plasticizing device including a rotor having a spiral groove and a barrel having a communication hole at the center and facing the end face of the rotor.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] The rotor as described above is also called a flat screw. In a plasticizing device including a flat screw and a barrel, in order to enhance the plasticizing ability, it is preferable to provide an appropriate clearance between the flat screw and the barrel. However, when the axis of the flat screw is displaced due to the thrust load generated by the increase in the internal pressure between the flat screw and the barrel, it is impossible to ensure an appropriate clearance, and the plasticizing ability may decrease.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0005] According to a first aspect of the present disclosure, a plasticizing device is provided. The plasticizing device includes a drive motor, a screw shaft rotated by the drive motor, a connection surface connected to the screw shaft, and a groove forming surface formed with grooves, a flat screw that rotates about the screw shaft, a barrel having an opposing surface facing the groove forming surface and formed with communication holes, a heating unit that heats a material supplied between the flat screw and the barrel, and a bearing unit that rotatably supports the screw shaft and is capable of receiving a thrust load applied from the flat screw to the screw shaft, and the groove forming surface and the opposing surface are separated from each other with a predetermined interval therebetween.

[0006] According to a second aspect of the present disclosure, a three-dimensional shaping apparatus is provided, which includes the above-described plasticizing device, a stage having a shaping surface, and a nozzle that discharges the plasticized material supplied from the plasticizing device toward the shaping surface.

[0007] According to a third aspect of the present disclosure, an injection molding apparatus is provided, which includes the above-described plasticizing device and a nozzle that injects the plasticized material supplied from the plasticizing device into a mold.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0008]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Figure 7

Figure 8

Figure 9

Figure 10

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0009] A. First Embodiment: FIG. 1 is a view showing a schematic configuration of a three-dimensional shaping device 10 in the first embodiment. In FIG. 1, arrows along the X, Y, and Z directions orthogonal to each other are shown. The X, Y, and Z directions in FIG. 1 represent the same directions as the X, Y, and Z directions in other figures. Hereinafter, the +Z direction is referred to as "up" and the -Z direction is referred to as "down".

[0010] The three-dimensional shaping device 10 includes a discharge unit 100, a movement mechanism unit 210, a stage 220, a chamber 20, and a control unit 30.

[0011] The discharge unit 100 includes a plasticizing device 110, a material storage unit 102, and a nozzle 104. The material storage unit 102 is, for example, a hopper. In this embodiment, pellet-shaped resin is stored in the material storage unit 102 as a material. Materials may be pressure-fed to the material storage unit 102 from the outside via a tube. The plasticizing device 110 plasticizes at least a part of the material supplied from the material storage unit 102. The material plasticized by the plasticizing device 110 is supplied to the nozzle 104 and discharged from the nozzle 104 toward the shaping surface located on the upper surface of the stage 220. In this embodiment, "plasticizing" is a concept including melting and means changing from a solid state to a state having fluidity. Specifically, in the case of a material in which glass transition occurs, plasticizing means raising the temperature of the material above the glass transition point. In the case of a material in which glass transition does not occur, plasticizing means raising the temperature of the material above the melting point.

[0012] The moving mechanism unit 210 changes the relative position between the ejection unit 100 and the stage 220. In the present embodiment, the moving mechanism unit 210 moves the stage 220 relative to the ejection unit 100. The moving mechanism unit 210 in the present embodiment is constituted by a three-axis positioner that moves the stage 220 in three axial directions of the X, Y, and Z directions by the driving force of three motors. Each motor is driven under the control of the control unit 30. In other embodiments, the moving mechanism unit 210 may be configured not to move the stage 220, but to move the ejection unit 100 without moving the stage 220, for example. Further, the moving mechanism unit 210 may be configured to move both the stage 220 and the ejection unit 100.

[0013] The chamber 20 has a shaping space 21 inside. The shaping space 21 houses the ejection unit 100, the moving mechanism unit 210, and the stage 220. The chamber 20 may be provided with a heater for heating the shaping space 21.

[0014] The control unit 30 is constituted by a computer including one or more processors, a memory, and an input / output interface for inputting and outputting signals to and from the outside. The control unit 30 controls the plasticizing device 110 and the stage 220 by the processor executing programs and instructions read into the memory. The control unit 30 controls the movement of the stage 220 while controlling the plasticizing device 110 to eject the shaping material, thereby laminating a plurality of layers on the stage 220 to form a three-dimensional shaped object. Note that the control unit 30 may be constituted by a combination of a plurality of circuits instead of a computer.

[0015] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing a schematic configuration of the plasticizing device 110. The plasticizing device 110 includes a drive motor 112, a speed reducer 114, a screw shaft 116, a flat screw 140, a barrel 150, a heating unit 158, a bearing unit 170, a coupling mechanism 180, and a spacer 190. These are housed or fixed in the housing 195.

[0016] The drive motor 112 is a motor for rotating the flat screw 140. The drive motor 112 is controlled by the control unit 30.

[0017] The speed reducer 114 is a device that reduces and outputs the rotational speed of the output shaft of the drive motor 112 according to a predetermined reduction ratio. As the speed reducer 114, for example, a planetary gear speed reducer or a harmonic gear speed reducer is used. In FIG. 2, the detailed configuration of the speed reducer 114 is omitted.

[0018] The screw shaft 116 is connected to the upper surface of the flat screw 140. The surface of the flat screw 140 to which the screw shaft 116 is connected is referred to as the connection surface 141. The screw shaft 116 rotates by the drive motor 112. More specifically, the screw shaft 116 rotates by the drive motor 112 via the speed reducer 114 connected to the drive motor 112. In the present embodiment, the screw shaft 116 has a cylindrical shape with a space inside. A flange portion 117 is provided at the lower end of the screw shaft 116. The screw shaft 116 and the flat screw 140 are coupled by bolts passing through the flange portion 117. The flat screw 140 rotates around the screw shaft 116. The flat screw 140 has a groove-forming surface 148 on which a groove is formed on the surface opposite to the connection surface 141, that is, the lower surface. The detailed configuration of the flat screw 140 will be described later.

[0019] Below the flat screw 140, a barrel 150 is disposed. The barrel 150 has a facing surface 152 facing the groove-forming surface 148 of the flat screw 140. The groove-forming surface 148 and the facing surface 152 are separated from each other at a predetermined interval. This interval is determined by experiments or simulations as an interval that can plastify the material well. A communication hole 156 communicating with the nozzle 104 is formed in the barrel 150. The detailed configuration of the barrel 150 will be described later.

[0020] The heating unit 158 is embedded in the barrel 150. The heating unit 158 is constituted by, for example, a rod-shaped heater or an annular heater. The heating unit 158 heats the material supplied between the flat screw 140 and the barrel 150. The heating by the heating unit 158 is controlled by the control unit 30.

[0021] The housing 195 is provided with a material supply path 196 for supplying material between the flat screw 140 and the barrel 150. The material supply path 196 is connected to the material storage unit 102 shown in FIG. 1. Material is supplied from the material storage unit 102 between the flat screw 140 and the barrel 150 through the material supply path 196.

[0022] The bearing portion 170 is provided on the outer periphery of the screw shaft 116. The bearing portion 170 rotatably supports the screw shaft 116 with respect to the housing 195. The bearing portion 170 is configured to be able to receive the thrust load applied from the flat screw 140 to the screw shaft 116. The flange portion 117 of the screw shaft 116 is in contact with the lower surface of the inner ring of the bearing portion 170.

[0023] The bearing portion 170 of the present embodiment includes an angular bearing for receiving the thrust load from the flat screw 140. More specifically, the bearing portion 170 has a configuration in which a plurality of angular ball bearings 171, 172 are arranged back-to-back. The angular ball bearings 171, 172 are provided with balls as rolling elements between the inner ring and the outer ring, and the straight line connecting the contact points of the balls with the inner ring and the outer ring has a contact angle. With such a structure, the angular ball bearings 171, 172 can receive both a radial load and an axial load. By arranging the angular ball bearings 171, 172 back-to-back, the distance between the acting points of the bearing portion 170 becomes larger, so that the load capacity of the moment load can be increased.

[0024] An annular spacer 190 is disposed in the gap between the upper surface of the outer ring of the bearing portion 170 and the housing 195. The spacer 190 absorbs dimensional variations along the rotational axis direction of the bearing portion 170. Note that the spacer 190 can also be omitted.

[0025] FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a schematic configuration of the flat screw 140. In FIG. 3, the flat screw 140 is shown upside down. In FIG. 3, the position of the central axis RX of the flat screw 140 is indicated by a dashed-dotted line. The flat screw 140 has a substantially cylindrical shape in which the height in the direction along its central axis RX is smaller than the diameter. The flat screw 140 has a groove forming surface 148 that faces the opposing surface 152 of the barrel 150. A groove portion 142 is provided in the groove forming surface 148. The central portion 146 of the groove forming surface 148 is configured as a depression to which one end of the groove portion 142 is connected. The central portion 146 faces the communication hole 156 of the barrel 150 shown in FIG. 2.

[0026] The groove portion 142 of the flat screw 140 constitutes a so-called scroll groove. The groove portion 142 extends in a spiral shape, drawing an arc from the central portion 146 toward the outer periphery of the flat screw 140. The groove portion 142 may be configured to extend in an involute curve shape or a spiral shape. On the groove forming surface 148, there is provided a rib portion 143 that constitutes the side wall portion of the groove portion 142 and extends along each groove portion 142. The groove portion 142 continues to a material inlet 144 formed on the side surface of the flat screw 140. This material inlet 144 is a portion that receives the material supplied through the material supply path 196.

[0027] FIG. 3 shows an example of a flat screw 140 having three groove portions 142 and three rib portions 143. The number of groove portions 142 and rib portions 143 provided on the flat screw 140 is not limited to three, and only one groove portion 142 may be provided, or two or more groove portions 142 may be provided. Further, FIG. 3 shows an example of a flat screw 140 in which material inlets 144 are formed at three locations. The number of material inlets 144 provided on the flat screw 140 is not limited to three locations, and it may be provided at only one location, or may be provided at two or more locations. Note that the flat screw may also be simply called a screw or a rotor.

[0028] FIG. 4 is a top view of the barrel 150. The barrel 150 has a facing surface 152 facing the groove forming surface 148 of the flat screw 140. A communication hole 156 communicating with the nozzle 104 is formed at the center of the facing surface 152. A plurality of guide grooves 154 are formed around the communication hole 156 on the facing surface 152. Each guide groove 154 has one end connected to the communication hole 156 and extends spirally from the communication hole 156 toward the outer periphery of the facing surface 152. Each guide groove 154 has a function of guiding the shaping material to the communication hole 156. Note that one end of the guide groove 154 may not be connected to the communication hole 156. Further, the barrel 150 may not have the guide groove 154 formed therein.

[0029] The material supplied into the groove portion 142 of the flat screw 140 flows along the groove portion 142 by the rotation of the flat screw 140 while being melted within the groove portion 142, and is guided as a shaping material to the central portion 146 of the flat screw 140. The paste-like shaping material that has flowed into the central portion 146 and exhibits fluidity flows into the nozzle 104 through the communication hole 156 provided at the center of the barrel 150, and is discharged from the nozzle 104 toward the stage 220. Note that in the shaping material, not all types of substances constituting the shaping material need to be melted. The shaping material only needs to be converted into a state having fluidity as a whole by melting at least some types of substances among the substances constituting the shaping material. The shaping material is also referred to as a plasticized material.

[0030] FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a coupling mechanism 180 disposed between the speed reducer 114 and the screw shaft 116. The coupling mechanism 180 connects the output shaft 115 of the speed reducer 114 and the screw shaft 116, and suppresses the transmission of the thrust load applied from the flat screw 140 to the screw shaft 116 to the output shaft 115 of the speed reducer 114. In the present embodiment, the coupling mechanism 180 includes a first component 181, a second component 182, and a third component 183.

[0031] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the first component 181. The first component 181 is a component fixed to the output shaft 115 of the speed reducer 114. In the present embodiment, the first component 181 has a circular shape, and a plurality of bolt holes into which bolts used for fixing to the output shaft 115 are inserted are formed near the outer periphery. A rectangular first recess 184 is formed at the center of the lower surface of the first component 181, that is, the surface of the first component 181 facing the second component 182. The third component 183 is disposed in the first recess 184.

[0032] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the second component 182. The second component 182 is a component fixed to the screw shaft 116. As shown in FIG. 2, the second component 182 is fixed to the screw shaft 116 so that there is a gap between the second component 182 and the first component 181. As shown in FIG. 7, in the present embodiment, the second component 182 has a substantially circular shape, and a plurality of bolt holes into which bolts used for fixing to the screw shaft 116 are inserted are formed near the outer periphery. A slit-shaped second recess 185 is formed at the center of the upper surface of the second component 182, that is, the surface of the second component 182 facing the first component 181. A third component 183 is disposed in the second recess 185. The second component 182 includes a cylindrical convex portion 186 on the lower surface. The convex portion 186 is inserted into the internal space of the screw shaft 116. A through hole 187 is formed in the second component 182 along the rotation axis of the screw shaft 116.

[0033] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the third component 183. The third component 183 is a component interposed between the first component 181 and the second component 182. In the present embodiment, the third component 183 has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape and has a through hole 188 along the rotation axis of the screw shaft 116 at the central portion. The length of the third component 183 in the longitudinal direction is shorter than the lengths of the first recess 184 and the second recess 185 in the longitudinal direction. Also, the width of the third component 183 in the short direction is shorter than the widths of the first recess 184 and the second recess 185 in the short direction. Further, the height of the third component 183 along the rotation axis of the screw shaft 116 is smaller than the sum of the depths of the first recess 184 and the second recess 185. By being formed with such dimensions, the third component 183 fits into the first recess 184 of the first component 181 and the second recess 185 of the second component 182 at intervals in the first direction D1 along the rotation axis of the screw shaft 116, the second direction D2 which is a direction perpendicular to the first direction D1, and the third direction D3 which is a direction perpendicular to both the first direction D1 and the second direction D2. That is, the third component 183 fits into the first recess 184 of the first component 181 and the second recess 185 of the second component 182 with play in all directions. Note that the first direction D1 can be the thickness direction of the third component 183, the second direction D2 can be the longitudinal direction of the third component 183, and the third direction D3 can be the short direction of the third component.

[0034] According to the three-dimensional modeling apparatus 10 of the first embodiment described above, even if a thrust load is generated on the screw shaft 116 due to an increase in the internal pressure between the flat screw 140 and the barrel 150, the screw shaft 116 is supported by the bearing portion 170 capable of receiving the thrust load, so that displacement of the screw shaft 116 can be suppressed. As a result, an appropriate interval can be secured between the flat screw 140 and the barrel 150, and the plasticizing ability can be kept constant.

[0035] In addition, in this embodiment, since the bearing portion 170 is composed of a pair of angular ball bearings 171 and 172 arranged back-to-back, it can receive not only the thrust load from the screw shaft 116 but also the radial load. Therefore, high rigidity can be obtained.

[0036] In addition, in this embodiment, a coupling mechanism 180 is provided that connects the output shaft 115 of the speed reducer 114 and the screw shaft 116 and suppresses the transmission of the thrust load applied to the screw shaft 116 to the output shaft 115 of the speed reducer 114. Therefore, even if a large thrust load is applied to the screw shaft 116 and the bearing portion 170 is displaced, the speed reducer 114 can be protected from the thrust load.

[0037] In addition, in this embodiment, the coupling mechanism 180 is composed of a first component 181 fixed to the output shaft 115 of the speed reducer 114, a second component 182 fixed to the screw shaft 116, and a third component 183 interposed between the first component 181 and the second component 182. Therefore, it is possible to suppress the transmission of the thrust load from the screw shaft 116 to the speed reducer 114 with a simple structure.

[0038] In addition, in this embodiment, the third component 183 of the coupling mechanism 180 fits into the first recess 184 of the first component 181 and the second recess 185 of the second component 182 at intervals in three directions D1, D2, and D3 that are perpendicular to each other. Therefore, not only can the transmission of the thrust load to the speed reducer 114 be suppressed, but even if the rotation axes of the output shaft 115 of the speed reducer 114 and the screw shaft 116 are misaligned, the third component 183 can move freely within the first recess 184 of the first component 181 and the second recess 185 of the second component 182, allowing for shaft misalignment and enabling the screw shaft 116 to rotate.

[0039] Also, in the present embodiment, the screw shaft 116 is formed in a cylindrical shape and has a space inside. Therefore, the screw shaft 116 can be lightened. Further, since through holes are also formed in the second component 182 and the third component 183 of the coupling mechanism 180, these components can be lightened. Note that, in other embodiments, the screw shaft 116 may have a solid structure without a space inside, or the through holes may not be formed in the second component 182 and the third component 183.

[0040] B. Second Embodiment: FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view showing a schematic configuration of the plasticizing device 110b in the second embodiment. The plasticizing device 110b of the present embodiment is different from the plasticizing device 110 in the first embodiment in that it has a cooling unit 250 for cooling the flat screw 140. The cooling unit 250 allows a cooling medium to flow into the space inside the screw shaft 116. In the present embodiment, air is used as the cooling medium. The cooling unit 250 is constituted by a blower fan or an air pump. Note that other gases such as nitrogen may be used as the cooling medium.

[0041] The housing 195 of the plasticizing device 110b is provided with an inlet 251 for allowing the cooling medium to flow in from the cooling unit 250. In FIG. 9, the flow of the cooling medium in the plasticizing device 110b is schematically shown by a broken line. When the cooling medium flowing in from the inlet 251 flows into the housing 195, it flows out to the side surface of the speed reducer 114 through a flow path (not shown) provided in the housing 195. The cooling medium flows downward along the side surface of the speed reducer 114, passes between the first component 181 and the second component 182 of the coupling mechanism 180, reaches the internal space of the screw shaft 116 through the through hole 188 of the third component 183 and the through hole 187 of the second component 182. The internal space of the screw shaft 116 is in contact with the upper surface of the flat screw 140. After cooling the flat screw 140, the cooling medium that has reached the internal space of the screw shaft 116 passes through a flow path provided in the housing 195 from the through hole formed in the side surface of the screw shaft 116 and is discharged from the opening 198 provided in the material supply path 196. The opening 198 communicates with the internal space inside the screw shaft 116.

[0042] According to the second embodiment described above, since the cooling unit 250 for allowing the cooling medium to flow into the space in the screw shaft 116 is provided, the flat screw 140 connected to the screw shaft 116 can be cooled. Therefore, it is possible to suppress the excessive increase in the temperature of the flat screw 140. Further, in the present embodiment, as the cooling medium flows through the housing 195 as described above, not only the flat screw 140 but also the speed reducer 114 and the coupling mechanism 180 can be cooled. Furthermore, in the present embodiment, since the cooling medium that has passed through the plasticizing device 110b is discharged from the opening 198 provided in the material supply path 196, the material is agitated near the opening 198, and it is possible to suppress the clogging of the material in the material supply path 196.

[0043] In the second embodiment, the opening 198, which is the outlet of the cooling medium, is provided in the material supply path 196. However, the opening 198 may be provided at any position of the housing 195, for example, near the inlet 251. In this case, as the cooling medium, a liquid such as water or oil can be used instead of a gas such as air.

[0044] C. Third Embodiment: FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing a schematic configuration of an injection molding apparatus 300 according to the third embodiment. The injection molding apparatus 300 includes an injection unit 310, a mold clamping device 320, and a mold 330. The injection molding apparatus 300 injects a plasticized molding material from a nozzle provided in the injection unit 310 into a mold 330 composed of a fixed mold 331 and a movable mold 332 to form a molded product. As the mold 330, a metal mold or a resin mold can be used, and in this embodiment, it is a metal mold.

[0045] The mold clamping device 320 has a function of opening and closing the fixed mold 331 and the movable mold 332. The mold clamping device 320 drives a ball screw 324 by driving a mold driving unit 322 composed of a motor under the control of a control unit, and moves the movable mold 332 coupled to the ball screw 324 relative to the fixed mold 331 to open and close the mold 330.

[0046] The injection section 310 is connected to a hopper 312 into which the material for the molded product is loaded. The injection section 310 plasticizes at least a part of the material supplied from the hopper 312 to generate a molding material, and injects the molding material into a cavity partitioned between a fixed mold 331 and a movable mold 332. The injection section 310 includes the plasticizing device 110 shown in FIG. 2, and the plasticizing device 110 plasticizes the material and injects it into the mold 330. Note that the injection section 310 may include the plasticizing device 110b shown in FIG. 9.

[0047] Since the injection molding apparatus 300 of the third embodiment described above includes the plasticizing devices 110 and 110b described in the first embodiment or the second embodiment, the plasticized material can be stably injected into the mold 330.

[0048] D. Other Embodiments: (D1) In the above-described embodiment, the bearing portion 170 includes two angular bearings. In contrast, the bearing portion 170 may be constituted by one angular bearing. Also, in the above-described embodiment, the two angular bearings are arranged back-to-back, but they may also be arranged face-to-face. By arranging them face-to-face, the allowable amount of tilt can be increased. Further, the bearing portion 170 may include a thrust bearing capable of receiving a thrust load. In this case, for example, a thrust bearing may be arranged so as to contact the flange portion 117 of the flat screw 140, and one or more radial bearings may be arranged above the thrust bearing. Thus, in the above-described embodiment, various combinations of bearings are possible, and by appropriately combining angular bearings, thrust bearings, and radial bearings, it is possible to configure a structure capable of receiving the thrust load applied to the screw shaft 116. Also, the number of bearings included in the bearing portion 170 is not limited to one or two, and it may include three or more bearings. Further, each bearing constituting the bearing portion 170 may be a ball bearing or a roller bearing.

[0049] (D2) In the above-described embodiment, a set of angular bearings constituting the bearing portion 170 is constituted by two single-row angular ball bearings arranged back-to-back. In contrast, a set of angular bearings can also be constituted by a double-row angular bearing in which the inner rings and outer rings of the two bearings are integrated respectively.

[0050] (D3) In the above-described embodiment, the speed reducer 114 and the screw shaft 116 are connected via the coupling mechanism 180. In contrast, the speed reducer 114 and the screw shaft 116 may be directly connected. Also, a configuration in which the drive motor 112 and the screw shaft 116 are directly connected is also possible.

[0051] (D4) In the above embodiment, the third component 183 provided in the coupling mechanism 180 may not have play in the second direction D2 and the third direction D3 among the three directions D1, D2, D3. That is, the third component 183 only needs to have play in the first direction D1 along the rotation axis of the screw shaft 116.

[0052] (D5) The coupling mechanism 180 in the above embodiment can adopt various configurations as long as it can suppress the transmission of the thrust load to the output shaft 115 of the speed reducer 114. For example, various coupling mechanisms such as an Oldham type, a disk type, and a slit type can be adopted.

[0053] E. Other forms: The present disclosure is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and can be realized in various configurations without departing from the gist thereof. For example, the technical features of the embodiments corresponding to the technical features in each of the forms described below can be appropriately replaced or combined in order to solve some or all of the above-described problems, or to achieve some or all of the above-described effects. Further, if the technical feature is not described as essential in this specification, it can be appropriately deleted.

[0054] (1) According to the first form of the present disclosure, a plasticizing device is provided. This plasticizing device includes a drive motor, a screw shaft rotated by the drive motor, a connection surface connected to the screw shaft, and a groove-forming surface formed with grooves, a flat screw that rotates around the screw shaft, a barrel having an opposing surface facing the groove-forming surface and formed with communication holes, a heating unit that heats the material supplied between the flat screw and the barrel, and a bearing unit that rotatably supports the screw shaft and can receive the thrust load applied from the flat screw to the screw shaft, and the groove-forming surface and the opposing surface are separated from each other at a predetermined interval. According to such a configuration, even if a thrust load is generated due to an increase in the internal pressure between the flat screw and the barrel, the screw shaft is supported by a bearing portion capable of receiving the thrust load, so that displacement of the screw shaft can be suppressed. As a result, an appropriate interval can be ensured between the flat screw and the barrel, and the plasticizing ability can be kept constant.

[0055] (2) In the above configuration, the bearing portion may include an angular bearing. According to such a configuration, the thrust load can be received by the angular bearing.

[0056] (3) In the above configuration, the bearing portion may have a configuration in which a plurality of the angular bearings are arranged back to back. According to such a configuration, not only the thrust load but also the radial load can be received from the screw shaft.

[0057] (4) In the above configuration, the screw shaft rotates via a speed reducer connected to the drive motor, and a coupling mechanism that connects the output shaft of the speed reducer and the screw shaft and suppresses transmission of the thrust load applied to the screw shaft to the output shaft of the speed reducer may be provided. According to such a configuration, transmission of the thrust load from the screw shaft to the speed reducer can be suppressed, so that the speed reducer can be protected from the thrust load.

[0058] (5) In the above configuration, the coupling mechanism may include a first component fixed to the output shaft of the speed reducer, a second component fixed to the screw shaft, and a third component interposed between the first component and the second component and fitting into the first component and the second component with an interval in at least a first direction along the screw shaft. According to such a configuration, transmission of the thrust load from the screw shaft to the speed reducer can be suppressed with a simple configuration.

[0059] (6) In the above-described embodiment, the third component may be fitted to the first component and the second component at intervals in a second direction that is perpendicular to the screw shaft in addition to the first direction, and in a third direction that is perpendicular to both the first direction and the second direction. According to such an embodiment, the screw shaft can be rotated while allowing an axial displacement between the output shaft of the speed reducer and the rotation shaft of the screw shaft.

[0060] (7) In the above-described embodiment, the screw shaft may have a space inside. According to such an embodiment, the screw shaft can be lightened.

[0061] (8) In the above-described embodiment, a cooling unit for allowing a cooling medium to flow into the space may be provided. According to such an embodiment, by cooling the space inside the screw shaft, it is possible to suppress the temperature of the flat screw from rising too much.

[0062] (9) In the above-described embodiment, a material supply path for supplying the material between the flat screw and the barrel may be provided, and the material supply path may have an opening communicating with the space. According to such an embodiment, since the cooling medium can be discharged from the space inside the screw shaft through the opening provided in the material supply path, it is possible to suppress the material from clogging in the material supply path.

[0063] (10) According to the second embodiment of the present disclosure, a three-dimensional shaping apparatus is provided that includes the above-described plasticizing device, a stage having a shaping surface, and a nozzle that discharges the plasticized material supplied from the plasticizing device toward the shaping surface.

[0064] (11) According to the third embodiment of the present disclosure, an injection molding apparatus is provided that includes the above-described plasticizing device and a nozzle that injects the plasticized material supplied from the plasticizing device toward a mold.

Description of Reference Numerals

[0065] 10…Three-dimensional shaping device, 20…Chamber, 21…Shaping space, 30…Control unit, 100…Discharge unit, 102…Material storage unit, 104…Nozzle, 110, 110b…Plasticizing device, 112…Drive motor, 114…Reducer, 115…Output shaft, 116…Screw shaft, 117…Flange portion, 140…Flat screw, 141…Connection surface, 142…Groove portion, 143…Rib portion, 144…Material inlet, 146…Central portion, 148…Groove forming surface, 150…Barrel, 152…Opposing surface, 154…Guide groove, 156…Communication hole, 158…Heating unit, 170…Bearing portion, 171, 172…Angular ball bearing, 180…Coupling mechanism, 181…First component, 182…Second component, 183…Third component, 184…First concave portion, 185…Second concave portion, 186…Convex portion, 187…Through hole, 188…Through hole, 190…Spacer, 195…Housing, 196…Material supply path, 198…Opening, 210…Moving mechanism section, 220…Stage, 250…Cooling unit, 251…Inlet, 300…Injection molding device, 310…Injection section, 312…Hopper, 320…Mold clamping device, 322…Mold drive section, 324…Ball screw, 330…Molding die, 331…Fixed die, 332…Movable die

Claims

1. A drive motor, A screw shaft rotated by the drive motor, A flat screw having a connection surface connected to the screw shaft and a groove formation surface on which a groove is formed, and rotating about the screw shaft, A barrel having an opposing surface opposing the groove formation surface and having a communication hole formed therein, A heating unit for heating a material supplied between the flat screw and the barrel, A bearing unit that rotatably supports the screw shaft and is capable of receiving a thrust load applied from the flat screw to the screw shaft, The groove formation surface and the opposing surface are separated from each other with a predetermined interval therebetween, The bearing unit includes an angular bearing, A plasticizing device.

2. The plasticizing device according to Claim 1, The bearing unit has a configuration in which a plurality of the angular bearings are arranged back-to-back,

3. A drive motor, A screw shaft rotated by the drive motor, A flat screw having a connection surface connected to the screw shaft and a groove formation surface on which a groove is formed, and rotating about the screw shaft, A barrel having an opposing surface opposing the groove formation surface and having a communication hole formed therein, A heating unit for heating a material supplied between the flat screw and the barrel, A bearing unit that rotatably supports the screw shaft and is capable of receiving a thrust load applied from the flat screw to the screw shaft, The groove formation surface and the opposing surface are separated from each other with a predetermined interval therebetween, The screw shaft rotates via a speed reducer connected to the drive motor, A coupling mechanism that connects the output shaft of the speed reducer and the screw shaft and suppresses transmission of a thrust load applied to the screw shaft to the output shaft of the speed reducer,

4. The plasticizing device according to Claim 3, The coupling mechanism is, A first component fixed to the output shaft of the speed reducer, A second component fixed to the screw shaft, A third component interposed between the first component and the second component and fitting into the first component and the second component with an interval therebetween at least in a first direction along the screw shaft, A plasticizing device.

5. The plasticizing device according to Claim 4, The third component is a plasticizing device that is spaced apart from the first component and the second component in a second direction that is perpendicular to the screw shaft in addition to the first direction, and in a third direction that is perpendicular to both the first direction and the second direction, respectively.

6. A plasticizing device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the screw shaft has a space inside, the plasticizing device.

7. A drive motor, a screw shaft rotated by the drive motor, a flat screw having a connection surface connected to the screw shaft and a groove formation surface on which a groove is formed, and rotating about the screw shaft, a barrel having an opposing surface opposing the groove formation surface and having a communication hole formed therein, a heating unit that heats the material supplied between the flat screw and the barrel, and a bearing unit that rotatably supports the screw shaft and is capable of receiving a thrust load applied from the flat screw to the screw shaft. The groove formation surface and the opposing surface are separated from each other at a predetermined interval, the screw shaft has a space inside, and the plasticizing device includes a cooling unit that allows a cooling medium to flow into the space.

8. A plasticizing device according to claim 7, comprising a material supply path for supplying the material between the flat screw and the barrel, wherein the material supply path has an opening communicating with the space, the plasticizing device.

9. A plasticizing device according to any one of claims 1 to 8, a stage having a shaping surface, and a nozzle that discharges the plasticized material supplied from the plasticizing device toward the shaping surface, a three-dimensional shaping device comprising.

10. A plasticizing device according to any one of claims 1 to 8, and a nozzle that injects the plasticized material supplied from the plasticizing device toward a mold, an injection molding device comprising.

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