Air blower for improved 3D structure printing process

Abstract

The present invention relates to an air blower for improving 3D structure printing processing, which can quickly solidify the printing material discharged from a nozzle to improve printing processability, and is characterized by including a blower fixture that is installed under a syringe that contains and discharges the printing material, and has an injection port formed therein through which a fluid is sprayed to reduce the temperature of the printing material discharged from the nozzle of the syringe and the surrounding area of ​​the nozzle, thereby shortening the solidification time of the printing material, and an air pressure hose that is connected to the blower fixture and delivers the fluid at normal pressure.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a blower device for improving 3D structure printing processing, and more particularly to a blower device for improving 3D structure printing processing that can quickly solidify printing material ejected from a nozzle to improve printing processability. [Background technology]

[0002] 3D printers can produce complex and diversely shaped objects efficiently and at low cost without the need for additional post-processing.

[0003] To date, various types of 3D printers have been developed, but the most widely used and popular among the public is the FDM (Fused Deposition Modeling) type 3D printer.

[0004] FDM 3D printers melt and inject thin, thread-like filament-shaped thermoplastic resin through a high-temperature printing nozzle, and then stack these layers one by one to complete the printed object.

[0005] The advantage of FDM 3D printers is that their structure and technical operation method are relatively simple compared to other types of 3D printers, so the price, operation and maintenance costs of the printers are low.

[0006] In addition, dual nozzle FDM 3D printers equipped with two printing nozzles can efficiently manufacture structures with complex patterns using composite materials made of two different materials without additional processing.

[0007] However, FDM 3D printers have the disadvantage of being relatively slow in production speed, as the output is completed in a layered manner, resulting in poor surface condition due to the output crumbling or excessive bending.

[0008] In addition, in the past, in order to dispense a thermoplastic synthetic polymer material, the material had to be heated to melt it and then dispensed in a highly viscous liquid state. If the dispensed material was not completely solidified when it was dispensed, the shape of the structure could be distorted or it could not be laminated. To prevent this, additional lamination was not possible until the material had solidified, which resulted in a disadvantage of requiring a long manufacturing time due to the solidification time of the material. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0009] [Patent Document 1] Republic of Korea Registered Patent Publication No. 10-2210721 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0010] Therefore, the present invention has been devised to solve the above problems, and its purpose is to provide an air blower for improving 3D structure printing processing, which installs an air blower at the nozzle location where the printing material is ejected, so that the fluid sprayed through the blower jig of the air blower quickly solidifies the ejected printing material and allows the next layer to be stacked in a short time, preventing the structure from collapsing or the surface from bending, minimizing production time and improving printing processability. [Means for solving the problem]

[0011] To achieve the above object, an embodiment of the present invention provides an air blower for improving 3D structure printing processing, which includes a blower fixture that is installed below a syringe that contains and dispenses printing material and has a nozzle formed therein through which a fluid is sprayed to reduce the temperature of the printing material dispensed from the syringe nozzle and the surrounding area of ​​the nozzle, thereby shortening the solidification time of the printing material, and an air pressure hose that is connected to the blower fixture and delivers the fluid at normal pressure.

[0012] The blower fixture may include a hollow tube connected to an air pressure hose to receive a fluid, and a sprayer having a spray nozzle formed at a lower portion of the hollow tube for spraying the fluid received through the air pressure hose.

[0013] The hollow tube may be provided on top of the nozzle end of a syringe from which the printing material is ejected.

[0014] The hollow tube may be formed in a circular or U-shape surrounding the nozzle of the syringe.

[0015] The jet may be formed around the entire lower portion of the hollow tube, or a plurality of jets may be formed around the lower portion at regular intervals, and each jet may have at least one jet orifice.

[0016] The fluid injected through the injection port can be any one of compressed air, nitrogen, helium, and carbon dioxide.

[0017] The pneumatic hose may be connected to a fluid inlet device that operates under the control of a controller. The jet angle of the jets may be directed inwards so that the material is dispensed. [Effects of the Invention]

[0018] As described above, according to the air blower for improving 3D structure printing processing of the present invention, by installing an air blower that injects fluid at the nozzle portion of the syringe that contains and ejects the printing material, the temperature of the printing material ejected from the nozzle or its surroundings is lowered by the fluid ejected from the ejection port, thereby shortening the solidification time of the printed material and allowing the next layer to be stacked in a short time, thereby improving the printing quality and printing processability of the structure. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0019] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a front view illustrating the installation state of a blower device for improving the 3D structure printing process according to the present invention. [Figure 2] 1 is a perspective view illustrating the installation state of a blower device for improving the 3D structure printing process according to the present invention; FIG. [Figure 3] 1 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a syringe equipped with a blower for improving the 3D structure printing process according to the present invention. FIG. [Figure 4] 1 is a perspective view illustrating a blower device for improving the 3D structure printing process according to the present invention. FIG. [Figure 5] 1 is a front view illustrating a blower device for improving the 3D structure printing process according to the present invention. FIG. [Figure 6] FIG. 1 is a bottom view illustrating a blower device for improving the 3D structure printing process according to the present invention. [Figure 7] 1 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a blower device for improving the 3D structure printing process according to the present invention. [Figure 8] FIG. 1 is a bottom view illustrating an example of a blower device for improving the 3D structure printing process according to the present invention. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the blower device according to FIG. 8. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a bottom view illustrating another example of a blower device for improving the 3D structure printing process according to the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0020] While the present invention can be modified in various ways and has various embodiments, specific embodiments will be illustrated in the drawings and described in detail, but it should be understood that this is not intended to limit the present invention to the specific embodiments, and that the present invention includes all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives that fall within the spirit and technical scope of the present invention.

[0021] In the drawings, the embodiments of the present invention are not limited to the particular shapes shown, and may be exaggerated for clarity. Although specific terms are used in this specification, they are used for the purpose of describing the present invention, and are not used to limit the meaning or scope of the invention as described in the claims.

[0022] As used herein, the term "and / or" is used to mean that at least one of the listed elements is included. Furthermore, the term "coupled" is used to mean that something is directly coupled to another element or indirectly coupled through another element. As used herein, the singular also includes the plural unless otherwise stated. Furthermore, as used herein, the terms "comprise" or "comprises" refer to the presence or addition of one or more other elements, steps, operations, and elements.

[0023] In the description of the embodiments, when a layer (film), region, pattern, or structure is described as being formed "on" or "under" a substrate, each side (film), region, pad, or pattern, this includes being formed directly or via another layer. References to "on" or "under" each layer are made with reference to the drawings.

[0024] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0025] FIG. 1 is a front view illustrating an installed state of a blower device for improving 3D structure printing processing according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating an installed state of a blower device for improving 3D structure printing processing according to the present invention, FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a syringe on which a blower device for improving 3D structure printing processing according to the present invention is installed, FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating a blower device for improving 3D structure printing processing according to the present invention, FIG. 5 is a front view illustrating a blower device for improving 3D structure printing processing according to the present invention, FIG. 6 is a bottom view illustrating a blower device for improving 3D structure printing processing according to the present invention, FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a blower device for improving 3D structure printing processing according to the present invention, FIG. 8 is a bottom view illustrating an example of a blower device for improving 3D structure printing processing according to the present invention, FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the blower according to FIG. 8, and FIG. 10 is a bottom view illustrating another example of a blower device for improving 3D structure printing processing according to the present invention.

[0026] As shown in FIGS. 1 to 10, the air blower 100 for improving the 3D structure printing process according to the present invention is provided at the nozzle 21 of the syringe 20, which contains and dispenses the printing material 1 in the 3D printer head 10, and serves to reduce the temperature of the printing material 1 dispensed from the nozzle 21 and the surrounding area of ​​the nozzle, thereby quickly solidifying the printing material 1.

[0027] In this case, the printing material 1 used may be made of a thermoplastic polymer, and the thermoplastic polymer is not particularly limited, but is a polymer that can have fluid-like flow properties when heated, such as lactide, caprolactone, glycolide, dioxanone, propylene, ethylene, vinyl chloride, butadiene, methyl methacrylate, acrylic acid, 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate, carbonate, polyethylene terephthalate, ABS (Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene), PCL (polycaprolactone), ASA (Acrylonitrile-Styrene-Acrylate), SAN (Styrene-Acrylonitrile The material may include one or more selected from the group consisting of 3D printable materials such as PPSF / PPSU (Polyphenylsulfone), PLA (Polylactic acid), PDL (Poly-d-lysine), and the like.

[0028] In addition, the air blower 100 for improving the 3D structure printing process according to the present invention may be installed above the end of the nozzle 21 of the syringe 20. In this case, the air blower 100 is preferably provided between the upper end of the nozzle 21 and the lower end of the syringe 20.

[0029] As shown in FIGS. 4 to 7, the air blowing device 100 may include a blower fixture 110 and an air pressure hose 120.

[0030] The blower jig 110 is installed above the end of the nozzle 21 at the bottom of the syringe 20, where the printing material 1 is stored and ejected, and by injecting fluid, it can reduce the temperature of the printing material 1 ejected from the nozzle 21 of the syringe 20 and the surrounding area of ​​the nozzle, thereby shortening the solidification time of the printing material 1.

[0031] The blower fixture 110 may include a hollow tube 111 connected to an air pressure hose 120 through which a fluid is supplied, and an injector 112 having an injection port 113 formed at a lower portion of the hollow tube 111, through which the fluid supplied through the air pressure hose 120 is injected. In this case, the injector 112 may be integrated with the inside of the hollow tube 111 by communicating therewith.

[0032] The hollow tube 111 may be provided at the upper end of the nozzle 21 of the syringe 20 from which the printing material 1 is ejected. The hollow tube 111 may be formed in a circular or U-shape while surrounding the nozzle 21 of the syringe 20, but is not limited thereto and may be formed in various shapes.

[0033] The ejection body 112 may be formed around the entire lower portion of the hollow tube 111, or may be formed in a plurality of pieces spaced at regular intervals around the lower portion. At least one ejection port 113 may be formed in the ejection body 112. That is, the direction in which the fluid is ejected through the ejection port 113 may be inward where the printing material 1 is ejected by the printing structure, or outward where the material is ejected and solidified by the continuously moving nozzle 21, so that the fluid may be ejected over a wide area.

[0034] The injection holes 113 may be formed to have different numbers, angles, and sizes depending on the 3D structure to be printed.

[0035] Meanwhile, the fluid injected through the injection port 113 may be any one of compressed air, nitrogen, helium, carbon dioxide, etc., but is not limited thereto and may preferably be other fluids.

[0036] The pneumatic hose 120 is connected to the blower fixture 110 to supply fluid into the hollow tube 111. The pneumatic hose 120 can also be connected to a fluid inflow device 300 that receives fluid according to the injection pressure under the control of the control unit 200. That is, fluid of a set pressure is supplied to the pneumatic hose 120 through the fluid inflow device 300 according to the pressure set by the control unit 200, and is then injected through the hollow tube 111 to the injection port 113, thereby enabling the fluid to be injected according to the 3D structure to be printed. At this time, the fluid that has flowed in through the fluid inflow device 300 can be immediately connected and used by the pneumatic hose 120, and the control unit 200 can selectively use it.

[0037] The operation of the air blower for improving the 3D structure printing process according to the present invention, which has the above-described structure, is as follows.

[0038] By installing a blower jig 110 connected to an air pressure hose 120 at the lower end of the syringe 20 containing the printing material 1, i.e., at the top of the end of the nozzle 21, when the printing material 1 contained in the syringe 20 is ejected through the nozzle 21 and a 3D structure is printed while being layered, a fluid at atmospheric pressure is supplied to the inside of the hollow tube 111 through the air pressure hose 120 and sprayed through the nozzle 113, and the layered printing material 1 can be quickly solidified by the fluid being sprayed together with the ejection of the printing material 1.

[0039] Furthermore, since the blower device 100 is installed above the end of the nozzle 21 from which the printing material 1 is ejected, when the printing material 1 is ejected and layered through the nozzle 21, the nozzle 113 is located close to the 3D structure to be printed, so that the fluid ejected from the nozzle 113 quickly reaches the 3D structure, and the next layer can be layered in a short time due to the rapid solidification of the ejected material.

[0040] In addition, a plurality of injection ports 113 are formed at regular intervals at the bottom of the injection body 112, and when the fluid supplied to the inside of the hollow tube 111 is injected through the injection ports 113, the printing material 1 discharged from the nozzle 21 and printed can be solidified uniformly, so that no bending occurs on the surface of the 3D structure.

[0041] Although the foregoing detailed description of the present invention has described only specific embodiments thereof, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the specific forms set forth in the detailed description, but rather includes all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

[0042] In other words, the present invention is not limited to the specific embodiments and explanations described above, and various modifications can be made by anyone with ordinary knowledge in the technical field to which the present invention pertains without departing from the gist of the present invention as claimed in the claims, and such modifications are within the scope of protection of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0043] 10: 3D printer head 20: Syringe 21: Nozzle 100: Blower 110: Blower jig 111:Hollow tube 112: Projectile 113: Nozzle 120: Air pressure hose 200: Control unit 300:Fluid inflow device

Claims

1. a blower jig that is installed below a syringe that stores and dispenses the printing material, and that has a nozzle formed therein for spraying a fluid that reduces the temperature of the printing material dispensed from the nozzle of the syringe and the temperature around the nozzle, thereby shortening the solidification time of the printing material; and a pneumatic hose connected to the blower fixture for transmitting fluid at atmospheric pressure; The blower jig is a hollow tube having a circular shape that is connected to the pneumatic hose to supply fluid thereto and that wraps around the nozzle of the syringe; and a jet formed along the entire lower periphery of the hollow pipe so as to be integral with the interior of the hollow pipe and having a jet port for jetting the fluid supplied through the pneumatic hose; The vertical cross section of the jet body has a trapezoidal shape that narrows downward, and the jet ports are arranged radially at regular intervals around the entire lower periphery of the jet body, with the jet ports on the inner surface of the trapezoid at a jet angle toward the inside where the material is jetted, the jet ports on the outer surface of the trapezoid at a jet angle toward the outside where the material is jetted and solidified by the continuously moving nozzle, and the flat lower surface of the trapezoid at a jet angle toward the bottom.

2. The air blowing device for improving a 3D structure printing process according to claim 1 , wherein the hollow tube is provided on an upper end of a nozzle of a syringe from which the printing material is discharged.

3. The air blowing device for improving a 3D structure printing process according to claim 1 , wherein the air pressure hose is connected to a fluid inlet device that operates under the control of a controller.

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