Lifting device and additive manufacturing device

Abstract

To easily prevent problems that may occur during lifting and lowering operations.SOLUTION: A lifting and lowering device 40 according to one embodiment of the present disclosure includes: a ramp 41 that is arranged inside a molding tank 30 and has a main surface 41a that can support a powder 2 and a molded object 3, and a side surface 41c that faces an inner wall 31a of the molding tank 30; a lifting mechanism M1 that moves the ramp 41 relatively to the molding tank 30 in Z direction intersecting the main surface 41a; a felt body 46 provided to close gap G between the side surface 41c and the inner wall 31a when viewed from the Z direction; a pressing mechanism 60 that contacts the felt body 46 in the X direction; and a set screw 65 attached to the ramp 41 that supports the pressing mechanism 60 at the ramp 41 and defines a position of the pressing mechanism 60 with respect to the ramp 41 in the X direction, so that the position of the set screw 65 with respect to the ramp 41 can be adjusted.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a lifting device and a layered manufacturing device.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, a layered manufacturing device that solidifies powder to manufacture a shaped object is known. For such a layered manufacturing device, a lifting device for lifting a table to which powder is supplied is used (for example, Patent Document 1). Such a lifting device is disposed inside a cylindrical manufacturing tank, and a sealing material for suppressing the fall of powder from the table is provided between the lifting device and the inner wall of the manufacturing tank.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] In the lifting device as described above, when the adhesion of the sealing material to the inner wall of the manufacturing tank is insufficient, a gap is likely to occur between the sealing material and the inner wall during the lifting operation, and powder is likely to fall from the gap. Such a fall of powder causes a concave portion on the surface of the powder bed on the table, which may be a factor leading to coating defects. On the other hand, when the sealing material is excessively adhered to the inner wall, the friction between the sealing material and the inner wall increases, and there is a possibility that the lifting operation of the lifting device may be hindered. In order to suppress the occurrence of such problems during the lifting operation, it is conceivable to change the type or material of the sealing material so that the sealing material adheres to the inner wall appropriately. However, such a change of the sealing material has a problem that it requires a lot of work such as disassembling the lifting device, replacing the sealing material, and reassembling the lifting device, so it is very troublesome.

[0005] This disclosure describes a lifting device and an additive manufacturing apparatus that can easily prevent malfunctions that may occur during lifting operations. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] A lifting device according to one embodiment of the present disclosure is a lifting device used in an additive manufacturing apparatus for processing spread powder to form a molded object, comprising: a lifting platform disposed inside a molding tank and having a main surface capable of supporting powder and molded objects, and a side surface facing the inner wall of the molding tank; a lifting mechanism connected to the lifting platform and moving the lifting platform relative to the molding tank in a first direction intersecting the main surface; a sealing body disposed between the lifting platform and the inner wall and provided to close the gap between the side surface and the inner wall when viewed from the first direction; a pressing body facing the inner wall via the sealing body in a second direction along the main surface and contacting the sealing body in the second direction; and a support attached to the lifting platform such that the position of the support body relative to the lifting platform is adjustable, and the support portion supports the pressing body on the lifting platform and defines the position of the pressing body in the second direction relative to the lifting platform.

[0007] The above-described lifting device includes a support attached to the lifting platform such that the position of the support part relative to the lifting platform can be adjusted. If the position of the support part that defines the second position of the pressing body can be adjusted, the second position of the pressing body relative to the inner wall can be freely adjusted, and the pressing force from the sealant to the inner wall by the pressing body can be freely adjusted. For example, if powder falls from the gap between the inner wall and the sealant, it can be determined that the adhesion of the sealant to the inner wall is insufficient, and the pressing force from the sealant to the inner wall can be increased by adjusting the second position of the pressing body so that the pressing body is closer to the inner wall. On the other hand, if the frictional force of the sealant to the inner wall is excessively large, it can be determined that the adhesion of the sealant to the inner wall is excessive, and the pressing force from the sealant to the inner wall can be decreased by adjusting the second position of the pressing body so that the pressing body is further away from the inner wall. In this way, if the pressing force from the sealant to the inner wall can be freely adjusted, it can be made to appropriately adjust the adhesion of the sealant to the inner wall without replacing the sealant or other components. In other words, it becomes possible to easily prevent problems that may occur during lifting operations, such as powder falling from the gap between the inner wall and the sealant, and increased frictional force of the sealant against the inner wall, without requiring a lot of work such as disassembling and reassembling the lifting device, and without much effort.

[0008] In some embodiments, the lifting platform includes a lifting platform body with a housing groove extending in a second direction from the side, and a top plate having a through hole that penetrates in a first direction and communicates with the housing groove, and is positioned on the lifting platform body so as to close the housing groove. The pressing body may be housed in the housing groove, and the support may be housed in the through hole. When the top plate is attached to the lifting platform body in this manner, a parallel adjustment operation is required to correct any deviation in the tilt of the top plate each time the top plate is removed and attached. In contrast, in the above configuration, since the support is housed in the through hole of the top plate, the position of the support can be easily adjusted from the through hole without removing the top plate from the lifting platform body. As a result, the pressing force from the sealing body to the inner wall can be freely adjusted without requiring a parallel adjustment operation associated with removing the top plate.

[0009] In some embodiments, the support is mounted so as to be movable in a first direction relative to the inner surface of the through-hole, and the pressing body may have a cam mechanism that moves the pressing body in a second direction in response to the movement of the support in the first direction. In this case, a mechanism for adjusting the position of the pressing body in the second direction can be easily realized by adjusting the position of the support housed in the through-hole of the top plate.

[0010] In some embodiments, the cam mechanism may include a cam member facing a support in a first direction and capable of moving a receiving groove in the first direction in response to the movement of the support in the first direction, and a cam receiving portion positioned between the cam member and the seal, facing a seal in a second direction, and capable of moving a receiving groove in a second direction in response to the movement of the cam member in the first direction. In this case, a cam mechanism that moves a pressing body in a second direction in response to the movement of the support in the first direction can be easily constructed.

[0011] In some embodiments, the cam member may include a cam surface inclined with respect to both a first and a second direction, and the cam receiving member may include a cam receiving surface inclined along the cam surface and in contact with the cam surface. In lifting devices used in additive manufacturing equipment that handles powder, the dynamic cam mechanism, including the cam member and cam receiving member, is required to be simply constructed from the viewpoint of suppressing malfunctions caused by powder ingress. In the above configuration, a simple mechanism that presses the cam surface against the cam receiving surface can convert the movement of the cam member in the first direction into the movement of the cam receiving member in the second direction, thereby suppressing malfunctions in the cam mechanism caused by powder ingress.

[0012] In some embodiments, the pressing body may further include an elastic member positioned between the support and the cam member in the through-hole, supported by the support, and biasing the cam member in a first direction. As the lifting operation progresses, it is expected that the pressing force from the seal to the inner wall will decrease as the seal wears down. In contrast, in the above configuration, since the pressing body has an elastic member, the decrease in pressing force due to the wear of the seal can be compensated for by the biasing force of the elastic member. Furthermore, in the above configuration, since the elastic member is positioned in the through-hole of the top plate, if it becomes necessary to replace the elastic member, the elastic member can be replaced through the through-hole without removing the top plate from the lifting platform body.

[0013] In some embodiments, the lifting device comprises a first and second pressing body as pressing bodies, spaced apart from each other in a third direction intersecting the first and second directions, wherein the cam receiving member of the first pressing body and the cam receiving member of the second pressing body extend integrally in the third direction and may be in contact with the sealing body in the second direction. In this configuration, where the cam receiving member of the first pressing body and the cam receiving member of the second pressing body extend integrally in the third direction, the entire surface of the sealing body can be pressed evenly by the integrated cam receiving member, thereby suppressing the occurrence of uneven pressure from the sealing body to the inner wall.

[0014] In some embodiments, the system may further include a detector for detecting whether or not powder is falling from the gap between the side and the inner wall, and a controller which is communicatively connected to the detector and controls the support to change the position of the support relative to the lifting platform. In this case, the pressing force from the seal to the inner wall can be automatically adjusted by changing the position of the support relative to the lifting platform.

[0015] An additive manufacturing apparatus according to one embodiment of the present disclosure comprises one of the above-described lifting devices, a manufacturing tank housing the lifting device, a powder supply device for supplying powder to the main surface, and an irradiation device for irradiating the powder with an energy beam. Since this additive manufacturing apparatus is equipped with one of the above-described lifting devices, as described above, the pressing force from the sealant to the inner wall can be freely adjusted, making it possible to appropriately adjust the adhesion of the sealant to the inner wall without replacing components such as the sealant. In other words, it is possible to easily prevent problems that may occur during lifting operations, such as powder falling from the gap between the inner wall and the sealant, and an increase in the frictional force of the sealant against the inner wall, without requiring many tasks such as disassembling and reassembling the lifting device, and without requiring much effort.

[0016] In some embodiments, the irradiation device may be a laser emission unit that irradiates the powder with a laser as an energy beam. When a laser emission unit is used in this way, compared to when an electron beam is used, the particle size of the powder used for molding is smaller, and the powder is not subjected to pre-sintering treatment, so powder is more likely to fall out from the gap between the inner wall and the sealant. In contrast, with the additive manufacturing apparatus described above, the pressing force from the sealant to the inner wall can be freely adjusted to prevent powder from falling out, thus more effectively achieving the above-mentioned effects. [Effects of the Invention]

[0017] According to some aspects of this disclosure, a lifting device and an additive manufacturing apparatus are provided that can easily prevent malfunctions that may occur during lifting operations. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0018] [Figure 1] Figure 1 is a cross-sectional view showing an additive manufacturing apparatus according to one embodiment. [Figure 2] Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view showing the lifting mechanism of an additive manufacturing device. [Figure 3] Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view showing an enlarged view of the main part of the lifting platform of the lifting device. [Figure 4]Fig. 4(a) is a plan view of the lift platform in Fig. 3 as seen from above. Fig. 4(b) is a plan view showing the lift platform with the top plate removed from the state of Fig. 2. [Figure 5] Fig. 5 is a flowchart showing an example of a method for adjusting the fastening position of the set screw. [Figure 6] Fig. 6(a) is a cross-sectional view showing the lift platform before adjusting the fastening position of the set screw. Fig. 6(b) is a cross-sectional view showing the lift platform after adjusting the fastening position of the set screw. [Figure 7] Fig. 7 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing the main part of the lift platform according to the modified example. [Figure 8] Fig. 8 is a cross-sectional view showing a lifting device according to another modified example. [Figure 9] Fig. 9(a) is a plan view of the main part of the lift platform according to the comparative example as seen from above. Fig. 9(b) is a cross-sectional view showing the lift platform of Fig. 9(a).

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0019] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. In the description of the drawings, the same reference numerals are assigned to the same elements, and duplicate descriptions are omitted.

[0020] The additive manufacturing apparatus shown in Fig. 1 is a so-called 3D (three-dimensional) printer. In the following description, the additive manufacturing apparatus is simply referred to as "manufacturing apparatus 1". The manufacturing apparatus 1 obtains a three-dimensional object 3. First, the manufacturing apparatus 1 supplies powder 2 to the manufacturing area. Then, the manufacturing apparatus 1 irradiates the powder 2 with a laser beam as an energy beam (hereinafter simply referred to as "laser L"). By this irradiation, the powder 2 melts. When the irradiation of the laser L is stopped, the melted powder 2 solidifies. That is, the manufacturing apparatus 1 repeats the supply of the powder 2 and the irradiation of the laser L. Thereby, the object 3 is manufactured.

[0021] In the following explanation, the X, Y, and Z directions may be used. The X direction is the in-plane direction (second direction) along the main surface 41a of the lifting platform 41, which will be described later. The Y direction is the in-plane direction of the main surface 41a and is perpendicular to the X direction (third direction). The Z direction is the normal direction of the main surface 41a and is perpendicular to both the X and Y directions (first direction). Furthermore, in the following, the terms "up" and "down" are used based on the state where the Z direction is aligned with the vertical direction. The term "down" refers to the lower side in the vertical direction, and the term "up" refers to the upper side in the vertical direction.

[0022] The molded object 3 is, for example, a machine part. The molded object 3 may also be other structures. The powder 2 is composed of a large number of powder particles. The material of the powder 2 is, for example, a metal. The powder 2 may be, for example, a metal powder such as titanium-based metal powder, Inconel® powder, aluminum powder, or stainless steel powder. The material of the powder 2 is not limited to a metal material, and may also be other materials such as ceramics or resins. The material of the powder 2 may be a material containing carbon fibers and resin, such as CFRP (Carbon Fiber Reinforced Plastics), or it may be other materials. For example, the powder 2 may contain a conductive material. The material of the powder 2 may be a conductive material. The powder 2 only needs to be meltable by irradiation with the laser L. For example, granular material with a larger particle size than the powder may be used as the powder 2.

[0023] The molding apparatus 1 comprises, as its main components, a molding unit 10, a laser emission unit 15 (irradiation device), and a controller 20 (controller). The molding unit 10 is the part that molds the desired object, the molded object 3. The laser emission unit 15 emits a laser L towards the powder 2. The controller 20 is an electronic control unit that controls the entire molding apparatus. The controller 20 may include a computer composed of hardware such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit), ROM (Read Only Memory), and RAM (Random Access Memory), and software such as a program stored in ROM.

[0024] The laser emission unit 15 is a laser irradiation device that melts and solidifies the powder 2. The laser L emitted from the laser emission unit 15 is irradiated into the chamber 25, heating the powder 2. The laser emission unit 15 can heat and melt the powder 2 by imparting energy to it. The laser emission unit 15 is an energy imparting unit that imparts energy to the powder 2. The laser emission unit 15 may include optical components such as a mirror for polarizing the laser L, a mirror drive unit for moving the mirror, and a focusing lens for focusing the laser L.

[0025] The controller 20 performs operational control, such as controlling the emission of the laser L in the laser emission unit 15. For example, the controller 20 controls the irradiation position of the laser L. Three-dimensional CAD (Computer-Aided Design) data of the object to be fabricated, the object 3, is input to the controller 20. The controller 20 generates two-dimensional slice data based on the three-dimensional CAD data. The slice data is, for example, data of the horizontal cross-section of the object 3, and is a collection of many data points corresponding to the vertical position. Based on this slice data, the controller 20 determines the irradiation position of the laser L. In addition, as will be described later, the controller 20 also performs operational control, such as controlling the supply of powder 2 and controlling the raising and lowering of the lifting device 40.

[0026] The molding unit 10 forms a space for molding the desired object, the molded object 3, and houses several devices required for molding. The molding unit 10 includes, for example, a chamber 25, a molding tank 30, a base plate 35, a lifting device 40, and a powder supply device 45.

[0027] Chamber 25 forms a build space that houses the build tank 30, base plate 35, lifting device 40, and powder supply device 45. The inside of Chamber 25 is filled with, for example, argon gas. The build tank 30 has a cylindrical shape extending in the Z direction. The build tank 30 includes, for example, a rectangular cylindrical peripheral wall 31 and a bottom wall 32 that closes the lower end of the peripheral wall 31. A build region is formed inside the build tank 30 where the object 3 is built.

[0028] The base plate 35 and the lifting device 40 are located inside the build tank 30. The base plate 35 is placed on the lifting device 40 inside the build tank 30. The base plate 35 has a rectangular plate shape, for example, corresponding to the shape of the build tank 30. The base plate 35 is attached to the lifting device 40 by fastening members, for example, bolts. The base plate 35 is a metal plate made of a metal material such as stainless steel, iron, or titanium. The material of the base plate 35 can be appropriately changed depending on the material of the powder 2. The powder 2 is supplied onto the base plate 35. The powder 2 is arranged on the base plate 35 in multiple layers, for example. The base plate 35 is positioned on the extension of the laser L's emission direction and supports the powder 2 and the built object 3.

[0029] The lifting device 40 is positioned to be vertically movable inside the build tank 30. That is, the lifting device 40 is positioned to be movable relative to the build tank 30 in the Z direction. In accordance with the vertical movement of the lifting device 40, the base plate 35 on the lifting device 40 also moves up and down. The inner wall 31a of the build tank 30 guides the movement of the lifting device 40 and the base plate 35 in the Z direction. The lifting device 40 may include, for example, a rack and pinion drive mechanism.

[0030] The lifting device 40 includes, for example, a lifting platform 41, a lifting shaft 42, and a drive source 43. The lifting shaft 42 and the drive source 43 constitute a lifting mechanism M1 for raising and lowering the lifting platform 41 up and down. The lifting platform 41 supports the base plate 35 inside the build tank 30. The lifting platform 41 has a rectangular prism shape corresponding to the shape of the build tank 30. The lifting shaft 42 is a rod-shaped member extending downward from the lifting platform 41. The lifting shaft 42 supports the lifting platform 41 in the Z direction. The drive source 43 is attached to the lifting shaft 42 and raises and lowers the lifting shaft 42 up and down inside the build tank 30. The drive source 43 is electrically connected to the controller 20 and operates by receiving control signals from the controller 20. The drive source 43 moves the lifting axis 42 upward in the initial stages of object formation, and lowers the lifting axis 42 each time the powder 2 is layered on the base plate 35.

[0031] For example, an electric motor is used as the drive source 43. A pinion is provided on the output shaft of the electric motor. Then, a tooth profile that meshes with the pinion is provided on the side of the lifting shaft 42. When the electric motor is driven, the pinion rotates. Power is transmitted by the rotation of the pinion. As a result, the lifting shaft 42 moves in the Z direction. When the rotation of the electric motor is stopped, the lifting shaft 42 is positioned. As a result, the position of the lifting device 40 in the Z direction is determined, and the position of the base plate 35 on the lifting device 40 is maintained. The lifting device 40 is not limited to a rack and pinion drive mechanism. For example, the lifting device 40 may be equipped with other drive mechanisms such as a ball screw or a cylinder.

[0032] The powder supply device 45 is positioned above the build tank 30 and supplies powder 2 to the build tank 30. The supply of powder 2 includes the operation of moving powder 2 from outside the build tank 30 to the build tank 30 and the operation of leveling the powder 2 to a predetermined thickness in the build tank 30 (specifically on the base plate 35). The powder supply device 45 includes, for example, a pair of storage tanks 47, 47 and a coating mechanism 49.

[0033] A pair of storage tanks 47, 47 each contain unsolidified powder 2. The pair of storage tanks 47, 47 are positioned, for example, inside the chamber 25, above the build tank 30. When viewed from above, the pair of storage tanks 47, 47 are positioned on both sides of the build tank 30. Discharge ports are provided at the bottom of each storage tank 47, 47. Below each storage tank 47, 47, there is an overhanging plate 33 that extends laterally from the upper end of the build tank 30. The overhanging plate 33 forms planes along the X and Y directions around the build tank 30.

[0034] The coating mechanism 49 is positioned above the molding tank 30 and the overhang plate 33 and is movable in the X direction. By moving in the X direction, the coating mechanism 49 scrapes the powder 2 accumulated on the overhang plate 33 onto the base plate 35. Furthermore, by moving in the X direction, the coating mechanism 49 levels the surface 2a of the uppermost layer of the powder 2 laminate on the base plate 35. By moving in the X direction while in contact with the surface 2a, the coating mechanism 49 makes the height of the surface 2a uniform. The coating mechanism 49 may include, for example, a rack and pinion drive mechanism. The coating mechanism 49 may include a guide rail, an endless belt, a ball screw, an electric motor, or a cylinder as the drive mechanism.

[0035] The lifting device 40 will be described in more detail below with reference to Figures 2, 3, 4(a), and 4(b). As shown in Figure 2, the lifting platform 41 of the lifting device 40 has a main surface 41a located at one end (upper end) in the Z direction, a back surface 41b located at the other end (lower end) in the Z direction, and a side surface 41c connecting the main surface 41a and the back surface 41b in the Z direction.

[0036] The main surface 41a is, for example, a flat surface parallel to the XY plane and is positioned on the extension of the laser L emission direction. A base plate 35 is positioned on the main surface 41a. The main surface 41a supports the powder 2 and the fabricated object 3 via the base plate 35. The back surface 41b is a flat surface along the main surface 41a and is located on the opposite side from the main surface 41a. A lifting shaft 42 is connected to the back surface 41b. The central axis C of the lifting shaft 42 is perpendicular to the back surface 41b. The side surface 41c is a flat surface perpendicular to the main surface 41a and the back surface 41b. The side surface 41c faces the inner wall 31a of the fabrication tank 30 in the X and Y directions. A small gap G is formed between the side surface 41c and the inner wall 31a.

[0037] The lifting platform 41 comprises a lifting platform body 50 and a top plate 55. The lifting platform body 50 is a rectangular prism-shaped member that forms the base of the lifting platform 41. The lifting platform body 50 is made of a metal material such as stainless steel. The top plate 55 is a rectangular plate-shaped member placed on the lifting platform body 50. The thickness of the top plate 55 in the Z direction is thinner than the thickness of the lifting platform body 50 in the Z direction. The top plate 55 is attached to the lifting platform body 50 by fastening members such as bolts. The top plate 55 may be made of the same material as the lifting platform body 50.

[0038] The lifting device 40 includes an annular felt body 46 (sealing body) arranged to surround the side surface 41c of the lifting platform 41. The felt body 46 is a component made of felt and, for example, has a rectangular frame shape corresponding to the shape of the inner wall 31a. The felt body 46 is positioned between the side surface 41c and the inner wall 31a. The felt body 46 is provided so as to close the gap G between the side surface 41c and the inner wall 31a when viewed from the Z direction. The state in which the felt body 46 closes the gap G means that the gap G is filled by the felt body 46 to the extent that powder 2 can not fall out of the gap G. The outer surface 46a and inner surface 46b of the felt body 46 are in contact with the side surface 41c and the inner wall 31a, respectively, without any gaps.

[0039] The felt body 46 has elasticity that allows it to deform under external load. In other words, the felt body 46 has the property of being able to deform compressibly when subjected to external force while accumulating elastic restorative force. By placing the felt body 46, which has such properties, in the gap G, the gap G can be reliably sealed even if irregularities are formed on the wall surface of the inner wall 31a, and furthermore, the pressing force of the felt body 46 against the inner wall 31a can be suppressed from increasing excessively. Thus, the felt body 46 has both the function of sealing the gap G and the function of mitigating the pressing force against the inner wall 31a. Any element that has these functions may be used instead of the felt body 46, for example, a resin body such as silicone.

[0040] As shown in Figure 3, the lifting device 40 further comprises a pressing mechanism 60 (pressing body) and a set screw 65 (support). The pressing mechanism 60 is a mechanism for pressing the felt body 46 against the inner wall 31a in the X direction (or Y direction). The pressing mechanism 60 is supported by the lifting platform body 50 and is positioned to face the inner wall 31a in the X direction via the felt body 46. The pressing mechanism 60 is located inside the felt body 46 (i.e., on the side of the felt body 46 opposite to the inner wall 31a in the X direction). A housing groove 51 for housing the pressing mechanism 60 is formed on the surface 50a of the lifting platform body 50. The housing groove 51 extends in the X direction from the side surface 41c of the lifting platform body 50. The top plate 55 is positioned on the surface 50a of the lifting platform body 50 so as to cover the housing groove 51. The top plate 55 has a through hole 56 that penetrates in the Z direction from the main surface 41a to the back surface 55a. The through hole 56 communicates with the housing groove 51 in the Z direction. The shape of the through hole 56 when viewed from the Z direction is, for example, circular. A set screw 65 is housed in the through hole 56.

[0041] The set screw 65 has a cylindrical shape corresponding to the shape of the through hole 56. Threads are formed on the outer circumferential surface 65a of the set screw 65, and a screw groove that engages with these threads is formed on the inner circumferential surface 56a of the through hole 56. The screw groove may be formed over the entire inner circumferential surface 56a or on a part of the inner circumferential surface 56a. A hexagonal screw hole H is formed on the top surface 65b of the set screw 65. The shape of the screw hole H is not limited to a hexagon; it may be any other polygonal shape. The screw hole H is exposed from the through hole 56 (see Figure 4(a)). By rotating the set screw 65 using the screw hole H, the fastening position of the set screw 65 relative to the inner circumferential surface 56a can be arbitrarily adjusted. In other words, the set screw 65 is attached to the inner circumferential surface 56a such that its position in the Z-direction relative to the inner circumferential surface 56a can be arbitrarily adjusted.

[0042] The bottom surface 65c of the set screw 65 functions as a support surface (support part) that supports the pressing mechanism 60 on the lifting platform 41. The bottom surface 65c abuts the pressing mechanism 60 in the Z direction, restricting the movement of the pressing mechanism 60 on the lifting platform 41. When the bottom surface 65c moves in the Z direction in response to a change in the position of the set screw 65 in the Z direction, the pressing mechanism 60 supported by the bottom surface 65c also moves. The pressing mechanism 60 is configured to move the housing groove 51 in the X direction in response to the movement of the bottom surface 65c in the Z direction. Therefore, the X-direction position of the pressing mechanism 60 is determined by the Z-direction position of the bottom surface 65c and changes in accordance with the change in the Z-direction position of the bottom surface 65c. In other words, the pressing mechanism 60 moves in the X direction in response to the movement of the set screw 65 in the Z direction. Other elements may be used instead of the set screw 65, as long as they can restrict the movement of the pressing mechanism 60 in the X direction in this way.

[0043] The pressing mechanism 60 includes, for example, a cam mechanism M2 and a coil spring 61 (elastic member). The cam mechanism M2 is located inside a housing groove 51 between the set screw 65 and the felt body 46. The cam mechanism M2 faces the set screw 65 in the Z direction and faces the felt body 46 in the X direction. The cam mechanism M2 is a mechanism that converts the movement of the set screw 65 in the Z direction into the movement of the pressing mechanism 60 in the X direction. The cam mechanism M2 includes, for example, a cam member 62 and a cam receiving member 63.

[0044] The cam member 62 is positioned in the housing groove 51 so as to face the set screw 65 in the Z direction, and is positioned so as to be movable in the Z direction within the housing groove 51. The cam member 62 has, for example, a trapezoidal shape in the XZ cross section. The cam member 62 includes, for example, an upper surface 62a, a lower surface 62b, and a cam surface 62c. The upper surface 62a and the lower surface 62b are, for example, vertical surfaces perpendicular to the Z direction. The upper surface 62a is located at the upper end of the cam member 62 and faces the set screw 65 in the Z direction. The lower surface 62b is located at the lower end of the cam member 62 and faces the bottom surface 51a of the housing groove 51 in the Z direction. The lower surface 62b is spaced apart from the bottom surface 51a of the housing groove 51 in the Z direction, and a gap is formed between the bottom surface 51a and the lower surface 62b. This allows the cam member 62 to move in the Z direction within the housing groove 51. The cam surface 62c is a side surface connecting the upper surface 62a and the lower surface 62b, and faces the inner surface 46b of the felt body 46 in the X direction. The cam surface 62c is inclined with respect to both the X and Z directions in the XZ cross section. For example, the cam surface 62c is inclined so that as it moves away from the bottom surface 51a in the Z direction, it gradually approaches the inner surface 46b of the felt body 46 in the X direction.

[0045] The cam receiving member 63 is positioned in the housing groove 51 so as to face the felt body 46 in the X direction, and is located between the cam member 62 and the felt body 46. In the XZ cross-section, the cam receiving member 63 has a trapezoidal shape, which is the inverted version of the cam member 62. The cam receiving member 63 is sandwiched vertically between the bottom surface 51a of the housing groove 51 and the back surface 55a of the top plate 55, and is positioned so as to allow the housing groove 51 to move in the X direction. The cam receiving member 63 includes a cam receiving surface 63a that abuts against the cam surface 62c, and a contact surface 63b that abuts against the inner surface 46b of the felt body 46 in the X direction. The cam receiving surface 63a is an inclined surface along the cam surface 62c. The cam receiving surface 63a and the cam surface 62c have the function of converting the movement of the cam member 62 in the Z direction into the movement of the cam receiving member 63 in the X direction. The contact surface 63b is, for example, a vertical surface perpendicular to the X direction, and faces the inner wall 31a in the X direction via the felt body 46.

[0046] The coil spring 61 is positioned between the set screw 65 and the cam member 62 in the Z direction. The coil spring 61 is supported by the bottom surface 65c of the set screw 65 and biases the cam receiving member 63 in the Z direction. One end of the coil spring 61 is fixed to the bottom surface 62b of the set screw 65, and the other end of the coil spring 61 abuts against the top surface 62a of the cam member 62. Other elastic bodies, such as leaf springs, may be used instead of the coil spring 61, as long as they are capable of biasing the cam receiving member 63 in the Z direction.

[0047] In the above configuration, when the position of the set screw 65 in the Z direction changes, the cam member 62 moves in the Z direction via the coil spring 61 supported by the bottom surface 65c of the set screw 65. The cam receiving member 63 moves in the X direction in response to the movement of the cam member 62 in the Z direction. As the cam receiving member 63 moves in the X direction, the distance between the contact surface 63b and the inner wall 31a changes, and the felt body 46 between the contact surface 63b and the inner wall 31a undergoes elastic deformation. As a result, the pressing force from the felt body 46 to the inner wall 31a changes, and the frictional force between the felt body 46 and the inner wall 31a changes. Thus, in this embodiment, the pressing force from the felt body 46 to the inner wall 31a can be freely adjusted by adjusting the fastening position of the set screw 65 (the position of the set screw 65 in the Z direction).

[0048] As shown in Figures 4(a) and 4(b), the lifting device 40 is equipped with a plurality of pressing mechanisms 60. The plurality of pressing mechanisms 60 are arranged at intervals around the entire circumference of the side edge of the lifting platform 41. In Figures 4(a) and 4(b), pressing mechanisms 60A, 60B, and 60C are shown as pressing mechanisms 60, housing grooves 51A, 51B, and 51C are shown as housing grooves 51 in which the pressing mechanisms 60 are housed, and through holes 56A, 56B, and 56C are shown as through holes 56 in which the screw fasteners 65 are housed. As shown in Figure 4(b), the pressing mechanisms 60A, 60B, and 60C share a single cam receiving member 63. The cam receiving member 63 is a single integrally constructed member that extends in the Y direction along at least one side of the lifting platform 41. The pressing mechanisms 60A, 60B, and 60C do not need to share a single cam receiving member 63; each of the pressing mechanisms 60A, 60B, and 60C may have its own individual cam receiving member. In other words, the lifting device 40 may have multiple cam receiving members, and each of the multiple cam receiving members may be provided corresponding to one of the multiple pressing mechanisms 60.

[0049] On the other hand, the cam member 62 is provided individually for each pressing mechanism 60A, 60B, and 60C. Similarly, the through hole 56 and the set screw 65 are also provided individually for each pressing mechanism 60. By having the cam receiving member 63 composed of a single member in this way, it becomes possible to uniformly press the inner surface 46b of the felt body 46 with the cam receiving member 63. The "first pressing body" in this disclosure may be one of two adjacent pressing mechanisms among the pressing mechanisms 60A, 60B, and 60C, and the "second pressing body" in this disclosure may be the other of those two pressing mechanisms.

[0050] Next, with reference to Figures 5, 6(a), and 6(b), the adjustment procedure for adjusting the pressing force from the felt body 46 to the inner wall 31a by adjusting the fastening position of the set screw 65 will be explained.

[0051] As shown in Figure 5, first, the initial fastening position of the set screw 65 to the through hole 56 is arbitrarily set (step S11). That is, the initial position of the set screw 65 in the Z direction relative to the through hole 56 is arbitrarily set. Next, the powder supply device 45 supplies powder 2 onto the base plate 35, and it is determined whether or not powder 2 is falling from the gap G between the inner wall 31a and the side surface 41c (step S12). At this time, for example, an operator visually determines whether or not a recess has been formed on the surface 2a of the powder 2 (see Figure 2) due to the falling of powder 2. The operator may determine that powder 2 is falling if a recess has been visually confirmed to have been formed on the surface 2a. Alternatively, the operator may determine whether or not powder 2 is falling from the gap G by visually checking whether or not there is powder 2 falling downward from the gap G.

[0052] If the operator determines that powder 2 is falling (Yes in step S12), they tighten the set screw 65 using a tool (step S13). This causes the set screw 65 to descend into the through hole 56 (see Figure 6(a)). As the set screw 65 descends, the biasing force of the coil spring 61 supported by the set screw 65 pushes the cam member 62 downward, and in response to the downward movement of the cam member 62, the cam receiving member 63 moves in the X direction so as to approach the inner wall 31a (see Figure 6(b)). Accordingly, the felt body 46 between the cam receiving member 63 and the inner wall 31a is compressed in the X direction, and the pressing force from the felt body 46 to the inner wall 31a by the pressing mechanism 60 increases. After that, the process returns to step S12, and the determination of whether or not powder 2 is falling is made again.

[0053] On the other hand, if the operator determines that no powder 2 has fallen (No in step S12), they determine whether or not the drive source 43 is overloaded (step S14). If the pressing force from the felt body 46 to the inner wall 31a is too strong, the frictional force between the felt body 46 and the inner wall 31a increases excessively, causing an overload of the drive source 43 (e.g., electric motor). In this case, the presence or absence of an overload of the drive source 43 can be determined, for example, by measuring the power consumption of the drive source 43. For example, if the power consumption of the drive source 43 is excessively large and exceeds a predetermined threshold, the operator may determine that the drive source 43 is overloaded.

[0054] If the operator determines that the drive source 43 is overloaded, they loosen the set screw 65 (step S15). This causes the set screw 65 to rise relative to the through hole 56. As the set screw 65 rises, the biasing force of the coil spring 61 decreases, and the pressing force from the felt body 46 to the inner wall 31a also decreases. In response, the felt body 46 elastically returns to its original position, and the cam receiving member 63 is pushed back in the X direction so that it moves away from the inner wall 31a. Then, in response to the movement of the cam receiving member 63 in the X direction, the cam member 62 moves in the Z direction. Reducing the pressing force from the felt body 46 to the inner wall 31a in this way raises concerns that powder 2 may fall. Therefore, after step S15, the process returns to step S12, and a determination is made again as to whether or not powder 2 has fallen.

[0055] On the other hand, if the operator determines that there is no overload on the drive source 43 (No in step S14), they determine that the current fastening position of the set screw 65 is appropriate and complete the adjustment work of the fastening position of the set screw 65 (step S16). Through the above process, the fastening position of the set screw 65 is determined so that the pressing force from the felt body 46 to the inner wall 31a by the pressing mechanism 60 is appropriate. After that, a series of molding operations are performed by the molding device. Specifically, first, the powder supply device 45 supplies powder 2 onto the base plate 35 and spreads it evenly. Next, the laser emission unit 15 irradiates the powder 2 with the laser L. This irradiation of the laser L melts the powder 2. After the irradiation of the laser L is completed, the lifting device 40 lowers by the thickness of one layer of powder. The above process is repeated to form the molded object 3.

[0056] Furthermore, since the fluidity of the powder 2 is greatest immediately after the start of the printing operation, if the fastening position of the set screw 65 is determined before the start of the printing operation so that the pressing force from the felt body 46 to the inner wall 31a by the pressing mechanism 60 is appropriate, the possibility of powder 2 falling out of the gap G during the printing operation is extremely low. This is because as the printing operation progresses, the amount of powder 2 piled up on the base plate 35 increases, and accordingly, the fluidity of the powder 2 around the printed object 3 decreases, making it more difficult for the powder 2 to move.

[0057] Next, the effects and advantages of the lifting device 40 and molding device 1 of this embodiment will be explained, along with the problems of the comparative example.

[0058] Figures 9(a) and 9(b) show a comparative example of a lifting device 140. As shown in Figure 9(a), the lifting platform body 150 of the lifting platform 141 of the lifting device 140 has a plurality of housing grooves 151 arranged in the Y direction, and a coil spring 161 is housed in each housing groove 151. The coil spring 161 is supported on the side surface 151a of the housing groove 151 in the X direction and biases the felt body 46 toward the inner wall 31a in the X direction via a metal plate 200. The metal plate 200 extends in the Y direction along one side of the lifting platform 141 and is fixed to the inner surface 46b of the felt body 46. Each of the other sides of the felt body 46 is fixed to another metal plate. The metal plate 200, under the biasing force of the coil spring 161, presses the felt body 46 toward the inner wall 31a in the X direction. In the lifting device 140, the pressing force from the felt body 46 to the inner wall 31a is determined by the elastic force of the coil spring 161 itself, the elastic force of the felt body 46 itself, and so on.

[0059] Therefore, in the lifting device 140, in order to change the pressing force from the felt body 46 to the inner wall 31a, it is necessary to change the material or type of the felt body 46 (for example, changing the density of the felt) and the material or type of the coil spring 161. In order to obtain the desired pressing force, it is necessary to find a combination of coil spring 161 and felt body 46 that can exert that pressing force. For example, if powder 2 falls from the gap G between the side surface 141c and the inner wall 31a, or if the drive source 43 is overloaded due to an increase in frictional force between the felt body 46 and the inner wall 31a, it may be necessary to replace the coil spring 161 and felt body 46 in order to appropriately adjust the pressing force from the felt body 46 to the inner wall 31a. When replacing the coil spring 161 and felt body 46, the top plate 155 is removed from the lifting platform body 150, and the coil spring 161 and felt body 46 are removed from the lifting platform 141. To remove the coil springs 161, use a tool to remove each coil spring 161 one by one from the housing groove 151. Then, attach the new felt body 46 and coil springs 161 to the lifting platform 141, and attach the top plate 155 to the lifting platform body 150.

[0060] Afterward, parallel adjustment work is performed to correct any deviations in the tilt of the top plate 155. When the top plate 155 is removed, a deviation in its tilt occurs. The magnitude of the bolt fastening force when attaching the top plate 155 to the lifting platform body 150, and the presence or absence of foreign objects between the lifting platform body 150 and the top plate 155, all affect the parallelism of the top plate 155, so parallel adjustment work is required each time the top plate 155 is removed. Thus, removing the coil spring 161 requires many steps, including disassembly work to remove the top plate 155 from the lifting platform body 150 and remove the coil spring 161 and felt body 46, reassembly work to attach a new coil spring 161 and felt body 46 and reattach the top plate 155 to the lifting platform body 150, and parallel adjustment work to adjust the parallelism of the top plate 155. Therefore, the lifting device 140 has the problem that such a large amount of effort is required each time the pressing force from the felt body 46 to the inner wall 31a is changed.

[0061] On the other hand, the lifting device 40 of this embodiment is equipped with a set screw 65 that is attached to the lifting platform 41 so that its position in the Z direction can be adjusted. By providing such a set screw 65, the position of the pressing mechanism 60 in the X direction relative to the inner wall 31a can be freely adjusted, and the pressing force from the felt body 46 to the inner wall 31a by the pressing mechanism 60 can be freely adjusted. For example, if powder 2 falls from the gap G between the inner wall 31a and the felt body 46, it can be determined that the adhesion of the felt body 46 to the inner wall 31a is insufficient, and by adjusting the position of the pressing mechanism 60 in the X direction so that the pressing mechanism 60 is closer to the inner wall 31a, the pressing force from the felt body 46 to the inner wall 31a can be increased. On the other hand, if the frictional force of the felt body 46 against the inner wall 31a is excessively large, it can be determined that the adhesion of the felt body 46 to the inner wall 31a is excessive. By adjusting the position of the pressing mechanism 60 in the X direction so that it moves away from the inner wall 31a, the pressing force from the felt body 46 to the inner wall 31a can be reduced. In this way, if the pressing force from the felt body 46 to the inner wall 31a can be freely adjusted, it becomes possible to appropriately adjust the adhesion of the felt body 46 to the inner wall 31a without replacing the felt body 46 or other components. In other words, it becomes possible to easily prevent problems that may occur during lifting operations, such as powder 2 falling from the gap G between the inner wall 31a and the felt body 46, and an increase in the frictional force of the felt body 46 against the inner wall 31a, without requiring a lot of work such as disassembling and reassembling the lifting device 40, and without much effort.

[0062] As in this embodiment, the lifting platform 41 includes a lifting platform body 50 including a housing groove 51 extending in the X direction from the side surface 41c, and a top plate 55 having a through hole 56 that penetrates in the Z direction and communicates with the housing groove 51, and is positioned on the lifting platform body 50 so as to close the housing groove 51. The pressing mechanism 60 is housed in the housing groove 51, and the set screw 65 may be housed in the through hole 56. When the top plate 55 is attached to the lifting platform body 50 in this way, a parallel adjustment operation is required each time the top plate 55 is removed and attached to adjust the tilt of the top plate 55. In contrast, in the above configuration, since the set screw 65 is housed in the through hole 56 of the top plate 55, the position of the set screw 65 can be easily adjusted from the through hole 56 without removing the top plate 55 from the lifting platform body 50. As a result, the pressing force from the felt body 46 to the inner wall 31a can be freely adjusted without requiring a parallel adjustment operation associated with removing the top plate 55.

[0063] As in this embodiment, the set screw 65 is mounted so as to be movable in the Z direction relative to the inner circumferential surface 56a of the through hole 56, and the pressing mechanism 60 may have a cam mechanism M2 that moves the pressing mechanism 60 in the X direction in response to the movement of the set screw 65 in the Z direction. In this case, a mechanism for adjusting the position of the pressing mechanism 60 in the X direction can be easily realized by adjusting the position of the set screw 65 housed in the through hole 56 of the top plate 55.

[0064] As in this embodiment, the cam mechanism M2 may include a cam member 62 that faces the set screw 65 in the Z direction and is capable of moving the housing groove 51 in the Z direction in response to the movement of the set screw 65 in the Z direction, and a cam receiving member 63 that is positioned between the cam member 62 and the felt body 46, faces the felt body 46 in the X direction, and is capable of moving the housing groove 51 in the X direction in response to the movement of the cam member 62 in the Z direction. In this case, the cam mechanism M2 that moves the pressing mechanism 60 in the X direction in response to the movement of the set screw 65 in the Z direction can be easily constructed.

[0065] As in this embodiment, the cam member 62 may include a cam surface 62c that is inclined with respect to both the Z and X directions, and the cam receiving member 63 may include a cam receiving surface 63a that is inclined along the cam surface 62c and contacts the cam surface 62c. In the lifting device 40 used in the molding apparatus 1 that handles powder 2, the dynamic cam mechanism M2 including the cam member 62 and the cam receiving member 63 is required to be simply constructed from the viewpoint of suppressing malfunctions caused by the ingress of powder 2. In the above configuration, the movement of the cam member 62 in the Z direction can be converted into the movement of the cam receiving member 63 in the X direction by a simple mechanism that presses the cam surface 62c against the cam receiving surface 63a, thereby suppressing the occurrence of malfunctions in the cam mechanism M2 due to the ingress of powder 2.

[0066] As in this embodiment, the pressing mechanism 60 may have a coil spring 61 positioned between the set screw 65 and the cam member 62 in the through hole 56, supported by the set screw 65, and biasing the cam member 62 in the Z direction. As the lifting operation progresses, it is expected that the pressing force from the felt body 46 to the inner wall 31a will decrease as the felt body 46 wears down. In contrast, in the above configuration, since the pressing mechanism 60 has a coil spring 61, the decrease in pressing force due to the wear of the felt body 46 can be compensated for by the biasing force of the coil spring 61. Furthermore, with this configuration in which a coil spring 61 is used, if a large frictional force is generated between the inner wall 31a and the felt body 46 during the lifting operation, the load on the drive source 43 can be reduced by the expansion and contraction of the coil spring 61. This makes it possible to increase the range in which the lifting operation can be performed while maintaining the pressing force necessary to prevent the powder 2 from falling. Furthermore, in the above configuration, since the coil spring 61 is located in the through hole 56 of the top plate 55, if it becomes necessary to replace the coil spring 61, the coil spring 61 can be replaced through the through hole 56 without removing the top plate 55 from the lifting platform body 50.

[0067] As in this embodiment, the lifting device 40 includes pressing mechanisms 60A, 60B, and 60C that are spaced apart from each other in the Y direction, and the pressing mechanisms 60A, 60B, and 60C may share a cam receiving member 63. The cam receiving member 63 extends in the Y direction and may be in contact with the felt body 46 in the X direction. In this case, the entire surface of the felt body 46 can be pressed evenly by the cam receiving member 63, so that the uneven pressing force from the felt body 46 to the inner wall 31a can be suppressed.

[0068] As in this embodiment, a laser emission unit 15 may be used to irradiate the powder 2 with a laser L as an energy beam. In this case, compared to the case where an electron beam is used, the particle size of the powder 2 used for molding is smaller, and the powder 2 is not subjected to pre-sintering treatment, so powder 2 is more likely to fall out through the gap G between the inner wall 31a and the felt body 46. In contrast, in a molding apparatus 1 equipped with a laser emission unit 15, the pressing force from the felt body 46 to the inner wall 31a can be freely adjusted to prevent powder 2 from falling out, thus more effectively achieving the above-mentioned effects.

[0069] This disclosure is not limited to the embodiments described above. The lifting device and additive manufacturing apparatus of this disclosure may be modified in specific ways without departing from the spirit of the claims.

[0070] For example, as shown in the lifting device 40A in Figure 7, the pressing mechanism 600 does not necessarily have to include a coil spring 61. In this case, the pressing mechanism 600 includes only a cam member 62 and a cam receiving member 63, and the set screw 65 is in direct contact with the cam member 62. In the lifting device 40A, when the fastening position of the set screw 65 is changed, the cam member 62 supported by the bottom surface 65c of the set screw 65 moves in the Z direction as the bottom surface 65c of the set screw 65 moves in the Z direction. The cam receiving member 63 moves the housing groove 51 in the X direction in response to the movement of the cam member 62 in the Z direction. As a result, the pressing force from the felt body 46 to the inner wall 31a by the pressing mechanism 600 changes. Even with this configuration, the same effects as the embodiments described above are achieved.

[0071] As shown in Figure 8, a detector 70 may be provided for detecting the falling of powder 2, such as the lifting device 40B. The detector 70 is positioned, for example, above the boundary between the powder 2 and the inner wall 31a. When powder 2 falls through the gap G between the inner wall 31a and the side surface 41c, a recess is formed on the surface 2a at the boundary between the inner wall 31a and the side surface 41c. The detector 70 then detects whether or not powder 2 has fallen by detecting the presence or absence of a recess on the surface 2a. The detector 70 may be, for example, a camera that images the surface 2a, or a laser detector that irradiates the surface 2a with a detection laser to detect the recess. The detector 70 is communicated with the controller 20 and outputs a detection result D1 regarding the presence or absence of powder 2 falling to the controller 20.

[0072] In the lifting device 40B, the fastening position of the set screw 65 is configured to be automatically changeable, and the controller 20 outputs a control signal D2 that instructs the change of the fastening position of the set screw 65 according to the detection result D1 of the detector 70. For example, a mechanism that automatically rotates the set screw 65 can be realized using gears. In addition to ordinary gears, worm gears and the like can also be used as such gears. As the drive source for the gears, for example, a mechanism using a servo motor, hydraulics, or compressed air can be used. If the detector 70 detects that powder 2 has fallen, it outputs a detection result D1 indicating that powder 2 has fallen to the controller 20. In this case, the control signal D2 controls the tightening of the set screw 65. On the other hand, if the detector 70 detects that powder 2 has not fallen, it outputs a detection result D1 indicating that powder 2 has not fallen to the controller 20. In this case, the control signal D2 controls the maintenance of the current fastening position of the set screw 65 or loosens the set screw 65. The controller 20 may, for example, automatically adjust the fastening position of the set screw 65 by performing the steps S11 to S16 in Figure 5. By configuring the controller to automatically detect whether or not powder 2 has fallen and automatically adjust the fastening position of the set screw 65, the pressing force from the felt body 46 to the inner wall 31a can be automatically adjusted to an appropriate size, making it easy to adjust the contact between the felt body 46 and the inner wall 31a to an appropriate degree.

[0073] This disclosure is subject to various modifications. The shapes of the molding tank and the lifting device may be appropriately changed depending on the shape of the molded object, etc. In the embodiments described above, the shape of the molding tank is rectangular and the shape of the lifting device as viewed from above is square. However, the shape of the molding tank and the lifting device as viewed from above is not limited to a square, and may be circular, for example. The shape of the molding tank may also be cylindrical. Furthermore, the direction of movement of the coating mechanism moving on the surface of the powder bed is not limited to the X direction, but may be in other directions in the XY plane. In addition, the additive manufacturing apparatus may be an electron beam-based manufacturing apparatus. That is, the beam (energy beam) irradiated onto the powder in the additive manufacturing apparatus may be an electron beam, or it may be a charged particle beam, which is a concept that includes electron beams and ion beams.

[0074] The gist of this disclosure is as follows: [1] A lifting device used in an additive manufacturing apparatus that processes a spread-out powder to form a molded object, A lifting platform is positioned inside the build tank and has a main surface capable of supporting the powder and the built object, and a side surface facing the inner wall of the build tank, A lifting mechanism connected to the lifting platform, which moves the lifting platform relative to the molding tank in a first direction intersecting the main surface, A sealing body is provided between the lifting platform and the inner wall, such that it closes the gap between the side surface and the inner wall when viewed from the first direction, A pressing body that faces the inner wall via the sealing body in a second direction along the main surface and contacts the sealing body in the second direction, A support body is attached to the lifting platform such that the position of the support body relative to the lifting platform is adjustable, and the support portion supports the pressing body and defines the position of the pressing body in the second direction relative to the lifting platform. A lifting device equipped with a lifting mechanism. [2] The lifting platform is A lifting platform body including a storage groove extending from the side in the second direction, The platform has a top plate that has a through hole that penetrates in the first direction and communicates with the housing groove, and is positioned on the lifting platform body so as to close the housing groove, The pressing body is housed in the housing groove, The support is housed in the through hole, as described in [1]. [3] The support is mounted so as to be movable in the first direction relative to the inner surface of the through hole, The lifting device according to [2], wherein the pressing body has a cam mechanism that moves the pressing body in the second direction in response to the movement of the support in the first direction. [4] The cam mechanism is A cam member facing the support in the first direction and capable of moving the receiving groove in the first direction in response to the movement of the support in the first direction, The lifting device according to [3], further comprising: a cam receiving member disposed between the cam member and the sealing body, facing the sealing body in the second direction, and capable of moving the receiving groove in the second direction in response to the movement of the cam member in the first direction. [5] The cam member includes a cam surface that is inclined with respect to both the first direction and the second direction, The lifting device according to [4], wherein the cam receiving member includes a cam receiving surface that is inclined along the cam surface and contacts the cam surface. [6] The pressing body is The lifting device according to [4] or [5], further comprising an elastic member disposed between the support and the cam member in the through hole, supported by the support, and biasing the cam member in the first direction. [7] The pressing body comprises a first pressing body and a second pressing body that are spaced apart from each other in a third direction intersecting the first direction and the second direction, The lifting device according to any one of [4] to [6], wherein the cam receiving member of the first pressing body and the cam receiving member of the second pressing body extend integrally with each other in the third direction and abut against the sealing body in the second direction. [8] A detector for detecting whether or not the powder falls from the gap between the side surface and the inner wall, The lifting device according to any one of [1] to [7] further comprises a controller which is communicably connected to the detector and controls the support portion to change the position of the support portion relative to the lifting platform according to the detection result of the detector. A lifting device as described in any of [9] [1] to [8], The molding tank housing the lifting device, A powder supply device that supplies the powder to the main surface, An additive manufacturing apparatus comprising an irradiation device for irradiating the aforementioned powder with an energy beam.

[10] The additive manufacturing apparatus according to [9], wherein the irradiation device is a laser emission unit that irradiates the powder with a laser as the energy beam. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0075] 1. Manufacturing equipment (additive manufacturing equipment) 2 powder 3 Sculptures 15. Laser emission unit (irradiation device) 20 Controllers 30 molding tanks 31a Internal wall 40, 40A, 40B Lifting device 41 Elevator 41a Main surface 41c side 45 Powder feeding device 46 Felt bodies (sealed bodies) 50 Lifting platform main unit 51, 51A, 51B, 51C storage grooves 55 Top plate 56,56A,56B,56C through hole 56a Inner peripheral surface (inner surface) 60, 60B, 60C, 600 Pressing mechanism (pressing body) 61. Coil spring (elastic component) 62 Cam component 62c cam surface 63 Cam support member 63a Cam receiving surface 65 Set screws (support) 65c Bottom (support part) 70 detectors D1 Detection Results G Gap L Laser M1 Lifting Mechanism M2 cam mechanism

Claims

1. A lifting device used in an additive manufacturing apparatus that processes spread powder to form a molded object, A lifting platform is positioned inside the build tank and has a main surface capable of supporting the powder and the built object, and a side surface facing the inner wall of the build tank, A lifting mechanism connected to the lifting platform, which moves the lifting platform relative to the molding tank in a first direction intersecting the main surface, A sealing body is provided between the lifting platform and the inner wall, such that it closes the gap between the side surface and the inner wall when viewed from the first direction, A pressing body that faces the inner wall via the sealing body in a second direction along the main surface and contacts the sealing body in the second direction, A support body is attached to the lifting platform such that the position of the support body relative to the lifting platform is adjustable, and the support portion supports the pressing body and defines the position of the pressing body in the second direction relative to the lifting platform. Equipped with, The aforementioned lifting platform is A lifting platform body including a storage groove extending from the side in the second direction, The platform has a top plate that has a through hole that penetrates in the first direction and communicates with the housing groove, and is positioned on the lifting platform body so as to close the housing groove, The pressing body is housed in the housing groove, The support is a lifting device housed in the through-hole.

2. The support is mounted so as to be movable in the first direction relative to the inner surface of the through hole. The lifting device according to claim 1, wherein the pressing body has a cam mechanism that moves the pressing body in the second direction in response to the movement of the support in the first direction.

3. The cam mechanism is, A cam member facing the support in the first direction and capable of moving the receiving groove in the first direction in response to the movement of the support in the first direction, The lifting device according to claim 2, further comprising: a cam receiving member disposed between the cam member and the sealing body, facing the sealing body in the second direction, and capable of moving the receiving groove in the second direction in response to the movement of the cam member in the first direction.

4. The cam member includes a cam surface that is inclined with respect to both the first direction and the second direction. The lifting device according to claim 3, wherein the cam receiving member includes a cam receiving surface that is inclined along the cam surface and contacts the cam surface.

5. The pressing body is The lifting device according to claim 3, further comprising an elastic member disposed between the support and the cam member in the through hole, supported by the support, and biasing the cam member in the first direction.

6. The pressing body comprises a first pressing body and a second pressing body that are spaced apart from each other in a third direction intersecting the first direction and the second direction. The lifting device according to claim 3, wherein the cam receiving member of the first pressing body and the cam receiving member of the second pressing body extend integrally with each other in the third direction and abut against the sealing body in the second direction.

7. A lifting device used in an additive manufacturing apparatus that processes spread powder to form a molded object, A lifting platform is positioned inside the build tank and has a main surface capable of supporting the powder and the built object, and a side surface facing the inner wall of the build tank, A lifting mechanism connected to the lifting platform, which moves the lifting platform relative to the molding tank in a first direction intersecting the main surface, A sealing body is provided between the lifting platform and the inner wall, such that it closes the gap between the side surface and the inner wall when viewed from the first direction, A pressing body that faces the inner wall via the sealing body in a second direction along the main surface and contacts the sealing body in the second direction, A support body is attached to the lifting platform such that the position of the support body relative to the lifting platform is adjustable, and the support portion supports the pressing body and defines the position of the pressing body in the second direction relative to the lifting platform. A detector for detecting whether or not the powder falls from the gap between the side surface and the inner wall, A lifting device comprising: a detector that is communicatively connected to the detector and controls the support portion to change the position of the support portion relative to the lifting platform according to the detection result of the detector.

8. A lifting device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, The molding tank housing the lifting device, A powder supply device that supplies the powder to the main surface, An additive manufacturing apparatus comprising an irradiation device for irradiating the aforementioned powder with an energy beam.

9. The additive manufacturing apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the irradiation device is a laser emission unit that irradiates the powder with a laser as the energy beam.

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