Material supply interruption detection apparatus

Abstract

The present application relates to the technical field of 3D printing, and discloses a material supply interruption detection apparatus. The material supply interruption detection apparatus comprises: a housing and a detection assembly. The housing is provided with a mounting space and a feeding channel passing through the mounting space, and the feeding channel is used for supplying consumables. The detection assembly comprises a circuit board which is arranged in correspondence to the mounting space and is connected to the housing, a first fixing member which is connected to the circuit board and is close to the feeding channel, a second fixing member which is connected to the circuit board and is far away from the feeding channel, an elastic member which is connected to the second fixing member and has an extension and contraction direction not parallel to the extension direction of the feeding channel, and a conductive member which is connected to the elastic member and is arranged in correspondence to the feeding channel; and a conductive circuit is formed among the circuit board, the first fixing member, the elastic member, the conductive member, and the second fixing member. In this manner, according to the present application, whether the consumables are present in the feeding channel can be determined by means of the closed circuit or the open circuit of the conductive circuit, and the material supply interruption detection apparatus has a compact structure, high space utilization rate and high detection reliability.

Description

A material break detection device

[0001] This application claims priority to a Chinese patent application filed with the Patent Office of China on September 28, 2023, with application number 202322680846.1 and application name “A Material Break Detection Device”, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. Technical Field

[0002] The present application relates to the field of 3D printing technology, and in particular to a material breakage detection device. Background Art

[0003] In a fused deposition modeling (FDM) 3D printer, the printer extrudes filament, heats it, and melts it before forming it onto the build platform. During use, the printer may run out of material and cause a break in the printer, impacting normal printing.

[0004] Current 3D printing material break detection modules typically use sensors (such as photoelectric sensors and Hall effect sensors) as their primary detection method, directly or indirectly detecting the presence of filaments by detecting whether they are on or off; or by detecting the presence of filaments by squeezing the switch on and off. All of these solutions result in a large structural space occupation of the material break detection module, high costs, and the risk of misjudgment. For example, photoelectric sensors may misreport when directly detecting transparent filaments, Hall effect sensors may fail due to magnetic field interference, or their own magnetic field environment balance issues may occur.

[0005] Summary of the Invention

[0006] The present application provides a material breakage detection device, which can solve the problem that the current 3D printing material breakage detection module has a large structural space and has the risk of misjudgment.

[0007] In order to solve the above technical problems, a technical solution adopted by the present application is to provide a material breakage detection device for detecting 3D printing consumables, the material breakage detection device comprising:

[0008] A housing having an installation space and a feeding channel running through the installation space, wherein the feeding channel is used to supply the consumables;

[0009] A detection component includes a circuit board arranged corresponding to the installation space and connected to the shell, a first fixing member connected to the circuit board and arranged close to the feed channel, a second fixing member connected to the circuit board and arranged away from the feed channel, an elastic member connected to the second fixing member and having a telescopic direction that is not parallel to the extension direction of the feed channel, and a conductive member connected to the elastic member and arranged corresponding to the feed channel, wherein a conductive circuit is formed among the circuit board, the first fixing member, the elastic member, the conductive member and the second fixing member.

[0010] According to one embodiment of the present application, when the consumable has not entered the feed channel, the conductive member is in contact with the first fixing member, and the conductive circuit is a passage; when the consumable enters the feed channel, the consumable pushes the conductive member away to disconnect the connection between the conductive member and the first fixing member, and the conductive circuit is an open circuit.

[0011] According to one embodiment of the present application, the shell includes a wall forming the installation space, and the installation space includes a first installation portion arranged near the feed channel and used for installing the first fixing member.

[0012] According to one embodiment of the present application, the first fixing member is a soft rubber with conductivity and elasticity. When the first fixing member is installed on the first mounting portion, the plane of the first fixing member is higher than the plane of the wall, so that the first fixing member abuts against the circuit board.

[0013] According to one embodiment of the present application, the installation space further includes a second installation portion disposed away from the feed channel and used for installing the second fixing member.

[0014] According to one embodiment of the present application, the second fixing member is a soft rubber with conductivity and elasticity. When the second fixing member is installed on the second mounting portion, the plane of the second fixing member is higher than the plane of the wall, so that the second fixing member abuts against the circuit board.

[0015] According to one embodiment of the present application, the installation space further includes a third installation portion located between the first installation portion and the second installation portion and connected to the feed channel and the second installation portion, and the third installation portion is used to install the elastic member and the conductive member.

[0016] According to one embodiment of the present application, the elastic member includes a fixed end and a retractable free end, the fixed end is connected to the second fixing member, and the free end is connected to the conductive member.

[0017] According to one embodiment of the present application, the conductive member is a conductive sphere. When the elastic member and the conductive member are installed on the third mounting portion, the conductive member is located on one side of the feed channel and occupies half of the radial space of the feed channel, and the edge of the conductive member is close to or flush with the edge of the feed channel.

[0018] According to one embodiment of the present application, the circuit board is detachably connected to the wall via a locking member.

[0019] The beneficial effects of the present application are: the material break detection device includes a shell and a detection component, the shell has an installation space and a feed channel running through the installation space, and the feed channel is used to supply the consumables; the detection component includes a circuit board arranged corresponding to the installation space and connected to the shell, a first fixing member connected to the circuit board and arranged close to the feed channel, a second fixing member connected to the circuit board and arranged away from the feed channel, an elastic member connected to the second fixing member and the telescopic direction of which is not parallel to the extension direction of the feed channel, and a conductive member connected to the elastic member and arranged corresponding to the feed channel, a conductive circuit is formed among the circuit board, the first fixing member, the elastic member, the conductive member and the second fixing member, and whether there are consumables in the feed channel is determined by whether the conductive circuit is open or not. The material break detection device has a compact structure, high space utilization and high detection reliability. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0020] FIG1 is a schematic structural diagram of a material break detection device according to an embodiment of the present application in a state where no consumables are fed into the device;

[0021] FIG2 is a schematic structural diagram of a material break detection device according to an embodiment of the present application when consumables are fed into the device;

[0022] FIG3 is an exploded schematic diagram of FIG1 ;

[0023] FIG4 is a schematic structural diagram of a housing according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0024] FIG5 is an exploded schematic diagram of FIG2 .

[0025] The meanings of the numbers in the accompanying drawings are: 100-material breakage detection device; 200-consumables; 10-housing; 20-detection component; 30-locking member; 11-installation space; 12-feed channel; 13-wall; 131-installation hole; 111-first installation part; 112-second installation part; 113-third installation part; 21-circuit board; 22-first fixing part; 23-second fixing part; 24-elastic part; 25-conductive part. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0026] The following will be combined with the drawings in the embodiments of this application to clearly and completely describe the technical solutions in the embodiments of this application. Obviously, the embodiments described are only part of the embodiments of this application, not all of the embodiments. Based on the embodiments in this application, all other embodiments obtained by ordinary technicians in this field without making creative efforts are within the scope of protection of this application.

[0027] The terms "first", "second" and "third" in this application are only used for descriptive purposes and should not be understood as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly indicating the number of technical features indicated. Thus, the features defined as "first", "second" and "third" may explicitly or implicitly include at least one of such features. In the description of this application, the meaning of "multiple" is at least two, for example, two, three, etc., unless otherwise clearly and specifically defined. All directional indications in the embodiments of this application (such as up, down, left, right, front, back...) are only used to explain the relative positional relationship, movement, etc. between the components under a certain specific posture (as shown in the accompanying drawings). If the specific posture changes, the directional indication also changes accordingly. In addition, the terms "including" and "having" and any variations thereof are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusions.

[0028] References herein to "embodiments" mean that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiments may be included in at least one embodiment of the present application. The appearance of this phrase in various places in the specification does not necessarily refer to the same embodiment, nor does it constitute an independent or alternative embodiment that is mutually exclusive of other embodiments. It is understood, both explicitly and implicitly, by those skilled in the art that the embodiments described herein may be combined with other embodiments.

[0029] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of the structure of a material break detection device according to an embodiment of the present application, when no consumables are inserted. Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of the structure of a material break detection device according to an embodiment of the present application, when consumables are inserted. Figure 3 is an exploded view of Figure 1 . Figure 4 is a schematic diagram of the structure of a housing according to an embodiment of the present application. As shown in Figures 1 to 4 , the material break detection device 100 is used to detect 3D printing consumables 200. It includes a housing 10 and a detection assembly 20 disposed in the housing 10. The housing 10 has an installation space 11 and a feed channel 12 extending through the installation space 11. The feed channel 12 is used to supply consumables 200. The detection assembly 20 includes a circuit board 21 disposed in correspondence with the installation space 11 and connected to the housing 10, a first fixing member 22 connected to the circuit board 21 and disposed near the feed channel 12, a second fixing member 23 connected to the circuit board 21 and disposed away from the feed channel 12, an elastic member 24 connected to the second fixing member 23 and having a telescopic direction that is not parallel to the extension direction of the feed channel 12, and a conductive member 25 connected to the elastic member 24 and disposed in correspondence with the feed channel 12. A conductive circuit is formed between the circuit board 21, the first fixing member 22, the elastic member 24, the conductive member 25, and the second fixing member 23. As shown in FIG3, when the consumable 200 has not entered the feed channel 12, the conductive member 25 abuts against the first fixing member 22, and the conductive circuit is a passage. As shown in FIG5, when the consumable 200 enters the feed channel 12, the consumable 200 pushes away the conductive member 25 to disconnect the conductive member 25 from the first fixing member 22, and the conductive circuit is an open circuit. The material break detection device 100 has a compact structure and high space utilization. Compared with the existing detection module, in terms of material use, no additional sensors or touch switch components are required, and the cost is low. In addition, this embodiment determines whether there are consumables in the feed channel 12 through the passage or open circuit of the conductive circuit, and has high detection reliability. It can avoid problems such as false alarms when the photoelectric sensor directly detects transparent consumables or the Hall sensor fails due to interference from the magnetic field.

[0030] In one feasible embodiment, the circuit board 21 is a printed circuit board, and the circuit board 21 is connected to a controller (not shown). When the controller obtains a current signal from the conductive circuit, it determines that the conductive circuit is in a connected state, and further determines that the feed channel 12 does not have consumables 200. When the controller does not obtain a current signal from the conductive circuit, it determines that the conductive circuit is in an open state, and further determines that the feed channel 12 has consumables 200. This embodiment determines whether the feed channel 12 has consumables 200 by whether the conductive circuit is connected or open, and has high detection reliability.

[0031] In one achievable embodiment, referring to FIG4 , housing 10 includes a wall 13 defining an installation space 11. Installation space 11 includes a first installation portion 111 disposed proximate to feed channel 12 and for mounting first fixing member 22, a second installation portion 112 disposed distal from feed channel 12 and for mounting second fixing member 23, and a third installation portion 113 located between first and second installation portions 111, 112 and communicating with feed channel 12 and second installation portion 112. Third installation portion 113 is used to mount elastic member 24 and conductive member 25. This embodiment has a compact installation structure and high space utilization.

[0032] In one feasible embodiment, the first fixing member 22 is a conductive and elastic soft rubber with a compressible deformation rate of less than or equal to 25%. As shown in Figures 4 and 5, when the first fixing member 22 is installed on the first mounting portion 111, the plane of the first fixing member 22 is higher than the plane of the wall 13, so that the first fixing member 22 abuts the circuit board 21. In one embodiment, the plane of the first fixing member 22 is 0.1 cm higher than the plane of the wall 13.

[0033] In one feasible embodiment, the second fixing member 23 is a conductive and elastic soft rubber with a compressible deformation rate of less than or equal to 25%. As shown in Figures 4 and 5, when the second fixing member 23 is installed in the second mounting portion 112, the plane of the second fixing member 23 is higher than the plane of the wall 13, so that the second fixing member 23 abuts the circuit board 21. In one embodiment, the second fixing member 23 and the side of the first fixing member 22 that abuts the circuit board 21 are flush. In another embodiment, the side of the second fixing member 23 that abuts the circuit board 21 is higher than the side of the first fixing member 22 that abuts the circuit board 21.

[0034] In a feasible embodiment, as shown in Figures 3 and 5, the elastic member 25 includes a fixed end and a retractable free end, the fixed end is connected to the second fixing member 23, and the free end is connected to the conductive member 25, and the retractable direction of the free end is not parallel to the extension direction of the feed channel 12, for example, the retractable direction of the free end is perpendicular to the extension direction of the feed channel 12. In one embodiment, the elastic member 24 is a compression spring, such as a light-load spring, which is rust-proof and has good conductivity. In this embodiment, when the consumable 200 has not entered the feed channel 12, the compression spring is in a free extension state, the conductive member 25 is in contact with the first fixing member 22, and the conductive circuit is a passage; when the consumable 200 enters the feed channel 12, the consumable 200 pushes the conductive member 25 away, and the conductive member 25 squeezes the compression spring, so that the compression spring drives the conductive member 25 to be compressed toward the fixed end, disconnecting the connection between the conductive member 25 and the first fixing member 22, and the conductive circuit is an open circuit.

[0035] In a feasible embodiment, as shown in Figures 3 and 5, the conductive member 25 is a conductive sphere with a smooth and rust-proof surface. The conductive sphere can also be a conductive magnetic bead, but is not limited to being magnetic. As shown in Figures 4 and 5, when the elastic member 24 and the conductive member 25 are installed on the third mounting portion 113, the conductive member 25 is arranged corresponding to the feed channel 12. It can be understood that the conductive member 25 expands and contracts with the elastic member 24 to perform lateral displacement in the feed channel 12. When the elastic member 24 is in a freely extended state, the conductive member 25 is located on one side of the feed channel 12 and occupies half of the radial space of the feed channel 12, and the edge of the conductive member 25 is close to or flush with the edge of the feed channel 12 to ensure that when the consumables 200 enter the feed channel 12, the conductive member 25 can be accurately pushed away to disconnect the connection between the elastic member 24 and the first fixing member 22. In one embodiment, the conductive sphere is round, the consumable 200 is cylindrical, the diameter of the conductive sphere is 2.5 cm, and the diameter of the feeding channel 12 is 2.2 cm. The consumable 200 with a diameter of 1.75 cm can be fed smoothly and accurately push the conductive sphere away.

[0036] In one feasible embodiment, as shown in Figure 5 , the circuit board 21 is detachably connected to the wall 13 via a locking member 30. In one embodiment, two locking members 30 are provided, each comprising a locking screw. Mounting holes 131 are provided in the wall 13 corresponding to the locking members 30. The locking members 30 cooperate with the mounting holes 131 to achieve a detachable connection between the circuit board 21 and the wall 13, facilitating installation, disassembly, and maintenance.

[0037] The above is only an implementation method of the present application and does not limit the patent scope of the present application. Any equivalent structure or equivalent process transformation made using the contents of the description and drawings of this application, or directly or indirectly applied in other related technical fields, are also included in the patent protection scope of the present application.

Claims

1. A material break detection device, characterized in that: Used to detect 3D printing consumables, the material breakage detection device includes: A housing, wherein the housing has an installation space and a feeding channel running through the installation space, and the feeding channel is used to supply the consumables; A detection component, the detection component includes a circuit board arranged corresponding to the installation space and connected to the shell, a first fixing member connected to the circuit board and arranged close to the feed channel, a second fixing member connected to the circuit board and arranged away from the feed channel, an elastic member connected to the second fixing member and having a telescopic direction that is not parallel to the extension direction of the feed channel, and a conductive member connected to the elastic member and arranged corresponding to the feed channel, wherein a conductive circuit is formed among the circuit board, the first fixing member, the elastic member, the conductive member and the second fixing member.

2. The material break detection device according to claim 1, characterized in that: When the consumable has not entered the feed channel, the conductive member is in contact with the first fixing member, and the conductive circuit is a passage; when the consumable enters the feed channel, the consumable pushes the conductive member away to disconnect the conductive member from the first fixing member, and the conductive circuit is an open circuit.

3. The material breakage detection device according to any one of claims 1 to 2, characterized in that: The shell includes a wall body forming the installation space, and the installation space includes a first installation portion arranged close to the feed channel and used for installing the first fixing member.

4. The material breakage detection device according to claim 3, characterized in that: The first fixing member is a soft rubber with conductivity and elasticity. When the first fixing member is installed on the first installation portion, the plane of the first fixing member is higher than the plane of the wall body, so that the first fixing member abuts against the circuit board.

5. The material breakage detection device according to claim 3, characterized in that: The installation space also includes a second installation portion which is arranged away from the feed channel and is used to install the second fixing member.

6. The material breakage detection device according to claim 5, characterized in that: The second fixing member is a soft rubber with conductivity and elasticity. When the second fixing member is installed on the second installation portion, the plane of the second fixing member is higher than the plane of the wall body, so that the second fixing member abuts against the circuit board.

7. The material breakage detection device according to claim 3, characterized in that: The installation space further includes a third installation portion located between the first installation portion and the second installation portion and connected to the feed channel and the second installation portion, and the third installation portion is used to install the elastic member and the conductive member.

8. The material breakage detection device according to claim 7, characterized in that: The elastic member includes a fixed end and a retractable free end, the fixed end is connected to the second fixing member, and the free end is connected to the conductive member.

9. The material breakage detection device according to claim 8, characterized in that: The conductive member is a conductive sphere. When the elastic member and the conductive member are installed on the third installation portion, the conductive member is located on one side of the feed channel and occupies half of the radial space of the feed channel, and the edge of the conductive member is close to or flush with the edge of the feed channel.

10. The material breakage detection device according to claim 3, characterized in that: The circuit board is detachably connected to the wall body via a locking piece.

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