Filament storage device and 3D printing system
The filament storage device improves filament switching and monitoring in 3D printers by using a transmission switching unit and detection mechanisms, enhancing efficiency and reducing costs while ensuring precise filament management.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- PCT/CN2024/109417
- Authority / Receiving Office
- WO · WO
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Priority Date
- 2024-02-05
- Filing Date
- 2024-08-02
- Publication Date
- 2025-08-14
AI Technical Summary
Existing 3D printers face challenges in efficiently switching between different filaments, monitoring filament transfer information, and ensuring precise feeding and returning of specified filaments, particularly in color printing and filament utilization.
A filament storage device with a transmission switching unit, collection unit, and filament detection unit is introduced, featuring a transmission assembly with swinging transmission gears and switching members to manage filament switching, a collection unit with drive wheels and detection assemblies to monitor filament state and transfer information, and a housing with trays and sealing mechanisms to maintain filament integrity.
Enhances switching efficiency between filaments, improves filament utilization, and provides real-time monitoring of filament transfer, reducing space occupation and manufacturing costs while ensuring precise feeding and returning.
Smart Images

Figure CN2024109417_14082025_PF_FP_ABST
Abstract
Description
Filament Storage Device and 3D Printing System
[0001] Cross-Reference to Related Applications
[0002] This present application claims priority to Chinese Patent Application No. 202410163000.7, filed on Feb. 05, 2024, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.Technical Field
[0003] The present application relates to the technical field of three dimensional (3D) printing, and in particular, to a filament storage device and a 3D printing system.Background
[0004] Existing 3D printing is a rapid prototyping technology that uses adhesive materials such as powdered metals or plastics to construct an object by layer-by-layer stacking based on a digital model file. At present, a 3D printer usually uses the fused deposition modeling (FDM) technology, and an FDM-based 3D printer uses a thread-like filament for fusion, deposition, and finally modeling on a working platform. While 3D printers have broad room for development and promotion, the 3D printers also face many difficulties and challenges, especially in color printing, printing efficiency, filament utilization, and other aspects that require more in-depth research and exploration.
[0005] The filament used by existing 3D printing devices is generally a thread-like coil, most of which is wound around a tray before use, and a plurality of trays is arranged in the same filament box for printing. When the filament is extruded by an extrusion mechanism, a certain tensile force is applied to the filament and the tray rotates under the tensile force and further transfers the filament to the extrusion mechanism for extrusion. It is not possible to transfer a specified filament in the plurality of trays. Since the filament wound around each tray needs to be printed by the correspondingly connected print head, it is not only troublesome to change the printing color or the printing material but also impossible to effectively detect the transfer information of the filament. Therefore, how to improve the switching efficiency between different filaments while meeting the requirements of feeding and returning a specified filament and effectively monitoring the transfer information of the current filament is an urgent problem to be solved.Summary
[0006] The present application provides a filament storage device and a 3D printing system to solve a problem of how to improve a switching efficiency between different filaments while meeting requirements of feeding and returning a specified filament and effectively monitoring a feeding state and transfer information of the specified filament.
[0007] To solve the above-mentioned technical problem, the present application provides a filament storage device, including:
[0008] a housing, configured to store one or more filaments;
[0009] a transmission switching unit, configured to connect one or more filaments and feed or return a specified filament among the filaments;
[0010] a collection unit, configured to be connected to the transmission switching unit for collecting one or more filaments to enable the transmission switching unit to transfer the specified filament fed into a main channel of the collection unit; and
[0011] a filament detection unit, configured to detect a feeding state of the specified filament and obtain transfer information of the specified filament.
[0012] Exemplary, the transmission switching unit includes a transmission assembly and a switching assembly; the transmission assembly includes a first driving member, a transmission shaft, and a plurality of transmission mechanisms spaced apart along a first axis, the first driving member is connected to the transmission shaft, and the transmission mechanisms include a first transmission gear swingably connected to the transmission shaft; and the switching assembly includes a second driving member, a switching shaft, and a plurality of switching members fixed at intervals along a second axis, the second driving member is connected to the switching shaft, the switching members are arranged in one-to-one correspondence with the transmission mechanisms, and the switching shaft is capable of rotating about the second axis by a preset angle to cause one of the switching members to be in a first state,
[0013] the switching member in the first state is configured to restrict the first transmission gear of a corresponding transmission mechanism to a first position, and the first transmission gear restricted to the first position is configured to transmit a driving force from the first driving member to a mechanism connected with the first transmission gear.
[0014] Exemplary, each of the transmission mechanisms further includes a swing member and a second transmission gear, the swing member is swingably connected to the transmission shaft, and the first transmission gear is connected rotatably about an axis thereof to the swing member;
[0015] the switching member in the first state is configured to restrict the swing member of the corresponding transmission mechanism to a second position; and
[0016] the swing member restricted to the second position is configured to restrict the first transmission gear to the first position and the second transmission gear is coaxially fixed to the transmission shaft and directly or indirectly engaged with the first transmission gear to transmit the driving force from the first driving member to the first transmission gear.
[0017] Exemplary, the switching member comprises a limiting portion formed along a circumferential direction of the switching member, and the limiting portions of all of the switching members are distributed in a staggered manner along a circumferential direction of a switching shaft; and
[0018] the limiting portion of the switching member in the first state abuts against the swing member of the corresponding transmission mechanism to restrict the corresponding swing member to the second position and the limiting portions of remaining switching members are staggered from the swing members of the corresponding transmission mechanisms to cause the corresponding swing members to be at a third position.
[0019] Exemplary, the switching shaft is configured as a polygonal shaft and comprises a plurality of sides, the limiting portion of each of the switching members is arranged corresponding to a different side of the switching shaft, and a polygonal hole matched with the switching shaft is formed in a middle of each of the switching members.
[0020] Exemplary, a cam body is formed on a side of the switching member and a convex end of the cam body is configured as the limiting portion; and
[0021] the limiting portion of the switching member in the first state is further configured to push the swing member of the corresponding transmission mechanism to swing from the third position to the second position.
[0022] Exemplary, the switching member is configured as a cam, a circumference of the switching member is configured as a first limiting face, and the limiting portion is configured as an engaging tooth arranged on the first limiting face;
[0023] a cambered limiting face is provided on a circumference of the swing member, a first limiting groove is formed on the cambered limiting face of the swing member, and the swing member has an engaging portion jointly restricted by the first limiting groove, the cambered limiting face, and the surface of the swing member; and
[0024] the swing member is configured such that when the first limiting face abuts against the cambered limiting face, the swing member is restricted to the third position; and when the limiting portion is aligned with the first limiting groove, the swing member is capable of swinging to the second position along with the second transmission gear; and the engaging portion of the swing member at the second position is engaged with the limiting portion.
[0025] Exemplary, the transmission switching unit further includes a returning assembly for returning the filament and the returning assembly includes returning mechanisms arranged in one-to-one correspondence with the transmission mechanisms; and
[0026] each of the returning mechanisms comprises a returning roller and a returning follow-up roller arranged in parallel with the returning roller to erect one or more trays between the returning roller and the returning follow-up roller, and the returning roller is coaxially connected to a returning gear and a transmission member, the returning gear is configured to be drivingly connected to the first transmission gear, and the transmission member is configured to drive the trays to rotate for returning the filament.
[0027] Exemplary, the collection unit includes a collection shell and a driving assembly;
[0028] the collection shell is provided with at least two filament inlets, at least two filament transfer channels, the main channel, and a filament outlet, each of the filament inlets is correspondingly connected to one of the filament transfer channels, and the main channel is connected to all of the filament transfer channels and the filament outlet; and
[0029] the driving assembly is arranged on the collection shell and includes a filament transfer drive wheel and a filament transfer driven wheel arranged corresponding to the filament transfer drive wheel, and a gap for filament transfer is provided between the filament transfer drive wheel and the filament transfer driven wheel to transfer the filament in the main channel.
[0030] Exemplary, the driving assembly further includes a third driving member, and an auxiliary transmission gear and a first transmission rod engaged with an output gear of the third driving member, the auxiliary transmission gear and the filament transfer drive wheel are drivingly connected via the first transmission rod; and outer tooth profiles of the filament transfer drive wheel and the filament transfer driven wheel are both recessed inward to form the gap, and when the filament is transferred along a first direction through the gap, the filament abuts against the outer tooth profile of the filament transfer driven wheel to drive the filament transfer driven wheel to synchronously rotate.
[0031] Exemplary, the collection unit further includes a manual returning assembly for adjusting the gap; and the manual returning assembly includes a first adjusting member snap-fitted to both ends of the filament transfer driven wheel, another end of the first adjusting member is arranged close to the filament outlet, the first adjusting member is provided with a second transmission rod, and the filament transfer driven wheel is rotatably erected on the first adjusting member via the second transmission rod, to cause the gap between the filament transfer drive wheel and the filament transfer driven wheel to increase or decrease by pressing an end of the first adjusting member close to the filament outlet.
[0032] Exemplary, a first elastic member is provided between the collection shell and the first adjusting member, one end of the first elastic member abuts against an exterior sidewall of the collection shell, the other end of the first elastic member extends in a direction away from the collection shell after penetrating through the first adjusting member, the gap formed between the filament transfer drive wheel and the filament transfer driven wheel is maintained with the first elastic member, and the first adjusting member is guided by the first elastic member to move in a direction away from or close to the collection shell when the first adjusting member is pressed.
[0033] Exemplary, the filament detection unit includes a first filament detection assembly arranged on the collection shell and configured to obtain the transfer information of the filament by detecting rotation information of the filament transfer drive wheel or the filament transfer driven wheel,
[0034] the rotation information includes the number of revolutions and a rotation duration of the filament transfer drive wheel or the filament transfer driven wheel; and / or the transfer information of the filament is selected from a group consisting of the transferred amount of the filament, a transfer direction of the filament, and the remaining amount of the filament.
[0035] Exemplary, the first filament detection assembly includes a photoelectric encoding disk drivingly connected to the filament transfer drive wheel or the filament transfer driven wheel, and the photoelectric encoding disk is provided with one or more grating through-holes in a circumferential direction;
[0036] the photoelectric encoding disk is provided with a first photoelectric transmitter and a first photoelectric receiver on both sides of the photoelectric encoding disk correspondingly, and the photoelectric encoding disk is driven to rotate synchronously when the filament transfer drive wheel or the filament transfer driven wheel is rotated, to receive, by the first photoelectric receiver, an optical signal transmitted by the first photoelectric transmitter and to obtain the transferred amount of the current filament according to a pulse signal converted from the optical signal;
[0037] alternatively, the first filament detection assembly includes a magnetic member and a Hall sensor, the magnetic member is configured to follow the filament transfer drive wheel or the filament transfer driven wheel to rotate synchronously; and
[0038] the Hall sensor is configured to output a corresponding pulse signal based on an intensity of change in a magnetic field of the magnetic member and to determine the transferred amount of the current filament based on the pulse signal.
[0039] Exemplary, the filament detection unit includes a second filament detection assembly arranged on the main channel, and the second filament detection assembly includes a detection plate erecting above the main channel and a second detection push rod penetrating through the detection plate and capable of moving in a second direction on the detection plate, a first end of the second detection push rod penetrates through the detection plate and is arranged on the main channel, and a second photoelectric sensing mechanism is arranged at a position of the detection plate corresponding to a second end of the detection push rod; and
[0040] when the filament is fed into the main channel in the first direction, the second detection push rod is driven to move in the second direction on the detection plate, and the second photoelectric sensing mechanism is covered by the second end of the second detection push rod.
[0041] Exemplary, the filament storage device further includes a filament guide unit for transferring the filament from the transmission switching unit to the collection unit, and the filament guide unit includes a filament guide assembly and a flexible feeding assembly; and
[0042] the filament guide assembly includes a filament guide tube and a tube fitting, the filament guide tube is provided with a filament channel, the tube fitting is arranged on an end of the filament guide tube, and the flexible feeding assembly is movably arranged in the tube fitting, the flexible feeding assembly is configured to be capable of adaptively swinging relative to the tube fitting according to a feeding angle of the filament, to allow the filament to be guided out in a first direction after entering the filament channel during feeding.
[0043] Exemplary, the flexible feeding assembly includes a feeding guide inlet and a filament guide tube, an inner diameter of the feeding guide inlet is connected to the filament guide tube after gradually contracting along the first direction;
[0044] the filament guide assembly further includes a light-emitting member configured to provide light along the feeding angle.
[0045] Exemplary, the filament guide unit further includes an extrusion assembly arranged inside the filament guide assembly; and
[0046] the extrusion assembly includes a drive extrusion gear and a driven extrusion gear arranged corresponding to each other, a gap for filament transfer is formed between the drive extrusion gear and the driven extrusion gear to allow the filament fed into the filament channel to be guided out from the filament guide outlet of the filament guide tube after passing through the gap in the first direction.
[0047] Exemplary, the driven extrusion gear is rotatably embedded in the filament guide tube via a driven extrusion rod, an outer tooth profile of the drive extrusion gear is recessed inward to form the gap with an exterior sidewall of the driven extrusion gear, and the driven extrusion gear is driven to rotate synchronously when the filament is fed into the gap and guide out in the first direction.
[0048] Exemplary, the filament guide assembly further includes a second adjusting member for adjusting the gap; and
[0049] one end of the second adjusting member is fixedly connected to the filament guide tube, the other end of the second adjusting member extends in a direction close to the flexible feeding assembly, and a relative distance between the filament guide tube and the drive extrusion gear is changed by pressing the second adjusting member to adjust the gap formed between the drive extrusion gear and the driven extrusion gear.
[0050] Exemplary, the filament guide assembly further includes a filament guide frame for erecting the filament guide tube, and the filament guide tube is rotatably erected inside the filament guide frame through a supporting linkage, a drive gear for driving the drive extrusion gear to rotate is arranged on an exterior sidewall of the filament guide frame, and the drive gear is drivingly connected to the drive extrusion gear via a drive extrusion rod; and
[0051] a second elastic member is provided between the filament guide frame and the filament guide tube, one end of the second elastic member abuts against an exterior sidewall of the filament guide tube, the other end of the second elastic member penetrates through a sidewall of the filament guide frame, and the second elastic member exerts a force in an opposite direction to that of the filament guide frame on the filament guide tube to maintain the gap formed between the drive extrusion gear and the driven extrusion gear.
[0052] Exemplary, the filament detection unit includes a third filament detection assembly arranged on the filament guide unit for detecting a filament transfer state in the filament guide tube; the third filament detection assembly includes a fixed plate erected on a sidewall of the filament guide assembly and a third detection push rod penetrating through the fixed plate; and
[0053] one end of the third detection push rod extends into the filament channel after penetrating through the sidewall of the filament guide assembly, the other end of the third detection push rod is provided by penetrating through the fixed plate, and a third photoelectric sensing mechanism is provided at a position of the fixed plate corresponding to the third detection push rod when the filament is fed into the filament channel, the third detection push rod is driven to move on the fixed plate to cover the third photoelectric sensing mechanism.
[0054] Exemplary, the housing includes a base and a cover provided to cover the base, and one or more trays are erected in the housing; a compression assembly is arranged at a press-fit position between an interior sidewall of the cover and the tray, the compression assembly is configured to press an outer edge of the tray to provide a pre-pressure to the tray; and
[0055] the compression assembly includes an arc-shaped compression member matched with the outer edge of the tray and a spring member for floatingly mounting the compression member to the interior sidewall of the cover.
[0056] Exemplary, a bottom interior sidewall of the housing is further provided with one or more strip-shaped retaining grooves for accommodating the trays with different sizes inside the filament box by snapping the outer edge of the tray to the corresponding strip-shaped retaining groove; and
[0057] a sealing groove is provided at an opening-closing position of the base and the cover, and a sealing member is provided at a position of the cover corresponding to the sealing groove, and external humid air is blocked outside the filament box through cooperation between the sealing member and the sealing groove.
[0058] The present application further provides a 3D printing system, including a printer and the filament storage device according to any one of the above-mentioned.Brief Description of Drawings
[0059] To describe the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present application or in the prior art more clearly, the following briefly introduces the accompanying drawings required for describing the embodiments or the prior art. Apparently, the accompanying drawings in the following description show only some embodiments of the present application, and a person of ordinary skill in the art may still derive other drawings from these accompanying drawings without creative efforts.
[0060] FIG. 1 is a schematic structural diagram of a filament storage device provided by an embodiment of the present application;
[0061] FIG. 2 is a three-dimensional assembly diagram of a filament storage device provided by an embodiment of the present application;
[0062] FIG. 3 is a schematic structural diagram of a transmission switching unit provided by an embodiment of the present application;
[0063] FIG. 4 is a three-dimensional diagram of the transmission switching unit shown in FIG. 3;
[0064] FIG. 5 is a three-dimensional assembly diagram of the transmission switching unit shown in FIG. 3;
[0065] FIG. 6 is a rear view of the transmission switching unit shown in FIG. 3;
[0066] FIG. 7 is an A-A sectional view of the transmission switching unit shown in FIG. 6;
[0067] FIG. 8 is a B-B sectional view of the transmission switching unit shown in FIG. 6;
[0068] FIG. 9 is a C-C sectional view of the transmission switching unit shown in FIG. 6;
[0069] FIG. 10 is a D-D sectional view of the transmission switching unit shown in FIG. 6;
[0070] FIG. 11 is a schematic structural diagram of a returning assembly provided by an embodiment of the present application;
[0071] FIG. 12 is an enlarged view of a partial structure E of the returning assembly shown in FIG. 11;
[0072] FIG. 13 is a three-dimensional diagram of a returning assembly provided by an embodiment of the present application;
[0073] FIG. 14 is a rear view of the returning assembly shown in FIG. 11;
[0074] FIG. 15 is an F-F sectional view of the returning assembly shown in FIG. 14;
[0075] FIG. 16 is a G-G sectional view of the returning assembly shown in FIG. 14;
[0076] FIG. 17 is an H-H sectional view of the returning assembly shown in FIG. 14;
[0077] FIG. 18 is an I-I sectional view of the returning assembly shown in FIG. 14;
[0078] FIG. 19 is a J-J sectional view of the returning assembly shown in FIG. 14;
[0079] FIG. 20 is a schematic structural diagram of a collection unit provided by an embodiment of the present application;
[0080] FIG. 21 is a three-dimensional assembly diagram of a collection unit provided by an embodiment of the present application;
[0081] FIG. 22 is a schematic structural diagram of a first filament detection assembly in a collection unit provided by an embodiment of the present application;
[0082] FIG. 23 is a schematic structural diagram of a second filament detection assembly in a collection unit provided by an embodiment of the present application;
[0083] FIG. 24 is a schematic structural diagram of a driving assembly in a collection unit provided by an embodiment of the present application;
[0084] FIG. 25 is a schematic structural diagram of a second transmission rod in a collection unit provided by an embodiment of the present application;
[0085] FIG. 26 is a schematic structural diagram of a collection shell in a collection unit provided by an embodiment of the present application;
[0086] FIG. 27 is a three-dimensional assembly diagram of a filament guide unit provided by an embodiment of the present application;
[0087] FIG. 28 is a schematic structural diagram of a second elastic member in a filament guide unit provided by an embodiment of the present application;
[0088] FIG. 29 is a schematic structural diagram of a second adjusting member in a filament guide unit provided by an embodiment of the present application;
[0089] FIG. 30 is a schematic structural diagram of a third filament detection assembly in a filament guide unit provided by an embodiment of the present application;
[0090] FIG. 31 is a schematic structural diagram of a flexible feeding assembly in a filament guide unit provided by an embodiment of the present application;
[0091] FIG. 32 is a schematic structural diagram of a third sensing plate in a filament guide unit provided by an embodiment of the present application;
[0092] FIG. 33 is a schematic structural diagram of a filament guide frame in a filament guide unit provided by an embodiment of the present application;
[0093] FIG. 34 is a schematic structural diagram of a filament guide unit provided by an embodiment of the present application;
[0094] FIG. 35 is a schematic structural diagram of a first wall in a drying unit provided by an embodiment of the present application;
[0095] FIG. 36 is a schematic structural diagram of a third wall in a drying unit provided by an embodiment of the present application;
[0096] FIG. 37 is a schematic structural diagram of a heating assembly in a drying unit provided by an embodiment of the present application;
[0097] FIG. 38 is a schematic structural diagram of an air intake extension channel in a drying unit provided by an embodiment of the present application;
[0098] FIG. 39 is a schematic structural diagram of a display panel in a drying unit provided by an embodiment of the present application;
[0099] FIG. 40 is a schematic structural diagram of a power supply interface in a drying unit provided by an embodiment of the present application; and
[0100] FIG. 41 is a schematic structural diagram of a tray in a filament storage unit provided by an embodiment of the present application.
[0101] Reference signs:
[0102] 10 -transmission switching unit;
[0103] 100 -transmission assembly; 101 -transmission shaft; 102 -transmission mechanism; 1021 -first transmission gear, 1022 -swing member; 10221 -second limiting face, 10222 -limiting protrusion, 10223 -cambered limiting face, 10224 -first limiting groove, 10225 -engaging portion, 10226 -guard portion, 10227 -second limiting groove; 102271 -first cambered segment, 102272 -second cambered segment; 1023 -second transmission gear, 1024 -third elastic member, 1025 -third transmission gear; 103 -first driving member; 1031 -driving gear; 104 -fourth transmission gear;
[0104] 110 -switching assembly; 111 -switching shaft; 1111 -side; 112 -switching member; 112a -switching member, 112b -switching member, 112c -switching member, 112d -switching member, 1121 -limiting portion, 1122 -polygonal hole, 1123 -cam body, 1124 -first limiting face, 1125 -limiting flange, 1126 -third limiting face; 113 -second driving member, 114 -sleeve member;
[0105] 120 -returning assembly; 121 -returning mechanism; 122 -returning roller, 123 -returning gear, 124 -transmission member; 125 -returning follow-up roller;
[0106] 20 -collection unit;
[0107] 210 -collection shell; 211 -filament inlet; 212 -filament outlet; 213 -filament transfer channel; 214 -main channel;
[0108] 220 -driving assembly; 221 -filament transfer drive wheel; 2211 -first transmission rod; 222 -filament transfer driven wheel; 2221 -second transmission rod; 223 -third driving member; 2231 -output gear; 224 -auxiliary transmission gear;
[0109] 230 -first filament detection assembly; 231 -photoelectric encoding disk; 2311 -connection groove; 232 -grating through-hole;
[0110] 240 -second filament detection assembly; 241 -detection plate; 242 -second detection push rod; 243 -second photoelectric sensing mechanism; 244 -second sensing plate;
[0111] 250 -manual returning assembly; 251 -first adjusting member; 252 -first elastic member;
[0112] 30 -filament guide unit;
[0113] 310 -filament guide assembly; 311 -filament guide tube; 3111 -supporting linkage; 312 -tube fitting; 313 -filament guide outlet; 314 -second adjusting member; 315 -filament guide frame; 316 -drive gear; 317 -second elastic member;
[0114] 320 -flexible feeding assembly; 321 -feeding guide inlet; 322 -feeding guide tube;
[0115] 330 -extrusion assembly; 331 -drive extrusion gear; 3311-drive extrusion rod; 332 -driven extrusion gear; 3321 -driven extrusion rod;
[0116] 340 -third filament detection assembly; 341 -fixed plate; 342 -third detection push rod; 343 -third photoelectric sensing mechanism; 3431 -third photoelectric transmitter; 3432 -third photoelectric receiver; 344 -third sensing plate;
[0117] 40 -drying unit;
[0118] 410 -frame; 411 -air inlet; 412 -air outlet; 4121 -first air outlet; 4122 -second air outlet; 4123 -third air outlet;
[0119] 420 -heating chamber; 421 -first wall; 422 -drying chamber; 423 -second wall; 424 -third wall;
[0120] 430 -heating assembly;
[0121] 440 -blowing assembly; 441 -air intake extension channel;
[0122] 50 -housing;
[0123] 510 -base; 511 -sealing groove; 512 -cover; 5121 -sealing member; 513 -strip-shaped retaining groove; 514 -display panel; 515 -power supply interface; 516 -standard interface;
[0124] 520 -compression assembly; 521 -arc-shaped compression member; 522 -spring member;
[0125] 60 -filament; 610 -tray.Description of Embodiments
[0126] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of the present application more comprehensible, the present application will be further described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments. It should be understood that the embodiments described herein are only intended to explain rather than limit the present application.
[0127] In the description of the present application, "a plurality of" refers to at least two, for example, two or three, unless otherwise specifically defined. All directional indications (such as above, under, left, right, front, and rear) in the embodiments of the present application are only intended for explaining a relative position relationship, a motion condition, etc, between components in a certain posture (as shown in the accompanying drawings) , and if the posture changes, the directional indications change accordingly. In addition, the terms "including" , "having" , or any other variant thereof are intended for covering non-exclusive inclusions.
[0128] To make the description of the present disclosure more detailed and complete, the following provides illustrative descriptions of the implementation manners and embodiments of the present application. However, this is not the only form of implementing or applying the embodiments of the present application. The implementation manners cover features of multiple embodiments and method steps as well as the sequence thereof used to construct and operate these embodiments. However, other embodiments may also be used to achieve the same or equivalent function and sequence of steps.
[0129] Referring to FIGs. 1-41, in order to solve a problem in the prior art of how to improve a switching efficiency between different filaments while meeting requirements of feeding and returning a specified filament and effectively monitoring a feeding state and transfer information of the specified filament, the embodiments of the present application provide a filament storage device and a 3D printing system. Referring to FIG. 1, which is a schematic structural diagram of a filament storage device provided by an embodiment of the present application, the filament storage device provided by the present application includes a housing 50, configured to store one or more filaments 60; a transmission switching unit 10, configured to connect one or more filaments 60 and feed or return a specified filament among the filaments 60; a collection unit 20, configured to be connected to the transmission switching unit 10 for collecting one or more filaments 60 to enable the transmission switching unit 10 to transfer the specified filament 60 fed into a main channel 214 of the collection unit 20; and a filament detection unit, configured to detect a feeding state of the specified filament 60 and obtain transfer information of the specified filament 60.
[0130] Exemplary, referring to FIG. 3, which is a schematic structural diagram of a transmission switching unit 10 provided by an embodiment of the present application, the transmission switching unit 10 provided by one embodiment of the present application includes a transmission assembly 100 and a switching assembly 110. The transmission assembly 100 includes a first driving member 103, a transmission shaft 101, and one or more transmission mechanisms 102 spaced apart along a first axis, the first driving member 103 is connected to the transmission shaft 101, each of the transmission mechanisms 102 includes a first transmission gear 1021, and the first transmission gear 1021 of each of the transmission mechanisms 102 is swingably connected to the transmission shaft 101.
[0131] Furthermore, the above switching assembly 110 includes a second driving member 113, a switching shaft 111, and a plurality of switching members 112, the second driving member 113 is connected to the switching shaft 111. All of the switching members 112 are fixed at intervals along a second axis on the switching shaft 111 and arranged in one-to-one correspondence with the transmission mechanisms 102. The switching shaft 111 is capable of rotating about the second axis by a preset angle to cause one of the switching members 112 to be in a first state, and the switching member 112 in the first state is configured to restrict the first transmission gear 1021 of the corresponding transmission mechanism 102 to a first position. The first transmission gear 1021 restricted to the first position is configured to transmit a driving force of the first driving member 103 to a mechanism connected to the first transmission gear 1021.
[0132] In an embodiment provided by the present application, the above first axis may be an axis of the transmission shaft 101 and the above second axis may be an axis of the switching shaft 111.
[0133] Further referring to FIG. 3, the above-mentioned switching members 112 are arranged in one-to-one with the transmission mechanisms 102, which means that the switching members 112 are connected in one-to-one correspondence with the transmission mechanisms 102; and the above-mentioned mechanism connected to the first transmission gear 1021 can be a filament guide assembly 310. Alternatively, the above-mentioned mechanism connected to the first transmission gear 1021 can also be a returning mechanism 121.
[0134] In one embodiment of the present application, the above-mentioned first transmission gear 1021 can be restricted to the first position and a fourth position. For example, the first transmission gear 1021 restricted to the first position can be drivingly connected to the filament guide assembly 310 or the returning mechanism 121, thereby transmitting the driving force of the first driving member 103 to the filament guide assembly 310 or the returning mechanism 121 connected to the first transmission gear 1021. The first transmission gear 1021 restricted to the fourth position is not drivingly connected to the filament guide assembly 310 and the returning mechanism 121, and cannot transmit the driving force of the first driving member 103 to the filament guide assembly 310 and the returning mechanism 121.
[0135] Furthermore, the above-mentioned switching member 112 has a first state and a second state. For example, the switching member 112 in the first state can restrict the first transmission gear 1021 of the corresponding transmission mechanism 102 to the first position, and the switching member 112 in the second state is configured to restrict the first transmission gear 1021 of the corresponding transmission mechanism 102 to the fourth position.
[0136] As an example, referring to FIG. 12, which is an enlarged view of a partial structure E of the returning assembly 120 provided by an embodiment of the present application, the filament guide assembly 310 provided by the present application can include a drive gear 316 coaxially arranged with a drive extrusion gear 331 in the filament guide assembly 310, the drive extrusion gear 331 can rotate along with the drive gear 316 when the drive gear 316 rotates, the rotating drive extrusion gear 331 exerts a downward force of friction on the filament 60, and the filament 60 drives a driven extrusion gear 332 to rotate synchronously, thereby extruding the filament downward.
[0137] At this time, the first transmission gear 1021 restricted to the first position can be engaged with the drive gear 316 so that the driving force of the first driving member 103 is transmitted to the corresponding filament guide assembly 310, thereby extruding the filament 60 downward. The first transmission gear 1021 in the fourth position is not engaged with the drive gear 316, so that the driving force of the first driving member 103 cannot be transmitted to the corresponding filament guide assembly 310. As shown in FIGs. 11-16, FIG. 11 is a schematic structural diagram of a returning assembly 120 provided by an embodiment of the present application, FIG. 13 is a three-dimensional view of a returning assembly 120 provided by an embodiment of the present application, FIG. 14 is a rear view of the returning assembly 120 shown in FIG. 11, FIG. 15 is an F-F sectional view of the returning assembly 120 shown in FIG. 14, and FIG. 16 is a G-G sectional view of the returning assembly 120 shown in FIG. 14. It can be observed that all of the first transmission gears 1021 shown in FIGs. 11-16 corresponding to the filament guide assembly 310 are in the fourth position.
[0138] As an example, the returning mechanism 121 can include a returning gear 123. Further referring to FIG. 15, the first transmission gear 1021 restricted to the first position can be engaged with the returning gear 123, so that the driving force of the first driving member 103 can be transmitted to the corresponding returning mechanism 121. Referring to FIG. 18, which is an I-I sectional view of the returning assembly 120 shown in FIG. 14, the first transmission gear 1021 at the fourth position is not engaged with the returning gear 123, so that the driving force of the first driving member 103 cannot be transmitted to the corresponding returning mechanism 121.
[0139] For the transmission switching unit 10 provided by one embodiment of the present application, the switching shaft 111 is capable of rotating about the second axis by a preset angle to cause one of the switching members 112 to be in a first state, the switching member 112 in the first state can restrict the first transmission gear 1021 of the corresponding transmission mechanism 102 to the first position, and the first transmission gear 1021 restricted to the first position can transmit the driving force of the first driving member 103 to the corresponding filament guide assembly 310 or the corresponding returning mechanism 121, thereby feeding or returning the corresponding filament 60.
[0140] Further referring to FIG. 11, only one of the first transmission gears 1021 is restricted to the first position and can be engaged with the corresponding returning gear 123. The remaining first transmission gears 1021 are restricted to the fourth position and not engaged with the corresponding returning gear 123, and all of the transmission mechanisms 102 are arranged on the same transmission shaft 101 and can be driven to work separately via one transmission shaft 101, which reduces space occupation and manufacturing costs.
[0141] As an example, when the specified filament 60 needs to be fed, the first transmission gear 1021 of the transmission mechanism 102 corresponding to the filament guide assembly 310 for the filament 60 is restricted to the first position by rotating the switching shaft 111, and when the transmission shaft 101 rotates, the first transmission gear 1021 can transmit the driving force of the first driving member 103 to the corresponding filament guide assembly 310 to achieve the feeding of the specified filament 60, so that a corresponding number of driving mechanisms for the filament guide assembly 310 is not need to be provided, thus reducing space occupation and manufacturing costs.
[0142] Similarly, when the specified filament 60 needs to be returned, the first transmission gear 1021 of the transmission mechanism 102 corresponding to the returning mechanism 121 for the filament 60 is restricted to the first position by rotating the switching shaft 111, and when the transmission shaft 101 rotates, the first transmission gear 1021 can transmit the driving force of the first driving member 103 to the corresponding returning mechanism 121 to achieve the returning of the specified filament 60 so that it does not need to provide a corresponding number of driving mechanisms for the returning mechanism 121, thus reducing space occupation and manufacturing costs.
[0143] Referring to FIGs. 3-5, FIG. 4 is a three-dimensional view of the transmission switching unit 10 shown in FIG. 3, and FIG. 5 is a three-dimensional assembly view of the transmission switching unit 10 shown in FIG. 3. In one embodiment of the present application, the above transmission mechanism 102 can further include a swing member 1022 and a second transmission gear 1023. The above-mentioned swing member 1022 is connected to the transmission shaft 101 and can also swing about the first axis on the transmission shaft 101. The first transmission gear 1021 is connected to the swing member 1022 and can also rotate about an axis thereof on the swing member 1022.
[0144] The above-mentioned switching member 112 in the first state can be configured to restrict the swing member 1022 of the corresponding transmission mechanism 102 to the second position. Referring to FIGs. 15-17, the swing member 1022 of the transmission mechanism 102 arranged corresponding to the returning mechanism 121 is shown therein, FIG. 17 is an H-H sectional view of the returning assembly 120 shown in FIG. 14, and the swing member 1022 restricted to the second position can be configured to restrict the first transmission gear 1021 to the first position.
[0145] The above-mentioned second transmission gear 1023 is fixed and arranged coaxially with the transmission shaft 101. The second transmission gear 1023 is directly or indirectly engaged with the first transmission gear 1021 and configured to transmit the driving force of the first driving member 103 to the first transmission gear 1021.
[0146] Further referring to FIG. 15, the transmission mechanism 102 arranged corresponding to the returning mechanism 121 is shown therein, and when the transmission shaft 101 rotates, the driving force of the first driving member 103 is transmitted via the transmission shaft 101, the second transmission gear 1023, and the first transmission gear 1021 in sequence to the corresponding returning gear 123 of the returning mechanism 121, thereby driving the returning mechanism 121 to work for returning filaments, which can effectively reduce the configuration of the driving mechanism and thus reduce space occupation and manufacturing costs.
[0147] Since the above-mentioned second transmission gear 1023 is fixed to the transmission shaft 101 and can only rotate along with the transmission shaft 101 rather than swing to move up and down, the second transmission gear 1023 cannot be directly engaged with the filament guide assembly 310 or the returning mechanism 121, and the first transmission gear 1021, which is capable of swinging, needs to be provided to transmit the power of the second transmission gear 1023 to the filament guide assembly 310 or the returning mechanism 121.
[0148] Optionally, further referring to FIG. 3, the first transmission gear 1021 can be directly engaged with the second transmission gear 1023. Further referring to FIG. 15, the first transmission gear 1021 can also be engaged with the second transmission gear 1023 via a third transmission gear 1025, and it can be understood that the number of the third transmission gears 1025 can be one or more, the more than one third transmission gear 1025 can be engaged step by step to transmit the power of the second transmission gear 1023 to the first transmission gear 1021, and the number of the third transmission gears 1025 can be set as needed and is not limited herein.
[0149] Optionally, referring to FIGs. 3-5, 8, 10, 13, and 17, FIG. 8 is a B-B sectional view of the transmission switching unit 10 shown in FIG. 6, and FIG. 10 is a D-D sectional view of the transmission switching unit 10 shown in FIG. 6. To improve the structural stability and enable a more reliable cooperative relationship between the swing member 1022 and the switching member 112, the swing member 1022 provided by the present application is further provided with two guard portions 10226 arranged parallel and symmetrically, and the switching member 112 is restricted between the two guard portions 10226 of the corresponding swing member 1022, which can effectively prevent the switching member 112 being accidentally detached from the swing member 1022.
[0150] Further referring to FIGs. 3, 4, and 13, the above-mentioned switching member 112 can be provided with a limiting portion 1121, the limiting portion 1121 is formed along a circumferential direction of the switching member 112. In order to have at most one switching member 112 in the first state at the same time, that is to say, only one swing member 1022 at the second position and only one first transmission gear 1021 at the first position at the same time, the limiting portions 1121 of all the switching members 112 are distributed in a staggered manner along the circumferential direction of the switching shaft 111.
[0151] In addition to being restricted to the second position, the swing member 1022 can also be restricted to a third position. The swing member 1022 shown in FIG. 13 is restricted to the second position and the swing member 1022 shown in FIG. 16 is restricted to the third position.
[0152] Further referring to FIG. 12, the first transmission gear 1021 of one transmission mechanism 102 shown in FIG. 12 is engaged with the returning gear 123, the first transmission gear 1021 of the other transmission mechanism 102 is not engaged with the returning gear 123, and the first transmission gears 1021 of both transmission mechanisms 102 in FIG. 12 are not engaged with the drive gear 316. The first transmission gear 1021 of the transmission mechanism 102 engaged with the returning gear 123 is at the first position and the swing member 1022 is at the second position. The first transmission gear 1021 of the transmission mechanism 102 not engaged with the returning gear 123 is at the fourth position and the swing member 1022 is at the third position. The first transmission gears 1021 of both transmission mechanisms 102 not engaged with the drive gear 316 are at the fourth position and the swing member 1022 is at the third position.
[0153] Referring to FIG. 15, it can be understood that when the swing member 1022 is at the second position, the first transmission gear 1021 on the swing member 1022 is at the first position.
[0154] The above-mentioned first transmission gear 1021 at the first position is drivingly connected to the corresponding drive gear 316 or the corresponding returning gear 123 and can transmit the driving force of the first driving member 103 to the corresponding drive gear 316 or the corresponding returning gear 123.
[0155] Further referring to FIG. 18, when the swing member 1022 is at the third position, the first transmission gear 1021 on the swing member 1022 is at the fourth position; the above-mentioned first transmission gear 1021 at the fourth position is not connected to the corresponding filament guide assembly 310 or the corresponding returning mechanism 121, and cannot transmit the driving force of the first driving member 103 to the corresponding filament guide assembly 310 or the corresponding returning mechanism 121.
[0156] Further referring to FIG. 17, the above-mentioned limiting portion 1121 of the switching member 112 in the first state abuts against the swing member 1022 to restrict the corresponding swing member 1022 to the second position, thereby restricting the corresponding first transmission gear 1021 to the first position.
[0157] The above-mentioned limiting portion 1121 of the switching member 112 in the second state is staggered from the swing member 1022, that is to say, the limiting portion 1121 of the switching member 112 in the second state does not abut against the swing member 1022. Moreover, referring to FIG. 19, which is a J-J sectional view of the returning assembly 120 shown in FIG. 14, other parts of the switching member 112 in the second state abut against the swing member 1022 to restrict the corresponding swing member 1022 to the third position, thereby restricting the corresponding first transmission gear 1021 to the fourth position.
[0158] In this way, it can be effectively ensured that at most one first transmission gear 1021 is at the first position at the same time, that is to say, at most one first transmission gear 1021 can transmit the driving force of the first driving member 103 to the corresponding filament guide assembly 310 or the corresponding returning mechanism 121 at the same time.
[0159] It can be understood that if at least two filaments 60 are expected to be fed or returned at the same time, the limiting portions 1121 of the switching members 112 corresponding to the at least two filaments 60 can be arranged in the same direction, so that the switching members 112 corresponding to the at least two filaments 60 can be in the first state at the same time.
[0160] Optionally, further referring to FIG. 3, in order to quickly define the arrangement direction of the limiting portion 1121 and achieve fast and accurate installation, the switching shaft 111 is configured as a polygonal shaft and comprises multiple sides 1111. It can be understood that if at most one switching member 112 is expected to be in the first state at the same time, the limiting portion 1121 of each switching member 112 can be arranged corresponding to a different side 1111 of the switching shaft 111, which is more intuitive and easier to install. In order to facilitate the fast and accurate installation of the switching member 112 on the switching shaft 111, a polygonal hole 1122 is formed in a middle of each switching member 112 to be matched with the switching shaft 111, which not only improves the installation speed but also enhances the installation accuracy.
[0161] As an example, in order to facilitate the installation and removal of the switching member 112 and the replacement of the worn switching member 112, the switching member 112 can be fixed to the switching shaft 111 through a threaded member. For example, the threaded member can be a screw, or a bolt or nut matched with each other. The threaded member is an existing structure in the prior art and thus not elaborated herein.
[0162] It can be understood that the number of sides 1111 of the switching shaft 111 can be equal to the number of the switching members 112. The number of sides 1111 of the switching shaft 111 can also be unequal to the number of the switching members 112. If at most one switching member 112 is expected to be in the first state at the same time, the number of sides 1111 of the switching shaft 111 can be greater than or equal to the number of the switching members 112, and the limiting portion 1121 of each switching member 112 is arranged corresponding to a different side 1111 of the switching shaft 111. When the number of sides 1111 of the switching shaft 111 is equal to the number of the switching members 112 and both are N (N≥3) , the preset angle can be a multiple of 360° / N, that is to say, once the switching shaft 111 rotates 360° / N, there is exactly one switching member 112 in the first state, i.e., one swing member 1022 at the second position and one first transmission gear 1021 at the first position.
[0163] Further referring to FIG. 3, in an embodiment provided by the present application, the switching shaft 111 is a hexagonal shaft, the switching shaft 111 has six sides, and four switching members 112 are provided. In order to have only one switching member 112 in the first state at the same time, the limiting portion 1121 of each switching member 112 is arranged corresponding to a different side 1111 of the switching shaft 111.
[0164] As an example, further referring to FIGs. 3 and 4, along the X direction, the switching members 112 include the switching member 112a, the switching member 112b, the switching member 112c, and the switching member 112d. At the current position, the switching member 112c is in the first state, the first transmission gear 1021 of the transmission mechanism 102 corresponding to the switching member 112c is engaged with the returning gear 123 (not shown) of the corresponding returning mechanism 121, the switching member 112a, the switching member 112b, and the switching member 112d are all in the second state and are not connected to the returning gears 123 of the corresponding returning mechanisms 121. If the current position of the switching shaft 111 is regarded as the initial position, then:
[0165] when the switching shaft 111 rotates 60° about the Y direction, the switching member 112b rotates to the first state, so that the first transmission gear 1021 of the corresponding transmission mechanism 102 is engaged with the returning gear 123 of the returning mechanism 121, thereby causing the corresponding filament 60 to be returned;
[0166] when the switching shaft 111 rotates 120° about the Y direction, the switching member 112a rotates to the first state, so that the first transmission gear 1021 of the corresponding transmission mechanism 102 is engaged with the returning gear 123 (not shown) of the returning mechanism 121, thereby causing the corresponding filament 60 to be returned; and
[0167] when the switching shaft 111 rotates 300° about the Y direction, the switching member 112d rotates to the first state, so that the first transmission gear 1021 of the corresponding transmission mechanism 102 is engaged with the returning gear 123 (not shown) of the returning mechanism 121, thereby causing the corresponding filament 60 to be returned.
[0168] It can be understood that in the above example, if only one switching member 112 is expected to be in the first state at the same time, the switching shaft 111 can also be a quadrilateral shaft, a pentagonal shaft, or a heptagonal shaft, as long as the number of sides 1111 of the switching shaft 111 is equal to or greater than the number of the switching members 112, and the limiting portion 1121 of each switching member 112 is arranged corresponding to a different side 1111 of the switching shaft 111.
[0169] Exemplary, referring to FIGs. 3-10, the switching member 112 in the first state can restrict the first transmission gear 1021 of the corresponding transmission mechanism 102 to the first position. Further, before restricting the first transmission gear 1021 of the corresponding transmission mechanism 102 to the first position, the switching member 112 in the first state can cause the first transmission gear 1021 of the corresponding transmission mechanism 102 to swing from the fourth position to the first position.
[0170] Optionally, further referring to FIGs. 3-10, a cam body 1123 is formed on a side of the switching member 112 and a convex end of the cam body 1123 is configured as the limiting portion 1121. The limiting portion 1121 of the switching member 112 in the first state is further configured to push the swing member 1022 to swing from the third position to the second position, that is to say, the limiting portion 1121 of the switching member 112 in the first state is further configured to push the first transmission gear 1021 to swing from the fourth position to the first position.
[0171] For example, at most one switching member 112 is in the first state at the same time.
[0172] Further referring to FIGs. 7 and 8, when the switching shaft 111 rotates at a preset angle, the cam body 1123 of one of the switching members 112 rotates until the convex end of the cam body 1123 contacts the swing member 1022 of the corresponding transmission mechanism 102, and then the cam body 1123 pushes the swing member 1022 to rotate around the transmission shaft 101, and next the cam body 1123 continues to rotate with the switching shaft 111 until the convex end of the cam body 1123, that is, when the limiting portion 1121 abuts against the swing member 1022, the swing member 1022 is at the second position, that is to say, the first transmission gear 1021 of the corresponding transmission mechanism 102 is at the first position.
[0173] At this time, the switching shaft 111 is rotated the preset angle and stopped rotation, so that the limiting portion 1121 of the switching member 112 in the first state abuts against the swing member 1022 to restrict the first transmission gear 1021 to the first position, and the first transmission gear 1021 restricted to the first position is drivingly connected to the corresponding filament guide assembly 310 or the corresponding returning mechanism 121. When the transmission shaft 101 rotates, the first transmission gear 1021 restricted to the first position can transmit the driving force of the first driving member 103 to the corresponding filament guide assembly 310 or the corresponding returning mechanism 121.
[0174] When one of the switching members 112 is in the first state, the remaining switching members 112 are in the second state and the first transmission gears 1021 of the transmission mechanisms 102 corresponding to the switching members 112 in the second state are at the fourth position, that is to say, the first transmission gears 1021 of the transmission mechanisms 102 corresponding to the switching members 112 in the second state cannot transmit the driving force of the first driving member 103 to the corresponding filament guide assembly 310 or the corresponding returning mechanism 121.
[0175] Exemplary, in order to make the force on the swing member 1022 more uniform and the swing member 1022 can swing more stably, the cam body 1123 is formed on both sides of the switching member 112 and the two cam bodies 1123 on both sides of the switching member 112 are symmetrically arranged, the swing member 1022 is provided with second limiting faces 10221 arranged in one-to-one correspondence with the two cam bodies 1123, and the swing member 1022 is further provided with a limiting protrusion 10222 that is jointly restricted by the second limiting faces 10221 and the surface of the swing member 1022.
[0176] Referring to FIG. 7, which is an A-Asectional view of the transmission switching unit 10 shown in FIG. 6, when the swing member 1022 is at the second position, the second limiting faces 10221 of the swing member 1022 abut against the limiting portions 1121 of the cam bodies 1123. Referring to FIG. 9, which is a C-C sectional view of the transmission switching unit 10 shown in FIG. 6, when the swing member 1022 is at the third position, the second limiting faces 10221 of the swing member 1022 are staggered from the limiting portions 1121 of the cam bodies 1123 and the limiting protrusions 10222 of the swing member 1022 are in contact with the cam bodies 1123.
[0177] It can be understood that if the swing member 1022 includes guard portions 10226, the end faces of the guard portions 10226 can be configured as the second limiting faces 10221.
[0178] In one embodiment of the present application, in order to allow the first transmission gear 1021 at the first position to be more securely connected to the corresponding filament guide assembly 310 or the corresponding returning mechanism 121, the swing member 1022 includes a second limiting groove 10227 formed between the two guard portions 10226, and a protruding limiting flange 1125 is formed on the circumference of the switching member 112. Further referring to FIG. 7, when the limiting portion 1121 of the switching member 112 abuts against the second limiting face 10221, the end face of the limiting flange 1125 also abuts against the inner side of the second limiting groove 10227. Further referring to FIG. 8, the switching member 112 can more effectively retain the swing member 1022, and the first transmission gear 1021 at the first position can be more effectively engaged with the returning gear 123 of the corresponding returning mechanism 121 or with the drive gear 316 of the corresponding filament guide assembly 310.
[0179] Optionally, the second limiting groove 10227 includes a first cambered segment 102271 and a second cambered segment 102272 that are integrated together, and when the limiting portion 1121 of the switching member 112 abuts against the second limiting face 10221, the end face of the limiting flange 1125 also abuts against the first cambered segment 102271 in the second limiting groove 10227.
[0180] Optionally, the circumference of the switching member 112 can be configured as a third limiting face 1126, and when the switching member 112 is in the second state, the third limiting face 1126 of the switching member 112 can also abut against the second cambered segment 102272 in the second limiting groove 10227 of the swing member 1022, to further restrict the swing member 1022 and prevent the swing member 1022 from sagging due to gravity or other factors.
[0181] Exemplary, as shown in FIGs. 11-19, the above-mentioned transmission mechanism 102 can further include a third elastic member 1024, the third elastic member 1024 is sleeved on the transmission shaft 101 and abuts against one side of the swing member 1022, so that the other side of the swing member 1022 abuts against a side of the second transmission gear 1023.
[0182] Under the pressure exerted by the third elastic member 1024, the side of the swing member 1022 abuts against the side of the second transmission gear 1023, and when the second transmission gear 1023 rotates with the transmission shaft 101, the swing member 1022 corresponding to the switching member 112 in the first state can rotate along with the second transmission gear 1023 to swing from the third position to the second position.
[0183] It should be noted that the above-mentioned third elastic member 1024 can be a spring, or an elastic plastic member, or any other structure that can produce elastic deformation.
[0184] Exemplary, in order to restrict the swing member 1022 corresponding to the switch member 112 in the second state to the third position, the above-mentioned switching member 112 can be configured as a cam. Referring to FIG. 13, the circumference of the switching member 112 is configured as a first limiting face 1124, the first limiting face 1124 can be configured to restrict the swing member 1022 to the third position, and the limiting portion 1121 is configured as an engaging tooth arranged on the first limiting face 1124.
[0185] Furthermore, a cambered limiting face 10223 is provided on the circumference of the swing member 1022 and a first limiting groove 10224 is formed on the cambered limiting face 10223 of the swing member 1022. Further, the swing member 1022 includes an engaging portion 10225. The engaging portion 10225 is jointly restricted by the first limiting groove 10224, the cambered limiting face 10223, and the surface of the swing member 1022.
[0186] Further referring to FIG. 19, when the first limiting face 1124 abuts against the cambered limiting face 10223, due to the restriction of the switching member 112, the swing member 1022 cannot rotate about the transmission shaft 101 along with the second transmission gear 1023. At this time, the swing member 1022 is restricted to the third position.
[0187] When the limiting portion 1121 is aligned with the first limiting groove 10224, that is to say, when the first limiting face 1124 is staggered from the cambered limiting face 10223, the restriction on the swing member 1022 is released and the swing member 1022 can swing with the second transmission gear 1023 to the second position.
[0188] When the swing member 1022 swings to the second position, further referring to FIG. 17, the engaging portion 10225 of the swing member 1022 at the second position is just engaged with the limiting portion 1121 to restrict the swing member 1022 from continuing to rotate with the second transmission gear 1023, and the first transmission gear 1021 on the swing member 1022 at the second position is drivingly connected to the corresponding filament guide assembly 310 or the corresponding returning mechanism 121 to realize the feeding or returning of the corresponding filament 60.
[0189] For example, referring to FIG. 17, the swing member 1022 in FIG. 17 is already at the second position and the process of rotating the swing member 1022 to the second position is taken as an example.
[0190] Specifically, when the switching shaft 111 rotates about the Z1 direction by a preset angle, the first limiting face 1124 of the switching member 112 gradually rotates to be staggered from the cambered limiting face 10223 of the swing member 1022. When the switching shaft 111 rotates about the Z1 direction by a preset angle, that is, when the switching member 112 rotates to the position shown in FIG. 15, the limiting portion 1121 of the switching member 112 is aligned with the first limiting groove 10224. At this time, the switching member 112 is in the first state. When the first driving member 103 works to drive the transmission shaft 101 to rotate about the Z2 direction, the second transmission gear 1023 rotates about the Z2 direction along with the transmission shaft 101. The third elastic member 1024 retains the swing member 1022 against the side of the first transmission gear 1023, and the second transmission gear 1023 rotating about the Z2 direction exerts a force of friction about the Z2 direction on the swing member 1022. Under the force of friction about the Z2 direction, the swing member 1022 rotates along with the second transmission gear 1023 until the engaging portion 10225 of the swing member 1022 is engaged with the limiting portion 1121. Referring to the state shown in FIG. 17, at this time, the swing member 1022 is at the second position, which means that the first transmission gear 1021 is drivingly connected to the corresponding filament guide assembly 310 or the corresponding returning mechanism 121, as shown in FIG. 16. Since the engaging portion 10225 is engaged with the limiting portion 1121, the swing member 1022 cannot continue to rotate about the Z2 direction along with the second transmission gear 1023. Moreover, under the force of friction about the Z2 direction exerted by the second transmission gear 1023 rotating about the Z2 direction, the swing member 1022 cannot rotate back about the opposite direction of Z2 to the third position, thereby restricting the swing member 1022 to the second position and the first transmission gear 1021 is restricted to the first position.
[0191] When one of the switching members 112 is in the first state, the remaining switching members 112 are in the second state. The first transmission gears 1021 of the transmission mechanisms 102 corresponding to the switching members 112 in the second state are all at the fourth position, that is to say, the first transmission gears 1021 of the transmission mechanisms 102 corresponding to the switching members 112 in the second state cannot transmit the driving force of the first driving member 103 to the corresponding filament guide assembly 310 or the corresponding returning mechanism 121.
[0192] Exemplary, the above-mentioned first driving member 103 can be a motor and the output shaft of the first driving member 103 can fix a driving gear 1031. The driving gear 1031 is coaxially arranged with the output shaft of the first driving member 103.
[0193] Accordingly, the transmission shaft 101 can further fix a fourth transmission gear 104, the fourth transmission gear 104 is coaxially arranged with the transmission shaft 101, and the fourth transmission gear 104 is engaged with the driving gear 1031. When the first driving member 103 is working, the driving gear 1031 fixed on the output shaft of the first driving member 103 transmits the driving force to the filament guide assembly 310 or the returning mechanism 121 via the fourth transmission gear 104, the transmission shaft 101, the second transmission gear 1023, and the first transmission gear 1021 in sequence.
[0194] Further referring to FIG. 11, the above-mentioned switching assembly 110 drives the switching shaft 111 to rotate at different angles via the second driving member 113, so that the first transmission gears 1021 corresponding to the filament guide assemblies 310 or the returning mechanisms 121 for different filaments 60 rotate to the first position to be drivingly connected to the corresponding filament guide assemblies 310 or the corresponding returning mechanisms 121, thereby realizing switching of filaments 60 of different colors or materials.
[0195] Exemplary, the above-mentioned second driving member 113 can be a motor and the output shaft of the second driving member 113 can be coaxially fixed with the switching shaft 111.
[0196] Optionally, the filament guide assembly 310 can include a drive gear 316 coaxially fixed with a drive extrusion gear 331 and can be drivingly connected to the first transmission gear 1021 of the transmission mechanism 102 via the drive gear 316. When the drive gear 316 rotates, the drive extrusion gear 331 can rotate synchronously with the drive gear 316 to extrude the filament 60 to realize feeding.
[0197] Optionally, the returning mechanism 121 can include a returning roller 122, a returning gear 123, a transmission member 124, and a returning follow-up roller 125. For example, the returning gear 123 is coaxially fixed to the returning roller 122 and configured to be drivingly connected to the first transmission gear 1021, and the transmission member 124 is coaxially fixed to the returning roller 122 and configured to drive a tray 610 to rotate, so that excessive filaments 60 are re-wound around the tray 610. When the first transmission gear 1021 drives the returning gear 123 to rotate, the returning gear 123 drives the returning roller 122 and the transmission member 124 to rotate in sequence, thereby driving the tray 610 to rotate; at the same time, the returning follow-up roller 125 is provided in parallel with the returning roller 122 to ensure that the tray 610 rotates between the returning roller 122 and the returning follow-up roller 125.
[0198] In an embodiment provided by the present application, in order to effectively drive the tray 610 to rotate, the transmission member 124 can be a silicone sleeve fixed to the returning roller 122, thereby ensuring that the transmission member 124 can exert a sufficient force of friction on the tray 610 to drive the tray 610 to rotate for returning filaments.
[0199] It can be understood that the above-mentioned transmission member 124 can also include other structures, as long as the transmission member 124 can exert a sufficient force of friction on the tray 610 to drive the tray 610 to rotate for returning filaments.
[0200] Further referring to FIG. 11, the transmission switching unit 10 provided by one embodiment of the present application includes a first transmission switching unit 10, a filament guide unit 30, a second transmission switching unit 10, and a returning assembly 120. The first transmission switching unit 10 can be any one of the transmission switching units 10 described above, the filament guide unit 30 includes a filament guide assembly 310 arranged in one-to-one correspondence with the transmission mechanism 102 of the first transmission switching unit 10, the second transmission switching unit 10 can be any one of the transmission switching units 10 described above, and the returning assembly 120 includes a returning mechanism 121 arranged in one-to-one correspondence with the transmission mechanism 102 of the second transmission switching unit 10.
[0201] Optionally, in order to reduce space occupation, the switching shaft 111 of the first transmission switching unit 10 and the switching shaft 111 of the second transmission switching unit 10 provided by the present application can be the same shaft. That is to say, the switching member 112 of the first transmission switching unit 10 and the switching member 112 of the second transmission switching unit 10 can be arranged on the same switching shaft 111 and driven by the same second driving member 113.
[0202] Furthermore, in order to facilitate installation, the switching member 112 of the first transmission switching unit 10 and the switching member 112 of the second transmission switching unit 10 corresponding to the same filament 60 can be fixed integrally. As an example, the two switching members 112 are fixed integrally via the sleeve member 114.
[0203] It can be understood that in other embodiments, the first transmission switching unit 10 and the second transmission switching unit 10 can also be provided separately without sharing a switching shaft 111 or a driving mechanism.
[0204] For the transmission switching unit 10 provided by the present application, the switching shaft 111 can rotate about the second axis by a preset angle to cause one of the switching members 112 to be in a first state, the switching member 112 in the first state can restrict the first transmission gear 1021 of the corresponding transmission mechanism 102 to the first position, and the first transmission gear 1021 restricted to the first position can transmit a driving force of the first driving member 103 to a mechanism connected with the first transmission gear 1021. When a specified filament 60 needs to fed or returned, the filament guide assembly 310 corresponding to the specified filament 60 or the first transmission gear 1021 corresponding to the returning mechanism 120 is restricted to a first position by rotating the switching shaft 111, and when the transmission shaft 111 rotates, the first transmission gear 1021 restricted to the first position can transmit the driving force of the first driving member 103 to the filament guide assembly 310 or the returning mechanism 120 connected to the first transmission gear 1021, to achieve the feeding or returning of the specified filament 60 and reduce the space occupied by the transmission switching unit 10 in the filament storage device.
[0205] Exemplary, referring to FIG. 20, which is a schematic structural diagram of a collection unit 20 provided by an embodiment of the present application, the collection unit includes a collection shell 210, a driving assembly 220, and a first filament detection assembly 230. By collecting the filaments 60 from a filament inlet 211 arranged on the collection shell 210, the present application meets the need of switching between different filaments with different materials or colors for 3D printing.
[0206] Exemplary, the collection shell 210 provided by the present application is provided with at least two filament inlets 211, at least two filament transfer channels 213, a main channel 214, and a filament outlet 212. Each of the filament inlets 211 is correspondingly connected to one filament transfer channel 213, and one or more filament transfer channels 213 intersect with the main channel 214 and is connected to the filament outlet 212 by the main channel 214, thereby feeding the filaments 60 wound around different trays from the filament inlets 211 into the corresponding filament transfer channels 213 in the collection unit 20, so that the filament 60 arranged in at least one filament transfer channel 213 is guided out from the filament outlet 212 of the collection shell 210 according to the 3D printing requirement.
[0207] Furthermore, referring to FIG. 22, which is a schematic structural diagram of a first filament detection assembly 230 in a collection unit 20 provided by an embodiment of the present application, the driving assembly 220 provided by the present application is arranged on the collection shell 210, specifically including a filament transfer drive wheel 221 and a filament transfer driven wheel 222 arranged corresponding to the filament transfer drive wheel 221, a gap for filament transfer is formed between the filament transfer drive wheel 221 and filament transfer driven wheel 222, thereby enabling the specified filament in the main channel 214 to be guided out from the provided filament outlet 212 after passing through the gap in a first direction.
[0208] It should be noted that the above-mentioned gap between the filament transfer drive wheel 221 and the filament transfer driven wheel 222 is arranged in the main channel 214, and the filaments 60 wound around different trays 610 are fed into the corresponding filament transfer channels 213 in the collection unit 20 from the filament inlets 211, and the specified filament 60 in the main channel 214 is guided out from the filament outlet 212 after passing through the gap according to the printing requirement to cooperate with the subsequent 3D printing operation.
[0209] In one embodiment of the present application, each of the filament inlets 211 is connected to a corresponding filament transfer channel 213, and the filament transfer channels 213 can intersect in pairs with the same filament transfer channel 213 and are then connected to the filament outlet 212 via the main channel 214. When the number of the filament outlets 212 is configured as one, the number of the main channels 214 is also configured as one since it is equal to the number of the filament outlets 212, and the filament transfer channels 213 formed between the filament inlets 211 intersect in pairs with the same filament transfer channel 213 and are then connected to the main channel 214.
[0210] Further referring to FIG. 20, it can be observed that intersection in pairs adopted by the present application can be intersection of two adjacent filament transfer channels 213 or intersection of two axisymmetric filament transfer channels 213 first and then intersection with the main channel 214 arranged on the axisymmetric line and connection to the filament outlet 212 in sequence. Of course, the intersection methods provided above are both feasible. As long as it is capable of realizing the intersection of the filament transfer channels 213 with the main channel 214 whose number is equal to that of the filament outlets 212, any method selected is feasible, which is not further limited herein.
[0211] Referring to FIG. 24, which is a schematic structural diagram of a driving assembly 220 in a collection unit 20 provided by an embodiment of the present application, the driving assembly 220 provided by the present application further includes a third driving member 223 and an auxiliary transmission gear 224 engaged with an output gear 2231 of the third driving member 223, and it can be observed that the auxiliary transmission gear 224 is drivingly connected to the filament transfer drive wheel 221 via a first transmission rod 2211, so that the output gear 2231 and the auxiliary transmission gear 224 are driven by the third driving member 223 to rotate. Since the auxiliary transmission gear 224 is drivingly connected to the filament transfer drive wheel 221 via the first transmission rod 2211, the filament transfer drive wheel 221 is driven by the third driving member 223 to rotate in the present application, thereby enabling the filament 60 between the filament transfer drive wheel 221 and the filament transfer driven wheel 222 to be guided out.
[0212] It should be noted that the above-mentioned third driving member 223 can be configured as a driving motor, a servo motor, and any other common form of the third driving member 223. As long as it is capable of driving the output gear 2231 to rotate and further driving the auxiliary transmission gear 224, the first transmission rod 2211, and the filament transfer drive wheel 221 to rotate, any form of the third driving member 223 selected is feasible, which is not further limited herein.
[0213] Further referring to FIG. 22, the outer tooth profiles of the filament transfer drive wheel 221 and the filament transfer driven wheel 222 provided by the present application are both recessed inward to form a gap between the filament transfer drive wheel 221 and the filament transfer driven wheel 222, and when the filament 60 enters the gap, the filament 60 can be extruded by the outer tooth profiles of the filament transfer drive wheel 221 and the filament transfer driven wheel 222. Therefore, when the filament 60 is guided out along a first direction through the gap, the filament 60 abuts against the outer tooth profile of the filament transfer driven wheel 222, and the filament transfer drive wheel 221 and the filament transfer driven wheel 222 together compress the filament 60 in the gap. At this time, when the filament transfer drive wheel 221 drives the filament 60 to be guided out along the first direction, the filament 60 drives the filament transfer driven wheel 222 to synchronously rotate, and the filament 60 is guided out along the first direction. In addition, rotation information of the filament transfer drive wheel 221 or the filament transfer driven wheel 222 can be monitored to cooperate with subsequent steps, so that filament transfer information can be obtained by detecting the rotation information of the filament transfer drive wheel 221 or the filament transfer driven wheel 222.
[0214] Exemplary, referring to FIG. 21, which is a three-dimensional assembly diagram of a collection unit 20 provided by an embodiment of the present application, the filament detection unit provided by the present application includes a first filament detection assembly 230 arranged on the collection shell 210, the first filament detection assembly 230 is configured to obtain the filament transfer information by detecting the rotation information of the filament transfer drive wheel 221 or the filament transfer driven wheel 222.
[0215] In one embodiment of the present application, the above-mentioned rotation information can include the number of revolutions and a rotation duration of the filament transfer drive wheel 221 or the filament transfer driven wheel 222, and / or, the above-mentioned filament transfer information can include any one or more of a transferred amount of the filament, a transfer direction of the filament, and a remaining amount of the filament.
[0216] In an embodiment provided by the present application, further referring to FIG. 22, the first filament detection assembly 230 provided by the present application includes a photoelectric encoding disk 231 drivingly connected to the filament transfer drive wheel 221 or the filament transfer driven wheel 222. When the number of revolutions of the filament transfer drive wheel 221 needs to be detected, the photoelectric encoding disk 231 can be drivingly connected to the filament transfer drive wheel 221; and when the number of revolutions of the filament transfer driven wheel 222 needs to be detected, the photoelectric encoding disk 231 can be drivingly connected to the filament transfer driven wheel 222. Since the filament transfer driven wheel 222 can be driven by the filament to synchronously rotate with the filament transfer drive wheel 221, no matter whether the photoelectric encoding disk 231 is drivingly connected to the filament transfer drive wheel 221 or the filament transfer driven wheel 222, it is feasible to detect the rotation information of the corresponding gear and obtain the desired filament transfer information. Therefore, the specific arrangement of the photoelectric encoding disk 231 is not further limited herein.
[0217] Exemplary, it can be observed that the photoelectric encoding disk 231 is provided with one or more grating through-holes 232 along the circumferential direction. The present application uniformly arranges the grating through-holes 232 described above on the circumference of the photoelectric encoding disk 231 and further provides a first photoelectric transmitter and a first photoelectric receiver correspondingly on both sides of the photoelectric encoding disk 231. When the filament transfer drive wheel 221 or the filament transfer driven wheel 222 drives the photoelectric encoding disk 231 to rotate synchronously, since the photoelectric encoding disk 231 is arranged between the first photoelectric transmitter and the first photoelectric receiver, the position of the grating through-hole 232 is not provided blocks the optical signal transmitted by the first photoelectric transmitter when the photoelectric encoding disk 231 rotates; and when the grating through-hole 232 arranged on the photoelectric encoding disk 231 rotates to a position between the first photoelectric transmitter and the first photoelectric receiver, the optical signal transmitted by the first photoelectric transmitter is not blocked. In this way, the first photoelectric receiver receives the optical signal transmitted by the first photoelectric transmitter sequentially and repeatedly, and the optical signal is converted into a pulse signal and then transmitted to the main controller (not shown ) for signal processing, so as to calculate the transferred amount of the current filament or the transferred amount of the current filament in a rotation duration according to the pulse signal, and calculate the remaining amount of the filament according to the transferred amount, thereby enabling to add a new filament timely. As for how the main controller calculates the transferred amount of the current filament based on the pulse signal, a widely used technology in the field of photoelectric encoding disk in the prior art is adopted and thus not elaborated herein.
[0218] Furthermore, referring to FIG. 25, which is a schematic structural diagram of a second transmission rod 2221 in a collection unit 20 provided by an embodiment of the present application, in one embodiment of the present application, exemplary, the photoelectric encoding disk 231 is coaxially connected to the filament transfer driven wheel 222 via the second transmission rod 2221, and the transferred amount of the current filament is calculated by monitoring the number of forward and reverse revolutions of the filament transfer driven wheel 222. It can be observed that an end of the second transmission rod 2221 close to the photoelectric encoding disk 231 is provided with a protrusion having a rectangular axial cross-section, and a connecting groove 2311 for the protrusion to penetrate through is formed at the center of the photoelectric encoding disk 231 corresponding to the protrusion. By connecting one end of the second transmission rod 2221 to the filament transfer driven wheel 222 and allowing the protrusion at the other end of the second transmission rod 2221 to penetrate through the connecting groove 2311, the photoelectric encoding disk 231 can be driven to rotate synchronously when the filament transfer driven wheel 222 rotates, and the number of forward and reverse revolutions of the filament transfer driven wheel 222 can be monitored, thereby further obtaining the transferred amount of the current filament.
[0219] In another embodiment provided by the present application, the above-mentioned first filament detection assembly 230 can further include a magnetic member and a Hall sensor, the magnetic member is configured to synchronously rotate with the filament transfer drive wheel 221 or the filament transfer driven wheel 222, and the Hall sensor is configured to output a corresponding pulse signal according to an intensity of change in a magnetic field of the magnetic member and transmit the pulse signal to the main controller for signal processing, thereby calculating the transferred amount of the current filament according to the pulse signal.
[0220] Specifically, the magnetic member can be configured as a form of a permanent magnet and installed on the filament transfer drive wheel 221 or the filament transfer driven wheel 222 as required. Since the filament transfer driven wheel 222 can synchronously rotate with the filament transfer drive wheel 221 under a driving force of the filament, no matter where the magnetic member is arranged on the filament transfer drive wheel 221 or the filament transfer driven wheel 222, the required filament transfer information can be obtained. Therefore, the specific position of the magnetic member is not further limited herein.
[0221] Furthermore, the Hall sensor needs to be fixedly arranged at a position close to the magnetic member. When the filament transfer drive wheel 221 or the filament transfer driven wheel 222 rotates, the magnetic member arranged thereon rotates synchronously. In this case, the magnetic member continuously passes through the Hall sensor. Because of a Hall effect, whenever either the S-pole (south pole) or the N-pole (north pole) of the magnetic member passes through the Hall sensor, the Hall sensor generates a corresponding electrical signal change according to the intensity of change in the magnetic field of the magnetic member, thereby generating a Hall voltage.
[0222] These changed electrical signals are converted into digital pulse signals by the Hall sensor. Each pulse signal represents a certain gear rotation angle or rotation stroke, and the digital pulse signals are transmitted to the main controller for signal processing. After receiving these pulse signals, the main controller calculates, based on a preset parameter such as a gear radius of the filament transfer drive wheel 221 or the filament transfer driven wheel 222, the number of revolutions of the gear per second and then converts it into the rotational speed of the gear, or calculates the transferred amount of the filament per second. Similarly, based on the number of these pulse signals accumulated and multiplied by the transferred length of the filament corresponding to each pulse, the transferred amount of the current filament can be calculated in real time, and the remaining amount of the filament can be obtained based on the transferred amount of the filament, thereby enabling to add a new filament in time. As for how the main controller calculates the transferred amount of the current filament according to the pulse signal, a widely used technology of the Hall sensor in the field of mileage calculation in the prior art is adopted and thus not elaborated herein.
[0223] It should be noted that it is feasible to configure the first filament detection assembly 230 in the form of the photoelectric encoding disk 231, the first photoelectric transmitter and the first photoelectric receiver, or in the form of the magnetic member and the Hall sensor, and all the forms can be connected directly or indirectly to the filament transfer drive wheel 221 or the filament transfer driven wheel 222 in order to realize the purpose of detecting the rotation information of the corresponding gear, thereby obtaining the desired filament information based on the rotation information. Therefore, the specific form and position of the first filament detection assembly 230 are not further limited herein.
[0224] Exemplary, referring to FIG. 23, which is a schematic structural diagram of a second filament detection assembly 240 in a collection unit 20 provided by an embodiment of the present application, the filament detection unit provided by the present application further includes a second filament detection assembly 240 arranged on the main channel 214 for detecting a feeding state of the filament. In this case, the filament detection unit for detecting the feeding state of the filament can be understood as detecting the feeding state of the filament via the second filament detection assembly 240.
[0225] Furthermore, the second filament detection assembly 240 includes a detection plate 241 erected above the main channel 214, and a second detection push rod 242 is configured to penetrate through the detection plate 241. It can be observed that the second detection push rod 242 not only penetrates through the detection plate 241 but also is capable of moving in a second direction on the detection plate 241. In one embodiment of the present application, an extension direction of the main channel 214 is denoted as a first direction, and a direction perpendicular to the first direction is denoted as a second direction, the first direction and the second direction are perpendicular to each other.
[0226] Furthermore, a first end of the above-mentioned second detection push rod 242 is arranged in the main channel 214 after penetrating through the detection plate 241, a second end of the second detection push rod 242 is configured to penetrate through the detection plate 241 and extends in a direction away from the main channel 214, and a second photoelectric sensing mechanism 243 is arranged on the detection plate 241 at a position corresponding to the second end of the second detection push rod 242. When the filament is fed into the main channel 214 in the first direction, the second detection push rod 242 is pushed to move in the second direction on the detection plate 241, so that the second end of the second detection push rod 242 blocks the second photoelectric sensing mechanism 243, thereby monitoring whether a filament is currently transferred or not in the main channel 214, so as to detect the feeding state of the filament in the main channel 214.
[0227] It should be noted that the position of the first end of the second detection push rod 242 needs to be adaptively adjusted to meet a requirement of the second detection push rod 242 being squeezed or pushed to move in the second direction on the detection plate 241 when the filament 60 passes by, then enable the second end of the second detection push rod 242 to block the second photoelectric sensing mechanism 243; and if the position of the first end of the second detection push rod 242 is too close to or too far away from the main channel 214, the transfer of the filament 60 may be blocked, or the filament 60 may not squeeze or push the second detection push rod 242 when the filament 60 passes by due to being too far away from the first end of the second detection push rod 242. Therefore, the position of the first end of the second detection push rod 242 needs to be adaptively adjusted in a practical application and those skilled in the art should be aware of it.
[0228] In an embodiment provided by the present application, further referring to FIG. 23, the second photoelectric sensing mechanism 243 includes a second photoelectric transmitter and a second photoelectric receiver, and two second sensing plates 244 are correspondingly arranged on a side of the detection plate 241 far away from the main channel 214. The present application arranges the second photoelectric transmitter and the second photoelectric receiver described above to be opposite to each other on the two second sensing plates 244, thereby effectively monitoring the position of the second end of the second detection push rod 242.
[0229] Specifically, when the filament 60 in the filament transfer channel 213 is fed into the main channel 214 in the first direction, the filament pushes the second detection push rod 242 to move in the second direction on the detection plate 241, so as to enable the second end of the second detection push rod 242 to enter a sensing zone formed between the two second sensing plates 244 and block the light between the second photoelectric transmitter and the second photoelectric receiver; and when no filament 60 is fed into the main channel 214, the second end of the second detection push rod 242 does not block the light between the second photoelectric transmitter and the second photoelectric receiver, so that it can be determined whether or not the light emitted by the second photoelectric transmitter is received by the second photoelectric receiver, thereby further determining whether or not a filament 60 is currently transferred in the main channel 214.
[0230] Of course, the above-mentioned second photoelectric sensing mechanism 243 can also be configured in the form of a sensor such as an opposed-type laser sensor, a diffuse reflection photoelectric sensor, and the like, and any form of the second photoelectric sensing mechanism 243 selected is feasible, as long as it is capable of being arranged between the two second sensing plates 244 for detecting whether or not the area between the two second sensing plates 244 is blocked by the second end of the second detection push rod 242, which is not further limited herein.
[0231] Exemplary, referring to FIG. 26, which is a schematic structural diagram of a collection shell 210 in a collection unit 20 provided by an embodiment of the present application, the collection unit 20 of the present application is further provided with a manual returning assembly 250 for adjusting the gap between the filament transfer drive wheel 221 and the filament transfer driven wheel 222. It can be observed that the manual returning assembly 250 includes a first adjusting member 251 snap-fitted to both ends of the filament transfer driven wheel 222, and another end of the first adjusting member 251 is arranged close to the filament outlet 212.
[0232] In one embodiment, further referring to FIG. 22, it can be observed that the first adjusting member 251 is provided with a second transmission rod 2221, so that the filament transfer driven wheel 222 is rotatably erected on the first adjusting member 251 via the second transmission rod 2221, and at the same time, another end of the second transmission rod 2221 is drivingly connected to the photoelectric encoding disk 231, so as to realize that the photoelectric encoding disk 231 is driven to synchronously rotate when the filament transfer driven wheel 222 rotates. Since the filament transfer driven wheel 222 is erected on the first adjusting member 251 via the second transmission rod 2221, and another end of the first adjusting member 251 is arranged close to the filament outlet 212, the gap formed between the filament transfer drive wheel 221 and the filament transfer driven wheel 222 can be increased or decreased by pressing an end of the first adjusting member 251 close to the filament outlet 212.
[0233] Specifically, when the filament 60 is clogged or broken, the filament 60 can be manually returned by pressing the first adjusting member 251 to increase the gap between the filament transfer drive wheel 221 and the filament transfer driven wheel 222, and the first adjusting member 251 can also be pressed again after completing the manual returning of the filament 60 to decrease the gap, so that the gap between the filament transfer drive wheel 221 and the filament transfer driven wheel 222 is enough to compress the filament 60 without slipping to maintain normal transfer of the filament 60, thereby preventing the filament 60 from slipping due to the too large or small gap in the 3D printing process to affect the feeding and returning of the filament 60.
[0234] Exemplary, the collection shell 210 of the present application is configured to accommodate the driving assembly 220, the first filament detection assembly 230, the second filament detection assembly 240, and the manual returning assembly 250 described above therein, and at the same time, a first elastic member 252 is provided between the collection shell 210 and the first adjusting member 251. Further referring to FIGs. 20 and 26, it can be observed that one end of the first elastic member 252 abuts against the exterior sidewall of the collection shell 210, and the other end thereof extends in a direction away from the collection shell 210 after penetrating through the first adjusting member 251. The first elastic member 252 is configured to exert a force in a direction opposite to the first adjusting member 251 on the collection shell 210, thereby maintaining the gap formed between the filament transfer drive wheel 221 and the filament transfer driven wheel 222 to prevent the filament 60 from slipping during transfer, and the other end of the first elastic member 252 is configured to penetrate through the first adjusting member 251 to enable the first adjusting member 251 to move in a direction away from or close to the collection shell 210 under the guide of the first elastic member 252 when the first adjusting member is pressed, so that the pressing direction of the first adjusting member 251 is guided by the first elastic member 252.
[0235] It should be noted that the first elastic member 252 provided by the present application exemplarily uses an elastically deformable spring. Of course, as long as it is capable of being arranged between the collection shell 210 and the first adjusting member 251 and exert a force on the collection shell 210 and the first adjusting member 251 in an opposite direction to maintain the relative gap between the filament transfer drive wheel 221 and the filament transfer driven wheel 222, any form or structure of the first elastic member 252 selected is feasible, the specific implementation manner of which is not further limited herein.
[0236] For the collection unit 20 provided by the present application, at least two filament inlets 211 are provided to connect different filaments 60, so that one or more filaments 60 fed into the collection shell 210 enters the corresponding filament transfer channels 213. Since one or more filament transfer channels 213 are ultimately connected to the filament outlet 212 via the main channel 214, the specified filament 60 in the desired filament transfer channel 213 can be guided out from the filament outlet 212 in the first direction with the cooperation of the transmission switching unit 10 according to the printing requirement, and when the filament 60 needs to be switched, the transmission switching unit 10 returns the current filament 60 to the corresponding filament transfer channel 213 and feeds the specified filament 60 for replacement in the first direction through the filament outlet 212, thereby meeting the requirement for switching between different filaments 60. The first filament detection assembly 230 is configured to effectively monitor the transfer information of the current filament 60 to prevent a filament shortage or breakage, and the second filament detection assembly 240 is configured to detect the feeding state of the filament in the main channel 214 to prevent a filament shortage or breakage, so as to enhance the filament transfer reliability and stability of the connection unit.
[0237] Exemplary, the filament storage device provided by the present application further includes a filament guide unit 30 for transferring the filament 60 from the transmission switching unit 10 to the collection unit 20. Referring to FIG. 27, which is a three-dimensional assembly diagram of a filament guide unit 30 provided by an embodiment of the present application, the filament guide unit 30 includes a filament guide assembly 310 and a flexible feeding assembly 320, the filament guide assembly 310 includes a filament guide tube 311 and a tube fitting 312. In the present application, a filament channel is arranged in the filament guide tube 311, the tube fitting 312 is arranged at an end of the filament guide tube 311, and the flexible feeding assembly 320 is movably arranged in the tube fitting 312, the flexible feeding assembly 320 is configured to be capable of adaptively swinging relative to the tube fitting 312 according to a feeding angle of the filament 60, so as to allow the filament 60 to be guided out in a first direction after entering the filament channel during feeding.
[0238] Exemplary, in the present application, the flexible feeding assembly 320 is configured as a deformable flexible material such as Teflon that is capable of swinging according to the feeding angle of the filament 60, so that the flexible feeding assembly 320 is capable of adaptively swinging relative to the tube fitting 312 according to the feeding angle of the filament 60, thereby reducing the wear and tear of the end of the filament guide tube 311 and the damage to the filament 60.
[0239] Furthermore, referring to FIG. 31, which is a schematic structural diagram of a flexible feeding assembly 320 in a filament guide unit 30 provided by an embodiment of the present application, the flexible feeding assembly 320 provided by the present application includes a feeding guide inlet 321 and a feeding guide tube 322, the feeding guide inlet 321 is in the form of a flared structure with a large top and a small bottom, and the feeding guide tube 322 is a tubular structure. The inner diameter of the feeding guide tube 321 gradually shrinks in a first direction and is then connected to the feeding guide tube 322. The above feeding guide tube 322 provided by the present application is configured to penetrate through the tube fitting 312 to fix the flexible feeding assembly 320 integrally at one end of the filament guide tube 311. In this way, the filament 60 fed from the feeding guide inlet 321 can pass through the feeding guide tube 322 and further enter the filament channel arranged in the filament guide tube 311, so that the filament is guided out in a first direction under an action of the extrusion assembly 330.
[0240] Exemplary, referring to FIG. 29, which is a schematic structural diagram of a second adjusting member 314 in a filament guide unit 30 provided by an embodiment of the present application, the filament guide unit 30 provided by the present application further includes an extrusion assembly 330 arranged inside the filament guide assembly 310, the extrusion assembly 330 includes a drive extrusion gear 331 and a driven extrusion gear 332 arranged opposite to each other. It can be observed that a gap for transferring the filament 60 is formed between the drive extrusion gear 331 and the driven extrusion gear 332, so as to enable the filament 60 fed into the filament guide channel to pass through the gap in a first direction and be guided out from the filament guide outlet 313 arranged at the other end of the filament guide tube 311.
[0241] In one embodiment provided by the present application, referring to FIG. 30, which is a schematic structural diagram of a third filament detection assembly 340 in a filament guide unit 30 provided by one embodiment of the present application, the filament detection unit provided by the present application further includes the third filament detection assembly 340 arranged in the filament guide unit 30. It can be observed that the above-mentioned driven extrusion gear 332 is rotatably embedded in the filament guide tube 311 via a driven extrusion rod 3321, an outer tooth profile of the drive extrusion gear 331 is recessed inward to form a gap with an exterior sidewall of the driven extrusion gear 332, and the driven extrusion gear 332 is driven to rotate synchronously when the filament 60 is fed into the gap via the flexible feeding assembly 320 and guided out in the first direction.
[0242] Furthermore, the filament guide assembly 310 provided by the present application further includes a filament guide frame 315 for erecting the filament guide tube 311. Referring to FIG. 33, which is a schematic structural diagram of a filament guide frame 315 in a filament guide unit 30 provided by an embodiment of the present application, it can be observed that the filament guide tube 311 is rotatably erected inside the filament guide frame 315 via a supporting linkage 3111, the supporting linkage 3111 penetrates through the filament guide frame 315 and the filament guide tube 311 in sequence to erect the filament guide tube 311 in the filament guide frame 315, a drive gear 316 for driving the drive extrusion gear 331 to rotate is arranged on an exterior sidewall of the filament guide frame 35, and the drive gear 316 and the drive extrusion gear 331 described above are drivingly connected via the drive extrusion rod 3311.
[0243] Of course, the filament guide tube 311 provided by the present application is also recessed inward relative to the position of the drive extrusion gear 331, so that the positional relationship of the drive extrusion gear 331 arranged relative to the driven extrusion gear 332 is better realized, thereby improving the utilization of the internal space of the filament guide unit 30.
[0244] It should be noted that, in the present application, the drive gear 316 can be driven to rotate via the transmission switching unit 10 to further drive the drive extrusion gear 331 to rotate via the drive extrusion rod 3311, so that the filament 60 is guided out in the first direction by driving the drive extrusion gear 331 to rotate via the transmission switching unit 10, the feeding of the filament 60 is realized when the filament 60 is transferred from top to bottom, and the returning of the filament 60 is realized when the filament 60 is extruded from bottom to top, thereby realizing the feeding and returning of the filament 60 according to the rotation direction of the drive extrusion gear 331. Of course, it is also possible to manually adjust the relative distance of the gap and realize the manual returning of the filament 60 by extracting the filament 60 from bottom to top, and all of the above methods are feasible.
[0245] Furthermore, the filament guide assembly 310 provided by the present application further includes a second adjusting member 314 for adjusting the gap, and when a malfunction occurs in the automatic feeding and returning of the filament 60, the gap between the drive extrusion gear 331 and the driven extrusion gear 332 can be adjusted via the second adjusting member 314, thereby realizing the manual returning of the filament.
[0246] Specifically, further referring to FIG. 30, it can be observed that one end of the second adjusting member 314 provided by the present application is fixedly connected to the filament guide tube 311, and the other end thereof is configured to extend in a direction close to the flexible feeding assembly 320, which facilitates pressing the second adjusting member 314 at a position close to the flexible feeding assembly 320. Since the filament guide tube 311 is rotatably erected inside the filament guide frame 315 via the supporting linkage 3111, and the drive extrusion gear 331 is drivingly connected to the drive gear 316 arranged on the exterior sidewall of the filament guide frame 315 via the drive extrusion rod 3311, the relative distance between the filament guide tube 311 and the drive extrusion gear 331 can be changed by pressing the second adjusting member 314, and the gap formed between the drive extrusion gear 331 and the driven extrusion gear 332 is adjusted to decrease or increase the gap according to the transfer demand of the filament 60, thereby preventing filament overflowing or breakage due to the preset gap unmatched with the diameter of the filament 60 and realizing the manual returning of the filament 60 by adjusting the relative distance of the gap.
[0247] It should be noted that the above-mentioned second adjusting member 314 is exemplarily fixed at the end of the filament guide frame 315 close to the flexible feeding assembly 320, and the shape and the position of the second adjusting member 314 should not affect the relative positional relationship between the drive extrusion gear 331 and the driven extrusion gear 332.
[0248] In one embodiment of the present application, in order to better maintain the gap formed between the drive extrusion gear 331 and the driven extrusion gear 332 and to prevent the filament 60 from slipping in the feeding and returning process, the present application further provides a second elastic member 317 between the filament guide frame 315 and the filament guide tube 311. Referring to FIG. 28, which is a schematic structural diagram of a second elastic member 317 in a filament guide unit 30 provided by one embodiment of the present application, it can be observed that one end of the second elastic member 317 abuts against the exterior sidewall of the filament guide tube 311, and the other end thereof is configured to penetrate through the sidewall of the filament guide frame 315. A force in a direction opposite to the filament guide frame 315 is exerted on the filament guide tube 311 by the second elastic member 317 to maintain the gap formed between the drive extrusion gear 331 and the driven extrusion gear 332, so as to compress the filament 60 to ensure that the filament 60 does not slip during the 3D printing process.
[0249] It should be noted that the above-mentioned second elastic member 317 exemplarily uses an elastically deformable spring. Of course, as long as it is capable of being arranged between the filament guide frame 315 and the filament guide tube 311 and exerting a force on the filament guide frame 315 in a direction opposite to the filament guide tube 311 to maintain the relative gap between the drive extrusion gear 331 and the driven extrusion gear 332, any form of the deformable second elastic member 317 selected is feasible, the specific implementation manner of which is not further limited herein.
[0250] In addition, since the other end of the second elastic member 317 is configured to penetrate through the sidewall of the filament guide frame 315, when the second adjusting member 314 is pressed to change the gap formed between the drive extrusion gear 331 and the driven extrusion gear 332, the filament guide tube 311 can move in the extension direction of the second elastic member 317 to guide the filament guide tube 311.
[0251] Furthermore, the filament guide assembly 310 provided by the present application further includes a light-emitting member (not shown) . Specifically, the light-emitting member can be arranged at a position of the filament guide tube 311 close to the flexible feeding assembly 320, so as to provide light to the feeding angle of the filament 60 via the light-emitting member, thereby knowing the feeding state of the filament 60 timely. It should be noted that as long as it is possible to irradiate the feeding state of the filament 60 through the light-emitting member, any form and position of the light-emitting member selected are feasible, which is not further limited herein.
[0252] Referring to FIG. 32, which is a schematic structural diagram of a third sensing plate 344 in a filament guide unit 30 provided by an embodiment of the present application, in order to prevent the filament 60 from breaking in the extrusion process to affect the 3D printing effect, the filament detection unit provided by the present application further includes a third filament detection assembly 340 for detecting the guide state of the filament 60. In this case, the detection unit for detecting the feeding state of the filament 60 can be understood as detecting whether or not the filament 60 breaks in the filament guide unit 30 via the third filament detection assembly 340.
[0253] Exemplary, in the present application, the third filament detection assembly 340 is erected at a position on the sidewall of the filament guide assembly 310 above the drive extrusion gear 331 and the driven extrusion gear 332, and it can be observed that the third filament detection assembly 340 includes a fixed plate 341 erected on the sidewall of the filament guide assembly 310, and a third detection push rod 342 transversely penetrating through the fixed plate 341.
[0254] In an embodiment provided by the present application, referring to FIG. 8, which is a schematic structural diagram of a filament guide unit 30 provided by one embodiment of the present application, the first direction is the extension direction from the flexible feeding assembly 320 to the filament guide outlet 313, the direction in which the third detection push rod 342 transversally penetrates through the fixed plate 341 is relatively perpendicular to the first direction, and one end of the third detection push rod 342 penetrates through the sidewall of the filament guide assembly 310 and then extends into the filament channel inside the filament guide assembly 310, the other end of the third detection push rod 342 is configured to penetrate through the fixed plate 341 and be capable of moving in a second direction on the fixed plate 341, the second direction is perpendicular to the first direction, the fixed plate 341 in the present application is provided with a third photoelectric sensing mechanism 343 at a position corresponding to an end of the third detection push rod 342, and when the filament 60 is fed into the filament channel, the filament pushes the third detection push rod 342 to move in the second direction on the fixed plate 341, thereby blocking the third photoelectric sensing mechanism 343.
[0255] Furthermore, the fixed plate 341 can be arranged on the exterior sidewall of the filament guide tube 311, the third detection push rod 342 can transversely penetrate through the fixed plate 341 and the sidewall of the filament guide tube 311 and then extend to the filament channel inside the filament guide tube 311, and the third detection push rod 342 needs to block the filament channel in the first direction corresponding to part of the filament 60. In this case, the filament 60 fed into the filament channel squeezes the third detection push rod 342 to move in the second direction, and the end of the third detection push rod 342 blocks the sensing area formed between the third photoelectric sensing mechanisms 343. When the third photoelectric sensing mechanism 343 detects the blocked state, it is considered that the filament guide unit 30 is guiding the filament normally; and when the guiding of the filament is halted or the filament breaks, the third detection push rod 342 extends into the filament guide tube 311 according to the preset position, and the end of the third detection push rod 342 cannot block the third photoelectric sensing mechanism 343, in which case it is considered that the filament guide unit 30 is guiding the filament abnormally and it is necessary to take the corresponding maintenance measures.
[0256] In one embodiment provided by the present application, the above-mentioned third photoelectric sensing mechanism 343 can be provided in the form of a third photoelectric transmitter 3431 and a third photoelectric receiver 3432, and the third photoelectric transmitter 3431 and the third photoelectric receiver 3432 can be arranged correspondingly on two third sensing plates 344 provided on a side of the fixed plate 341 away from the filament guide tube 311 to form a sensing zone. Of course, the two third sensing plates 344 need to be arranged corresponding to the lateral movement trajectory of the third detection push rod 342. When the third detection push rod 342 is pushed away by the filament 60 and enters between the two third sensing plates 344, it blocks the third photoelectric transmitter 3431 and the third photoelectric receiver 3432 respectively arranged on the two third sensing plates 344, in which case it is considered that the filament guide unit 30 is guiding the filament normally; and when the third detection push rod 342 is not pushed away by the filament 60, it does not enter between the two third sensing plates 344 to block the third photoelectric transmitter 3431 and the third photoelectric receiver 3432 respectively arranged on the two third sensing plates 344, in which case it is considered that the filament guide unit 30 is guiding the filament abnormally.
[0257] Of course, the above-mentioned third photoelectric sensing mechanism 343 can also be configured in the form of a sensor such as an opposed-type laser sensor, a diffuse reflection photoelectric sensor, and the like, and any form of the third photoelectric sensing mechanism 343 selected is feasible, as long as it is capable of being arranged between the two third second sensing plates 344 for detecting whether or not the area between the two third sensing plates 344 is blocked by the third detection push rod 342, which is not further limited herein.
[0258] That is to say, the filament detection unit provided by the present application includes a first filament detection assembly 230 arranged on the collection shell 210, a second filament detection assembly 240 arranged on the main channel 214 for detecting the feeding state of the filament, and a third filament detection assembly 340 arranged in the filament guide unit 30, the first filament detection assembly 230 provided by the present application is configured to obtain filament transfer information by detecting the rotation information of the filament transfer drive wheel 221 or the filament transfer driven wheel 222, the second filament detection assembly 240 is configured to detect the filament feeding state in the main channel 214, and the third filament detection assembly 340 is configured to detect whether the filament 60 breaks in the filament guide unit 30. Of course, the filament feeding state provided by the present application is not limited to the filament feeding state and the filament breakage state described above, and other feeding states of the filament 60 can also be monitored according to the detection demand, which is not further limited herein.
[0259] The filament guide unit 30 in the present application is provided with a light-emitting member to provide light for the feeding angle of the filament 60, thereby knowing the feeding state of the filament 60 timely, and a flexible feeding assembly 320 is configured to be capable of adaptively swinging according to the feeding angle of the filament 60, thus reducing the wear and tear of the filament guide tube 311as well as the damage to the filament 60, and effectively improving the 3D printing quality.
[0260] Further referring to FIG. 1, the present application further provides a drying unit 40 for drying the filament 60. The drying unit 40 includes a frame 410, a heating assembly 430, and a blowing assembly 440, the frame 410 includes an air inlet 411, an air outlet 412, and a heating chamber 420, the heating chamber 420 is connected to the air inlet 411 and the air outlet 412 via the heating chamber 420, and the heating assembly 430 is arranged inside the heating chamber 420. Air is blown by the blowing assembly 440 from the air inlet 411 to the heating chamber 420, and the heating assembly 430 arranged inside the heating chamber 420 heats the blown air, thereby transferring the air sequentially through the air inlet 411, the heating chamber 420, and the air outlet 412, and drying the filament 60 stored in the frame 410.
[0261] In one embodiment of the present application, the air outlet 412 is provided with a first air outlet 4121, a second air outlet 4122, and a third air outlet 4123, the heating chamber 420 is provided with a first wall 421, the first air outlet 4121 is arranged on the first wall 421, and the heating assembly 430 is arranged inside the heating chamber 420. The blowing assembly 440 blows humid air from the air inlet 411 to the heating chamber 420, the air is dried by the heating assembly 430 arranged inside the heating chamber 420, and then the heated air is dispersed from the first air outlet 4121 arranged on the first wall 421, in which case the air is transferred and dried sequentially through the air inlet 411, the heating chamber 420, and the first air outlet 4121.
[0262] Exemplary, the heating assembly 430 provided by the present application can be arranged not only inside the heating chamber 420 on a side close to the first air outlet 4121 but also outside the frame 410 on a side close to the first air outlet 4121. Since the volume of the tray 610 is usually large, the heating assembly 430 is exemplarily arranged inside the heating chamber 420 on the side close to the first air outlet 4121 when the filament 60 wound around the tray 60 is dried, thereby preventing the two large heating assembly 430 from affecting the self-rotation of the tray 610. In this case, heating the humid air by the heating assembly 430 can also cause the temperature of the filament 60 to increase, the moisture in the filament 60 to evaporate, and the water content of the filament 60 to decrease, thereby realizing the rapid drying of the filament 60.
[0263] Of course, it is also feasible to arrange the heating assembly 430 outside the frame 410 on the side close to the first air outlet 4121, which can also realize the effect of drying the filament 60. In the embodiment, the air blown out of the first air outlet 4121 can be heated when passing through the heating assembly 430 arranged outside the frame 410, and the air that starts to rise after being heated can also dry the filament 60.
[0264] Apparently, no matter whether the heating assembly 430 is arranged inside the frame 410 on the side close to the first air outlet 4121 or outside the frame 410 on the side close to the first air outlet 4121, it is capable of drying the filament 60, the specific position of which is not further limited herein, as long as it is capable of heating the air blown by the blowing assembly 440.
[0265] Referring to FIG. 37, which is a schematic structural diagram of a heating assembly 430 in a drying unit 40 provided by an embodiment of the present application, in the present application, the heating assembly 430 is exemplarily arranged inside the heating chamber 420 on the side close to the first air outlet 4121 to heat the blown air. The following explanation of the present application will be described based on that the heating assembly 430 is arranged inside the heating chamber 420. However, it does not constitute a limitation on the specific position of the heating assembly 430 herein, and those skilled in the art can aware of it.
[0266] Exemplary, the humid air may not be sufficiently heated in the heating chamber 420 due to quality and other factors, thus failing to be dispersed from the first air outlet 4121. Therefore, according to one embodiment of the present application, a drying chamber 422 connected to the heating chamber 420 is also arranged in the frame 410, referring to FIG. 38, which is a schematic structural diagram of an air intake extension channel 441 in a drying unit 40 provided by one embodiment of the present application, it can be observed that the frame 410 is provided with a heating chamber 420 and a drying chamber 422 that are connected to each other, the heating chamber 420 is connected to the blowing assembly 440. In the present application, the heating assembly 430 is arranged inside the heating chamber 420 and connected to the blowing assembly 440 arranged on the frame 410, and since the heating assembly 430 is arranged inside the heating chamber 420, the air blown by the blowing assembly 440 arranged outside the frame 410 can be dried.
[0267] Further referring to FIG. 37, in the present application, the heating assembly 430 in the present application is arranged inside the heating chamber 420, the air inlet 411 is arranged on a side of the heating chamber 420 close to the blowing assembly 440, a second wall 423 is arranged between the heating chamber 420 and the drying chamber 422, a first wall 421 is exemplary arranged above the second wall 423 in the direction of gravity, and the second air outlet 4122 is arranged on the second wall 423, in which case the drying chamber 422 is connected to the heating chamber 420 via the second air outlet 4122, so that the air heated by the heating assembly 430 is blown from the second air outlet 4122 into the drying chamber 422 for drying.
[0268] When the humid air is not sufficiently heated in the heating chamber 420, resulting in the air failing to be dispersed from the first air outlet 4121, the humid air continues to enter the drying chamber 422 from the second air outlet 4122 arranged on the second wall 423 under an action of the blowing assembly 440, and at the same time, the drying chamber 422 provided by the present application is filled with a drying material for drying the humid air, so that the humid air entering the drying chamber 422 can be dried under an action of the drying material.
[0269] Exemplary, referring to FIG. 35, which is a schematic structural diagram of a first wall 421 in a drying unit 40 provided by an embodiment of the present application, in the present application, a third wall 424 is further arranged on the drying chamber 422, and a third air outlet 4123 is arranged on the third wall 424. The air dried in the drying chamber 422 is dispersed out from the third air outlet 4123, in which case the air is transferred and dried sequentially through the air inlet 411, the heating chamber 420, the second air outlet 4122, the drying chamber 422, and the third air outlet 4123.
[0270] It should be understood that the drying material filled in the drying chamber 422 of the present application refers to a substance capable of removing moisture from the humid air, such as commonly used chemical desiccants including calcium sulfate and calcium chloride, which realizes the drying effect by combining with water to generate a hydrate, or commonly used physical desiccants including silica gel and activated aluminum oxide, which realizes the drying effect by physically adsorbing water. As long as it is capable of absorbing the moisture in the humid air entering the drying chamber 422, any type of drying material selected is feasible, or multiple types of drying materials can be mixed for use, the specific form of which is not further limited herein; Furthermore, the drying material can be provided in the form of a drying packet, in which case the blowing direction of the blowing assembly 440 has no effect on the drying material filled in the drying chamber 422.
[0271] Referring to FIG. 36, which is a schematic structural diagram of a third wall 424 in a drying unit 40 provided by an embodiment of the present application, it can be observed that the third wall 424 is arc-shaped or inclined, and the height of the third wall 424 in the direction of gravity decreases gradually along the direction away from the second wall 423.
[0272] It should be noted that, in the present application, the third wall 424 is configured in the form of an arc-shaped surface or an inclined surface to reduce the space utilization rate of the drying unit 40, and the farther the air blown toward the drying chamber 422 via the second wall 423, the longer the travel of the air dried by the drying material in the horizontal direction in the drying chamber 422, thereby prolonging the contact distance between the air and the drying material in the horizontal direction. After being dried, the air can be dispersed out from the third air outlet 4123; conversely, for the air blown closer in the drying chamber 422, which results in a shorter travel in the horizontal direction, due to the proximity to the second wall 423, the travel in the direction of gravity is longer compared to the air blown farther in the horizontal direction, thereby prolonging the contact distance between the air and the drying material in the direction of gravity, in which case the air is also effectively dried via the drying material, and the sufficiently dried air is also dispersed out from the third air outlet 4123.
[0273] Further referring to FIG. 2, it can be observed that the tray 610 provided by the present application is erected above the drying chamber 422 via the returning roller 122 and the returning follow-up roller 125. Since the tray 610 is erected above the drying chamber 422 in the present application, the curvature or inclination of the first wall 421 and the third wall 424 is exemplarily adapted to the edge of the tray 610, thereby avoiding affecting the self-rotation of the tray 610 during the feeding and returning process.
[0274] Furthermore, the air heated by the heating chamber 420 and dried by the drying chamber 422 starts to rise after being heated, and becomes humid after absorbing water molecules in the outside air and sinks due to factors such as decreased temperature or increased mass, and then enters the heating chamber 420 and the drying chamber 422 under an action of the blowing assembly 440 to carry out the corresponding processing; of course, the humid air in the outside air, after sinking due to increased mass, can also enter the heating chamber 420 directly from the first air outlet 4121 or the drying chamber 422 directly from the third air outlet 4123 for drying, and can be dried effectively by the heating assembly 20 and the drying material; at the same time, the rising air after being heated can also make the temperature of the filament 60 rise, thereby enabling the moisture in the filament 60 to be volatilized, reducing the water content of the filament 60, and realizing the rapid drying of the filament 60.
[0275] In an embodiment provided by the present application, the above-mentioned heating assembly 430 can be configured in the form of a positive temperature coefficient (PTC) heater, which has the advantages of small thermal resistance and high heat transfer efficiency and is a kind of automatic constant-temperature and power-saving electric heater. The above-mentioned heating assembly 430 can also be configured in the form of an electric wire and a heating film, and it should be noted that as long as it is possible to realize the heating of the air, any form of the heating assembly 430 selected is feasible, which is not further limited herein.
[0276] In another embodiment provided by the present application, the above-mentioned blowing assembly 440 can be configured in the form of a fan, an air extraction pump, or any other air extraction device, and any form of the blowing assembly 440 is feasible, as long as it is capable of sucking external air into the heating chamber 420 for drying, which is not further limited herein; considering the shapes and sizes of different blowing assemblies 440, it may be inconvenient to connect the blowing assembly to the heating chamber 420. In the present application, the air inlet 411 is exemplary arranged on a side of the heating chamber 420 close to the blowing assembly 440, and the blowing assembly 440 is erected above the heating chamber 420 via the frame 410 and connected to the air inlet 411 via the air intake extension channel 441, thereby realizing the connection with the heating assembly 430 arranged inside the heating chamber 420 to blow the humid air from the air intake extension channel 441 into the heating assembly 430 for drying.
[0277] Since the number of trays 610 applied in the actual 3D printing process is more than one, the need for simultaneous storage of one or more trays 610 needs to be fulfilled.
[0278] In one embodiment provided by the present application, further referring to FIG. 1, the present application further provides a filament storage device that can simultaneously accommodate four trays 610 arranged in parallel. At the same time, in order to realize the simultaneous drying of the four trays 610, it can be observed that every two trays 610 share one set of the heating assembly 430, the blowing assembly 440, the heating chamber 420, and the drying chamber 422, and the four trays 610 are correspondingly provided with two sets of the heating assemblies 430, the blowing assemblies 440, the heating chambers 420, and the drying chambers 422.
[0279] Of course, if the cost permits, each tray 610 can be provided with one set of the heating assembly 430, the blowing assembly 440, the heating chamber 420, and the drying chamber 422 correspondingly, or every three trays 610 or four trays 610 share one set, all of which describe above are feasible, as long as it is capable of realizing the drying of one or more erected trays 610, and any improvement made is feasible if the cost permits.
[0280] It should be noted that since one or more trays 610 may be arranged adjacently in an array, the corresponding heating assemblies 430, the corresponding blowing assemblies 440, the corresponding heating chambers 420, and the corresponding drying chambers 422 also need to be arranged in an array according to the positions of the trays 610; therefore, the specific position of the filament 60 and the specific number of the corresponding heating assemblies 430, the corresponding blowing assemblies 440, the corresponding heating the corresponding chambers 420, and the corresponding drying chamber 422 are not further limited herein.
[0281] Exemplary, the present application utilizes the housing 50 to form a confined space, and the trays 610 is erected inside the housing 50 to prevent external humid air from entering the trays 610 inside the housing 50.
[0282] Specifically, the housing 50 includes a base 510 and a cover 512 configured to cover the base 510. Referring to FIG. 39, which is a schematic structural diagram of a display panel 514 in a drying unit 40 provided by an embodiment of the present application, it can be observed that the cover 512 may be hinged to the base 510 through a hinge and a hinge pivot. Of course, the connection between the base 510 and the cover 512 may be realized through another mechanical structure in practice, which is not further limited herein.
[0283] Exemplary, a sealing groove 511 is arranged at an opening-closing position of the base 510 and the cover 512 provided by the present application, and a sealing member 5121 is arranged at a position of the cover 512 corresponding to the sealing groove 511, thereby blocking external humid air outside the housing 50 through cooperation between the sealing member 5121 and the sealing groove 511; and in an embodiment provided by the present application, the above-mentioned sealing member 5121 can be provided in the form of a sealing rubber strip.
[0284] Further referring to FIG. 2, in the present application, the frame 410 is arranged on a side inside the housing 50 and forms a cavity for accommodating the drying unit 40 with a sidewall of the housing 50, and a compression assembly 520 is arranged at a compression-fitting position between the interior sidewall of the housing and the tray 610. The compression assembly 520 is configured to compress the outer edge of the tray 610 to provide a pre-pressure to the tray 610, thereby preventing the tray 610 from slipping in the process of drying, feeding, and returning.
[0285] Furthermore, the compression assembly 520 provided by the present application includes an arc-shaped compression member 521 adapted to the outer edge of the tray 610, and a spring member 522 for floatingly mounting the compression assembly 520 on the interior sidewall of the cover 512; it should be noted that the arc-shaped compression member 521 does not securely compress the tray 610 inside the housing 50 but floatingly mounts it on the interior sidewall of the cover 512 via the spring member 522. The arc-shaped compression member 521 is exemplarily configured as plastic or rubber and any other material deformable to some extent, so as to realize the adaptive adjustment according to the size and rotation of the tray 610. In the present application, the arc-shaped compression member 521 is securely compressed above the tray 610 and provides a pre-pressure to the tray 610 to increase friction when the cover 512 is compressed to close, thereby not only pre-compressing the filament 60 during the drying process, so that both the temperature of the tray 610 with the filament 60 wound thereon and the temperature of the moisture in the filament 60 increase under the influence of the rising hot air to reduce the water content of the filament 60 and shorten the drying time, but also preventing the tray 610 from slipping in the feeding and returning process to affect the 3D printing effect.
[0286] In one embodiment of the present application, the compression assembly 520 is configured as an arc-shaped compression member 521 adapted to the outer edge of the tray 610, thereby not only pre-compressing the filament 60 during the drying process, so that the temperature of the tray 610 with the filament 60 wound thereon increases under the influence of the rising hot air but also enabling the air heated by the heating assembly 430 to rise along an arc-shaped guide direction of the arc-shaped compression member 521. The dry and hot air rises and absorbs water molecules in the outside air to become humid, and the humid air may enter the heating chamber 420 directly from the first air outlet 4121 or enter the drying chamber 422 directly from the third air outlet 4123 for drying, or the humid air may be blown by the blowing assembly 440 into the heating chamber 420 from the air inlet 411 and then the heating assembly 430 arranged in the heating chamber 420 heats the blown air to further enhance the drying effect.
[0287] In one embodiment of the present application, further referring to FIG. 3, it can be observed that a returning roller 122 and a returning follow-up roller 125 arranged in parallel with the transmission roller are rotationally mounted on an interior sidewall of the base 510, so as to erect one or more trays 610 between the returning roller 122 and the returning follow-up roller 125. In the present application, the returning roller 122 and the returning follow-up roller 125 are configured to erect one or more trays 610 below the compression assembly 520 and above the heating assembly 430, and the filament 60 wound around the tray 610 is dried through cooperation between the blowing assembly 440, the heating assembly 430, and the heating chamber 420; at the same time, the tray 610 self-rotates between the returning roller 122 and the returning follow-up roller 125, the compression assembly 520 is configured to be capable of preventing the tray 610 from slipping in the feeding and returning process, and the curvatures and inclination degrees of the first wall 421 and the third wall 424 are also adapted to the self-rotation direction of the tray 610, thereby preventing the normal rotation of the tray 610 from being affected due to a too small distance.
[0288] Furthermore, referring to FIG. 41, which is a schematic structural diagram of a tray 610 in a filament storage device provided by an embodiment of the present application, in the present application, one or more strip-shaped retaining grooves 513 are arranged at a bottom interior sidewall of the housing 50. Since the size of the tray 610 used in practice may be different, if the same specification of retaining standard is used, the tray 610 may run out during the feeding and returning process. Therefore, in the present application, one or more strip-shaped retaining grooves 513 are arranged on the bottom interior sidewall of the housing 50, so that the trays 610 of different sizes can be accommodated inside the housing 50 by retaining the outer edge of the tray 610 in the corresponding strip-shaped retaining groove 513, thereby preventing the tray 610 from slipping or runout in the feeding and returning process of the filament 60 through cooperation between the strip-shaped retaining groove 513 and the compression assembly 520 above.
[0289] When one or more trays 610 are arranged inside the housing 50, a returning roller 122 and a returning follow-up roller 125 can be arranged correspondingly at the bottom of each tray 610, or one or more trays 610 share the same set of returning roller 122 and returning follow-up roller 125, both of which are feasible, which is not further limited herein.
[0290] Furthermore, referring to FIG. 40, which is a schematic structural diagram of a power supply interface 515 in a drying unit 40 provided by an embodiment of the present application, in the present application, a display panel 514 is arranged on an exterior sidewall of the housing 50, a temperature and humidity sensor is arranged in the housing 50 for detecting internal temperature and humidity, and the display panel 514 displays working states of various electrical devices in the housing 50 as well as the internal temperature and humidity in the housing 50 in real time. The exterior sidewall of the housing 50 is provided with a power supply interface 515 configured to connect an external power supply, and other standard interfaces 516 for supplying power to the devices inside the housing 50.
[0291] Based on the filament storage device described above, the present application further provides a 3D printing system, the 3D printing system includes a 3D printer and the filament storage device according to the embodiments described above. Since the filament 60 wound on the tray 610 needs to be used in a 3D printing process, a conventional 3D printer can be supplemented by the filament storage device provided by the present application. During use, the filament 60 wound around the tray 610 in the housing 50 is connected to the corresponding filament guide unit 30 and then connected to a collection unit 20 from the corresponding filament inlet 211 via the filament guide outlet 313 of the filament guide unit 30, at which time the filament 60 enters the filament transfer channel 213 correspondingly arranged inside the collection unit 20. When a specified filament 60 needs to be normally fed, the transmission switching unit 10 feeds a to-be-printed filament 60 in the filament transfer channel 213 to enter the main channel 214 and then be guided out from the filament outlet 212 in a first direction, while other filaments 60 unneeded at the moment continues to be stored in the corresponding filament transfer channels 213. When it is required to use a new color or type of filament, the transmission switching unit 10 returns the current filament 60 in the main channel 214 to the corresponding filament transfer channel 213 and then feeds the specified filament 60 currently required for 3D printing, so that the specified filament enters the main channel 214 from the filament transfer channel 213 and is then guided out from the filament outlet 212 in the first direction, thereby meeting the filament switching needs of 3D printing.
[0292] It should be noted that the collection unit 20 provided by the present application can be integrally arranged inside the housing 50 or arranged outside the housing 50 for cooperating with the 3D printer, the specific position of which is not further limited herein. As for other details of the above-mentioned 3D printing system for realizing the technical solution described above, reference may be made to the description of the filament storage device provided by the above embodiments of the present application, which will not be elaborated herein.
[0293] For the filament storage device and the 3D printing system provided by the embodiments of the present application, the transmission switching unit is configured to realize the feeding or returning of a specified filament, the collection unit is connected to the transmission switching unit to connect a filament stored in the housing to the collection unit via the transmission switching unit, and the transmission switching unit feeds or returns a to-be-printed filament in the main channel of the collection unit, thereby meeting the demand for switching between the filaments, and the filament detection assembly is provided to effectively monitor a feeding state and transfer information of the current filament, thereby preventing filament shortage and breakage and further improving filament transfer reliability and stability and effectively ensuring 3D printing efficiency and quality.
[0294] It can be understood that the technical features of the above embodiments can be combined in any way. To simplify the description, not all possible combinations of the technical features in the above embodiments are described. However, as long as there is no contradiction in the combinations of these technical features, all possible combinations should be considered to fall within the scope of the specification.
[0295] The foregoing implementation manners are only exemplary for describing the principle of the present application, but the present application is not limited thereto. For a person of ordinary skill in the art, various variations and improvements can be made without departing from the spirit and essence of the present application, and these variations and improvements shall also fall within the protection scope of the present application.
Claims
1.A filament storage device, characterized in that, the filament storage device comprises:a housing, configured to store one or more filaments;a transmission switching unit, configured to connect one or more filaments and feed or return a specified filament among the filaments;a collection unit, configured to be connected to the transmission switching unit for collecting one or more filaments to enable the transmission switching unit to transfer the specified filament fed into a main channel of the collection unit; anda filament detection unit, configured to detect a feeding state of the specified filament and obtain transfer information of the specified filament.2.The filament storage device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that, the transmission switching unit comprises a transmission assembly and a switching assembly;the transmission assembly comprises a first driving member, a transmission shaft, and a plurality of transmission mechanisms spaced apart along a first axis, the first driving member is connected to the transmission shaft, and the transmission mechanisms comprise a first transmission gear swingably connected to the transmission shaft; andthe switching assembly comprises a second driving member, a switching shaft, and a plurality of switching members fixed at intervals along a second axis, the second driving member is connected to the switching shaft, the switching members are arranged in one-to-one correspondence with the transmission mechanisms, and the switching shaft is capable of rotating about the second axis by a preset angle to cause one of the switching members to be in a first state;wherein, the switching member in the first state is configured to restrict the first transmission gear of a corresponding transmission mechanism to a first position, and the first transmission gear restricted to the first position is configured to transmit a driving force from the first driving member to a mechanism connected with the first transmission gear.3.The filament storage device as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that, each of the transmission mechanism further comprises a swing member and a second transmission gear, the swing member is swingably connected to the transmission shaft, and the first transmission gear is connected rotatably about an axis thereof to the swing member;the switching member in the first state is configured to restrict the swing member of the corresponding transmission mechanism to a second position; andthe swing member restricted to the second position is configured to restrict the first transmission gear to the first position, and the second transmission gear is coaxially fixed to the transmission shaft and directly or indirectly engaged with the first transmission gear to transmit the driving force from the first driving member to the first transmission gear.4.The filament storage device as claimed in claim 3, characterized in that, the switching member comprises a limiting portion formed along a circumferential direction of the switching member, and the limiting portions of all of the switching members are distributed in a staggered manner along a circumferential direction of a switching axis; andthe limiting portion of the switching member in the first state abuts against the swing member of the corresponding transmission mechanism to restrict the corresponding swing member to the second position, and the limiting portions of remaining switching members are staggered from the swing members of the corresponding transmission mechanisms to cause the corresponding swing members to be at a third position.5.The filament storage device as claimed in claim 4, characterized in that, the switching shaft is configured as a polygonal shaft and comprises a plurality of sides, the limiting portion of each of the switching members is arranged corresponding to a different side of the switching shaft, and a polygonal hole matched with the switching shaft is formed in a middle of each of the switching members.6.The filament storage device as claimed in claim 4, characterized in that, a cam body is formed on a side of the switching member and a convex end of the cam body is configured as the limiting portion; andthe limiting portion of the switching member in the first state is further configured to push the swing member of the corresponding transmission mechanism to swing from the third position to the second position.7.The filament storage device as claimed in claim 4, characterized in that, the switching member is configured as a cam, a circumference of the switching member is configured as a first limiting face, and the limiting portion is configured as an engaging tooth arranged on the first limiting face;a cambered limiting face is provided on the circumference of the swing member, a first limiting groove is formed on the cambered limiting face of the swing member, and the swing member comprises an engaging portion jointly restricted by the first limiting groove, the cambered limiting face, and the surface of the swing member; andthe swing member is configured such that when the first limiting face abuts against the cambered limiting face, the swing member is restricted to the third position; and when the limiting portion is aligned with the first limiting groove, the swing member is capable of swinging to the second position along with the second transmission gear; and the engaging portion of the swing member at the second position is engaged with the limiting portion.8.The filament storage device as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that, the transmission switching unit further comprises a returning assembly for returning the filament, and the returning assembly comprises returning mechanisms arranged in one-to-one correspondence with the transmission mechanisms; andeach of the returning mechanisms comprises a returning roller and a returning follow-up roller arranged in parallel with the returning roller to erect one or more trays between the returning roller and the returning follow-up roller, and the returning roller is coaxially connected to a returning gear and a transmission member, the returning gear is configured to be drivingly connected to the first transmission gear, and the transmission member is configured to drive the trays to rotate for returning the filament.9.The filament storage device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that, the collection unit comprises a collection shell and a driving assembly;the collection shell is provided with at least two filament inlets, at least two filament transfer channels, the main channel, and a filament outlet, each of the filament inlets is correspondingly connected to one of the filament transfer channels, and the main channel is connected to all of the filament transfer channels and the filament outlet; andthe driving assembly is arranged on the collection shell and comprises a filament transfer drive wheel and a filament transfer driven wheel arranged corresponding to the filament transfer drive wheel, and a gap for filament transfer is provided between the filament transfer drive wheel and the filament transfer driven wheel to transfer the filament in the main channel.10.A filament storage device as claimed in claim 9, characterized in that, the driving assembly further comprises a third driving member, and an auxiliary transmission gear and a first transmission rod engaged with an output gear of the third driving member, the auxiliary transmission gear and the filament transfer drive wheel are drivingly connected via the first transmission rod; andouter tooth profiles of the filament transfer drive wheel and the filament transfer driven wheel are both recessed inward to form the gap, and when the filament is transferred along a first direction through the gap, the filament abuts against the outer tooth profile of the filament transfer driven wheel to drive the filament transfer driven wheel to synchronously rotate.11.The filament storage device as claimed in claim 9, characterized in that, the collection unit further comprises a manual returning assembly for adjusting the gap; andthe manual returning assembly comprises a first adjusting member snap-fitted to both ends of the filament transfer driven wheel, another end of the first adjusting member is arranged close to the filament outlet, the first adjusting member is provided with a second transmission rod, and the filament transfer driven wheel is rotatably erected on the first adjusting member via the second transmission rod, to cause the gap between the filament transfer drive wheel and the filament transfer driven wheel to increase or decrease by pressing an end of the first adjusting member close to the filament outlet.12.The filament storage device as claimed in claim 11, characterized in that, a first elastic member is provided between the collection shell and the first adjusting member, one end of the first elastic member abuts against an exterior sidewall of the collection shell, the other end of the first elastic member extends in a direction away from the collection shell after penetrating through the first adjusting member, the gap formed between the filament transfer drive wheel and the filament transfer driven wheel is maintained with the first elastic member, and the first adjusting member is guided by the first elastic member to move in a direction away from or close to the collection shell when the first adjusting member is pressed.13.The filament storage device as claimed in claim 1 or 11, characterized in that, the filament detection unit comprises a first filament detection assembly arranged on the collection shell and configured to obtain the transfer information of the filament by detecting rotation information of the filament transfer drive wheel or the filament transfer driven wheel,wherein, the rotation information comprises the number of revolutions and a rotation duration of the filament transfer drive wheel or the filament transfer driven wheel; and / or the transfer information of the filament is selected from a group consisting of the transferred amount of the filament, a transfer direction of the filament, and the remaining amount of the filament.14.The filament storage device as claimed in claim 13, characterized in that, the first filament detection assembly comprises a photoelectric encoding disk drivingly connected to the filament transfer drive wheel or the filament transfer driven wheel, and the photoelectric encoding disk is provided with one or more grating through-holes in a circumferential direction;the photoelectric encoding disk is provided with a first photoelectric transmitter and a first photoelectric receiver on both sides of the photoelectric encoding disk correspondingly, and the photoelectric encoding disk is driven to rotate synchronously when the filament transfer drive wheel or the filament transfer driven wheel is rotated, to receive, by the first photoelectric receiver, an optical signal transmitted by the first photoelectric transmitter and to obtain the transferred amount of the current filament according to a pulse signal converted from the optical signal;alternatively, the first filament detection assembly comprises a magnetic member and a Hall sensor, the magnetic member is configured to follow the filament transfer drive wheel or the filament transfer driven wheel to rotate synchronously; andthe Hall sensor is configured to output a corresponding pulse signal based on an intensity of change in a magnetic field of the magnetic member and to determine the transferred amount of the current filament based on the pulse signal.15.The filament storage device as claimed in claim 1 or 11, characterized in that, the filament detection unit comprises a second filament detection assembly arranged on the main channel, and the second filament detection assembly comprises a detection plate erecting above the main channel and a second detection push rod penetrating through the detection plate and capable of moving in a second direction on the detection plate, a first end of the second detection push rod penetrates through the detection plate and is arranged on the main channel, and a second photoelectric sensing mechanism is arranged at a position of the detection plate corresponding to a second end of the detection push rod; andwhen the filament is fed into the main channel in the first direction, the second detection push rod is driven to move in the second direction on the detection plate, and the second photoelectric sensing mechanism is covered by the second end of the second detection push rod.16.The filament storage device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that, the filament storage device further comprises a filament guide unit for transferring the filament from the transmission switching unit to the collection unit, and the filament guide unit comprises a filament guide assembly and a flexible feeding assembly; andthe filament guide assembly comprises a filament guide tube and a tube fitting, the filament guide tube is provided with a filament channel, the tube fitting is arranged on an end of the filament guide tube, and the flexible feeding assembly is movably arranged in the tube fitting; wherein, the flexible feeding assembly is configured to be capable of adaptively swinging relative to the tube fitting according to a feeding angle of the filament, to allow the filament to be guided out in a first direction after entering the filament channel during feeding.17.The filament storage device as claimed in claim 16, characterized in that, the flexible feeding assembly comprises a feeding guide inlet and a feeding guide tube, an inner diameter of the feeding guide inlet is connected to the feeding guide tube after gradually contracting along the first direction; andthe filament guide assembly further comprises a light-emitting member configured to provide light along the feeding angle.18.The filament storage device as claimed in claim 16, characterized in that, the filament guide unit further comprises an extrusion assembly arranged inside the filament guide assembly; andthe extrusion assembly comprises a drive extrusion gear and a driven extrusion gear arranged corresponding to each other, a gap for filament transfer is formed between the drive extrusion gear and the driven extrusion gear to allow the filament fed into the filament channel to be guided out from the filament guide outlet of the filament guide tube after passing through the gap in the first direction.19.The filament storage device as claimed in claim 18, characterized in that, the driven extrusion gear is rotatably embedded in the filament guide tube via a driven extrusion rod, an outer tooth profile of the drive extrusion gear is recessed inward to form the gap with an exterior sidewall of the driven extrusion gear, and the driven extrusion gear is driven to rotate synchronously when the filament is fed into the gap and guide out in the first direction.20.The filament storage device as claimed in claim 19, characterized in that, the filament guide assembly further comprises a second adjusting member for adjusting the gap; andone end of the second adjusting member is fixedly connected to the filament guide tube, the other end of the second adjusting member extends in a direction close to the flexible feeding assembly, and a relative distance between the filament guide tube and the drive extrusion gear is changed by pressing the second adjusting member to adjust the gap formed between the drive extrusion gear and the driven extrusion gear.21.The filament storage device as claimed in claim 18, characterized in that, the filament guide assembly further comprises a filament guide frame for erecting the filament guide tube, and the filament guide tube is rotatably erected inside the filament guide frame through a supporting linkage, a drive gear for driving the drive extrusion gear to rotate is arranged on an exterior sidewall of the filament guide frame, and the drive gear is drivingly connected to the drive extrusion gear via a drive extrusion rod; anda second elastic member is provided between the filament guide frame and the filament guide tube, one end of the second elastic member abuts against an exterior sidewall of the filament guide tube, the other end of the second elastic member penetrates through a sidewall of the filament guide frame, and the second elastic member exerts a force in an opposite direction to that of the filament guide frame on the filament guide tube to maintain the gap formed between the drive extrusion gear and the driven extrusion gear.22.The filament storage device as claimed in claim 1 or 16, characterized in that, the filament detection unit comprises a third filament detection assembly arranged on the filament guide unit for detecting a filament transfer state in the filament guide tube; the third filament detection assembly comprises a fixed plate erected on a sidewall of the filament guide assembly and a third detection push rod penetrating through the fixed plate; andone end of the third detection push rod extends into the filament channel after penetrating through the sidewall of the filament guide assembly, the other end of the third detection push rod is provided by penetrating through the fixed plate, and a third photoelectric sensing mechanism is provided at a position of the fixed plate corresponding to the third detection push rod when the filament is fed into the filament channel, the third detection push rod is driven to move on the fixed plate to cover the third photoelectric sensing mechanism.23.The filament storage device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that, the housing comprises a base and a cover provided to cover the base, and one or more trays are erected in the housing; anda compression assembly is arranged at a press-fit position between an interior sidewall of the cover and the tray, the compression assembly is configured to press an outer edge of the tray to provide a pre-pressure to the tray; and the compression assembly comprises an arc-shaped compression member matched with the outer edge of the tray and a spring member for floatingly mounting the compression member to the interior sidewall of the cover.24.The filament storage device as claimed in claim 23, characterized in that, a bottom interior sidewall of the housing is further provided with one or more strip-shaped retaining grooves for accommodating the trays with different sizes inside the filament box by snapping the outer edge of the tray to the corresponding strip-shaped retaining groove; anda sealing groove is provided at an opening-closing position of the base and the cover, and a sealing member is provided at a position of the cover corresponding to the sealing groove, and external humid air is blocked outside the filament box through a cooperation between the sealing member and the sealing groove.25.A three dimensional (3D) printing system, characterized in that, the 3D printing system comprises a printer and a filament storage device according to any one of claims 1-24.
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