Molding device

Abstract

This molding device carries out molding by discharging a fluid from a discharge head, and comprises: a storage part which stores a supplied fluid and which can supply the stored fluid to the discharge head; a float which is disposed in the storage part and is displaced according to a stored amount of the fluid; a sensor which detects the position of an upper surface of the float; and a partition member which is disposed so as to partition the interior of the storage part into a supply chamber to which the fluid is supplied and a float chamber where the float is disposed, and in which, at a position lower than the upper surface of the float when the float is at the lower limit of the displacement range, a lower opening is formed such that the supply chamber communicates with the float chamber.

Description

modeling equipment

[0001] This specification discloses a modeling apparatus.

[0002] Conventionally, a device has been proposed that includes a reservoir that stores a fluid, a head that ejects the fluid supplied from the reservoir, and a float disposed in the reservoir that displaces according to the amount of fluid stored. For example, Patent Document 1 describes a device that allows a user to grasp the amount of stored fluid by making the position of the float in the reservoir visible from the outside.

[0003] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2022-179914

[0004] Some devices are equipped with a sensor that can detect the position of the top surface of the float in the reservoir, and are configured to detect the amount of stored fluid based on the value detected by the sensor. In such a configuration, if the top surface of the float becomes wet with fluid, the sensor may erroneously detect the position of the top surface of the float, making it impossible to properly detect the amount of stored fluid.

[0005] The present disclosure has as its main objective the ability to more appropriately detect fluid accumulation.

[0006] The present disclosure has adopted the following means to achieve the above-mentioned main object.

[0007] The modeling device of the present disclosure is a modeling device that performs modeling by ejecting a fluid from an ejection head, and comprises: a storage section that stores supplied fluid and is capable of supplying the stored fluid to the ejection head; a float that is arranged in the storage section and displaces according to the amount of stored fluid; a sensor that detects the position of the upper surface of the float; and a partition member that is arranged to divide the storage section into a supply chamber to which fluid is supplied and a float chamber in which the float is arranged, and has a lower opening that opens so as to communicate between the supply chamber and the float chamber at a position lower than the upper surface of the float when the float is at the lower limit of its displacement range.

[0008] The molding device disclosed herein includes a partition member that divides the reservoir into a supply chamber and a float chamber and has a lower opening that connects the supply chamber and the float chamber at a position lower than the upper surface of the float at the lower limit of its displacement range. This allows fluid to flow from the supply chamber into the float chamber through the lower opening, causing the float to float, preventing the upper surface of the float from getting wet. This prevents erroneous detection by the sensor and more accurately detects the amount of stored fluid.

[0009] A configuration diagram showing an outline of the configuration of a production system 1 including a modeling apparatus 10. A block diagram showing an outline of the configuration of the modeling apparatus 10. A configuration diagram showing an outline of the main configuration of a first inkjet unit 31 and a first ink supply unit 50. An external perspective view of the main configuration of the first inkjet unit 31. A cross-sectional configuration diagram of an ink tank 40. An external perspective view of a pipe member 47. An explanatory diagram of how resin ink is supplied to the ink tank 40. An explanatory diagram of how resin ink is supplied to the ink tank 40. An explanatory diagram of how resin ink is supplied to an ink tank 40B of a comparative example. An external perspective view of an ink tank 140 of a modified example. An external perspective view of an ink tank 140 of a modified example. An external perspective view of a pipe member 147 of a modified example.

[0010] An embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. Fig. 1 is a configuration diagram showing an outline of the configuration of a production system 1 including a molding apparatus 10. Fig. 2 is a block diagram showing an outline of the configuration of the molding apparatus 10. In this embodiment, the left-right direction (X-axis), the front-back direction (Y-axis), and the up-down direction (Z-axis) are as shown in Fig. 1.

[0011] The production system 1 includes a three-dimensional modeling device (hereinafter, modeling device) 10 that models a shaped object, such as a substrate or a circuit, on a rectangular plate-shaped pallet P, and a mounting device 110 that mounts components on the circuit on the substrate modeled on the pallet P. The production system 1 may include two or more mounting devices 110, or may include only the modeling device 10 without the mounting device 110. The modeling device 10 includes a control unit 20, a memory unit 22, a communication unit 24, an operation panel 26, a first discharge unit 30, a flattening unit 67, a second discharge unit 70, a UV irradiation unit 74, an upper surface heating unit 76, a press heating unit 78, a transport unit 80, a stage unit 90, and first and second transfer units 100 and 105. All components except the operation panel 26 are housed in a housing 12 of the modeling device 10.

[0012] The control unit 20 is configured as a microprocessor centered on a CPU, and includes a ROM for storing processing programs and a RAM used as a work area, and controls the entire modeling apparatus 10. The memory unit 22 is configured, for example, with an HDD or SSD, and stores modeling information such as the shape and size of the model (three-dimensional object) and modeling jobs including circuit information such as circuit patterns. The communication unit 24 is an interface used to communicate with each device in the production system 1, such as the mounting device 110 and a management device (not shown). The control unit 20 exchanges information with each device in the production system 1 via the communication unit 24. The operation panel 26 is a touch-panel display disposed at the top of the front of the housing 12, and displays various information to the operator and accepts various operations from the operator.

[0013] The first ejection unit 30 includes a first inkjet unit 31 that ejects liquid using an inkjet method, a first ink supply unit 50, a second inkjet unit 61, a second ink supply unit 63, and an X-axis movement unit 65. The first inkjet unit 31 includes an ink head 33 (see FIG. 3) that ejects resin ink, such as UV-curable resin, for substrate fabrication, and an ink tank 40 (see FIG. 3) that stores and supplies the resin ink to the ink head 33. The first ink supply unit 50 supplies the resin ink to the ink tank 40. The detailed configurations of the first inkjet unit 31 and the first ink supply unit 50 will be described later. The second inkjet unit 61 includes an ink head that ejects conductive metal ink, such as silver ink, for circuit (wiring) fabrication, and an ink tank that stores and supplies the metal ink to the ink head. The second ink supply unit 63 supplies the resin ink to the ink tank of the second inkjet unit 61. The X-axis moving unit 65 includes a guide rail provided in the X-axis direction on the front surface of the gate-shaped frame, and two sliders on which each of the inkjet units 31, 61 is mounted. The X-axis moving unit 65 moves each of the inkjet units 31, 61 in the X-axis direction by moving each slider along the guide rail.

[0014] The flattening unit 67 includes a roller or blade for flattening the liquid material on the pallet P, and is disposed on the rear surface of the frame of the X-axis moving unit 65. The flattening unit 67 flattens the surface of the resin ink ejected onto the pallet P, for example, by smoothing it with the roller or blade while moving the pallet P relative to the Y-axis direction.

[0015] The second dispensing unit 70 includes a first dispenser head 71 and a second dispenser head 72 that dispense liquid materials using a dispenser method, and an X-axis moving unit 73. The first dispenser head 71 dispenses a conductive paste, such as silver paste, for forming electrodes. The second dispenser head 72 dispenses a resin paste, such as a thermosetting resin, as an underfill for sealing components. Note that the second dispensing unit 70 may include more dispenser heads so that it can dispense a greater variety of liquid materials. The X-axis moving unit 73 includes a guide rail provided in the X-axis direction on the front surface of a gate-shaped frame and a slider on which the first and second dispenser heads 71 ​​and 72 are collectively arranged. The X-axis moving unit 73 moves the slider to move each dispenser head 71 and 72 in the X-axis direction.

[0016] The UV irradiation unit 74 is equipped with a UV lamp such as a mercury lamp, metal halide lamp, or UV-LED, and irradiates UV light onto the UV-curable resin dispensed onto the pallet P to harden it, thereby forming a resin layer. The top surface heating unit 76 is equipped with an infrared heater such as a halogen heater, ceramic heater, or carbon heater, and heats and hardens the metal ink dispensed onto the pallet P to form a circuit. The resin layer and circuit are formed by repeating the process multiple times to form an object on the pallet P. The press heating unit 78 is equipped with a metal plate, a heater for heating the plate, and an elevator that can raise and lower the pallet P and apply pressure to press it against the plate from below. The press heating unit 78 heats the plate with the heater, thereby heating the pallet P on which the object before or after component mounting is mounted, thereby hardening the conductive paste or underfill. When the pallet P on which the shaped object is mounted after the components are mounted is heated, the pallet P is heated while being pressed against a flat plate to harden the underfill.

[0017] The transport unit 80 includes a belt conveyor 82 that transports the pallet P along the X-axis direction. The transport unit 80 drives the belt conveyor 82 to transport the pallet P to be carried into the mounting device 110 and the pallet P carried out from the mounting device 110 in the X-axis direction.

[0018] The stage unit 90 holds the placed pallet P and moves the pallet P in the Y-axis direction and raises and lowers the pallet P in the Z-axis direction. The stage unit 90 includes a stage lifting / lowering unit 91 and a Y-axis moving unit 92. The stage lifting / lowering unit 91 holds the placed pallet P and raises and lowers the pallet P by moving a stage that can abut against the underside of the pallet P in the Z-axis direction. The Y-axis moving unit 92 is movable along guide rails 11 that are arranged in the center of the lower part of the molding apparatus 10 from the front to the rear in the Y-axis direction. The Y-axis moving unit 92 includes a slider on which the stage lifting / lowering unit 91 is arranged, and moves the stage lifting / lowering unit 91 in the Y-axis direction. Note that the gate-shaped frames of the X-axis moving units 65, 73 in the first discharging unit 30 and the second discharging unit 70 are arranged to straddle the guide rails 11. The stage lifting unit 91 moves in the Y-axis direction by a slider of the Y-axis moving unit 92 to processing positions below the first discharge unit 30, the flattening unit 67, the second discharge unit 70, the UV irradiation unit 74, and the upper surface heating unit 76. The stage unit 90 also moves to a position where the pallet P is transferred between the transport unit 80 and the stage unit 90, a position where the pallet P is transferred between the press heating unit 78 and the stage unit 90, a position where the pallet P can be attached or detached by an operator, etc.

[0019] The first loading / unloading unit 100 transfers the pallet P in the X-axis direction to be transferred between the transport unit 80 and the stage unit 90, and includes a pusher lifting / lowering unit 101 and an X-axis moving unit 102. The pusher lifting / lowering unit 101 raises and lowers a pusher (not shown) in the Z-axis direction using, for example, a cylinder between an upper position where it does not interfere with the pallet P and a lower position where it can abut against the side of the pallet P. The X-axis moving unit 102 includes a guide rail provided along the X-axis direction on a gate-shaped frame that straddles the guide rail 11, and a slider on which the pusher lifting / lowering unit 101 is disposed and movable along the guide rail, and moves the pusher lifting / lowering unit 101 in the X-axis direction. In this embodiment, the frame and guide rail of the X-axis moving unit 102 are shared with the frame and guide rail of the X-axis moving unit 73 described above, and the slider of the X-axis moving unit 102 is provided separately from the slider of the X-axis moving unit 73. The second transfer unit 105 transfers the pallet P in the X-axis direction, which is transferred between the press heating unit 78 and the stage unit 90. Similar to the first transfer unit 100, the second transfer unit 105 includes a pusher lifting unit 106 that raises and lowers the pusher, and an X-axis moving unit 107 that moves the pusher lifting unit 106 in the X-axis direction, and therefore a description thereof will be omitted.

[0020] As shown in FIG. 1, the mounting device 110 includes a transport unit 111, a component supply unit 112, a mounting head 113, an XY axis moving unit 115, a parts camera 116, a nozzle stocker 117, and an operation panel 118.

[0021] The transport unit 111 includes a belt conveyor that transports the pallet P along the X-axis direction, and transports the pallet P to be loaded into the modeling apparatus 10 and the pallet P loaded out of the modeling apparatus 10. The component supply unit 112 is, for example, a tape feeder equipped with a reel that stores components on tape at predetermined intervals. Multiple tape feeders are detachably attached to the front side of the mounting apparatus 110. The mounting head 113 includes one or more nozzles that pick up components and a nozzle lifting unit that raises and lowers the nozzles in the Z-axis direction, and mounts the components picked up by the nozzles at predetermined positions on the pallet P. The XY-axis moving unit 115 includes a Y-axis slider that moves along the Y-axis guide rail and the Y-axis guide rail, and an X-axis slider that moves along the X-axis guide rail and the X-axis guide rail provided on the Y-axis slider and on which the mounting head 113 is disposed. The XY-axis moving unit 115 moves the Y-axis slider and the X-axis slider to move the mounting head 113 in the X and Y directions. The parts camera 116 has an imaging range above it, and captures an image of the component picked up by the nozzle of the mounting head 113 from below to generate a captured image. The nozzle stocker 117 is configured to be able to accommodate multiple types of nozzles with different sizes and shapes. The nozzles accommodated in the nozzle stocker 117 can be automatically attached to and detached from the mounting head 113. The operation panel 118 is configured as a touch panel display that displays various information to the worker and accepts various operations from the worker.

[0022] Here, the detailed configuration of the first inkjet unit 31 and the first ink supply unit 50 of the first ejection unit 30 will be described. Fig. 3 is a structural diagram showing an outline of the main configuration of the first inkjet unit 31 and the first ink supply unit 50. Fig. 4 is an external perspective view of the main configuration of the first inkjet unit 31. Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional structural diagram of the ink tank 40.

[0023] The first ink supply unit 50 includes two supply bottles 51 containing transparent resin ink, connection pipes 52 and 53, a switching valve 54, a supply valve 55, and a supply pipe 56. When one of the two supply bottles 51 becomes empty, the operator can replace the empty supply bottle 51 with a new supply bottle 51 containing resin ink. One of the two supply bottles 51 is connected to the connection pipe 52. The other of the two supply bottles 51 is connected to the connection pipe 53. The switching valve 54 is an electromagnetic valve that operates based on a control signal from the control unit 20 and switches the resin ink supply source between the supply bottle 51 connected to the connection pipe 52 and the supply bottle 51 connected to the connection pipe 53. The supply valve 55 is an electromagnetic valve that operates based on a control signal from the control unit 20 and switches whether or not the resin ink that has flowed through the switching valve 54 is to flow to the supply pipe 56. One end of the supply pipe 56 is connected to the supply valve 55, and the other end is connected to the ink supply port 43 of the ink tank 40. The resin ink flows through the supply pipe 56 and is supplied to the ink tank 40.

[0024] As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 , the ink tank 40 includes a tank body 41, a cap 45, a pipe member 47, and a float 48. A displacement sensor 49 is disposed above the ink tank 40. The tank body 41 is formed in a generally rectangular parallelepiped shape, and two generally cylindrical tank chambers 42 (cylindrical spaces) are formed therein. Two displacement sensors 49 are disposed above the two tank chambers 42, respectively. The displacement sensors 49 are reflective distance sensors (e.g., laser sensors or photoelectric sensors) that have a light-emitting portion that emits light downward and a light-receiving portion that receives reflected light. An ink supply path 34 is connected to the lower end of each tank chamber 42. The ink supply path 34 is connected to each tank chamber 42 and the ink head 33. Therefore, each tank chamber 42 communicates with each other via the ink supply path 34 and the ink head 33. The first inkjet unit 31 includes a unit case (not shown) that houses the ink head 33, the ink supply path 34, the ink tank 40, the displacement sensor 49, etc. This unit case is attached to the slider of the X-axis moving part 65.

[0025] An ink supply port 43 communicating with one of the two tank chambers 42 is provided on the side wall of the tank body 41. Two pressure supply ports 44 communicating with each of the two tank chambers 42 are also provided on the side wall of the tank body 41. That is, one of the two tank chambers 42 is provided with the ink supply port 43 and the pressure supply port 44, while the other tank chamber 42 is provided with the pressure supply port 44 but not the ink supply port 43. Figure 5 shows a cross-sectional view of the ink tank 40 on the side of the one tank chamber 42 with the ink supply port 43 and the pressure supply port 44. The pressure supply port 44 is located above the ink supply port 43. In this embodiment, the pressure supply port 44 can receive both positive and negative pressure from a pressure supply device (not shown). Caps 45 are attached to the top of each tank chamber 42 in the tank body 41. The cap 45 has a through hole formed in the center that passes through it vertically, and a transparent plate 46 is attached to the through hole.

[0026] The pipe members 47 are formed so that their outer diameters are slightly smaller than the inner diameters of the tank chambers 42 and are disposed within each tank chamber 42. The pipe members 47 divide the tank chambers 42 into a space surrounded by the inner surface of the tank chamber 42 and the outer surface of the pipe members 47, and a space within the pipe members 47. The former space is a space to which resin ink is supplied from the ink supply port 43 and is referred to as the supply chamber 42a. The latter space is a space in which a float 48 is disposed and is referred to as the float chamber 42b. The float 48 is a cylindrical member formed with an outer diameter slightly smaller than the inner diameter of the pipe members 47. It is made of a resin material that has a lower specific gravity than the resin ink and is solvent-resistant so that it floats on the resin ink stored in the float chamber 42b. The float 48 displaces up and down depending on the amount of resin ink stored. Each displacement sensor 49 can detect the displacement of the float 48 within each tank chamber 42 via the transparent plate 46 of each cap 45. Furthermore, each displacement sensor 49 outputs the detected displacement to the control unit 20. Since the resin ink is transparent, the displacement sensor 49 needs to accurately detect the position of the float 48 in order to correctly detect the amount of stored resin ink.

[0027] As shown in FIG. 6 , the pipe member 47 has a cylindrical main body 47a formed with multiple lower openings 47b, a float receiving portion 47c, and multiple upper openings 47d. The lower openings 47b are formed by cutting out a portion of the lower end of the main body 47a. The lower openings 47b are formed so that the height H1 of the cutout is lower than the height Hf of the float 48 (see FIG. 5 ). Note that FIG. 5 shows a state in which no resin ink is stored in the ink tank 40. Therefore, the float 48 in FIG. 5 is located at the lower limit of its displacement range. In other words, the lower openings 47b are formed so as to open at a position lower than the top surface of the float 48, which is located at the lower limit of its displacement range. The lower openings 47b are formed at equal intervals around the circumference of the main body 47a; in this embodiment, three lower openings 47b are formed.

[0028] The float receiving portion 47c is formed to protrude radially inward (toward the center) of the pipe member 47 from the lower end of the main body portion 47a, excluding the portion where the lower opening 47b is formed. The float receiving portion 47c is formed so that its upper surface is horizontal. When the float 48 is located at the lower limit of its displacement range, the upper surface of the float receiving portion 47c supports the edge of the lower surface of the float 48. The upper opening 47d is formed by cutting out a portion of the upper end of the main body portion 47a in a concave shape. The upper opening 47d is formed so that the height H2 of the cutout is equal to the height H1 of the lower opening 47b and the circumferential length is equal to the circumferential length of the lower opening 47b. In other words, the upper opening 47d is formed to be the same size as the lower opening 47b. In this embodiment, three upper openings 47d are formed at equal intervals around the circumferential direction of the main body portion 47a. Furthermore, the positions of the upper openings 47d correspond circumferentially to the positions of the lower openings 47b, respectively.

[0029] In the first ejection unit 30 configured as described above, the process of supplying resin ink to the ink tank 40 is executed as follows. FIGS. 7 and 8 are explanatory diagrams of how resin ink is supplied to the ink tank 40. The control unit 20 controls the switching valve 54 and the supply valve 55 of the first ink supply unit 50 to enable the resin ink contained in one of the two supply bottles 51 to be supplied to the ink tank 40 from the supply pipe 56 via the ink supply port 43. The control unit 20 also controls the pressure supply device to supply negative pressure to the pressure supply port 44. When negative pressure is supplied to the supply chamber 42a via the pressure supply port 44, negative pressure acts on the ink supply port 43. As a result, the resin ink flowing through the supply pipe 56 ("I" in FIGS. 7 and 8) flows into the supply chamber 42a as if drawn therein, and is supplied to the supply chamber 42a.

[0030] In this embodiment, the resin ink flowing from the ink supply port 43 into the supply chamber 42a flows downward through the gap between the outer diameter of the pipe member 47 and the inner diameter of the tank chamber 42 and accumulates in the lower part of the tank chamber 42 (see FIG. 7 ). Because the gap between the outer diameter of the pipe member 47 and the inner diameter of the tank chamber 42 is narrow, the resin ink flowing into the supply chamber 42a flows downward along the outer surface of the pipe member 47. As described above, the lower opening 47b of the pipe member 47 is formed to open at a position lower than the upper surface of the float 48, which is located at the lower limit of its displacement range. Therefore, when the resin ink flowing downward within the supply chamber 42a flows into the inside of the pipe member 47 (float chamber 42b) through the lower opening 47b, it does not rest on the upper surface of the float 48, but rather falls on the upper surface of the float 48. That is, the resin ink flows into the float chamber 42b by sinking under the lower surface of the float 48. As the supply of resin ink continues and the amount of stored resin ink gradually increases, the float 48 is lifted by the resin ink (see FIG. 8).

[0031] The float 48, which has risen to the surface, is displaced depending on the amount of resin ink stored therein. In this embodiment, resin ink does not rest on the top surface of the float 48, so the top surface of the float 48 can be prevented from becoming coated with resin ink. If the top surface of the float 48 becomes coated with resin ink, the light emitted from the displacement sensor 49 may not be reflected correctly, and the displacement sensor 49 may erroneously detect the top surface of the float 48. In this embodiment, by preventing the top surface of the float 48 from becoming coated with resin ink, the displacement sensor 49 can accurately detect the top surface of the float 48. Therefore, the control unit 20 can accurately detect the amount of resin ink stored in the tank chamber 42 (float chamber 42b).

[0032] As described above, the ink tank 40 has one tank chamber 42 provided with an ink supply port 43 and a pressure supply port 44, and the other tank chamber 42 provided with a pressure supply port 44. The tank chambers 42 are connected to each other via the ink supply paths 34 and the ink head 33. Therefore, in the resin ink supply process, the control unit 20 first supplies negative pressure to one tank chamber 42, thereby supplying and storing the resin ink through the ink supply port 43 (first supply process). As described above, the displacement sensor 49 accurately detects the top surface of the float 48, allowing the control unit 20 to accurately detect the amount of resin ink stored in one tank chamber 42. Next, with the ink head 33 sealed with a cap (not shown), the control unit 20 supplies positive pressure to one tank chamber 42 storing the resin ink, and supplies negative pressure to the other tank chamber 42. This allows the resin ink stored in one tank chamber 42 to be supplied from the ink supply path 34 to the other tank chamber 42 via each ink supply path 34 and the ink head 33 (second supply process). Even during the second supply process, the upper surface of the float 48 of the other tank chamber 42 is not coated with resin ink, so the control unit 20 can correctly detect the amount of resin ink stored in the other tank chamber 42. The control unit 20 executes the first supply process and the second supply process, and terminates the supply process when each displacement sensor 49 detects that the amount of resin ink stored in each tank chamber 42 has reached the required amount (predetermined amount). It is also possible to provide an ink supply port 43 in the other tank chamber 42 and perform the first supply process on each tank chamber 42, thereby omitting the second supply process.

[0033] FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram illustrating the supply of resin ink to an ink tank 40B of a comparative example. The ink tank 40B of the comparative example differs from the present embodiment in that the pipe member 47 is not provided and, therefore, the tank chamber 42 is not divided into a supply chamber 42a and a float chamber 42b. In the comparative example, resin ink ("I" in FIG. 9) supplied from the ink supply port 43 into the tank chamber 42 may land on the top surface of the float 48 as it flows along the inner wall of the tank chamber 42 (see part A in FIG. 9). Furthermore, the resin ink on the top surface of the float 48 may remain there, causing the top surface to become wet (see part B in FIG. 9). In this case, the displacement sensor 49 may erroneously detect the top surface of the float 48. As a result, the control unit 20 may not be able to accurately detect the amount of stored resin ink, which may result in problems such as an insufficient or excessive supply of resin ink. In this embodiment, the inside of the tank chamber 42 is partitioned by the pipe member 47 to prevent the upper surface of the float 48 from getting wet, thereby preventing erroneous detection of the amount of stored resin ink and the problems that accompany it.

[0034] Here, the correspondence between the components of this embodiment and the components of the present disclosure will be clarified. In this embodiment, the tank chamber 42 corresponds to the storage section of the present disclosure, the float 48 corresponds to the float, the displacement sensor 49 corresponds to the sensor, and the pipe member 47 corresponds to the partition member and the pipe member. The ink supply port 43 corresponds to the fluid supply port, and the pressure supply port 44 corresponds to the negative pressure supply port.

[0035] The molding apparatus 10 of the present embodiment described above includes a pipe member 47 that divides the tank chamber 42 into a supply chamber 42a and a float chamber 42b. The pipe member 47 has a lower opening 47b that connects the supply chamber 42a and the float chamber 42b at a position lower than the top surface of the float 48 when the float 48 is at the lower limit of its displacement range. Therefore, resin ink flows from the supply chamber 42a into the float chamber 42b through the lower opening 47b, causing the float 48 to float, preventing the top surface of the float 48 from getting wet with resin ink. This prevents the displacement sensor 49 from erroneously detecting the top surface of the float 48, allowing the amount of stored resin ink to be more accurately detected.

[0036] Furthermore, the pipe member 47 is disposed within the tank chamber 42 so as to partition the float chamber 42b as a cylindrical space. Therefore, with the simple configuration of disposing the pipe member 47 within the tank chamber 42, the tank chamber 42 can be partitioned into the supply chamber 42a and the float chamber 42b, allowing for more appropriate detection of the amount of resin ink stored therein.

[0037] Furthermore, the pipe member 47 has a plurality of (e.g., three) lower openings 47b formed at equal intervals in the circumferential direction, which distributes the flow rate of resin ink flowing into the float chamber 42b approximately evenly in the circumferential direction, thereby preventing the upper surface of the float 48 from becoming wet with resin ink due to a large amount of resin ink flowing in from one part in the circumferential direction.

[0038] Furthermore, the pipe member 47 has a recessed cutout at its lower end, and a lower opening 47b is formed so that the height of the cutout is lower than the upper surface of the float 48 at the lower limit of the displacement range. This makes it possible to easily form the lower opening 47b while preventing the upper surface of the float 48 from becoming wet with resin ink.

[0039] Furthermore, an upper opening 47d of equal or larger size than the lower opening 47b is formed in the pipe member 47 so as to connect the supply chamber 42a and the float chamber 42b at the upper side. This allows the pressure in the float chamber 42b to be appropriately released through the upper opening 47d so as not to impede the flow of resin ink into the float chamber 42b, thereby enabling more appropriate detection of the amount of stored resin ink.

[0040] The ink tank 40 (tank chamber 42) is provided with an ink supply port 43 that supplies the resin ink that has flowed through the supply pipe 56 (supply flow path) into the supply chamber 42a, and a pressure supply port 44 that supplies negative pressure into the supply chamber 42a above the ink supply port 43. The ink tank 40 is configured so that resin ink is supplied from the ink supply port 43 when negative pressure is supplied from the pressure supply port 44. Therefore, in a configuration in which resin ink is automatically supplied to the supply chamber 42a by negative pressure, the amount of stored resin ink can be more appropriately detected.

[0041] It goes without saying that the present disclosure is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and can be embodied in various forms as long as they fall within the technical scope of the present disclosure.

[0042] In the above-described embodiment, the pipe member 47 is formed with the upper opening 47d that is equal to or larger in size than the lower opening 47b, but this is not limited thereto, and the upper opening may be formed with a size smaller than the lower opening 47b. Also, the number and positions of the upper openings 47d are formed to correspond to the lower openings 47b, but this is not limited thereto, and the upper openings 47d may be formed in any number and positions that allow pressure release from the float chamber 42b.

[0043] In the embodiment, the lower opening 47b of the pipe member 47 is formed by cutting out a portion of the lower end in a concave shape, but this is not limited to this. For example, the pipe member 47 may have a through hole or the like formed as the lower opening 47b on the lower end side. Even in this case, the position where the through hole or the like is formed should be lower than the upper surface of the float 48, which is at the lower limit of the displacement range.

[0044] In the embodiment, the pipe member 47 has a plurality of (e.g., three) lower openings 47b formed at positions that are equally spaced in the circumferential direction, but this is not limited thereto, and the plurality of lower openings 47b may be formed at positions that are not equally spaced in the circumferential direction. Alternatively, the pipe member 47 may have only one lower opening 47b formed therein.

[0045] In the embodiment, the pipe member 47 partitions the float chamber 42b into a cylindrical space, but the shape is not limited to a cylindrical shape and may be any tubular space. Also, in the embodiment, the float chamber 42b is partitioned into a cylindrical space by disposing the pipe member 47 inside the tank chamber 42, but the shape is not limited to this. For example, a partition member that partitions the supply chamber 42a and the float chamber 42b may be provided, such as by partitioning the supply chamber 42a and the float chamber 42b with a flat partition wall having at least a lower opening.

[0046] In the embodiment, resin ink is automatically supplied from the first ink supply unit 50 to the ink tank 40, but this is not limited thereto, and resin ink may be manually supplied to the ink tank by an operator. A configuration that allows for manual supply of resin ink will be described below. FIGS. 10 and 11 are external perspective views of an ink tank 140 according to a modified example. FIG. 12 is an external perspective view of a pipe member 147 according to a modified example. In the ink tank 140 according to the modified example, components that are formed in the same manner as the components of the ink tank 40 according to the embodiment are assigned the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted. Also, although not shown, the ink tank 140, like the ink tank 40, is connected to the ink head 33 via the ink supply path 34.

[0047] The ink tank 140 of this modified example includes a tank body 141, a cap 45, a pipe member 147, a float 48, and a level gauge 148. A displacement sensor 49 is also disposed above the ink tank 140. The tank body 141 is formed in a generally rectangular parallelepiped shape, and is fitted with a flat lid 141a. FIG. 11 shows the tank body 141 with the lid 141a removed. Two tank chambers 142 are formed inside the tank body 141. The two tank chambers 142 are formed in a shape that has a longitudinal direction Ld and a lateral direction Sd in a top view, such as an elliptical shape. The tank chambers 142 are formed side by side and parallel to each other along the longitudinal direction Ld.

[0048] A pipe member 147 is disposed at one end of each tank chamber 142 in the longitudinal direction Ld. A through-hole is formed in the lid 141a at a position corresponding to the top of the pipe member 147. A cap 45 is attached to each through-hole. That is, each cap 45 is attached to the lid 141a at a position above the pipe member 147. Two displacement sensors 49 are disposed above each cap 45, i.e., above each pipe member 147. Although not shown, an ink supply path 34 is connected to the underside of one end of each tank chamber 142 in the longitudinal direction Ld, i.e., below the pipe member 147.

[0049] Resin ink can be supplied to the other end of each tank chamber 142 in the longitudinal direction Ld through an ink supply port 143 formed in the lid 141a. A cap 143a is attached to the ink supply port 143. FIG. 10 shows a state in which the cap 143a of one of the ink supply ports 143 is removed. The tank chamber 142 of the modified example is divided by a pipe member 147 disposed at one end in the longitudinal direction Ld into a supply chamber surrounded by the inner surface of the tank chamber 142 and the outer surface of the pipe member 147, and a float chamber within the pipe member 147. The float 48 is disposed in the float chamber within the pipe member 147, as in the embodiment. FIG. 11 illustrates the float 48 in the tank chamber 142 on the front side, but does not illustrate the float 48 in the tank chamber 142 on the back side. Each tank chamber 142 is in communication with a level gauge 148 disposed outside the tank body 141, allowing resin ink to flow therethrough. An operator can grasp the amount of resin ink stored in each tank chamber 142 by checking the liquid level of the resin ink in each level gauge 148 .

[0050] As shown in FIG. 12 , the pipe member 147 has a cylindrical main body 147a with multiple lower openings 147b, multiple upper openings 147d, and a flange 147e. The lower opening 147b is formed by cutting out a portion of the lower end of the main body 147a in a concave shape. Similar to the lower opening 47b of the embodiment, the height of the cutout of the lower opening 147b is smaller than the height Hf (see FIG. 5 ) of the float 48. The upper opening 147d is also formed by cutting out a portion of the upper end of the main body 147a in a concave shape. Similar to the upper opening 47d of the embodiment, the height and circumferential length of the cutout of the upper opening 147d are the same as those of the lower opening 147b. In the modified example, two lower openings 147b and two upper openings 147d are formed at equal intervals around the circumference of the main body 147a.

[0051] Two flange portions 147e of the pipe member 147 are formed on the upper end of the main body portion 147a, excluding the portion where the upper opening 147d is formed, so as to protrude radially outward from the pipe member 147. Each flange portion 147e has an insertion portion 147f formed at approximately the center in the circumferential direction for inserting a fastening member such as a bolt. The insertion portion 147f is recessed from the radially outer side to the inner side of the flange portion 147e and is formed to penetrate the flange portion 147e from top to bottom. The pipe member 147 is attached to the underside of the lid 141a via a fastening member such as a bolt inserted into the insertion portion 147f from below. Therefore, when the lid 141a with the pipe members 147 attached to its underside is attached to the top of the tank main body 141, each pipe member 147 is disposed within each tank chamber 142.

[0052] In the ink tank 140 of this modified example, resin ink is manually supplied by an operator. For example, the operator removes the cap 143a from the ink supply port 143, inserts the opening of a supply bottle into the ink supply port 143, and directly supplies resin ink to the tank chamber 142 (supply chamber). The operator also checks the resin ink level using the level gauge 148 and stops supplying the resin ink when a predetermined amount of resin ink is stored. The operator performs the supply operation for each tank chamber 142. In this modified example, the lower opening 147b of the pipe member 147 is also formed to open at a position lower than the top surface of the float 48, which is located at the lower limit of its displacement range. Therefore, the resin ink that flows into the supply chamber does not rest on the top surface of the float 48 when it flows from the lower opening 147b into the inside of the pipe member 147 (float chamber). Therefore, as in the embodiment, the displacement sensor 49 can accurately detect the top surface of the float 48. This allows the control unit 20 to correctly detect the amount of resin ink stored in the tank chamber 142, and therefore to notify the operator at an appropriate time that the stored amount has decreased and that it is necessary to supply resin ink. The control unit 20 may notify the operator, for example, by displaying the notification on the operation panel 26. In this way, in a configuration in which resin ink is manually supplied to the tank chamber 142, the amount of resin ink stored can be detected more appropriately.

[0053] In the modified example, the operator manually supplies resin ink to the ink tank 140, but this is not limiting. For example, an ink supply unit such as the first ink supply unit 50 of the embodiment may automatically supply resin ink to the ink tank 140. Alternatively, the ink tank 140 may be configured to allow both manual and automatic supply of resin ink.

[0054] In the embodiment and modified examples, the present disclosure is applied to the ink tanks 40, 140 for the resin ink ejected by the first inkjet unit 31, but is not limited to this, and the present disclosure may also be applied to the ink tanks for the metal ink ejected by the second inkjet unit 61. In other words, the fluid stored in the ink tank is not limited to the resin ink, and may be other fluids such as metal ink.

[0055] This specification also discloses the technical idea of ​​changing the “molding apparatus according to claim 1 or 2” in claims 4 to 7 as originally filed to “a molding apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3” in claim 4, “a molding apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4” in claim 5, and “a molding apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5” in claims 6 and 7.

[0056] The present disclosure is applicable to technical fields in which a shape is formed by ejecting a fluid from an ejection head.

[0057] 1 Production system, 10 Three-dimensional modeling device, 11 Y-axis rail, 12 Housing, 20 Control unit, 22 Memory unit, 24 Communication unit, 26, 118 Operation panel, 30 First ejection unit, 31 First inkjet unit, 33 Ink head, 40, 40B, 140 Ink tank, 41, 141 Tank body, 42, 142 Tank chamber, 43, 143 Ink supply port, 44 Pressure supply port, 45, 143a Cap, 46 Transparent plate, 47, 147 Pipe member, 47a, 147a Main body, 47b, 147b Lower opening, 47c Float receiving portion, 47d, 147d Upper opening, 48 Float, 49 Displacement sensor, 50 First ink supply unit, 51 Supply bottle, 52, 53 Connection pipe, 54 Switching valve, 55 Supply valve, 56 Supply pipe, 61 Second inkjet unit, 63 Second ink supply unit, 65, 73, 102, 107 X-axis moving section, 67 Flattening unit, 70 Second ejection unit, 71 First dispenser head, 72 Second dispenser head, 74 UV irradiation unit, 76 Upper surface heating unit, 78 Press heating unit, 80 Transport unit, 82 Belt conveyor, 90 Stage unit, 91 Stage lifting section, 92 Y-axis moving section, 100 First transfer unit, 101, 106 Pusher lifting section, 105 Second transfer unit, 110 Mounting device, 111 Transport unit, 112 Component supply unit, 113 Mounting head, 115 XY-axis moving section, 116 Parts camera, 117 Nozzle stocker, 141a Lid, 147e Flange section, 147f Insertion section, 148 Level gauge, I resin ink, P palette.

Claims

1. A modeling device that ejects a fluid from a ejection head to perform modeling, comprising: a storage section that stores a supplied fluid and is capable of supplying the stored fluid to the ejection head; a float that is disposed within the storage section and displaces according to the amount of stored fluid; a sensor that detects the position of the upper surface of the float; and a partition member that is disposed so as to separate the interior of the storage section into a supply chamber to which fluid is supplied and a float chamber in which the float is disposed, and that has a lower opening that opens so as to communicate between the supply chamber and the float chamber at a position lower than the upper surface of the float when the float is at the lower limit of its displacement range.

2. The molding apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the partition member is a pipe member arranged in the reservoir so as to partition the float chamber as a cylindrical space.

3. The molding apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the partition member has a plurality of lower openings formed at equal intervals in the circumferential direction.

4. The molding apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the partition member has a concave cutout at a portion of its lower end, and the lower opening is formed so that the height of the cutout is lower than the upper surface of the float at the lower limit of the displacement range.

5. The molding apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the partition member has an upper opening formed therein that is equal to or larger in size than the lower opening, so as to connect the supply chamber and the float chamber at the upper side.

6. The molding apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the storage section is provided with a fluid supply port that supplies the fluid that has circulated through the supply flow path into the supply chamber, and a negative pressure supply port that is located above the fluid supply port and supplies negative pressure into the supply chamber, and is configured so that fluid is supplied from the fluid supply port when negative pressure is supplied from the negative pressure supply port.

7. The molding apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the storage section is formed in a shape having a longitudinal direction when viewed from above, the float chamber is partitioned by the partition member at one end of the longitudinal direction, and a fluid supply port capable of supplying fluid into the supply chamber is provided at the other end of the longitudinal direction.

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