Interchangeable Container Spindle Drive for Granular Material Deposition
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing interchangeable containers for building mold bodies by forming superimposed layers of granular material are either cumbersome due to large engagement recesses without integrated lifting devices or overly complex and heavy with integrated lifting devices, making them difficult to handle and operate.
Innovation Solution
An interchangeable container with a displaceable bottom structure and integrated spindle drive, featuring a vertical screw spindle and screw nut for height-adjustability, coupled with a detachable drive clutch and optional stepping motor, allowing for easy and reliable operation and handling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If large engagement recesses are provided in the container for support arms to reach underneath the workpiece platform, then the workpiece platform can be supported and locked at unchanged levels, but the container structure becomes cumbersome and complex
Solution Approach 1:
The lifting function is extracted from the container structure and transferred to an external lifting device positioned outside the container. This eliminates the need for engagement recesses and integrated lifting mechanisms within the container, simplifying the container structure while maintaining the ability to adjust and lock the workpiece platform at different heights.
Solution Approach 2:
An external lifting device acts as an intermediary between the container and the workpiece platform, providing the necessary lifting and positioning functions without requiring structural modifications to the container itself. This mediator approach allows the container to remain simple while achieving reliable platform support.
2Reliability
If locking devices are integrated into the container to maintain workpiece platform level during removal, then platform stability is ensured, but the container becomes more complex and heavier
Solution Approach 1:
The locking function is extracted from the container structure and implemented through the external lifting device. The lifting device can maintain the workpiece platform at a fixed height during container removal without requiring additional locking mechanisms within the container, thereby simplifying the overall structure.
3Ease of operation
If an integrated lifting device is provided under the workpiece platform, then height-adjustability is achieved, but the container becomes large, heavy, and difficult to handle
Solution Approach 1:
The lifting device is positioned outside the container rather than being integrated underneath the workpiece platform. This external arrangement significantly reduces the container's weight and improves handling characteristics while preserving full height-adjustability functionality through the external lifting mechanism.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The container provides efficient and easy handling and operation, enabling precise layer-by-layer deposition of granular material while preventing material leakage, with the self-locking spindle drive eliminating the need for additional support during removal.
Implementation Method 1
at least one spindle drive comprising a vertical screw spindle which is rotatably mounted in a container side of the container, and a spindle screw nut on which the moveable bottom structure is supported
Data Source
AI summary
An interchangeable container for a system for building a mold body by forming superimposed layers of granular material, the granular material locally and selectively hardened layer by layer. The container includes a bottom structure that is displaceable in the interior of the container in a direction in parallel with the container side walls and at least one spindle drive having a vertical screw spindle rotatably mounted in a container side of the container, and a spindle screw nut on which the bottom structure is supported. The bottom structure can be lowered step by step in the interior of the container by the spindle drive.