Powder Feeding Conveyor Gap Control for Additive Manufacturing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing additive manufacturing devices face limitations in adjusting powder feeding amounts due to fixed groove sizes, leading to inconsistent powder distribution and surplus powder generation, especially when dealing with non-rectangular modeling surfaces.
Innovation Solution
The device incorporates a conveyance system with a belt moving in a circular orbit, allowing adjustable powder feeding by varying the gap between the hopper and the conveyance surface, enabling precise control of powder distribution based on the modeling surface shape, and includes a measuring device to optimize powder collection and feeding.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a fixed groove size is used in powder replenishing means, then the structure is simple, but the powder feeding amount cannot be adjusted flexibly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the dynamics principle by making the conveyance surface movable relative to the hopper. The conveyance surface can be positioned at different locations to change the gap size dynamically, allowing flexible adjustment of powder feeding amount without changing the groove structure. This resolves the contradiction by enabling adaptability through motion rather than through complex adjustable structures.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical parameter of the gap size between the hopper and conveyance surface to control powder feeding amount. By varying this geometric parameter, the system achieves flexible powder feeding control without requiring complex adjustable mechanisms, thus resolving the contradiction between adaptability and device complexity.
2Adaptability or versatility
If powder feeding amount is adjusted by changing groove size, then feeding amount can be controlled, but the groove size is fixed for certain powder replenishing means
Solution Approach 1:
The conveyance surface is designed to be movable, allowing the gap size to be changed dynamically during operation. This enables flexible powder feeding amount control without being constrained by a fixed groove size, directly resolving the contradiction between feeding amount control and operational flexibility.
3Manufacturing precision
If surplus powder is generated, then powder distribution can be adjusted, but recyclability decreases and device size increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates a measuring device that detects the powder feeding amount and provides feedback to the control device. The control device adjusts the conveyance surface position based on this feedback to achieve precise powder distribution, eliminating the need for surplus powder while improving manufacturing precision. This resolves the contradiction by using closed-loop control to achieve accuracy without waste.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses the measuring device to automatically detect and adjust powder feeding, enabling self-regulation of powder distribution. This eliminates the need for excess powder to ensure proper distribution, as the system automatically optimizes the feeding amount, thereby reducing waste while maintaining precision.
Data Source
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AI summary
A powder feeding device includes: a hopper including a discharge port for discharging powder; and a conveyance device configured to move a conveyance surface disposed below the discharge port in a first direction and invert the conveyance surface in a front end portion. The hopper includes a front wall portion positioned on a downstream side of the discharge port in the first direction. A predetermined gap is formed between a lower end of the front wall portion and the conveyance surface. In the powder feeding device, powder deposited on the conveyance surface is conveyed in the first direction by the conveyance device with a thickness corresponding to the gap and dropped from the front end portion.