Single-Nozzle Material Supply with Butterfly Valve Flow Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing three-dimensional shaping devices require calibration of positional relationships between shaping units, leading to increased material consumption and potential deformation of shaped objects, which degrades calibration accuracy.
Innovation Solution
A plasticized material supply device with integrated flow paths and a flow rate adjusting mechanism using a butterfly valve and drive shaft, along with a pressure adjusting mechanism, to control the discharge of plasticized materials, eliminating the need for nozzle recalibration and preventing material leakage or deformation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If calibration is performed by forming a shaped object on the stage using existing techniques, then the positional relationship between shaping units can be calibrated, but material consumption increases and the shaped object may deform leading to degraded calibration accuracy
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the calibration function from the material deposition process by introducing a separate calibration object holder that can receive calibration objects independently of the stage. This allows calibration to be performed without consuming shaping materials on the stage, thereby reducing material waste while maintaining calibration accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a calibration object as an intermediary element that facilitates the calibration process. This calibration object serves as a mediator between the shaping units and the calibration procedure, enabling accurate positional relationship measurement without requiring material deposition on the stage itself.
2Measurement precision
If calibration is performed by forming a shaped object on the stage, then the positional relationship between shaping units can be calibrated, but the shaped object may deform leading to degraded calibration accuracy
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the calibration object from the stage surface, placing it in a dedicated holder instead. This separation prevents the calibration object from being affected by material deposition processes, eliminating deformation issues while preserving calibration accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent provides beforehand protection for the calibration object by placing it in a dedicated holder that isolates it from potential deformation sources. This prior cushioning measure ensures the calibration object maintains its structural integrity throughout the calibration process.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple plasticized materials are supplied through separate nozzles, then different materials can be deposited, but the device complexity increases due to multiple nozzles requiring calibration
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple material supply flow paths into a single nozzle structure. Different plasticized materials are supplied through separate flow paths (first flow path, second flow path) that converge at one nozzle, which is controlled by a flow rate adjusting mechanism. This integration maintains the ability to deposit different materials while reducing the number of nozzles from multiple to one, thereby simplifying the device and reducing calibration requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The single nozzle is designed to perform multiple functions by receiving different plasticized materials through different flow paths. The flow rate adjusting mechanism enables the nozzle to switch between materials and control their discharge amounts, making one nozzle universal for multiple material deposition tasks instead of requiring separate dedicated nozzles for each material.
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
Prevents excessive material consumption and maintains calibration accuracy by integrating flow paths and controlling material discharge, thereby reducing material waste and ensuring precise shaping.
Implementation Method 1
a flow rate adjusting mechanism provided at a junction of the first flow path, the second flow path, and the third flow path, and configured to adjust a discharge amount of the plasticized material from the nozzle; and a control part configured to control the flow rate adjusting mechanism. The flow rate adjusting mechanism includes a butterfly valve formed by processing a part of a drive shaft disposed along a direction intersecting a direction in which the third flow path extends, and a first drive part configured to rotate the butterfly valve by rotating the drive shaft.
Implementation Method 2
a nozzle including a nozzle opening and configured to discharge a plasticized material, which is obtained by plasticizing a thermoplastic resin
Data Source
AI summary
A plasticized material supply device includes: a nozzle configured to discharge a plasticized material toward a stage; a first flow path through which a first plasticized material flows; a second flow path through which a second plasticized material flows; a third flow path through which the plasticized material flows; a flow rate adjusting mechanism provided at a junction of the first flow path, the second flow path, and the third flow path, and configured to adjust a discharge amount of the plasticized material from the nozzle; and a control unit configured to control the flow rate adjusting mechanism. The flow rate adjusting mechanism includes a butterfly valve formed by processing a part of a drive shaft disposed along a direction intersecting a direction in which the third flow path extends, and a drive motor configured to rotate the butterfly valve by rotating the drive shaft.