Sliding Material Feed Mechanism for Stable Plasticization Supply

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing material supply devices in injection molding and three-dimensional molding devices are prone to malfunctions due to the uncontrolled supply of plasticization material, leading to inefficiencies and potential blockages.

Innovation Solution

A material supply device with a sliding member and a slide drive section that adjusts the supply of plasticization material by switching between states, ensuring the through hole communicates with the input port in one state and not in another, while maintaining a controlled flow to prevent malfunctions and blockages.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If the supply mechanism allows free flow of plasticization material through the through hole, then the material supply is simple and continuous, but malfunctions and blockages occur due to uncontrolled supply

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvematerial supply continuityVSAvoidsupply stability

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The sliding member is made movable along the intersecting direction to dynamically adjust the distance between the through hole and supply port, enabling switching between supply state (larger distance) and non-supply state (smaller distance), thus achieving controlled material flow that prevents blockages while maintaining supply continuity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The supply mechanism is divided into distinct states (first state with larger distance and second state with smaller distance) through the sliding member's movement, allowing segmented control of material supply to balance continuity and stability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Reliability

If the sliding member is positioned closer to the supply port in the second state, then material supply is completely blocked, but this may cause excessive pressure buildup

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesupply control precisionVSAvoidmaterial pressure

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSStress or pressure

Solution Approach 1:

In the second state, the sliding member is positioned to partially block the supply path rather than completely sealing it, allowing minimal material flow that prevents excessive pressure buildup while maintaining sufficient supply control precision

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Data Source

PatentUS12472690B2Material supply device

Publication Date: 2025.11.18 SEIKO EPSON CORP

AI summary

The material supply device includes a material reservoir that has a supply port and that stores a plasticization material and a supply mechanism that adjusts the amount of plasticization material supplied from an input port to the outside, wherein the supply mechanism includes a sliding member that is provided between the supply port and the input port and in which is provided a through hole, and a slide drive section that slides the sliding member along an intersecting direction that intersects the supply direction, the supply mechanism switches to a first state and to a second state, the through hole of the sliding member communicates with the input port in both the first state and the second state, and a distance between the through hole and the supply port in the intersecting direction decreases in the order of the first state and the second state.