Additive Manufacturing Waste Curing Device with Shielded Nozzles
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Solution Overview
Problem
Additive manufacturing generates significant waste material, particularly hazardous liquid or partially solidified building material waste, which requires environmentally safe disposal, and current methods are costly and operationally complex due to inefficiencies in curing and handling.
Innovation Solution
A waste curing device with a container, movable and static covers, and curing sources is used to control the delivery and curing of waste, where the movable cover shields nozzles from radiation and a controller manages the curing process based on weight or height of waste in the container, ensuring efficient curing of waste material.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If waste building material is collected and stored for disposal, then hazardous waste requires specialized environmentally safe disposal facilities and procedures, but this increases disposal costs and operational complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The waste curing device performs preliminary curing action on waste building material before disposal. The device includes a container with curing sources that irradiate and cure waste material in situ, transforming it from hazardous liquid/partially-solidified form to non-hazardous cured form, thereby eliminating the need for specialized hazardous waste disposal facilities and procedures
Solution Approach 2:
The invention converts the harmful waste building material into a beneficial cured product. By using curing sources (UV or visible light) to polymerize the waste material, the system transforms hazardous waste into a stable, non-hazardous solid that can be disposed of under normal conditions, effectively turning a disposal problem into a resource management solution
2Productivity
If curing sources are continuously operated to cure waste, then waste material is efficiently cured, but the nozzles delivering waste are exposed to curing radiation which can solidify waste in the nozzles and block them
Solution Approach 1:
The movable cover is configured to dynamically change position between open and closed states. When waste needs to be delivered, the cover is open to allow nozzle access. When curing is required, the cover closes to shield the nozzles from curing radiation, preventing waste solidification in the nozzles while allowing continuous curing operation
Solution Approach 2:
The movable cover acts as an intermediary element between the nozzles and curing sources. It selectively blocks curing radiation from reaching the nozzles when needed, mediating the interaction between the waste delivery system and the curing system to prevent nozzle blockage while maintaining curing efficiency
3Productivity
If waste is delivered continuously into the container, then waste collection is efficient, but curing radiation may not effectively reach all waste material for complete curing
Solution Approach 1:
The waste delivery process is segmented into discrete batches. The controller delivers a predetermined amount of waste, then pauses delivery to allow curing sources to irradiate and cure the accumulated waste. This segmentation ensures that each batch receives adequate curing exposure while maintaining overall collection efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs periodic action by alternating between waste delivery phases and curing phases. During delivery, waste is pumped into the container; during curing phases, delivery pauses and curing sources activate to treat the waste. This periodic cycle ensures complete curing while maintaining efficient waste collection
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 solution effectively cures waste building material, reducing hazards and operational complexities by ensuring consistent and efficient curing of waste, allowing for less stringent disposal conditions and scalable waste management.
Implementation Method 1
the movable cover is configured to move relative to the static cover to provide an open position for the waste nozzles to deliver waste into the container, and subsequently to a closed position, to shield the waste nozzles from curing radiation
Implementation Method 2
one or more curing sources mounted on the static cover and configured to provide curing radiation to cure the waste in the container
Data Source
AI summary
A waste curing device to cure waste generated by an additive manufacturing system, the waste curing device comprising: a container for receiving the waste; a movable cover positioned above the container; one or more waste nozzles mounted on the moveable cover and configured to deliver waste into the container; a static cover positioned above the container and below the movable cover; one or more curing sources mounted on the static cover and configured to provide curing radiation to cure the waste in the container; wherein the movable cover is configured to move relative to the static cover to provide an open position for the waste nozzles to deliver waste into the container, and subsequently to a closed position, to shield the waste nozzles from curing radiation.