DE102015012647A1 - Openable construction container for laminating method - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention describes a building container (1) with a layered mobile construction platform (3), wherein at least one side wall (3) after the construction process can be opened stepwise or at one time. As a result, the components (4) during unpacking accessible without a lifting device (12) to use.

Description

The present invention relates to a building container for industrial production facilities for the production of three-dimensional components of formless building material such. B. particulate material.

In the so-called layer construction method such. B. the 3D printing process, a thin layer of particulate material is first applied to a lowerable building platform. Subsequently, a type of ink jet print head selectively prints the particulate material layer with a liquid binder. The binder specifically bonds the loosely applied particles to a component cross-section. Subsequently, the construction platform is lowered by one layer thickness and the process begins again, whereby the component cross sections of the individual layers enter into a fixed connection with each other.

The process of coating and selective binder application is repeated until the components are completed.

As an alternative to the 3D printing process with a binder, the particulate material z. B. also be selectively solidified with high-energy radiation. The individual powders are selectively fused together.

For the construction process of the production plant is usually supplied to an open-top building container whose movable in the layer direction floor represents the construction platform.

Before starting the construction process, a lifting device lifts the build platform from below to an upper position in the build container. In the construction process, the lifting device then lowers the construction platform in layers until the components are completed.

After completion of the construction process, the finished components can be removed from the construction container. Before that, first the unbound building material z. B. removed with a vacuum cleaner. This process is called unpacking.

problem

The height of the construction container is approximately the vertical distance of the top edge of the construction container to the construction platform when it is in its lowermost position. The overall height is thus the maximum component height that can be created in the construction container.

In the case of commercially available production systems, the aspect ratio of a construction container from length to width to overall height is generally about 2 to 1 to 1. This dimensional ratio usually covers the largest range of all component dimensions to be manufactured.

Since the commercially available production systems are largely designed as individual systems for one-off production or small batches, the construction containers are almost always used in this dimension ratio.

In thermal processes such. As the laser beam melting is taken to ensure that the horizontal dimensions, that is, the dimensions of the construction field are as small as possible.

The reason for this lies in the fact that the laser source is usually arranged stationary and the laser beams with movable mirrors are directed by special optics over the construction field.

With the commercially available optics and the well-known machine concepts, the deflection width of the laser beam is limited above the construction field. The construction container of these production plants usually have an aspect ratio of length to width to height of a building container to about 1 to 1 to 2.

After completion of a building process are in the building container, the solidified components and unbound particulate material. In the so-called postprocess (German = post-process), the components are unpacked. After completion of the construction process, the finished components can be removed from the construction container. Here, the unbound building material z. B. largely removed with vacuum cleaners.

Systems for large components have the disadvantage that the lower components are difficult to access with the side length ratios of the building container described above.

In order to facilitate unpacking, the build platform is usually slowly raised again. The lifting of the construction platform takes place either in the production plant itself or in special peripheral devices, the so-called unpacking stations.

The unpacking within the production plant blocks further construction processes and is therefore uneconomical.

Unpacking outside the production plant requires technically complex unpacking stations with mechanized lifting devices. The lifting devices comprise at least one linear lifting drive, a holding device for the building container and a control with high personal safety.

Production systems with large-volume construction containers require lifting devices that lead to high dimensions of the production lines and unpacking stations. The reason for this is that the construction platform must be positioned in a completely enclosed construction container.

For this purpose, the entire stroke of the lifting device below the building container place, such. B. in patent application DE 10 2011 119 338 A1 described.

Alternatively, in the prior art systems such as patent application DE 00 0010 047 615 A1 find, in which the building platform is gripped by slots in the building walls.

In this case, the slots must be laboriously sealed in order to prevent the leakage of particulate material.

task

The invention is based on the object, such a building container of the type mentioned in such a way that so large volumes can be unpacked quickly and without lifting the build platform.

Disclosure of the invention

The present invention is a closed building container with a movable bed in the layer direction (= building platform), in which after completion of the construction process at least one side wall can be opened completely or partially.

After the construction process, the construction container can be unpacked inside or outside the system.

When unpacking one or more side walls is partially opened depending on the progress of unpacking to get to the lower component layers. Preferably, the side wall or the side walls during unpacking opened only as far as loose particulate material has already been removed from the building container.

drawing

Embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the drawing. In the drawing shows:

1a a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the building container ( 1 ) with a sliding sidewall ( 3 ), in the process section in which the side wall ( 3 ) is in its uppermost position.

1b a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the building container ( 1 ) with a sliding sidewall ( 3 ), in the process section in which the side wall ( 3 ) has been pushed into a lower position.

2a a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the building container ( 1 ) with a hinged side wall ( 3 ), in the process section in which the side wall ( 3 ) is closed.

2 B a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the building container ( 1 ) with a hinged side wall ( 3 ), in the process section in which the side wall ( 3 ) is unfolded.

3a shows a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the building container ( 1 ) with two hinged sidewall segments ( 3 ), in the process section in which all sidewall segments ( 3 ) are closed.

3b shows a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the building container ( 1 ) with two hinged sidewall segments ( 3 ), in the process section where the upper sidewall segment (FIG. 3 ) is open.

3b shows a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the building container ( 1 ) with two hinged sidewall segments ( 3 ), in the process section in which both sidewall segments ( 3 ) are open.

4a shows a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of a production plant for an embodiment of the building container ( 1 ) without construction container ( 1 ).

4b shows a perspective view of the production plant 4a with two construction containers ( 1 ), whereby a construction container ( 1 ) above the lifting device ( 12 ) in process position and another construction container ( 1 ) in unpacking position.

Description of the embodiments

1a to 1c show a preferred embodiment of the invention in which a side wall ( 3 ) of the building container ( 1 ) can be moved vertically. In this version, there is the possibility of the side wall ( 3 ) in each position by a lock.

Alternatively, the movable side wall ( 3 ) by self-locking or lockable linear actuators such. B. spindle drives or rack drives are positioned.

Each movable side wall ( 3 ) is preferably opened only as far as already unbound particulate material ( 5 ) was removed.

2a to 2c show the structure with a hinged side wall ( 3 ). It consists of the side wall ( 3 ) either from a part or as in 3a to 3b represented by several hinged sidewall segments ( 3 ). The individual side wall parts ( 3 ) are hinged ( 8th ) or flexible connecting elements such. B. rubber spring movable.

In the closed position, preferably, each movable side wall element ( 3 ) on the adjacent, fixed building container wall ( 2 ) z. B. attached with clamp closures.

To allow the construction container to drain ( 1 ) prevents any build platform ( 13 ) laterally via a circumferential sliding seal ( 14 ). The seal ( 14 ) closes the gap between the moveable build platform and the sidewalls.

The container ( 1 ) is preferably designed so that the movable side wall ( 3 ) can only be opened so far that the seal ( 14 ) all around of fixed side wall areas ( 2 ) remains hidden.

When the side wall is closed ( 3 ), the build platform ( 13 ) with your seal ( 14 ) move tightly inside the construction container.

The frame ( 6 ) of this kind of construction containers ( 1 ) is preferably carried out so that below the building platform ( 13 ) at least the complete height of the production plant remains free. Supported is the build platform ( 13 ) by at least two lateral frame feet ( 6 ).

This allows the construction container ( 1 ) on the side frame feet ( 6 ) on rollers or rails or roller conveyors ( 10 ) are driven directly into the production plant. Between the feet of the roller conveyor is then the lifting device in the form of a scissors drive or a guided linear drive such. B. a lifting spindle.

4a and 4b show a production plant at the two construction containers ( 1 ) are used. Thus, there is always the possibility of a construction container ( 1 ) to be used in the construction process while the already finished construction container is being unpacked next to the plant. In this embodiment, each building container moves on its own roller conveyor pair ( 10 ).

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

building container

2

Rigid sidewall

3

Mobile sidewall

4

component

5

unbound particulate material

6

frame foot

7

machine frame

8th

hinge

9

Process level with coating unit and layer consolidation unit

10

Roller conveyor for a construction container

11

Offset roller conveyor for another construction container

12

Lifting device (= Z-axis)

13

building platform

14

poetry

QUOTES INCLUDE IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list of the documents listed by the applicant has been generated automatically and is included solely for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions.

Cited patent literature

• DE 102011119338 A1 [0020]
• DE 000010047615 A1 [0021]

Claims (8)

Construction container ( 1 ) for a production plant for producing three-dimensional components in a layer construction method, in which individual layers of particulate material are deposited on a lowerable building platform ( 13 ) and layer-wise selectively solidified into a component cross-section, comprising four side walls, which can be moved in the layer direction of a building platform ( 13 ) and thus limit an internal space and the building platform ( 13 ) from the lifting device ( 6 ) of the production plant is moved from below in the layer direction, characterized in that when the building platform ( 13 ) is in a lower position at least one side wall ( 3 ) can be opened in whole or in part. Construction container ( 1 ) according to claim 1, characterized in that a movable side wall ( 3 ) is characterized as a sliding plate, which is guided on two fixed parts of the building container. Construction container ( 1 ) according to claim 1 and 2, characterized in that a movable side wall can be detected in each or in certain positions. Construction container ( 1 ) according to claim 1 and 2, characterized in that a movable side wall ( 3 ) can be moved vertically with a linear drive. Construction container ( 1 ) according to claim 1, characterized in that a side wall of the building container is designed to fold outward. Construction container ( 1 ) according to claim 1 and 4, characterized in that a hinged side wall ( 3 ) of the building container is made of individual folding segments. Construction container ( 1 ) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the frame of the container with at least two lateral frame feet ( 6 ) is carried out so that the distance of the platform platform bottom to the ground when it is in its lowest positions at least the height or the stroke of the lifting device ( 12 ) corresponds. Production plant with a construction container ( 1 ) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the lifting device below the building platform ( 13 ) and between the frame feet ( 6 ) of the building container ( 1 ) and the building container by inserting directly via the lifting device ( 12 ) can be positioned.

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