DE102018211886A1 - Conveying device for conveying at least one material, production system for the additive manufacturing of at least one component and method for producing at least one component - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a conveying device (10) for conveying at least one material (12), with at least one container (14) which has at least one receiving chamber (16) and at least one through opening (20), and with at least one in the receiving chamber (16 ) arranged and an axis of rotation (28) relative to the container (14) rotatable conveyor element (30), by means of which the material (12) from the receiving chamber (16) through the through opening (20) along a conveying direction (32, 50) along which the conveying element (30) can be moved in translation relative to the container (14). The conveying device (10) comprises at least one fluid cylinder (40), which has a housing (42), an element (46) which can be displaced along a direction of movement (48) relative to the housing (42) and a through the housing (42) and through the Element (46) has a limited working chamber (52) in which a fluid can be accommodated, the conveying element (30) being coupled to the element (46) and being displaceable along the direction of movement (48) with the element (46).

Description

The invention relates to a conveying device for conveying at least one material. Furthermore, the invention relates to a production system for the additive manufacturing of at least one component and a method for producing, in particular for additive manufacturing, at least one component.

The WO 2016/020150 A1 discloses a granule / liquid flow adjustment device for 3D printer heads fed by granules and / or liquids, arranged in a 3D printer head fed via a channel. The 3D printer head comprises a chamber, the chamber having a surface. This surface has at least one exit hole. It is provided that at least one screw is arranged within the chamber, which feeds material, preferably plastic, to the at least one outlet bore. The screw is acted upon by a force in the direction of the surface, a distance between the screw and the surface being set by a pressure of the material.

The object of the present invention is to create a conveyor, a production system and a method so that at least one component can be manufactured particularly precisely.

This object is achieved by the subject matter of the respective independent claims. Advantageous refinements with expedient developments of the invention are specified in the remaining claims.

A first aspect of the invention relates to a conveying device for conveying at least one material. The conveying device can be used in a particularly advantageous manner for or in a production plant, by means of which at least one component can be produced, in particular produced generatively. In other words, the production system or the conveyor device is preferably designed to carry out at least one generative production process, so that the component can be produced by the generative production process. The generative manufacturing process is or includes, for example, 3D printing. The conveying device can be used, for example, to provide the material from which the component is manufactured, in particular as part of the additive manufacturing process. In particular, it is conceivable to arrange respective layers of the material on top of one another by means of the conveying device, and in particular to connect them to one another, in particular to connect them at least in a materially integral manner, so that the component can be produced, in particular printed, from the layers and thus layer by layer.

The conveying device has at least one container which has or delimits at least one receiving chamber for receiving the material. The container has at least one through opening, which opens into the receiving chamber. The material can thus get into the through opening from the receiving chamber. The through opening, for example, which opens into the receiving chamber of the container, on the other hand, opens into an environment of the container, for example, so that the material can pass out of the receiving chamber through the through opening and thereby, for example, reach the surroundings. In particular, for example, the material can be conveyed through the through opening and thereby out of the receiving chamber or out of the container as a whole. In this way it is possible, for example, to convey the material onto a substrate on which the component, in particular layer by layer, is produced. In this way, the component can be printed, for example, in three dimensions on the substrate.

The conveying device also has at least one at least partially, in particular at least predominantly or completely, conveying element which is arranged in the receiving chamber and can be rotated about an axis of rotation relative to the container. By means of the conveying element, the material is conveyed from the receiving chamber through the through opening along a conveying direction while rotating the conveying element. In other words, in order to convey the material initially received in the receiving chamber along the conveying direction through the through opening, the conveying element is rotated relative to the container along the axis of rotation. The axis of rotation preferably runs parallel to the direction of conveyance or the axis of rotation coincides with the direction of conveyance. The conveying direction coincides, for example, with a direction of passage along which the material can pass through the passage opening, in particular flow or flow through. The conveying element can be moved translationally along the axis of rotation relative to the container, that is to say displaceable. This means that the conveying element can be displaced relative to the container along the conveying direction. In this way, the conveying element can, for example, be moved, in particular displaced, away from the through opening and / or towards the through opening along the conveying direction.

In order to be able to produce the component with a very high degree of dimensional accuracy and thus particularly precisely, the conveyor device according to the invention has at least one fluid cylinder. The fluid cylinder, also referred to simply as a cylinder, comprises a housing and an element which can be moved at least or only translationally relative to the housing along a movement direction running parallel to the conveying direction or coinciding with the conveying direction. The element can be a membrane which, for example, can be elastically deformed and can thus be moved translationally along the direction of movement relative to the housing.

However, the element is preferably designed as a piston which is displaceable relative to the housing, that is to say translatory, along the direction of movement which runs parallel to the conveying direction or coincides with the conveying direction.

In addition, the fluid cylinder has a working chamber which is formed or delimited partly by the housing and partly by the element, in particular the piston. A fluid can be received or received in the working chamber, with which the element also referred to as the movement element, in particular the piston, can be acted upon or acted upon. This means that the fluid that can be received or received in the working chamber, for example, can exert a force at least indirectly, in particular directly, on the element, in particular on the piston, this force preferably acting on the element, in particular on the piston, along the direction of movement can or works. The conveying element is coupled to the element, in particular to the piston, and is thus translationally movable, in particular displaceable, along the direction of movement with element, in particular relative to the container and relative to the housing. This means that the conveying element and the element, in particular the piston, can be moved together, in particular displaced, translationally along the direction of movement relative to the housing and relative to the container. In addition, this means that the aforementioned force can be or is transmitted from the element to the conveying element and thus acts or can act on the conveying element.

The invention is based in particular on the following finding: For a dimensionally stable manufacture or manufacture of the component, it is advantageous if the conveyor device is used to produce at least substantially uniform webs from the material on the substrate. The material is, for example, a plastic which, for example, is conveyed through the passage opening in the liquid, pasty or plasticized state by means of the conveying element and is thus conveyed, for example, to the aforementioned environment. The above-mentioned webs are plastic webs. Sufficiently dimensionally accurate fabrication of the webs can be produced, for example, by a regulated flow of the material through the through opening into the environment, also referred to as the material flow. The through opening is, for example, part of a nozzle or forms a nozzle through which the material is conveyed to the environment, in particular extruded. The material flow can, for example, be adjusted, in particular electronically, in particular regulated, for example by measuring a pressure at the passage opening, in particular at the nozzle. Depending on the measured pressure, for example, a rotational speed at which the conveying element is rotated about the axis of rotation relative to the container is set. For this purpose, for example, there is digital regulation or the material flow can be regulated thereby, the regulation being controlled digitally, for example. In particular, the regulation can be carried out as a melt pressure regulation.

Another, in contrast, another possibility is mechanical control, for example by using a spring element, a magnet or a weight. The spring element, the magnet or the weight is an element by means of which the conveying element, which is displaceable along the axis of rotation and thus axially displaceable and is designed, for example, as a screw, is pressed in the direction of or against the nozzle. When a certain pressure is exceeded, the conveying element is pushed away from the nozzle. As a result, there is a reduction in pressure at the nozzle and thus a lower material flow. However, the above-mentioned solutions, that is to say the electronic control and the mechanical control, are conventionally flawed.

In the delivery device according to the invention, the fluid can be used to compensate for pressure fluctuations in and / or at the passage opening, that is to say in or on the nozzle. This has the advantage over conventional solutions that the previously described force, which acts or is intended to act via the element, in particular the piston, on the conveying element and thereby, for example, in the direction of the passage opening, can be set and regulated very precisely in that a pressure of the fluid, particularly in the working chamber, can be adjusted and regulated particularly precisely. In other words, there may be pressure in the work chamber or a pressure of the fluid in the working chamber can be set particularly precisely and in particular regulated, the pressure of the fluid in the working chamber being at least almost directly steplessly adjustable. In this way, the pressure at which the material emerges from the passage opening and emerges into the environment can also be set particularly precisely, in particular regulated. In other words, by setting the pressure of the fluid in the working chamber, a pressure with which the material emerges from the through opening and enters the environment can be set, it being possible for the pressure of the fluid in the working chamber to be set precisely, the pressure at which the material emerges from the passage opening and enters the environment, also referred to as the outlet pressure, can be set particularly precisely. In particular, it is possible to keep both pressures at least substantially constant, in particular during the production of the BE, so that the component can be manufactured with a particularly high degree of dimensional accuracy and thus particularly precisely.

The outlet pressure is, for example, a pressure of the material and is also referred to as material pressure or material pressure. It was found that the material pressure has a direct influence on a flow rate of the material emerging from the through opening and emerging to the environment. If, for example, the material is not to be conveyed so that no more material emerges from the through opening, then for example the rotation of the conveying element about the axis of rotation is ended or the direction of rotation of the conveying element is reversed. For example, the conveying element is first rotated about the axis of rotation in a first direction of rotation, in order thereby to convey the material from the receiving chamber into the through opening and through the through opening. As a result of the reversal of the direction of rotation, the conveying element is no longer rotated in the first direction of rotation, but in a second direction of rotation opposite to the first direction of rotation about the axis of rotation relative to the container. In addition to stopping the rotation of the conveying element or in addition to reversing the direction of rotation, the pressure of the fluid in the working chamber can be reduced, in particular completely, so that undesired escaping, in particular dripping, of material from the through opening can additionally be prevented.

The conveyor device according to the invention is particularly advantageous for an, in particular continuous, extrusion of the material, for example a plastic. For this purpose, for example, the conveying element is designed as an extruder screw. First, for example, granules formed from the material, for example plastic granules, are received in the receiving chamber and heated, melted and plasticized by means of a radiator or by means of several radiators. Furthermore, the material is conveyed to the through opening by means of the conveying element, the material being heated, melted and plasticized on its way to the through opening, for example. Thus, for example, the aforementioned granulate and / or already melted and plasticized material is conveyed by means of the conveying element. The heated, melted and plasticized material emerges from the through opening and into the aforementioned environment. The material is therefore extruded. By heating, melting and plastifying the material, a melt is formed from the material, in particular from the granulate, which comprises the material in a liquid or pasty state. During extrusion, pressure fluctuations usually occur within the melt, which can result in the material or material flowing through the through opening and in particular out of the through opening being uneven. This can result in irregular layer thicknesses, but this can now be avoided by means of the conveyor device according to the invention.

The conveying element can be designed as an axial extruder screw or as an axial extruder or as a radial extruder or as a radial extruder screw and can be, for example, spiral, such melting, compression and extrusion of the melt, which for example forms a melt strand, via such a radial screw geometry. can be achieved. With the so-called FFF (fused filament fabrication), plastic filaments are mostly used, whereby a particularly uniform material supply to the through opening can be realized. The material waste is limited due to the filament size and heating capacity of the extruder. This means that the use of the conveyor device according to the invention enables a particularly uniform layer thickness to be achieved in particular when the material is initially in the form of granular material which is heated and melted in order to thereby form the melt. In other words, the at least one component can be produced from the granular material with particular precision by means of the conveyor device according to the invention, wherein a particularly high material output can be realized. In addition, the at least one component can be produced particularly cost-effectively through the use of the granular material. The fluid cylinder can be designed as a hydraulic cylinder, in the working chamber of which the fluid formed as a liquid is recordable or recorded. The liquid can have water or at least be made almost entirely of water.

However, it has proven to be particularly advantageous if the fluid cylinder is designed as a pneumatic cylinder, in particular as an air cylinder or as a compressed air cylinder. The fluid designed as a gas, in particular air and in particular compressed air, can then be received or received in the working chamber. This embodiment is based on the knowledge that the pressure of the air, in particular the compressed air, in the working chamber can be set particularly precisely and, in particular, monitored or regulated, so that a particularly uniform material or material flow out of the passage opening can be achieved. As a result, the layers can be produced with an at least almost constant layer thickness, so that the component can be manufactured particularly dimensionally or precisely.

A further embodiment is characterized in that the conveying element is designed as a radial screw conveyor, by means of which the material, in particular in the receiving chamber, can first be conveyed towards the through opening along a direction perpendicular to the conveying direction and thus in the radial direction of the radial screw conveyor is conveyed and then can be conveyed through the through opening along the conveying direction and thus in the axial direction of the radial screw conveyor or is conveyed through. As a result, an at least almost constant material flow can be realized, so that the component can be manufactured particularly precisely.

In a particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention, the conveying device has a shaft which is non-rotatably connected to the conveying element and can also be displaced with the conveying element along the direction of movement, in particular relative to the housing and / or relative to the container, via which shaft the conveying element is coupled to the element , This enables a particularly advantageous power transmission to be realized, so that the aforementioned force acting on the conveying element via the element and via the shaft can be set particularly precisely. As a result, a material flow can be set particularly precisely.

The shaft is formed, for example, in one piece with the conveying element. Alternatively, it is conceivable for the conveying element and the shaft to be designed as components which are formed separately and are connected to one another.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the conveyor device comprises a drive, in particular an electric drive, by means of which the conveyor element can be rotated about the axis of rotation. This allows a material flow to be set particularly precisely.

It has been shown to be particularly advantageous if the drive is connected to the shaft in a rotationally fixed manner via at least one positive connection, the positive connection permitting relative displacements between the shaft and the drive taking place along the direction of movement. As a result, the component can be manufactured particularly precisely and inexpensively.

In order to keep the costs particularly low and to be able to realize a particularly precise manufacture of the component, it is provided in a further embodiment of the invention that the positive connection comprises at least one spline and / or at least one spline and / or at least one key.

Another embodiment is characterized in that the conveyor device has at least one heating device by means of which the material in the receiving chamber can be heated. In particular, the material can be heated or kept warm on its way to the through opening and / or on its way through the through opening by means of the heating device, so that for example the material can be plasticized, liquefied or melted by heating the material. As a result, a particularly precise manufacture of the component can be ensured.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the conveying element has at least one transfer opening, through which the material moves from a first side of the conveying element facing away from the through opening along the axis of rotation or along the conveying direction and / or along the direction of movement to one of the through opening along the axis of rotation or along the direction of movement and / or to be guided along the conveying direction of the second side of the conveying element. In this way, for example, the material on the first side can be conveyed into the receiving chamber, in particular at least essentially continuously, and can pass from the first side to the second side via the passage opening, so that an at least substantially constant material flow through the passage opening can be realized.

Finally, it has proven to be particularly advantageous if the conveyor device is designed as a Printhead for generative manufacturing, in particular for 3D printing, at least one component is formed. As a result, the component can be manufactured in a particularly precise, time-saving and cost-effective manner.

A second aspect of the invention relates to a production system for the additive manufacturing of at least one component from at least one material. The production system has at least one conveying device, in particular at least one conveying device according to the invention, for conveying the material. The conveying device comprises at least one container which has at least one receiving chamber for receiving the material and at least one through opening opening into the receiving chamber. In addition, the conveying device comprises at least one conveying element which is at least partially arranged in the accommodating chamber and rotatable about an axis of rotation relative to the container, by means of which the material can be conveyed from the accommodating chamber through the through opening along a conveying direction while rotating the conveying element. The conveying element can be moved translationally along the conveying direction relative to the container, that is to say displaceably.

In order to be able to manufacture the component particularly precisely, the conveying device or the production system according to the second aspect of the invention has at least one fluid cylinder which is translatory relative to the housing along a direction of movement running parallel to the conveying direction or coinciding with the conveying direction movable element and a working chamber partially delimited by the housing and partly by the element. A fluid with which the element can be acted upon or acted upon can be received or received in the receiving chamber. The conveying element is coupled to the element and can be moved in translation along the direction of movement with the element, in particular relative to the housing and relative to the container. Advantages and advantageous configurations of the first aspect of the invention are to be regarded as advantages and advantageous configurations of the second aspect of the invention and vice versa.

If the element is designed as the aforementioned membrane, for example not the entire membrane can be moved translationally relative to the housing, but rather the membrane can be elastically deformed, for example, whereby at least a portion of the membrane can be moved translationally relative to the housing along the direction of movement, in particular while a further partial region of the membrane adjoining the partial region of the membrane is connected to the housing or does not move relative to the housing along the direction of movement. As a result, the membrane is held and secured to the housing over the further partial area, and, based on the partial areas, only the first partial area moves relative to the housing due to the elastic deformation of the membrane.

A third aspect of the invention relates to a method for producing, in particular for additive manufacturing, at least one component made from at least one material. In other words, in the method, the at least one component is produced from the at least one material, in particular is manufactured additively or generatively. In a first step of the method, the material, in particular initially, is received in at least one receiving chamber of a container of a conveying device, in particular a conveying device according to the invention, which has the receiving chamber and at least one through opening opening into the receiving chamber. In the second step of the method, the material is conveyed out of the receiving chamber through the through opening along a conveying direction by means of at least one conveying element which is arranged at least partially in the receiving chamber, is translationally movable along the conveying direction relative to the container and rotatable about an axis of rotation relative to the container by the conveying element is rotated about the axis of rotation relative to the container.

In order to be able to produce the at least one component particularly precisely, the conveying device has at least one fluid cylinder which has a housing, an element which is translationally movable relative to the housing along a direction of movement which runs parallel to the conveying direction or coincides with the conveying direction, and an element which partially moves through the housing Housing and working chamber limited in part by the element. A fluid with which the element is acted upon is received in the working chamber, the conveying element being coupled to the element and being moved along with the element in a translatory manner along the direction of movement. Advantages and advantageous configurations of the first aspect of the invention and the second aspect of the invention are to be regarded as advantages and advantageous configurations of the third aspect of the invention and vice versa.

Further advantages, features and details of the invention result from the following description of a preferred exemplary embodiment and from the drawing. The features mentioned in the description and Characteristic combinations as well as the features and combinations of features mentioned below in the description of the figures and / or shown in the single figure alone can be used not only in the respectively specified combination but also in other combinations or on their own without departing from the scope of the invention.

In the single figure, the drawing shows a schematic and sectional illustration of a conveyor device according to the invention for producing at least one component from at least one material.

The single figure shows a schematic representation of a conveyor 10 for conveying at least one material 12 , The conveyor 10 can in particular be used to make at least one component from the material 12 to manufacture particularly precisely. This is the conveyor 10 For example, part of a manufacturing system by means of which a manufacturing process is carried out. The at least one component is produced by the manufacturing method. The manufacturing process can be a generative manufacturing process, such as 3D printing, so that the component by means of the conveyor 10 is manufactured generatively or additively.

The conveyor 10 comprises at least or exactly one container 14 which is at least or exactly one receiving chamber 16 for picking up the material 12 has or limited. The container 14 has at least one feed opening 18 on which of the material 12 to the reception chamber 16 initiated, especially promoted. For example, the material 12 initially as granular matter in the receiving chamber 16 arranged, that is, through the feed opening 18 conveyed through and thereby into the receiving chamber 16 filled. The component is thus produced from the granular matter.

The container 14 also has a through opening 20 on one hand or one end into the receiving chamber 16 and on the other hand or at the other end to an environment 22 of the container 14 empties. The passage opening 20 is part of a nozzle, for example 24 , the material 12 through the through opening 20 and thus through the nozzle 24 pass through and thus out of the receiving chamber 16 to the environment 22 can reach. For example, on its way from the feed opening 18 to the through opening 20 and / or through the through opening 20 becomes the material 12 , which is preferably a plastic, by means of at least one heating device shown particularly schematically in the figure 26 heated and thereby melted or plasticized. In this way, for example, a melt from the initially solid material 12 or formed from the initially solid granular matter, the melt through the through opening 20 passes through and to the environment 22 occurs. Thus, for example, the material flows 12 in a liquid, pasty or plasticized state through the through opening 20 and in or around the area 22 , In other words, the material flows 12 in a liquid, pasty or plasticized state from the through opening 20 or from the nozzle 24 out and in or around 22 ,

The conveyor 10 also has at least or exactly at least partially, in particular at least predominantly or completely, in the receiving chamber 16 arranged and about an axis of rotation 28 relative to the container 14 rotatable conveyor element 30 on, which is designed as a radial screw conveyor in the embodiment shown in the figure. By means of the conveyor element 30 is under rotation of the conveyor element 30 the material 12 along one in the figure by an arrow 32 illustrated conveying direction along which the material 12 , in particular in the liquid, pasty or plasticized state, through the through opening 20 flows through and in particular from the through opening 20 emerges and thus to the environment 22 occurs. The remaining arrows shown in the figure illustrate a path or a path of the material 12 from the feed opening 18 to the through opening 20 ,

For example, the material 12 through the through opening 20 To promote through and thereby promote in the direction of funding, the funding element 30 about the axis of rotation 28 relative to the container 14 into one in the figure by an arrow 34 illustrated first direction of rotation rotated. For this purpose, for example, is a drive shown only very schematically in the figure 36 provided by means of which the conveying element 30 driven and thereby around the axis of rotation 28 relative to the container 14 is rotated.

The the container 14 , especially the conveyor 10 , through the through opening 20 leaving material 12 is, for example, by means of the conveyor 10 on a substrate shown only schematically in the figure 38 applied, especially sprayed. This creates several layers of the material, for example 12 formed, these layers by means of the conveyor 10 can be arranged one above the other or on top of one another on the substrate. The respective layers connect, for example, cohesively or fusing together so that the component is built up from the layers and thus layer by layer and thus manufactured. In other words, the component is on the substrate 38 printed. Thus, the conveyor 10 be designed as a printhead for 3D printing of the component.

In order to realize uniform layer thicknesses of the layers and thus to be able to manufacture the component particularly dimensionally and precisely, the conveyor device comprises 10 at least one fluid cylinder 40 , which in the embodiment shown in the figure is designed as a pneumatic, in particular an air cylinder or compressed air cylinder. The fluid cylinder 40 includes a housing 42 which has a work space 44 limited. The fluid cylinder also includes 40 an element in the form of one in the work space 44 recorded piston 46 , which along one in the figure by a double arrow 48 illustrated direction of movement relative to the housing 42 Movable in translation, that is to say displaceable. In addition, the conveyor element 30 along the by the arrow 32 illustrated conveying direction relative to the container 14 Movable in translation, that is to say displaceable. This displaceability is shown in the figure by a double arrow 50 illustrates, which thus further illustrates the direction of conveyance. It can be seen from the figure that the direction of movement runs parallel to the conveying direction or coincides with the conveying direction. In particular, the axis of rotation falls 28 with the direction of conveyance.

The fluid cylinder 40 also has at least one partially through the housing 42 and partly through the piston 46 limited working chamber 52 in which a fluid, in particular air and preferably compressed air, can be received or received. That in the work chamber 52 absorbed fluid can the piston 46 touch at least indirectly, in the present case directly, and thus act on it so that the piston 46 with that in the Chamber of Labor 52 received fluid, in particular directly, can be acted upon or acted upon. The fluid in the work chamber 52 has a pressure from which one along the direction of movement on the piston 46 effective force results. This force acts in the direction of the through opening, for example 20 or in such a direction in which the piston 46 relative to the housing 42 is to be moved to the working chamber 52 to enlarge.

Here is the funding element 30 at least indirectly with the piston 46 coupled and thereby along the direction of movement or along the conveying direction with the piston 46 relative to the container 14 and relative to the housing 42 with sliding. This means that the piston 46 along the direction of movement relative to the container 14 can be moved. As a result, the aforementioned force acts on the piston 46 on the conveyor element 30 and, for example, in the direction of the through opening 20 ,

Since in the exemplary embodiment illustrated in the figure the fluid is in the form of air, in particular compressed air, the pressure of the fluid in the working chamber 52 also called air pressure. From the over the piston 46 on the conveyor element 30 effective force results in a pressure of the material 12 on and / or in the through opening 20 or on and / or in the nozzle 24 , the pressure of the material 12 is also referred to as material or material pressure. Overall, it can be seen that the material pressure depends on the air pressure. Because the air pressure in the working chamber 52 can be adjusted, in particular regulated, in a particularly simple manner and particularly precisely, the material pressure can be adjusted, in particular regulated, particularly precisely by adjusting, in particular regulating, the air pressure. This allows an at least almost constant material or material flow of the material 12 through the through opening 20 and from the through opening 20 be guaranteed out, especially during the manufacture of the component.

From the figure it can be seen that the cylinder 40 a first connection 54 which, for example, in the working chamber 52 empties. About the connection 54 the fluid can enter the working chamber 52 initiated and / or from the Chamber of Labor 52 be diverted. The piston 46 divides the work space, for example 44 to the work chamber 52 and into a second working chamber 56 , During the work chamber 52 on a first page 58 of the piston 46 is arranged is the working chamber 56 on one side 58 second side facing away from the direction of movement 60 of the piston 46 arranged. Here is the working chamber 56 partly through the piston 46 and partly through the case 42 limited or formed.

The fluid cylinder has 40 for example a second connection 62 on, via which, for example, one or the fluid into the working chamber 56 initiated and / or from the Chamber of Labor 56 can be diverted. By moving the piston 46 the working chamber becomes in a first direction coinciding with the direction of movement 52 enlarged, and the working chamber 56 is reduced. The enlargement or reduction is to be understood as an increase in volume or a decrease in volume. Will the piston 46 relative to the housing 42 in a second direction opposite to the first direction and coinciding with the direction of movement Direction shifted, so this becomes the working chamber 52 downsized and the work chamber 56 is enlarged.

The piston 46 is with a piston rod 64 connected, which is integral with the piston 46 can be trained. The piston rod 64 is with the piston 46 along the direction of movement relative to the housing 42 with sliding. There is also a hold-down 66 provided which with the piston 46 along the direction of movement relative to the housing 42 and relative to the container 14 is movable with. For example, the hold-down device 66 with the piston rod 64 coupled. In addition, the hold-down 66 at least along the direction of movement or along the conveying direction and at least indirectly with the conveying element 30 connected so that the conveying element 30 , the hold-down 66 , the piston rod 64 and the piston 46 together along the direction of movement or along the conveying element relative to the container 14 and relative to the housing 42 can be moved. This is accompanied by a corresponding reduction or enlargement of the working chamber 52 respectively 56 ,

Because the conveyor element 30 The material is designed as a radial screw conveyor 12 - As can be seen in the figure using the other arrows - initially along a direction perpendicular to the conveying direction and thus in the radial direction of the radial screw conveyor to the through opening 20 promoted. Then the material 12 along or in the conveying direction and thus in the axial direction of the radial screw conveyor through the through opening 20 conveyed through and thereby away from the radial screw conveyor.

The conveyor 10 has in the embodiment illustrated in the figure rotatably with the conveyor element 30 connected and with the conveying element 30 along the direction of movement or along the conveying direction relative to the container 14 and relative to the housing 42 with sliding shaft 68 through which the conveyor element 30 with the piston 46 is coupled. This means that the conveyor element 30 , the wave 68 , the hold-down 66 , the piston rod 64 and the piston 46 simultaneously along the direction of movement or along the conveying direction relative to the container 14 and relative to the housing 42 can be shifted or shifted, whereby a particularly constant material flow can be guaranteed. Here is the drive 36 via at least one positive connection with the shaft in a rotationally fixed manner 68 connected, the positive connection preferably having at least one spline. The hold-down 66 is, for example, in the axial direction of the shaft 68 on a collar also referred to as a paragraph 70 the wave 68 supported. Preferably the shaft 68 about the axis of rotation 28 relative to the hold-down 66 rotatable.

Furthermore, it can be provided that the hold-down device 66 in the axial direction of the shaft 68 is firmly connected to it, so that in the axial direction of the shaft 68 relative shifts between the shaft 68 and the hold-down 66 are avoided. This allows the wave 68 and the hold-down 66 together along the direction of movement relative to the container 14 and relative to the housing 42 move.

It is also conceivable that the shaft 68 along the axis of rotation 28 relative to the hold-down 66 is slidable such that the shaft 68 , especially their covenant 70 , in a running with the axis of rotation and from the hold-down 66 groundbreaking and to the container 14 indicative first direction from the hold-down 66 can take off. In one with the axis of rotation 28 however, the coincident and opposite direction of the first direction is the wave 68 over the 70 on the hold-down 66 supportable and therefore with the fluid cylinder 40 coupled or connectable. For example, the wave penetrates 68 a corresponding through opening of the hold-down device 66 , Here is the federal government 70 on one of the drive 36 opposite side of the hold-down device 66 arranged.

Furthermore, the conveyor element 30 at least or exactly one transfer opening 72 on. Via the transfer opening 72 can the material 12 from one of the through openings 20 along the axis of rotation facing away and the feed opening 18 facing first page 74 of the conveyor element 30 on one of the through openings 20 along the axis of rotation 28 facing second side 76 of the conveyor element 30 arrive or be guided so that an at least substantially continuous flow of material from the through opening 20 can be guaranteed out.

The conveyor 10 overall is designed, for example, as a radial extruder. Here is the funding element 30 formed as an extruder screw, in particular as a radial extruder screw, the conveying element 30 the material also referred to as material 12 promotes, warms, plasticizes and compresses, for example. This turns the initially solid material 12 a melt, so that the melted material as a melt strand 78 from the through opening 20 and thus out of the nozzle 24 is conveyed out and thus extruded. The extruder screw is with the rotating shaft 68 at least rotatably connected, the shaft 68 with the axis of rotation 28 relative to the container 14 is rotatable. The wave 68 or the funding element 30 is axial, i.e. along the conveying direction or along the axis of rotation 28 slidably mounted.

For example, by means of a conveyor system, the material 12 , in particular as granular matter, through the feed opening 18 conveyed through and thereby into the receiving chamber 16 brought in. The feed opening 18 is, for example, a through opening and / or in a lid also referred to as an extruder lid 80 the conveyor 10 arranged or trained.

The granular matter, which is also referred to as granules, initially collects, for example, on or on the side also referred to as the top 74 and will, especially by means of the conveyor element 30 and / or in that the conveyor element 30 about the axis of rotation 28 is turned in the first direction of rotation, on the side 74 and conveyed to the outside in the radial direction of the extruder screw, heated and possibly, in particular slightly, melted. Through the transfer opening designed as a recess and also referred to as a through opening 72 the material is on the side also called the bottom 76 brought the extruder screw, the material located on the underside by means of the conveying element 30 in particular in that the conveyor element 30 about the axis of rotation 28 relative to the container 14 is rotated in the first direction of rotation to the through opening 20 and thus, for example, to the center of the extruder screw. In other words, the material 12 conveyed on the underside in the radial direction of the extruder screw and thereby to the through opening 20 promoted. It is also conceivable that the material 12 is heated on the underside and plasticized and preferably compressed, in particular by means of the extruder screw. On the bottom is the material 12 in the form of the melt strand 78 through the through opening 20 pushed through and out of the through opening 20 or from the nozzle 24 pushed out. The heating device can comprise, for example, at least one or more heating elements, the heating element on and / or in the conveying element 30 can be arranged. Alternatively or additionally, the heating device can comprise a floor and / or jacket heating, by means of which the heating and melting of the material 12 is supported by the heating element.

By means of the fluid cylinder, which is preferably designed as a pneumatic cylinder or else as a hydraulic cylinder 40 the extruder screw goes towards the nozzle 24 or in the direction of the through opening 20 pressed, especially pressed. The fluid cylinder 40 presses over his piston 46 and the piston rod 64 against the hold-down device 66 which in turn against the federal government 70 the wave 68 suppressed. Over the wave 68 for example, at least one of the drive 36 provided torque for driving the shaft 68 and thus to drive the conveyor element 30 transferred to the extruder screw, causing the extruder screw around the axis of rotation 28 is rotated in the first direction of rotation.

Alternatively or additionally, the positive connection comprises a spline connection. In other words, through the positive connection between the shaft 68 and the drive 36 stay the wave 68 and the conveyor element 30 axially relative to the drive 36 , relative to the container 14 and relative to the housing 42 displaceable.

For example, the material 12 on the underside and therefore below the extruder screw as granules to the through opening 20 promoted and on its way to the passage opening 20 heated and melted so that the material 12 than the melt strand 78 out of the nozzle 24 is extruded out. This creates a pressure that affects both the melt strand 78 presses out of the melting nozzle as well as on the extruder screw, particularly in the direction of the drive 36 or the fluid cylinder 40 acts. This causes a force in the axial direction from the through hole 20 away on the wave 68 acts. This power is about the federal government 70 on the hold-down 66 and ultimately on the piston 64 of the fluid cylinder 40 transfer.

For example, because the fluid is air or a gas, the fluid in the working chamber 52 act as a spring, in particular as a gas spring. Similar to a compressed spring, by adjusting the pressure of the fluid in the working chamber 52 one over the piston 46 and the wave 68 on the conveyor element 30 acting bias are generated. Above a certain force, the fluid in the working chamber 52 further compressed, which results in less pressure on the material in the nozzle 24 works and so less material from the container 14 flows. A mechanical control is achieved, for example, in that when the pressure increases on the underside, that is, under the extruder screw, the conveying element 30 up towards the drive 36 or in the direction of the fluid cylinder 40 is pressed. This allows excess material on the underside to move inwards or upwards, and when the pressure drops again, more material will emerge from the passage opening 20 pushed out. In this way, an at least almost constant material flow can be guaranteed. Similarly, a hydraulic cylinder can also be used as the fluid cylinder 40 be used.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

10

Conveyor

12

material

14

container

16

receiving chamber

18

feed

20

Through opening

22

Surroundings

24

jet

26

heater

28

axis of rotation

30

impeller

32

arrow

34

arrow

36

drive

38

substratum

40

fluid cylinder

42

casing

44

working space

46

piston

48

double arrow

50

double arrow

52

working chamber

54

connection

56

working chamber

58

page

60

page

62

connection

64

piston rod

66

down device

68

wave

70

Federation

72

Threading opening

74

page

76

page

78

melt strand

80

cover

QUOTES INCLUDE IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list of documents listed by the applicant has been generated automatically and is only included 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.

Patent literature cited

• WO 2016/020150 A1 [0002]

Claims (12)

Conveying device (10) for conveying at least one material (12), with at least one container (14) which has at least one receiving chamber (16) for receiving the material (12) and at least one through opening (20) opening into the receiving chamber (16) , and with at least one at least partially arranged in the receiving chamber (16) and about an axis of rotation (28) relative to the container (14) rotatable conveyor element (30), by means of which the material (12) from the Receiving chamber (16) is to be conveyed through the through opening (20) along a conveying direction (32, 50) along which the conveying element (30) can be moved in translation relative to the container (14), characterized by at least one fluid cylinder (40) which a housing (42), an element (46) which is translationally movable along a movement direction (48) running parallel to the conveying direction (32, 50) and a part l has a working chamber (52) delimited partly by the housing (42) and partly by the element (46), in which a fluid with which the element (46) can be acted upon can be received, the conveying element (30) with the element ( 46) coupled and translatable along the direction of movement (48) with the element (46). Conveyor (10) after Claim 1 , characterized in that the fluid cylinder (40) is designed as a pneumatic cylinder, in the working chamber (52) of which the fluid formed as a gas can be received or received. Conveyor (10) after Claim 1 or 2 , characterized in that the conveying element (30) is designed as a radial screw conveyor (30), by means of which the material (12) can first be conveyed towards the through opening (20) along a direction perpendicular to the conveying direction (32, 50) and then along the The conveying direction (32, 50) can be conveyed through the through opening (20). Conveying device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by a shaft (68) which is connected to the conveying element (30) in a rotationally fixed manner and can be moved translationally with the conveying element (30) along the direction of movement (48), via which shaft the conveying element (30) with the Element (46) is coupled. Conveying device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by a drive (36) by means of which the conveying element (30) can be rotated about the axis of rotation (28). Conveyor (10) according to the Claims 4 and 5 , characterized in that the drive (36) is connected in a rotationally fixed manner to the shaft (68) via at least one positive connection which permits relative displacements between the shaft (68) and the drive (36) along the direction of movement (48). Conveyor (10) after Claim 6 , characterized in that the positive connection comprises at least one spline and / or at least one spline toothing and / or a feather key. Conveying device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by at least one heating device (26) by means of which the material (12) can be heated at least in the receiving chamber (14). Conveying device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the conveying element (30) has at least one transfer opening (72) through which the material (12) from a first side facing away from the through opening (20) along the axis of rotation (28) (74) of the conveying element (20) is to be guided to a second side (76) of the conveying element (30) facing the through opening (20) along the axis of rotation (28). Conveying device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the conveying device (10) is designed as a print head for the additive manufacturing of at least one component. Production system for the additive manufacturing of at least one component from at least one material (12), with at least one conveying device (10) for conveying the material (12), the conveying device (10) comprising: - at least one container (14) which has at least one receiving chamber (16) for receiving the material (12) and at least one through opening (20) opening into the receiving chamber (16); and - at least one conveyor element (30) arranged at least partially in the receiving chamber (16) and rotatable about an axis of rotation (28) relative to the container (14), by means of which, by rotating the conveyor element (30), the material (12) from the receiving chamber (16) is to be conveyed through the through opening (20) along a conveying direction (32, 50) along which the conveying element (30) can be moved in translation relative to the container (14), characterized by at least one fluid cylinder (40) which is a Housing (42), a direction of movement (48) running parallel to the conveying direction (32, 50) relative to the housing (42) Translationally movable element (46) and a working chamber (52) delimited partly by the housing (42) and partly by the element (46), in which a fluid with which the element (46) can be acted upon can be accommodated, the The conveying element (30) is coupled to the element (46) and can be moved along with the element (46) in translation along the direction of movement (48). Method for producing at least one component from at least one material (12), comprising the steps: - receiving the material (12) in at least one receiving chamber (16) of a through opening opening into the receiving chamber (16) and at least one into the receiving chamber (16) 20) having container (14) of a conveyor (10); - Conveying the material (12) from the receiving chamber (16) through the through opening (20) along a conveying direction (32, 50) by means of at least one at least partially arranged in the receiving chamber (16) along the conveying direction (32, 50) relative to the container (14) translationally movable and rotatable about an axis of rotation (28) relative to the container (14) conveyor element (30) by rotating the conveyor element (30) about the axis of rotation (28) relative to the container (14), characterized by at least one fluid cylinder (40) which has a housing (42), an element (46) which is translationally movable along a direction of movement (48) running parallel to the conveying direction (32, 50) and a part through the housing (42) and working chamber (52) delimited in part by the element (46), in which a fluid with which the element (46) is applied is received, the conveying element (30) with the el ement (46) is coupled and is moved translationally along with the element (46) along the direction of movement (48).

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