JP2001301060A - Sheet lamination type molding machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To materialize a sheet lamination type molding machine 1 which can laminate a sheet 27 always at a proper position and use the sheet 27 effectively. SOLUTION: The molding machine 1 is fitted with a continuous sheet feeding means 28 which feeds the continuous sheet 27 onto a sheet laminate 11 in an area located behind the lamination area of the continuous sheet 27 to be newly laminated, and a means 31 which cuts the continuous sheet fed onto the sheet laminate 11 along the backward line of the lamination area.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to an apparatus for forming a three-dimensional object by laminating sheets.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A technique for forming a three-dimensional object by laminating sheets has been developed. In this technique, (1) a sheet such as paper is stacked on a sheet laminate formed so far. (2) The newly laminated sheet is bonded and integrated with the sheet immediately below. (3) The top sheet is cut along a desired contour. Repeat the process. When the above steps are repeated until the last cross section of the three-dimensional object, a three-dimensional object having a desired shape is formed in the sheet laminate. When removing the outer region of the contour cut for each sheet from the finally formed sheet laminate,
A three-dimensional object having a desired shape is taken out.

[0003] In order to implement the above-described technology, two types of sheet lamination type molding apparatuses have been developed. One type uses a roll sheet 71, as shown in FIG. This type of sheet stacking type shaping apparatus 70 includes storage means 78 for the roll sheet 71, a vertically movable table 74 on which the sheet stack 75 is placed, and a region in front of the stacking region of the newly stacked roll sheet 71. The roll sheet 71
The winding roller 73 feeds an unused portion of the roll sheet 71 onto the sheet stack 75 by winding the sheet, a pressure heating roller 76 for bonding the newly stacked top sheet to the sheet immediately below, and a vertical moving table A bonding means consisting of a roll sheet 74 fed onto a sheet laminate 75;
1, a cutting means (not shown) for cutting the roll sheet 71 along a desired contour (see a broken line), and a cutting means for cutting the roll sheet 71 sent out on the sheet laminate 75 along the contour of the lamination area (see a two-dot chain line). Cutting means that have not been used.
In this type of layered molding apparatus, a laser and a laser scanning device constitute a cutting unit and a cutting unit.

The device 70 repeatedly performs the following operations. (1) The unused area of the roll sheet 71 is fed into the stacking area by the winding roller 73. (2) The pressurizing and heating roller 76 is moved in the horizontal direction, and pressurized between the pressurizing and heating roller 76 and the vertical moving table 74, so that the newly laminated top sheet (the unused area of the roll sheet 71) is located immediately below. The sheet is bonded to the sheet (the uppermost sheet of the sheet stack 75). (3) A laser (not shown) is scanned along a desired contour indicated by a broken line, and the newly laminated and bonded top sheet is cut along the desired contour. (4) A laser (not shown) is scanned along the outline of the lamination area indicated by the two-dot chain line, and the newly laminated and bonded top sheet is cut along the lamination area. When the outer region of the contour cut for each sheet is removed from the finally formed sheet laminate 75, the sheet laminate 75
A three-dimensional object having a desired shape is taken out of the inside.

[0005] In another type, a cut sheet cut in advance to a predetermined size is used. In this type, the step (4) necessary for the roll sheet type is not required.

[0006]

In the type using the roll sheet 71, the roll sheet 71 is fed into the lamination area by the take-up roller 73, so that it is cut into a window shape corresponding to the lamination area as shown in FIG. Have to do
A three-dimensional object spreading over the entire width of the roll sheet 71 cannot be formed. That is, a roll sheet 71 wider than the width of the three-dimensional object to be formed must be used. In this sheet lamination type molding technique, an extremely large number of sheets are laminated, so that even a small amount of waste per sheet is a large waste as a whole.

In the type in which the cut sheets are stacked, a three-dimensional object spreading over the full width of the sheet size can be formed, and the use sheet amount generated in the roll sheet type is not wasted. However, as is apparent from FIG. 6, which schematically shows a state in which a new cut sheet is fed onto the sheet stack, the stacked top sheet needs to be cut along the contour. The pair of rollers 80, 82) cannot be installed in the lamination area. For this reason, the sheet feeding means must be placed on the side of the stacking area. In the cut sheet stacking method, after the cut sheet leaves the feeding means, a predetermined distance (shown as D in FIG. 6) is satisfied. It is inevitable to adopt a method of proceeding by inertia and proceeding to the final lamination position. In the sheet stacking type shaping apparatus, in order to bond and integrate the stacked sheets together, sheets having an adhesive applied to the surface in advance are stacked. Therefore, the coefficient of friction on the sheet surface tends to be high. For this reason, it is easy for things that should proceed by inertia to stop halfway due to friction. In particular, this problem becomes remarkable when the cut sheet becomes large. If the cut sheet stops before proceeding to an appropriate stacking position, the subsequent stacking may be disrupted, or the contour of the desired shape may protrude outside the sheet. These lead to poor molding.

The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems of the conventional device, namely,
The roll sheet method was developed to solve the problem that the amount of wasteful use of the sheet material was increased, and the cut sheet method was not able to reliably send the cut sheet to the lamination position.

[0009]

Means for Solving the Problems, Functions and Effects The sheet stacking type shaping apparatus of the present invention comprises a continuous sheet storage means, a vertically movable table on which a sheet stack is placed, and a stacking area of a newly stacked continuous sheet. A continuous sheet feeding means for feeding the continuous sheet on the sheet laminate in the rear region, a means for cutting the continuous sheet sent on the sheet laminate along the rear line of the laminate region, newly laminated Means for bonding the top sheet to the sheet immediately below, and means for cutting the bonded top sheet along a desired contour.

According to this apparatus, since a method of feeding a continuous sheet from the rear area to the stacking area is used, there is no need to use a winding roller, and it is not necessary to use a continuous sheet wider than the stacking area. As a result, the problem that the sheet material is wastefully consumed, which is a problem of the conventional roll sheet type, is solved. Furthermore, since the sheet is not cut at the stage of feeding the sheet onto the sheet laminate and the continuous sheet is fed, even if the feeding means (for example, the pair of rollers 80 and 82 in FIG. 6) is on the side of the stacking area, The sheet can be reliably fed to the stacking position, without having to rely on inertia. This solves the problem of the conventional cut sheet system that the sheet cannot be reliably fed to the stacking position. Obviously from the above description, the term "continuous sheet" as used herein refers to a sheet extending beyond the lamination area and further toward the sheet storage area, and is not limited to a roll sheet. A folded continuous sheet is also included. There is no particular restriction on the composition of the sheet, and for example, a paper sheet, a synthetic resin sheet, or a metal sheet is used.

[0011] According to this apparatus, it is possible to reliably stack the sheets while effectively using the sheet size. In the case where a large molded object is to be molded by unmanned operation for a long time, a molding defect is generated on the way. Effectively prevent

[0012] In the sheet stacking type molding apparatus of the present invention, it is preferable that a means for blowing gas is added between the sheet stack and the sheet to be newly stacked.

According to this apparatus, a new sheet can be fed onto the sheet stack while being half-floated, and a paper jam phenomenon during stacking can be effectively prevented.

[0014]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION (Mode 1) A continuous sheet is guided to a lamination region by a guiding device for guiding a continuous sheet fed from a continuous sheet feeding device to a lamination region. According to this embodiment, the work of setting the continuous sheet in the continuous sheet feeder is easy. (Mode 2) The cutting device is installed at the exit of the guidance device. According to this mode, the continuous sheet is surely cut neatly. (Mode 3) The blowing device is installed on the lower surface of the guide device, and gas is blown on the lower surface of the continuous sheet. With this configuration, it is possible to reliably stack paper sheets while preventing the occurrence of paper jams.

[0015]

FIG. 1 is a front view of a molding apparatus 1 according to an embodiment embodying the present invention, FIG. 2 is a side view from the II direction in FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is a side view from the III direction in FIG. FIG. However, each shows the inside of the case 32. These figures show a state in which the rolled continuous sheet 27 is supported by a roll storage holder 26 described later.
The continuous sheet 27 has one surface (the inner surface of the roll) coated with an adhesive mainly containing a thermoplastic resin. This adhesive does not adhere at room temperature (so it can be pulled out of the roll) and adheres when heated.

The molding apparatus 1 includes a lower base 21, a case 32 fixed on the lower base 21, and an upper base 9 installed in the case 32, and these are fixed structures of the molding apparatus 1. Is composed. The upper base 9 has a large hole in the center when viewed in a plan view, and has a generally rectangular shape as a whole.

First, the structure of the storage means for the continuous sheet 27 will be described. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a roll storage holder 26 is fixed to the upper surface of the lower base 21. The roll storage holder 26 has a substantially U-shape in FIG. The upper edge has a concave shape. This concave shape receives the support shaft 25 that passes through the shaft hole of the continuous sheet 27 in the form of a roll. The rolled continuous sheet 27 is accommodated in the roll storage holder 26 so as to be able to rotate smoothly. A sensor (not shown) for detecting the remaining amount of the continuous sheet 27 is attached to the inner side surface of the roll storage holder 26.

Next, the structure of the continuous sheet feeding means for feeding the continuous sheet 27 from the above-mentioned storage means to the lamination area will be described. As shown in FIG. 1, the sheet feeder 28 is fixed to the case 32 by joints 57 and 61. As shown in FIG.
Has a motor 33, a pulley 34 on the shaft of the motor 33,
The drive roller 58 shown in FIG. 4 is fixed. The sheet feeding device 28 also has a drive roller 60, and a pulley 36 shown in FIG. A belt 35 extends between the pulleys 36 and 34. The drive roller 58 and the drive roller 60 shown in FIG. 4 extend over the entire width of the continuous sheet 27. Further, as shown in FIG. 4, the sheet feeding device 28 has an encoder 40 for measuring a sheet feeding amount. A measuring roller 59 for detecting the sheet feed amount is provided on the shaft of the encoder 40. The measurement roller 59 is located at substantially the height of the center between the drive roller 58 and the drive roller 60, and is rotated by feeding the sheet. 4, the driven rollers 44, 37, 41 are rotatably supported by the cover 38 so as to sandwich the continuous sheet 27 between the driving rollers 58, 60 and the measuring roller 59. . These driven rollers 44, 37, 41 are also shown in FIG. The driven roller 44 is divided into three in the length direction, and the driven roller 37 is divided into two. The above-mentioned roller group uses a rubber material on an outer peripheral portion thereof so as not to slide between the continuous sheet 27 and the roller group. The cover 38 is shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 3, the support member 4 fixed to the case 32
3, and is rotatable about a shaft 42 in the direction of arrow A (shown in FIG. 4). A sensor (not shown) for detecting the presence or absence of the continuous sheet 27 is provided near the lower end of the sheet feeding device 28.

The continuous sheet 27 fed from the sheet feeder 28 is guided by a guide device 29 onto a vertically movable table 12, which will be described later. As shown in FIG. 4, the guiding device 29 has two plate members 62 and 63 as its main configuration. The lower end is fixed to the case 32 via a joint 57 in a state where the lower end is continuous with the end of the sheet feeding device 28 described above. There is an interval between the two plate members 62 and 63 so that the continuous sheet 27 can pass smoothly. This guidance device 2
Reference numeral 9 has a smooth curvature (R100), and the other end is opened in a substantially horizontal direction. As best shown in FIG.
A cutting device 31 to be described later is located near an end that opens in a substantially horizontal direction, and a blowing device 30 to be described later is fixed.

The structure of the cutting means will be described with reference to FIGS. The cutting device 31 has a cutting cutter 53 that cuts the continuous sheet 27 in the width direction. As shown in FIG. 3, the cutting device 31 has a feed screw 55 extending in the width direction of the continuous sheet 27 and a motor 54 for rotating the feed screw 55. In parallel with the feed screw 55, a guide shaft 65 shown in FIG. The cutting cutter 53 is fixed to the block 56. The block 56 includes the guide shaft 6
5 and is screwed to the feed screw 55 via three rolling elements 66, 67, 68. When the motor 54 rotates and the feed screw 55 rotates, the block 56 is prevented from rotating by the guide shaft 65, so that the block 56 moves in the width direction of the continuous sheet 27. As a result, the cutting cutter 53 cuts the continuous sheet 27 linearly in the width direction. Cutting cutter 53
3 moves rightward or leftward in FIG. 3 in accordance with the rotation direction of the motor 54.
7 is cut in the width direction. As will be apparent from the following description, the line cut in the width direction by the cutter 53 is
It becomes the boundary line on the rear side of the lamination area of the sheet laminate 11.

Next, the structure of the vertical moving table on which the sheet laminate 11 is placed will be described with reference to FIGS. The table 12 serving as a vertical moving table has an area on which the sheet stack 11 can be placed. The table 12 has four legs 13 and is fixed to a table support 22. The table support table 22 has two ball screw nuts 1 on a diagonal line.
7 is fixed. The ball screw nut 17 is screwed with the ball screw 10. Ball screw 10 is lower base 2
It is rotatably supported by a support portion 48 fixed to the case 1 and the case 32. And two ball screws 10
Are provided with pulleys 19 and 49 at the same height, respectively, and a belt 20 is extended between them. One of the ball screws 10 provided with the pulley 19 is provided with a pulley 18.
Is also provided. The pulley 18 is connected via a belt 16 to a pulley 15 provided at the same height. The pulley 15 is fixed to a shaft of the motor 14 fixed to the case 32. Further, the table support base 22 is provided with two guide posts 23 on another diagonal line where the ball screw nut 17 is not provided. The guide post 23 is a guide rail 2 fixed to the case 32.
4 and slidably engaged. The table support 22 and the table 12 can freely move in the vertical direction while maintaining the horizontal state by the rotation of the motor 14.

The structure of the blowing means will be described. As shown in FIG. 4, the blowing means is constituted by a blowing device 30 having a built-in fan. The blowing device 30 is fixed to the lower surface of the guiding device 29. Blowing device 30
An air inlet is provided at the lower part of the
Is provided with an air outlet. The air flows as indicated by an arrow 64 and is blown into the lower surface of a sheet newly stacked on the sheet stack 11. In order to use a fan mechanism,
The blowing device 30 can be reduced in size.

Next, the structure of the means for pressurizing and heating the sheet laminate 11 placed on the table 12 from above will be described. The pressurizing and heating plate 2 is extended horizontally to the case 3
It is fixed to 2. The pressurizing and heating plate 2 has sufficient strength to resist the force of the table 12 moving upward and pushing up through the sheet laminate 11, and is fixed to the case 32 with sufficient strength. A heater (not shown) and a temperature sensor (not shown) are provided inside the pressure heating plate 2. The sheet stack 11 can be pressurized while being heated between the bottom surface of the fixed pressure heating plate 2 and the upper surface of the table 12.

Next, a description will be given of cutting means for cutting one sheet positioned at the top of the sheet laminate 11 along a desired contour line, and instructing means for designating the cutting line. The cutting means has an XY plotter 6. The XY plotter 6 extends between the XY frame 3 fixed to the upper frame 9 having a large opening at the center and two sides of the XY frame 3 extending in the X-axis direction and extends in the Y-axis direction. Beam 4 that can be translated in the direction
It has a head 5 that can move in the axial direction, and has a structure in which the head 5 can move freely in the XY directions. The head 5 has a cutting cutter 7 at the lower end, and the cutting cutter 7 can be moved up and down by the head 5. The cutting cutter 7 has a flat portion in contact with the upper surface of the sheet and an edge extending downward from the flat portion by the thickness of one sheet. Only cut along the trajectory.

The sheet laminating type shaping apparatus 1 has a built-in control device mainly composed of a computer system. This control device has an input unit, a storage unit, a data processing unit, and a control unit. The input unit inputs data transmitted from the CAD system via a communication line and data recorded on a recording medium. In addition, data indicating various setting conditions (sheet thickness, molding speed, pressure, heating temperature, etc.), such as an operation start signal and a pause signal of the molding apparatus, which are inputted from the operation panel 8, are inputted. The storage unit stores the input data and the data of the feed amount of the continuous sheet 27 used for modeling.
M. The data processing unit converts the input data (which describes the three-dimensional shape) into two-dimensional shape information (contour information) of each section sliced at a constant interval in the height direction. The converted two-dimensional shape information is output to a control unit described later. Further, the data processing section stores a program for calculating the remaining amount of the continuous sheet 27 necessary for modeling from the information of the input data. Then, from the remaining amount of the continuous sheet 27 necessary for completing the modeling and the detected remaining amount,
A program for determining whether modeling can be completed with the remaining amount is also stored. The control unit stores a program for operating the sheet stacking type shaping apparatus 1. The control unit stops the operation of the sheet feeding device 28, the operation of the cutting device 31, the vertical movement of the vertically movable table 12, and the It controls the temperature of the heating / pressing plate 2, the operation of the XY plotter 6, and the vertical movement of the head 5, and controls the necessary notification operation. The operation panel 8 is provided with lamps for notifying various states and abnormalities of the sheet stacking type shaping apparatus 1.

Next, the operation when the above-described sheet lamination type molding apparatus 1 is operated will be described. First, preparations before the forming operation will be described. First, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a continuous sheet 27 wound in a roll is set on a roll storage holder 26. At this time, the support shaft 25 of the continuous sheet 27 is supported by the concave portion of the roll storage holder 26.
Next, the leading end of the continuous sheet 27 is inserted from the lower end of the sheet feeding device 28 until it contacts the drive roller 60. Then, as described above, the presence of the inserted continuous sheet 27 is detected by the sensor provided near the lower end of the sheet feeding device 28, and a detection signal is output to the control device. Is output. As a result, the motor 33 starts to rotate, and the drive rollers 58 and 60 shown in FIG. 4 rotate. Therefore, the inserted continuous sheet 27 is fed into the guiding device 29. At this time, the measurement roller 59 rotates following the feeding of the continuous sheet 27, and the encoder 4
0 measures the feed amount of the continuous sheet 27. Continuous sheet 2
Until the tip of 7 reaches the cutting position of the cutting cutter 53 of the cutting device 31, the continuous sheet 27 wound in a roll shape is sent out while being pulled out. On the other hand, operation panel 8
The user inputs various conditions (such as sheet thickness, forming speed, pressing force, heating temperature, etc.) relating to shaping with an input switch provided in the printer.

With the above operation, preparation before the forming operation is completed. At this time, as shown in FIG. 3, the block 56 of the cutting device 31 is stopped near the end of the feed screw 55. The position near this end is a predetermined position. At this predetermined position (at both ends of the feed screw 55), the table 12 and the sheet laminate 11 that move up and down do not contact the cutting device 31.

An operator turns on an operation switch (not shown) provided on the operation panel 8 to operate the molding apparatus 1. Then, the heater of the pressurizing and heating plate 2 is energized, and the preheating of the pressurizing and heating plate 2 is started.

When the pressure and heating plate 2 is heated to a predetermined temperature, the control device operates the motor 14 according to the molding operation program.
, The vertical movement of the table 12 is controlled. First, the upper surface of the table 12 is positioned at a height about 5 mm below the lower end of the cutting cutter 53. Further, a modeling start signal (including a sending start signal) is output from the control device to the sheet feeding device 28. as a result,
When the motor 33 rotates, the driving rollers 58 and 60
Rotates. As a result, the continuous sheet 27 is sent out by the sheet feeding device 28, and the fed continuous sheet 27 is sent out.
Is guided by the guiding device 29 and sent out onto the upper surface of the table 12. At this time, the continuous sheet 27 is sent out while being restrained by the sheet feeding device 28. That is, as in the case of the cut sheet, the sheet is not positioned on the table 12 by the inertia of the sheet after leaving the sheet feeding device, but the sheet feeding device 28 is moved to the final stacking position. Sent out in a state of being restrained. For this reason, even if the sheet is caught between the table and the table 12 while being fed onto the upper surface of the table 12, the jam is eliminated while the continuous sheet is fed in, and the sheet feeding device 28 reliably secures the predetermined position on the upper surface of the table 12. The continuous sheet can be fed to the position. At this time, since the fan incorporated in the blowing device 30 rotates and the wind is blown along the arrow 64 as shown in FIG.
Continuous sheet 27 newly laminated with the upper surface of table 12
Is blown between the lower surfaces of the table 12 and is fed onto the table 12 while floating the continuous sheet 27 halfway. As a result,
The continuous sheet 27 is fed until the leading end of the continuous sheet 27 always reaches a predetermined position on the upper surface of the table 12. At this time, the sheet feeder 28 sends out the continuous sheet 27 by a predetermined distance (the encoder 40 measures the feed amount).

When the continuous sheet 27 is fed by a predetermined distance, and the leading end of the continuous sheet 27 is located at a predetermined position and the continuous sheet 27 is placed on the table 12, the motor 33 is stopped and the motor 54 starts rotating. Start. That is, when the continuous sheet 27 is fed by a predetermined distance, the feeding is stopped, and in a state where the feeding is stopped, the motor 54 is stopped.
Starts to rotate. The cutting device 3 located at a predetermined position (near the right end of the feed screw 55 in FIG. 3) according to the rotation of the motor 54
1 moves to a predetermined position on the other end side of the feed screw 55 (near the left end in FIG. 3). Since the cutting device 31 is provided with the cutting cutter 53, the cutting device 31 moves in the width direction of the continuous sheet 27, so that the table 12 is moved.
The continuous sheet 27 placed on the sheet feeding device 28
From the continuous sheet 27 held by the roller group.

When the continuous sheet 27 is cut by the cutting device 31, the control device controls the motor 1 according to the molding operation program.
By controlling the rotation of 4, the vertical movement of the table 12 is controlled, and the cut continuous sheet 27 (hereinafter, “cut continuous sheet 27” is referred to as “sheet”) comes into contact with the pressure heating plate 2. The table 12 is moved up until it. The motor 14 is of a type in which the torque and the current are proportional, and when the sheet comes into contact with the pressurizing and heating plate 2, the energizing current increases. After rising to the predetermined current, the current value is maintained for a certain period of time, after which the motor 14 is reversed. As a result, the table 12 descends after the sheet and the upper surface of the table 12 are pressed with a predetermined pressing force for a certain period of time. The sheet is pressed and heated by the pressing and heating plate 2 and the table 12, and the sheet is adhered to the table 12 (the table 12 of the sheet).
The sheet does not adhere to the pressurizing and heating plate 2 because the adhesive is applied only to one surface in contact with the surface.)

When the sheet is adhered to the table 12, the table 12 is moved down by the motor 14.
When the table 12 reaches the cutting position by the XY plotter 6 of the cutting means (the height of the upper surface of the table 12, that is, the lower surface of the sheet adhered to the table 12 matches the upper surface of the XY frame 3). The rotation of the motor 14 stops and the height of the table 12 is maintained. When the table 12 is held, the beam 4 and the head 5 start moving under the control of the control device, and cutting of the sheet starts. When a sheet is being cut, the lower edge of the edge of the cutting cutter 7 moves at the height of the upper surface of the XY frame 3 (corresponding to the lower surface position of the sheet to be cut), so that only one sheet can be cut. . In addition, it is necessary to cut intermittently depending on the cross-sectional shape of a three-dimensional object having a desired shape. In such a case, when the cutter 7 moves through the non-cut portion, the head 5 moves the cutter 7 upward. Therefore, the cutting cutter 7 can be moved without cutting the sheet. The movement locus of the cutting cutter 7 is input in advance from a CAD system or a recording medium via an input unit, and
Control is performed based on data stored in the AM. In the cutting step by the cutting means, in addition to cutting the sheet along the desired contour, the sheet outside the contour is cut into a lattice to facilitate taking out the desired three-dimensional object formed from the sheet laminate 11. deep.

After the sheet is cut into a desired shape, the controller controls the rotation of the motor 14 in accordance with the molding operation program to control the vertical movement of the table 12 so that the upper surface of the sheet is about 5 mm from the lower end of the cutting cutter 53. It is positioned at a lower height (a position where the continuous sheet 27 is fed to the sheet feeder 28 and becomes the height of the table 12 first placed on the table 12). Therefore, at this time, the height of the upper surface of the table 12 is held at a height lower than the lower end of the cutting cutter 53 by about 5 mm by one sheet thickness (preset at the time of inputting the sheet thickness). Have been.

When the table 12 is held at the above height,
A sending start signal is output to the sheet feeding device 28 again, and the above-described series of steps of conveying, cutting, pressing, heating, and cutting the continuous sheet 27 are repeated, and the sheets are stacked one after another.

In the above description, the sheet is adhered to the upper surface of the table 12. However, in a series of repeated steps after the sheets are adhered to the table 12, the sheets newly cut by the cutting device 31 are the already stacked sheet laminates 11 (one in which the repeated sheets are stacked). Glued to the top. Further, in the above description, the position of the height of the lower surface of the sheet adhered to the table 12 (the height of the upper surface of the table 12) is set to the cutting position of the cutting cutter 7 (the upper surface height of the XY frame 3). In addition, the height of the table 12 is maintained. Therefore, in a series of repeated steps after the sheet is bonded to the table 12, the control unit controls the height of the latest transported, cut, pressed, and heated sheet lower surface, and the height of the table 12 each time. Correction is performed, and the height of the table 12 is held in accordance with the cutting position of the cutting cutter 7. At this time, the height of the table 12 is controlled based on a calculation of the control device by a preset sheet thickness and the number of bonded sheets. Therefore, it is possible to always cut only the uppermost sheet (the latest sheet that has been conveyed, cut, pressed, and heated).

As described above, a sensor (not shown) for detecting the remaining amount of sheets is attached to the inner surface of the roll storage holder 26, as described above. Therefore, the amount of the continuous sheet 27 necessary for completing the modeling is sequentially calculated from the data previously input from the CAD system or the recording medium and the feed amount of the continuous sheet 27 already used for the modeling. Then, based on the amount of the continuous sheet 27 necessary for completing the shaping and the remaining amount of the continuous sheet 27 detected by a sensor attached to the inner surface of the roll storage holder 26, the shaping is performed with the remaining amount of the continuous sheet 27. Has been determined. As a result, when it is determined by calculation of the data processing unit of the control device that the remaining amount of the continuous sheet 27 in the roll storage holder 26 is not enough to complete the shaping, the notification lamp (not shown) is turned on. Activate.

When the notification lamp is activated as described above, the operator operates the operation switch (not shown) provided on the operation panel 8.
Is operated to temporarily stop the operation of the modeling apparatus 1. When the control device receives the pause signal, after the cutting process by the first cutting means after the reception is completed, the control device controls the rotation of the motor 14 so that the uppermost surface of the sheet is about 5 mm below the lower end of the cutting cutter 53. Position at height. At this time, a modeling suspension signal is output from the control device to the sheet feeding device 28. As a result, the motor 33 rotates in the reverse direction to pull back the continuous sheet 27 in the guiding device 29 to the lower end of the sheet feeding device 28, and the leading end of the continuous sheet 27 is pulled out from the sheet feeding device 28. In this state, the molding device 1
Is suspended. At this time, the cutting device 31 is stopped near the right end of the feed screw 55 (predetermined position) or near the left end of the feed screw 55 (predetermined position). In the temporary stop state, the pressure heating plate 2 maintains a predetermined temperature.

The continuous sheet 2 which has been used for molding until then
7 is removed from the roll storage holder 26, and a new continuous sheet 27 is placed on the roll storage holder 26. Again, the operator inserts the leading end of the continuous sheet 27 from the lower end of the sheet feeding device 28 until it contacts the drive roller 60. Then, as described above, until the leading end of the inserted continuous sheet 27 reaches the cutting position of the cutting cutter 53 of the cutting device 31, the continuous sheet 27 is sent out while being pulled out from the continuous sheet 27 wound in a roll shape.

The operator operates an operation switch (not shown) provided on the operation panel 8 to release the temporarily stopped state of the modeling apparatus 1 and to operate the modeling apparatus 1 again. From the pause state, the height of the top surface of the sheet is
(3) It is located at a height of about 5 mm below the lower end. A sending start signal is output to the sheet feeding device 28 again, and the above-described series of steps of conveying, cutting, pressurizing, heating, and cutting the continuous sheet 27 are repeated (the number of repetitions is sequentially stored in the RAM of the storage unit of the control device). The sheets are stacked one after another to form the sheet laminate 11.

When the shaping of a three-dimensional object (existing in the sheet laminate 11) based on data previously input from a CAD system or a recording medium is completed, a shaping end signal (including a sending stop signal) is sent from the control device to the sheet feeding. Output to the device 28. As a result, the motor 33 stops and the drive roller 58
And the drive roller 60 stops.

The sheet feeding device 28 stops, and the cutting device 3
When 1 moves to a predetermined position, the control device controls the rotation of the motor 14 in accordance with the molding operation program,
The table 12 is moved down until the table support 22 reaches the lowermost position.

The three-dimensional object whose modeling is completed is taken out of the table 12. At this time, the desired three-dimensional object is surrounded by an unnecessary sheet laminate. However, since unnecessary sheet laminates outside the contour of the desired shape are cut into a lattice shape by the cutting means, unnecessary block laminates around the desired three-dimensional object can be easily formed. Can be removed.

An operator turns off an operation switch (not shown) provided on the operation panel 8 to completely stop the modeling apparatus 1. Power supply to the heater of the pressurizing and heating plate 2 is cut off, and the pressurizing and heating plate 2 is naturally cooled.

The cutting means using a cutting cutter may be prepared by preparing cutting cutters of various types of edges in advance, and the cutting depth of the sheet can be easily adjusted.
As a result, even when sheets of various thicknesses are used, only one sheet at the top can always be cut. Therefore, by replacing the cutting cutter, it is possible to form a three-dimensional object using sheets of various thicknesses. This means that it is possible to set various molding conditions in view of the precision and molding speed required for molding a desired three-dimensional object.
Further, the cutting cutter 7 used in the present embodiment is of a type that is relatively inexpensive and does not require the provision of dust removing equipment or the danger of fire. However, the present invention is not limited to the type of cutting cutter used in the present embodiment, and the cutting means may be constituted by an ultrasonic cutter, a laser cutter, or the like.

When the sheet is cut by the cutting cutter 7, bulges may be formed on both sides of the cut portion of the sheet laminate 11. However, the swell is completely crushed by the pressing of the sheet to be laminated next. Alternatively, it is absorbed by the thickness of the adhesive layer (not shown). Therefore, the swelling of each cut portion of the sheets to be stacked is formed flat every time the sheets are stacked, so that a stacking error due to the swelling is eliminated in the sheet laminate 11. Furthermore, in this pressurizing and heating step, the adhesive is melted and the sheet laminate 11 is melted.
Is pressed and laminated, and no special treatment is required thereafter, so that a molding operation can be performed in a normal office.

The sheet used in this embodiment is a sheet to which an adhesive has been applied in advance, but is not limited to this. For example, an adhesive applying device may be provided in the sheet feeding device 28 or the guiding device 29, and the adhesive may be applied to the sheet to which the adhesive is not applied during the conveyance.

In this embodiment, the smooth curvature (R10
Although the guide device 29 which is opened in the substantially vertical direction and the substantially horizontal direction through (0) is used, the invention is not limited thereto. A linear plate member may be used with the sheet advancing direction of the sheet feeding device 28 as a horizontal direction, or the cutting device 31 may be provided directly near the sheet feeding device 28 without using the guiding device 29.

The molding apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment
Has a configuration in which the sheet is bonded to the sheet laminate 11 by heating the sheet, and the pressurizing and heating plate 2 and the vertically movable table press the sheet and the sheet laminate 11. I can't. The adhesive may be changed, and the sheet may be bonded to the sheet laminate 11 by pressing without heating.

The modeling apparatus of the present invention can model a model or a model of any object, or even a product itself.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front sectional view of a molding apparatus used in the present embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the molding apparatus used in the present embodiment from the II direction in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a side view of the modeling apparatus used in the present embodiment from a direction III in FIG.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of a continuous sheet feeding means and the like.

FIG. 5 is a view showing a conventional molding apparatus.

FIG. 6 is a view showing a conventional molding apparatus.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Molding apparatus 2 ... Pressurized heating plate 6 ... XY plotter 7 ... Cutting cutter 10 ... Ball screw 12 ... Table 17 ... Ball screw nut 26 ... Roll storage holder 28 ... Sheet feeder 29 ... Guidance device 30 Blow-in device 31 Cutting device

 ────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuing from the front page (72) Inventor Junichi Suzuki 39-1 Nakagawanami, Tomiyoshi Nitta, Kira-cho, Hazu-gun, Aichi F-term within Kira Corporation (reference) 3E075 BA95 CA02 DA03 DA04 DA14 DA12 DB12 DB14 DD03 DD13 DD32 GA02 GA04

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A storage means for a continuous sheet, a vertically movable table on which a sheet stack is placed, and a continuous feeding of the continuous sheet onto the sheet stack in an area behind a stack area of a newly stacked continuous sheet. Sheet feeding means, means for cutting the continuous sheet fed onto the sheet laminate along the back line of the stacking area, means for bonding the newly stacked top sheet to the sheet immediately below, the bonded top sheet Means for cutting the sheet along a desired contour. 2. The sheet forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising means for blowing gas between the sheet stack and a newly stacked sheet.