JP2014000768A - Three-dimensional modeling apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a three-dimensional modeling apparatus capable of driving a shutter for switching supply and blocking of supply of a three-dimensional shaping powder easily and with a simple configuration.SOLUTION: There is provided a three-dimensional modeling apparatus which comprises: a stage; a supply part 14; a powder supply roller 21; a flattening roller 28; a longitudinal drive motor; a shutter 23; and a switching part 15. A three-dimensional shaping powder is mounted on the stage. The powder supply roller 21 supplies the three-dimensional shaping powder to the supply part 14. The three-dimensional shaping powder is flattened on the stage to form a powder layer which is a layer of the three-dimensional shaping powder. The longitudinal drive motor moves the stage in the horizontal direction. The shutter 23 blocks the supply of the three-dimensional shaping powder from the powder supply roller 21 to the supply part 14. The switching part 15 moves together with the stage by the motive power of the longitudinal drive motor to drive the shutter 23.

Description

  The present invention relates to a three-dimensional modeling apparatus that supplies and planarizes a three-dimensional modeling powder that is solidified by mixing a modeling liquid on a stage.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there is known a three-dimensional modeling apparatus that supplies a three-dimensional modeling powder on a stage and flattens it. For example, the three-dimensional modeling apparatus disclosed in Patent Document 1 includes a powder supply unit, a shutter (clamp plate), and a flattening unit (blade). The powder supply means drops the three-dimensionally shaped powder. The shutter is slid in the horizontal direction by the driving unit to switch between supply of the solid modeling powder from the powder supply means to the stage and blocking of the supply. The operation of the drive unit is controlled by the drive control unit. The flattening means reciprocates in the horizontal direction to flatten the three-dimensional modeling powder supplied on the stage.

JP 2002-264221 A

  Since the three-dimensional modeling apparatus described in Patent Literature 1 needs to include a drive unit and a drive control unit for sliding the shutter, the configuration and operation are complicated. That is, it is difficult for a conventional three-dimensional modeling apparatus to easily drive a shutter for switching between supply of three-dimensional modeling powder and blocking of supply with a simple configuration.

  An object of this invention is to provide the three-dimensional modeling apparatus which can drive easily the shutter for switching supply of three-dimensional modeling powder, and interruption | blocking of supply with a simple structure.

  In order to achieve the above object, a three-dimensional modeling apparatus according to the present invention includes a stage on which a three-dimensional modeling powder that is solidified by mixing with a modeling liquid is placed, and a stage surface of the stage or the outside of the stage surface. A supply unit that is provided and supplied with the three-dimensionally shaped powder, a powder supply unit that supplies the three-dimensionally shaped powder to the supply unit, and a position relative to the stage is parallel to the stage surface And the flattening means for flattening the three-dimensional modeling powder supplied to the supply unit by the powder supply means and forming a powder layer that is a layer of the three-dimensional modeling powder; A flattening drive means for performing flattening of the three-dimensionally shaped powder by the flattening means by moving at least one of the flattening means and the stage; and the standing from the powder supply means to the supply unit Shutting off the supply of modeling powder, and driving the shutter by moving by the flattening driving means, supplying the three-dimensional modeling powder from the powder supply means to the supply unit, and blocking supply And a switching unit for switching between.

  The three-dimensional modeling apparatus according to the present invention can switch between the supply of the three-dimensional modeling powder and the blocking of the supply by driving the shutter using the flattening driving means provided for executing the flattening. There is no need to provide a driving unit for driving the shutter separately from the flattening driving means. Therefore, the three-dimensional modeling apparatus according to the present invention can easily switch between the supply of the three-dimensional modeling powder and the blocking of the supply with a simple configuration.

1 is an external perspective view of a three-dimensional modeling apparatus 1. FIG. It is a perspective view of modeling stand 6 in a first embodiment. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a modeling table 6, a powder supply mechanism 17, and a flattening roller 28 in the first embodiment. It is an AA arrow direction partial sectional view in FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of the three-dimensional modeling apparatus 1. FIG. It is a flowchart of the three-dimensional modeling process which the three-dimensional modeling apparatus 1 performs. It is a right view of the modeling stand 106 and the movement unit 101 in 2nd embodiment. It is a perspective view of the shutter 123 which concerns on a 1st modification. It is a perspective view of the shutter 223 which concerns on a 2nd modification.

  Hereinafter, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. First, the schematic configuration of the three-dimensional modeling apparatus 1 will be described with reference to FIG. The three-dimensional modeling apparatus 1 can model a three-dimensional model by driving the head 32 and the like according to the three-dimensional modeling data. A personal computer (hereinafter referred to as “PC”) 100 creates three-dimensional modeling data and transmits it to the three-dimensional modeling apparatus 1 via a network or the like.

  The three-dimensional modeling apparatus 1 mainly includes a base 2, a modeling table 6, a powder supply mechanism 17, a flattening roller 28, a head 32, and a powder recovery unit 34. The base 2 is formed in a rectangular plate shape with the left-right direction as the longitudinal direction, and supports the entire three-dimensional modeling apparatus 1. The modeling table 6 includes a stage 11. The three-dimensional model is modeled on the stage 11. The powder supply mechanism 17 supplies the three-dimensional modeling powder onto the supply unit 14 of the modeling table 6. The flattening roller 28 moves the three-dimensional modeling powder placed on the supply unit 14 onto the stage 11 to flatten it, thereby forming a layer of three-dimensional modeling powder (hereinafter referred to as “powder layer”). To do. The head 32 discharges the modeling liquid onto the powder layer formed on the stage 11. The powder collection unit 34 collects excess three-dimensionally shaped powder (hereinafter referred to as “uncured powder”) remaining around the three-dimensionally shaped object without solidifying. Each configuration will be described below.

  The modeling table 6 will be described. As shown in FIG. 2, the modeling table 6 includes a base portion 7 that supports the modeling table 6 and a frame portion 9 that is supported on the upper portion of the base portion 7. A through-hole 8 that penetrates in the front-rear direction is formed in each of the left and right sides of the base portion 7. Two rails 3 extending in the front-rear direction are provided at substantially the center of the base 2 (see FIG. 1). The two rails 3 have a predetermined height from the upper surface of the base 2 by a support part 4 provided at the front side end of the base 2 and a support part (not shown) provided at the back side end. It is supported by. Each of the two rails 3 passes through each of the two through holes 8 formed in the base portion 7 of the modeling table 6.

  A longitudinal movement motor 41 (see FIG. 5) for moving the modeling table 6 back and forth is provided at the rear side end of the base 2. When the front-rear motor 41 is driven, power is transmitted to the modeling table 6 via a carriage belt (not shown), and the modeling table 6 moves in the front-rear direction along the two rails 3. That is, when the longitudinal movement motor 41 is driven, the powder supply mechanism 17, the flattening roller 28, and the head 32 move relative to the stage 11 of the modeling table 6 in the front-rear direction (direction parallel to the stage surface). The forward / backward movement motor 41 may move the powder supply mechanism 17, the flattening roller 28, and the head 32, details of which will be described in the second embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the frame portion 9 has a substantially cubic box shape. The frame part 9 has a stage holding part 10. The stage holding unit 10 is a concave portion having a substantially rectangular shape in plan view with an upper surface opened. Inside the stage holding unit 10, a stage 11 on which a three-dimensional model is modeled is held so that it can be moved up and down. The stage 11 is formed in a rectangular shape in plan view so as to be in contact with the inner peripheral surface of the stage holding unit 10, and the upper surface of the stage 11 is kept horizontal. In other words, the frame portion 9 is in contact with the side surface of the stage 11 and surrounds the outer periphery of the lifting range of the stage 11. A collection path 12 for guiding uncured powder from the stage holding unit 10 to the powder collection unit 34 (see FIG. 1) is connected to the right side surface of the frame unit 9. On the back side of the stage holding unit 10, there is provided a powder dropping port 13 that is a rectangular recess in plan view with an open upper surface. When the powder layer is formed, surplus powder accumulated by the flattening roller 28 falls on the powder dropping port 13. The surplus powder that has fallen to the powder drop opening 13 is returned by the operator into the powder supply mechanism 17 (see FIGS. 1 and 3) located above the modeling table 6.

  The stage 11 moves up and down by the power of a stage lifting motor 42 (see FIG. 5) provided on the modeling table 6. The three-dimensional modeling apparatus 1 models a three-dimensional modeled object while gradually lowering the stage 11 from the upper part of the lifting range. Further, the stage 11 includes an upper stage and a lower stage (not shown). The upper stage and the lower stage are plate members having substantially the same shape, and are arranged horizontally. The upper stage and the lower stage both include a plurality of holes 22 penetrating in the thickness direction. However, the upper stage and the lower stage are formed so that the positions of the holes of the upper stage and the holes of the lower stage do not overlap in plan view. Therefore, in the state where the stage 11 is stationary, the three-dimensional modeling powder is deposited on the stage 11. When a vibration motor (not shown) provided on the modeling table 6 is driven and the stage 11 vibrates, the uncured powder falls from the holes of the upper stage and the lower stage and passes to the powder recovery unit 34 through the recovery path. Sucked.

  As shown in FIG. 2, a plate-like supply unit 14 extends horizontally from the upper end of the modeling table 6 on the front side. The three-dimensional shaped powder supplied by the powder supply mechanism 17 is placed on the supply unit 14. A switching unit 15 is provided at each of the left and right front side ends of the supply unit 14. The switching unit 15 extends upward from the plate surface of the supply unit 14 and is bent backward. When the modeling table 6 moves rearward, the switching unit 15 pushes a shutter 23 (see FIGS. 3 and 4), which will be described later, and the shutter 23 is opened. When the modeling table 6 moves forward, the shutter 23 closes.

  The powder supply mechanism 17 will be described. As shown in FIG. 3, the powder supply mechanism 17 includes a tank 18, a powder supply roller 21, and a shutter 23. The tank 18 includes a storage unit 19 and a guide unit 20. The storage part 19 is formed in a box shape whose width in the front-rear direction gradually increases upward, and stores the three-dimensional modeling powder inside. The lower part of the storage part 19 is an opening. The guiding portion 20 has a rectangular tube shape and is connected to an opening at the lower portion of the storage portion 19. The guide unit 20 guides the three-dimensionally shaped powder in the tank 18 downward.

  The powder supply roller 21 is rotatably provided inside the lower opening of the storage unit 19. Since there is no gap between the storage unit 19 and the powder supply roller 21, the three-dimensionally shaped powder does not fall downward from the gap. The rotating shaft of the powder supply roller 21 extends in the left-right direction, and is supported rotatably at the right end and the left end of the tank 18. The outer peripheral surface of the powder supply roller 21 is provided with a recess 22 that is long in the left-right direction (that is, the axial direction of the powder supply roller 21) and is recessed toward the center. In the concave portion 22, the three-dimensional modeling powder stored in the storage unit 19 is collected. Therefore, when the powder supply roller 21 is rotated by the power of the powder supply motor 44 (see FIG. 5), the three-dimensionally shaped powder accumulated in the recess 22 falls downward (see FIG. 4).

  The shutter 23 is a rectangular plate-like member, and is disposed horizontally near the lower end of the guiding portion 20. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 3, support portions 24 that support the shutter 23 so as to be movable in the front-rear direction are provided at the left and right lower rear ends of the guide portion 20. A rectangular guide hole 25 having a longitudinal direction in the front-rear direction is formed from the support portion 24 to the lower end of the guide portion 20. The length of the guide hole 25 in the front-rear direction is approximately twice the length of the shutter 23 in the front-rear direction. Accordingly, the shutter 23 can move in the front-rear direction along the guide hole 25.

  A push spring 26 is interposed between the rear end of the support portion 24 and the rear end of the shutter 23. Two push springs 26 provided on the left and right (only the right push spring 26 is shown in FIG. 3) urges the shutter 23 forward. The height of the shutter 23 coincides with the height of the switching unit 15 provided on the modeling table.

  The flattening roller 28 will be described. The flattening roller 28 moves the three-dimensional modeling powder supplied to the supply unit 14 of the modeling table 6 onto the stage 11 to flatten it, thereby forming a powder layer. As shown in FIG. 3, the rotation shaft 29 of the flattening roller 28 extends in a direction (left-right direction) intersecting the moving direction of the modeling table 6 in a state parallel to the upper surface of the stage 11 (that is, in a horizontal state). . The rotary shaft 29 is connected to a flattening roller rotary motor 43 (see FIG. 5) disposed in the powder recovery unit 34 (see FIG. 1). When the flattening roller rotation motor 43 is driven, the flattening roller 28 rotates in the direction of the arrow shown in FIG. 3 (the counterclockwise direction when viewed from the right side). When forming the powder layer, the three-dimensional modeling apparatus 1 moves the modeling table 6 from the rear to the front while rotating the flattening roller 28. As a result, the three-dimensional shaped powder is flattened on the stage 11 (see FIGS. 1 and 2). The surplus powder accumulated on the back side of the flattening roller 28 falls to the powder drop opening 13 formed on the back side of the modeling table 6.

  As shown in FIG. 3, a plate-like blade 30 is fixed to the front surface of the tank 18 of the powder supply mechanism 17. The blade 30 extends obliquely forward and downward from the front wall surface of the tank 18 and is in contact with the back side of the flattening roller 28 without a gap. As a result, the three-dimensional modeling powder attached to the flattening roller 28 is removed by the blade 30. Furthermore, the plate surface of the blade 30 blocks the space between the front side and the back side of the flattening roller 28. Therefore, the blade 30 can prevent the three-dimensionally shaped powder on the back side of the flattening roller 28 from scattering to the front side. Therefore, the upper surface of the powder layer formed by the flattening roller 28 is kept flat. The possibility that the scattered three-dimensionally shaped powder adheres to the head 32 described below also decreases.

  The head 32 will be described. The head 32 discharges a modeling liquid for solidifying the three-dimensional modeling powder downward. The three-dimensional modeling apparatus 1 of the present embodiment discharges a colorless clear modeling liquid and a plurality of color modeling liquids from the head 32. As shown in FIG. 1, a guide rail 33 for guiding the movement of the head 32 in the left-right direction is provided above the modeling table 6 and in front of the flattening roller 28. The guide rail 33 extends horizontally from the right side surface of the left body portion 35 of the three-dimensional modeling apparatus 1 to the right and connects to the left side surface of the powder recovery unit 34. The guide rail 33 penetrates the head 32 in the left-right direction, and the head 32 can move in the left-right direction along the guide rail 33. A head moving motor 45 (see FIG. 5) for moving the head 32 is provided on the left trunk 35 of the three-dimensional modeling apparatus 1. When the head moving motor is driven, power is transmitted to the head 32 via a carriage belt (not shown), and the head 32 moves in the left-right direction.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the head 32 is located behind the flattening roller 28 in the relative movement direction in the flattening process of the flattening roller 28 with respect to the stage surface of the stage 11 (see FIG. 1). That is, in the flattening step, the flattening roller 28 moves forward relative to the stage surface, but the head 32 is positioned forward of the flattening roller 28.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the powder collection unit 34 is disposed between the modeling table 6 and the right body unit 36. The powder recovery unit 34 includes a pump (not shown) for sucking uncured powder in the modeling table 6. In addition, an operation panel 53 for receiving an operation input from an operator is provided in front of the right body portion 36.

  With reference to FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, operation | movement of the three-dimensional model | molding apparatus 1 at the time of supplying three-dimensional model | molding powder to the supply part 14 is demonstrated. First, as shown in FIG. 4, the three-dimensional modeling apparatus 1 rotates the powder supply roller 21 with the shutter 23 closed before supplying the three-dimensional modeling powder to the supply unit 14 (see FIG. 3). Let As a result, the three-dimensional modeling powder stored in the storage unit 19 is accumulated on the upper portion of the shutter 23. The amount of the three-dimensional modeling powder accumulated on the shutter 23 is controlled according to the thickness of the powder layer formed by the flattening roller 28.

  When accumulation of an appropriate amount of the three-dimensional modeling powder is completed, the three-dimensional modeling apparatus 1 moves the relative position of the powder supply mechanism 17 with respect to the stage 11 of the modeling table 6. In detail, in 1st embodiment, the modeling stand 6 is moved back (diagonal upper right of FIG. 3). As a result, the switching portions 15 provided on the left and right sides of the modeling table 6 come into contact with the left and right ends of the shutter 23 and push the shutter 23 backward against the urging force of the push spring 26. As shown in FIG. 4, when the shutter 23 is pushed rearward and the lower portion of the guide portion 20 is opened, the three-dimensional modeling powder accumulated on the upper portion of the shutter 23 falls downward. As shown in FIG. 3, since the positions of the switching unit 15 and the supply unit 14 in the front-rear direction match, the dropped three-dimensional modeling powder is supplied to the supply unit 14.

  The electrical configuration of the three-dimensional modeling apparatus 1 will be described with reference to FIG. The three-dimensional modeling apparatus 1 includes a CPU 50 that controls the three-dimensional modeling apparatus 1. A RAM 51, a ROM 52, an operation panel 53, an external communication I / F 54, a motor driving unit 55, and a head driving unit 56 are connected to the CPU 50 via a bus 39.

  Various data such as three-dimensional modeling data received from the PC 100 are temporarily stored in the RAM 51. The ROM 52 stores a control program for controlling the operation of the three-dimensional modeling apparatus 1, initial values, and the like. The external communication I / F 54 connects the three-dimensional modeling apparatus 1 to an external device such as the PC 100. The motor drive unit 55 controls the operations of the longitudinal motor 41, the stage elevating motor 42, the flattening roller rotating motor 43, the powder supply motor 44, and the head moving motor 45. The head driving unit 56 is connected to the head 32 and drives a piezoelectric element provided in each ejection channel of the head 32. The three-dimensional modeling apparatus 1 can also acquire data from other devices (for example, a USB memory, a server, etc.) via a USB interface, the Internet, or the like.

  With reference to FIG. 6, the three-dimensional modeling process which the three-dimensional modeling apparatus 1 performs is demonstrated. As described above, the ROM 52 of the three-dimensional modeling apparatus 1 stores a control program for controlling the operation of the three-dimensional modeling apparatus 1. When the CPU 50 of the three-dimensional modeling apparatus 1 inputs a three-dimensional modeling object creation instruction from the operation panel 53 or the like, the CPU 50 executes the three-dimensional modeling process shown in FIG. 6 according to the control program. According to the control program, the operation of the three-dimensional modeling apparatus 1 is controlled based on the three-dimensional modeling data designated by the operator, and the three-dimensional modeled object is modeled.

  First, the value of Z indicating the order of the powder layer is set to “1” indicating that it is the lowest layer (S1). Next, the solid modeling data in the Zth layer is read (S3). The thickness T of the Zth layer is acquired from the read three-dimensional modeling data (S4). The powder amount F of the three-dimensional modeling powder to be supplied is determined according to the acquired layer thickness T (S5). In the present embodiment, the powder amount F is calculated by multiplying the powder amount k per unit amount of thickness by the layer thickness T and adding a predetermined surplus amount α. However, the powder amount F may be determined according to the thickness T of the layer, and the specific determination method can be changed as appropriate. For example, the powder amount F may be calculated without adding the surplus amount α. Further, the three-dimensional modeling apparatus 1 stores in advance a table in which the layer thickness T and the powder amount F are associated with each other, and the value associated with the layer thickness T in the table is the powder amount F. Good.

  Next, the CPU 50 drives the powder supply motor 44 (see FIG. 5) to rotate the powder supply roller 21 (see FIGS. 3 and 4), and accumulates the solid modeling powder on the shutter 23 (S7). . The powder supply roller 21 is rotated until the accumulation of the powder amount F determined in S5 is completed (S8: NO) (S7). The amount of the three-dimensional modeling powder accumulated can be calculated from the rotational speed of the powder supply roller 21. The three-dimensional modeling apparatus 1 of this embodiment accumulates three-dimensional modeling powder in a period other than the period during which the modeling liquid is discharged. Therefore, the vibration of the powder supply roller 21 does not adversely affect the molding liquid discharge. Furthermore, the three-dimensional modeling apparatus accumulates the three-dimensional modeling powder in a period other than the period in which the three-dimensional modeling powder is flattened. Therefore, the vibration of the powder supply roller 21 does not adversely affect the flattening.

  When the accumulation of the powder amount F is completed (S8: YES), the CPU 51 moves the position of the powder supply mechanism 17 with respect to the stage 11 in the direction opposite to the flattening direction (S10). In the first embodiment, the CPU 51 drives the forward / backward movement motor 41 (see FIG. 5) to move the modeling table 6 backward. As a result, the switching unit 15 (see FIG. 3) of the modeling table 6 pushes the shutter 23 backward, and the shutter 23 is opened. Until the opening of the shutter 23 is completed (S11: NO), the operation of S10 is continued. When the opening of the shutter 23 is completed (S11: YES), the three-dimensionally shaped powder having the powder amount F accumulated on the shutter 23 is supplied to the supply unit 14.

  Next, the CPU 51 moves the position of the flattening roller 28 with respect to the stage 11 in the flattening direction while rotating the flattening roller 28 (S13). In the first embodiment, the CPU 51 moves the modeling table 6 forward. As a result, the shutter 23 is closed by the urging force of the push spring 26 (see FIG. 3), and the three-dimensional shaped powder is flattened by the flattening roller 28. Until the planarization is completed (S14: NO), the operation of S13 is continued. When the flattening is completed (S14: YES), the head 32, the head moving motor 45 (see FIG. 5), and the back-and-forth motion motor 41 (see FIG. 5) are driven according to the 3D modeling data of the Z-th layer. A modeling liquid is discharged to a position corresponding to the modeling data (S16). As a result, the three-dimensionally shaped powder at a predetermined position is solidified to form a three-dimensionally shaped object layer.

  Next, it is determined whether or not the formation of all layers has been completed (S17). If not completed (S17: NO), "1" is added to the value of Z indicating the order of the layers (S18), the process returns to S3, and the process of modeling the layer one level above is performed ( S3 to S16). When modeling of all layers is completed (S17: YES), a process of collecting uncured powder is performed (S19), and the process ends.

  As described above, the three-dimensional modeling apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment drives the shutter 23 using the power of the forward / backward movement motor 41 provided to execute the flattening, and the three-dimensional modeling to the supply unit 14. It is possible to switch between powder supply and supply interruption. There is no need to provide a driving unit for driving the shutter 23 separately from the longitudinal motor 41. Therefore, the three-dimensional modeling apparatus 1 can easily switch between the supply of the three-dimensional modeling powder and the blocking of the supply with a simple configuration.

  The three-dimensional modeling apparatus 1 rotates the powder supply roller 21 until the shutter 23 is opened, and accumulates the three-dimensional modeling powder on the upper portion of the shutter 23. As a result, the three-dimensionally shaped powder is supplied to the supply unit 14 at the same time as the shutter 23 is opened. Therefore, the three-dimensional modeling apparatus 1 can shorten the time required for modeling compared with the case where the rotation of the powder supply roller 21 is started after the shutter 23 is opened.

  The three-dimensional modeling apparatus 1 controls the powder amount F of the three-dimensional modeling powder to be accumulated on the shutter 23 according to the thickness T of the powder layer to be formed. Accordingly, it is possible to suppress supply of excess three-dimensional modeling powder to the supply unit 14. The possibility that the amount of the three-dimensional modeling powder is insufficient can also be reduced.

  The three-dimensional modeling apparatus 1 rotates the powder supply roller 21 during a period other than the period during which the modeling liquid is discharged from the head 32 and accumulates the three-dimensional modeling powder on the shutter 23. Therefore, the three-dimensional modeling apparatus 1 can efficiently model a three-dimensional modeled object while preventing the discharge accuracy of the modeling liquid from being deteriorated by the vibration of the powder supply roller 21.

  The three-dimensional modeling apparatus 1 accumulates the three-dimensional modeling powder on the shutter 23 during a period other than the period in which the flattening roller 28 performs the flattening. Therefore, the three-dimensional modeling apparatus 1 can efficiently form the powder layer while preventing the flattening accuracy from being deteriorated by the vibration of the powder supply roller 21.

  The longitudinal movement motor 41 of the three-dimensional modeling apparatus 1 moves the modeling table 6 in the horizontal direction (front-rear direction). The switching unit 15 is provided on the modeling table 6 provided with the stage 11, and the switching unit 15 drives the shutter 23 when the front-rear movement motor 41 moves the stage 11 back and forth. Therefore, the three-dimensional modeling apparatus 1 can efficiently execute both driving and flattening of the shutter 23 only by moving the stage 11 (that is, the modeling table 6) by the forward / backward movement motor 41.

  In the three-dimensional modeling apparatus 1, the head 32 is positioned behind the flattening roller 28 in the relative movement direction in the flattening process of the flattening roller 28 with respect to the stage 11. In this case, the head 32 is positioned above the three-dimensionally shaped powder after the flattening roller 28 completes the flattening of the three-dimensionally shaped powder. Therefore, the three-dimensional modeling apparatus 1 can prevent the three-dimensional modeling powder that has not been flattened from scattering and adhering to the head 32.

  In the first embodiment, the powder supply roller 21 corresponds to the “powder supply unit” of the present invention. The flattening roller 28 corresponds to the “flattening means” of the present invention. The forward / backward movement motor 41 corresponds to “flattening driving means”. The CPU 50 that controls the powder supply motor 44 in S4 to S8 in FIG. 6 functions as a “supply control unit”. The CPU 50 that controls the operation of the head 32 in S16 of FIG. 6 functions as “ejection control means”. The head 32 functions as “ejection means”.

  A second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. The three-dimensional modeling apparatus 1 according to the second embodiment is a three-dimensional modeling apparatus according to the first embodiment in that the head 132, the flattening roller 128, and the switching unit 115 are moved in the horizontal direction while the modeling table 106 is fixed. Only the modeling apparatus 1 is different. Therefore, in the description of the second embodiment, the same components as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof is omitted or simplified.

  As shown in FIG. 7, in the three-dimensional modeling apparatus 1 according to the second embodiment, the modeling table 106 is fixed to a base. The supply unit 114 to which the three-dimensional modeling powder is supplied is formed at the rear end of the modeling table 106 and is located below the powder supply mechanism 17. The three-dimensional modeling apparatus 1 according to the second embodiment includes a moving unit 101 that can move in the front-rear direction. The moving unit 101 is moved by a longitudinal motor 41 (see FIG. 5). The moving unit 101 includes a switching unit 115, a flattening roller 128, and a head 132 in order from the front. The switching unit 115 extends upward from the left and right ends of the moving unit 101 and can contact the front of the left and right ends of the shutter 23. The flattening roller 128 is rotatably provided at substantially the center of the moving unit 101 so that the rotation axis is in the left-right direction. The head 132 is disposed behind the flattening roller 128. In the flattening step, the moving direction of the moving unit 101 relative to the modeling table 106 is the front (left side in FIG. 7). Therefore, the head 132 is located behind the flattening roller 128 in the flattening direction.

  When the moving unit 101 is moved rearward by the longitudinal movement motor 41, the two switching sections 115 push the left and right ends of the shutter 23 backward. As a result, the shutter 23 is opened, and the three-dimensional modeling powder accumulated on the shutter 23 is supplied to the supply unit 114 (upper state in FIG. 7). When the opening of the shutter 23 is completed, the three-dimensional modeling apparatus 1 moves the moving unit 101 forward. As a result, the shutter 23 is closed, and the three-dimensional modeling powder supplied to the supply unit 114 is moved to a stage (not shown) of the modeling table 106 and flattened. Next, in the process in which the head 132 passes over the flattened three-dimensional modeling powder, the modeling liquid is discharged, and a three-dimensional modeled object layer is formed.

  As described above, the three-dimensional modeling apparatus 1 according to the second embodiment flattens the three-dimensional modeling powder by moving the moving unit 101 including the flattening roller 128 by the back-and-forth motion motor 41. The switching unit 115 that drives the shutter 23 is provided in the moving unit 101 that includes the flattening roller 128. Therefore, the three-dimensional modeling apparatus 1 can efficiently execute both driving and flattening of the shutter 23 only by moving the moving unit 101 by the forward / backward movement motor 41. Since the moving unit 101 can be easily reduced in weight as compared with the modeling table 106, it is also possible to drive the shutter 23 at a high speed using a small amount of power.

  Of course, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications are possible. For example, the shape of the shutter 23 can be changed. Hereinafter, modified examples of the shutter 23 will be described with reference to FIGS. 8 and 9.

  With reference to FIG. 8, a shutter 123 according to a first modification will be described. The shutter 123 according to the first modification includes claw portions 127 at both ends. When the switching unit 15 (see FIGS. 2 and 3) contacts the claw portion 127, the shutter 123 is driven. A push spring 126 for biasing the shutter 123 forward is provided at the rear end of the shutter 123. The shutter 123 according to the first modification is formed in a shape in which a step is provided on the front side edge. More specifically, the front side edge of the right end region r1 is located most rearward, and the front side edge of the left end region r3 is located most forward. The front side edge of the region r2 on the center side in the left-right direction is located between the front side edge of the region r1 and the both side edges of the region r3.

  When the shutter 123 is moved in the opening direction by the distance d 1, only the three-dimensional modeling powder accumulated in the region r 1 of the shutter 123 is supplied to the supply unit 14. When the shutter 123 is moved by the distance d2, the three-dimensional modeling powder accumulated in the region r2 is supplied to the supply unit. When the shutter 123 is moved by the distance d3, the three-dimensionally shaped powder in the region r3 (that is, all regions) is supplied to the supply unit 14. Therefore, by using the shutter 123 of the first modified example, the amount of the three-dimensional modeling powder to be supplied and the region for supplying the three-dimensional modeling powder can be adjusted according to the distance to which the shutter 123 is moved.

  With reference to FIG. 9, a shutter 223 according to a second modification will be described. The shutter 223 according to the second modification is divided into a left end 223A, a center 223B, and a right end 223C. Push springs 226A, 226B, and 226C are provided on the left end portion 223A, the center portion 223B, and the right end portion 223C, respectively. The switching unit 215 includes a left switching unit 215A, a center switching unit 215B, and a right switching unit 215C. The distance from the shutter 223 is the farthest left switching unit 215A and the shortest right switching unit 215C.

  When the switching unit 215 is moved in the opening direction, first, the right switching unit 215C comes into contact with the right end 223C, and the three-dimensional modeling powder on the right end 223C falls. Next, the center switching part 215B comes into contact with the center part 223B, and the three-dimensional modeling powder on the center part 223B falls. Finally, the left end portion 223A is opened by the left switching portion 215A, and all the three-dimensional modeling powder on the shutter 223 falls. Therefore, by using the shutter 223 of the second modified example, the amount of the three-dimensional modeling powder to be supplied and the region for supplying the three-dimensional modeling powder can be adjusted according to the distance to which the switching unit 215 is moved. .

  Other variations of the present invention are possible. For example, the three-dimensional modeling apparatus 1 of the above embodiment accumulates the three-dimensional modeling powder on the shutter 23 until the shutter 23 is opened. Therefore, the time required for modeling the three-dimensional model can be shortened. However, the driving of the powder supply roller 21 may be started after the shutter 23 is opened without accumulating the three-dimensional modeling powder on the shutter 23. Even in this case, the three-dimensional modeling apparatus 1 can efficiently open and close the shutter 23.

  The structure of the powder supply mechanism 17 can be changed. For example, instead of the powder supply roller, the powder may be dropped using a belt or the like. Instead of the flattening roller 28, flattening may be performed using a rod-shaped member, a plate-shaped member, or the like. Further, when the three-dimensionally shaped powder on the stage 11 is flattened to form a powder layer, the flattening roller 28 and the stage 11 may be moved relatively. Therefore, the three-dimensional modeling apparatus 1 can also perform the flattening by moving both the flattening roller 28 and the stage 11. The three-dimensional modeling apparatus 1 may discharge the modeling liquid by moving the stage 11 in the horizontal direction while the head 32 is fixed.

  The shutters 23, 123, and 223 of the above-described embodiment are switched in parallel to the horizontal direction so as to switch between the supply of the three-dimensional modeling powder and the supply interruption. However, the shutter may be switched between supply and supply interruption by rotating around the rotation axis.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Three-dimensional modeling apparatus 6,106 Modeling stand 11 Stage 14,114 Supply part 15,115,215 Switching part 17 Powder supply mechanism 21 Powder supply roller 23,123,223 Shutter 28,128 Flattening roller 32,132 Head 41 Forward / backward movement motor 43 Flattening roller rotation motor 44 Powder supply motor 50 CPU

Claims (8)

A stage on which a three-dimensional modeling powder solidified by mixing with a modeling liquid is placed;
A supply unit provided on the stage surface of the stage or on the outside of the stage surface, and supplied with the three-dimensional modeling powder;
Powder supply means for supplying the three-dimensionally shaped powder to the supply unit;
By changing the relative position with respect to the stage in a direction parallel to the stage surface, the three-dimensional modeling powder supplied to the supply unit by the powder supply means is flattened, and the three-dimensional modeling powder Planarizing means for forming a powder layer that is a layer;
Flattening driving means for executing flattening of the three-dimensionally shaped powder by the flattening means by moving at least one of the flattening means and the stage;
A shutter for blocking the supply of the three-dimensional modeling powder from the powder supply means to the supply unit;
A switching unit that drives the shutter by moving by the flattening driving unit and switches between supply of the three-dimensional modeling powder from the powder supply unit to the supply unit and blocking of the supply. 3D modeling device. Supply control means for controlling the operation of the powder supply means,
The said supply control means operates the said powder supply means until the said shutter is open | released, The said three-dimensional molded powder is accumulate | stored in the upper part of the said shutter. Solid modeling device.   The supply control means controls the amount of the three-dimensional modeling powder accumulated on the upper part of the shutter from the powder supply means according to the thickness of the powder layer formed by the flattening means. The three-dimensional modeling apparatus according to claim 2. A discharge control means for controlling the discharge of the modeling liquid to the powder layer formed by the flattening means;
The supply control means accumulates the three-dimensional modeling powder on the upper part of the shutter from the powder supply means in a period other than a period in which the modeling liquid is being discharged by the discharge control means. The three-dimensional modeling apparatus according to claim 2 or 3.   The supply control unit accumulates the three-dimensional modeling powder from the powder supply unit on the upper portion of the shutter during a period other than a period in which the three-dimensional modeling powder is flattened by the flattening unit. The three-dimensional modeling apparatus according to any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein: The flattening driving means performs the flattening of the three-dimensional modeling powder by the flattening means by moving the stage,
6. The switching unit according to claim 1, wherein the switching unit is provided on the stage, and the switching unit drives the shutter by moving the stage by the flattening driving unit. 3D modeling equipment. The flattening drive means performs the flattening of the three-dimensional modeling powder by the flattening means by moving the flattening means,
The switching unit is provided in the flattening unit, and the switching unit drives the shutter by moving the flattening unit by the flattening driving unit. The three-dimensional modeling apparatus in any one. A discharge means for discharging the modeling liquid to the powder layer formed by the flattening means;
The said discharge means is located behind the said flattening means in the relative moving direction in the flattening process of the said flattening means with respect to the said stage surface, The any one of Claim 1 to 7 characterized by the above-mentioned. 3D modeling equipment.

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