JP2014188758A - Powder feeder, and three-dimensional molding device provided with the powder feder - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To smoothly guide powder upon the feed of powder and to securely cut-off the feed of powder at desired timing.SOLUTION: The three-dimensional molding device 10 comprises a powder feeder 24 of feeding powder for three-dimensional molding. The powder feeder 24 includes: a hopper 36 storing powder P and capable of exhausting the powder P to a feed passage 42 at the lower part; and a cylindrical shutter 66 freely rotatably provided on the feed passage 42. The cylindrical shutter 66 includes: a circumferential wall 96 clogging the feed passage 42; and a shutter side slit 98 passing through the circumferential wall 96 and composing a part of the feed passage 42.

Description

  The present invention relates to a powder supply apparatus that supplies powder for three-dimensional modeling and a three-dimensional modeling apparatus that includes the powder supply apparatus.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there is known a three-dimensional modeling apparatus that forms a three-dimensional model by irradiating a powder with a beam (laser light) and sintering the powder.

  For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a three-dimensional modeling apparatus that forms a hardened layer of powder by sintering powder. The three-dimensional modeling apparatus includes a powder supply device that supplies powder to the upper surface of a modeling bed (a gantry), and a processing device that irradiates the powder supplied to the modeling bed with a beam. The modeling bed is configured to be displaced up and down by a level adjustment device, and the three-dimensional modeling device forms a hardened layer of powder sequentially from the lower layer in accordance with the displacement of the modeling bed, and models the three-dimensional modeled object. Go.

Japanese translation of PCT publication No. 8-502703

  By the way, when modeling a large modeling object with a three-dimensional modeling apparatus, the weight and modeling area of a modeling object inevitably increase. For this reason, when a configuration in which the modeling bed is displaced as in the three-dimensional modeling apparatus disclosed in Patent Document 1, it is necessary to increase the size (or increase the performance) of the driving mechanism of the modeling bed.

  In order to prevent such an increase in the size of the drive mechanism, the three-dimensional modeling apparatus may be configured to displace the upper side (processing apparatus or powder supply apparatus) of the modeled object with the modeling bed fixed. However, when the processing device or the powder supply device is displaced, the powder supply device has an increased chance of receiving an external force (vibration or the like) with the displacement, and there is a possibility that the powder may be spilled at an undesired location.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and can supply powder smoothly when supplying powder, and can reliably block supply of powder at a desired timing. An object is to provide an apparatus and a three-dimensional modeling apparatus provided with the powder supply apparatus.

  In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a powder supply apparatus for supplying powder for three-dimensional modeling, which can store the powder and discharge the powder to a lower supply path. A hopper and a cylindrical shutter rotatably provided on the supply path are provided, and the cylindrical shutter constitutes a part of the supply path through the peripheral wall closing the supply path and passing through the peripheral wall. And a slit.

  According to the above, since the cylindrical shutter provided rotatably on the supply path has the peripheral wall and the slit, powder supply and blocking can be switched easily and reliably. That is, in a state where the slit is communicated with the supply path, the powder can smoothly move in the supply path to supply the powder to a predetermined position. When the cylindrical shutter is rotated from the slit communication state, the peripheral wall can be easily opposed and closed against the supply path, and powder spilling from the supply path can be greatly reduced. Furthermore, even if the cylindrical shutter bites the powder at the time of rotation, the bitten powder can be easily discharged along with the rotation. Therefore, the powder supply device can supply the powder with high accuracy, and the three-dimensional modeling apparatus can model the three-dimensional structure efficiently and accurately.

  In this case, it is preferable that the cylindrical shutter is disposed such that the peripheral wall contacts a bracket disposed on the upstream side of the supply path.

  As described above, when the peripheral wall comes into contact with the bracket, it is possible to greatly suppress the powder from entering between the bracket and the peripheral wall.

  In addition to the above configuration, the cylindrical shutter may be configured to be elastically urged upstream by an elastic member provided on the downstream side of the cylindrical shutter.

  Thus, if the cylindrical shutter is configured to be elastically urged upstream by the elastic member, the peripheral wall can be brought into stronger contact with the bracket, and powder enters between the bracket and the peripheral wall. Can be further suppressed.

  A plurality of slits having different axial lengths may be formed on the peripheral wall of the cylindrical shutter.

  The slits with different axial lengths formed on the peripheral wall of the cylindrical shutter can change the supply amount, supply range, and supply position of the powder by individually facing the supply path. For example, when forming a small three-dimensional structure, the supply amount of powder can be reduced and the manufacturing cost can be reduced by using a slit whose axial length is shorter than the others.

  Furthermore, it is preferable that a supply adjustment member capable of adjusting the supply amount of the powder is provided in a supply path between the hopper and the cylindrical shutter.

  Since the powder supply apparatus is configured to adjust the supply amount of the powder by the supply adjustment member, the supply amount of the powder can be easily changed regardless of the slit of the cylindrical shutter.

  In order to achieve the above object, the present invention includes a powder supply device that supplies a powder for three-dimensional modeling, and a processing unit that performs a three-dimensional modeling process on the supplied powder. A three-dimensional modeling apparatus, wherein the powder supply device accommodates the powder and discharges the powder to a lower supply path, and a cylindrical shape rotatably provided on the supply path The cylindrical shutter includes a peripheral wall that closes the supply path, and a slit that penetrates the peripheral wall and forms a part of the supply path.

  According to the above, since the powder is supplied with high accuracy by the powder supply device having the cylindrical shutter, the three-dimensional modeling apparatus can model the three-dimensional structure efficiently and accurately.

  According to the present invention, the powder supply device and the three-dimensional modeling apparatus including the powder supply device can smoothly guide the powder when supplying the powder, and reliably supply the powder at a desired timing. Can be blocked.

It is a schematic explanatory drawing which shows the whole structure of the three-dimensional modeling apparatus which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is side surface sectional drawing which expands and shows the powder supply apparatus of the three-dimensional modeling apparatus of FIG. It is a disassembled perspective view which shows the powder supply / blocking part of the powder supply apparatus of FIG. 4A is a perspective view showing the cylindrical shutter of FIG. 3, FIG. 4B is a sectional view taken along the line VIB-VIB of FIG. 4A, and FIG. 4C is a sectional view showing the cylindrical shutter according to the first modification. FIG. 4D is a cross-sectional view showing a cylindrical shutter according to a second modification. FIG. 5A is a first side cross-sectional view for explaining the operation of the powder supply device, and FIG. 5B is a second side cross-sectional view for explaining the operation of the powder supply device. FIG. 6A is a partial side sectional view showing an example of powder supply adjustment in the powder supply apparatus, and FIG. 6B is a partial side sectional view showing another example of powder supply adjustment in the powder supply apparatus. . FIG. 7A is a first explanatory view showing an operation when the powder is bitten in the powder supply apparatus, FIG. 7B is a second explanatory view showing an operation following FIG. 7A, and FIG. It is the 3rd explanatory view showing the operation following 7B. FIG. 8A is a plan view showing a cylindrical shutter according to a third modification, and FIG. 8B is a sectional view taken along line VIIIB-VIIIB in FIG. 8A.

  Hereinafter, the powder supply apparatus according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings by giving preferred embodiments in relation to the three-dimensional modeling apparatus provided with the powder supply apparatus.

As shown in FIG. 1, the three-dimensional modeling apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment includes an apparatus main body 12 that actually models a three-dimensional structure, and a control unit 14 (control apparatus) that drives and controls the apparatus main body 12. Have. Further, a laser beam oscillator 16, an N ₂ gas supply machine 18, a fume suction machine 20, and the like used for processing a three-dimensional structure are connected to the outside of the apparatus main body 12. On the other hand, a computer 22 for designing a three-dimensional structure is connected to the control unit 14.

The operator designs a three-dimensional structure on the computer 22 and transmits the design data to the control unit 14. Upon receiving the design data, the control unit 14 automatically sets the operation content of the apparatus main body 12 to control the drive, and further controls the laser light oscillator 16, the N ₂ gas supply unit 18, and the fume suction unit 20. Carry out 3D modeling.

  Inside the apparatus main body 12, a powder supply device 24, a modeling bed 26, a blade 28, a processing device 30 (processing unit), a moving mechanism 32, and a carriage 34 are provided. In modeling a three-dimensional structure, the moving mechanism 32 is driven under the control of the control unit 14 to displace the powder supply device 24 and the processing device 30 in the surface direction of the modeling bed 26 (X direction in FIG. 1). Then, the powder P is supplied onto the modeling bed 26 by the powder supply device 24, and the processing device 30 irradiates the beam (laser light) to the supplied powder P so that the powder P is sintered, and the powder P A cured layer of the body P is formed. When a single hardened layer is formed, the powder supply device 24 and the processing device 30 are moved upward by the moving mechanism 32 and the next hardened layer is formed by the same method. The three-dimensional modeling apparatus 10 models a three-dimensional modeled object by repeating this operation a predetermined number of times.

  The powder supply device 24 includes a hopper 36 that accommodates the powder P for three-dimensional modeling, and a powder supply / interruption unit 38 that is provided below the hopper 36 and can be switched between supply and interruption of the powder P. . The hopper 36 is a container in which a frame formed in an inverted triangle shape in a cross-sectional side view extends over a predetermined length in the Y direction (see also FIG. 3), and the inside thereof is an accommodation space 36 a for accommodating the powder P. ing. As shown in FIG. 2, a supply port 40 that is continuous with the accommodation space 36 a and is elongated along the Y direction is provided at the lower portion of the hopper 36. The powder P stored in the storage space 36 a is guided to the lower side of the hopper 36 by its own weight and discharged from the supply port 40. Note that a scraper or the like for stirring the powder P may be provided inside the hopper 36.

  The powder P discharged from the supply port 40 is supplied onto the modeling bed 26 through a powder supply / blocking unit 38 having a supply path 42 for the powder P therein. The powder supply / blocking unit 38 is related to the main configuration of the present invention and will be described in detail later.

  Returning to FIG. 1, the modeling bed 26 is formed in a flat plate shape, is fixed so as to be horizontal in the apparatus main body 12, and holds the plate 26 a at a predetermined position on the upper surface. The plate 26a is used as a pedestal in a region where a three-dimensional structure is formed (a region to which the powder P is supplied), and is fitted so as to be flush with the modeling bed 26. Further, the modeling bed 26 is provided with a discharge path (not shown) for discharging residual powder generated during the leveling or processing of the powder P. The carriage 34 is disposed below the modeling bed 26 and collects residual powder discharged from the discharge path.

  The powder P supplied from the powder supply device 24 to the plate 26a is formed into a layer having a predetermined height by a blade 28 which is a powder leveling means. The blade 28 is attached to the rear of the powder supply device 24 in the traveling direction (that is, between the powder supply device 24 and the processing device 30), and smoothes the supplied powder P as the powder supply device 24 moves. Go. The blade 28 has a long hole (not shown) extending in the vertical direction, and the amount of protrusion at the lower end of the powder supply device 24 can be adjusted.

  The processing device 30 includes a powder supply device 24 in front of the traveling direction, and has a function of irradiating the powder P with a certain height with a beam. The processing apparatus 30 includes a beam irradiation unit 44 disposed at a position separated from the plate 26 a by a predetermined distance, and a shroud 46 attached to a lower portion of the beam irradiation unit 44.

  The beam irradiation unit 44 includes a lens, a mirror, and the like, and is connected to the laser beam oscillator 16. The beam irradiation unit 44 refracts and irradiates the beam emitted from the laser beam oscillator 16 downward. The irradiation range of the beam can be changed to a range in the XY direction (a range in the surface direction of the plate 26a). The beam irradiated from the beam irradiation unit 44 sinters the powder P on the plate 26a to form a hardened layer.

  The powder P formed on the hardened layer by the beam is not particularly limited, and for example, metal, metal alloy, synthetic resin, ceramic, glass or other inorganic or organic powder materials can be used. In particular, in the case of a metal material, nickel, phosphor copper, iron, copper, bronze and the like can be mentioned. Further, the powder P may be only one kind of powder material, or a plurality of kinds of powder materials may be combined. Furthermore, although the particle size of the powder P varies depending on the material or the purpose of use of the shaped product, for example, a powder having an average particle size of about 5 to 40 μm may be used.

  In addition, the formation means of the hardened layer of the powder P by the three-dimensional modeling apparatus 10 is not limited to the sintering by the beam (optical modeling method), and the powder P supplied by the powder supply apparatus 24 is cured. Various configurations that can be employed may be employed. For example, a method of adding a binder to the powder P and hardening it (powder fixing type lamination method) may be employed. An appropriate material may be selected for the powder P according to the processing method.

The shroud 46 is a cylindrical cover member having a ceiling wall 46a, and the internal space 48 secures an optical path of the beam. The shroud 46 has a function of blocking the diffusion of the beam and N ₂ gas to the outside, or the influence on the beam from the outside. The ceiling wall 46a of the shroud 46 is attached to the lower surface of the beam irradiation unit 44 so as not to interfere with the beam irradiation range. On the other hand, an opening 48a smaller than the area of the plate 26a is formed in the lower part of the shroud 46, and a skirt 50 is provided around the rim constituting the opening 48a.

  The skirt portion 50 is a frame-like member that follows the inner shape of the shroud 46, and is provided so as to be movable up and down relative to the shroud 46 by a driving source (not shown). The skirt portion 50 closes a gap formed between the lower end of the shroud 46 and the powder P layer by lowering. As a result, the irradiated portion of the beam is more reliably covered.

An atmosphere gas supply port 18a and a fume suction port 20a are formed inside the shroud 46. The atmospheric gas supply port 18a is connected to the N ₂ gas supply unit 18 outside the apparatus main body 12 via a tube, while the fume suction port 20a is connected to the fume suction unit 20 outside the apparatus main body 12 via a tube. It is connected. The N ₂ gas supplier 18 supplies N ₂ gas (atmosphere gas) to the space 48 of the shroud 46 to reduce the amount of oxygen in the space 48. The fume suction device 20 sucks dust generated in the space 48 of the shroud 46 due to processing or the like.

  The moving mechanism 32 includes a pair of fixed guide rails 52, a movable guide rail 54, a base 56 and a support body 58. The pair of fixed guide rails 52 extends in the Y direction in FIG. 1 and supports the movable guide rails 54 movably by grooves 52a formed along the longitudinal direction. The movable guide rail 54 bridges between the pair of fixed guide rails 52, and supports the base 56 so as to be movable in the X direction (longitudinal direction of the movable guide rail 54). The base 56 supports the support body 58 on the movable guide rail 54 so as to be displaceable in the Z direction (vertical direction). The support 58 supports the processing device 30 (beam irradiation unit 44) at the lower end thereof. Accordingly, the moving mechanism 32 can move and position the processing device 30 three-dimensionally (in the XYZ direction) above the modeling bed 26. The powder supply device 24 is attached to the processing device 30 and can be moved integrally with the processing device 30.

  Next, the powder supply / blocking unit 38 of the powder supply device 24 will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. The powder supply / blocking unit 38 is attached to the lower part of the hopper 36 and has a supply path 42 for the powder P penetrating vertically. The supply path 42 is configured to be able to easily switch between opening and closing in the supply path 42, so that the supply and blocking of the powder P and the supply amount of the powder P can be adjusted. it can. The powder supply / blocking unit 38 includes an upper bracket 60, a lower bracket 62, a supply adjusting member 64, a cylindrical shutter 66, and a leaf spring member 68 (elastic member).

  The upper bracket 60 is a substantially rectangular block body having a flat surface that can cover the lower portion of the hopper 36. The upper bracket 60 is screwed and fixed to a tongue piece 36 b that is formed to protrude in the X direction at the lower end of the hopper 36. The upper bracket 60 has a bracket-side slit 70 at a position facing the supply port 40 in a fixed state with the hopper 36.

  On the lower side of the upper bracket 60, an arrangement groove portion 72 in which the cylindrical shutter 66 can be arranged is formed along the Y direction. Further, projecting blocks 74 projecting downward are provided at both ends of the upper bracket 60 in the Y direction, and bearing holes 74a capable of rotatably supporting the cylindrical shutter 66 are formed in the projecting blocks 74. ing. A drive mechanism 76 that rotates the cylindrical shutter 66 is attached to one projecting block 74 side.

  The drive mechanism 76 includes a servo motor 78 that is a rotational drive source, and first and second support plates 80 and 82 that fixedly support the servo motor 78. The servo motor 78 is electrically connected to the control unit 14 (see FIG. 1), and receives a control signal (pulse signal) from the control unit 14 to rotate the rotating shaft. A motor gear 84 is attached to the rotation shaft, and the motor gear 84 meshes with the driven gear 94 of the cylindrical shutter 66 at a position sandwiched between the first and second support plates 80 and 82. The first and second support plates 80 and 82 are fixedly supported by a front support plate 83 attached to the front side of the upper bracket 60.

  The servo motor 78 includes an encoder (not shown), and the control unit 14 can rotate the motor gear 84 while detecting the rotation angle by the encoder. Therefore, the cylindrical shutter 66 supported by the upper bracket 60 is rotated by adjusting the rotation angle by the control unit 14.

  The lower bracket 62 includes a first lower bracket 62 a and a second lower bracket 62 b formed in a substantially symmetrical shape, and is fixed to the lower surface of the upper bracket 60 with screws so as to cover the lower side of the cylindrical shutter 66. The first and second lower brackets 62a and 62b are fixed at a predetermined distance from each other, and a supply gap 86 constituting a part of the supply path 42 is formed therebetween. In addition, the first and second lower brackets 62a and 62b are formed with a tapered surface 63 on the upper side of the opposing surfaces to widen the installation space of the cylindrical shutter 66. Thereby, the powder P that has moved from the cylindrical shutter 66 is smoothly discharged downward through the supply gap 86.

  The supply adjustment member 64 includes a flat plate-like first adjustment plate 64 a and second adjustment plate 64 b and is attached between the hopper 36 and the upper bracket 60. The first and second adjustment plates 64a and 64b have cutout portions 88a and 88b extending in the Y direction at positions facing each other, and the adjustment slit 88 appears between the cutout portions 88a and 88b. The adjustment slit 88 constitutes a part of the supply path 42 and allows the powder P flowing out from the supply port 40 to pass therethrough.

  At least one (or both) planar portions of the first and second adjustment plates 64a and 64b have a long hole (not shown) extending in the X direction, and the mounting position in the X direction can be changed with respect to the hopper 36 and the upper bracket 60. It has become. Therefore, the powder supply / blocking unit 38 can adjust the width of the supply path 42 (adjustment slit 88) of the powder P according to the attachment state of the supply adjustment member 64.

  The cylindrical shutter 66 includes a cylindrical main body 90 disposed between the pair of protruding blocks 74 of the upper bracket 60, a supported portion 92 supported by the bearing hole 74a at both ends of the cylindrical main body 90, and one supported portion. And a driven gear 94 fixed to the end of 92.

  4A and 4B, the cylindrical main body 90 has a peripheral wall 96 formed with a constant outer diameter along the axial direction of the cylindrical shutter 66, and a shutter-side slit 98 is formed in the peripheral wall 96. Has been. The shutter side slit 98 is formed so as to penetrate from one surface of the peripheral wall 96 to the opposite surface through the axial center of the cylindrical main body 90. The shutter side slit 98 has substantially the same width as the bracket side slit 70 of the upper bracket 60. Further, the inner wall 98a constituting the shutter side slit 98 is formed in a straight and smooth surface.

  When the upper bracket 60 and the cylindrical shutter 66 are attached to the cylindrical main body 90, the peripheral wall 96 is disposed in the arrangement groove portion 72 of the upper bracket 60 so as to be rotatable without any gap. For this reason, when the shutter-side slit 98 overlaps (opposes) the bracket-side slit 70, the inner wall 98a thereof is flush with the inner wall 70a of the bracket-side slit 70 and leads to the powder P falling smoothly. Can do.

  On the other hand, when the peripheral wall 96 of the cylindrical shutter 66 faces the bracket-side slit 70, the lower part of the bracket-side slit 70 is entirely covered. Accordingly, it is possible to reliably block the powder P from falling on the peripheral wall 96.

  That is, the supply path 42 of the powder supply / blocking unit 38 is configured by the supply port 40, the adjustment slit 88, the bracket side slit 70, the shutter side slit 98, and the supply gap 86 in order from the upper side (the hopper 36 side). . The supply path 42 is switched between open and closed according to the rotation angle of the cylindrical main body 90.

  Note that the shutter-side slit 98 of the cylindrical shutter 66 is not limited to the above configuration, and can have various configurations. For example, as in the first modification shown in FIG. 4C, the cylindrical shutter 66A may be formed in a tapered portion 99b in which the inner wall 99a constituting the shutter side slit 99 becomes wider toward the edge of the peripheral wall 96. . As a result, the edge of the peripheral wall 96 expands by the taper portion 99 b, so that the cylindrical shutter 66 </ b> A can easily receive the powder P in the shutter side slit 99.

  4D, the shutter-side slit 100 of the cylindrical shutter 66B may be formed wider than the bracket-side slit 70. As shown in FIG. In short, the shutter side slits 98, 99, 100 prevent clogging of the powder P between the boundaries of the upper bracket 60 and the cylindrical shutter 66 when the width of the opening is equal to or larger than the width of the bracket side slit 70. be able to.

  The supported portion 92 connected to both ends of the cylindrical main body 90 is rotatably supported with respect to the bearing hole 74a. Thereby, the cylindrical main body 90 is accommodated along the arrangement groove portion 72, and the driven gear 94 is arranged at a position where the driven gear 94 meshes with the motor gear 84 of the servo motor 78. The servo motor 78 can transmit the rotational driving force to the driven gear 94 to rotate the cylindrical shutter 66 and adjust the rotational angle of the cylindrical main body 90.

  As shown in FIG. 2, a leaf spring member 68 is attached between the cylindrical shutter 66 and the lower bracket 62 (on the downstream side of the cylindrical shutter 66). The plate spring member 68 is divided into two parts, a first plate spring member 68a and a second plate spring member 68b. The leaf spring member 68 is disposed at a predetermined distance from each other, so that the opening of the shutter side slit 98 is maintained. The cylindrical main body 90 is elastically supported.

  Specifically, the first and second leaf spring members 68 a and 68 b are attached to the lower surface of the upper bracket 60 and project a predetermined amount toward the arrangement groove portion 72. Since the cylindrical main body 90 is arranged so that the lower side protrudes somewhat from the arrangement groove 72, the upper surface portions of the first and second leaf spring members 68 a and 68 b elastically contact the peripheral wall 96 of the cylindrical main body 90. As a result, the leaf spring member 68 urges the cylindrical main body 90 upward (upstream of the supply path 42) to bring the cylindrical main body 90 and the upper bracket 60 into contact with no gap.

  The three-dimensional modeling apparatus 10 and the powder supply apparatus 24 according to the present embodiment are basically configured as described above, and the function and effect will be described below.

  When the 3D modeling apparatus 10 receives design data and a modeling instruction of the 3D modeled object from the operator, the 3D modeling apparatus 10 operates the moving mechanism 32 to move the powder supply apparatus 24 and the processing apparatus 30 to the modeling start position. Thereby, the supply path 42 of the powder supply apparatus 24 is positioned so as to face the vicinity of the boundary between the plate 26a and the modeling bed 26 in a plan view, for example. Further, the lower surface of the lower bracket 62 is positioned at a height that can secure the angle of repose of the powder P supplied onto the plate 26a. The accommodation space 36a of the hopper 36 contains powder P for three-dimensional modeling in advance, and the cylindrical shutter 66 blocks the supply path 42 to prevent the powder P from spilling. ing.

  After moving to the modeling start position, the control unit 14 drives the servo motor 78 to rotate the cylindrical shutter 66 so that the shutter side slit 98 of the cylindrical body 90 matches the bracket side slit 70 as shown in FIG. 5A. Let (face). Thereby, the supply path 42 of the powder P is opened, and the powder P is supplied onto the modeling bed 26 via the supply path 42. At this time, the shutter side slit 98 stops at a position flush with the bracket side slit 70. As a result, the supply path 42 is opened by the width of the bracket-side slit 70, and a relatively large amount of the powder P smoothly passes through the supply path 42 and falls downward from the supply gap 86. .

  Under the drive control of the moving mechanism 32, the powder supply device 24 and the processing device 30 advance in the surface direction (X direction) of the modeling bed 26, and the powder P is transferred from the supply path 42 to the plate 26a along with this advance. Supplied. The powder P supplied to the plate 26a is leveled by the blade 28 in front of the processing apparatus 30, and is formed in a layer shape having a constant height.

  The powder P formed in a layer shape enters the shroud 46 when the shroud 46 of the processing apparatus 30 moves next. The powder P is irradiated with a beam from the beam irradiation unit 44 through the space 48. The irradiation state of the beam irradiated by the beam irradiation unit 44 is controlled based on the design data, and only the powder P at the portion irradiated with the beam is sintered and formed in the hardened layer.

  When the hardened layer of the powder P is formed, the three-dimensional modeling apparatus 10 raises the powder supply device 24 and the processing device 30 by the moving mechanism 32 as shown in FIG. 5B. At this time, the control unit 14 drives the servo motor 78 to rotate the cylindrical shutter 66 by a predetermined angle (for example, 90 °), thereby causing the peripheral wall 96 to face the bracket-side slit 70. As a result, the supply path 42 is blocked by the peripheral wall 96, and the spillage of the powder P from the powder supply device 24 is reliably suppressed.

  When the control unit 14 moves the powder supply device 24 and the processing device 30 to the formation start position of the next layer of the three-dimensional structure, the control unit 14 supplies the powder P and irradiates the beam again to cure the powder P of the next layer. I will do it. Hereinafter, by repeating the same procedure, the 3D modeling apparatus 10 can produce a 3D modeled object.

  As shown in FIG. 6A, the three-dimensional modeling apparatus 10 adjusts the rotation angle of the cylindrical shutter 66 and covers a part of the shutter-side slit 98 with the upper bracket 60, thereby reducing the supply amount of the powder P. It can also be changed. That is, since the width of the supply path 42 is narrowed by the movement of the shutter side slit 98, the supply amount can be easily adjusted.

  Further, the adjustment of the supply amount of the powder P may be performed by changing the width of the adjustment slit 88 of the supply adjustment member 64 as shown in FIG. 6B. That is, the adjustment slit 88 is narrowed by fixing the first and second adjustment plates 64a and 64b close to each other. Thereby, the supply amount of the powder P can be adjusted in advance above the cylindrical shutter 66, and it is possible to avoid clogging the powder P in the supply path 42 extending linearly.

  In addition, the powder supply / blocking unit 38 according to the present embodiment is provided with the cylindrical shutter 66, so that it can cope with the biting of the powder P when supplying and blocking the powder P. It is possible. That is, as shown in FIG. 7A, the cylindrical shutter 66 is in contact with the arrangement groove 72 of the upper bracket 60 when the shutter side slit 98 and the bracket side slit 70 are opposed to each other. For this reason, the powder P is blocked from entering (biting into) the cylindrical shutter 66 and the arrangement groove 72. Here, since the cylindrical shutter 66 is urged upward by the leaf spring member 68, the biting of the powder P can be blocked more reliably.

  As shown in FIG. 7B, when the cylindrical shutter 66 is rotated to close the supply path 42, if the powder P sticks to the peripheral wall 96, there is a possibility of entering the arrangement groove 72. At this time, the cylindrical main body 90 is displaced by a small amount downward, but the displacement amount is suppressed by the leaf spring member 68. Therefore, the rotational force of the cylindrical main body 90 is easily transmitted to the powder P that has entered the arrangement groove 72, and moves together with the peripheral wall 96 without remaining in the arrangement groove 72.

  Then, as shown in FIG. 7C, the powder P that has entered the arrangement groove 72 is finally guided to the lower side of the cylindrical body 90 as the cylindrical body 90 rotates, and is discharged into the supply gap 86. . That is, the powder supply device 24 holds the powder P even when the powder P enters the gap between the cylindrical shutter 66 and the upper bracket 60 by the rotation of the cylindrical shutter 66 in the arrangement groove 72. And can be easily guided downward. Therefore, the powder supply device 24 can continuously supply the powder P while reducing the maintenance opportunity accompanying the biting of the powder P.

  As described above, the three-dimensional modeling apparatus 10 and the powder supply apparatus 24 can easily supply and block the powder P because the cylindrical shutter 66 on the supply path 42 has the peripheral wall 96 and the shutter side slit 98. It can be switched reliably. That is, in a state where the shutter side slit 98 communicates with the supply path 42, the powder P smoothly moves in the supply path 42 and is supplied onto the modeling bed 26. Then, when the cylindrical shutter 66 is rotated from the communication state of the shutter side slit 98, the peripheral wall 96 can be easily opposed to the supply path 42 and closed, and the spillage of the powder P from the supply path 42 is greatly reduced. can do. Therefore, the three-dimensional modeling apparatus 10 including the powder supply device 24 can supply the powder P with high accuracy and model a three-dimensional modeled object efficiently and accurately.

  Further, the powder supply device 24 significantly suppresses the powder P from entering (biting) between the upper bracket 60 and the peripheral wall 96 by the peripheral wall 96 coming into contact with the arrangement groove portion 72 of the upper bracket 60. Can do. At this time, when the cylindrical shutter 66 is elastically urged upward by the first and second leaf spring members 68a and 68b, the powder P can be further suppressed from entering.

  Further, the powder supply device 24 is configured to adjust the supply amount of the powder P by the supply adjusting member 64, so that the supply amount of the powder P regardless of the shutter side slit 98 of the cylindrical shutter 66. Can be easily changed.

  In the above description, the present invention has been described with reference to preferred embodiments. However, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. Yes.

  For example, like the cylindrical shutter 66C according to the third modification shown in FIGS. 8A and 8B, the shutter-side slit 102 is formed to have a size in which the circumferential width is different along the axial direction of the cylindrical main body 90. May be. That is, the shutter-side slit 102 has a first slit 104 formed over substantially the entire length in the axial direction of the cylindrical main body 90, and a first slit 104 formed at a length shorter than the first slit 104 at the axial central portion of the cylindrical main body 90. 2 slits 106. The first slit 104 and the second slit 106 are continuous in the circumferential direction, and both are formed so as to penetrate the shaft center portion in common.

  The widths of the first and second slits 104 and 106 in the circumferential direction are approximately the same and coincide with the width of the supply path 42. That is, in a state where the first slit 104 is disposed at a position overlapping the bracket-side slit 70, the second slit 106 is disposed at a position where the second slit 106 is covered by the upper bracket 60 (position facing the arrangement groove portion 72). In this state, the width of the supply path 42 in the Y direction is set by the first slit 104, and a large amount of powder P can be supplied.

  On the other hand, in a state where the second slit 106 is disposed at a position overlapping the bracket side slit 70, the first slit 104 is disposed at a position covered with the upper bracket 60. In this state, the width of the supply path 42 in the Y direction is set by the second slit 106, and the supply amount and supply range can be limited more than the first slit 104 to supply the powder P.

  That is, the cylindrical shutter 66 </ b> C can change the supply amount, supply position, and supply range of the powder P by switching the first slit 104 and the second slit 106. Therefore, for example, when producing a small shaped article, the supply path 42 may be configured using the second slit 106 having a short axial width, and the supply amount of the powder P can be suppressed, resulting in a manufacturing cost. Can be reduced.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Three-dimensional modeling apparatus 14 ... Control part 24 ... Powder supply apparatus 26 ... Modeling bed 36 ... Hopper 38 ... Powder supply / blocking part 42 ... Supply path 60 ... Upper bracket 62 ... Lower bracket 64 ... Supply adjustment member 66, 66A, 66B, 66C ... Cylindrical shutter 68 ... Leaf spring member 96 ... Peripheral walls 98, 99, 100, 102 ... Shutter side slit 104 ... First slit 106 ... Second slit P ... Powder

Claims (6)

A powder supply device for supplying powder for three-dimensional modeling,
A hopper capable of containing the powder and capable of discharging the powder to a lower supply path;
A cylindrical shutter provided rotatably on the supply path,
The cylindrical shutter includes a peripheral wall that closes the supply path, and a slit that penetrates the peripheral wall and forms a part of the supply path. The powder supply apparatus according to claim 1, wherein
The powder supply device, wherein the cylindrical shutter is disposed such that the peripheral wall contacts a bracket disposed on the upstream side of the supply path. The powder supply apparatus according to claim 2,
The powder supply apparatus, wherein the cylindrical shutter is elastically urged upstream by an elastic member provided on the downstream side of the cylindrical shutter. In the powder supply apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
A powder supply apparatus, wherein a plurality of the slits having different axial lengths are formed on a peripheral wall of the cylindrical shutter. In the powder supply apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
A powder supply apparatus, wherein a supply adjustment member capable of adjusting a supply amount of the powder is provided in a supply path between the hopper and the cylindrical shutter. A three-dimensional modeling apparatus comprising a powder supply device that supplies powder for three-dimensional modeling, and a processing unit that performs three-dimensional modeling processing on the supplied powder,
The powder supply device includes:
A hopper capable of containing the powder and capable of discharging the powder to a lower supply path;
A cylindrical shutter provided rotatably on the supply path,
The cylindrical shutter includes a peripheral wall that closes the supply path, and a slit that penetrates the peripheral wall and forms a part of the supply path.

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