JP2015178245A - Powder material feeder of three-dimensional shaping apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a powder material feeder of three-dimensional shaping apparatus which manufactures a three-dimensionally shaped object by a powder material which is capable of evenly feeding a powder material onto a table regardless of a grain size of the powder material.SOLUTION: A powder material feeder 7 comprises: a tank part 21 which stores the powder material 2; a discharge hole 22 which is provided for a lower end side of the tank part 21 and discharges the powder material 2 in the tank part 21 to the outside of the tank part 21; and a fixed amount feeding mechanism 23 which feeds the powder material 2 discharged from the discharge hole 22 onto a table 5 by a fixed amount, in which the fixed amount feeding mechanism 23 has a feeding roller 33 equipped with: a base body part 31 freely rotatable about an axis line which is orthogonal to a moving direction of the powder material feeder 7 and extends in a direction parallel with a top surface 7a of the table 5; and a plurality of protrusions 32 which are formed on an outer peripheral surface of the base body part 31 at a fixed gap, protruded outward from the base body part 31 and extended in a direction parallel with an axis line of the base body part 31.

Description

  In the present invention, a layered powder material supplied on a table is laminated with a plurality of layers of powder material formed by discharging a binder liquid that joins the powder material. The present invention relates to a powder material supply apparatus for supplying a powder material to the table in a layer form in a three-dimensional modeling apparatus that models an original model.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a technique called rapid prototyping, in which a three-dimensional modeled object to be modeled is modeled by stacking layers having a cross-sectional shape cut by a plurality of horizontal cross sections, is widely known.
This rapid prototyping includes laser modeling for photo-curing resin, laser lamination modeling for laminating and laminating thin film sheets, a method for extruding and laminating thermoplastic resin, and infrared laser for powder material There are various techniques such as powder sintering (melting) modeling that is sintered or melted by an electron beam, a thermal head, or the like, and modeling by powder that joins a powder material with a binder liquid.

Among these, modeling by powder has advantages that it is relatively easy to handle compared to other techniques and that a three-dimensional model can be formed at a relatively low cost.
As modeling by this powder, for example, as shown in Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2, a powder material is supplied to the upper surface of the table as a layer of a predetermined layer thickness, and a binder is applied to the layer by an inkjet head or the like. A part of the layer of the three-dimensional structure is formed by discharging a liquid, and the three-dimensional structure is formed by sequentially stacking the layers.
Alternatively, as shown in Patent Documents 3 to 7, the powder material is supplied to the upper surface of the table as a layer having a predetermined layer thickness, and the layer is heated by irradiation with a laser, an electron beam, an infrared lamp, or the like. Forming a part of the layer of the three-dimensional structure by sintering or melting by heating with a thermal head, etc., and forming the three-dimensional structure by sequentially stacking the layers It has also been done.

In the three-dimensional modeling apparatus that performs modeling using such powder, the powder material is supplied to the table by a powder material supply apparatus (so-called recoater), while the powder material supplied on the table is supplied to the table. In general, the binder liquid is discharged by a binder liquid supply apparatus, and when it is sintered or melted, it is generally irradiated by a laser or an electron beam beam by an irradiation apparatus or a thermal head.
When modeling a three-dimensional structure using the three-dimensional modeling apparatus having such a configuration, first, the powder material supply apparatus is moved linearly to spread the powder material uniformly on the table to a predetermined layer thickness. Then, the binder liquid supply device is moved. Then, by discharging the binder liquid toward the powder material on the table, or by sintering or melting the powder material, the powder material is combined in a shape that matches the three-dimensional structure in that layer. A layer of the powder material including a part of the layer portion of the three-dimensional structure is made.
Then, after forming a layer of the powder material including a part of the layer portion of the three-dimensional structure, the powder material supply device is moved again so that the new powder material is more specifically placed on the table. Is supplied onto the layer of powder material formed immediately before, and uniformly spread to a predetermined layer thickness, and the formation of the next layer of powder material is started.

Here, the powder material supply device that supplies the powder material to the table needs to supply the powder material to the table smoothly and uniformly. As such a powder material supply device, there are various configurations. For example, as shown in Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2, by vibrating a part of a tank containing the powder material, The powder material is discharged from the tank.
However, this type of powder material supply device can smoothly supply the powder material to the table when the particle size of the powder material to be used is almost constant. The amount discharged from the tank to the table tends to be different. Therefore, when the particle size of the powder material is not uniform, it may be difficult to supply the powder material to the table smoothly and uniformly.

On the other hand, in the 3D modeling apparatus, in order to secure the strength of the 3D model to be modeled or to reduce the surface roughness of the 3D model and smooth the surface, As a state where the layer of the powder material is closely packed, it is necessary to reduce the voids in the layer as much as possible.
As one of the means for reducing the voids in the layer of the powder material in this way, a powder material having a large particle size and a powder material having a particle size sufficiently smaller than the powder material are used. It is conceivable to make the gap between the powder materials as small and as small as possible by inserting the powder material with a small particle size into the gap between the powder materials with a large particle size.
When using a mixture of a powder material with a large particle size and a powder material with a small particle size in this way, the powder material is supplied to the table by vibrating a part of the tank as described above. When the powder material supply device is used, even if the specific gravity is equal, the so-called Brazil nut phenomenon causes the powder material with a large particle size to be separated from the powder material with a small particle size. It becomes difficult to supply the material uniformly to the table. Then, since the particle size distribution in the layer of the powder material can be biased, the gap between the powder materials cannot be reduced as a whole layer of the powder material, and the three-dimensional structure formed as a result There is a problem that the strength of the can not be ensured.

JP-A-6-218712 JP 7-507508 A JP-A-8-281807 Japanese National Patent Publication No. 11-508322 Special table 2003-531034 gazette Special table 2013-507275 gazette Special table 2007-533480 gazette

  A technical problem of the present invention is that in a powder material supply device of a three-dimensional modeling apparatus that manufactures a three-dimensional structure using a powder material, the powder material is uniformly supplied to a table regardless of the particle size. It is to provide what can be done.

  In order to solve the above problems, the powder material supply device of the three-dimensional modeling apparatus of the present invention repeats the operation of combining the powder material supplied in layers in accordance with the shape of the three-dimensional structure to be modeled. In the three-dimensional modeling apparatus for modeling a three-dimensional structure by sequentially laminating the layers of the powder material, the powder material supply device for supplying the powder material in layers to the table on which the layers of the powder material are laminated The powder material supply device includes a tank part for storing the powder material, a discharge hole provided on the lower end side of the tank part, and for discharging the powder material in the tank part to the outside of the tank part, A fixed amount supply mechanism for supplying the powder material discharged from the discharge hole to the table by a fixed amount, and the powder material supply device is formed so as to be movable in one direction, the fixed amount supply mechanism, Movement of the powder material supply device A base portion that is orthogonal to the direction and extends in a direction parallel to the upper surface of the table and is rotatable about an axis, and is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the base portion at a constant interval, and protrudes outward of the base portion. A supply roller having a plurality of protrusions extending in a direction parallel to the axis of the base portion, and rotating the supply roller between adjacent protrusions on the outer peripheral surface of the base portion. The powder material discharged from the discharge hole is filled in the space, and the powder material filled in each space is sequentially dropped for each space, whereby a certain amount of the powder material is placed on the table. It can be supplied one by one.

In the present invention, the supply roller of the quantitative supply mechanism may be arranged such that the plurality of protrusions protrude radially from the base portion.
In the present invention, a control valve for controlling the flow of the powder material discharged from the discharge hole may be attached to the discharge hole.

Furthermore, in this invention, the said fixed_quantity | feed_rate supply mechanism shall be equipped with the discharge direction control means which controls the discharge direction of the said powder material discharged | emitted toward the said fixed_quantity | feed_rate supply mechanism from the said discharge hole. it can.
In this case, the discharge direction control means includes a plate-shaped direction control plate extending from the discharge hole side toward the supply roller of the fixed amount supply mechanism, and a base end side of the supply roller side of the direction control plate. An auxiliary plate member that is attached to the end portion and that has a distal end side that extends to a position in contact with the protruding portion of the rotating supply roller is formed in a flexible plate shape. It is preferable.

In the present invention, the tank portion includes a storage space for storing the powder material, which extends in a horizontal direction perpendicular to the moving direction of the powder material supply device, and the storage space is disposed below. It can be configured to gradually taper toward the center in the short direction as it goes.
Alternatively, the tank portion includes a storage space for storing the powder material that extends in a horizontal direction orthogonal to the moving direction of the powder material supply device, and the storage space gradually becomes shorter as it goes downward. It can be configured to taper toward one end side in the direction.

  Furthermore, in this invention, the said powder material supply apparatus shall be equipped with the planarization member which planarizes the upper surface of the powder material supplied to the table.

According to the present invention, the powder material supply device is discharged from the discharge hole into the space between the adjacent protruding portions on the outer peripheral surface of the base portion while rotating the supply roller of the quantitative supply mechanism. Since the powder material is filled and the powder material filled in each space is dropped sequentially in each space, the powder material is uniformly distributed on the table regardless of the particle size of the powder material. Can be supplied to.
Thereby, for example, even when powder materials having different particle sizes are used, the powder material having a small particle size enters the gap between the powder materials having a large particle size in the layer of the powder material. Since the gaps between the powder materials can be made as small and as small as possible, the strength, density, and surface roughness of the three-dimensional structure to be formed can be stably secured.

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing a three-dimensional modeling apparatus using the powder material supply apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the same. However, it is the figure seen from the back side of the three-dimensional modeling apparatus. FIG. 3 is an enlarged side view of an essential part schematically showing a modeling unit having the powder material supply apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention. However, the moving member is omitted. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the powder material supply apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention. However, the state seen from the back side is shown. FIG. 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a main part at a position different from that in FIG. FIG. 6 is a view showing a state in which the modeling unit having the powder material supply apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention advances to form a powder material layer. FIG. 7 is an essential part enlarged cross-sectional view schematically showing a modeling unit having a powder material supply apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention. However, the moving member and the binder liquid supply device are omitted. FIG. 6 is a view showing a state in which the powder material supply apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention is advanced to supply the powder material to the table.

1 to 5 show a first embodiment of a powder material supply device of a three-dimensional modeling apparatus according to the present invention, and FIGS. 1 and 2 show a powder material supply according to the first embodiment. An example of a three-dimensional modeling apparatus using the apparatus is shown.
This three-dimensional modeling apparatus 1 supplies a binder material 3 for bonding the powder material 2 to the powder material 2 supplied in a layered manner, and the powder material 2 in a portion to which the binder solution 3 is supplied. A three-dimensional structure is formed by repeating the bonding operation and sequentially laminating the layers 4 of the powder material.
Specifically, the three-dimensional modeling apparatus 1 includes a single table 5 in which powder materials 2 forming a three-dimensional modeled object (hereinafter referred to as “modeled object”) are laminated in layers, And a modeling unit 6 for forming the layer 4 of the powder material on the upper surface 5a.
The modeling unit 6 includes a powder material supply device 7 that supplies the powder material 2 to the upper surface 5a of the table 5 for each predetermined layer thickness, and a powder material supplied to the upper surface 5a of the table 5. 2 and a binder liquid supply device 8 for discharging the binder liquid 3 for bonding the powder material 2 to each other.
In addition, the code | symbol 16 in FIG.1 and FIG.2 is the housing | casing of the three-dimensional modeling apparatus 1. FIG.

The table 5 has a flat and horizontal upper surface 5a, and the upper surface 5a can be raised and lowered in the vertical direction while maintaining a horizontal state according to the stacking height of the layer 4 of the powder material. ing.
In addition, the upper surface 5a of the table 5 is formed in a direction perpendicular to a moving direction (to be described later) of the modeling unit 6, more specifically, the powder material supply device 7 and the binder liquid supply device 8 (in this embodiment, The three-dimensional modeling apparatus 1 is formed in a substantially rectangular shape in plan view that is long in the left-right direction).

Further, the table 5 is a cylindrical member 9 extending in the vertical direction and formed in a rectangular frame shape in plan view that surrounds the front side (front side), the back side (back side), and the left and right sides of the table 5. Is housed inside. Each time the powder material layer 4 is formed and laminated on the upper surface 5 a of the table 5, the table 5 descends in the cylindrical member 9.
Accordingly, the modeling object to be modeled is finally modeled in a state where it is accommodated in the cylindrical member 9 together with the powder material 2 that is not bonded by the binder liquid 3.

The table 5 is provided with a table elevating device (not shown) for elevating the table 5 in the vertical direction.
As this table lifting apparatus, any structure can be used as long as it can perform stable lifting and precise position control. For example, a ball screw having a screw shaft extending in the vertical direction and a nut that moves the outer peripheral surface of the screw shaft in the axial direction by rotation of the screw shaft can be used. That is, the upper end portion of the screw shaft is connected to the lower surface of the table 5, the nut is fixed to a position-immovable base, and the screw shaft is moved up and down by rotating the screw shaft with an electric motor or the like. Thus, the table 5 can be raised and lowered.
Or the structure which provides the chain conveyor in which a chain moves to a perpendicular direction, and raises / lowers the said table 5 by the movement of the chain of this chain conveyor may be sufficient.
Furthermore, using a fluid pressure cylinder in which the piston moves up and down in the vertical direction, the tip of the piston rod of the fluid pressure cylinder is connected to the lower surface of the table, and the table 5 can be moved up and down by moving the piston. .
The table 5 is preferably lifted and lowered in the state of being guided in the vertical direction by a guide rail. In this case, the table 5 has a cylindrical or spherical rolling element to smoothly lift and lower the table 5. A linear guide can be used.

The modeling unit 6 supplies the powder material 2 to the upper surface 5a of the table 5 with a predetermined layer thickness by the powder material supply device 6, and the powder material 2 supplied to the upper surface 5a of the table 5 On the other hand, by discharging the binder liquid 3 from the binder liquid supply device 8, the powder material layer 4 in which a part of the layer portion 10 of the modeling object to be modeled is formed in the powder material 2. It is the structure to form.
Then, by sequentially laminating the powder material layers 4 formed by the modeling unit 6, the modeled object can be modeled.
In addition, the formation of the layer 4 of the powder material on which a part of the layer portion 10 of the modeling object to be modeled is formed by the modeling unit 6 is performed on the modeling object to be modeled input to an electronic computer (not shown). It is controlled based on data (for example, data in an STL (Standard Triangulated Language) file format), and the powder material is supplied to the upper surface 5a of the table and the binder liquid is discharged in accordance with the shape of the modeled object.

The modeling unit 6 in this embodiment is configured such that the powder material supply device 7 and the binder liquid supply device 8 move integrally, and the modeling unit 6 as a whole has a predetermined fixed moving direction. Specifically, it is movable in a straight line in the front-rear direction of the three-dimensional modeling apparatus 1 (more specifically, in a direction substantially parallel to the short direction of the upper surface 5a of the table 5).
The modeling unit 6 has the powder material supply device 7 arranged in series on the front side in the forward direction and the binder liquid supply device 8 arranged in series on the rear side. The binder liquid supply device 8 is moved following the movement, and the binder liquid supply device 8 discharges the binder liquid 3 to the powder material 2 supplied to the table 5 by the powder material supply device 7. ing.
Therefore, in the case of this embodiment, the time when the modeling unit 6 moves from the front side to the rear side of the three-dimensional modeling apparatus 1 is assumed to be forward, and the layer 4 of the powder material only when the modeling unit 6 moves forward. Can be formed.

Furthermore, a moving device 11 for a modeling unit for moving the modeling unit 6 in the front-rear direction is attached to the modeling unit 6, and the powder material supply device 7 and the binder liquid are moved by the moving device 11. The supply device 8 can be moved horizontally.
As the moving device 11 for the modeling unit, in the case shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a pair of left and right guide rails 12, 13 parallel to each other extending in a straight line and horizontally in the front-rear direction of the three-dimensional modeling device 1, and A guide mechanism having a pair of left and right moving members 14 and 15 movable on the pair of guide rails 12 and 13, and a drive member for moving the pair of moving members 14 and 15 along the guide rails 12 and 13 (Not shown). The pair of moving members 14 and 15 are connected to the left and right ends of the modeling unit 6, respectively, and are movable together with the modeling unit 6.
Then, by driving the driving member and moving the moving members 14 and 15 on the guide rails 12 and 13, respectively, the modeling unit 6 moves along the guide rails 12 and 13 to form a three-dimensional modeling apparatus. 1 is configured to move in a straight line and horizontally in the front-rear direction.
Here, in the guide mechanism, spherical or cylindrical rolling elements are disposed between the guide rails 12 and 13 and the moving members 14 and 15 so that the moving members 14 and 15 can be moved smoothly. It is preferable that the linear guide is made.

As the modeling unit 6 moves, the binder liquid supply device 8 can linearly move back and forth in the front-rear direction of the three-dimensional modeling apparatus 1 (direction substantially parallel to the short direction of the upper surface 5a of the table 5). It has become. The binder 3 liquid can be discharged onto the upper surface 5a of the table 5 with a discharge width that is approximately the same as the length in the longitudinal direction of the table 5 at the maximum.
Specifically, the binder liquid supply device 8 is arranged in a direction crossing the moving direction of the binder liquid supply device 8 (in this embodiment, the left-right direction of the three-dimensional modeling apparatus 1 (the length of the upper surface 5a of the table 5). And an inkjet head 8 a that extends horizontally in a direction substantially parallel to the direction)) and discharges the binder liquid 3 toward the powder material 3 supplied to the upper surface 5 a of the table 5.
The inkjet head 8a is a so-called line-type head that is long in the left-right direction of the three-dimensional modeling apparatus 1, and the binder liquid 3 is discharged from a binder discharge nozzle at a discharge width that is substantially the same as the length in the longitudinal direction of the table 5 at the maximum. It is the structure which can discharge at once. And it is possible to discharge a binder liquid to the powder material 2 of the upper surface 5a of the table 5, expanding and reducing the discharge width according to the shape of the modeling object used as modeling object.
Accordingly, the binder liquid supply device 8 moves linearly once in the short direction of the table 5 without moving in the left-right direction of the three-dimensional modeling apparatus 1, thereby making the entire powder material 2 of one layer. In contrast, the binder liquid 3 can be discharged.

The discharge amount of the binder liquid 3 in the binder liquid supply device 8 varies depending on the type of the binder liquid and the size of the powder material to be solidified by one discharge, but is 1 pl to 200 pl. More preferably, it is 10 pl-150 pl, more preferably 30 pl-100 pl.
Further, as a discharge mechanism in the inject head, a known mechanism such as a piezo type or a thermal type can be used.

The binder liquid used in the present invention can be freely changed according to the type of the powder material. For example, when the powder material is gypsum or starch, a liquid mainly composed of water is used. It is also possible to use various binder liquids used in ordinary ink jet printers. At this time, the binder can be dyed using a dye or a pigment.
Examples of the binder liquid that can be used include organic esters, furfuryl alcohol, polyisocyanates, and mixtures of polyisocyanates and tertiary amines. Further, a mixture of furfuryl alcohol and formaldehyde, and in some cases, a mixture of these furfuryl alcohol and formaldehyde with urea can be used.

On the other hand, the powder material supply device 7 moves in one direction (in the case of this embodiment, the front-rear direction of the three-dimensional modeling apparatus 1 (the shorter direction of the upper surface 5a of the table 5) as the modeling unit 6 moves. In a direction substantially parallel to the head)). The powder material 2 can be freely supplied to the upper surface 5a of the table 5 with a predetermined supply width while moving.
The powder material supply device 7 can supply the powder material 2 with a width substantially the same as the length of the upper surface 5 a of the table 5 in the longitudinal direction. The powder material 2 can be supplied to almost the entire upper surface 5a of the table 5 by linearly moving once in the short direction of the upper surface 5a.

In the present invention, examples of the powder material supplied to the table by the powder material supply device include organic resin, metal, ceramic, starch, and glass powder.
Specifically, polystyrene resin, nylon (polyamide) resin, polycarbonate resin, acrylic (PMMA (polymethyl methacrylate)) resin, PEEK (polyether ether ketone) resin, organic resin containing glass filler, carbon fiber Use organic resin, finely divided wax, foundry sand, aluminum silicate, gypsum, starch, quartz, Ti ₆ Al ₄ V, AlSi ₁₂ , AlSi ₁₀ Mg, cobalt chromium alloy, nickel alloy, stainless alloy, iron, steel, etc. Can do.
The particle size of the powder material is not limited as long as it is smaller than the thickness of the layer of the powder material to be formed, but can be about 1 μm to 300 μm, more preferably 10 μm to 200 μm, more preferably 50-150 μm. At this time, powder materials having a plurality of different particle diameters can be used, and powder materials having different particle diameters may be mixed and used. For example, it can be used in a state where a powder material of 150 to 300 μm and a powder material of 10 to 50 μm are mixed.
Furthermore, in the present invention, the layer thickness of the powder material supplied to the upper surface of the table by the powder material supply device varies depending on the modeled object to be modeled. If the shaped object is very large such as casting or large case fixture, it can be about 0.15 to 0.5 mm, more preferably 0.2 to 0.4 mm, more preferably It is 0.25 to 0.35 mm. If the shaped article is a general industrial product, it can be about 0.05 to 0.2 mm, more preferably about 0.075 to 0.15 mm. If it is a small industrial product, for example, a small thing such as a connector, it can be about 0.01 to 0.1 mm, more preferably about 0.025 to 0.075 mm.

Specifically, the powder material supply device 7 includes a tank unit 21 that stores the powder material 2 and a lower end side of the tank unit 21, and the powder material 2 in the tank unit 21 is transferred to the tank unit 21. 21 is provided with a discharge hole 22 for discharging outside 21 and a quantitative supply mechanism 23 for supplying the powder material 2 discharged from the discharge hole 22 to the table 5 by a fixed amount.
The tank portion 21 extends long in the horizontal direction (direction substantially parallel to the short direction of the upper surface 5a of the table 5) perpendicular to the moving direction of the powder material supply device 7, and is long and short A peripheral wall 24 on both the front and rear sides and the left and right sides, and a storage space 25 for storing the powder material 2 formed on the inner peripheral surface side of the peripheral wall 24.

The housing space 25 extends in the horizontal direction perpendicular to the moving direction of the powder material supply device 7 and gradually tapers toward the center side in the short direction toward the lower half of the lower half portion. Have.
Therefore, on the inner side of the wall members 24a and 24b located on the front side and the back side (the inner peripheral surface side of the peripheral wall 24) of the peripheral wall 24, the center side in the short direction of the housing space as it goes downward. The inclined surfaces 26 and 27 which incline toward are formed respectively.
In this embodiment, of the peripheral wall 24, the wall members 24c and 24d located on the left and right sides are extended in the substantially vertical direction without inclining on the inner sides.

The discharge hole 22 discharges the powder material 2 in the storage space 25 from the bottom side of the storage space 25 to the outside of the tank portion 21, and is provided at a substantially central portion in the short direction of the tank portion 21. The tank portion 21 is formed in a long hole shape extending in the longitudinal direction and penetrating the bottom portion of the tank portion 21 in the vertical direction.
Therefore, the powder material 2 accommodated in the accommodation space 25 is collected in the direction of the discharge hole 22 along the inclined surfaces 26 and 27 in the storage space 25, and the discharge hole 22 is discharged outside the tank portion 21.
The discharge hole 22 has a length in the longitudinal direction substantially the same as the length in the longitudinal direction of the upper surface 5 a of the table 5, and the length of the powder material 2 in the longitudinal direction of the upper surface 5 a of the table 5. It can be dropped and discharged out of the tank portion 21 with a width corresponding to the height.

A control valve 28 for controlling the flow of the powder material 2 discharged from the discharge hole 22 is attached to the discharge hole 22, and a valve body (not shown) of the control valve 28 is moved. By opening and closing the flow passage 28a, the discharge hole 22 can be opened or closed, and the discharge of the powder material 2 from the discharge hole 22 and the stop of the discharge can be appropriately performed.
As a result, when the powder material supply device 7 supplies the powder material 2 to the table 5, the discharge hole 22 is opened so that the powder material 2 in the storage space 27 of the tank portion 21 is transferred to the tank When the powder material supply device 7 does not need to supply the powder material 2 to the table 5 while the powder material 2 is discharged to the outside, the discharge hole 22 is firmly closed and the powder material 2 is discharged to the discharge hole 22. So that it will not be discharged from. After the control valve 28, for example, the powder material supply device 7 moves forward and the supply of the powder material 2 to the table 5 is once completed, the control valve 28 moves backward to move to the origin position (position on the near side of the table 5 in the three-dimensional modeling apparatus 1). This function is particularly effective when it is necessary to prevent the powder material 2 from dropping on the table.
As the control valve 28, for example, a gate valve (a gate valve), a choke valve, a butterfly valve, or the like in which the valve body moves in a substantially horizontal direction to open and close the flow passage of the powder material can be used.

The fixed amount supply mechanism 23 includes a supply roller 33 including a base portion 31 that is rotatable around an axis, and a plurality of plate-like protrusions 32 provided on the outer peripheral surface of the base portion 31. Yes.
Further, a casing member 34 provided on the lower end side of the tank portion 21 for accommodating the supply roller 33 in a state of surrounding the supply roller 33 in the front and rear sides and the left and right sides, and the supply A pair of bearing members 35, 35 that rotatably hold both ends of the roller 33 in the axial direction, and a driving device (not shown) that rotationally drives the supply roller 33 are provided.

The base portion 31 of the supply roller 33 extends in a direction perpendicular to the moving direction of the powder material supply device 7 and parallel to the upper surface 5a of the table 5, that is, in the longitudinal direction of the powder material supply device 7. It is. The base portion 31 is disposed with a certain space between the base portion 31 and the discharge hole 22 in a state where the axis of the base portion 31 is located immediately below the center of the discharge hole 22 in the short direction. ing.
The base portion 31 has the length in the longitudinal direction of the discharge hole 22, that is, the length in the axial direction substantially the same as the length in the longitudinal direction of the table 5.
Further, the base portion 31 includes a rotating shaft 36 extending in the axial direction, and both ends of the rotating shaft 36 are rotatably held by the pair of bearing members 35 and 35.
In this embodiment, the base portion is formed in a solid or hollow cylindrical shape.

Each of the protrusions 32 of the supply roller 33 has a substantially rectangular plate surface extending in a direction parallel to the axis of the base 31 and is formed in the same shape and size. In other words, they are arranged on the outer peripheral surface of the base portion 31 at equal intervals. Each of the spaces between the adjacent protrusions 32 and 32 on the base portion 31, that is, the space surrounded by the adjacent protrusions 32 and 32 and the outer peripheral surface of the base portion 31, is described above. The filling space 37 is filled with the powder material 2 discharged from the discharge hole 22.
Accordingly, the fixed amount supply mechanism 23 fills the filling material 37 with the powder material 2 discharged from the discharge hole 22 while rotating the supply roller 33 and fills each filling space 37. The powder material 2 can be supplied to the table 5 by a certain amount by sequentially dropping the powder material 2 in each filling space 37.

More specifically, each protrusion 32 is formed so as to rise in the normal direction in each part of the outer peripheral surface of the base 31, and is viewed from the end in the axial direction of the supply roller 33. The protrusions 32 are arranged on the base portion 31 so as to protrude radially from the base portion 31.
Each protrusion 32 has a length in the longitudinal direction that is substantially the same as the length in the axial direction of the base portion 31, that is, the length in the longitudinal direction of the discharge hole 22. The discharged powder material 2 is surely dropped and filled in the filling space 37.
On the other hand, the protruding length of each protruding portion 32 from the base portion 31 (the length in the short direction of the protruding portion 32) is such that it does not come into contact with the casing member 34, the control valve 28, the discharge hole 22, and the like. It is set to length. Each filling space 37 can be filled with the powder material 2 up to the position of the tip of each protrusion 32, and any filling space 37 can be filled with the same amount of the powder material 2. Is possible.

Each of the protrusions 32 has a rigidity that does not easily deform when the filling material 37 is filled with the powder material 2 and the powder material 2 between the protrusion 32 and the casing member 34. For example, it is made of a material such as hard rubber, which has such a flexibility that it can be bent without damaging the projecting portions 32 and the casing member 34 when they are sandwiched.
The protrusion height from the base portion 31 and the number of protrusions 32 in each protrusion 32 are, for example, the particle size and type of the powder material 2, the layer thickness of the layer 4 of the powder material to be formed, or It is comprehensively determined based on the size and forward speed of the powder material supply device 7 (that is, the forward speed of the modeling unit 6), the size and rotational speed of the supply roller 33, the size of each protrusion 32 itself, and the like.
However, the number of protrusions 32 is preferably set so that a large amount of powder material does not fall from the respective filling spaces 37 at a time, and a small amount of powder material is sequentially dropped. For example, when a powder material of about 0.3 mm is used, the number can be about 12 to 36. In this embodiment, 20 protrusions 32 are provided, and 20 filling spaces 37 of the powder material 2 are formed.

The casing member 34 is attached to the lower end side of the tank portion 21, and includes a peripheral wall 41 provided on the long and short end face sides on the lower end side of the tank portion 21, and a bottom surface 21 a of the tank portion 21. It consists of and. The casing member 34 has a function of guiding the powder material from the discharge hole 22 to drop onto the supply roller 33, and is filled in the filling space 37 by the rotation of the supply roller 33. When the powder material 2 falls, the powder material 2 has a function of guiding the powder material 2 so as to fall on the table 5 without scattering in various directions.
Specifically, the casing member 34 includes a hollow internal space 42 that accommodates the supply roller 33, and the supply roller 33 is located in front of the supply roller 33 in the internal space 42. It is accommodated in a state of covering the side, back side, left and right sides, and the upper side. Therefore, the supply roller 33 cannot be viewed from the front, rear, left and right of the powder material supply device 7.
Further, the internal space 42 of the casing member 34 has such a size that the base portion 31 and the protruding portion 32 of the supply roller 33 are not in contact with each other, and hinders the rotation of the supply roller 33 around the axis. There is no such thing.
Further, the casing member 34 has a shape opened to the lower side, and the powder material 2 filled in the filling space 37 of the supply roller 33 is rotated with the rotation of the supply roller 33. When discharged from the filling space 37, the discharged powder material 2 can be dropped onto the table 5.

In this embodiment, the peripheral wall 41 of the casing member 34 is formed integrally with the tank portion 21.
Of the peripheral wall 41 of the casing member, the wall members 41a and 41b located on the front side and the rear side are inward (on the inner peripheral surface side of the peripheral wall 41, as shown in FIGS. 3, 5, and 6). The inner side of the tank portion side (upper side) in FIG. 3 is curved so that the thickness gradually increases as it goes upward, and the discharge roller 22 discharges without obstructing the rotation of the supply roller 33. The powder material 2 to be applied can be dropped onto the supply roller 33. Of the peripheral wall 41 of the casing member, the wall members 41c and 41d located on both the left and right sides are in a form extending substantially vertically without inclining on the inner side.

The pair of bearing members 35, 35 are provided on the short wall member of the peripheral wall 41 of the casing member 34, that is, the inner wall surface of the left and right wall members 41 c, 41 d, and the supply roller 33 A rotating shaft 36 provided on the base portion 31 is held rotatably about its axis. As the pair of bearing members 35, 35, for example, various bearings such as a ball bearing having a spherical rolling element and a roller bearing having a cylindrical rolling element can be used.
The drive means rotates the supply roller 33 about its axis. For example, an electric motor that applies a rotational force to the rotation shaft 36 of the base portion 31 of the supply roller 33 is used.

The rotation direction of the supply roller 33 is the direction in which the powder material 2 is dropped from the back side direction (forward direction side) of the powder material supply device 7 (clockwise in FIGS. 3, 5, and 6). Hereinafter referred to as the forward direction), or the direction in which the powder material 2 is dropped from the direction of the front side of the powder material supply device 7 (the direction opposite to the forward direction) (in FIGS. 3, 5 and 6). The direction may be either counterclockwise (hereinafter referred to as the reverse direction).
Here, when the supply roller 33 rotates in the forward direction, the rotation direction of the supply roller 33 becomes equal to the moving direction of the powder material supply device 7, and therefore, in the internal space 42 of the casing member 34. The powder material can be laminated without roughening the surface. On the contrary, when the supply roller 33 rotates in the reverse direction, the rotation direction of the supply roller 33 is opposite to the moving direction of the powder material supply device 7, and thus the internal space 42 of the casing member 34. The powder material can be laminated so that the surface is lightened inside, so that even if the powder material falls on the table in a fooled state, the powder material should be made uniform Can be laminated.

  The rotation speed of the supply roller 33 can be set to about 5 to 30 rotations / minute, although it depends on the moving speed of the powder material supply device 7 as a whole.

Further, the powder material supply device 7 includes a flattening member 45 for flattening the upper surface of the powder material 2 supplied to the table 5. The flattening member 45 adjusts the powder material 2 immediately after being supplied from the powder material supply device 7 to the table 5 to a constant layer thickness.
Usually, in the case of three-dimensional modeling using powder material, it is necessary to laminate a layer of powder material of a certain layer thickness, but the powder material immediately after being supplied to the table from the powder material supply device Since the layer thickness is not constant and there is an excessive supply part, the flattening member flattens the upper surface of the table so that the powder material on the table has a predetermined layer thickness. .

In this embodiment, a plate-like flattening member 45 is provided at the lower end of the casing member 34 in the powder material supply apparatus 7.
The flattening member 45 protrudes downward on the lower end side of each of the front and rear wall members 41a and 41b of the peripheral wall 41 of the casing member 34, and extends in the longitudinal direction of the casing member 34. The upper surface of the powder material 2 is flattened so that the side (lower end side) is in contact with the upper surface of the powder material 2 supplied to the upper surface 5a of the table 5 and is substantially horizontal.
Further, the flattening member 45 has a length substantially the same as the length in the longitudinal direction of the powder material supply device 7 (that is, the length substantially the same as the length in the longitudinal direction of the table 5). When the body material supply device 7 moves forward, the upper surface of the powder material 2 on the table 5 can be surely flattened.
When the powder material supply device 7 moves forward, the flattening member 45 provided mainly on the front wall member 41a functions to flatten the powder material 2 on the table 5. On the other hand, the flattening member 45 provided on the wall member 41 b on the back side prevents the powder material 2 falling from the filling space of the rotating supply roller 33 from scattering in the traveling direction of the powder material supply device 7. If the powder material 2 jumps out to the forward direction side of the powder material supply device and becomes a certain layer thickness or more, the upper surface of the powder material is flattened.

By the way, the quantitative supply mechanism 23 of the powder material supply apparatus 7 has a discharge direction control means 48.
The discharge direction control means 48 controls the discharge direction of the powder material 2 discharged from the discharge hole 22 toward the fixed supply mechanism 23, and the powder material 2 discharged from the discharge hole 22 The powder material 2 is filled in a predetermined filling space 37 of the supply roller 3.
In this embodiment, the discharge direction control means 48 is arranged at the peripheral portion of the length of the discharge hole 22 (that is, the front side and the back side of the discharge hole 22). A plate-shaped direction control plate 48 a extending in the direction of the supply roller 33, a base end side is attached to an end portion of the direction control plate 48 a on the supply roller 33 side, and a distal end side is the protruding portion 32 of the supply roller 33. And an auxiliary plate member 48b formed in the shape of a flexible plate that extends to a position in contact with the plate.

The direction control plate 48a is formed in a substantially rectangular plate body whose proximal end is provided immediately below the supply roller 33 side in the discharge hole 22 and whose distal end extends in the vertical direction to a position where it does not contact the supply roller 33. The discharge direction of the powder material 2 is controlled by the plate surface.
The direction control plate 48a is formed over the entire length of the discharge hole 22 in the longitudinal direction, and can control all the discharge directions of the powder material 2 discharged from the discharge hole 22. Yes.
On the other hand, the auxiliary plate member 48b has a substantially rectangular shape formed of a flexible rubber or the like, and is attached to both plate surfaces of the direction control plate 48a (therefore, in this embodiment, A total of two auxiliary plate members 48b are provided.) These auxiliary plate members 48b, like the direction control plate 48a, control the discharge direction of the powder material 2 discharged from the discharge hole 22 on the plate surface, while the protrusions 32 of the supply roller 33 and Each time it comes into contact, it bends to prevent the supply roller 33 from rotating.

When modeling a model using the three-dimensional modeling apparatus 1 including the powder material supply apparatus 7 having the above configuration, the table 5 is raised to the upper end position in the cylindrical member 9 as a preparation stage. Further, the modeling unit 6 supplies the powder material 2 to the tank portion 21 of the powder material supply device 7 and supplies the binder liquid in a state where the modeling unit 6 is returned to the origin position (in this embodiment, the front side of the table 5). The apparatus 8 is filled with the binder liquid 3 respectively.
The molding unit 6 is linearly advanced, and the powder material 2 is supplied to the upper surface 5a of the table 5 by the powder material supply device 7 with a predetermined layer thickness during the advancement.
At this time, as shown in FIG. 6, the control valve 28 is opened to open the discharge hole 22, and the supply roller 33 is rotated about the axis so that the inside of the tank portion 21 of the powder material supply device 7 is The powder material 2 is discharged toward the quantitative supply mechanism 23, specifically, the supply roller 33 through the discharge hole 22. And the powder material 2 discharged | emitted from the discharge hole 22 is the predetermined filling space in the state opened to the upper side among each filling space 37 formed in the outer peripheral surface of the rotating supply roller 33. 37 is sequentially accommodated and filled.
Further, the powder material 2 filled in each filling space 37 of the supply roller 33 is filled with the opening beginning to turn downward because the opening side gradually turns downward as the supply roller 33 rotates. The powder material 2 in the space 37 sequentially falls toward the table 5. At that time, most of the powder material 2 in the filling space 37 falls to the inner side of the inner space 42 of the casing member 41, and therefore mainly on the side opposite to the forward direction of the modeling unit, that is, on the front side. The flattening member 45 is flattened with a predetermined layer thickness.

Thereafter, the binder liquid 3 is set as the object of modeling from the adjacent binder liquid supply apparatus 8 that follows the powder material supply apparatus 7 for the powder material 2 immediately after being supplied to the upper surface 5a of the table 5. It is made to discharge according to the shape of the lowest layer of the formed object, and is combined.
Thereby, the layer 4 of the powder material containing the one part layer part 10 of the modeling object used as modeling object, and the powder material 2 which is not couple | bonded is formed.

After the formation of the single layer 4 of the powder material, the table is lowered by one layer and the modeling unit 6 is moved to the origin position. When the modeling unit 6 moves to the origin position, the control valve 28 of the powder material supply device 7 is closed to close the discharge hole 22, and the rotation of the supply roller 33 is stopped, so that the powder is supplied. The material 2 is prevented from falling on the table 5. Further, when the modeling unit 6 returns to the origin position, a new powder material 2 is supplied to the tank portion of the powder material supply device 7 as necessary.
Thereafter, by moving the modeling unit 6 forward to form the powder material layers 4 one by one and sequentially laminating them, a part of the layer portion 10 of the modeled object in the powder material layer 4 is obtained. A modeled object that is laminated and finally becomes a modeling object is completed.
In addition, in the said cylindrical member 9, since the molded object shape | molded will be in the state accommodated with the powder material 2 which is not couple | bonded, it is modeled by removing the powder material 2 which is not couple | bonded. Things can be taken out.

As described above, the powder material supply device 7 of the three-dimensional modeling apparatus 1 having the above-described configuration has a discharge hole in the filling space 37 between the protrusions 32 while rotating the supply roller 33 of the quantitative supply mechanism 23. 22, the powder material 2 discharged from the tank portion 21 through the tank portion 21 is sequentially filled, and the powder material 2 filled in each filling space 37 is dropped for each filling space 37. A fixed amount of the powder material 2 can be stably and uniformly supplied to the table 5 regardless of the particle size of the material 2.
Accordingly, since the powder material 2 having different particle sizes can be used without any problem, the powder materials having different particle sizes are supplied on the table 5 in a mixed state, and between the powder materials having large particle sizes. By allowing the powder material having a small particle size to enter the gaps, the gaps between the powder materials can be made as small as possible and a layer of the powder material can be formed. As a result, it is possible to stably ensure the strength of the modeled object to be modeled.

7 and 8 show a second embodiment of the powder material supply apparatus of the present invention. The powder material supply apparatus of this embodiment is different from the first embodiment in the tank section. And the configuration of the quantitative supply mechanism is different.
That is, the powder material supply apparatus 51 of this embodiment is provided with a tank part 52 for storing the powder material 2 and a lower end side of the tank part 52, and the powder material 2 in the tank part 52 A discharge hole 53 for discharging to the outside of the tank portion 52 and a quantitative supply mechanism 54 for supplying the powder material 2 discharged from the discharge hole 22 to the table 5 by a certain amount are provided.
The tank portion 52 extends the powder material 2 that extends long in a horizontal direction (direction substantially parallel to the short direction of the upper surface 5a of the table 5) perpendicular to the moving direction of the powder material supply device 51. An accommodation space 55 is provided, and the accommodation space 55 gradually tapers toward one end side in the lateral direction as it goes downward.
Further, the quantitative supply mechanism 54 as a whole is arranged on the front side of the powder material supply device 51 (the side opposite to the forward side of the powder material supply device 51).
In addition, about the three-dimensional modeling apparatus in which the powder material supply apparatus 51 according to the second embodiment is used, the configuration other than the powder material supply apparatus 51 is basically the same as that of the first embodiment. Since it is the same structure, detailed description is abbreviate | omitted.

The tank portion 52 includes front and back sides surrounding the four sides of the longitudinal direction (left and right direction) and the short side direction (front and rear direction), and peripheral walls 56 on both left and right sides. The housing space 55 is formed.
The storage space 55 extends in the horizontal direction orthogonal to the moving direction of the powder material supply device 51. In this embodiment, the storage space 55 gradually becomes lower on the front side (powder material supply device 51). It is configured to taper in the direction opposite to the forward direction).
Specifically, the wall member 56a on the front side of the peripheral wall 56 of the tank portion 52 extends substantially in the vertical direction, whereas the wall member 56b on the back side (the advance side of the powder material supply device 51) As it goes downward, an inclined surface 57 that is gradually inclined toward the front wall member 56a is formed.

Further, as shown in FIG. 7, the discharge hole 53 is provided on the front side of the tank portion 52 on the lower end side of the tank portion 52 so as to open obliquely downward.
The discharge hole 53 is formed in a long hole shape having a length in the longitudinal direction substantially the same as the length in the longitudinal direction of the upper surface 5 a of the table 5. It is possible to discharge in a width corresponding to this.
A control valve 58 for controlling the flow of the powder material 2 discharged from the discharge hole 53 is attached to the discharge hole 53. The configuration of the control valve 58 is basically the same as that of the first embodiment, and provides the same operational effects, so detailed description thereof is omitted.

The quantitative supply mechanism 54 includes a supply roller 63 including a base portion 61 that is rotatable around an axis, and a plurality of plate-like protrusions 62 provided on the outer peripheral surface of the base portion 61. Yes.
Further, the casing member 64 provided on the lower end side of the tank portion 52 for accommodating the supply roller 63 in a state of surrounding the supply roller 63 in the front side and the back side, and the left and right sides, and the supply A pair of bearing members (not shown) that rotatably hold both ends of the roller 62 in the axial direction, and a drive device (not shown) that rotationally drives the supply roller 63 are provided.
The supply roller 63 is formed with a filling space 65 filled with the powder material 2 discharged from the discharge hole 53 between the adjacent protrusions 62 and 62 on the outer peripheral surface of the base portion. ing.

The supply roller 63 is rotatably arranged around the axis on the extension of the discharge hole 53 in the opening direction, that is, obliquely below the discharge hole 53 on the front side of the tank portion 52. And the powder material 2 discharged | emitted from the discharge hole 53 is received in the fixed range of the diagonally upper side of the back side in this supply roller 63, The said filling space 65 of the supply roller 63 located in the range Can be filled with the powder material 2.
The basic configuration of the supply roller 63 itself, that is, the configuration of the base portion 61 and the protruding portion 62 is the same as that of the first embodiment, and has the same operational effects. Detailed description will be omitted.

The casing member 64 is attached to the front side on the lower end side of the tank portion 52, and has a peripheral wall 66 provided on the long and short end face sides on the lower end side of the tank portion 52, and above the peripheral wall 66. It is comprised by the top plate 67 which covers the side.
The casing member 64 has a hollow internal space 68 surrounded by the peripheral wall 66 and the top plate 67. In the internal space 68, the supply roller 63 is located on the front side of the supply roller 63. And the back side, the left and right sides, and the upper side are covered. Further, the internal space 68 of the casing member 64 has such a size that the base portion 61 and the protruding portion 62 of the supply roller 63 do not come into contact with each other, thereby preventing rotation of the supply roller 63 around the axis. There is no such thing. The supply roller 63 cannot be seen from the front, rear, left and right of the powder material supply device 51.
Further, the casing member 64 has a shape opened to the lower side, and the powder material 2 filled in the filling space 65 of the supply roller 63 is supplied with the rotation of the supply roller 63. It can be dropped on the table 5.

Further, the lower end portion of the casing member 64 is in contact with the upper surface of the powder material 2 supplied to the upper surface 5a of the table 5 and flattenes the upper surface of the powder material 2 so as to be substantially horizontal. A forming member 69 is provided.
The flattening member 69 protrudes downward from the lower end sides of the front and rear wall members 66a and 66b of the peripheral wall 66 of the casing member 64 and extends in the longitudinal direction of the casing member 64. .
The flattening member 69 has a length that is substantially the same as the length in the longitudinal direction of the powder material supply device 51 (that is, the length that is substantially the same as the length in the longitudinal direction of the table 5).

Further, the quantitative supply mechanism 54 has a discharge direction control means 70 for controlling the discharge direction of the powder material discharged from the discharge hole 53. The discharge direction control means 70 includes a plate-like direction control plate 70a and a flexible plate-like auxiliary plate member 70b attached to both plate surfaces on the lower end side of the direction control plate 70a. And.
In this embodiment, the powder material 2 that is attached to the top plate 67 of the casing member 64 at the position on the discharge hole 53 side so as to protrude downward is discharged from the discharge hole 22. The roller 63 does not scatter in the direction of the front side.
The specific configuration of the discharge direction control means 70, that is, the configuration of the direction control plate 70a and the auxiliary plate member 70b is basically the same as that of the first embodiment, and has the same operation. Detailed description is omitted to achieve the effect.

The powder material supply apparatus 51 having the above configuration can basically obtain the same effects as those of the first embodiment.
However, it is assumed that the storage space 55 of the tank portion 52 has a portion that gradually tapers toward one end side in the short direction as it goes downward, and the quantitative supply mechanism 54 as a whole is the powder material supply device. With the configuration arranged on the front side in 51, the powder material does not fall at a stretch, and the weight of the powder material does not directly act on the supply roller 63, reducing the burden on the supply roller 63. There is an advantage that you can.

In the first and second embodiments, the powder material supply devices 7 and 51 according to the present invention and the binder liquid supply device 8 are integrated into a modeling unit 6, and the table is moved by the movement of the modeling unit 6. 5 is configured to supply the powder material 2 to 5 and discharge the binder liquid 3.
However, the powder material supply device and the binder liquid supply device do not necessarily have to move integrally as a modeling unit, and the powder material supply device and the binder liquid supply device are formed separately, It may be configured to move and operate independently.

In the first and second embodiments, the molding unit 6 moves in the same direction so that the binder liquid supply device 8 substantially follows the movement of the powder material supply devices 7 and 51 due to the configuration of the modeling unit 6. It is the composition to do.
However, the arrangement of the powder material supply device and the binder liquid supply device is not necessarily limited so long as the binder liquid supply device can discharge the binder liquid to the powder material supplied to the table by the powder material supply device. The body material supply device may not be configured to follow the binder liquid supply device. For example, with the origin position of the powder material supply device at the front side of the table and the origin position of the binder liquid supply device at the back side of the table, the powder material is placed on the table while moving the powder material supply device. After the supply is finished, the binder liquid is discharged to the powder material on the table while moving the binder liquid supply device, and is returned to the original position when the discharge is finished. It can be set as the structure which models by repeating the process of.

Further, in the first and second embodiments, the binder liquid supply device 8 is a so-called line-type head that is long in the left-right direction of the three-dimensional modeling apparatus 1, and is maximum from the binder discharge nozzle. The binder liquid can be discharged at a time with a discharge width substantially equal to the length in the longitudinal direction of the table.
However, the binder liquid supply device does not necessarily need to be a line-type head, and the binder liquid is discharged while moving a head having a discharge width shorter than the length in the longitudinal direction of the table in the short and long directions of the table. It may be configured to discharge.

Furthermore, in the said 1st and 2nd embodiment, although the modeling unit 6 becomes a structure provided with the single powder material supply apparatuses 7 and 51 and the single binder liquid supply apparatus 8, respectively, modeling The unit may have a configuration in which a plurality of powder material supply devices and binder liquid supply devices are alternately arranged in series in the moving direction.
At this time, the powder material supply device located on the leading side in the moving direction and the binder liquid supply device adjacent to the subsequent side of the powder material supply device located on the leading side are taken as one set, and each set of powder material supply The same set of binder liquid supply device discharges the binder liquid to the powder material supplied by the apparatus to the upper surface of the table, whereby the powder material layer can be freely formed on the upper surface of the table. Further, on the powder material layer formed by the set of the powder material supply device and the binder liquid supply device located on the leading side in the moving direction, the powder material supply device and the binder adjacent to the subsequent side of the set New powder material layers formed by the set of liquid supply devices can be sequentially stacked.
Thereby, since the layer of a plurality of powder materials is formed by one movement of the modeling unit, the modeling speed of the model can be greatly increased. In this case, it is important to use the configuration of the present invention for all the powder material supply devices.

  In the first and second embodiments, the powder material supply devices 7 and 51 include the control valves 28 and 58 for opening or closing the discharge holes 22 and 53. If, for example, the rotation of the supply roller is stopped, the powder material table is surely stopped from dropping, it can be omitted.

Further, in the first and second embodiments, the powder material supply devices 7, 51 control the discharge direction of the powder material 2 discharged from the discharge holes 22, 53. 70, it is not always necessary to provide this discharge direction control means as long as the powder material discharged from the discharge hole can be securely filled into the predetermined filling space of the supply roller.
Further, the discharge direction control means 48, 70 in the first and second embodiments are plate-shaped direction control plates 48a, 70a and the supply rollers 33, 63 side of the direction control plates 48a, 70a. The auxiliary plate members 48b and 70b having flexibility are provided. However, as the configuration of the discharge direction control means, if the discharge direction of the powder material discharged from the discharge hole can be controlled, for example, the taper gradually decreases toward the supply roller side, and the lower end side has flexibility. An arbitrary configuration may be employed, such as a member having a substantially triangular cross section formed of rubber or the like.

In the first embodiment, the tank portion 21 of the powder material supply device 7 has an accommodating space 25 for accommodating the powder material 2 extending in a horizontal direction perpendicular to the moving direction of the powder material supply device 7. The housing space 25 has a configuration that gradually tapers toward the center in the short direction as it goes downward. Furthermore, in the second embodiment, the accommodation space 55 has a configuration that gradually tapers toward one end side in the lateral direction as it goes downward.
However, the shape of the storage space of the tank portion does not necessarily need to be a tapered shape as it goes downward as long as the powder material can be stably and reliably discharged from the discharge hole. be able to. Further, even when the accommodation space is tapered toward the lower side, the tapering direction can be arbitrarily set depending on the positional relationship with the discharge hole.

In the second embodiment, the storage space 55 of the tank portion 52 in the powder material supply apparatus 51 gradually becomes lower in the front side of the powder material supply apparatus 51 (the powder material supply apparatus 51 The fixed amount supply mechanism 54 is arranged on the front side of the powder material supply apparatus 51 as a whole, and has a structure that tapers in a direction opposite to the forward side).
However, the tapering direction of the storage space of the tank portion can be the direction of the back side of the powder material supply device (the advance side of the powder material supply device). In this case, the quantitative supply mechanism may be provided on the front side of the powder material supply apparatus as a whole.
Further, as in the first and second embodiments, when the storage space of the tank portion gradually tapers toward one end side in the short direction of the tank portion as it goes downward, the quantitative supply mechanism As long as the supply roller can stably receive the powder material in the accommodation space through the discharge hole and can reliably fill the powder material into the filling space, the position may be any position. it can.

In the first and second embodiments, the base portions 31 and 61 of the supply rollers 33 and 63 of the quantitative supply mechanisms 23 and 54 are formed in a solid or hollow cylindrical shape. The shape of the base portion is arbitrary as long as each powder material filling space formed between adjacent projecting portions can be filled with substantially the same amount of powder material and rotated about the axis. For example, it can be a polygonal column shape that matches the number of protrusions.
In the first and second embodiments, the protrusions 32 and 62 of the supply rollers 33 and 63 are formed in a flat plate shape, but the shape of the protrusion is formed between adjacent protrusions. As long as substantially the same amount of the powder material can be filled in each filling space of the powder material, the shape can be any shape such as, for example, a substantially triangular section that tapers toward the tip.

  In the first and second embodiments, the powder material supply devices 7 and 51 are provided with plate-like flattening members 45 and 69. You may provide separately from a body material supply apparatus. Further, the flattening member does not necessarily have a plate-like shape. If the powder material supplied on the table can be flattened with a predetermined layer thickness, for example, a roller having a smooth outer peripheral surface, etc. Also good.

  In the first and second embodiments, the filling (replenishment) of the powder material 2 to the tank portions 21 and 52 of the powder material supply devices 7 and 51 is performed every time the tank returns to the origin position. However, for example, a flexible hollow hose having flexibility and stretchability is connected to the tank portion, and the powder material is filled into the tank portion of the powder material supply apparatus that is moving through the hose as needed. You may be able to do it.

Furthermore, in the first and second embodiments, the powder material is supplied by the binder liquid discharged from the binder liquid supply apparatus 8 to the powder material supplied from the powder material supply apparatuses 7 and 51 onto the table. It was related to what is called an ink jet type three-dimensional modeling apparatus that combines the two to form a modeled object. However, as a three-dimensional modeling apparatus, for example, a powder that sinters or melts a powder material with an infrared laser, an electron beam beam, a thermal head, or the like as long as the powder material is combined by any means to perform modeling. It may be related to sintering (melting) modeling.
Alternatively, the powder material is supplied onto the table by the powder material supply device, and after the curing inhibitor is discharged to the powder material in accordance with the shape of the modeled object by the inkjet head or the like, the curing agent or the It may be a three-dimensional modeling apparatus for implementing means for forming a part of the modeled object by discharging an additive used together with the curing agent to the powder material.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Three-dimensional modeling apparatus 2 Powder material 3 Binder liquid 4 Powder material layer 5 Table 7,51 Powder material supply apparatus 21,52 Tank part 22,53 Discharge hole 23,54 Constant supply mechanism 25,55 Storage space 28 , 58 Control valve 31, 61 Base part 32, 62 Protruding part 33, 63 Supply roller 37, 65 Filling space 45, 69 Flattening member 48, 70 Discharge direction control means 48a, 70a Direction control plate 48b, 70b Auxiliary plate member

Claims (8)

The tertiary that forms the three-dimensional structure by repeating the operation of combining the powder material supplied in layers according to the shape of the three-dimensional structure to be modeled, and sequentially laminating the layers of the powder material In a former modeling apparatus, a powder material supply apparatus for supplying a powder material in a layer form to a table on which the layers of the powder material are laminated,
The powder material supply device includes a tank unit that stores the powder material, a discharge hole that is provided on a lower end side of the tank unit, and discharges the powder material in the tank unit to the outside of the tank unit. A fixed quantity supply mechanism for supplying the discharged powder material to the table in a fixed amount, and the powder material supply apparatus as a whole is formed to be movable in one direction,
The fixed-quantity supply mechanism includes a base body portion that is orthogonal to the moving direction of the powder material supply device and extends in a direction parallel to the upper surface of the table and is rotatable about an axis, and a constant interval between the outer peripheral surface of the base body portion And a supply roller provided with a plurality of protrusions extending outwardly of the base portion and extending in a direction parallel to the axis of the base portion, while rotating the supply roller, The powder material discharged from the discharge hole is filled in the space between the adjacent protrusions on the outer peripheral surface of the base portion, and the powder material filled in each space is sequentially dropped for each space. The powder material supply apparatus of a three-dimensional modeling apparatus which can supply the said powder material to the said table | surface by a fixed quantity by doing.   2. The powder material supply device for a three-dimensional modeling apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the supply roller of the quantitative supply mechanism is arranged such that the plurality of protrusions protrude radially from the base portion.   The powder material supply apparatus of the three-dimensional modeling apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a control valve for controlling the flow of the powder material discharged from the discharge hole is attached to the discharge hole.   The said fixed quantity supply mechanism is provided with the discharge direction control means which controls the discharge direction of the said powder material discharged | emitted toward the said fixed quantity supply mechanism from the said discharge hole. The powder material supply apparatus of the three-dimensional modeling apparatus described.   The discharge direction control means is attached to a plate-shaped direction control plate extending from the discharge hole side toward the supply roller of the constant supply mechanism, and a base end side is attached to an end of the direction control plate on the supply roller side. The auxiliary plate member formed in the shape of a flexible plate body, the tip end side of which is extended to a position in contact with the protruding portion of the rotating supply roller. Powder material supply device for 3D modeling equipment.   The tank portion includes a storage space for storing the powder material that extends in a horizontal direction orthogonal to the moving direction of the powder material supply device, and the storage space gradually decreases in the short direction as it goes downward. The powder material supply device for a three-dimensional modeling apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the powder material supply device has a configuration that tapers toward a center side.   The tank portion includes a storage space for storing the powder material that extends in a horizontal direction orthogonal to the moving direction of the powder material supply device, and the storage space gradually decreases in the short direction as it goes downward. The powder material supply device for a three-dimensional modeling apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the powder material supply device has a configuration that tapers toward one end side.   The powder of the three-dimensional modeling apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the powder material supply device includes a flattening member that flattens an upper surface of the powder material supplied to the table. Material supply device.

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