JP2017209871A - Three-dimensional molding apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a three-dimensional molding apparatus in which increase in weight in the whole apparatus can be suppressed.SOLUTION: The three-dimensional molding apparatus includes: a head 11 disposed as movable in a main scanning direction D1 and discharging an ink Q the curing degree of which is changed by irradiation with light L at a predetermined wavelength onto a work surface F; a single light source part 20 emitting the light L; a plurality of light exiting parts 30 capable of irradiating the work surface F with the light L; and a relative moving part 50 capable of supplying the light L from the light source part 20 to at least one of the plurality of light exiting parts 30 and also capable of varying a supply destination of the light L among the plurality of light exiting parts.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a three-dimensional modeling apparatus.

  There is known a three-dimensional modeling apparatus that forms a three-dimensional model by stacking modeling materials on a work surface. In such a three-dimensional modeling apparatus, a photocurable ink that is cured by irradiation with light of a predetermined wavelength, for example, ultraviolet rays, is used as a modeling material. The three-dimensional modeling apparatus includes an inkjet head that can move in the main scanning direction and ejects the ink, and an irradiation device that irradiates the ejected ink with light such as ultraviolet rays. As such a three-dimensional modeling apparatus, for example, as described in Patent Document 1, a configuration in which one light source and one irradiation device are provided on each side of the head in the main scanning direction is known.

US Patent No. 9017589

  In the three-dimensional modeling apparatus described in Patent Document 1, a head, two light sources, and an irradiation device are mounted on a carriage, and can move integrally in the main scanning direction. For this reason, it is possible to irradiate light from different light sources and irradiating devices on the forward path and the backward path in the scanning direction of the head, and to irradiate light at a suitable timing for the ejected ink. However, the configuration in which the light source and the irradiation device are arranged in two places has a problem that the weight of the entire device increases.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above, and an object of the present invention is to provide a three-dimensional modeling apparatus capable of suppressing the weight of the entire apparatus.

  The three-dimensional modeling apparatus according to the present invention is provided so as to be movable in the main scanning direction, emits the light, and a head that ejects ink having a degree of curing that changes when irradiated with light of a predetermined wavelength onto a work surface. One light source unit, a plurality of light emitting units capable of irradiating the work surface with the light, and the light from one light source unit can be supplied to at least one of the plurality of light emitting units, and And a light supply unit capable of changing the light supply destination among the plurality of light emitting units.

  According to the present invention, light can be supplied from a single light source unit to a plurality of light emitting units, and therefore it is not necessary to provide a light source unit for each light emitting unit. Thereby, it becomes possible to suppress the weight of the whole apparatus.

  Further, in the above three-dimensional modeling apparatus, the plurality of light emitting units are arranged on both sides in the main scanning direction with respect to the head, and are movable in the main scanning direction integrally with the head, The first light emitting part that emits light toward the work surface, and the light supply part is a position where the light source part can supply the light to each first light emitting part. A relative movement unit that relatively moves the light source unit and the two first light emission units.

  According to the present invention, in order to relatively move the light source unit provided by the relative moving unit and the two first light emitting units, the work surface can be irradiated with light from the plurality of light emitting units, And the weight increase of the whole apparatus can be suppressed.

  The three-dimensional modeling apparatus includes a carriage that holds the head, the light source unit, and the two first light emitting units and is movable in the main scanning direction, and the carriage is in the main scanning direction. And a drive unit for moving the relative movement unit, wherein the relative movement unit includes the restriction unit.

  According to the present invention, by restricting the movement of the light source unit in the main scanning direction with respect to the movement of the carriage, the light source unit and the two first light emitting units are relatively moved relative to each other using the movement of the carriage. It can be moved in the scanning direction. Therefore, there is no need to provide a drive source for moving the light source unit. For this reason, it can contribute to suppression of the weight increase of the whole apparatus.

  Further, in the above three-dimensional modeling apparatus, the plurality of light emitting units are movable in the main scanning direction integrally with the head, and a plurality of second light emitting units that emit the light toward the work surface. The light supply unit includes a light guide unit that switches or branches the light from the light source unit to a plurality of the second light emission units.

  According to the present invention, light can be switched or branched and supplied to the plurality of second light emitting units by the light guide unit without moving the light source unit. Thereby, it becomes possible to emit light efficiently from the plurality of second light emitting portions.

  In the above three-dimensional modeling apparatus, the light guide unit includes a light incident unit that receives the light from the light source, and a plurality of lights that connect the light incident unit and the plurality of second light emitting units. The light supply unit includes a control unit that selects and supplies a supply destination of the light incident on the light incident unit from a plurality of the optical fibers.

  According to the present invention, since the light guide unit includes a plurality of optical fibers, light can be reliably guided even in a structure in which the space from the light incident unit to the second light emitting unit is complicated. .

  Further, in the above three-dimensional modeling apparatus, the head has a nozzle row that is arranged side by side in the main scanning direction and ejects different types of ink, and the second light emitting unit is arranged in the nozzle row. On the other hand, they are arranged on both sides in the main scanning direction.

  According to the present invention, since light can be emitted from the vicinity of the nozzle row, it is possible to irradiate the ink at a more suitable timing.

  Further, in the above three-dimensional modeling apparatus, when the head ejects the ink while the head moves in a predetermined direction in the main scanning direction, the nozzle row among the plurality of optical fibers. In contrast, the light is supplied to the optical fiber connected to the second light emitting portion behind the predetermined direction.

  According to the present invention, after ink is ejected, the light is emitted from the second light emitting portion at the rear of the moving direction of the head to irradiate the ink just after being dropped on the work surface. Can do.

  The three-dimensional modeling apparatus according to the present invention has an effect that the weight of the entire apparatus can be suppressed.

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a three-dimensional modeling apparatus according to the first embodiment. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a three-dimensional modeling apparatus. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of the restriction unit. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating another example of the restricting unit. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of the operation of the three-dimensional modeling apparatus. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of the operation of the three-dimensional modeling apparatus. FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of the operation of the three-dimensional modeling apparatus. FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of the operation of the three-dimensional modeling apparatus. FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of the operation of the three-dimensional modeling apparatus. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of the operation of the three-dimensional modeling apparatus. FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an example of the operation of the three-dimensional modeling apparatus. FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating an example of the operation of the three-dimensional modeling apparatus. FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating another example of the operation of the three-dimensional modeling apparatus. FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating another example of the operation of the three-dimensional modeling apparatus. FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating an example of the three-dimensional modeling apparatus according to the second embodiment. FIG. 16 is a diagram illustrating another example of the three-dimensional modeling apparatus according to the second embodiment. FIG. 17 is a diagram illustrating an example of the three-dimensional modeling apparatus according to the third embodiment. FIG. 18 is a diagram illustrating an example of the head of the three-dimensional modeling apparatus. FIG. 19 is a diagram illustrating an example of the operation of the three-dimensional modeling apparatus. FIG. 20 is a diagram illustrating an example of the operation of the three-dimensional modeling apparatus. FIG. 21 is a diagram illustrating an example of the operation of the three-dimensional modeling apparatus.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of a three-dimensional modeling apparatus according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In addition, this invention is not limited by this embodiment. In addition, constituent elements in the following embodiments include those that can be easily replaced by those skilled in the art or those that are substantially the same. Moreover, you may combine suitably the structure which concerns on the following embodiment.

[First Embodiment]
FIG.1 and FIG.2 is a figure which shows an example of the three-dimensional modeling apparatus 100 which concerns on 1st Embodiment. The three-dimensional modeling apparatus 100 illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 forms a three-dimensional modeled object by stacking modeling materials on the work surface F. In the present embodiment, the three-dimensional modeling apparatus 100 can form a three-dimensional structure by laminating ink as a modeling material on the work surface F by a so-called inkjet method. 1 shows a state in which the 3D modeling apparatus 100 is viewed from one direction parallel to the work surface F, and FIG. 2 shows the 3D modeling apparatus 100 from the normal direction of the work surface F of the 3D modeling apparatus 100. Shows the state of seeing. In the present embodiment, the case where the work surface F is arranged in parallel to the horizontal plane will be described as an example, but the present invention is not limited to this. In the following description, a moving direction of a carriage 40 described later is a main scanning direction D1, and a direction parallel to the work surface F (horizontal plane) and orthogonal to the main scanning direction D1 is a sub-scanning direction D2. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the three-dimensional modeling apparatus 100 includes a head 10, a light source unit 20, a light emitting unit 30, a carriage 40, a relative movement unit (light supply unit) 50, and a control unit 60. And.

  The head 10 ejects, on the work surface F, photocurable ink that is cured by irradiating light of a predetermined wavelength, for example, ultraviolet rays, as ink that is a modeling material. For example, the ink is stored in an ink tank (not shown) mounted on the carriage 40. In the head 10, an ejection surface 10 a that ejects ink is arranged in parallel to the work surface F. A nozzle 11 is formed on the discharge surface 10a. The nozzles 11 are arranged side by side in the sub-scanning direction D2 that is parallel to the horizontal plane and orthogonal to the main scanning direction D1, and constitute a nozzle row. Each nozzle 11 is connected to an ink tank through various ink flow paths, a regulator, a pump, and the like. One or a plurality of nozzle rows are provided according to the number of ink tanks, in other words, the number of types of ink that can be printed simultaneously. As the type of ink, for example, white ink, colored ink, transparent ink, and the like can be appropriately used according to the color of the modeled object W to be manufactured.

  The light source unit 20 is disposed above the head 10 in the vertical direction. One light source unit 20 is provided. The light source unit 20 has one or a plurality of light emitting elements capable of emitting ultraviolet light, for example, in the housing. As such a light emitting element, for example, an LED element, a halogen lamp, or the like can be used. In the present embodiment, the single light source unit 20 is not limited to the case where only one light emitting element is provided, but includes the case where light is emitted from one place in one unit. Therefore, for example, even when the light source unit has a plurality of light emitting elements arranged in an array, if the light from the plurality of light emitting elements is emitted from one place, one light source unit included. The light source unit 20 is movable in the main scanning direction D1 along a guide rail 51 described later. The light source unit 20 has a protruding portion 21. The protruding portion 21 is fixed to the housing and is provided to protrude in the upper part in the vertical direction of the housing.

  A plurality of light emitting units 30 are provided to irradiate the work surface F with light from the light source unit 20. The plurality of light emitting units 30 include two light guide members (first light emitting units) 31 and 32. The light guide members 31 and 32 are disposed on both sides of the head 10 in the main scanning direction D1.

  The carriage 40 holds the head 10, the light source unit 20, and the light emitting unit 30 (the two light guide members 31 and 32). The carriage 40 is movable along the guide rail 42 by the driving force of the carriage driving unit 41. The carriage drive unit 41 may be configured to include, for example, a motor and a rotating belt mechanism that transmits the rotational force of the motor to the carriage 40, but is not limited thereto, and may be another drive mechanism. Also good. The guide rail 42 is formed linearly in one direction parallel to the work surface F. As described above, the direction in which the guide rail 42 extends is the moving direction of the carriage 40 and is the main scanning direction D1. As the carriage 40 moves in the main scanning direction D1, the head 10 and the light emitting unit 30 move together in the main scanning direction D1.

  The carriage 40 is provided with a flattening roller unit 43. The flattening roller unit 43 is disposed between the head 10 and the light guide member 32 in the main scanning direction D1. The flattening roller unit 43 is configured to flatten the ink layer discharged onto the work surface F. The flattening roller unit 43 is provided so as to be movable in the vertical direction with respect to the head 10. The flattening roller unit 43 has a flattening roller 43a. The flattening roller 43a moves in the main scanning direction D1 integrally with the carriage 40, and scrapes off the excess modeling material in a flowable state. The flattening roller unit 43 has a collection mechanism (not shown) that collects excess ink scraped off by the flattening roller 43a. In the present embodiment, a configuration in which the flattening roller unit 43 is arranged on one side of the head 10 in the main scanning direction D1 will be described as an example. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the flattening roller unit is not limited thereto. 43 may be arranged on both sides of the head 10 in the main scanning direction D1. In this case, the flattening roller unit 43 is disposed in the main scanning direction 10 at, for example, a position between the head 10 and the light guide member 31 and a position between the head 10 and the light guide member 32. Can do.

  The relative movement unit 50 includes a guide rail 51, stoppers 52 and 53, and regulation units 54 and 55. The guide rail 51 is fixed to the carriage 40 and is provided in parallel with the main scanning direction D1. The stoppers 52 and 53 are provided at both ends of the guide rail 51 in the main scanning direction D1. The stoppers 52 and 53 stop the movement of the light source unit 20 in the main scanning direction D1. The stopper 52 stops the light source unit 20 at the first position P1. The first position P <b> 1 is a position at which light emitted from the light source unit 20 is supplied to the light guide member 31. The stopper 53 stops the light source unit 20 at the second position P2. The second position P <b> 2 is a position where the light emitted from the light source unit 20 is supplied to the light guide member 32. Therefore, the light source unit 20 can move in the main scanning direction D1 with respect to the head 10 between the first position P1 and the second position P2 by the relative moving unit 50.

  The restricting units 54 and 55 restrict the movement of the light source unit 20 in the main scanning direction D1 when the carriage 40 moves. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of the restricting unit 54. In addition, since the control parts 54 and 55 are the same structures, the structure of the control part 54 is demonstrated here as a representative. As shown in FIG. 3, the restricting portion 54 includes an attachment member 56, a shaft member 57, and a contact member 58.

  The attachment member 56 is fixed to a part of the housing 101 of the 3D modeling apparatus 100, for example. The shaft member 57 is provided in a cylindrical shape or a columnar shape, and has a central axis AX that is parallel to the work surface F (horizontal plane) and parallel to the sub-scanning direction D2 orthogonal to the main scanning direction D1. The contact member 58 is supported by the shaft member 57 so as to protrude downward from the shaft member 57 in the vertical direction. The contact member 58 is provided such that the lower end portion 58a is movable in the circumferential direction about the central axis AX. The size of the contact member 58 is set so that the contact member 58 can contact the protruding portion 21 of the light source unit 20 when the lower end portion 58a protrudes downward.

  An elastic member (not shown) is provided between the contact member 58 and the attachment member 56. When the end portion 58a of the contact member 58 tries to move on both sides in the circumferential direction around the central axis AX, the elastic member applies an elastic force in a direction opposite to each direction. Therefore, the contact member 58 is movable in the circumferential direction around the central axis AX when a force larger than the elastic force acts on the end 58a. In addition, as a structure of the control part 54, it is not limited to the structure shown in FIG. 3, The structure of a double-opening type spring hinge may be used.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating another example of the restriction unit. The restriction portion 54 </ b> A illustrated in FIG. 4 includes a ball support portion 66, an elastic member 67, and a contact member 68. The sphere support 66 is fixed to a part of the housing 101 of the 3D modeling apparatus 100, for example. The sphere support 66 has a recess 66a directed upward from the lower end surface in the vertical direction. The elastic member 67 is fixed to the upper bottom portion of the recess 66a. The contact member 68 is fixed to the lower end portion of the elastic member 67. The abutting member 68 is applied with an elastic force downward in the vertical direction by the elastic member 67. Further, the contact member 68 is in contact with a flange portion 66 b provided at the lower end portion of the ball support portion 66 in the vertical direction. The contact member 68 is held in a state in which a part thereof protrudes downward in the vertical direction from the flange portion 66b.

  Therefore, when a force larger than the elastic force of the elastic member 67 acts upward in the vertical direction, the abutting member 68 pushes up the elastic member 67 and moves upward, and the entire state is accommodated in the recess 66a. Become. In addition, since the shape of the portion of the contact member 68 that protrudes downward from the flange portion 66b is spherical, for example, the main scanning is performed on the portion of the protrusion of the contact member 68 that faces the main scanning direction D1. When a force is applied from the direction D1, if the component of the force acting on the contact member 68 in the vertical direction is larger than the elastic force of the elastic member 67, the contact member 68 moves upward to form the recess 66a. Is housed.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the control unit 60 controls each unit of the three-dimensional modeling apparatus 100 including the head 10, the light source unit 20, the carriage driving unit 41, and the like. The controller 60 includes hardware such as an arithmetic device and a memory, and a program that realizes these predetermined functions. The control unit 60 controls the head 10 to control the ink ejection amount, ejection timing, ejection period, and the like. The control unit 60 controls the light source unit 20 to control the intensity of ultraviolet rays to be irradiated, the irradiation timing, the irradiation period, and the like. The control unit 60 controls the carriage driving unit 41 to control the movement direction (forward path, backward path) of the carriage 40 in the main scanning direction D1, the timing of movement, the driving force, and the like. For example, when the work surface F can be moved by a drive unit (not shown), the control unit 60 may control the drive unit to control the moving direction of the work surface F, the timing of movement, and the like. The control unit 60 is connected to an input unit (not shown). The control unit 60 receives three-dimensional data related to the shape of the modeling target by the input unit. Note that the input unit includes, for example, a PC or various terminals connected to the control unit 60 by wire or wirelessly.

  Next, the operation of the three-dimensional modeling apparatus 100 configured as described above will be described. 5-14 is a figure which shows an example of operation | movement of the three-dimensional modeling apparatus 100. FIG. 5 to 14, the flattening roller unit 43 is not shown. First, when three-dimensional data is input to the control unit 60, the control unit 60 causes the carriage driving unit 41 to move the carriage 40 from the standby position in the main scanning direction D1, and causes the head 10 to eject ink. Hereinafter, a case where the standby position of the carriage 40 is the left end portion in the figure in the main scanning direction D1, the forward movement direction of the carriage 40 is the right direction in the figure, and the return movement direction is the left direction in the figure is taken as an example. However, the present invention is not limited to this.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the control unit 60 moves the carriage 40 arranged at the standby position in the forward movement direction (right direction in the drawing) in the main scanning direction D1. By this movement, the protruding portion 21 provided on the upper portion of the casing of the light source unit 20 approaches the lower end 58a side of the contact member 58 and comes into contact with the lower end 58a.

  When the protruding portion 21 abuts on the lower end portion 58a, the protruding portion 21 receives an elastic force from the lower end portion 58a to the right side in the drawing. This elastic force restricts the movement of the light source unit 20 to the right side in the figure. For this reason, as shown in FIG. 6, as the carriage 40 moves to the right side in the figure, the light source unit 20 is apparently pushed to the left side in the figure in the carriage 40. That is, the light source unit 20 moves relative to the head 10 and the light emitting unit 30 in the main scanning direction D1 (left direction in the figure).

  By continuing this relative movement, as shown in FIG. 7, the light source unit 20 comes into contact with the stopper 52 at the first position P <b> 1, and the leftward force in the drawing with respect to the protrusion 21 and the light source unit 20 is exerted by the stopper 52. It becomes a supported state. From this state, the control unit 60 controls the driving force of the carriage driving unit 41 to be larger than the elastic force from the lower end 58a, and moves the carriage 40 to the right side in the drawing. By this control, as shown in FIG. 8, the lower end 58a is pushed to the right side in the figure by the driving force of the carriage 40, and moves counterclockwise around the central axis AX.

  Thereafter, when the protruding portion 21 passes the lower end portion 58a to the right side in the drawing, the elastic force received from the lower end portion 58a with respect to the protruding portion 21 is released. Therefore, the control unit 60 returns the driving force of the carriage 40 and moves the carriage 40 to the right side in the drawing. Note that the lower end portion 58a of the contact member 58 is returned to a state in which the lower end portion 58a protrudes downward again by the elastic force after the protruding portion 21 has passed.

  At this time, as shown in FIG. 9, the light source unit 20 is disposed at the first position P <b> 1 that is behind the head 10 in the movement direction of the carriage 40. In this state, the control unit 60 moves the carriage 40 in the forward movement direction (right direction in the figure) and ejects ink from the nozzles 11 at a predetermined timing. The discharged ink Q lands on the work surface F and is arranged in a predetermined shape. In addition, the control unit 60 causes the light L to be emitted from the light source unit 20. Since the light source unit 20 is disposed at the first position P <b> 1, the light L is supplied to the light guide member 31 and is emitted from the light guide member 31 to the work surface F. The light L emitted from the light guide member 31 is applied to the ink Q on the work surface F. As a result, the ink Q is cured and maintains a predetermined shape. When the flattening roller unit 43 is disposed between the head 10 and the light guide member 31, the ink Q layer is formed by the flattening roller 43 a of the flattening roller unit 43 after the ink Q has landed on the work surface F. May be flattened. In this case, the light L emitted from the light guide member 31 is applied to the flattened ink Q. For this reason, the ink Q is cured in a flattened state.

  After completing the forward scanning, the control unit 60 moves the carriage 40 to the relay position on the right side in the drawing. At this time, since the light source unit 20 is disposed at the first position P1, the leftward force in the drawing with respect to the protruding portion 21 and the light source unit 20 is supported by the stopper 52. Therefore, when passing through the restricting portion 55 on the right side, as in the case of passing through the restricting portion 54 on the right side, the control portion 60 makes the driving force of the carriage driving portion 41 larger than the elastic force from the lower end portion 58a. The carriage 40 is moved to the right side in the figure. By this control, as shown in FIG. 10, the lower end portion 58a of the restricting portion 55 is pushed to the right side in the drawing by the driving force of the carriage 40, and moves counterclockwise in the drawing about the central axis AX. And when the protrusion part 21 passes the lower end part 58a to the right side in a figure, the elastic force received from the lower end part 58a with respect to the protrusion part 21 is cancelled | released. Further, the lower end portion 58a of the abutting member 58 is returned to a state where it protrudes downward again by the elastic force after the protruding portion 21 has passed.

  Next, the control unit 60 performs a backward scan. In this case, a similar operation is performed that is symmetrical with respect to the operation during forward scanning. That is, the control unit 60 first moves the carriage 40 arranged at the relay position in the backward movement direction (left direction in the figure). By this movement, the protruding portion 21 approaches the lower end portion 58a side of the contact member 58 and comes into contact with the lower end portion 58a. Since the protruding portion 21 abuts on the lower end portion 58a, the protruding portion 21 receives an elastic force from the lower end portion 58a to the right side in the figure, so that the movement of the light source part 20 to the left side in the figure is restricted. For this reason, as shown in FIG. 11, as the carriage 40 moves to the left side in the figure, the light source unit 20 is apparently pushed to the right side in the figure in the carriage 40. That is, the light source unit 20 moves relative to the head 10 and the light emitting unit 30 in the main scanning direction D1 (right direction in the drawing).

  By this relative movement, the light source unit 20 is brought into contact with the stopper 53 at the second position P2, and the rightward force in the drawing with respect to the protruding portion 21 and the light source unit 20 is supported by the stopper 52. The control unit 60 controls the driving force of the carriage driving unit 41 so as to be larger than the elastic force from the lower end 58a, and moves the carriage 40 to the left side in the drawing. With this control, as shown in FIG. 12, the lower end 58a is pushed to the left in the figure by the driving force of the carriage 40, and moves clockwise around the central axis AX.

  Thereafter, when the protruding portion 21 passes the lower end portion 58a to the left in the drawing, the elastic force received from the lower end portion 58a with respect to the protruding portion 21 is released. Therefore, the control unit 60 returns the driving force of the carriage 40 and moves the carriage 40 to the left side in the drawing. Note that the lower end portion 58a of the contact member 58 is returned to a state in which the lower end portion 58a protrudes downward again by the elastic force after the protruding portion 21 has passed. As a result, the light source unit 20 is disposed at the second position P <b> 2 behind the head 10 in the movement direction of the carriage 40. In this state, the control unit 60 moves the carriage 40 in the backward movement direction (left direction in the figure) and ejects ink from the nozzles 11 at a predetermined timing. In addition, the control unit 60 causes the light L to be emitted from the light source unit 20. Since the light source unit 20 is disposed at the second position P2, the light L is supplied to the light guide member 32 and emitted from the light guide member 32 onto the work surface F. The light L emitted from the light guide member 32 is applied to the ink Q on the work surface F. As a result, the ink Q is cured and maintains a predetermined shape. In this case as well, after the ink Q has landed on the work surface F, the layer of the ink Q may be flattened by the flattening roller 43a. In this case, the light L emitted from the light guide member 32 is applied to the flattened ink Q. For this reason, the ink Q is cured in a flattened state.

  In the above description, the case where light irradiation is performed in a state where the light source unit 20 is arranged behind the head 10 in the movement direction of the carriage 40 is described as an example, but the present invention is not limited to this. 13 and 14 are diagrams showing another example of the operation of the three-dimensional modeling apparatus 100. FIG. As illustrated in FIGS. 13 and 14, light irradiation may be performed in a state where the light source unit 20 is disposed in front of the head 10 in the moving direction of the carriage 40. 13 and 14 show a state where the ink Q is arranged on the work surface F by the most recent backward movement of the carriage 40 and the ink Q is not irradiated with light.

  As shown in FIG. 13, the control unit 60 moves the carriage 40 to the left side in the drawing in a state where the ink Q is arranged on the work surface F from the head 10 by the latest backward movement. Then, as shown in FIG. 13, the control unit 60 is configured such that the protruding portion 21 contacts the end portion 58a of the contact member 58 in the restricting portion 54, and the light source unit 20 contacts the stopper 53 at the second position P2. State. At this time, the light source part 20 and the protrusion part 21 will be in the state pinched | interposed between the edge part 58a of the contact member 58a, and the stopper 53. FIG. In such a state, the control unit 60 stops the movement of the carriage 40 to the left side in the drawing. Accordingly, the movement of the carriage 40 is stopped in a state where the protrusion 21 is restricted from moving leftward in the drawing by the restricting portion 54.

  Next, the control unit 60 moves the carriage 40 in the forward scanning direction (right direction in the drawing), and emits the light L from the light source unit 20. With this control, as shown in FIG. 14, the light L from the light source unit 20 is supplied to the light guide member 32 and is emitted from the light guide member 32 onto the work surface F. The light L emitted from the light guide member 32 is applied to the ink Q on the work surface F. As a result, the ink Q is cured and maintains a predetermined shape. The control unit 60 ejects ink from the nozzles 11 at a predetermined timing. As a result, the newly ejected ink Q is stacked and disposed on the cured ink Q.

  As shown in FIG. 14, when the ink Q is dropped and light irradiation is performed with the light source unit 20 disposed in front of the head 10 in the movement direction of the carriage 40, the ink that has landed on the work surface F A certain amount of time passes until Q is irradiated with light L. That is, the ink L is not irradiated with the light L until the carriage 40 finishes moving in the moving direction, switches from the moving direction at the end of the main scanning direction D1, and then moves in the opposite direction. With the passage of time, the ink Q changes to a shape that expands in the surface direction of the work surface F as compared with the time of landing, and in this state is irradiated with the light L and is cured. Therefore, the ink Q is cured in a state where the shape of the ink Q is different from the case where light irradiation is performed in a state where the light source unit 20 is arranged behind the head 10 in the moving direction of the carriage 40.

  As described above, in the three-dimensional modeling apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment, one light source unit is provided by relatively moving the light source unit 20 and the two light guide members 31 and 32 by the relative movement unit 50. Light can be supplied from 20 to the two light guide members 31 and 32. For this reason, it is not necessary to provide the light source unit 20 for each of the light guide members 31 and 32. Thereby, it becomes possible to suppress the weight of the whole apparatus.

  Further, the three-dimensional modeling apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment uses the movement of the carriage 40 by the restriction units 54 and 55 restricting the movement of the light source unit 20 in the main scanning direction D1 with respect to the movement of the carriage 40. Thus, the light source unit 20 and the two light guide members 31 and 32 can be relatively moved in the main scanning direction D1. Therefore, there is no need to provide a drive source for moving the light source unit 20, which can contribute to suppressing the weight of the entire apparatus. Note that the three-dimensional modeling apparatus 100 may have a configuration in which a drive source for moving the light source unit 20 is separately provided.

[Second Embodiment]
Next, a second embodiment will be described. FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating an example of the three-dimensional modeling apparatus 200 according to the second embodiment. Hereinafter, in 2nd Embodiment, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected to the same component as the three-dimensional modeling apparatus 100 which concerns on 1st Embodiment, and description is abbreviate | omitted or simplified. A three-dimensional modeling apparatus 200 illustrated in FIG. 15 includes a head 10, a light source unit 120, a light emitting unit 130, a carriage 40, a light guide unit (light supply unit) 150, and a control unit 160. About the structure of the head part 10 and the carriage 40, it can be made the same as 1st Embodiment.

  The light source unit 120 is fixed to the carriage 40. In addition, the structure of light source part 120 itself can be made into the same structure as the light source part 20 in 1st Embodiment. The light emitting unit 130 irradiates the work surface F with light from the light source unit 120. The light emitting unit 130 includes two light reflecting members (second light emitting units) 131 and 132. The light reflecting members 131 and 132 are disposed on both sides of the head 10 in the main scanning direction D1.

  The light guide unit 150 switches and supplies the light from the light source unit 120 to the light reflecting members 131 and 132. The light guide unit 150 includes a rotating mirror 151 and a mirror driving unit 152. The rotating mirror 151 reflects light from the light source unit 120. The rotating mirror 151 is provided to be rotatable about a rotation axis parallel to the sub-scanning direction D2, for example. The rotating mirror 151 may be rotatable around a rotation axis parallel to the vertical direction. The mirror driving unit 152 rotates the rotating mirror 151 so that the direction of light reflection by the rotating mirror 151 is switched between the direction toward the light reflecting member 131 and the direction toward the light reflecting member 132.

  The control unit 160 controls each unit of the three-dimensional modeling apparatus 100 including the head 10, the light source unit 120, the carriage driving unit 41, the mirror driving unit 152, and the like. The control unit 160 controls the head 10, the light source unit 120, and the carriage drive unit 41 as in the first embodiment. The control unit 160 also controls the mirror driving unit 152 to control the position and posture of the rotating mirror 151, the timing of rotation, and the like.

  Next, the operation of the three-dimensional modeling apparatus 200 configured as described above will be described. When the three-dimensional data is input to the control unit 160, the control unit 160 causes the carriage driving unit 41 to move the carriage 40 from the standby position in the forward scanning direction, and causes the head 10 to eject ink. Hereinafter, for example, a case where the carriage 40 is moved to the right in the drawing in the main scanning direction D1 will be described. It should be noted that when the carriage 40 is moved to the left in the drawing in the main scanning direction D1, the same explanation can be made assuming that the left and right are symmetrical.

  When the light L from the light source unit 120 is irradiated to the head 10 backward in the moving direction of the carriage 40, the control unit 160 controls the mirror driving unit 152, and the light reflection direction by the rotating mirror 151 is a light reflecting member. The direction toward 131. Thereafter, the control unit 160 moves the carriage 40 to the right in the drawing in the main scanning direction D1, and discharges ink from the nozzles 11 at a predetermined timing. The ejected ink lands on the work surface F and is arranged in a predetermined shape. In addition, the control unit 160 causes the light L to be emitted from the light source unit 120. The light L from the light source unit 120 is reflected toward the light reflecting member 131, is reflected by the light reflecting member 131, and is emitted to the work surface F. The light L reflected and emitted from the light reflecting member 131 is applied to the ink on the work surface F. As a result, the ink Q is cured and maintains a predetermined shape.

  Further, when the light L from the light source unit 120 is irradiated forward in the moving direction of the carriage 40 with respect to the head 10, the control unit 160 controls the mirror driving unit 152, and the light reflection direction by the rotating mirror 151 is light. The direction is toward the reflecting member 132. Thereafter, the control unit 160 moves the carriage 40 to the right in the drawing in the main scanning direction D1, and causes the light source unit 120 to emit light L. The light L from the light source unit 120 is reflected toward the light reflecting member 131, is reflected by the light reflecting member 131, and is emitted to the work surface F. This light L is applied to the ink Q on the work surface F. As a result, when uncured ink is disposed on the work surface F, the ink is cured and maintains a predetermined shape. The control unit 60 ejects ink from the nozzles 11 at a predetermined timing. As a result, newly ejected ink is disposed in a stacked manner on the cured ink.

  As described above, the 3D modeling apparatus 200 according to the present embodiment can switch and supply the light L to the two light reflecting members 131 and 132 by the light guide unit 150 without moving the light source unit 120. it can. Thereby, it is not necessary to provide the light source unit 120 for each light emitting unit 130. Thereby, it becomes possible to suppress the weight of the whole apparatus. In addition, the light L from the light source unit 120 can be efficiently emitted from the two light reflecting members 131 and 132.

  In the second embodiment, the case where the light L from the light source unit 120 is switched and supplied to the two light reflecting members 131 and 132 by the light guide unit 150 is described as an example. For example, the light L may be branched and supplied. FIG. 16 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of the light source unit 120 and the light guide unit 150A of a three-dimensional modeling apparatus 200A according to another example. In the three-dimensional modeling apparatus 200A illustrated in FIG. 16, the light guide unit 150A includes a light branching member 151A and a fixed mirror 152A. The light branching member 151A has a transflective film, reflects the light L1 that is a part of the light L from the light source unit 120 to the light reflecting member 131, and directs the remaining light L2 to the fixed mirror 152A. Make it transparent. The fixed mirror 152A reflects the light L2 toward the light reflecting member 132. Thereby, the light L from the light source unit 120 can be simultaneously supplied to the light reflecting member 131 and the light reflecting member 132. In addition, by providing a light blocking member such as a shutter on the optical paths of the light L1 and the light L2, it is possible to switch whether light is supplied to the light reflecting members 131 and 132.

  Moreover, in the said 2nd Embodiment, it replaces with the light reflection members 131 and 132 as the light guide part 150, for example, the structure provided with the optical fiber may be sufficient.

[Third Embodiment]
Next, a third embodiment will be described. FIG. 17 is a diagram illustrating an example of the three-dimensional modeling apparatus 300 according to the third embodiment. Hereinafter, in 3rd Embodiment, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected to the same component as the three-dimensional modeling apparatus 100 which concerns on 1st Embodiment, and description is abbreviate | omitted or simplified. A three-dimensional modeling apparatus 200 shown in FIG. 17 includes a head 310, a light source unit 320, a light emitting unit 330, a carriage 40, a light guide unit (light supply unit) 350, and a control unit 360.

  FIG. 18 is a diagram illustrating a state in which the head unit 310 is viewed from below in the vertical direction. As shown in FIG. 18, the head unit 310 has a plurality of nozzle rows NL on the nozzle surface 310a. The nozzle rows NL are arranged side by side in the main scanning direction D1. In each nozzle row NL, a plurality of nozzles 311 are arranged side by side in the sub-scanning direction D2.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 17, the light source unit 320 is fixed to the carriage 40. The structure of the light source unit 320 itself can be the same as that of the light source unit 20 in the first embodiment. The light emitting unit 330 emits light from the light source 320 toward the work surface F. As shown in FIG. 18, a plurality of light emitting portions 330 are provided on the nozzle surface 310a, and are arranged on both sides of the main scanning direction D1 with respect to the nozzle row NZ. In addition, although the light emission part 330 becomes the shape extended in the subscanning direction D2 along the nozzle row NZ, for example, it is not limited to this. Moreover, although the light emission part 330 becomes a rectangular shape, for example, it is not limited to this. For example, a light guide plate is attached to the light emitting unit 330, and light is emitted from the entire surface of the light emitting unit 330.

  The light guide unit 350 includes a light incident unit 351 into which light from the light source unit 320 is incident, and a plurality of optical fibers 352 (352a to 352j) connected to the light incident unit 351. As the light incident part 351, for example, an optical switch such as a MEMS switch is used. The light incident unit 351 supplies the incident light by selecting a supply destination among the plurality of optical fibers 352. The plurality of optical fibers 352 are provided so as to pass through the inside of the head 310, and are routed around the light emitting unit 330. Therefore, the light from the light source unit 320 enters the light incident unit 351, passes through the optical fiber 352, is supplied to the light emitting unit 330, and is emitted from the light emitting unit 330 to the work surface F.

  Next, the operation of the three-dimensional modeling apparatus 300 configured as described above will be described. When the three-dimensional data is input to the control unit 360, the control unit 360 causes the carriage driving unit 41 to move the carriage 40 from the standby position in the main scanning direction D1, and causes the head 310 to eject ink. Hereinafter, for example, a case where the carriage 40 is moved to the right in the drawing in the main scanning direction D1 will be described. It should be noted that when the carriage 40 is moved to the left in the drawing in the main scanning direction D1, the same explanation can be made assuming that the left and right are symmetrical.

  For example, when the light L from the light source unit 320 is irradiated to the head 310 backward in the movement direction of the carriage 40, the carriage 40 is moved to the right in the drawing in the main scanning direction D1, and a predetermined nozzle is formed at a predetermined timing. Ink is ejected from the nozzles 311 in the row NZ. The discharged ink Q lands on the work surface F and is arranged in a predetermined shape. In addition, the control unit 360 causes the light source unit 320 to emit light L. Light from the light source 320 is guided to the optical fiber 352. At this time, as shown in FIG. 19, the control unit 360 selects the optical fiber 352 connected to the light emitting unit 330 on the left side in the main scanning direction D1 with respect to the nozzle row NZ that has ejected ink. Supply light L. In this case, among the plurality of optical fibers 352, for example, the light L is supplied to the optical fibers 352b, 352f, and 352h. Thereby, the light L is irradiated to the ink Q discharged to the work surface F in a short time. The light L reflected and emitted from the light reflecting member 131 is applied to the ink on the work surface F. As a result, the ink Q is cured and maintains a predetermined shape.

  Further, when the work surface F is irradiated with the light L, the control unit 360 emits light other than the head light emitting unit 330 in the moving direction of the carriage 40 among the plurality of light emitting units 330, as shown in FIG. The optical fiber 352 (in FIG. 20, optical fibers 352a to 352i) connected to the unit 330 may be selected to supply the light L. Further, when the moving direction of the carriage 40 is switched, the optical fiber 352 to which the light L is supplied is switched. For example, as shown in FIG. 21, when the moving direction of the carriage 40 is switched to the left in the figure, an optical fiber 352 connected to a light emitting unit 330 other than the leading light emitting unit 330 in the moving direction (in FIG. 21) , The optical fibers 352b to 352j) are selected to supply the light L.

  Therefore, in this control, even if the ink Q is ejected from any nozzle row NL, the light L is irradiated to the ink Q ejected on the work surface F in a short time. Further, since it is not necessary to switch the supply destination of the light L according to the nozzle row NL that ejects the ink Q, the control can be simplified.

  As described above, the three-dimensional modeling apparatus 300 according to this embodiment can switch and supply the light L to the plurality of light emitting units 330 by the light guide unit 350 without moving the light source unit 320. . Thereby, it is not necessary to provide the light source unit 320 for each light emitting unit 330. Thereby, it becomes possible to suppress the weight of the whole apparatus. Further, since the light L is guided to the light emitting unit 330 through the optical fiber 352, the light L is supplied even in a narrow space such as between the nozzle rows NL.

  The technical scope of the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and appropriate modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention. The three-dimensional modeling apparatuses 100, 200, 200A, and 300 according to the present embodiment may be configured by appropriately combining the constituent elements of the above-described embodiments and modifications.

  In the three-dimensional modeling apparatuses 100, 200, 200A, and 300, it is also possible to manufacture a modeling object having a plurality of colors using a plurality of types of white ink, colored ink, transparent ink, and the like. In this case, for example, the 3D modeling apparatus 100, 200, 200A, 300 forms each layer for each different color ink or transparent ink, and applies the transparent ink between the different color inks or in the non-colored portion in each layer. What is necessary is just to form a modeling target object by interposing. Moreover, said 3D modeling apparatus 100,200,200A, 300 may interpose a mold release agent between a working surface and modeling ink.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Head 11 Nozzle 20,120 Light source part 21 Protrusion part 30,130,330 Light emission part 31,32 Light guide member 40 Carriage 41 Carriage drive part 43 Flattening roller unit 50 Relative moving part 52,53 Stopper 54,54A, 55 Regulating unit 60, 160 Control unit 100, 200, 200A, 300 Three-dimensional modeling apparatus 131, 132 Light reflecting member 150, 150A, 350 Light guide unit 351 Light incident unit 352, 352a-352j Optical fiber D1 Main scanning direction D2 Sub scanning Direction F Work surface L, L1, L2 Light P1 First position P2 Second position Q Ink

Claims (7)

A head that is movably provided in the main scanning direction, and that ejects ink whose degree of cure is changed by irradiation with light of a predetermined wavelength,
One light source that emits the light;
A plurality of light emitting portions capable of emitting the light to the work surface;
A light supply unit capable of supplying the light from one light source unit to at least one of the plurality of light emission units and capable of changing a supply destination of the light among the plurality of light emission units; 3D modeling device. The plurality of light emitting portions are disposed on both sides in the main scanning direction with respect to the head, are movable with the head in the main scanning direction, and guides the light toward the work surface. Two first light emitting portions that emit
The light supply unit relatively moves the light source unit and the two first light emission units such that the light source unit is disposed at a position where the light can be supplied to each first light emission unit. The three-dimensional modeling apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a relative movement unit to be moved. A carriage that holds the head, the light source unit, and the two first light emitting units and is movable in the main scanning direction;
A drive unit that moves the carriage in the main scanning direction;
The three-dimensional modeling apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the relative movement unit includes a regulation unit that regulates movement of the light source unit in the main scanning direction with respect to movement of the carriage. The plurality of light emission units are movable in the main scanning direction integrally with the head, and have a plurality of second light emission units for emitting the light toward the work surface,
The three-dimensional modeling apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the light supply unit includes a light guide unit that switches or supplies the light from the light source unit to a plurality of the second light emission units. The light guide unit includes a light incident unit on which the light from the light source is incident, and a plurality of optical fibers that connect the light incident unit and the plurality of second light emitting units,
The three-dimensional modeling apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the light supply unit includes a control unit that selects and supplies a supply destination of the light incident on the light incident unit from a plurality of the optical fibers. The head includes nozzle rows that are arranged side by side in the main scanning direction and eject different types of ink.
The three-dimensional modeling apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the second light emitting units are arranged on both sides in the main scanning direction with respect to the nozzle row.   The controller, when ejecting the ink while the head moves in a predetermined direction in the main scanning direction, the rear of the nozzle array among the plurality of optical fibers in the predetermined direction. The three-dimensional modeling apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the light is supplied to the optical fiber connected to the second light emitting unit.

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