KR102060251B1 - Apparatus for dispensing material of 3D printer - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a material discharge device of a 3D printer, which includes: a screw transfer unit which transfers a material for a 3D printing supplied to the inside of a barrel through a supply hole to an end of the barrel by the rotation of a transfer screw; a heating unit which is installed around the barrel and heats and melts a material passing through the barrel; a heat dissipation unit which is installed around the barrel to be in contact with the heating unit and dissipates heat; a heating pressurization chamber which is connected to an end of the barrel and heats and discharges a material by receiving the material melted from the barrel; a pressurization gear unit which pressurizes the material toward a side of being discharged from the heating pressurization chamber by the rotation of the pressurization gear installed in the heating pressurization chamber; and a nozzle which is installed at a side from which the material is discharged from the heating pressurization chamber and discharges the material to the outside. The present invention enables a material used for a 3D printing to maintain viscosity to have flowability suitable for a smooth 3D printing and is able to improve the efficiency and quality of a 3D printing work by stably discharging the material through the nozzle without clogging or breaking.

Description

Apparatus for dispensing material of 3D printer

The present invention relates to a material ejection device of a 3D printer, and more particularly, to maintain the viscosity for the material used for 3D printing to have a flowability suitable for 3D printing, and such material is stable without clogging or breaking through the nozzle It relates to a material ejecting device of a 3D printer to be discharged.

In general, a material ejecting device (extruder) of a 3D printer using a polymer material is engaged between gears or roller bearings in which wire-like materials called filaments are provided on both sides of the inner side. It is transported, melted while passing through a heating unit installed at the end portion, and discharged through the nozzle so that 3D printing work is performed.

As another example, when the material ejection apparatus of the 3D printer uses a powder injection molding material, such a powder injection molding material is a state in which inorganic materials such as a metal or ceramic of several micrometers are mixed with a polymer material, and the shapes supplied are several. It is a particle shape with diameter of mm.

As a technology related to a material ejection apparatus of a conventional 3D printer, Korean Patent Application Publication No. 10-2016-0107769 discloses a "exchangeable extruder for a 3D printer", which includes a driving motor generating a rotational power; A hopper for supplying a solid material for 3D printing; An extrusion screwer having an extrusion screw embedded in an extrusion cylinder installed at one side of the hopper, and extruding the 3D printing material supplied through the hopper by the driving motor to be transferred to a nozzle unit; A heating unit for melting the 3D printing material; And a nozzle unit for printing a 3D object while extruding the melted 3D printing material into the filament having a replaceable discharge nozzle.

However, in addition to the conventional technology, the material ejection apparatus of the existing 3D printer, when performing the 3D printing operation, the 3D printing material is higher in viscosity than the pure polymer material in the molten state, the flowability is reduced, smooth 3D printing operation Had a problem that it is difficult to perform.

In order to solve the problems of the prior art as described above, the present invention allows the material used for 3D printing to maintain a viscosity to have a flowability suitable for 3D printing, and the material stably without clogging or breaking through the nozzle By discharging, the purpose is to increase the efficiency and quality of 3D printing.

Other objects of the present invention will be readily understood through the following description of the embodiments.

In order to achieve the above object, according to one aspect of the present invention, a screw feeder for transferring the material for 3D printing supplied into the barrel through the supply port to the end of the barrel by the rotation of the feed screw; A heating unit disposed around the barrel and configured to heat and melt a material passing through the barrel; A heat dissipation unit disposed around the barrel to contact the heating unit and dissipating heat; A heating pressurization chamber connected to the end of the barrel and receiving molten material from the barrel to be heated and discharged; A pressurizing gear unit for pressurizing the material toward the side discharged from the heating pressurizing chamber by the rotation of the pressurizing gear installed inside the heating pressurizing chamber; And a nozzle installed at the side from which the material is discharged from the heating and pressing chamber and discharging the material to the outside.

The conveying screw is installed in the barrel in the longitudinal direction, one end is drawn out from the barrel so as to be connected to the motor, the diameter portion is formed to increase in diameter toward the end direction of the barrel is formed, and from the enlarged diameter portion to the end A screw shaft in which a shaft diameter portion having a reduced diameter is formed; And a screw blade formed in a spiral shape along the longitudinal direction of the screw shaft and having a constant outer diameter.

The heating unit may include a heating block in which the barrel is inserted and provides heat; The heating block is inserted into the inside, the insulating block for blocking heat; And a heat insulating plate installed at an end of the heating block and the heat insulating block and connected to the heat radiating unit.

The heating pressurization chamber is connected to the end of the barrel, and the molten material from the barrel is supplied inwardly through the inlet to be discharged through the outlet, and the gear shafts of the pressurizing gear installed therein penetrate both sides. A gear chamber formed to face the first opening; A first mounting space in which the gear chamber is mounted is formed, provides heat to the gear chamber, and is formed so that second openings are opposed to both sides so that the gear shaft passes, and the nozzle is connected to the outlet. Heating block provided with a nozzle mounting portion to be mounted; And a heat insulation block formed with a second mounting space in which the heating block is mounted, the gear shaft is rotatably installed by a bearing, and one end of the gear shaft is connected to a motor.

The pressure gear part may be inserted into the heating pressure chamber and the pressure gear is fixed to a gear shaft rotatably installed by a bearing, the pressure gear is formed of a helical gear, and one end of the gear shaft is connected to a motor. It may be withdrawn from the heating pressure chamber.

According to the material ejecting apparatus of the 3D printer according to the present invention, it is possible to maintain the viscosity for the material used for 3D printing to have a flowability suitable for 3D printing, and the material is discharged stably without clogging or breaking through the nozzle By doing so, it is possible to increase the efficiency and quality of 3D printing.

1 is an exploded view showing a material ejecting apparatus of a 3D printer according to an embodiment of the present invention.
2 is a perspective view showing a material ejecting device of a 3D printer according to an embodiment of the present invention.
3 is a perspective view showing a material discharging device of a 3D printer according to an embodiment of the present invention from another direction.
4 is a cross-sectional view showing a material discharging device of a 3D printer according to an embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 5 is a side view showing a double feed screw in the material ejecting device of the 3D printer according to an embodiment of the present invention.
6 is a side view illustrating the pressure gear of the pressure gear unit in the material discharge device of the 3D printer according to an embodiment of the present invention.
7 is a side view illustrating a nozzle in a material ejecting apparatus of a 3D printer according to an embodiment of the present invention.

As the inventive concept allows for various changes and numerous embodiments, particular embodiments will be illustrated in the drawings and described in detail in the written description. However, this is not intended to limit the present invention to the specific embodiments, but should be understood in a way that includes all changes, equivalents, and substitutes included in the spirit and scope of the present invention, and may be modified in various other forms. It is to be understood that the scope of the present invention is not limited to the following examples.

Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, and like reference numerals denote the same or corresponding elements regardless of reference numerals, and redundant description thereof will be omitted.

1 is an exploded view showing a material discharge device of the 3D printer according to an embodiment of the present invention, Figure 2 is a perspective view showing a material discharge device of the 3D printer according to an embodiment of the present invention, Figure 3 4 is a perspective view showing a material discharging device of a 3D printer according to an embodiment of the present invention from another direction, and FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing a material discharging device of a 3D printer according to an embodiment of the present invention.

1 to 4, the material discharging device 10 of the 3D printer according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a screw feeder 100, a heating part 200, a heat dissipation part 300, and a heating pressurizing chamber 400. ), The pressure gear unit 500 and the nozzle 600 may be included. Meanwhile, the 3D printing material discharged by the material ejection apparatus of the 3D printer according to the present invention uses a polymer material, and may include a material having various granular structures including particles or pellets as well as a wire-shaped filament type. .

The screw feeder 100 allows the material for 3D printing supplied into the barrel 110 through the supply port 111 to be transferred to the end of the barrel 110 by the rotation of the feed screw 120. When the material is injected through the supply port 111, the screw feeder 100 is gradually transported by the feed screw 120 while the material is heated and melted by the heating unit 200.

The barrel 110 is a hollow member that serves as a conveying passage of the material, the supply port 111 for the supply of the material is formed on one side, the conveying screw 120 is rotatably mounted on the inside.

The feed screw 120 is inserted into the barrel 110 along the longitudinal direction and is rotatably supported by the bearing 130 or the like, and is welded or integrally molded to the outside of the screw shaft 121. It may include a screw wing 122 is provided to form an integral.

4 and 5, the screw shaft 121 may be installed in the barrel 110 in the longitudinal direction, one end may be drawn out from the barrel 110 to be connected to the motor, the barrel 110 An enlarged diameter portion 121a may be formed to increase in diameter toward an end direction, for example, a lower direction thereof, and an axis diameter portion 121b may be formed to decrease in diameter from an enlarged diameter portion 121a to an end. The screw shaft 121 may form a motor connecting portion 121c for connecting the upper end of the screw shaft 121 to the shaft of the motor. The dual structure according to the diameter change of the screw shaft 121 can generate sufficient pressing force required for the smooth flow of the material in consideration of the fact that the diameter of the conveying path of the material is reduced by the fine flow path of the nozzle 600. Do it.

The screw wings 122 are spirally formed along the lengthwise direction of the screw shaft 121, and may have a constant outer diameter so as to advantageously increase the precision of the installation and rotation radius.

1 to 4, the heating unit 200 is installed and fixed around the barrel 110 to heat and melt the material passing through the barrel 110. The heating unit 200 is, for example, as in this embodiment, the barrel 110 is inserted into the inside, the heating block 210 to provide heat, and the heating block 210 is inserted into the inside, the heat insulation to block the heat The block 220, the heating block 210 and the end of the heat insulating block 220 may be installed, and may include a heat insulating plate 230 connected to the heat dissipation part 300. Here, the heating block 210 may be a single or a plurality of heaters 211 is installed inside, and may be made of a thermally conductive material for uniform distribution of heat. The insulating block 220 may be formed of a mounting portion 221 in a hollow shape so that the heating block 210 is inserted into the heating block 210, and may be made of an insulating material to block heat loss of the heating block 210. Insulating plate 230 may have a through hole 231 in the center for the passage of the barrel 110, bolting or screw fastening to the insulating block 220 to the heating block 210 on one side It can be fixed by, the heat dissipation unit 300 on the other side can be coupled by a variety of coupling methods such as bolting or screw fastening, it is possible to suppress the heat transfer to reduce heat loss.

The heat dissipation unit 300 is installed around the barrel 110 to be in contact with the heating unit 200 and dissipates heat. The heat dissipation unit 300 prevents components such as the bearing 130 from being damaged by heat due to heat dissipation. For example, the heat dissipation fins 310 are vertically provided around the center of the heat dissipation fin 310, so that By increasing, the heat dissipation efficiency is increased. The heat dissipation unit 300 is installed outside the barrel 110 so as to be positioned above the heating unit 200, so that an exposure hole 320 for exposing the supply port 111 of the barrel 110 may be formed at one side. Can be.

The heating and pressure chamber 400 is connected to the end of the barrel 110, receives the molten material from the barrel 110 to be heated and discharged, by a variety of methods, including bolting or screwing the heating unit 200 Can be combined. The heating and pressure chamber 400 may include a gear chamber 410, a heating block 420, and an insulating block 430.

The gear chamber 410 may be connected to the end of the barrel 110, the molten material from the barrel 110 may be supplied to the inside through the inlet 412 to be discharged through the outlet 414, the inside The first opening 413 may be formed on both sides thereof so that the gear shaft 510 of the pressure gear 520 is installed. In addition, the gear chamber 410 may be provided with a coupling portion 411 such that the end of the barrel 110 is fitted on the top or coupled by various other methods.

The heating block 420 may be formed with a first mounting space 421 in which the gear chamber 410 is mounted, and is made of a thermally conductive material to provide heat to the gear chamber 410 and at least one heater. (Not shown) may be installed, and the nozzle mounting portion may be formed so that the second opening 422 may be opposite to both sides of the gear shaft 510 so as to pass therethrough, and the nozzle 600 is connected to the outlet 414. 423 may be provided. Therefore, the heating block 420 is configured to be heated to maintain the temperature of the molten state that the material moving from the transfer screw 120 to the nozzle 600 side is continuously discharged without clogging and disconnection, in particular for such heating It is possible to prevent the material from being hardened and pinched between the teeth 521 (see Fig. 6) in the pressure gear 520 to be described later.

The insulating block 430 blocks the heat of the heating block 420, and a second mounting space 431 in which the heating block 420 is mounted may be formed, and the gear shaft 510 may have a bearing 436. It can be installed rotatably by, and may be drawn out so that one end of the gear shaft 510 is connected to the motor. The insulating block 430 may be formed so that the openings 432 may face each other so that both sides of the gear shaft 510 may be rotatably coupled by the retainer 435 and the bearing 436 on both sides, and the opening 432. Covers 433 and 434 may be provided to be detachably coupled to each side on which side) is formed, and one of the covers 433 and 434 may be provided at one end of the gear shaft 510. The through hole 434a may be formed to draw out.

The pressurizing gear part 500 pressurizes the material to the side discharged from the heating pressurizing chamber 400 by the rotation of the pressurizing gear 520 installed inside the heating pressurizing chamber 400. The pressure gear 500 may be fixed to the gear shaft 510 inserted into the heating pressurization chamber 400 and rotatably installed by the bearing 436, and as shown in FIG. 6, The pressure gear 520 may be formed of a helical gear, and one end of the gear shaft 510 may be withdrawn from the heating and pressure chamber 400 so as to be connected to the motor.

The pressurized gear unit 500 may enable the 3D printing operation to be performed smoothly and quickly without interruption through the fine flow path of the nozzle 600, which is melted and transferred by the screw feeder 100 and the heating unit 200. have. In addition, in the pressure gear 520, the material is discharged smoothly through the nozzle 600 having a micro flow path when the pressure inside the heating and pressing chamber 400 is doubled than the end of the screw feed part 100. When the helical gear-type pressure gear 520 rotates at a high speed, the nozzle 600 at the discharge pressure at which the molten material positioned between the teeth 521 (see FIG. 6) of the pressure gear 520 is increased by the centrifugal force. To be discharged smoothly through. The pressure gear 520 may be made of a wear-resistant material together with the gear chamber 410, and minimize the distance between the gear chamber 410 and the inner wall of the gear chamber 410 to minimize the material remaining on the inner wall of the gear chamber 410. Can be.

On the other hand, when the motor is connected to each of the motor connecting portion 121c of the screw shaft 121 and the motor connecting portion 511 of the gear shaft 510, the motor is connected by a direct shaft joint, or a reduction gear or a separate gear, etc. The motor can also be connected. Each of these motors operate according to a process determined by a control unit of the apparatus 10 or an operation of an operation unit, and the discharge amount of the material may be controlled by controlling the rotational speed of each of the feed screw 120 and the pressure gear 520. . In addition, each of these motors may be composed of a stepping motor or a motor having an encoder capable of adjusting the rotation speed in order to control the discharge amount and the printing speed of the material for smooth 3D printing.

4 and 7, the nozzle 600 is installed at the side from which the material is discharged from the heating and pressing chamber 400, and discharges the material to the outside for the shape of the product. Alternatively, the nozzle 600 may have a discharge passage 610 of a material formed therein, and a coupling part 620 for coupling to the nozzle mounting part 423 may be provided at one end thereof. The nozzle 600 is a metal material commonly used due to continuous discharge of a polymer material including an inorganic material such as metal or ceramic powder, such as stainless steel, brass, etc. The diameter of the wire becomes large, and finally, the dimensional deformation of the 3D printed product is generated. Therefore, in order to prevent this, a high hardness material such as tungsten carbide or heat treated tool steel or ceramic may be applied to the end of the nozzle 600 where the material is discharged.

According to the material ejection apparatus of the 3D printer according to the present invention, it is possible to maintain the viscosity for the material used for 3D printing to have a flowability suitable for smooth 3D printing.

In addition, according to the present invention, it is possible to increase the efficiency and quality of the 3D printing work by allowing the material to be discharged stably without clogging or breaking through the nozzle.

As described above with reference to the accompanying drawings, the present invention, of course, various modifications and variations can be made within the scope without departing from the spirit of the invention. Therefore, the scope of the present invention should not be limited to the described embodiments, but should be defined by the claims below and equivalents thereof.

100: screw feed unit 110: barrel
111 supply port 120 feed screw
121: screw shaft 121a: enlarged diameter portion
121b: Shaft diameter 121c: Motor connection
122: screw blade 130: bearing
200: heating unit 210: heating block
211: heater 220: insulation block
221: mounting portion 230: heat insulation plate
231 through hole 300 heat dissipation
310: heat dissipation fin 320: exposed port
400: heating pressure chamber 410: gear chamber
411: coupling portion 412: inlet
413: first opening 414: outlet
420: heating block 421: first mounting space
422: second opening 423: nozzle mounting portion
430: insulating block 431: second mounting space
432: opening 433,434: cover
434a: through hole 435: retainer
436: bearing 500: pressurized gear
510: gear shaft 511: motor connection
520: pressure gear 521: chi
600: nozzle 610: discharge flow path
620: coupling part

Claims (5)

A screw feeder configured to transfer the material for 3D printing supplied into the barrel through a feed hole to the end of the barrel by rotation of a feed screw;
A heating unit disposed around the barrel and configured to heat and melt a material passing through the barrel;
A heat dissipation unit disposed around the barrel to contact the heating unit and dissipating heat;
A heating pressurization chamber connected to the end of the barrel and receiving molten material from the barrel to be heated and discharged;
A pressurizing gear unit for pressurizing the material toward the side discharged from the heating pressurizing chamber by the rotation of the pressurizing gear installed inside the heating pressurizing chamber; And
A nozzle installed at a side from which the material is discharged from the heating and pressing chamber and discharging the material to the outside;
Including,
The pressure gear portion,
The pressure gear is fixed to a gear shaft inserted into the heating pressure chamber and rotatably installed by a bearing, the pressure gear is formed of a helical gear, and one end of the gear shaft is connected to a motor from the heating pressure chamber. A material ejecting device of a 3D printer to be drawn out. The method according to claim 1,
The transfer screw,
It is installed in the barrel in the longitudinal direction, one end is drawn out from the barrel so as to be connected to the motor, the diameter diameter portion is formed to increase in diameter toward the end of the barrel, the shaft diameter decreases toward the end from the enlarged diameter portion A screw shaft in which an additional portion is formed; And
A screw blade formed in a spiral shape along the lengthwise direction of the screw shaft and having a constant outer diameter;
Including, the material ejecting device of the 3D printer. The method according to claim 1,
The heating unit,
A heating block inserted into the barrel and providing heat;
The heating block is inserted into the inside, the insulating block for blocking heat; And
An insulation plate installed at an end of the heating block and the insulation block and connected to the heat dissipation unit;
Including, the material ejecting device of the 3D printer. The method according to claim 1,
The heating pressure chamber,
Is connected to the end of the barrel, the molten material from the barrel is supplied to the inside through the inlet to be discharged through the outlet, so that the first openings on both sides facing the gear shaft of the pressure gear installed inside A gear chamber formed;
A first mounting space in which the gear chamber is mounted is formed, provides heat to the gear chamber, and is formed so that second openings are opposed to both sides so that the gear shaft passes, and the nozzle is connected to the outlet. Heating block provided with a nozzle mounting portion to be mounted; And
A heat insulation block having a second mounting space in which the heating block is mounted, the gear shaft being rotatably installed by a bearing, and having one end of the gear shaft connected to a motor;
Including, the material ejecting device of the 3D printer. delete

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