TWI653138B - Rotatable nozzle structure and three-dimensional printing apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

A rotatable nozzle structure for use in a three-dimensional printing apparatus. The rotatable nozzle structure includes a feed tube, a first heating module, a rotatable nozzle, and a driving unit. The first heating module is disposed on an outer circumference of the feeding tube. A rotatable nozzle is in communication with the feed tube and is disposed on one end of the feed tube. The rotatable nozzle includes a first discharge port and a second discharge port. The drive unit is coupled to the rotatable nozzle for driving the rotatable nozzle to rotate.

Description

Rotatable nozzle structure and three-dimensional printing device

The present invention relates to a nozzle structure and a three-dimensional printing apparatus, and more particularly to a rotatable nozzle structure and a three-dimensional printing apparatus.

In recent years, three-dimensional printing technology has developed rapidly and its application range has become more and more extensive. At the same time, a variety of three-dimensional printing manufacturing methods have been developed, namely, a method of laminated manufacturing, such as stereolithography (STL), fused deposition modeling (FDM), laminated object manufacturing (LOM), and selection. Selective laser sintering (SLS). Among them, fused deposition molding is widely used in the process of three-dimensional printing apparatus.

In fused deposition molding, the fabrication process is, for example, the delivery of plastic to the interior of the nozzle of a three-dimensional printing device by means of a feed tube. Next, the plastic is heated to above the melting point by the heating module in the nozzle. Finally, the molten plastic is ejected from the nozzle, and a three-dimensional object is stacked on the platform. Since the feeding tube, the nozzle and the heating module of the conventional three-dimensional printing device are fixed together, the nozzle cannot have any activity. In other words, the nozzle cannot be rotated. When the nozzle is not rotated, the extruded plastic shape does not have a special structure. Therefore, the conventional three-dimensional printing apparatus cannot make a three-dimensional object having a special structure.

Therefore, there is a need to provide a rotatable nozzle structure and a three-dimensional printing device to Solve the problems of the prior art.

The main object of the present invention is to provide a rotatable nozzle structure and a three-dimensional printing device capable of making a plastic having a special structure.

To achieve the above object, the present invention provides a rotatable nozzle structure for use in a three-dimensional printing apparatus. The rotatable nozzle structure includes a feed tube, a first heating module, a rotatable nozzle, and a driving unit. The first heating module is disposed on an outer circumference of the feeding tube. A rotatable nozzle is in communication with the feed tube and is disposed on one end of the feed tube. The rotatable nozzle includes a first discharge port and a second discharge port. The drive unit is coupled to the rotatable nozzle for driving the rotatable nozzle to rotate.

In an embodiment of the invention, the cross-sectional shapes of the first discharge port and the second discharge port are circular, square, rectangular or trapezoidal.

In an embodiment of the invention, the first discharge port and the second discharge port have the same cross-sectional shape.

In an embodiment of the invention, the cross-sectional shapes of the first discharge port and the second discharge port are different.

In an embodiment of the invention, the driving unit includes a motor, a first gear coupled to the motor, and a second gear meshing with the first gear, and the second gear is disposed on the rotatable nozzle.

In an embodiment of the invention, the rotatable nozzle structure further includes a Teflon tube disposed on an inner wall of one of the feed tubes and an inner wall of the rotatable nozzle.

In an embodiment of the invention, the rotatable nozzle structure further includes a second heating module disposed on an outer circumference of the rotatable nozzle.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the rotatable nozzle structure further includes a cover fixed to the first heating module and disposed between the first heating module and the second heating module.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the first heating module includes at least one recess, the cover body includes at least one recess, and the rotatable nozzle structure further includes a plurality of Teflon spacers respectively disposed on the at least one recess and at least Inside a recess.

In an embodiment of the invention, the rotatable nozzle structure further includes a plurality of bearings disposed in the cover body and the second heating module.

In an embodiment of the invention, the rotatable nozzle structure further includes at least one O-ring disposed in the cover body.

In one embodiment of the invention, a three-dimensional printing apparatus is provided that includes a support base, a feed module, and the above-described rotatable nozzle structure. The feeding module is arranged on the support base. The feed tube is disposed on the support base and corresponds to the feed module. The driving unit is disposed on the support base for driving the rotatable nozzle to rotate relative to the support base.

In the rotatable nozzle structure of the embodiment of the invention, the rotatable nozzle comprises a first discharge port and a second discharge port. The drive unit is coupled to the rotatable nozzle for driving the rotatable nozzle to rotate. Therefore, the rotatable nozzle is movable and can be made of a plastic having a special structure such as a double-stranded plastic structure.

10‧‧‧Three-dimensional printing device

100‧‧‧ support

200‧‧‧feeding module

300‧‧‧Rotatable nozzle structure

310‧‧‧ Feeding tube

320‧‧‧First heating module

322‧‧‧ Groove

330‧‧‧Rotary nozzle

332‧‧‧first discharge opening

334‧‧‧Second outlet

336‧‧‧feed inlet

340‧‧‧ drive unit

342‧‧‧Motor

344‧‧‧First gear

346‧‧‧second gear

350‧‧‧second heating module

360‧‧‧Teflon tube

370‧‧‧ cover

372‧‧‧ recess

380‧‧‧Teflon gasket

390‧‧‧ bearing

392‧‧‧O-ring

FIG. 1 is a schematic structural view of a three-dimensional printing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a schematic view showing the structure of the rotatable nozzle structure of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the first discharge port and the second discharge port of the rotatable nozzle of Fig. 2.

The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more <RTIgt; Furthermore, the directional terms mentioned in the present invention, such as upper, lower, top, bottom, front, rear, left, right, inner, outer, side, surrounding, central, horizontal, horizontal, vertical, longitudinal, axial, Radial, uppermost or lowermost, etc., only refer to the direction of the additional schema. Therefore, the directional terminology used is for the purpose of illustration and understanding of the invention.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the three-dimensional printing apparatus 10 of the embodiment of the present invention is, for example, a three-dimensional printing technique using fused deposition modeling (FDM). The three-dimensional printing device 10 includes a support base 100, a feed module 200, and a rotatable nozzle structure 300. The feed module 200 is, for example, a feed motor. The rotatable nozzle structure 300 includes a feed tube 310, a first heating module 320, a rotatable nozzle 330, and a driving unit 340. The feeding module 200 is disposed on the support base 100. The feeding tube 310 is disposed on the support base 100 and corresponds to the feeding module 200. The first heating module 320 is disposed on an outer circumference of the feeding tube 310 for pre-melting the plastic. The first heating module 320 is, for example, a heated aluminum block. The rotatable nozzle 330 is in communication with the feed tube 310 and is disposed on one end of the feed tube 310. The rotatable nozzle 330 includes a first discharge port 332 and a second discharge port 334. The driving unit 340 is disposed on the support base 100 and connected to the rotatable nozzle 330 for driving the rotatable nozzle 330 to rotate relative to the support base 100.

In the rotatable nozzle structure 300 of the embodiment of the present invention, the rotatable nozzle 330 includes a first discharge port 332 and a second discharge port 334. The driving unit 340 is connected to the rotatable nozzle 330 for driving the rotatable nozzle 330 move. Therefore, the rotatable nozzle 330 is movable and can be made of a plastic having a special structure such as a double-stranded plastic structure.

Specifically, the rotatable nozzle 330 includes a feed port 336, a first discharge port 332, and a second discharge port 334. The feed port 336 communicates with the feed tube 310 and is disposed on one end of the rotatable nozzle 330 adjacent the feed tube 310. The first discharge port 332 and the second discharge port 334 communicate with the feed port 336 and are disposed on one end of the rotatable nozzle 330 away from the feed pipe 310. The first discharge port 332 and the second discharge port 334 are arranged side by side. When the rotatable nozzle 330 is finished in a rotating state, the positions of the first discharge port 332 and the second discharge port 334 may be rotated from the rotatable nozzle 330, and then respectively from the first discharge port 332 and The plastic extruded from the second discharge port 334 is twisted together to form a plastic having a double helix structure.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the rotatable nozzle structure 300 further includes a second heating module 350 disposed on an outer circumference of the rotatable nozzle 330 for maintaining the temperature of the rotatable nozzle 330 at Above the melting point of plastic. The driving unit 340 includes a motor 342, a first gear 344 that is in contact with the motor 342, and a second gear 346 that meshes with the first gear 344, and the second gear 346 is disposed on the rotatable nozzle 330. In the present embodiment, the motor 342 is, for example, a stepping motor, which is a power source that drives the rotation of the rotatable nozzle 330, and is provided by a first gear 344 and a second respectively disposed on the motor 342 and the rotatable nozzle 330. The gear 346 transmits the power of the motor 342, enabling the rotatable nozzle 330 to make a plastic having a special structure in the case of rotation.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the first discharge port 332 and the second discharge port 334 of the embodiment of the present invention have a circular, square, rectangular or trapezoidal cross-sectional shape. In the embodiment of the present invention, the first discharge port 332 and the second discharge port 334 have the same cross-sectional shape. in In another embodiment, the first discharge port 332 and the second discharge port 334 have different cross-sectional shapes.

Referring to FIG. 2, in one embodiment of the present invention, the rotatable nozzle structure 300 further includes a Teflon tube 360, a cover 370, a plurality of Teflon spacers 380, a plurality of bearings 390, and at least An O-ring 392. The Teflon tube 360 is disposed on an inner wall of one of the feed tubes 310 and an inner wall of the rotatable nozzle 330. The Teflon tube 360 is used to ensure that the plastic propelled from the feeding module 200 can smoothly flow in the feeding tube 310, and the heat-dissolving plastic is prevented from sticking to the inner wall of the feeding tube 310. By extending the Teflon tube 360 to the interior of the rotatable nozzle 330, it is ensured that the plastic can be fully squeezed into the rotatable nozzle 330. In addition, since the Teflon tube 360 expands when it is heated, the gap between the Teflon tube 360 and the inner wall of the rotatable nozzle 330 can be filled to prevent the plastic from flowing back from the gap between the two, and the leakage occurs. problem.

The cover 370 is fixed on the first heating module 320 and disposed between the first heating module 320 and the second heating module 350. The first heating module 320 includes at least one recess 322. The cover 370 includes at least one recess 372. The plurality of Teflon spacers 380 are respectively disposed in the at least one recess 322 and the at least one recess 372. The Teflon gasket 380 is a contact medium between the rotatable nozzle 330 and the first heating module 320 and the cover 370. The heat-resistant and low-friction Teflon gasket 380 is provided to reduce the resistance when the rotatable nozzle 330 rotates, so that the rotatable nozzle 330 can be stably and smoothly rotated.

A plurality of bearings 390 are respectively disposed in the cover 370 and in the second heating module 350. The bearing 390 can improve the yaw of the rotatable nozzle 330 when rotating and enables the first heating module 320 and the second heating module 350 to stably heat the rotatable nozzle 330. The bearing 390 can be completely in contact with the rotatable nozzle 330, the cover 370 and the second heating module 350, so that the rotatable nozzle 330 can be stably heated. The bearing 390 is disposed on the cover 370 and the second heating module 350 to suppress rotation of the rotatable nozzle 330 The yaw of time reduces the frictional resistance during rotation and improves the smoothness of rotation. At least one O-ring 392 is disposed in the cover 370 to prevent the plastic flowing back from the gap between the Teflon tube 360 and the inner wall of the rotatable nozzle 330 from continuing to spread around.

In the rotatable nozzle structure of the embodiment of the invention, the rotatable nozzle comprises a first discharge port and a second discharge port. The drive unit is coupled to the rotatable nozzle for driving the rotatable nozzle to rotate. Therefore, the rotatable nozzle is movable and can be made of a plastic having a special structure such as a double-stranded plastic structure.

The present invention has been disclosed in its preferred embodiments, and is not intended to limit the invention, and the present invention may be modified and modified without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. The scope of protection is subject to the definition of the scope of the patent application.

Claims (12)

A rotatable nozzle structure for use in a three-dimensional printing apparatus comprising: a single feed tube; a first heating module disposed on an outer circumference of the single feed tube; and a rotatable nozzle connected to The single feed tube is disposed on one end of the single feed tube, wherein the rotatable nozzle comprises a single feed port, a first discharge port and a second discharge port, wherein the first discharge port a port and the second discharge port are arranged side by side, the single feed port is connected to the single feed pipe and is disposed on an end of the rotatable nozzle close to the single feed pipe, the first discharge port and the second a discharge port communicating with the single feed port and disposed on an end of the rotatable nozzle away from the single feed pipe; and a drive unit coupled to the rotatable nozzle for driving the rotatable nozzle to rotate . The rotatable nozzle structure according to claim 1, wherein the first discharge port and the second discharge port have a circular, square, rectangular or trapezoidal cross-sectional shape. The rotatable nozzle structure of claim 1, wherein the first discharge port and the second discharge port have the same cross-sectional shape. The rotatable nozzle structure of claim 1, wherein the first discharge port and the second discharge port have different cross-sectional shapes. The rotatable nozzle structure of claim 1, wherein the driving unit comprises a motor, a first gear coupled to the motor, and a second gear meshing with the first gear, and A second gear is disposed on the rotatable nozzle. The rotatable nozzle structure of claim 1, further comprising a Teflon tube disposed on an inner wall of the single feed tube and an inner wall of the rotatable nozzle. The rotatable nozzle structure of claim 1, further comprising a second heating module disposed on an outer circumference of the rotatable nozzle. The rotatable nozzle structure of claim 7, further comprising a cover fixed to the first heating module and disposed between the first heating module and the second heating module. The rotatable nozzle structure of claim 8, wherein the first heating module comprises at least one groove, the cover body comprises at least one recess, and the rotatable nozzle structure further comprises a plurality of Teflon The spacers are respectively disposed in the at least one groove and the at least one recess. The rotatable nozzle structure of claim 8 further includes a plurality of bearings disposed in the cover body and the second heating module. The rotatable nozzle structure of claim 8 further comprising at least one O-ring disposed in the cover. A three-dimensional printing device comprising: a support base; a feed module disposed on the support base; and the rotatable nozzle structure according to any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein A single feed tube is disposed on the support base and corresponds to the feeding module. The driving unit is disposed on the support base for driving the rotatable nozzle to rotate relative to the support base.