TWM557135U - Nozzle cleaning module - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention provides a nozzle cleaning module, comprising: a base having a concave positioning groove; a plurality of scraping plates embedded in the concave positioning groove; a plurality of bearing shafts rotatably embedded in the recess Two sides of the positioning groove are adjacent to the scraping plate; a plurality of sponges are sleeved on each of the bearing shafts.

Description

Nozzle cleaning module

The present invention relates to a nozzle cleaning module, and more particularly to a nozzle cleaning module for cleaning a nozzle of a three-dimensional rapid prototyping device.

In recent years, with the popularization of personal computers and the rapid development of the Internet, three-dimensional rapid prototyping devices have gradually become popular. For a typical user, a three-dimensional rapid prototyping device is sufficient for the printing of various three-dimensional shaped articles. Among them, the structural design of the inkjet head is an important factor affecting the quality of the molded product produced by the inkjet printer. In the general three-dimensional inkjet printing technology, a nozzle is used to spray ink or glue onto a molding material, such as ceramic powder, etc., and a three-dimensional molding is formed by layer-by-layer printing. During the printing process, the ink droplets are easily accumulated around the ink droplets and covered by the dust. The glue nozzle may also accumulate glue residue, dust or crystals, which will cause the nozzle nozzle to block. Affects printing quality, causing uneven printing of inks and adhesives, blockage of nozzles, or misalignment of inkjet colors, greatly reducing the life of the nozzles. Therefore, in order to keep the head clean, to extend the life of the head, and to maintain print quality, the head motor is of course an indispensable device in an ink jet printer.

Although conventional three-dimensional rapid prototyping devices are generally provided with an inkjet head motor, conventional inkjet head motors mostly pass through the squeegee to scrape the residue, but this cleaning method has limited effect and cannot be completely scraped off. Residues, and easily cause damage to the nozzle, resulting in increased costs.

Therefore, how to develop a nozzle cleaning module that can clean the residual ink, accumulated dust or crystals after use of the nozzle to reduce the nozzle clogging opportunity, increase the life of the nozzle and improve the quality of the three-dimensional molded product is urgently needed. Solve the problem.

The main purpose of the present invention is to provide a nozzle cleaning module for cleaning residual ink, accumulated dust or crystals after use of the inkjet head, reducing the chance of nozzle orifice blocking, increasing the life of the inkjet head and enhancing the three-dimensional molding. quality.

In order to achieve the above object, a broader aspect of the present invention provides a nozzle cleaning module suitable for a three-dimensional rapid prototyping apparatus, comprising a plurality of ink cartridges, a carrier, a displacement mechanism and a construction platform, the plurality of inks The cymbal mounting module is disposed on the carrier, and the bottom of the plurality of ink cartridges is provided with an inkjet head. The nozzle cleaning module is embedded on the construction platform. The nozzle cleaning module comprises: a pedestal and a concave surface Positioning groove; a plurality of scrapers embedded in the concave positioning groove; a plurality of bearing shafts rotatably embedded on both sides of the concave positioning groove and adjacent to the scraper; a plurality of sponges, sleeves Provided on each of the bearing shafts.

Some exemplary embodiments embodying the features and advantages of the present invention are described in detail in the following description. It is to be understood that the present invention is capable of various modifications in various aspects, and is not to be construed as a limitation.

Referring to FIG. 1 , in the embodiment, the three-dimensional rapid prototyping device 100 mainly includes a printing module 1 and a nozzle cleaning module 2 , wherein the printing module 1 further includes a plurality of ink cartridges 11 , a carrier 14 , and a displacement The organization 12 and the construction platform 13. The ink jet head 111 is provided at the bottom of the ink cartridge 11 (as shown in FIG. 3A ). This embodiment is described by taking two ink jets 11 as an example, but the number is not limited thereto, and may be based on actual conditions. Apply changes. The displacement mechanism 12 of the embodiment is constructed on the construction platform 13 and can be reciprocally displaced in the X direction along the construction platform 13; the ink cartridge 11 of the embodiment is constructed on the carrier 14 and can be along the displacement mechanism 12 The reciprocating displacement in the Y direction allows the carrier 14 to print the construction groove 131 of the construction platform 13 at any position on the XY plane, and the three layers of the laminate are stacked. The nozzle cleaning module 2 of the embodiment is embedded on the construction platform 13 of the printing module 1. When the inkjet head 111 of the ink cartridge 11 is displaced over the nozzle cleaning module 2, the nozzle cleaning module 2 is opposite to the ink cartridge. The ink jet head 111 of 11 performs a cleaning operation, thereby removing residual ink, accumulated dust or crystals after use of the ink jet head 111, to prevent the ink jet head 111 from being clogged, and increasing the life of the ink cartridge 11, and also enhancing the three-dimensional The quality of the molded product.

Referring to FIG. 2, the nozzle cleaning module 2 includes a plurality of squeegees 20, a susceptor 21, a carrier shaft 22, a plurality of sponges 23, a plurality of conduits 24, and a liquid supply device (not shown). In this embodiment, the two squeegees 20, the two sponges 23 and the two conduits 24 are taken as an example for description. However, the number of the squeegee 20, the sponge 23 and the conduit 24 in the present case is not limited. Changes can be made depending on the actual situation. In this embodiment, the base 21 includes a recessed positioning groove 21a such that the two squeegees 20 are embedded in the recessed positioning groove 21a, and the carrier shaft 22 is also rotatably mounted in the recessed positioning groove 21a. On both sides, adjacent to the squeegee 20. The sponge 23 of the embodiment is sleeved on the bearing shaft 22, and is rotatable with the bearing shaft 22. The two conduits 24 are embedded in the concave positioning groove 21a, and one end thereof corresponds to a scraper 20, and the other end thereof is connected. A liquid delivery device (not shown) for the circulation of the cleaning liquid.

Please refer to FIG. 1 , FIG. 2 , FIG. 3A , FIG. 3B , and FIG. 3C . As shown in FIG. 3A , the two ink cartridges 11 of the embodiment are arranged on the carrier 14 and are reciprocatingly displaced. For three-dimensional printing, the X-axis directions of the inkjet heads 111 of the two ink cartridges 11 respectively correspond to one squeegee 20, and the sponge 23 portion of the nozzle cleaning module 2 protrudes from the surface of the susceptor 21, and Above the construction platform 13, the squeegee 20 is a structure in which the surface of the pedestal 21 is extended upwardly. The squeegee 20 protrudes from the top surface of the pedestal 21 and is adjacent to one side of the sponge 23, so that the carrier When the ink of the 14 is reciprocated in the X-axis direction by the displacement mechanism 12, the cleaning liquid is sprayed by the conduit 24 to clean the blade 20, so that the surface of the blade 20 is kept clean and non-stained; As shown, the carrier 14 is moved to the left direction so that the inkjet head 111 of the ink cartridge 11 abuts against the squeegee 20, and the carrier 14 is continuously moved to the left direction, so that the squeegee 20 is scraped off the inkjet head 111. Residual crystals, dust and ink, and when the carrier 14 is moved further to the right, the squeegee 20 can scrape off the remaining knot on the inkjet head 111 , dust and ink; as shown in FIG. 3C, when the carrier 14 moves to the right to reach the inkjet head 111 against the sponge 23, the squeegee 20 can still spray the cleaning liquid through the conduit 24 to clean the squeegee 20, thus When the next cleaning is performed, the surface of the squeegee 20 is kept free from contamination to maintain the optimum scraping operation, and when the sponge 23 rubs the ink jet head 111 of the ink cartridge 11, the sponge 23 on the carrier shaft 22 is subjected to the ink jet head 111. Move to the right position, and then roll it autonomously, so that the entire circumference of the sponge 23 can be adsorbed and removed to remove the residual crystals, dust and ink from the two inkjet heads 111, and the second cleaning operation is achieved. When the ink jet head 111 of the 11 leaves the contact sponge 23, the surface of the ink jet head 111 is free from water stains, and the absolute cleanliness is achieved, thereby achieving an optimal cleaning effect, thereby preventing the ink jet head 111 from being clogged and increasing the life of the ink jet 11 It can also improve the quality of three-dimensional molded products. In the present embodiment, the cleaning liquid system is water, but is not limited thereto. In other embodiments of the present invention, the cleaning liquid may be an organic solvent, so that the residual ink of the inkjet head 111 can be more completely removed, but not limited thereto. In other embodiments of the present invention, the nozzle cleaning module 2 further includes a plurality of carrier shafts 22, and are disposed in the recessed positioning slots 21a, so that a plurality of sponges 23 are disposed thereon to make the inkjet heads 111 transparent. More sponges 23 are cleaned to enhance the cleaning effect.

In other embodiments of the present invention, the nozzle cleaning module 2 further includes a driving device 25, and the driving device 25 is coupled to the carrier shaft 22 for driving the bearing shaft 22 to rotate, but not limited thereto, the sponge 23 is also carried The shaft 22 rotates, and the direction in which the driving device 25 drives the carrier shaft 22 to rotate is opposite to the direction in which the ink cartridge 11 is displaced. When the ink cartridge 11 is displaced above and in contact with the sponge 23 of the head cleaning module 2, the driving device 25 is driven. The drive carrier shaft 22 and the sponge 23 are rotated in the reverse direction, so that the sponge 23 quickly absorbs most of the crystals, residual ink and dust on the inkjet head 111 of the ink cartridge 11, and improves the cleaning effect.

In summary, the nozzle cleaning module of the present invention is applied to a three-dimensional rapid prototyping device, and a cleaning liquid cleaning blade is sprayed through the conduit to keep the surface of the squeegee non-staining to maintain an optimal scraping state, and when the nozzle structure is displaced When the nozzle cleaning module is above, the sponge is rubbed and cleaned by the inkjet head, and the inkjet head is scraped with the scraper to remove the residual ink, accumulated dust or crystals after the inkjet head is used, thereby avoiding The ink jet head generates a blockage condition and increases the life of the ink jet head to improve the quality of the three-dimensional molded product.

This case has been modified by people who are familiar with the technology, but it is not intended to be protected by the scope of the patent application.

1‧‧‧Printing module
11‧‧‧Ink
111‧‧‧Inkjet head
12‧‧‧displacement mechanism
13‧‧‧Building a platform
131‧‧‧ Construction trough
14‧‧‧Hosting
100‧‧‧3D rapid prototyping device
2‧‧‧Spray cleaning module
20‧‧‧Scraper
21‧‧‧Base
21a‧‧‧Recessed positioning slot
22‧‧‧Loading shaft
23‧‧‧Sponge
24‧‧‧ catheter
25‧‧‧ drive

Fig. 1 is a schematic view showing an embodiment of a three-dimensional rapid prototyping device in which the nozzle cleaning module of the present invention is assembled. Figure 2 is a schematic view of the structure of the nozzle cleaning module of the present invention. 3A to 3C are schematic views showing the cleaning operation of the nozzle structure by the nozzle cleaning module of the present invention.

Claims (4)

A nozzle cleaning module includes: a base having a concave positioning groove; a plurality of squeegees embedded in the concave positioning groove; a plurality of bearing shafts rotatably embedded in the concave positioning groove On both sides, adjacent to the scraper; and a plurality of sponges are sleeved on each of the carrier shafts. The nozzle cleaning module of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of conduits embedded in the recessed positioning slots, one end of which corresponds to a scraper, and the other end connected to a liquid transport A device for controlling the transfer of a cleaning liquid. The nozzle cleaning module of claim 2, wherein the cleaning liquid is water. The nozzle cleaning module of claim 1, wherein the nozzle cleaning module further comprises a driving device coupled to the bearing shaft for driving the bearing shaft to rotate.