Three-dimensional printing device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10173374-B2
Application number	US-201514809364-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 27, 2015
Priority date	Jul 29, 2014
Publication date	Jan 8, 2019
Grant date	Jan 8, 2019

Abstract

A three-dimensional printing device includes a base, a holder disposed above the base, a printing head fixed on the holder and including a nozzle configured to discharge a resin material, a stage disposed in the base below the printing head configured to hold the resin material discharged from the nozzle, and a stage moving mechanism configured to move the stage with five or more degrees of freedom.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A three-dimensional printing device for printing a three-dimensional printed object by curing a resin material so as to successively deposit layers of resin each having a predetermined cross-sectional shape, the three-dimensional printing device comprising:
a base;
a holder disposed above the base;
a printing head fixed on the holder and including a nozzle configured to discharge the resin material;
a stage disposed below the printing head and movably supported on the base, the stage being configured to hold the resin material discharged from the nozzle; and
a stage moving mechanism configured to move the stage with six degrees of freedom, wherein
the stage moving mechanism includes:
first to sixth posts extending in an up-down direction;
first to sixth guide portions configured to move up and down along the first to sixth posts, respectively;
first to sixth actuators configured to move up and down the first to sixth guide portions, respectively; and
first to sixth rods each of which has a fixed length and includes a first end portion connected to the stage via a first universal joint therebetween and a second end portion connected to an associated one of the first to sixth guide portions via a second universal joint therebetween.

2. The three-dimensional printing device according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a tank disposed above the base and configured to contain the resin material therein; and
a resin supply passageway connected to the tank and the printing head.

3. The three-dimensional printing device according to claim 1 , further comprising a circuit board disposed above the base and electrically connected to the first to sixth actuators.

4. The three-dimensional printing device according to claim 1 , wherein:
the resin material is a thermoplastic resin; and
the printing head includes a heater configured to heat the thermoplastic resin.

5. The three-dimensional printing device according to claim 1 , wherein:
the base includes a first base, the first to sixth posts extending upward from the first base, and a second base supported by the first to sixth posts and disposed above the first base, the second base including an opening therein;
the holder disposed on the second base; and
the nozzle overlaps the opening as seen from above.

6. The three-dimensional printing device according to claim 1 , wherein:
the nozzle includes a discharge port that discharges the resin material; and
an opening area of the discharge port is variable.

7. The three-dimensional printing device according to claim 6 , wherein:
an opening width of the discharge port, which represents a length in an up-down direction of the resin material discharged from the discharge port, is constant; and
when the nozzle discharges the resin material, the stage moving mechanism moves the stage relative to the nozzle in a direction of the opening width of the discharge port.

8. The three-dimensional printing device according to claim 6 , further comprising:
a plate-shaped member disposed under the discharge port, wherein:
the discharge port is rectangular or substantially rectangular;
the plate-shaped member includes an opening overlapping the discharge port, wherein an opening length of the opening along a long side of the discharge port varies between at least two positions in a direction along a short side of the discharge port; and
the plate-shaped member is configured so as to move in a direction crossing the long side of the discharge port to vary an area over which the discharge port and the opening overlap each other.

9. The three-dimensional printing device according to claim 8 , wherein the opening is triangular or substantially triangular.

10. The three-dimensional printing device according to claim 8 , wherein the plate-shaped member is configured so as to move in a direction crossing the long side of the discharge port so that a portion of the plate-shaped member excluding the opening entirely covers the discharge port.

11. The three-dimensional printing device according to claim 6 , further comprising:
a plate-shaped member disposed under the discharge port, wherein:
the plate-shaped member includes a rectangular or substantially rectangular opening overlapping with the discharge port;
an opening length of the discharge port along a long side of the opening varies between at least two positions in a direction along a short side of the opening; and
the plate-shaped member is configured so as to move in a direction crossing the long side of the opening to vary an area over which the discharge port and the opening overlap each other.

12. The three-dimensional printing device according to claim 11 , wherein the discharge port is triangular or substantially triangular.

13. The three-dimensional printing device according to claim 11 , wherein the plate-shaped member is configured so as to move in a direction crossing the long side of the opening so that a portion of the plate-shaped member excluding the opening entirely covers the discharge port.

14. The three-dimensional printing device according to claim 6 , wherein there are a plurality of projections provided on the stage.

15. The three-dimensional printing device according to claim 14 , wherein:
the projections are each cone-shaped; and
an interval between vertexes of the projections is less than or equal to a length of a long side of the discharge port or a length of a long side of the opening.

16. The three-dimensional printing device according to claim 1 , wherein the first to sixth actuators are provided with the first to sixth posts, respectively.

17. The three-dimensional printing device according to claim 16 , wherein:
the first to sixth posts are provided with a groove extending in the up-down direction, respectively;
first to sixth ball screws extending in the up-down direction are disposed in the groove and inserted in the first to sixth guide portions, respectively; and
the first to sixth actuators are disposed at an upper end of the first to sixth ball screws, respectively.

Assignees

• Roland Dg Corp

Inventors

• Ogawa Youichirou
• Ichikawa Hiromu
• Funakoshi Kazutoshi
• Matsumura Toru
• Miyamoto Kazuhito

Classifications

• B33Y30/00

  Apparatus for additive manufacturing; Details thereof or accessories therefor · CPC title

• B29K2101/12

  Thermoplastic materials · CPC title

• B29C64/232

  for motion along the axis orthogonal to the plane of a layer · CPC title

• B29C64/245

  Platforms or substrates (support structures intended to be sacrificed after manufacture B29C64/40) · CPC title

• B29C64/106 Primary

  using only liquids or viscous materials, e.g. depositing a continuous bead of viscous material · CPC title