Powder recycling system and continuous loss in weight module applied thereto

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10780504-B2
Application number	US-201715815728-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 17, 2017
Priority date	Nov 17, 2017
Publication date	Sep 22, 2020
Grant date	Sep 22, 2020

Abstract

A powder recycling system includes a supply tank, a continuous loss-in-weight module, a pneumatic module, a transfer channel, a recycle module, and a refilling tank. The supply tank accommodates recycling powder. The continuous loss-in-weight module includes a storage tank receiving the recycling powder from the supply tank and a rotary output pipe connected to the storage tank to output the recycling powder. The continuous loss-in-weight module controls the mass flow rate of the output of the recycling powder according to the weight change of the storage tank. The pneumatic module enables the recycling powder to float and move in the transfer channel. The recycle module is connected to the transfer channel to receive the recycling powder, sieves the recycling powder, provides virgin powder, and mixes the virgin powder with the recycling powder. The refilling tank is connected to the recycle module to receive the recycling powder and the virgin powder.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A powder recycling system, comprising:
a supply tank, configured to accommodate recycling powder;
a continuous loss in weight module, comprising a storage tank and a rotary output pipe, wherein the storage tank receives the recycling powder, the rotary output pipe is connected to the storage tank to output the recycling powder, and the continuous loss in weight module controls, according to the weight change of the storage tank, the mass flow rate of outputting, by the rotary output pipe, the recycling powder;
a pneumatic module, configured to enable the recycling powder to float and move;
a transfer channel, connected to the pneumatic module, wherein the recycling powder floats and moves in the transfer channel;
a recycle module, connected to the transfer channel to receive the recycling powder, and configured to: sieve the recycling powder, provide virgin powder, and then mix the virgin powder with the recycling powder; and
a refilling tank, connected to the recycle module to receive the recycling powder and the virgin powder;
wherein the continuous loss in weight module further comprises a valve and a weight sensing element, the valve is disposed between the supply tank and the storage tank, the rotary output pipe is connected to the bottom of the storage tank, and the weight sensing element measures the weight change of the storage tank, to control the rotating speed of the rotary output pipe.

2. The powder recycling system according to claim 1 , wherein the weight sensing element measures the weight change of the storage tank to control the valve to be opened or closed.

3. The powder recycling system according to claim 1 , wherein the pneumatic module comprises a Venturi powder ejector and a gas supply apparatus; the Venturi powder ejector comprises a gas inlet section, a powder feeding section, and a Venturi tube; the powder feeding section is disposed between the gas inlet section and the Venturi tube; the gas inlet section is connected to the gas supply apparatus; the powder feeding section is connected to the rotary output pipe; the Venturi tube is connected to the transfer channel; the gas supply apparatus provides a protection gas by means of a gas inlet of the gas inlet section; and the recycling powder enters the powder feeding section from the rotary output pipe, so that the recycling powder floats and moves in the protection gas and is output from a powder outlet of the Venturi tube.

4. The powder recycling system according to claim 3 , wherein a powder feeding angle of the Venturi powder ejector is 25 degrees to 35 degrees, and a powder outlet angle of the Venturi tube is 1 degree to 7 degrees.

5. The powder recycling system according to claim 4 , wherein the powder feeding angle of the Venturi powder ejector is 27.5 degrees, and the powder outlet angle of the Venturi tube is 5 degrees.

6. The powder recycling system according to claim 1 , wherein the rotary output pipe comprises a sealing outer pipe and a rotary inner pipe, the sealing outer pipe wraps the rotary inner pipe and the powder inlet, the rotary inner pipe comprises a connection end and an opening end, the connection end is connected to the bottom of the storage tank, and the opening end is disposed above the powder inlet.

7. The powder recycling system according to claim 6 , wherein the rotary inner pipe comprises a plurality of powder feeding pores, a connection end, and an opening end, the connection end is located in the storage tank, and the powder feeding pores are disposed on a surface, close to the connection end, of the rotary inner pipe.

8. The powder recycling system according to claim 1 , wherein the supply tank comprises a powder outlet funnel cylinder and at least one jet head, the jet head is disposed on a cylinder wall of the powder outlet funnel cylinder, and there is an included angle between the jet head and the cylinder wall.

9. The powder recycling system according to claim 8 , wherein there are four jet heads.

10. The powder recycling system according to claim 1 , wherein the recycle module comprises a sieving module, and the sieving module receives the recycling powder by means of the transfer channel, and sieves the recycling powder into at least two types according to a sieving standard.

11. The powder recycling system according to claim 10 , wherein the sieving module comprises a sieve mesh, a vibration apparatus, an ultrasonic vibration apparatus, and a discarded powder storage tank, the vibration apparatus and the ultrasonic vibration apparatus are connected to the sieve mesh, a part of the recycling powder received by the transfer channel enters a recycling powder storage tank through the sieve mesh, and another part of the recycling powder does not pass through the sieve mesh and enters the discarded powder storage tank.

12. The powder recycling system according to claim 11 , wherein the recycle module further comprises a mixing module, and the mixing module is connected to the recycling powder storage tank to receive the recycling powder, and mixes the virgin powder with the recycling powder.

13. The powder recycling system according to claim 12 , wherein the mixing module comprises a recycling powder inlet, a virgin powder inlet, a weighing apparatus, and a mixing apparatus, the recycling powder inlet is connected to the recycling powder storage tank and the weighing apparatus, the weighing apparatus is connected to the mixing apparatus, and the virgin powder inlet is connected to the mixing apparatus.

Assignees

• Nat Chung Shan Inst Science & Tech

Inventors

• Xiao Yi-Lun
• Sheng Li-Tsung
• Hsiau Shu-San
• Jen Kuo-Kuang
• Chen Chih-Peng
• Lin Po-Shen
• Huang Chung-Chun

Classifications

• B22F10/20

  Direct sintering or melting · CPC title

• B22F12/90

  Means for process control, e.g. cameras or sensors · CPC title

• B22F12/88

  Handling of additively manufactured products, e.g. by robots · CPC title

• B22F12/70

  Gas flow means · CPC title

• B22F10/73

  of powder · CPC title