Paper-based 3D printing device and printing method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12036728-B2
Application number	US-202017294395-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 17, 2020
Priority date	Aug 16, 2019
Publication date	Jul 16, 2024
Grant date	Jul 16, 2024

Abstract

The present invention relates to a paper-based 3D printing device and a printing method. The paper-based 3D printing device comprises a printing platform, a three-axis linkage platform, a cutting head and an inkjet head. The printing platform is used for placing paper, and the three-axis linkage platform is arranged to, firstly, drive the cutting head to cut the corresponding paper along the contour of a preset model to form a cutting seam, and then drive the inkjet head to inkjet color toward the cutting seam along the contour of the preset model. The paper-based 3D printing device and the printing method save ink, and can directly spray the ink at the cutting seam, which is equivalent to coloring the outer surface of the model, effectively improving the coloring effect, making the coloring of the outer surface of the model uniform, eliminating the step of printing one by one.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A paper-based three-dimensional (3D) printing device, comprising a printing platform, a three-axis linkage platform, a cutting head and an inkjet head; the printing platform is configured to place paper sheets thereon, the three-axis linkage platform is configured to drive the cutting head to cut a paper sheet along a corresponding contour of a predetermined model so as to form a cutting seam, and configured to drive the inkjet head to eject ink toward the cutting seam along the corresponding contour of the predetermined model to color;
a shell, wherein the printing platform, the three-axis linkage platform, the cutting head and the inkjet head are all located in the shell, wherein the three-axis linkage platform is installed on a bottom plate of the shell;
an ink cartridge, and the ink cartridge is connected to the inkjet head through an ink feeding tube; wherein ink in the ink cartridge is ultraviolet (UV) ink, two opposite side walls of the shell are respectively provided with ultraviolet (UV) lamp sets; and
a drag chain, the drag chain is made of a light-shielding material, and the ink feeding tube is located inside the drag chain.

2. The paper-based 3D printing device according to claim 1 , further comprises a waste ink cartridge and a cleaning tube, the waste ink cartridge is provided with an inlet and an outlet; a first end of the cleaning tube is communicated with the inlet of the waste ink cartridge, and a second end of the cleaning tube is communicated with the inkjet head; the outlet of the waste ink cartridge is connected with a waste liquid container.

3. The paper-based 3D printing device according to claim 1 , wherein the three-axis linkage platform comprises an X-axis driving device, a Y-axis driving device and a Z-axis driving device, the printing platform is mounted on the Z-axis driving device, the Z-axis driving device is used to drive the printing platform to raise or lower; the cutting head and the inkjet head are both installed on the X-axis driving device, the X-axis driving device is used to drive the cutting head and the inkjet head to reciprocate along the X-axis direction, the X-axis driving device is connected to the Y-axis driving device; the Y-axis driving device is installed above the printing platform; the Y-axis driving device is used to drive the cutting head and the inkjet head to reciprocate along the Y axis.

4. The paper-based 3D printing device according to claim 2 , wherein the three-axis linkage platform comprises an X-axis driving device, a Y-axis driving device and a Z-axis driving device, the printing platform is mounted on the Z-axis driving device, the Z-axis driving device is used to drive the printing platform to raise or lower; the cutting head and the inkjet head are both installed on the X-axis driving device, the X-axis driving device is used to drive the cutting head and the inkjet head to reciprocate along the X-axis direction, the X-axis driving device is connected to the Y-axis driving device; the Y-axis driving device is installed above the printing platform; the Y-axis driving device is used to drive the cutting head and the inkjet head to reciprocate along the Y axis.

5. The paper-based 3D printing device according to claim 1 , wherein the cutting head comprises a mounting seat and a blade, the blade is connected to a lower end of the mounting seat, the blade is triangular.

6. The paper-based 3D printing device according to claim 1 , wherein the paper-based 3D printing device further comprises a glue moving mechanism, the glue moving mechanism is connected to the three-axis linkage platform.

7. The paper-based 3D printing device according to claim 6 , wherein the glue moving mechanism comprises a driving mechanism, a glue bin, a glue applying disc and a glue feeding tube, the driving mechanism and the glue bin are both installed on the three-axis linkage platform, the driving mechanism is drive-connected with the glue applying disc to drive the glue applying disc to rotate around an axis of the glue applying disc, a circumferential surface of the glue applying disc is provided with a plurality of grooves at intervals, a first end of the glue feeding tube is communicated with a glue storage container, and a second end of the glue feeding tube is communicated with an inlet of the glue bin; an outlet of the glue bin is located above the glue applying disc, so that glue flowing out of the outlet of the glue bin is able to enter the grooves; the three-axis linkage platform drives the glue applying disc to roll on a paper surface.

Assignees

• Univ South China Tech

Inventors

• Chen Guangxue
• Cai Ling
• Chen Linyi
• Chen Qifeng
• Yuan Jiangping
• Wang Xiaochun

Classifications

• B41J3/4073

  Printing on three-dimensional objects not being in sheet or web form, e.g. spherical or cubic objects (B41J3/283, B41J3/286 take precedence; building up a 3D object using individual droplets from jetting heads B29C64/112) · CPC title

• B29C64/236

  for motion in a direction within the plane of a layer · CPC title

• B29C64/209

  Heads; Nozzles · CPC title

• B29C64/232

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

• B29C64/188

  involving additional operations performed on the added layers, e.g. smoothing, grinding or thickness control (surface shaping B29C59/00; after-treatment of articles without altering their shape B29C71/00) · CPC title