Plasticizing device, three-dimensional shaping device, and injection molding device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12042968-B2
Application number	US-202217815853-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 28, 2022
Priority date	Jul 28, 2021
Publication date	Jul 23, 2024
Grant date	Jul 23, 2024

Abstract

A plasticizing device includes: a drive motor; a screw shaft rotated by the drive motor; a flat screw having a coupling surface coupled to the screw shaft and a groove forming surface in which a groove is formed, and configured to rotate around the screw shaft; a barrel having a facing surface facing the groove forming surface, and formed with a communication hole; a heating unit configured to heat a material supplied to between the flat screw and the barrel; and a bearing part configured to rotatably support the screw shaft and receive a thrust load applied to the screw shaft from the flat screw. The groove forming surface and the facing surface are separated from each other at a predetermined interval.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A plasticizing device comprising:
a drive motor;
a screw shaft rotated by the drive motor, wherein the screw shaft rotates via a speed reducer coupled to the drive motor;
a flat screw having a coupling surface coupled to the screw shaft and a groove forming surface in which a groove is formed, and configured to rotate around the screw shaft;
a barrel having a facing surface facing the groove forming surface, and formed with a communication hole;
a heating unit configured to heat a material supplied to between the flat screw and the barrel;
a bearing part configured to rotatably support the screw shaft and receive a thrust load applied to the screw shaft from the flat screw while being spaced apart from the coupling surface, wherein the groove forming surface and the facing surface are separated from each other at a predetermined interval; and
a coupling mechanism configured to couple an output shaft of the speed reducer to the screw shaft and prevent the thrust load applied to the screw shaft from being transmitted to the output shaft of the speed reducer, the coupling mechanism including:
a first component fixed to the output shaft of the speed reducer;
a second component fixed to the screw shaft; and
a third component that is interposed between the first component and the second component, and that is fitted into the first component and the second component while being spaced apart therefrom at an interval at least in a first direction along the screw shaft.

2. The plasticizing device according to claim 1 , wherein the bearing part includes an angular bearing.

3. The plasticizing device according to claim 2 , wherein the bearing part has a configuration in which a plurality of the angular bearings are disposed back-to-back with each other.

4. The plasticizing device according to claim 1 , wherein the third component is fitted to the first component and the second component while being spaced apart therefrom at intervals respectively in a second direction as a direction perpendicular to the screw shaft, and a third direction as a direction perpendicular to both the first direction and the second direction, in addition to the first direction.

5. The plasticizing device according to claim 1 , wherein the screw shaft has a space inside.

6. The plasticizing device according to claim 5 , further comprising:
a cooling unit configured to cause a cooling medium to flow into the space.

7. The plasticizing device according to claim 6 , further comprising:
a material supply path configured to supply the material to between the flat screw and the barrel, wherein the material supply path includes an opening that communicates with the space.

8. A three-dimensional shaping device comprising:
a drive motor;
a screw shaft rotated by the drive motor, wherein the screw shaft rotates via a speed reducer coupled to the drive motor;
a flat screw having a coupling surface coupled to the screw shaft and a groove forming surface in which a groove is formed, and configured to rotate around the screw shaft;
a barrel having a facing surface facing the groove forming surface, and formed with a communication hole;
a heating unit configured to heat a material supplied to between the flat screw and the barrel;
a bearing part configured to rotatably support the screw shaft and receive a thrust load applied to the screw shaft from the flat screw while being spaced apart from the coupling surface, wherein the groove forming surface and the facing surface are separated from each other at a predetermined interval; and
a coupling mechanism configured to couple an output shaft of the speed reducer to the screw shaft and prevent the thrust load applied to the screw shaft from being transmitted to the output shaft of the speed reducer, the coupling mechanism including:
a first component fixed to the output shaft of the speed reducer;
a second component fixed to the screw shaft; and
a third component that is interposed between the first component and the second component, and that is fitted into the first component and the second component while being spaced apart therefrom at an interval at least in a first direction along the screw shaft;
a stage having a shaping surface; and
a nozzle configured to discharge a plasticized material supplied from the plasticizing device toward the shaping surface.

9. An injection molding device comprising:
a drive motor;
a screw shaft rotated by the drive motor, wherein the screw shaft rotates via a speed reducer coupled to the drive motor;
a flat screw having a coupling surface coupled to the screw shaft and a groove forming surface in which a groove is formed, and configured to rotate around the screw shaft;
a barrel having a facing surface facing the groove forming surface, and formed with a communication hole;
a heating unit configured to heat a material supplied to between the flat screw and the barrel;
a bearing part configured to rotatably support the screw shaft and receive a thrust load applied to the screw shaft from the flat screw while being spaced apart from the coupling surface, wherein the groove forming surface and the facing surface are separated from each other at a predetermined interval; and
a coupling mechanism configured to couple an output shaft of the speed reducer to the screw shaft and prevent the thrust load applied to the screw shaft from being transmitted to the output shaft of the speed reducer, the coupling mechanism including:
a first component fixed to the output shaft of the speed reducer;
a second component fixed to the screw shaft; and
a third component that is interposed between the first component and the second component, and that is fitted into the first component and the second component while being spaced apart therefrom at an interval at least in a first direction along the screw shaft;
a nozzle configured to inject a plasticized material supplied from the plasticizing device toward a metal mold.

10. The plasticizing device according to claim 1 , wherein the bearing part being configured to rotatably support the screw shaft and receive the thrust load applied to the screw shaft from the flat screw while being spaced apart from the flat screw.

11. The plasticizing device of claim 1 , wherein the screw shaft has a cylindrical shape.

12. The plasticizing device of claim 11 , wherein the screw shaft has a space inside.

13. The plasticizing device of claim 1 , wherein the coupling surface of the flat screw is joined to the screw shaft via a penetrating fastener extending through a flange of the screw shaft.

Assignees

• Seiko Epson Corp

Inventors

• Gozu Masayuki

Classifications

• B29C64/209

  Heads; Nozzles · CPC title

• B29C45/58

  Details · CPC title

• B29C45/74

  of the injection unit · CPC title

• B33Y30/00

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

• B29C45/464

  using a rotating plasticising or injection disc · CPC title