3d printing filament feeding apparatus

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2017313541-A1
Application number	US-201615256553-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Sep 3, 2016
Priority date	Apr 29, 2016
Publication date	Nov 2, 2017
Grant date	—

Abstract

A 3D printing filament feeding apparatus for feeding a filament ( 10 ) includes a primary driving wheel ( 100 ), a secondary driven wheel ( 300 ), a measurement scale rotating disk ( 400 ), an optical sensor ( 500 ) and a cleaning assembly ( 600 ). The primary driving wheel ( 100 ) is connected to a power source ( 200 ) and driven thereby to rotate. The secondary driven wheel ( 300 ) is arranged adjacent to and parallel with the primary driving wheel ( 100 ). The measurement scale rotating disk ( 400 ) includes scale structures ( 410 ) and rotates together with the secondary driven wheel ( 300 ). The optical sensor ( 500 ) detects the scale structures ( 410 ). The cleaning assembly ( 600 ) engages with the scale structures ( 410 ); wherein the secondary driven wheel ( 300 ) engages with the filament ( 10 ) and rotates along a driven direction (D) together therewith such that the scale structures ( 410 ) passes through the cleaning assembly ( 600 ), followed by detection of the optical sensor ( 500 ).

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A 3D printing filament feeding apparatus, used for feeding a filament ( 10 ), comprising:
a primary driving wheel ( 100 ) connected to a power source ( 200 ) and driven by the power source ( 200 ) to rotate; a secondary driven wheel ( 300 ) arranged adjacent to and parallel with the primary driving wheel ( 100 ); a measurement scale rotating disk ( 400 ), the measurement scale rotating disk ( 400 ) having a plurality of scale structures ( 410 ) formed thereon, the measurement scale rotating disk ( 400 ) moving and rotating together with the secondary driven wheel ( 300 ); an optical sensor ( 500 ) configured to detect the plurality of scale structures ( 410 ) of the measurement scale rotating disk ( 400 ); and a cleaning assembly ( 600 ) configured to engage with the plurality of scale structures ( 410 ) on the measurement scale rotating disk ( 400 ); wherein the primary driving wheel ( 100 ) engages with and feeds the filament ( 10 ), the secondary driven wheel ( 400 ) engages with the filament ( 10 ) and rotates along a driven direction (D) in conjunction with a movement of the filament ( 10 ) in order to allow each one of the scale structures ( 410 ) on the measurement scale rotating disk ( 400 ) to pass through the cleaning assembly ( 600 ) engaged therewith along the driven direction (D), followed by using the optical sensor ( 500 ) for detection thereof.

2 . The 3D printing filament feeding apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the cleaning assembly ( 600 ) comprises a brush ( 610 ), and bristles ( 611 ) of the brush ( 610 ) are arranged parallel with the measurement scale rotating disk ( 400 ).

3 . The 3D printing filament feeding apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the cleaning assembly ( 600 ) comprises a pair of brushes ( 610 ) engaged with two sides of the measurement disk rotating disk ( 400 ) respectively, and bristles ( 611 ) of each one of the brushes ( 610 ) are arranged perpendicular to the measurement rotating disk ( 400 ).

4 . The 3D printing filament feeding apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein the pair of brushes ( 610 ) are arranged alternatively along a circumferential direction of the measurement scale rotating disk ( 400 ).

5 . The 3D printing filament feeding apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the cleaning assembly ( 600 ) comprises a pair of foaming blocks ( 620 ) engaged with two sides of the measurement scale rotating disk ( 400 ).

6 . The 3D printing filament feeding apparatus according to claim 5 , wherein the pair of foaming blocks ( 620 ) are arranged alternatively along a circumferential direction of the measurement scale rotating disk ( 400 ).

7 . The 3D printing filament feeding apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the measurement scale rotating disk ( 400 ) is opaque, and each one of the scale structures ( 410 ) is light transmissive or opaque.

8 . The 3D printing filament feeding apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the plurality of scale structure ( 410 ) are arranged adjacent to an edge of the measurement scale rotating disk ( 400 ), and the optical sensor ( 500 ) shields the edge of the measurement scale rotating disk ( 400 ).

9 . The 3D printing filament feeding apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the measurement rotating disk ( 400 ) moves and rotates coaxially together with the secondary driven wheel ( 300 ).

Assignees

• Xyzprinting Inc
• Kinpo Elect Inc

Inventors

• Wu Chi-Chieh

Classifications

• B33Y30/00 Primary

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

• B65H51/04 Primary

  Rollers, pulleys, capstans, or intermeshing rotary elements · CPC title

• B29C64/35 Primary

  Cleaning · CPC title

• B29C64/118

  using filamentary material being melted, e.g. fused deposition modelling [FDM] · CPC title

• B29C64/106

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