PRINTING DEVICE

Abstract

The application relates to a device for depositing a melted material, such as a plastic material, on a surface, in particular a printhead for a 3D printer, including a housing, a discharge nozzle arranged on the housing, and a metering device with a first metering unit and a second metering unit, each of which is designed to receive the melted material and dispense same in a metered manner, wherein the metering device is designed to supply the melted material to the discharge nozzle, in particular an outlet channel of the discharge nozzle, by means of the first metering unit and the second metering unit in an alternating manner or on-the-fly. The application also relates to a printing device, in particular a 3D printing device, such as a 3D printer, and to a method for depositing a material, in particular in a 3D printing method or an additive manufacturing method.

Claims

1.-24. (canceled)

25. A printing device, comprising a 3D printing device, with: an extrusion device for melting a material, such as plastic material, and a 3D printhead for depositing the material melted by the extrusion device onto a surface comprising a housing, and a discharge nozzle arranged on the housing, comprising a metering device with a first metering unit and a second metering unit, which are designed respectively for the receiving and metered dispensing of the melted material, wherein the metering device is designed to supply the melted material to an outlet channel of the discharge nozzle through the first metering unit and the second metering unit in an alternating manner or on-the-fly, and wherein the first metering unit and the second metering unit respectively has a metering piston with a drive.

26. The printing device according to claim 25, characterized in that the 3D printhead and/or the discharge nozzle has an inlet channel for introducing the melted material through the extrusion device.

27. The printing device according to claim 25, characterized in that the metering device has a valve, such as a switchover valve, for switching over between the first metering unit and the second metering unit and/or between a first position and a second position.

28. The printing device according to claim 27, characterized in that the valve is designed, in the first position, to enable an entry of the melted material into the first metering unit and to prevent an entry of the melted material into the second metering unit.

29. The printing device according claim 27, characterized in that the valve is designed, in the second position, to enable an entry of the melted material into the second metering unit and to prevent an entry of the melted material into the first metering unit.

30. The printing device according to claim 27, characterized in that the valve is designed, in the first position, to enable a metered supplying of the melted material through the second metering unit to the discharge nozzle, and to prevent a supplying through the first metering unit.

31. The printing device according to claim 27, characterized in that the valve is designed, in the second position, to enable a metered supplying of the melted material through the first metering unit to the discharge nozzle, and to prevent a supplying through the second metering unit.

32. The printing device according to claim 25, characterized in that the metering device is at least partially integrated in the discharge nozzle.

33. The device according to claim 25, characterized in that the discharge nozzle has a first channel for supplying the melted material from the first metering unit to the outlet channel and/or has a second channel for supplying the melted material from the second metering unit to the outlet channel.

34. The printing device according to claim 33, characterized in that the valve is designed, in the first position, to interrupt a supply line between the first channel and the outlet channel, and to open the supply line between the second channel and the outlet channel.

35. The printing device according to claim 33, characterized in that the valve is designed, in the second position, to interrupt a supply line between the second channel and the outlet channel, and to open the supply line between the first channel and the outlet channel.

36. The printing device according to claim 25, characterized in that the discharge nozzle has a third channel for supplying the melted material from the inlet channel to the first metering unit and/or has a fourth channel for supplying the melted material from the inlet channel to the second metering unit.

37. The printing device according to claim 36, characterized in that the valve is designed, in the first position, to open a supply line between the inlet channel and the third channel, and to interrupt the supply line between the inlet channel and the fourth channel.

38. The printing device according to claim 36, characterized in that the valve is designed, in the second position, to open a supply line between the inlet channel and the fourth channel, and to interrupt the supply line between the inlet channel and the third channel.

39. The printing device according to claim 25, characterized in that the discharge nozzle is arranged on the housing in an interchangeable manner, as an exchangeable insert.

40. The printing device according to claim 25, characterized in that the 3D printhead is directly connected to an outlet of the extrusion device.

41. The printing device according to claim 25, characterized in that the printing device has a hose element for supplying the melted material from an outlet of the extrusion device to an inlet of the 3D printhead.

42. The printing device according to claim 41, characterized in that the hose element has a heating arrangement for controlling the temperature of the melted material.

43. The printing device according to claim 25, characterized in that the 3D printhead is arranged on a movement device, such as a robot.

44. The printing device according to claim 25, characterized in that the extrusion device is designed so as to be stationary or is arranged on the movement device, such as a robot.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0050] Example embodiments of the invention are described more closely below with reference to figures; here, there are shown schematically and by way of example:

[0051] FIG. 1 a front view of a 3D printhead;

[0052] FIG. 2 a perspective side view of the 3D printhead according to FIG. 1;

[0053] FIG. 3 a variant of a printing device with a 3D printhead according to FIG. 1; and

[0054] FIG. 4 a further variant of a printing device with a 3D printhead according to FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS

[0055] FIGS. 1 and 2 show a device 100 for depositing a melted plastic material onto a surface. The device 100 is designed as a 3D printhead 100. The 3D printhead 100 has a housing 102 and a discharge nozzle 104 detachably fastened to the housing. The discharge nozzle 104 is designed as an exchangeable insert. The 3D printhead 100 has a metering device 106 with a first metering unit 108 and a second metering unit 110, which are designed respectively for the receiving and metered delivering of the melted plastic material. The metering device 106 is partially integrated in the discharge nozzle 106. The metering device 106 is designed so that the melted plastic material can be supplied in an alternating manner or on-the-fly through the first metering unit 108 and the second metering unit 110 to the discharge nozzle 104. The first metering unit 108 and the second metering unit 110 have respectively a metering piston 112 with a drive.

[0056] As can be seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, the discharge nozzle 104 has an inlet channel 114 for introducing the melted plastic material, and an outlet channel 116.

[0057] The discharge nozzle 104 has a first channel 118 for supplying the melted plastic material from the first metering unit 108 to the outlet channel 116, and a second channel 120 for supplying the melted plastic material from the second metering unit 110 to the outlet channel 116. The discharge nozzle 104 has, furthermore, a third channel 122 for supplying the melted plastic material from the inlet channel 114 to the first metering unit 108, and a fourth channel 124 for supplying the melted plastic material from the inlet channel 114 to the second metering unit 110. The first channel 118 and the second channel 120 open out into a supply channel 128, which opens out into the outlet channel 116 of the discharge nozzle 104. The inlet channel 114 opens out into the third channel 122 and into the fourth channel 124.

[0058] The metering device 106 has a switchover valve 130 for switching over between the first metering unit 108 and the second metering unit 110 and between a first position and a second position. The switchover valve 130 is designed to enable, in the first position, an entry of the melted plastic material into the first metering unit 108, and to prevent an entry of the melted plastic material into the second metering unit 110, and at the same time to enable a metered supplying of the melted plastic material through the second metering unit 110 to the discharge nozzle 104, and to prevent a supplying through the first metering unit 108. Furthermore, the switchover valve 130 is designed, in the second position, to enable an entry of the melted plastic material into the second metering unit 110, and to prevent an entry of the melted plastic material into the first metering unit 108, and at the same time to enable a metered supplying of the melted plastic material through the first metering unit 108 to the discharge nozzle 104, and to prevent a supplying through the second metering unit 110.

[0059] The switchover valve 130 has a first valve element 132, designed as a valve pintle, for opening and closing the first channel 118 or respectively the second channel 120. The valve pintle 132 is arranged in an effective manner in the supply channel 128 and has a pintle 134, which can close the first or respectively second channel 118, 120 in cross-section. The valve pintle 132 is furthermore designed as a deflection element for deflecting the melted plastic material into the outlet channel 116.

[0060] For opening and closing the third channel 122 or respectively the fourth channel 124, the switchover valve 130 has a second valve element 136, which is designed as a deflection element for deflecting the melted plastic material from the inlet channel 114 into the third or respectively fourth channel 122, 124. The second valve element 136 is arranged in an effective manner between the inlet channel 114 and the third and fourth channel 122, 124.

[0061] The switchover valve 130 is designed, in the first position, to interrupt the supply line between the first channel 118 and the outlet channel 116, and to open the supply line between the second channel 120 and the outlet channel 116 (cf. FIGS. 1 and 2), and at the same time to open the supply line between the inlet channel 114 and the third channel 122, and to interrupt the supply line between the inlet channel 114 and the fourth channel 124.

[0062] Furthermore, the switchover valve 130 is designed, in the second position, to interrupt the supply line between the second channel 120 and the outlet channel 116, and to open the supply line between the first channel 118 and the outlet channel 116, and at the same time to open the supply line between the inlet channel 114 and the fourth channel 124 and to interrupt the supply line between the inlet channel 114 and the third channel 122.

[0063] FIG. 3 shows a variant of a printing device 200 with a 3D printhead 100 according to FIG. 1. The printing device 200 is designed as a 3D printing device 200. The printing device 200 has an extrusion device 202, designed as an extruder 202, for the melting of plastic material. The extruder 202 is designed so as to be stationary, so that it remains at its place of installation during operation.

[0064] The extruder 202 has an inlet funnel 204 for the supplying of granular plastic material, an extruder screw for the plasticizing of the plastic material, and an extruder outlet 206. The extruder screw plasticizes the plastic material and conveys the plastic material from the inlet funnel 204 to the extruder outlet 206.

[0065] A flexible heated hose 208 is fastened to the extruder outlet 206, through which hose the extruded melted plastic material is pressed. A heating arrangement 210 for controlling the temperature of the melted plastic material flowing within the hose 208 is arranged around the hose 208.

[0066] By its other end, the hose 208 is connected to the inlet channel 114 of the 3D printhead 100. The melted plastic material can thus be supplied to the 3D printhead 100. The 3D printhead 100 is fastened to a movement arrangement 212, embodied as a robot 212. By means of the robot 212, the discharge nozzle 104 can be moved freely over a stationary working surface 214, in order to deposit melted plastic strands thereon and to manufacture a 3D-printed component.

[0067] Otherwise, reference is to be made additionally to FIGS. 1 and 2 and the associated description.

[0068] FIG. 4 shows a further variant of a printing device 300 with a 3D printhead 100 according to FIG. 1. In contrast to the variant according to FIG. 3, the 3D printhead 100 here is arranged directly on an extruder 302. An extruder outlet 304 is therefore connected directly to the inlet channel 114 of the 3D printhead 100.

[0069] The extruder 306 here can also be designed so as to be stationary at its place of installation. The 3D printhead 100 is therefore likewise stationary. In order to now be able to manufacture a 3D-printed component, the printing device 300 has a movable working surface 306. The working surface 306 can be moved for example in a horizontal plane. In addition, the working surface 306 can be moved in vertical direction.

[0070] Alternatively, the printing device 300 can have a movement arrangement on which both the extruder 302 and also the 3D printhead 100 are fastened, in order to move the discharge nozzle 116 of the 3D printhead 100 over a stationary working surface 306.

[0071] Otherwise, reference is to be made in addition in particular to FIGS. 1 to 3 and the associated description.

[0072] “Can” designates in particular optional features of the invention. Consequently, there are also further developments and/or embodiment examples of the invention which have additionally or alternatively the respective feature or the respective features.

[0073] If required, isolated features can also be singled out from the feature combinations disclosed here present, and can be used under resolution of a structural and/or functional context possibly existing between the features, in combination with other features for delimitation of the subject of the claim.