3D printer with coater and coater cleaning device and method for cleaning a coater by means of a cleaning device

Abstract

Disclosed is a 3D printer 10 having a coater 30 and a coater cleaning device 50. The coater 30 has a container 32 defining an inner cavity 34 for receiving particulate construction material and an output region 36 for outputting the particulate construction material. The coater cleaning device 50 has a cleaning web 52. The coater cleaning device 50 and the coater 30 are configured to move the output region 36 and/or the cleaning web 52 relative to each other for wiping the output region 36 by means of the cleaning web 52.

Claims

1. A 3D printer (10) having a coater (30) and a coater cleaning device (50), the coater (30) comprising a container (32) defining an inner cavity (34) for receiving particulate construction material and an output region (36) for outputting the particulate construction material, characterized in that the coater cleaning device (50) comprises a cleaning web (52), and the coater cleaning device (50) and the coater (30) are configured to move the output region (36) and/or the cleaning web (52) relative to each other for wiping the output region (36) by means of the cleaning web (52).

2. The 3D printer (10) according to claim 1, wherein the cleaning web (52) is configured to be finite, having a first end and a second end, and/or as a disposable cleaning web and/or to be exchangeable.

3. The 3D printer (10) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the output region (36) comprises at least one elongate stroking/sweeping surface (40a, 40b) configured to stroke construction material output from the container (32), and wherein the at least one stroking/sweeping surface (40a, 40b) is wiped by means of the cleaning web (52) for cleaning the same by the relative movement between the output region (36) and the cleaning web (52).

4. The 3D printer (10) according to claim 3, wherein in a plan view of the coater (30) from above, a longitudinal axis (L1a, L1b; x) of the at least one stroking/sweeping surface (40a, 40b) is disposed at an angle to a longitudinal axis (L2; y) of the cleaning web (52) when the coater (30) is in a cleaning position in which it is disposed above the coater cleaning device (50).

5. The 3D printer (10) according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the cleaning web (52) approaches the at least one stroking/sweeping surface (40a, 40b) from below in a cross-sectional view of the coater (30) in such a way that the longitudinal axis (L2) of the cleaning web (52) forms an acute (entrance) angle with the at least one stroking/sweeping surface (40a, 40b) when the coater (30) is in a cleaning position.

6. The 3D printer (10) according to any one of claims 3 to 5, wherein the cleaning web (52) has such an extension in the width direction (B) that in a plan view of the coater (30) from above and/or in a side view thereof the two longitudinal ends (40aa, 40ab, 40ba, 40bb) of the at least one stroking/sweeping surface (40a, 40b) do not extend beyond the cleaning web (52) when the coater (30) is in a cleaning position.

7. The 3D printer (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the cleaning web (52) is made of an absorbent material configured to absorb a liquid cleaning agent, for example of an absorbent textile such as an absorbent fabric or an absorbent nonwoven.

8. The 3D printer (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the coater cleaning device (50) comprises a pressing device (70) adapted to press a portion of the cleaning web (52) against the output region (36) when the coater (30) is in a cleaning position.

9. The 3D printer (10) according to claim 8, wherein the pressing device (70) comprises a support structure (72) over which the cleaning web (52) extends, the support structure (72) being optionally height-adjustable, wherein, for example, in a cleaning position of the coater, the support structure, the cleaning web and the coater are cut by a common imaginary vertical line.

10. The 3D printer (10) according to claim 9, wherein the support structure (72) comprises a sliding element (74) on which the cleaning web (52) is supported, and wherein the sliding element (74) is made of an elastic material and/or wherein a spring force is applied to the sliding element (74), which spring force presses the sliding element (74) against the cleaning web (52) and, as a result, the cleaning web (52) against the output region (36) when the coater (30) is in a cleaning position.

11. The 3D printer (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the coater cleaning device (50) comprises a cleaning agent supply device (90) configured to supply a cleaning agent to the cleaning web (52), wherein, for example, the cleaning agent supply device (90) is configured to moisten and/or infiltrate a portion of the cleaning web (52) with cleaning agent, which portion, as viewed in the longitudinal direction of the web, is arranged in front of or in a contact region (110) at which the output region (36) and the cleaning web (52) contact one another for wiping off the output region (36) by means of the cleaning web (52).

12. The 3D printer (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the coater cleaning device (50) comprises a rotatable roll-up element (130), e.g. a rotatable roll-up roller, onto which the cleaning web (52) (e.g. a dirty/consumed portion thereof) can be rolled/wound up, wherein the roll-up element (130) is optionally replaceable for removing the dirty cleaning web (52) from the coater cleaning device (50) and/or optionally is a driven roll-up element.

13. The 3D printer (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the coater cleaning device (50) comprises a rotatable roll-off element (132), e.g. a rotatable roll-off roller, from which the cleaning web (52) (e.g. a fresh portion thereof) can be rolled/wound off, wherein the roll-off element (132) is optionally exchangeable for refilling another roll-off element, on which a fresh cleaning web (52) is rolled up, and/or optionally is a driven roll-off element.

14. The 3D printer (10) according to any one of claims 7 to 13, wherein the coater cleaning device (50) comprises a sensor (150) for determining the amount of cleaning agent received by the cleaning web (52) in a portion thereof.

15. The 3D printer (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the coater cleaning device (50) comprises a controller (170) configured to control, for example variably adjust, for example depending on a degree of contamination of the output region (36) and/or a period of time elapsed since the last cleaning and/or a construction material used in 3D printing and/or a binder component used in 3D printing and/or a quantity of cleaning agent absorbed by the cleaning web (52), the relative movement between the output region (36) and the cleaning web (52) for wiping off the output region (36) by means of the cleaning web (52), “movement pattern”, and/or the quantity and/or type of cleaning agent supplied to the cleaning web by the cleaning agent supply device (90) of claim 11, and/or a height adjustment of the support structure of claim 9 and/or the spring force of claim 10 and/or a pressing force of the pressing device of claim 8, and/or a drive of the roll-up element (130) and/or a drive of the roll-off element (132).

16. The 3D printer (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the coater cleaning device (50) comprises a driving device configured to move the cleaning web in the longitudinal direction thereof, for example past the output region and/or for example for providing a fresh and/or moistened and/or infiltrated cleaning web portion for wiping the output region (36) by means of the cleaning web (52).

17. A coater (30) in combination with a coater cleaning device (50), wherein the coater cleaning device (50) comprises a cleaning web (52), and the coater cleaning device (50) and the coater (30) are configured to perform a relative movement between the coater (30) and the cleaning web (52) in a state in which the coater (30) is contacted by a portion of the cleaning web (52), for wiping the coater (30) by means of the cleaning web (52).

18. A method for cleaning a coater (30) of a 3D printer (10) by means of a coater cleaning device (50), wherein the coater cleaning device (50) has a cleaning web (52) which is for example made of an absorbent material and/or is configured to be finite and/or is formed as a disposable web and/or is configured to be exchangeable, comprising: contacting the coater (30) with the cleaning web (52); and performing a relative movement between the coater (30) and the cleaning web (52) for wiping the coater (30) by means of the cleaning web (52), for example in a moistened state of the cleaning web and/or by moving the coater, for example in a direction transverse to the longitudinal direction thereof.

Description

[0104] Exemplary but non-limiting embodiments of the present invention are shown in the Figures and are hereinafter described in detail.

[0105] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a coater cleaning device of a 3D printer according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0106] FIG. 2 shows a cross-sectional view of the coater cleaning device of a 3D printer of FIG. 1.

[0107] FIG. 3 shows an enlarged view of area A of FIG. 2, wherein a coater is additionally shown (also in cross-section), and wherein the spring shown in FIG. 2 has been omitted.

[0108] FIG. 4 shows a side view of a coater and a coater cleaning device of a 3D printer according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0109] In the following detailed description, reference is made to the enclosed Figures which are incorporated therein and in which specific embodiments are shown by way of illustration, according to which the invention can be performed. In this respect, the terms “up”, “down”, “front”, “rear”, etc. are used with reference to the orientation in the described Figure(s). As components of embodiments may be positioned in a number of different orientations, the terminology indicating the different directions serves for illustration and shall not be restrictive in any way.

[0110] It shall be understood that other embodiments may be used and structural or logical changes may be made without deviating from the scope of protection of this invention. It goes without saying that the features of the various exemplary embodiments described herein may be combined unless specified otherwise. Thus, the following detailed description should not be understood in a restrictive sense and the scope of protection of this invention shall be defined by the attached claims.

[0111] In this description, terms such as “connected”, “attached” and “coupled” may be used to describe both a direct and indirect connection, a direct or indirect attachment and a direct or indirect coupling.

[0112] In the Figures, identical or similar elements are provided with identical reference numbers where appropriate.

[0113] FIG. 1 shows a simplified perspective view of a coater cleaning device 50 of a 3D printer 10, wherein in FIG. 1 parts of the coater cleaning device 50 have been omitted for reasons of clarity (such as the sensor 150 and the controller 170). FIG. 2 shows a simplified cross-sectional view of the coater cleaning device 50 of FIG. 1. FIG. 3 shows an enlarged view of area A of FIG. 2, with the spring 76 having been omitted and an additional coater 30 of the 3D printer 10 being shown. FIG. 4 shows a simplified side view of the coater cleaning device 50 and coater 30 of the 3D printer 10, parts of the coater cleaning device 50 having been omitted in FIG. 4 for reasons of clarity.

[0114] As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the 3D printer 10 comprises a coater 30 and a coater cleaning device 50. The coater 30 comprises a container 32 defining an inner cavity 34 for receiving particulate construction material and an output region 36 for outputting the particulate construction material. The coater cleaning device 50 comprises a cleaning web 52. The coater cleaning device 50 and the coater 30 are configured to contact the output region 36 and the cleaning web 52 with each other and to perform a relative movement between the output region 36 and the cleaning web 52 such that the output region 36 is wiped by means of the cleaning web 52.

[0115] For example, the coater 30 may be elongated and may define a longitudinal axis (not shown) extending in FIG. 3 orthogonal to the sheet and extending in FIG. 4 parallel to the axis L1a and L1b, respectively, (in FIG. 1, this coater longitudinal axis would extend in the X direction). The output region 36 may, for example, be elongated and comprise an (elongate) output slot 42 for outputting the particulate construction material.

[0116] The output region 36 may, in addition, comprise for example two (elongated) stroking/sweeping elements 38a, 38b which are arranged adjacent to the output slot 42 and delimit it laterally. The stroking/sweeping elements may, for example, each define an (elongated) stroking/sweeping surface 40a, 40b for stroking/sweeping (for example levelling and/or compressing) the output construction material. The two stroking/sweeping surfaces 40a, 40b may, for example, each define a longitudinal axis L1a, L1b and two longitudinal ends 40aa, 40ab, 40ba, 40bb, wherein the longitudinal axes L1a, L1b of the stroking/sweeping surfaces 40a, 40b, are, for example, parallel. The relative movement between the output region 36 and the cleaning web 52 allows, for example, the two stroking/sweeping surfaces 40a, 40b to be wiped for cleaning by means of the cleaning web 52. To generate the relative movement between the output region 36 and the cleaning web 52, the coater 30 can be moved, for example, by means of an electric motor (not shown), for example, in the direction of and/or along the double arrow shown in

[0117] FIG. 3. In this respect, the coater may, for example, be moved in a direction transverse to its longitudinal axis, for example back and forth, for example in such a way that the entire output region is moved over the contacted web section (for example several times) and is subsequently cleaned.

[0118] The cleaning web 52 may, for example, be formed to be finite (see FIG. 2), with a first end and a second end. For example, the cleaning web 52 may define a cleaning web longitudinal axis L2 and/or a cleaning web width direction B. The width direction B may, for example, be at least substantially orthogonal to the longitudinal axis L2. The cleaning web 52 may, for example, comprise or be made of an absorbent material, the absorbent material being configured to absorb a liquid cleaning agent. For example, the width of the cleaning web 52 (i.e., the extension of the cleaning web 52 in the width direction B) may be equal to or greater than the length of the output region 36 (i.e., the extension of the output region 36 in its longitudinal direction) and/or the length of the stroking/sweeping surfaces 40a, 40b (i.e., the extension of the stroking/sweeping surfaces 40a, 40b in the direction of the longitudinal axis thereof Lia, Lib) (see FIG. 4).

[0119] For example, the coater 30 may be moved into a cleaning position in which it is arranged above the coater cleaning device 50 (see FIG. 3). When the coater 30 is in its cleaning position, the (parallel) longitudinal axes L1a, L1b of the stroking/sweeping surfaces 40a, 40b may be arranged at an angle to the longitudinal axis L2 of the cleaning web 52 in a plan view of the coater 30 from above, for example. The angle between L1a and L1b, respectively, and L2 may, for example, substantially be 90° (see in this regard also FIGS. 3 and 4). In a cross-sectional view of the coater 30, when the coater 30 is in its cleaning position, the cleaning web 52 may approach one of the stroking/sweeping surfaces 40a, 40b from below, for example, so that the longitudinal axis L2 of the cleaning web 52 is arranged at an angle to the stroking/sweeping surfaces 40a, 40b (see FIG. 3). When the coater 30 is in its cleaning position, the cleaning web 52 may have such an extension in the width direction B that in a plan view of the coater 30 from above the longitudinal ends 40aa, 40ab, 40ba, 40bb of the stroking/sweeping surfaces 40a, 40b do not extend beyond the cleaning web 52 (also see FIG. 4 in this regard).

[0120] The coater cleaning device 50 may, for example, comprise a pressing device 70 which is configured to press the cleaning web 52 against the output region 36 and/or the stroking/sweeping surfaces 40a, 40b, when the coater 30 is in its cleaning position (see FIG. 3). For example, the pressing device 70 may comprise a support structure 72 on which the cleaning web 52 is supported and which is configured to press the cleaning web 52 against the output region 36 and/or the stroking/sweeping surfaces 40a, 40b, when the coater 30 is in its cleaning position. The support structure 72 may, for example, have a sliding element 74 on which the cleaning web 52 is supported/abuts. For example, the sliding element 74 and/or the support structure 72 may be elongated and may define a longitudinal axis (not shown). A length of the sliding member 74 (i.e., an extension of the sliding member 74 along its longitudinal axis) and/or the support structure 72 (i.e., an extension of the support structure 72 along its longitudinal axis) may be greater than or equal to a length of the output region 36 and/or the stroking/sweeping surfaces 40a, 40b. The sliding element 74 may, for example, be made of an elastic material. Alternatively or in addition, the sliding element 74 may be loaded with a spring force which presses the sliding element 74 against the cleaning web 52 and subsequently presses the cleaning web 52 against the output region 36, when the coater 30 is in its cleaning position. In order to apply a spring force to the sliding element 74, the support structure 72 may, for example, comprise springs 76 which are arranged below the sliding element 74. The springs 76 may, for example, be coil springs, as shown in FIG. 2.

[0121] The support structure 72 may, for example, be height-adjustable, for example by means of an electric motor (not shown), for example in the direction of and/or along the double arrow shown in FIG. 2. By means of the height adjustment, the cleaning web 52 may be brought into and out of contact with the output region 36 and the stroking/sweeping surfaces 40a, 40b, respectively. For example, the support structure 72 and thus also the cleaning web 52 supported thereon may be in a lowered position when the coater 30 is not in its cleaning position. After the coater 30 having been moved into its cleaning position, the support structure 72 can then be adjusted in height so that the cleaning web 52 is contacted with the output region 36 and the stroking/sweeping surfaces 40a, 40b, respectively.

[0122] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the coater cleaning device 50 may, for example, comprise a rotatable roll-up roller 130 onto which the cleaning web 52 can be rolled up. Furthermore, the coater cleaning device 50 may, for example, comprise a rotatable unrolling/roll-off roller 132, from which the cleaning web 52 can be unrolled/rolled off. The roll-up roller 130 and/or the unrolling roller 132 may be exchangeable and/or may be driven, for example, by means of an electric motor (not shown). For example, the roll-up roller 130 and/or the unrolling roller 132 may respectively define a roller longitudinal axis (not shown). For example, a length of the roll-up roller 130 (i.e., an extension of the roll-up roller 130 in the direction of its roller longitudinal axis) and/or of the unrolling roller 132 (i.e., an extension of the unrolling roller 132 in the direction of its roller longitudinal axis) may be greater than or equal to a width of the cleaning web 52.

[0123] The above pressure device may be provided between the roll-up roller and the unrolling roller as seen in the longitudinal direction of the web and/or in a horizontal direction.

[0124] As described, a fresh cleaning web 52 may be provided, for example, on the unrolling roller 132. Alternatively, for example, a fresh cleaning web 52 may be folded several times, in which case the unrolling roller 132 can be dispensed with.

[0125] The first end of the cleaning web 52 may, for example, be attached to the roll-up roller 130, so that the cleaning web 52 can be wound onto the roll-up roller 130 by a rotational movement of the roll-up roller 130.

[0126] The cleaning web 52 may, for example, extend from the unrolling roller 132 via the support structure 72 (and/or the sliding element 74 thereof) to the roll-up roller 130 (see FIG. 2). The cleaning web can be unwound from the unrolling roller 132 and wound onto the roll-up roller 130 by a rotary movement of the roll-up roller 130. This allows, for example, a fresh cleaning web 52 portion to be provided. For example, after wiping the output region 36 and/or the stroking/sweeping surface 40a, 40b with the cleaning web 52, the portion of the cleaning web 52 with which the output region 36 and/or the stroking/sweeping surface 40a, 40b was wiped may be dirty. By rotating the roll-up roller 130, a fresh, unsoiled cleaning web 52 portion can simply be provided for further/following/later cleaning.

[0127] It may be sufficient to drive only the roll-up roller 130 to move the web. In this respect, the unrolling roller 132 may, for example, be configured to provide or to have an unrolling resistance, so that the cleaning web 52 is held in tension. In addition or alternatively, a web tensioning element may also be provided.

[0128] The coater cleaning device 50 may, for example, comprise a cleaning agent supply device 90 configured to supply the cleaning web 52 with a cleaning agent. For example, the cleaning agent supply device 90 may be integrated into the sliding element 74 (not shown in the Figures) and/or may be disposed, as seen in the longitudinal direction of the web (i.e., in the direction of the longitudinal axis L2 of the cleaning web 52), in front of a contact region 110 where the output region 36 and the cleaning web 52 contact each other for wiping the output region 36 by means of the cleaning web 52 (see FIGS. 2 and 3). For example, the contact region 110 may extend along the entire length of the output region 36 and the stroking/sweeping surfaces 40a, 40b, respectively (see FIG. 4). For example, the cleaning agent supply device 90 may be elongated. For example, the cleaning agent supply device 90 may comprise an elongated cleaning agent supply line 92 and spraying nozzles 94 arranged thereon, by means of which a/the liquid cleaning agent is sprayed onto the cleaning web 52. A length of the cleaning agent supply device 90 and of its cleaning agent supply line 92, respectively, may, for example, be greater than or equal to a width of the cleaning web 52. The spraying nozzles 94 may, for example, be arranged at regular intervals along the entire length of the cleaning agent supply line 92, as seen in a longitudinal direction of the cleaning agent supply line 92.

[0129] For example, the coater cleaning device 50 may comprise a covering device 96 by means of which a fresh, unsoiled portion of the cleaning web 52 may be screened/covered, making contamination at least more difficult. For example, the covering device 96 may be arranged above the unrolling roller 132. As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the cleaning agent supply device 90 may, for example, be arranged on the covering device 96. For example, the cleaning agent supply line 92 may be arranged on/fixed to the covering device 96, wherein the spraying nozzles 94 can be arranged as described above.

[0130] For example, the coater cleaning device 50 may comprise a sensor 150 to determine the amount of cleaning agent absorbed by the cleaning web 52. For example, the sensor may be located in front of the contact region 110 and behind the cleaning agent supply device 90 and adjacent to the cleaning web 52 (see FIGS. 2 and 3), as viewed in the longitudinal direction of the web. Alternatively or in addition, the sensor 150 may, for example, be integrated in the sliding element 54 (not shown), for example, when the cleaning agent supply device 90 is integrated in the sliding element 54.

[0131] The coater cleaning device 50 may, for example, comprise a controller 170 which is configured to variably adjust the relative movement between the output region 36 and the stroking/sweeping surfaces 40a, 40b, respectively, and the cleaning web 52, so-called “movement patterns”, and/or the amount and/or type of cleaning agent of the cleaning device, for example depending on a degree of contamination of the output region 36 (and stroking/sweeping surfaces 40a, 40b, respectively) and/or a construction material used in 3D printing and/or a binder component used in 3D printing.

[0132] Movement patterns are understood as being the movements of the coater 30 and/or the cleaning web 52 during the cleaning process.

[0133] For example, the controller 170 may be connected to a/the drive of the coater 30, a/the drive of the roll-up roller 130, a/the drive of the unrolling roller 132, a/the drive of the support structure 72, the spraying nozzles 94 and/or the sensor 170. The controller 170 can control the spraying nozzles 94 so that a defined amount and/or a desired type of cleaning agent is dispensed.

[0134] The controller 170 can control the drive of the roll-up roller 130 and/or the drive of the unrolling roller 132 to provide a fresh cleaning web portion and/or perform a desired movement pattern of the cleaning web 52 during wiping of the output region 36 with the cleaning web 52.

[0135] The controller 170 can control the drive of the coater 30 so that a desired movement pattern of the coater 30 is performed while wiping the output region 36 and the stroking/sweeping surfaces 40a, 40b, respectively, with the cleaning web 52.

[0136] A corresponding method for cleaning a coater 30 of a 3D printer 10 with a coater cleaning device 50, wherein the coater cleaning device 50 comprises a cleaning web 52, which for example is made of an absorbent material and/or is formed to be finite and/or is configured as a disposable web and/or is formed to be exchangeable, may comprise:

[0137] contacting the coater 30 with the cleaning web 52 (as indicated in FIG. 3), and carrying out a relative movement between the coater 30 and the cleaning web 52 (as also indicated in FIG. 3) for wiping the coater 30 by means of the cleaning web 52, for example in a moistened state of the cleaning web and/or by moving the coater, for example in a direction transverse to the longitudinal direction thereof. The previous description of specific exemplary embodiments of this invention has been presented for the purpose of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the exact forms disclosed, and it is to be understood that various modifications and variations are possible in the light of the teaching disclosed above. The exemplary embodiments have been chosen and described to explain certain principles of the invention and their practical application, to hereby enable those skilled in the art to manufacture and use various exemplary embodiments of this invention as well as various alternatives and modifications thereof. It is intended that the scope of protection of the invention shall be defined by the attached claims and their equivalents.