Plant for additively manufacturing of three-dimensional objects

Abstract

A system (1) for additive manufacturing of three-dimensional objects, comprising one or more working stations (21), which are provided for performing at least one working process in the additive manufacturing of three-dimensional objects, at least one freely positionable mobile storage unit (2) comprising a rack-like storage device (4) comprising at least one storage room (5) provided for storing at least one powder module (6), especially for the purpose of conveying the powder module (6) between different working stations (21) of the system (1), and at least one driverless, freely movable mobile conveying unit (3) comprising a receiving device (12) provided for receiving at least one mobile storage unit (2) for the purpose of conveying the storage unit (2) between different working stations (21) of the system (1).

Claims

1. A system for additive manufacturing of three-dimensional objects, the system comprising: at least one mobile storage unit comprising a rack storage device, the rack storage device comprising at least one storage room, the at least one mobile storage unit comprising a mounting device having at least one of a sliding storage element or a roller storage element mounting at least one powder module in the at least one storage room; and at least one mobile conveying unit comprising a receiving device provided for receiving the at least one mobile storage unit, the receiving device comprising a lifting device coupled to a receiving element for abutting against the at least one mobile storage unit, wherein the lifting device generates a lifting power for moving the receiving element.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the at least one storage room comprises a frame structure.

3. The system according to claim 2, wherein the frame structure comprises: a plurality of frame structure portions defining the outer design of the at least one mobile storage unit; a plurality of first frame structure portions limiting the at least one storage room; and a plurality of second frame structure portions, via which the at least one mobile storage unit can be placed on a foundation.

4. The system according to claim 3, wherein the mounting device movably mounts the at least one powder module relative to the frame structure.

5. The system according to claim 3, wherein a clearance exists between the plurality of first frame structure portions and the foundation.

6. The system according to claim 1, wherein the receiving element is moveable between an upper position against a first frame structure portion limiting the bottom of the at least one storage room on one side and in a lower position to be spaced apart from the first frame structure portion.

7. The system according to claim 1 further comprising a plurality of working stations for the at least one mobile conveying unit to convey the at least one mobile storage unit between.

8. The system according to claim 7, wherein at least one of the plurality of working stations comprises at least one transfer interface, via which the at least one powder module can be transferred from the at least one working station to the at least one mobile storage unit.

9. The system according to claim 8, wherein the at least one mobile conveying unit can be moved into a defined docking position, in which the at least one mobile conveying unit is moved relative to the transfer interface such that the at least one powder module can be transferred from the at least one working station into the at least one storage room of the at least one mobile storage unit received on the at least one mobile conveying unit.

10. The system according to claim 8, wherein the transfer interface can be closed by a closing device, wherein the closing device comprises a closing element, which can be movably supported between an open position, in which the transfer interface is released for transferring the at least one powder module from the at least one working station into the at least one storage room of the at least one mobile storage unit or for transferring the at least one powder module from the at least one storage room of the at least one mobile storage unit into the at least one working station, and a closed position, in which the transfer interface is not released for transferring the at least one powder module from the at least one working station into the at least one storage room of the at least one mobile storage unit or for transferring the at least one powder module from the at least one storage room of the at least one mobile storage unit into the at least one working station.

11. The system according to claim 1, the at least one powder module comprises a powder chamber for receiving and/or dispensing construction material.

12. The system according to claim 1, wherein the at least one powder module comprises a process chamber, a collector module, and/or an overflow module, configured for being filled with non-solidified construction material.

13. The system according to claim 12, wherein the at least one powder module further comprises a construction module within which additive construction of objects is performed.

14. The system according to claim 12, wherein the at least one powder module further comprises one or more walls that define a powder room and a carrying device movably supported within the powder room.

15. The system according to claim 1, wherein the receiving device of the mobile conveying unit further comprises a lifting drive for generating a lifting power to the receiving element and/or the lifting element for moving the receiving element.

16. The system according to claim 1, wherein the at least one mobile conveying unit further comprises: a drive device provided for generating a drive force; and a power transmission device coupled with the drive device, the power transmission device provided for transmitting the drive force to a foundation for generating a movement of the at least one mobile conveying unit.

Description

(1) The invention is explained in more detail by means of exemplary embodiments in the figures of the drawings. In which:

(2) FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a conveying unit and a storage unit of a system for additive manufacturing of three-dimensional objects according to an exemplary embodiment; and

(3) FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a detail of a system for additive manufacturing of three-dimensional objects according to an exemplary embodiment.

(4) FIG. 1 shows a schematic diagram of a driverless mobile conveying unit 3 and a freely positionable mobile storage unit 2 of a system 1 for additive manufacturing of three-dimensional objects according to an exemplary embodiment.

(5) The storage device 2 comprises a rack-like storage device 4 comprising a storage room 5 provided for storing at least one powder module 6, i.e., for example, a construction module, especially for the purpose of conveying the powder module 6 between different working stations 21 of the system 1. The storage room 5 is typically be formed by a frame structure 7 comprising several, especially wall-like, frame structure portions 7a, 7b, defining the outer design of the storage unit 2. The frame structure 7 typically comprises first frame structure portions 7a limiting the storage room 5, and second frame structure portions 7b, via which the storage unit 2 can be placed on a foundation. The first frame structure portions 7a can limit the storage room 5 especially at the bottom, laterally, and at the ceiling. The first frame structure portions 7a also define at least one access opening 8, via which powder modules 6 can be moved into and out of the storage room 5. Respective second frame structure portions can be formed stand-like, i.e. especially as stands, such that they enable a stable placing of the storage unit 2 onto a foundation.

(6) A first frame structure portion 7a of the frame structure 7, limiting the bottom of the storage room 5, is arranged spaced apart from the foundation such that between the surface of the first frame structure portion 7a facing the foundation and the foundation a clearance is formed.

(7) On the first frame structure portions 7a, i.e. on the inner surfaces of the frame structure portions 7a facing the storage room 5, a mounting device 9 is arranged or formed, which is provided for mounting a powder module 6 in the storage room 5. The mounting device 9 is provided to movably mount the powder module 6 relative to the frame structure 7, for what the mounting device 9 comprises storage elements 10 enabling a movable storage of a powder module 6 arranged in the mounting device 9 relative to the frame structure 7. The storage elements 10 can e.g. be sliding or roller storage elements, which by formation of a movable storage interact with a powder module 6, i.e. engage into operating portions provided in the powder module by recesses 11 formed on the powder module. The operating portions extend at least partially along two wall portions of the powder module 6 arranged opposite each other.

(8) The conveying unit 3 comprises a receiving device 12 provided for receiving a mobile storage unit 2 for the purpose of conveying the storage unit 2 between different working stations 21 of the system 1. The conveying unit 3 comprises an, especially (electric) motor, drive device 13 provided for generating a drive force, and a power transmission device 14 coupled with the drive device 13, which is provided for transmitting the drive force generated by the drive device 13 to a foundation for generating a movement of the conveying unit 3 relative to the foundation. The power transmission device 14 comprises a number of wheels, rollers, or chains, via which a transmission of the drive force to the foundation can be realized.

(9) From the Figure it can be seen that the conveying unit 3 is, especially in terms of its height dimensions, dimensioned such that it can be moved into the clearance below the first frame structure portion 7a limiting the bottom of the storage room 5. By moving the conveying unit 3 into the clearance, i.e. below the first frame structure portion 7a limiting the bottom of the storage room 5, a receiving position shown in the Figure is defined, in which the conveying unit 3 can receive the storage unit 2.

(10) The receiving device 12 comprises an, e.g. plate-like or plate-shaped, receiving element 16 coupled with the lifting device 15. The lifting device 15 comprises an, especially (electric) motor, lifting drive (not shown), i.e., for example, a lifting spindle drive or lifting cylinder drive, which is provided for generating a lifting power for moving the receiving element 16. The receiving element 16 is by means of the lifting device 15 movably supported between at least one, i.e. possibly also more, upper position(s), in which the receiving element 16 is provided to abut against the storage unit 2, i.e. especially against the first frame structure portion 7a limiting the bottom of the storage room 5, such that the storage unit 2 can be lifted or is lifted from the foundation, and a lower position, in which the receiving element 16 is not provided to abut against a storage unit 2, especially against the first frame structure portion 7a limiting the bottom of the storage room 5, such that the storage unit 2 is lifted from the foundation.

(11) The conveying unit 3 can be automatically moved along different, i.e. especially freely configurable, trajectories. The configuration of respective trajectories can be firmly defined in a control device (not shown) of a respective conveying unit 3, and can be changed by corresponding control information transmitted to the conveying unit 3, e.g. via radio. For transmitting, i.e. especially for receiving, respective control information, the conveying unit 3 is equipped with suitable, especially radio-based, communication interfaces (not shown). Respective communication interfaces can also enable a communication of conveying units 3 among each other; a respective communication especially includes the, especially bi-directional, exchange of movement and/or position information regarding a current or future movement or positioning of a conveying unit 3.

(12) FIG. 2 shows a schematic diagram of a detail of a system 1 for additive manufacturing of three-dimensional objects according to an exemplary embodiment.

(13) The system 1 comprises, although in FIG. 2 only one single working station 21 is shown, several working stations 21, i.e., for example, processing stations provided for performing additive working processes, in which an apparatus for additive manufacturing of three-dimensional objects is arranged or formed.

(14) The working station 21 comprises a housing construction 18 with a mounting device 19, which is provided to movably mount a powder module 6 along a transport track extending through the working station 21 (cf. double arrow) relative to the housing construction 18. For that purpose, the mounting device 19 is equipped with storage elements 20 enabling a movable storage of a powder module 6 arranged in the mounting device 19 relative to the housing construction 18. Respective storage elements 20 can in turn e.g. be sliding or roller storage elements, which by formation of a movable storage interact with a powder module 6, i.e. engage into the operating portions provided in the powder module by e.g. recesses 11 formed on the powder module. The working station 21 can comprise a drive device (not shown) interacting with the mounting device 19, via which a drive force moving a powder module 6 along the transport track can be generated.

(15) From FIG. 2 it can be seen that respective mounting devices 19 of the working stations 21 and respective mounting devices 9 of the storage units 2, especially respective storage units 2 received on a conveying unit 3, purposefully align with each other such that a continuous transport track extending between storage unit 2 and working station 21 is resulting, making it possible for powder module 6 mounted in respective mounting devices 9, 19 to be transferred from a working station 21 to a storage unit 2, and vice versa, without difficulty.

(16) The working station 21 comprises at least one transfer interface 17, via which a powder module 6 is transferable, i.e. can be transferred from the working station 21 to the storage unit 2 or—as shown in FIG. 2—a powder module 6 is transferable, i.e. can be transferred from the storage unit 2 to the working station 21.

(17) A respective conveying unit 3 can be (automatically) moved into a defined docking position, in which the conveying unit 3 is moved relative to the transfer interface 17 or the working station 21 such that a powder module 6 can be transferred from the working station 21 into the storage room 5 of the storage unit 2 received on the conveying unit 3, or can vice versa be transferred from the storage room 5 of the storage unit 2 received on the conveying unit 3 into the working station 21. As shown in FIG. 2, a respective conveying unit 3 is in the docking position directly moved to the or against the (exposed) outer surface of the housing construction 18 of the respective working station 21 having the transfer interface 17.

(18) The transfer interface 17 of the working station can be closed by a closing device (not shown). The closing device can comprise a closing element, which can be movably supported between an open position, in which the transfer interface 17 is released for transferring a powder module 6 from the working station 21 into a storage room 5 of a storage unit 2 or for transferring a powder module 6 from the storage room 5 of a storage unit 2 into the working station 21, and a closed position, in which the transfer interface 17 is not released for transferring a powder module 6 from the working station 21 into a storage room 5 of a storage unit 2 or for transferring a powder module 6 from the storage room 5 of a storage unit 2 into the working station 21. Moving the closing element into the open or closed position, or vice versa, can be automatically carried out depending on the detection of movement of a conveying unit 3 into the docking position or depending on the detection of a conveying unit 3 moved into the docking position. The detection of movement of a conveying unit 3 into the docking position or the detection of a conveying unit 3 moved into the docking position can be realized by a suitable detection device (not shown). The detection device can e.g. comprise proximity or contact sensor technology, via which movement of a conveying unit 3 into the docking position or a conveying unit 3 moved into the docking position can be detected.

(19) By the interaction of the storage unit 2 and the conveying unit 3, a modular conveying and storage system enabling concurrent storing and conveying of powder modules 6 can be realized.