PRINTING DEVICE FOR A 3D PRINTER

Abstract

The invention relates to a printing device (10) for a 3D printer. The printing device comprises a metering unit (18) for melting and plasticizing a material (38) to be printed and a delivery unit (14) for printing the material (38) provided via the metering unit (18). The metering unit (18) and the delivery unit (14) are arranged separately from each other and can be connected to each other, wherein the delivery unit (14) can be transported to the metering unit (18) in order to receive material (38) and, in order to connect the delivery unit (14) to the metering unit (18), a nozzle (74) of the delivery unit (14) and a coupling point (62) of the metering unit (18) come into contact with each other.

Claims

1. A printing device (10) for a 3D printer, the printing device comprising a metering unit (18) configured for melting and plasticizing a material (38) to be printed and a discharge unit (14) configured for printing the material (38) supplied via the metering unit (18), characterized in that the metering unit (18) and the discharge unit (14) are arranged separately from each other and are configured to be connected to each other, wherein the discharge unit (14) is configured to be transported to the metering unit (18) in order to receive the material (38) and a nozzle (74) of the discharge unit (14) and a coupling point (62) of the metering unit (18) are configured to come into contact with each other in order to connect the discharge unit (14) to the metering unit (18).

2. The printing device (10) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the discharge unit (14) is one of a plurality of discharge units (14) interact in turn with a single metering unit (18) in order to receive material (38).

3. The printing device (10) as claimed in claim 2, further comprising a plurality of print chamber units (102), wherein the plurality of discharge units (14) are associated with different ones of the print chamber units (102) which are separated from one another.

4. The printing device (10) as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a separate transport system (86) configured to transport the discharge unit (14) to the metering unit (18).

5. The printing device (10) as claimed in claim 4, characterized in that the transport system (86) has a heatable transport support (94) in which the discharge unit (14) is received.

6. The printing device (10) as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the discharge unit (14) is arranged replaceably in the printing device (10).

7. The printing device (10) as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the discharge unit (14) has a discharge piston (78) which interacts with a means (82) for applying a force (F.sub.F), counter to a filling direction of the discharge unit (14), when the material (38) is received.

8. The printing device (10) as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the discharge unit (14) has a discharge piston (78) which is driven by a servomotor such that the material (38) can be dispensed for printing.

9. The printing device (10) as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the metering unit (18) has a metering piston (46) for dispensing the material (38) in the metering unit (18), wherein the metering piston is driven via a hydraulic system or an electric motor.

10. A method for operating a printing device (10) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the method comprises the steps: transporting (A) the discharge unit (14) to the metering unit (18), connecting (B) the discharge unit (14) to the metering unit (18), filling (C) the discharge unit (14) with the material (38) to be printed, and transporting (D) the discharge unit (14) to a region to be printed.

11. The printing device (10) as claimed in claim 3, further comprising a separate transport system (86) configured to transport the discharge units (14) to the metering unit (18).

12. The printing device (10) as claimed in claim 11, characterized in that the transport system (86) has a heatable transport support (94) in which the discharge units (14) are received.

13. The printing device (10) as claimed in claim 12, characterized in that the discharge units (14) are arranged replaceably in the printing device (10).

14. The printing device (10) as claimed in claim 13, characterized in that each of the discharge units (14) has a discharge piston (78) which interacts with a means (82) for applying a force (F.sub.F), counter to a filling direction of the discharge unit (14), when the material (38) is received.

15. The printing device (10) as claimed in claim 14, characterized in that each of the discharge units (14) has a discharge piston (78) which is driven by a servomotor such that the material (38) can be dispensed for printing.

16. The printing device (10) as claimed in claim 15, characterized in that the metering unit (18) has a metering piston (46) for dispensing the material (38) in the metering unit (18), wherein the metering piston is driven via a hydraulic system or an electric motor.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0024] Exemplary embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the drawings and explained in detail in the following description. In the drawings:

[0025] FIG. 1 shows an exemplary embodiment of a printing device during filling of a discharge unit,

[0026] FIG. 2 shows an exemplary embodiment of a printing device during transporting of the discharge unit,

[0027] FIG. 3 shows an exemplary embodiment of a printing device with a plurality of discharge units which are arranged in different print chamber units, and

[0028] FIG. 4 shows a method for operating the printing device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0029] An exemplary embodiment of a printing device 10 during filling of a discharge unit 14 is shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 1 is shown here in a view in section. The printing device 10 has a metering unit 18 in addition to the discharge unit 14. The metering unit 18 is formed here from a base body 22 on which a filler funnel 26 is arranged. Raw material 30 in solid form can be filled into the filler funnel 26. The filler funnel 26 is connected directly to a metering space 34 formed by the base body 22. The raw material 30 for forming a print-ready material 38 is melted and plasticized in this metering space 34.

[0030] The metering space 34 has a lateral metering piston opening 42. A metering piston 46, which projects into the metering space 34, is arranged in this metering piston opening 42. A metering piston force FD can be applied via the metering piston 46 to the material 38 in the metering space 34 such that it can be pressed in the direction of a metering delivery opening 50 situated opposite the metering piston opening 42.

[0031] The metering unit 18 has at the metering delivery opening 50 a coupling element 54 which forms a duct 58 such that material 38 which is output via the metering delivery opening 50 can be conveyed to a coupling point 62 of the coupling element 54. The discharge unit 14 is arranged at the coupling point 62 such that this discharge unit 14 can receive the melted material 38.

[0032] The discharge unit 14 has a discharge body 66 which forms a discharge space 70 in which melted material 38 can be received. A nozzle 74, via which the melted material 38 can be received, is formed at one end, connected to the coupling point 62, of the discharge body 66. The material 38 is likewise applied to a workpiece (not shown) by this nozzle 74.

[0033] A discharge piston 78, via which the material 38 can be dispensed, is arranged inside the discharge space 70. A means 82, via which a force F.sub.F can be applied counter to the filling direction during the filling, is arranged above the discharge piston 78. In this exemplary embodiment, the means 82 is configured as a schematically illustrated spring. The airless filling of the discharge unit 14 is ensured by the force F.sub.F exerted on the discharge piston 78. The discharge piston 78 is here displaced in the direction of the spring 82 during the filling.

[0034] An exemplary embodiment of the printing device 10 during transport of the discharge unit 14 is shown in FIG. 2. In particular, a transport system 86 of the printing device 10 is shown in this Figure. In this exemplary embodiment, the transport system 86 is formed of an axle unit 90 which is connected here, indicated schematically, to a motor M. The discharge unit 14 can be transported between the metering unit 18 and a workpiece (not shown) to be manufactured via this transport system 86. The transporting can thus be performed automatically.

[0035] In this exemplary embodiment, the transport system 86 additionally has a transport support 94 which surrounds the discharge unit 14 on the outside. The transport support 94 here has in particular a heater 98 via which the material in the discharge unit 14 can be heated during the transporting. The storage time of the material in the discharge unit 14 can consequently be lengthened such that, for example, longer transport paths or transporting times are also possible. In an exemplary embodiment not shown here, the transport system 86 can also be implemented via a robot.

[0036] FIG. 3 shows an exemplary embodiment of the printing device 10 with a plurality of discharge units 14 which are arranged in different print chamber units 102. Each print chamber unit 102 here manufactures a different workpiece. A discharge unit 14, which in each case is received by a print head body 106 via which the discharge unit 14 can be moved, is arranged in each print chamber unit 102. The print head body 106 can also be designed with a heater (not shown) in the same way as the transport support 94.

[0037] The print chamber units 102 are connected to a metering unit 18 in particular via a single transport system 86. Accordingly, a plurality of discharge units 14 can be connected to a single metering unit 18 via a single transport system 86. The capacity of the components is improved as a result.

[0038] A method for operating the printing device 10 is shown in FIG. 4. In a first step A, the discharge unit 14 is transported to the metering unit 18. In a second step B, the discharge unit 14 is coupled to the metering unit 18. A leakproof connection between the metering unit 18 and the discharge unit 14 is formed here. In a following step C, the discharge unit 18 is filled by the metering unit 18. The discharge unit 14 can here be filled completely. The discharge unit 14 can likewise be filled only with a specified quantity of material. This quantity is here calculated in such a way that complete use of the material is ensured. In a following step D, the discharge unit 14 filled in this way is transported to a printing region. This method can be repeated multiple times during the printing.