IP Library Granted Patent US 12686169
Granted Patent B2
US 12686169 · App. 18/635,242 · Granted Jul 21, 2026

Plasticizing device and three-dimensional modeling apparatus

Inventors: Kazuhide Nakamura (Asahi-mura, JP); Taki Hashimoto (Shiojiri, JP)
Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
B29C64/209B29C64/295B33Y30/00
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12686169
App. No.
18/635,242
Granted
Jul 21, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A plasticizing device includes a screw having a groove formation surface with a groove and rotating around a rotation axis, a barrel having an opposed surface opposed to the groove formation surface in a direction along the rotation axis, with a communication hole for the plasticization material, a heater heating the material supplied, and a case housing the screw, wherein a first through hole communicating with the groove from an opposite surface to the groove formation surface and surrounded by a wall surface is formed in the screw, the material is supplied to the groove through a supply path and the first through hole, and a space is provided between an entrance of the first through hole and a material feed port provided in a terminal end portion closer to the screw of a terminal end of the supply path in the direction along the rotation axis.

Claims (36)

1 . A plasticizing device producing a plasticization material by plasticizing a material, comprising:

a screw having a groove formation surface with a groove formed therein and rotating around a rotation axis;

a barrel having an opposed surface opposed to the groove formation surface in a direction along the rotation axis, in which a communication hole for the plasticization material to flow out is provided;

a heater heating the material supplied to between the groove formation surface and the opposed surface; and

a case housing the screw, wherein

a supply path for supplying the material to the groove is provided,

a first through hole communicating with the groove from an opposite surface to the groove formation surface and surrounded by a wall surface is formed in the screw,

the material is supplied to the groove through the supply path and the first through hole,

a space is provided between an entrance of the first through hole and a material feed port provided in a terminal end portion closer to the screw of a terminal end of the supply path in the direction along the rotation axis, and

the entrance of the first through hole and the space communicate in a period of one revolution of the screw.

2 . The plasticizing device according to claim 1 , wherein

the groove is a spiral groove extending from a first end closer to a peripheral edge of the screw of a terminal end of the groove to a second end closer to a center of the screw than the first end, and

an exit of the first through hole is located at the first end as seen from the direction along the rotation axis.

3 . The plasticizing device according to claim 1 , wherein

a recessed portion as a part of the space is formed in the opposite surface to the groove formation surface,

the entrance of the first through hole is located in a bottom surface of the recessed portion, and

an area of the recessed portion is larger than an area of the first through hole as seen from the direction along the rotation axis.

4 . The plasticizing device according to claim 3 , wherein

the bottom surface of the recessed portion has an inclined surface inclined so that a depth of the recessed portion is deeper toward the first through hole.

5 . The plasticizing device according to claim 3 , wherein

the recessed portion extends along an outer circumference of the screw, and

a length of the recessed portion is equal to or smaller than a half of a length of the outer circumference of the screw.

6 . The plasticizing device according to claim 3 , wherein

the recessed portion extends along an outer circumference of the screw from a first side to a second side as boundaries of the recessed portion in the direction along the rotation axis,

the first side is located anterior to the second side in a rotation direction of the screw, and

the entrance of the first through hole in the recessed portion is located closer to the second side than the first side.

7 . The plasticizing device according to claim 1 , wherein

a housing hole housing the screw is provided in the case,

at least a part of the opposite surface to the groove formation surface of the screw projects from the housing hole, and

a peripheral edge portion of the housing hole is chamfered.

8 . The plasticizing device according to claim 1 , wherein

a second through hole is formed in the groove, and

a pressure adjustment unit adjusting pressure inside of the groove is placed in the second through hole.

9 . A three-dimensional modeling apparatus comprising:

the plasticizing device according to claim 1 ; and

a nozzle portion discharging the plasticization material toward a stage.