IP Library › Granted Patent US 11,034,089
Granted Patent B2
US 11,034,089 · App. 16/580,027 · Granted Jun 15, 2021

Plasticizing device and three-dimensional shaping device

Inventor: Keigo Yamasaki (Shiojiri, JP)
B29C64/314B29C64/209B29C64/241B29C64/245B29C64/255B33Y30/00B33Y40/00
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,034,089
App. No.
16/580,027
Granted
Jun 15, 2021
Kind
B2
Abstract

A plasticizing device includes: a drive motor; a rotating unit driven to rotate about a rotation axis by the drive motor and having an end surface perpendicular to the rotation axis and a lateral surface intersecting with the end surface; a barrel having a bottom surface facing the end surface of the rotating unit, and a heater; a case accommodating the rotating unit; and a material supply unit accommodating the material. At least one of the barrel and the case has a sidewall surface facing the lateral surface of the rotating unit and standing up along an outer circumference of the bottom surface of the barrel. At the bottom surface of the barrel, a communication hole through which the molten material flows out and a spiral groove part coupled to the communication hole are formed. The lateral surface of the rotating unit and the sidewall surface together define a supply space where the material is supplied from the material supply unit to the groove part.

Claims (34)

1. A plasticizing device plasticizing a material into a molten material, the plasticizing device comprising:

a drive motor;

a rotating unit driven to rotate about a rotation axis by the drive motor and having an end surface perpendicular to the rotation axis and a lateral surface intersecting with the end surface, the rotating unit being a cylindrical body that extends outward from an annular plate, the cylindrical surface of the cylindrical body defining the lateral surface, and the rotating unit including a plurality of blades that extend outward from the cylindrical body that each extend along an entire length of the cylindrical body;

a barrel having a bottom surface facing the end surface of the rotating unit, and a heater;

a case accommodating the rotating unit; and

a material supply unit accommodating the material, wherein

at least one of the barrel and the case has a sidewall surface facing the lateral surface of the rotating unit and standing up along an outer circumference of the bottom surface of the barrel,

at the bottom surface of the barrel, a communication hole through which the molten material flows out and a spiral groove part coupled to the communication hole are formed, and

the lateral surface of the rotating unit and the sidewall surface together define a supply space where the material is supplied from the material supply unit to the groove part.

2. The plasticizing device according to claim 1 , wherein

the sidewall surface has a supply port though which the material supply unit and the supply space communicate with each other, and

the material travels through the supply port and flows into the supply space.

3. The plasticizing device according to claim 1 , wherein

the blades protrude from the lateral surface toward the supply space, and

the material travels between the blades and flows into the groove part.

4. The plasticizing device according to claim 3 , wherein

the blades each have a surface sloped along the rotation axis.

5. The plasticizing device according to claim 1 , wherein

the sidewall surface has, at a position intersecting with the bottom surface, a slope part sloped in such a way as to approach a center of the bottom surface as it goes toward the bottom surface.

6. The plasticizing device according to claim 1 , wherein

the groove part is reduced in cross-sectional area as it goes toward the communication hole.

7. A three-dimensional shaping device comprising:

a nozzle ejecting a shaping material;

a plasticizing device plasticizing a material into the shaping material and supplying the shaping material to the nozzle; and

a control unit controlling the plasticizing device,

the plasticizing device comprising:

a drive motor;

a rotating unit driven to rotate about a rotation axis by the drive motor and having an end surface perpendicular to the rotation axis and a lateral surface intersecting with the end surface, the rotating unit being a cylindrical body that extends outward from an annular plate, the cylindrical surface of the cylindrical body defining the lateral surface, and the rotating unit including a plurality of blades that extend outward from the cylindrical body that each extend along an entire length of the cylindrical body;

a barrel having a bottom surface facing the end surface of the rotating unit, and a heater;

a case accommodating the rotating unit; and

a material supply unit accommodating the material, wherein

at least one of the barrel and the case has a sidewall surface facing the lateral surface of the rotating unit and standing up along an outer circumference of the bottom surface of the barrel,

at the bottom surface of the barrel, a communication hole through which the shaping material flows out into the nozzle and a spiral groove part coupled to the communication hole are formed, and

the lateral surface of the rotating unit and the sidewall surface together define a supply space where the material is supplied from the material supply unit to the groove part.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 24, 2019
From: YAMASAKI, KEIGO
To: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 050469/0464 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP JP2018-178937 · Sep 25, 2018 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20200094480A1 · Mar 26, 2020