US 11,890,795 B2
Plasticizing device, three-dimensional modeling device, and injection molding device
Tatsuya Teramoto, Shiojiri (JP)
Assigned to SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
Filed by SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION, Tokyo (JP)
Filed on Sep. 20, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/948,430.
Claims priority of application No. 2021-152991 (JP), filed on Sep. 21, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2023/0089600 A1, Mar. 23, 2023
Int. Cl. B29C 45/18 (2006.01); B29C 64/321 (2017.01); B33Y 30/00 (2015.01); B29C 45/60 (2006.01); B29C 64/314 (2017.01); B29C 64/255 (2017.01); B29C 64/209 (2017.01)
CPC B29C 45/60 (2013.01) [B29C 45/18 (2013.01); B29C 64/209 (2017.08); B29C 64/255 (2017.08); B29C 64/314 (2017.08); B33Y 30/00 (2014.12)] 7 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A plasticizing device comprising:
a material reservoir which has an input port and is configured to retain a material;
a plasticizer which has a screw and a case housing the screw and provided with a feed port communicated with the input port, and which is configured to plasticize the material to generate a plasticized material;
a coupling pipe having a coupling path configured to connect the input port and the feed port to each other;
a material sensor which has a light emitter configured to emit light toward the screw via the feed port, and a light receiver configured to receive reflected light of the light, and which is configured to detect a remaining amount of the material; and
a controller configured to control the material reservoir, wherein
the material reservoir has a material feed mechanism configured to feed the material to the coupling path,
the controller is configured to control the material feed mechanism to feed the material to the coupling path when the remaining amount of the material detected by the material sensor is smaller than a reference value,
the screw is a flat screw having a groove forming surface provided with a groove having a spiral shape,
the plasticizer includes
a motor configured to rotate the flat screw, and
a barrel having an opposed surface opposed to the groove forming surface, and provided with a communication hole into which the plasticized material inflows,
a side surface of the flat screw is provided with a material introduction portion configured to introduce the material to the groove, and
the material sensor detects the remaining amount of the material in the material introduction portion,
and further comprising a detection position chancier configured to change a detection position by the material sensor, wherein
the controller is configured to control the detection position changer so that the material sensor detects the remaining amount of the material in the material introduction portion when the material includes elastomer, and the material sensor detects the remaining amount of the material in the coupling path when the material does not include the elastomer.