US 12,036,711 B2
Plasticization device, injection molding apparatus, and three-dimensional modeling apparatus
Riona Hayashi, Shiojiri (JP); Seiichiro Yamashita, Azumino (JP); Kenta Anegawa, Matsumoto (JP); Megumi Enari, Shiojiri (JP); and Masashi Fuchii, Minowa-Machi (JP)
Assigned to Seiko Epson Corporation, Tokyo (JP)
Filed by SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION, Tokyo (JP)
Filed on Feb. 22, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/181,134.
Claims priority of application No. 2020-028976 (JP), filed on Feb. 25, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2021/0260800 A1, Aug. 26, 2021
Int. Cl. B29C 45/46 (2006.01); B29C 64/314 (2017.01); B33Y 30/00 (2015.01); B33Y 40/00 (2020.01)
CPC B29C 45/46 (2013.01) [B29C 64/314 (2017.08); B33Y 30/00 (2014.12); B33Y 40/00 (2014.12)] 14 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A plasticization device that plasticizes a material, comprising:
a drive motor;
a rotor that is to be rotated by the drive motor and has a groove-forming surface in which a groove and a curved projection strip portion is formed, the curved projection strip portion extends, as a continuous structure, from a peripheral edge of a circular central portion to an outer periphery of the rotor, the curved projection strip portion extends one or more turns around the circular central portion;
a barrel that faces the groove-forming surface and includes a communication hole at a position facing the circular central portion of the groove-forming surface, a guide groove is formed on a facing surface of the barrel that faces the groove-forming surface and extends to the communication hole, the guide groove extends outwardly on an inclined planar facing surface that extends from the communication hole toward a perimeter of the barrel; and
a heating unit configured to heat the material supplied between the rotor and the barrel, wherein
the rotor includes a protrusion protruding from the circular central portion and toward the communication hole, the protrusion comprises a sinusoidal profile with a hemispherical tip, the circular central portion of the groove-forming surface providing a groove portion encircling the protrusion to space a terminal end of the curved projection strip portion from the protrusion, and
0.28<=S2/S1<=1.03  (1)
wherein S1 is an area of the circular central portion and S2 is a maximum area of a cross-section of the protrusion along the groove-forming surface.