US 12,390,968 B2
Plasticizing device, injection molding apparatus, and three-dimensional shaping apparatus
Hidenobu Maruyama, Azumino (JP); Kazunobu Maruyama, Shiojiri (JP); and Masato Sugano, Shiojiri (JP)
Assigned to Seiko Epson Corporation, Tokyo (JP)
Filed by SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION, Tokyo (JP)
Filed on Aug. 20, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/445,514.
Claims priority of application No. 2020-140803 (JP), filed on Aug. 24, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2022/0055275 A1, Feb. 24, 2022
Int. Cl. B29C 45/46 (2006.01); B29C 45/20 (2006.01); B29C 45/60 (2006.01); B29C 45/76 (2006.01); B29C 64/209 (2017.01); B29C 64/314 (2017.01); B29C 64/321 (2017.01); B33Y 30/00 (2015.01)
CPC B29C 45/464 (2013.01) [B29C 45/20 (2013.01); B29C 45/60 (2013.01); B29C 45/7613 (2013.01); B29C 64/209 (2017.08); B29C 64/314 (2017.08); B29C 64/321 (2017.08); B29C 2945/76006 (2013.01); B29C 2945/7613 (2013.01); B29C 2945/76354 (2013.01); B29C 2945/76605 (2013.01); B29C 2945/76665 (2013.01); B33Y 30/00 (2014.12)] 15 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A plasticizing device comprising:
a plasticizing mechanism including a screw, a feeding port for receiving a material, and a first driving motor that rotates the screw, the plasticizing mechanism being configured to plasticize the material to generate a melted material; and
a material feeding mechanism configured to feed the material to the plasticizing mechanism, wherein
the material feeding mechanism includes:
a housing including a depositing port communicating with the feeding port, the housing storing the material;
a rotator housed in the housing and configured to rotate along an inner edge of the housing; and
a second driving motor that rotates the rotator,
a plurality of through-holes are provided in the rotator at intervals along an outer circumference of the rotator,
when the rotator rotates around a rotating shaft and any one of the plurality of through-holes and the depositing port communicate, the material stored in the housing is fed from the feeding port to the plasticizing mechanism through the depositing port,
the material feeding mechanism includes a cover provided above the rotator and covering a part of the rotator, the rotating shaft being received by a portion of the cover,
the cover is positioned along an outer circumference of the rotating shaft and overlaps the depositing port,
a communication hole for enabling the plurality of through-holes and the depositing port to communicate is provided in the housing,
when viewed from a rotation axis direction of the rotator, an end portion of the communication hole on an opposite side of the depositing port is provided in a position overlapping the cover,
the material feeding mechanism includes an elastic member configured to elongate and contract to adjust a clearance between the rotator and the cover during feeding of the material to the feeding port, the elastic member having a first end connected to an upper surface of the cover and a second end connected to the housing, the elastic member urging the cover to the rotator,
the plasticizing device further includes:
a processor; and
a memory including instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to control the first driving motor and the second driving motor, and
when a torque value of the first driving motor is smaller than a predetermined value, the processor controls the second driving motor such that a rotating speed of the rotator is higher compared with when the torque value of the first driving motor is larger than the predetermined value.