US 12,064,920 B2
Material feeding device, three-dimensional shaping device, and injection molding device
Masaaki Ogihara, Matsumoto (JP); and Taki Hashimoto, Shiojiri (JP)
Assigned to SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION, (JP)
Filed by SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION, Tokyo (JP)
Filed on Dec. 12, 2022, as Appl. No. 18/079,055.
Claims priority of application No. 2021-201476 (JP), filed on Dec. 13, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2023/0182393 A1, Jun. 15, 2023
Int. Cl. B29C 64/321 (2017.01); B29C 45/18 (2006.01); B29C 45/46 (2006.01); B29C 45/77 (2006.01); B29C 45/78 (2006.01); B29C 64/209 (2017.01); B29C 64/386 (2017.01); B29C 64/393 (2017.01); B33Y 30/00 (2015.01); B33Y 50/00 (2015.01); B33Y 50/02 (2015.01)
CPC B29C 64/321 (2017.08) [B29C 45/18 (2013.01); B29C 45/464 (2013.01); B29C 45/77 (2013.01); B29C 45/78 (2013.01); B29C 64/209 (2017.08); B29C 64/386 (2017.08); B29C 64/393 (2017.08); B33Y 30/00 (2014.12); B33Y 50/02 (2014.12); B29C 2945/7604 (2013.01); B29C 2945/76056 (2013.01); B29C 2945/76083 (2013.01); B29C 2945/7618 (2013.01); B33Y 50/00 (2014.12)] 12 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A three-dimensional shaping device comprising:
a plasticizing structure having a flat screw, a barrel, and a first motor, a source material being supplied between the flat screw and the barrel, the source material being plasticized by rotating the flat screw with respect to the barrel by the first motor around a rotating axis to form a plasticized material;
a flow path having first and second ends opposite to each other, the first end being in an inside of the barrel and receiving the plasticized material, the flow path extending along the rotating axis;
a nozzle provided at the second end of the flow path and receiving the plasticized material, the plasticized material being provided toward a stage via a nozzle opening;
a suction structure having:
a first cylinder extending along a first axis perpendicular to the rotating axis, one end of the first cylinder fluidly communicating with the flow path;
a plunger extending along the first axis and provided in an inside of the first cylinder; and
a second motor configured to reciprocally drive the plunger along the first axis to suck the plasticized material from the flow path and push the plasticized material to the flow path;
a pressure detector configured to detect a pressure value of the plasticized material in the flow path, the pressure detector including:
a second cylinder extending along a second axis perpendicular to the rotating axis, one end of the second cylinder fluidly communicating with the flow path;
a first rod extending along the second axis and provided in an inside of the second cylinder; and
a pressure sensor provided at a side of an opposite end of the second cylinder;
a memory configured to store a program; and
a processor configured to execute the program so as to:
receive the pressure value from the pressure detector;
detect a position of the plunger under a condition that the pressure value of the pressure detector is a first determination value or more and a second determination value or less;
control the second motor based on the position of the plunger;
control the first motor based on the pressure value so that the pressure value is the first determination value or more and the second determination value or less;
detect the position of the plunger based on an approximation curve, the approximation curve being calculated based on a plurality of torque values of the second motor measured by changing the position of the plunger; and
form a three-dimensional shaped object on the stage while controlling flow of the plasticized material in the flow path based on the position of the plunger.