CPC B29C 64/321 (2017.08) [B29C 45/58 (2013.01); B29C 45/76 (2013.01); B29C 64/386 (2017.08); B33Y 30/00 (2014.12); B33Y 40/00 (2014.12); B29C 2945/7618 (2013.01); B29C 2945/76658 (2013.01)] | 18 Claims |
1. A plasticizing device comprising:
a material storage unit having a container configured to store a pellet-shaped plasticizing material and a material supply mechanism configured to supply the plasticizing material to an outside, the material supply mechanism including a guide case having a material inlet on a container side and a charging port on an opposite side from the container and inside of the guide case being hollow;
a plasticizing unit having a supply port in communication with the charging port and configured to plasticize at least a part of the plasticizing material to generate a shaping material;
a coupling pipe having a coupling path through which the pellet-shaped plasticizing material falls from the charging port to the supply port;
a first material sensor configured to detect a remaining quantity of the plasticizing material in the coupling path; and
a control unit, wherein
the material supply mechanism includes a slide member being provided inside the guide case and having a hole, and a slide drive unit configured to slide the slide member inside the guide case, and
when the remaining quantity detected by the first material sensor is less than a first reference value, the control unit controls the material supply mechanism to supply a predetermined quantity of the plasticizing material to the coupling path, wherein
when viewed from a first direction perpendicular to a second direction in which the slide member slides, the material inlet does not overlap the charging port, and
the slide drive unit drives the slide member to switch between a first state, in which the plasticizing material in the material storage unit is not charged into the coupling pipe, and a second state in which the plasticizing material in the material storage unit is charged into the coupling pipe, and
the hole provided in the slide member has a first side surface and a second side surface that is closer to the charging port than the first side surface in the second direction, and the first side surface is inclined so that a size of the hole becomes smaller in the first direction.
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