AUTOMATIC POWDER RECYCLING APPARATUS

• US 20120052145A1
• Filed: 08/26/2011
• Published: 03/01/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microjet Technology Co Limited (Microjet Technology)
• Original Assignee: Microjet Technology Co Limited (Microjet Technology)
• Inventors: Shi, Kwo-Yuan, Chen, Chih-Kai, Huang, Ke-Ming
• Granted Patent: US 8,827,681 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 425/217
• CPC Class Codes: B08B 15/026 Boxes for removal of dirt, e.g. for cleaning brakes, glove- boxes
• CPC Class Codes: B08B 5/02 Cleaning by the force of jets, e.g. blowing-out cavities airguns or nozzles per se B05B1/005
• CPC Class Codes: B22F 10/20 Direct sintering or melting
• CPC Class Codes: B22F 10/73 of powder
• CPC Class Codes: B22F 12/226 for rotary motion
• CPC Class Codes: B22F 12/38 Housings, e.g. machine housings
• CPC Class Codes: B33Y 30/00 Apparatus for additive manufacturing; Details thereof or accessories therefor
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 10/20 Recycling
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 10/25 Process efficiency

Abstract

An automatic powder recycling apparatus includes a housing, a plurality of isolation elements, an air-blowing device, a powder filtering member, a recycling member and an air-inhaling device. A sealed space is defined within the housing. The air-blowing device is disposed within the sealed space for removing the powder attached on the surface of the finished product. The air-inhaling device is in communication with the first receptacle for allowing the first receptacle to be in a negative pressure state. When the powder on the finished product is removed by the air-blowing device and directed to the powder filtering member by the air-inhaling device, the powder is filtered and blocked by the powder filtering member. When the air-inhaling device is disabled, the powder blocked by the powder filtering member naturally falls down to the recycling member.

Claims

1. An automatic powder recycling apparatus for use in a three-dimensional object-forming system to attract and filter powder attached on a surface of a finished product, said automatic powder recycling apparatus comprising:

a housing;

a plurality of isolation elements connected with said housing, wherein a sealed space is defined within said housing through said isolation elements;

an air-blowing device disposed within said sealed space for removing said powder attached on said surface of said finished product;

a powder filtering member disposed within said housing for dividing said sealed space into a first receptacle and a second receptacle, wherein said finished product and said air-blowing device are accommodated within said second receptacle;

a recycling member accommodated within said second receptacle; and

an air-inhaling device in communication with said first receptacle for allowing said first receptacle to be in a negative pressure state, wherein when said powder on said finished product is removed by said air-blowing device and directed to said powder filtering member by said air-inhaling device, said powder is filtered and blocked by said powder filtering member, wherein when said air-inhaling device is disabled, said powder blocked by said powder filtering member naturally falls down to said recycling member.

2. The automatic powder recycling apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said isolation element are working gloves.

3. The automatic powder recycling apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said air-blowing device is an air spray gun for spraying air to remove said powder attached on said surface of said finished product.

4. The automatic powder recycling apparatus according to claim 1 wherein a partition plate is further disposed within said housing, and said partition plate has a perforation, wherein a ring-shaped structure is sheathed around a periphery of said perforation.

5. The automatic powder recycling apparatus according to claim 4 wherein said powder filtering member is a dust collection bag made of non-woven fabric material, and said powder filtering member is aligned with said perforation and sheathed around said ring-shaped structure.

6. An automatic powder recycling apparatus for use in a three-dimensional object-forming system to attract and filter powder attached on a surface of a finished product, said automatic powder recycling apparatus comprising:

a housing;

a plurality of isolation elements connected with said housing, wherein a sealed space is defined within said housing through said isolation elements;

an air-blowing device disposed within said sealed space for removing said powder attached on said surface of said finished product;

a powder filtering member disposed within said housing for dividing said sealed space into a first receptacle and a second receptacle, wherein said finished product and said air-blowing device are accommodated within said second receptacle;

a recycling member accommodated within said second receptacle, and comprising a screen mesh, a connecting pipe, a transmission mechanism and a recycling tank, wherein said screen mesh is driven by said transmission mechanism to be swung; and

an air-inhaling device in communication with said first receptacle for allowing said first receptacle to be in a negative pressure state, wherein when said powder on said finished product is removed by said air-blowing device and directed to said powder filtering member by said air-inhaling device, said powder is filtered and blocked by said powder filtering member, wherein when said air-inhaling device is disabled, said powder blocked by said powder filtering member naturally falls down to said screen mesh, wherein said powder passing through said screen mesh is transferred to said recycling tank through said connecting pipe.

7. The automatic powder recycling apparatus according to claim 6 wherein said recycling member further comprises a powder sieving box and a powder sieving frame, wherein said screen mesh is located at a bottom side of said powder sieving box, and said powder sieving box is selectively accommodated within said powder sieving frame or withdrawn from said powder sieving frame, wherein said powder sieving frame has a slant surface and a slot, and said powder passing through said screen mesh is guided to said slot by said slant surface.

8. The automatic powder recycling apparatus according to claim 7 wherein said recycling member further comprises:

a linking seat for supporting said powder sieving box and said powder sieving frame and connecting with said transmission mechanism, wherein said linking seat is driven by said transmission mechanism to be swung toward left and right side in a reciprocating manner, thereby swinging said screen mesh; and

a connecting tank in communication with said connecting pipe and said linking seat, wherein said powder passing through said screen mesh is transferred to said recycling tank through said slot of said powder sieving frame, a hollow portion of said linking seat, said connecting tank and said connecting pipe.

9. The automatic powder recycling apparatus according to claim 8 wherein said linking seat further comprises at least one stopper for confining a movable distance of swinging said linking seat.

10. The automatic powder recycling apparatus according to claim 8 wherein said transmission mechanism comprises a driving motor, a transmission belt, a rotating shaft and an eccentric wheel, wherein through said transmission belt and said rotating shaft, a motive power provided by said driving motor is transmitted to said eccentric wheel to rotate said eccentric wheel, wherein upon rotation of said linking seat, said linking seat is swung toward said left and right side in said reciprocating manner.