PRINTING PLATFORM SUPPORTING MODULE AND THREE-DIMENSIONAL PRINTER USING SAME

• US 20170043538A1
• Filed: 09/10/2015
• Published: 02/16/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 08/10/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: TECO Image Systems Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: TECO Image Systems Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Chang, Yu-Jen, Chou, Ken-Te, CHEN, Ting-Chun, Chen, Chien-Ying
• Granted Patent: US 9,731,493 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 64/106 using only liquids or viscous materials, e.g. depositing a continuous bead of viscous material
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 64/112 using individual droplets, e.g. from jetting heads
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 64/118 using filamentary material being melted, e.g. fused deposition modelling [FDM]
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 64/245 Platforms or substrates support structures intended to be sacrificed after manufacture B29C64/40
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 64/25 Housings, e.g. machine housings
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 64/295 Heating elements
• CPC Class Codes: B33Y 30/00 Apparatus for additive manufacturing; Details thereof or accessories therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B33Y 40/00 Auxiliary operations or equipment, e.g. for material handling
• CPC Class Codes: B33Y 50/02 for controlling or regulating additive manufacturing processes

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a printing platform supporting module and a three-dimensional printer using same. The printing platform supporting module comprises a supporting frame, the printing platform, a heating assembly, an adjusting module, and a printing plate. The heating assembly is disposed on the printing platform. The adjusting module is disposed on the printing platform and comprises a plurality of locking units. The printing plate has a working surface and a mounting surface opposite to the working surface. The mounting surface is urged against the heating assembly. The printing plate is removably disposed on the printing platform by means of a locking action and an unlocking action of the locking units.

Claims

1. A printing platform supporting module for a three-dimensional printer, the printing platform supporting module comprising:

a supporting frame;

a printing platform fixed on the supporting frame;

a heating assembly disposed on the printing platform;

an adjusting module disposed on the printing platform and comprising a plurality of locking units; and

a printing plate having a working surface and a mounting surface opposite to the working surface, wherein the mounting surface is urged against the heating assembly, and the printing plate is removably disposed on the printing platform by means of a locking action and an unlocking action of the locking units.

2. The printing platform supporting module according to claim 1, wherein when each of the locking units is adjusted to a first position, the working surface of the printing plate is urged against the locking units, and the printing plate is fixed on the printing platform;

and when each of the locking units is adjusted to a second position, the working surface of the printing plate is separated from the locking units, and the printing plate is removable from the printing platform.

3. The printing platform supporting module according to claim 1, wherein when parts of the locking units are adjusted to an optimum position, respectively, the working surface of the printing plate is parallel to a movement plane of a printhead of the three-dimensional printer.

4. The printing platform supporting module according to claim 1, wherein the heating assembly comprises:

a buffer pad disposed on the printing platform;

an insulating plate attached on the buffer pad; and

a heating plate attached on the insulating plate,

wherein the buffer pad is elastically compressed and configured to push the heating plate to urge against the mounting surface of the printing plate.

5. The printing platform supporting module according to claim 1, wherein the heating assembly comprises:

a buffer pad disposed on the printing platform; and

a heating plate attached on the buffer pad,

wherein the buffer pad is elastically compressed and configured to push the heating plate to urge against the mounting surface of the printing plate.

6. The printing platform supporting module according to claim 1, wherein the printing plate is formed by a glass.

7. The printing platform supporting module according to claim 1, wherein the printing platform comprises a plurality of first disposing holes and a plurality of fixing screws, each of the fixing screws is coupled with a corresponding first disposing hole and the supporting frame for fixing the printing platform on the supporting frame.

8. The printing platform supporting module according to claim 1, wherein the adjusting module further comprises a plurality of guiding tracks disposed on two opposite sides of the printing platform for guiding and limiting the movement of the printing plate.

9. The printing platform supporting module according to claim 1, wherein the printing platform further comprises a plurality of second disposing holes, and the adjusting module further comprises a plurality of elastic panels, wherein each of the elastic panels has a bending part and a main body, each main body of the elastic panels is coupled with a corresponding second disposing holes, and the mounting surface of the printing plate is urged against the bending parts of the elastic panels.

10. The printing platform supporting module according to claim 9, wherein the adjusting module further comprises:

a plurality of holders, each of the holders being disposed in a corresponding second disposing hole; and

a plurality of springs, each of the locking units is coupled with a corresponding holder, each of the springs is disposed between a corresponding locking unit and a corresponding holder for urging against the corresponding locking unit and the corresponding holder.

11. A three-dimensional printer, comprising:

a base;

a frame fixed on the base;

a driving module disposed on the frame;

a printhead connected with the driving module and enabled to move by the driving module; and

a printing platform supporting module comprising;

a supporting frame;

a printing platform fixed on the supporting frame;

a heating assembly disposed on the printing platform;

an adjusting module disposed on the printing platform and comprising a plurality of locking units; and

a printing plate having a working surface and a mounting surface opposite to the working surface, wherein the mounting surface is urged against the heating assembly, and the printing plate is removably disposed on the printing platform by means of a locking action and an unlocking action of the locking unit.

12. The three-dimensional printer according to claim 11, wherein when each of the locking units is adjusted to a first position, the working surface of the printing plate is urged against the locking units, and the printing plate is fixed on the printing platform;

and when each of the locking units is adjusted to a second position, the working surface of the printing plate is separated from the locking units, and the printing plate is removable from the printing platform.

13. The three-dimensional printer according to claim 11, wherein when parts of the locking units are adjusted to an optimum position, respectively, the working surface of the printing plate is parallel to a movement plane of the printhead.

14. The three-dimensional printer according to claim 11, wherein the heating assembly comprises:

a buffer pad disposed on the printing platform;

an insulating plate attached on the buffer pad; and

a heating plate attached on the insulating plate,

wherein the buffer pad is elastically compressed and configured to push the heating plate to urge against the mounting surface of the printing plate.

15. The three-dimensional printer according to claim 11, wherein the heating assembly comprises:

a buffer pad disposed on the printing platform; and

a heating plate attached on the buffer pad,

wherein the buffer pad is elastically compressed and configured to push the heating plate to urge against the mounting surface of the printing plate.

16. The three-dimensional printer according to claim 11, wherein the printing plate is formed by a glass.

17. The three-dimensional printer according to claim 11, wherein the printing platform comprises a plurality of first disposing holes and a plurality of fixing screws, each of the fixing screws is coupled with a corresponding first disposing hole and the supporting frame for fixing the printing platform on the supporting frame.

18. The three-dimensional printer according to claim 11, wherein the adjusting module further comprises a plurality of guiding tracks disposed on two opposite sides of the printing platform for guiding and limiting the movement of the printing plate.

19. The three-dimensional printer according to claim 11, wherein the printing platform further comprises a plurality of second disposing holes, and the adjusting module further comprises a plurality of elastic panels, wherein each of the elastic panels has a bending part and a main body, each main body of the elastic panels is coupled with a corresponding second disposing holes, and the mounting surface of the printing plate is urged against the bending parts of the elastic panels.

20. The three-dimensional printer according to claim 19, wherein the adjusting module further comprises:

a plurality of holders, each of the holders being disposed in a corresponding second disposing hole; and

a plurality of springs, each of the locking units is coupled with a corresponding holder, each of the springs is disposed between a corresponding locking unit and a corresponding holder for urging against the corresponding locking unit and the corresponding holder.