Patent Description:
As a material commonly used for light-curing printer cartridge designs, PDMS has the advantages of relatively low friction coefficient and relatively good elasticity, oxygen permeability and oxygen storage rate. With these characteristics, PDMS may provide a relatively high release property in a cartridge design with a totally enclosed system. However, in the totally enclosed PDMS cartridge design, PDMS cannot keep supplementing oxygen continuously, and a low release force usually exists in first multiple printed layers only. A drawing force between the printed layers subsequently formed and the bottom surface of the cartridge increases, resulting in a low printing speed and poor printing effect of a light-curing printer in a conventional art. <CIT> discloses a light curing 3D printer cartridge according to the preamble of the present claim <NUM>.

Objectives of the present invention include, for example, providing a fast light-curing 3D printer cartridge, which has the characteristics that a resin flows back fast, a drawing force between a printed layer and a bottom surface of the cartridge is reduced, the stripping speed is increased, and the printing speed is improved remarkably.

The objectives of the present invention also include providing a 3D printer with high printing speed.

In order to achieve at least one of the above objectives, the following technical solutions are adopted in the examples of the present invention.

The embodiment of the present invention provides a fast light-curing 3D printer cartridge, which includes a resin tank sidewall and a curing inhibitor delivery layer. A bottom of the resin tank sidewall is connected to an upper surface of the curing inhibitor delivery layer to enclose a resin tank. The fast light-curing 3D printer cartridge has a curing inhibitor supply part configured to provide a curing inhibitor for the curing inhibitor delivery layer.

In the present invention, the curing inhibitor supply part is arranged to provide the curing inhibitor for the curing inhibitor delivery layer, and the curing inhibitor keeps entering a resin in the resin tank well and continuously from the curing inhibitor delivery layer. Therefore, the printing speed may be improved remarkably.

The curing inhibitor supply part includes a delivery layer extending part. The delivery layer extending part is formed by the extension of the curing inhibitor delivery layer from the resin tank along the bottom of the resin tank sidewall. That is, the delivery layer extending part is a part of the curing inhibitor delivery layer. In the present invention, the delivery extending part is used as the curing inhibitor supply part and contacts with the air well, and the air freely enters the curing inhibitor delivery layer through the delivery layer extending part and is diffused so as to keep entering the resin in the resin tank well and continuously.

In another implementation mode, the curing inhibitor supply part includes a curing inhibitor supply bin. The curing inhibitor supply bin contacts with the curing inhibitor delivery layer to deliver the curing inhibitor to the curing inhibitor delivery layer. In such case, the curing inhibitor is delivered to the curing inhibitor delivery layer through the curing inhibitor supply bin so as to keep entering the resin in the resin tank well and continuously.

It is to be noted that, in another implementation mode of the present invention, the curing inhibitor supply bin may also contact with the delivery layer extending part to deliver the curing inhibitor through the delivery layer extending part.

Further, the curing inhibitor supply part further includes a pressurization part configured to pressurize and deliver the curing inhibitor to the curing inhibitor delivery layer. The pressurized delivery further ensures that the curing inhibitor is delivered into the resin well.

In the present invention, an oxygen-permeable light-transmitting curing inhibitor distribution layer is further arranged on the upper surface of the curing inhibitor delivery layer of the fast light-curing 3D printer cartridge. The curing inhibitor distribution layer is located in the resin tank.

The curing inhibitor distribution layer of the fast light-curing 3D printer cartridge is an oxygen-permeable light-transmitting fluorine-containing thin film, preferably a Teflon AF <NUM> thin film.

The curing inhibitor delivery layer of the fast light-curing 3D printer cartridge is a silicon-based thin film material layer, preferably a PDMS thin film.

Optionally, in another implementation mode of the present invention, the curing inhibitor of the fast light-curing 3D printer cartridge is oxygen or air.

Optionally, in another implementation mode of the present invention, a rigid ultraviolet light-transmitting layer is further arranged on a lower surface of the curing inhibitor delivery layer of the fast light-curing 3D printer cartridge.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the rigid ultraviolet light-emitting layer is arranged to support the curing inhibitor delivery layer. In such case, the curing inhibitor delivery layer is prevented from being deformed under the gravity of the resin or the pressure of the air, the printing error is minor, the accuracy is high, and the printing effect is good.

Optionally, in another implementation mode of the present invention, the ultraviolet light-transmitting layer of the fast light-curing 3D printer cartridge is made of quartz or transparent acrylic.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, a 3D printer is provided, which includes the above-mentioned fast light-curing 3D printer cartridge.

During a 3D printing process of the 3D printer, the resin tank is filled with a resin, the resin contacts with the curing inhibitor delivery layer, and a part of the resin contacting with the curing inhibitor delivery layer may be mixed with oxygen to form an inhibition layer.

According to the fast light-curing 3D printer cartridge provided by the embodiments of the present invention, the oxygen-permeable light-transmitting curing inhibitor delivery layer is arranged at the bottom of the resin tank sidewall to form the resin tank, and the fast light-curing 3D printer cartridge has the curing inhibitor supply part configured to provide the curing inhibitor for the curing inhibitor delivery layer. The curing inhibitor supply part keeps providing the curing inhibitor (e.g., oxygen, air and the like) for the curing inhibitor delivery layer well and continuously such that the curing inhibitor is continuously delivered into the resin tank. A lower surface of a new printed layer contacts with the curing inhibitor when the resin tank is filled with the resin to form a resin layer during a printing process. The resin of the resin layer is partially mixed with oxygen to form an oxygen inhibition phenomenon, and a part of the resin mixed with oxygen does not undergo a curing reaction. Therefore, the lower surface of the new printed layer is unlikely to adhere to the bottom surface of the cartridge, a drawing force between the new printed layer and the bottom surface of the cartridge is low, the resin flows back faster, and the printing speed is improved remarkably. According to the 3D printer provided by the embodiments of present invention, the resin flows back fast, and the printing speed is improved remarkably.

In order to more clearly illustrate the technical solutions of the examples of the present invention, accompanying drawings to be used in the examples are simply described below. It should be understood that the following accompanying drawings only show some examples of the present invention and thus should not be regarded as limits to the scope defined by the appended claims.

Reference signs: <NUM>-fast light-curing 3D printer cartridge; <NUM>-curing inhibitor delivery layer; <NUM>-resin tank sidewall; <NUM>-curing inhibitor distribution layer; <NUM>-curing inhibitor supply bin; <NUM>-ultraviolet light-transmitting layer; <NUM>-resin tank; <NUM>-delivery layer extending part; <NUM>-resin layer; and <NUM>-inhibition layer.

It should be noted that similar symbols and letters represent similar terms in the following accompanying drawings and thus a certain term, once being defined in one accompanying drawing, is not required to be further defined or explained in the subsequent accompanying drawings.

In the descriptions of the present invention, it is to be noted that orientation or position relationships indicated by terms "center", "top", "bottom", "left", "right", "vertical", "horizontal", "inner", "outer" and the like are orientation or position relationships shown in the accompanying drawings, or orientation or position relationships commonly formed when the product of the present invention is used, or orientation or position relationships commonly understood by those skilled in the art. They are only for easily describing the present invention and simplifying the description rather than indicating or implying that indicated devices or components must be in specific orientations or structured and operated in specific orientations, and thus should not be understood as limits to the present invention. In addition, the terms "first", "second", "third" and the like are used for differentiated description and should not be understood to indicate or imply relative importance.

Moreover, terms "horizontal", "vertical", "pendent" and the like do not represent that a component is required to be absolutely horizontal or pendent, and instead, the component may be slightly inclined. For example, "horizontal" only refers to that the direction is more horizontal relative to "vertical" and does not represent that the structure needs to be completely horizontal, and instead, the structure may be slightly inclined.

In the description of the present invention, it should be noted that unless otherwise explicitly specified or defined, terms "arrange", "mount", "mutually connect" and "connect" should be understood in a broad sense. For example, the connection may be a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; or the connection may be a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; or the connection may be a direct connection, an indirect connection through an intermediary, or internal communication between two components. Those of ordinary skill in the art may understand the specific meanings of the foregoing terms in the present invention according to specific situations.

Referring to <FIG>, the present example provides a fast light-curing 3D printer cartridge <NUM>, which includes a curing inhibitor delivery layer <NUM>, a resin tank sidewall <NUM>, and a curing inhibitor supply part.

Specifically, the curing inhibitor delivery layer <NUM> is located at a bottom of the resin tank sidewall <NUM> such that the resin tank sidewall <NUM> and the curing inhibitor delivery layer <NUM> enclose an enclosed resin tank <NUM>. The curing inhibitor supply part provides a curing inhibitor (specifically referring to oxygen in the present example, as oxygen may be mixed with a resin to form an oxygen inhibition phenomenon) for the curing inhibitor delivery layer <NUM>. The curing inhibitor keeps entering the resin in the resin tank <NUM> well and continuously from the curing inhibitor delivery layer <NUM>. A part of the resin forming oxygen inhibition may not be cured. In such case, solid-liquid separation is implemented between the cured resin and the uncured resin, so that the drawing force is reduced remarkably, and the resin flows back faster. Therefore, the printing speed is improved remarkably.

The curing inhibitor delivery layer <NUM> is made of an oxygen-permeable light-transmitting material. In the present example, any material which has high oxygen permeability, high light transmittance and high mechanical performance and may be formed freely can be selected. The material of the curing inhibitor delivery layer <NUM> is a silicon-based thin film material layer, including, but not limited to, DowCorning PDMS, which has oxygen permeability of <NUM> Barrer, UV transmittance of <NUM>% and good mechanical performance and may be formed freely on many surfaces.

In an implementation mode of the present invention, referring to <FIG>, the curing inhibitor delivery layer <NUM> extends from the resin tank <NUM> along the bottom of the resin tank sidewall <NUM> to form a delivery layer extending part <NUM>. Specifically, the curing inhibitor delivery layer <NUM> extends from the resin tank <NUM> along a length and/or width direction of the resin tank <NUM>. The delivery layer extending part <NUM> is used as the curing inhibitor supply part. The delivery layer extending part <NUM> extends out from the resin tank <NUM> and thus may directly contact with the air with a large contact area. The air may freely enter the curing inhibitor delivery layer <NUM> through the delivery layer extending part <NUM> so as to be diffused by the curing inhibitor delivery layer <NUM> to keep entering the resin in the resin tank <NUM> well and continuously.

In another implementation mode which is not according to the present claims, referring to <FIG>, the curing inhibitor supply part includes a curing inhibitor supply bin <NUM>. The curing inhibitor supply bin <NUM> contacts with the curing inhibitor delivery layer <NUM> to deliver the curing inhibitor to the curing inhibitor delivery layer <NUM>. Therefore, the curing inhibitor may keep entering the resin in the resin tank <NUM> well and continuously. In the present implementation mode, the curing inhibitor delivery layer <NUM> may be flush with the resin tank <NUM>, namely not extending out from the resin tank <NUM>.

In addition, in yet another implementation mode of the present invention, referring to <FIG>, the curing inhibitor supply part may include both the curing inhibitor supply bin <NUM> and the delivery layer extending part <NUM>. In such case, the curing inhibitor supply bin <NUM> directly contacts with the delivery layer extending part <NUM> and delivers the curing inhibitor.

Furthermore, preferably, the curing inhibitor supply part further includes a pressurization part (not shown in the figure) configured to pressurize and deliver the curing inhibitor to the curing inhibitor delivery layer. The pressurized delivery further ensures that the curing inhibitor is delivered into the resin well. The pressurization part may be arranged in many ways. For example, the delivery layer extending part <NUM> is sealed, and then oxygen or air is delivered to the sealed delivery layer extending part <NUM> by the curing inhibitor supply bin <NUM>, thereby delivering the curing inhibitor into the resin well by use of the pressure of the curing inhibitor.

In a practical printing process, referring to <FIG>, it is necessary to fill the resin tank <NUM> with a resin to form a resin layer <NUM>. The resin layer <NUM> directly contacts with the curing inhibitor delivery layer <NUM>. In the present example, the resin of the resin layer <NUM> is a free radical initiator photosensitive resin.

The resin of the resin layer <NUM> is partially mixed with the oxygen entering from the curing inhibitor delivery layer <NUM> to form an oxygen inhibition phenomenon (i.e., an inhibition layer <NUM>). The portion of the resin mixed with the oxygen may not be cured, and the other portion not mixed with the oxygen in the resin layer <NUM> is cured only on the inhibition layer <NUM>. In such case, solid-liquid separation is implemented between the cured resin and the uncured resin (i.e., the inhibition layer <NUM>). Therefore, the drawing force may be reduced remarkably, the resin flows back faster than before, and the printing speed is improved remarkably.

In addition, according to the present invention, a curing inhibitor distribution layer <NUM> is arranged on the upper surface of the curing inhibitor delivery layer <NUM>. The curing inhibitor distribution layer <NUM> is located in the resin tank <NUM>. The curing inhibitor distribution layer <NUM> diffuses the oxygen in the curing inhibitor delivery layer <NUM> into the inhibition layer <NUM> well such that the oxygen keeps entering the resin continuously to form an oxygen inhibition effect.

In the present example, the curing inhibitor distribution layer <NUM> is also made of an oxygen-permeable light-transmitting material. Any thin film with high oxygen permeability, high chemical resistance and high light transmittance may be used. The curing inhibitor distribution layer <NUM> is an oxygen-permeable light-transmitting fluorine-containing thin film, including, but not limited to, a DuPont Teflon AF <NUM> thin film, which has oxygen permeability of <NUM> Barrer, good chemical resistance and UV transmittance of <NUM>%.

The curing inhibitor distribution layer <NUM> is arranged on the upper surface of the curing inhibitor delivery layer <NUM> such that the oxygen passes through the curing inhibitor delivery layer <NUM> at first and then enters the curing inhibitor distribution layer <NUM>. The curing inhibitor delivery layer <NUM> may deliver and store oxygen well. The curing inhibitor distribution layer <NUM> may diffuse oxygen well into the resin layer <NUM> evenly to form the oxygen inhibition effect.

In addition, in another implementation mode of the present example, an ultraviolet light-transmitting layer <NUM> is further arranged on one side of the curing inhibitor delivery layer <NUM> away from the resin tank sidewall <NUM>. The ultraviolet light-transmitting layer <NUM> may be made of any material with excellent UV transmittance, which is required to be highly rigid, such as quartz and transparent acrylic. The ultraviolet light-transmitting layer <NUM> is highly rigid and thus may effectively support the curing inhibitor delivery layer <NUM>, the curing inhibitor distribution layer <NUM>, the inhibition layer <NUM>, the resin layer <NUM> and the resin tank sidewall <NUM>, and effectively prevent the curing inhibition delivery layer <NUM> and the curing inhibitor distribution layer <NUM> from being deformed under the gravity of the resin. In addition, the curing inhibitor distribution layer <NUM> is arranged on the surface of the curing inhibitor delivery layer <NUM>, and oxygen passes through the curing inhibitor delivery layer <NUM> at first and then enters the curing inhibitor distribution layer <NUM>. Therefore, the condition that the curing inhibitor distribution layer <NUM> is deformed under the pressure of oxidation may be alleviated effectively. Furthermore, the stability and precision between each layered structure in the present invention are ensured, and the error may further be effectively controlled within <NUM> micrometers.

A preparation method of a fast light-curing 3D printer cartridge <NUM> is as follows. The ultraviolet light-transmitting layer <NUM> is taken as a bottom layer. The curing inhibitor delivery layer <NUM> is formed on the surface of the ultraviolet light-transmitting layer <NUM>. Before the curing inhibitor delivery layer <NUM> is completely formed, the resin tank sidewall <NUM> is connected with the curing inhibitor delivery layer <NUM> to form the enclosed resin tank <NUM>. In addition, before the curing inhibitor delivery layer <NUM> is completely formed, the curing inhibitor distribution layer <NUM> is connected with the curing inhibitor delivery layer <NUM>, so as to improve the chemical resistance of the resin tank and prolong the service life of the resin tank, and such that the curing inhibitor supply part contacts with the curing inhibitor delivery layer <NUM>. After the resin tank <NUM> is manufactured, the resin layer <NUM> is formed by filling the resin tank <NUM> with a resin, and printing is started. In the whole printing process, the curing inhibitor (oxygen) in the curing inhibitor supply bin <NUM> keeps entering the curing inhibitor delivery layer <NUM> continuously through a portion of the curing inhibitor delivery layer <NUM> contacting with the air, and then is distributed into the resin of the resin layer <NUM> by the curing inhibitor distribution layer <NUM>, so as to form an oxygen inhibition effect at a portion of the resin layer <NUM> close to the curing inhibitor distribution layer <NUM>.

In addition, an embodiment of the present invention also provides a 3D printer, which includes the fast light-curing 3D printer cartridge <NUM> according to the present claim <NUM>. During a 3D printing process of the 3D printer, the resin tank <NUM> is filled with a resin to form the resin layer <NUM>, the resin in the resin layer <NUM> contacts with the curing inhibitor delivery layer <NUM>, and a portion of the resin contacting with the curing inhibitor delivery layer may be mixed with oxygen to form an inhibition layer <NUM>. Designs of other parts of the 3D printer may refer to an ordinary light-curing printer, and will not be elaborated in the embodiment of the present invention. According to the 3D printer, the resin flows back fast, and the printing speed is improved remarkably.

Claim 1:
A fast light-curing 3D printer cartridge (<NUM>), comprising a resin tank sidewall (<NUM>) and a curing inhibitor delivery layer (<NUM>), wherein a bottom of the resin tank sidewall (<NUM>) is connected to an upper surface of the curing inhibitor delivery layer (<NUM>) to enclose a resin tank (<NUM>); and the fast light-curing 3D printer cartridge (<NUM>) has a curing inhibitor supply part configured to provide a curing inhibitor for the curing inhibitor delivery layer (<NUM>); wherein the curing inhibitor supply part comprises a delivery layer extending part (<NUM>); the delivery layer extending part (<NUM>) is formed by the extension of the curing inhibitor delivery layer (<NUM>) from the resin tank (<NUM>) along the bottom of the resin tank sidewall (<NUM>); and the delivery layer extending part (<NUM>) contacts with the air;
characterised in that an oxygen-permeable light-transmitting curing inhibitor distribution layer (<NUM>) is further arranged on the upper surface of the curing inhibitor delivery layer (<NUM>); and the curing inhibitor distribution layer (<NUM>) is located in the resin tank; and the curing inhibitor distribution layer (<NUM>) is an oxygen-permeable light-transmitting fluorine-containing thin film; and the curing inhibitor delivery layer is a silicon-based thin film material layer.