Patent ID: 12240170

MODE FOR DISCLOSURE

Hereinafter, the present disclosure will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the present disclosure may be modified in various different ways, and the present disclosure is not limited to the described exemplary embodiments. Moreover, the part not related to the description will be omitted in order to clearly describe the present disclosure, and like reference numerals designate like elements throughout the specification.

In the specification, when a part is “connected” with other parts, it includes “direct connection” as well as “indirect connection” in which the other member is positioned between the parts. In addition, unless explicitly described to the contrary, the word “comprise”, such as “comprises” or “comprising” will be understood to imply the inclusion of stated elements but not the exclusion of any other elements.

Hereinafter, a first embodiment of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

First, a filament supply unit200is composed of a tube having a constant diameter, and a filament nozzle100is positioned at a lower end of the filament supply unit200. A tube having a diameter equal to a diameter of the filament supply unit200is formed at one end of the filament nozzle100, and a nozzle tip having a gradually decreasing diameter is formed at the other end. In addition, the filament nozzle100is open toward a bottom. In addition, a heater block300for melting a filament in the filament nozzle100is positioned around one end of the filament nozzle.

In detail, the filament supply unit200communicates with the filament nozzle100from which the molten filament F is output, and the filament in the form of a thread is supplied from a supply module (not shown) to the filament supply unit200and then supplied to the filament nozzle100, and the filament is melted while passing through the heater block300positioned around the filament nozzle100.

Meanwhile, in the present disclosure, in order to modify a surface of the molten filament F output from the filament nozzle100, an aerosol generation unit900, a gas tank800, a transfer pipe600, a plasma nozzle400, and a plasma generation unit500is included.

In detail, the aerosol generation unit900may generate nanoparticle aerosol required for surface modification. For example, if the aerosol generation unit900is configured as a nebulizer generating device, nanoparticle aerosol may be easily generated from a nanoparticle solution accommodated in a nebulizer generating device.

The gas tank800may be filled with compressed air, nitrogen gas, helium gas, argon gas or other inert gas, but most preferably with ordinary air. Preferably, the gas tank800may include a valve810to control a gas flow rate.

In this case, since the flow rate of gas through the transfer pipe600is controlled according to the opening degree of the valve810, an opening degree of the valve810may be controlled considering the characteristics of the filament and a state of the plasma generation unit500and, if necessary, may be controlled in conjunction with the plasma generation unit500.

Preferably, the valve810may be controlled so that gas flows at 10 to 25 L/min through the transfer pipe600.

Meanwhile, PCL, PLGA, PLA, ABS, and the like may be used as the filament, but it is most preferable to use PCL or PLGA, which has excellent biocompatibility and biodegradability, as the filament.

In addition, a plasma generation unit500is formed in the transfer pipe600to generate plasma inside the transfer pipe600, and a plasma nozzle400configured to gradually decrease in diameter is formed at an end of the transfer pipe600.

In detail, the gas tank800, the aerosol generation unit900, and the plasma generation unit500are sequentially connected by the transfer pipe600. Accordingly, the gas in the gas tank800and the nanoparticle aerosol generated in the aerosol generation unit900may flow to the plasma generation unit500along the transfer pipe600, and the plasma generated in the plasma generation unit500may contact the molten filament F together with the nanoparticles, whereby the nanoparticles are embedded in the surface of the molten filament F.

Preferably, the aerosol generation unit900accommodates a solution of gold nanoparticles, from which gold nanoparticle aerosol may be generated. The gold nanoparticles are excellent in bone tissue regeneration, and thus, when the surface of the molten filament is modified using the gold nanoparticle aerosol, the bone tissue regeneration ability of an artificial scaffold is improved.

Meanwhile, preferably, the present disclosure may include an adjusting member (not shown) capable of adjusting an angle and a position of the transfer pipe600. By the adjusting member, the plasma nozzle400positioned at the end of the transfer pipe600may be directed to a lower portion of the filament nozzle100, and the transfer pipe600may be separated from the heater block300.

More preferably, the adjusting member may be provided in the filament supply unit200. In this case, the transfer pipe600is dependent on the movement of the filament supply unit200.

In this case, the plasma nozzle400positioned at the end of the transfer pipe600is moved together with the filament nozzle100, and thus, regardless of a moving direction of the filament nozzle100, the surface modification may be performed by the plasma nozzle400at the same time as the molten filament F is output from the filament nozzle100. Accordingly, it is possible to manufacture a structure in which nanoparticles are uniformly formed.

Next, a nozzle device for a 3D printer according to a second embodiment of the present disclosure will be described. With the transfer pipe600according to the second embodiment, it is possible to achieve an effect of cooling the filament supply unit200.

In this regard, when the heat of the filament nozzle100heated by the heater block300is transferred to the filament supply unit200positioned at the top, the filament may melt and overflow before the filament is transferred to the inside of the filament nozzle100, and after cooling, the melted filament may be solidified, thereby clogging the nozzle.

Since the transfer pipe600of the present disclosure wraps and cools the filament supply unit200, the above phenomenon may be prevented.

In detail, the heat supplied by the heater block300is directly transferred to a filament supply pipe, increasing the temperature of the filament supply pipe. In this case, gas of the gas tank800and nanoparticle aerosol flow inside the transfer pipe600, and when the transfer pipe600wraps around the filament supply unit200, the heat transferred to the filament supply unit200is transferred to the transfer pipe600and a fluid inside the transfer pipe600. That is, the heat of the filament supply pipe may be efficiently dissipated through the fluid inside the transfer pipe600.

In this case, a heat dissipation unit700and the transfer pipe600must be formed of a material having a strong ability to withstand and dissipate heat, that is, a material with strong heat resistance. This is because the heat dissipation unit700should withstand the heat transmitted from the filament nozzle100and dissipate the heat again through the transfer pipe600. Thus, the heat dissipation unit700and the transfer pipe600are preferably formed of Teflon having excellent heat resistance, but aspects of the present disclosure are not limited thereto, and the heat dissipation unit700and the transfer pipe600may be formed of other materials having excellent heat resistance.

Meanwhile, as shown inFIGS.1and2, a helical concave-convex portion700protruding outward is formed in an outer periphery of the filament supply unit200as a heat dissipation unit700, and the transfer pipe600may wrap around the filament supply unit200along the concave-convex portion.

Accordingly, an area where the filament supply unit200and the transfer pipe600contact each other may be expanded, and the heat transferred to the filament supply unit200by the heater block300may be more efficiently dissipated.

More preferably, the helical concave-convex portion700is composed of a rectangular screw thread and a rectangular screw root having a rectangular cross section, and a diameter of the transfer pipe600may be greater than or equal to a diameter of the helical concave-convex portion700.

In detail, when the cross section of the helical concave-convex portion700is rectangular, the transfer pipe600is inserted into the helical concave-convex portion700to enlarge an area in contact with the helical concave-convex portion700, and thus, heat transfer efficiency may be increased. In addition, since the diameter of the transfer pipe600is greater than the diameter of the helical concave-convex portion700, when the transfer pipe600is inserted into the helical concave-convex portion700, it is possible to fix the transfer pipe600to the helical concave-convex portion700without any fixing member.

In summary, in the nozzle device for a 3D printer according to the second embodiment of the present disclosure, it is possible to efficiently dissipate the heat transferred to the filament supply unit200while transferring gas and nanoparticle aerosol to the plasma generation unit500through the transfer pipe600.

The above description of the present disclosure is for illustrative purposes, and it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure as defined by the appended claims. Therefore, the foregoing embodiments should be understood as being illustrative but not limitative purposes. For example, some parts described as being located in a single physical entity can be implemented as being distributed to a plurality of physical devices, and in the same fashion, some parts described as being distributed to a plurality of physical devices can be located in a single physical entity.

The scope of the present disclosure is defined not by the detailed description but by the appended claims, and all modifications and alterations derived from the concept, the range, and the equivalents of the claims will be construed as being included in the scope of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF MAIN ELEMENTS

100: filament nozzle200: filament supply300: heater block400: plasma nozzle500: plasma generation unit600: transfer pipe700: heat dissipation unit (helical concave-convex portion)800: gas tank810: valve900: aerosol generation unit1000: nozzle device for FDM-type 3D printerF: molten filament