JP7554282B2 - 3D object manufacturing equipment - Google Patents

Description

The present disclosure relates to a three-dimensional object manufacturing device that produces three-dimensional objects by three-dimensional additive manufacturing.

Various technologies have been proposed in the past for the above-mentioned three-dimensional object manufacturing apparatus.

For example, in the technology described in Patent Document 1 below, a manufacturing apparatus for a three-dimensional laminated electronic device includes a formation process for forming a circuit wiring single layer by discharging a conductive paste, which is a mixture of conductive particles, an ultraviolet-curable resin, and an organic solvent, onto an insulating layer, and a curing process for curing the circuit wiring single layer by irradiating ultraviolet light onto the circuit wiring single layer. The manufacturing apparatus also includes an additive manufacturing process for forming a three-dimensional additive object including at least one of the circuit wiring single layer by stacking the circuit wiring single layer on the insulating layer in the formation process and the curing process, and a heating process for manufacturing a three-dimensional laminated electronic device by heating the three-dimensional additive manufacturing object after the additive manufacturing process is completed. The conductivity of the conductive paste is expressed by the irradiation of ultraviolet light in the curing process and improved by heating in the heating process.

International Publication No. 2019/123629

In the heating process, the substrate is heated in the heating section while the three-dimensional additive object is still formed on its upper surface. For this reason, the manufacturing apparatus may be provided with a moving unit for moving the substrate in and out of the heating section. In addition, the manufacturing apparatus may be provided with a moving unit for moving the substrate in and out between its outside and the area of the additive manufacturing process where the three-dimensional additive object is formed on the upper surface of the substrate.

However, due to the special nature of the heating process in 3D additive manufacturing, the heating section is located away from the above-mentioned area. As a result, the two moving units mentioned above were installed separately, each dedicated to a specific process.

The present disclosure has been made in consideration of the above-mentioned points, and aims to provide a three-dimensional object manufacturing device that enables the movement of pallets on which three-dimensional objects are manufactured by three-dimensional additive manufacturing between a conveyor, a stage, and a heating unit to be performed by a single moving unit, thereby reducing size and costs.

The present specification relates to a three-dimensional object manufacturing device that manufactures a three-dimensional object on a pallet by three-dimensional additive manufacturing, the device including: a base having a loading/unloading position, a transfer position, and a heating position aligned in a predetermined direction; a conveyor that loads a pallet into the loading/unloading position on the base or loads the pallet out of the loading/unloading position on the base; a stage that is movable with the pallet placed thereon between the transfer position on the base and a modeling area on the base where three-dimensional additive manufacturing of the three-dimensional object is performed; and a heating unit that is disposed at a heating position on the base and heats the three-dimensional object that has been three-dimensionally additively manufactured on the pallet, together with the pallet. and a moving unit which moves the pallet between the conveyor, the stage, and the heating unit, wherein the moving unit includes a guide rail arranged along a predetermined direction in which the loading/unloading positions, the transfer positions, and the heating positions are aligned, a slider which is movable while being guided by the guide rail, a gripping tool arranged on the slider which grips or releases the pallet, and a cooling section arranged on the slider which promotes heat dissipation from the pallet gripped by the gripping tool, and wherein when the slider is moved above the heating unit, the cooling section promotes heat dissipation from the heating unit .

According to the present disclosure, the three-dimensional object manufacturing device enables the movement of pallets on which three-dimensional objects are manufactured by three-dimensional additive manufacturing between the conveyor, stage, and heating unit to be performed by a single moving unit, thereby reducing size and costs.

FIG. 2 is a plan view showing the three-dimensional object manufacturing apparatus. FIG. 2 is a side view showing the three-dimensional object manufacturing apparatus. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a three-dimensional object manufacturing apparatus. FIG. 2 is a plan view showing the three-dimensional object manufacturing apparatus. FIG. 2 is a side view showing the three-dimensional object manufacturing apparatus. FIG. 2 is a side view showing the three-dimensional object manufacturing apparatus. FIG. 2 is a plan view showing the three-dimensional object manufacturing apparatus. FIG. 2 is a side view showing the three-dimensional object manufacturing apparatus. FIG. 2 is a plan view showing the three-dimensional object manufacturing apparatus. FIG. 2 is a plan view showing the three-dimensional object manufacturing apparatus. FIG. 2 is a plan view showing the three-dimensional object manufacturing apparatus. FIG. 2 is a side view showing the three-dimensional object manufacturing apparatus. FIG. 2 is a side view showing the three-dimensional object manufacturing apparatus. FIG. 2 is a plan view showing the three-dimensional object manufacturing apparatus. FIG. 2 is a side view showing the three-dimensional object manufacturing apparatus. FIG. 2 is a side view showing the three-dimensional object manufacturing apparatus. FIG. 2 is a side view showing the three-dimensional object manufacturing apparatus. FIG. 2 is a side view showing the three-dimensional object manufacturing apparatus. FIG. 2 is a plan view showing the three-dimensional object manufacturing apparatus. FIG. 2 is a side view showing the three-dimensional object manufacturing apparatus. FIG. 2 is a plan view showing the three-dimensional object manufacturing apparatus. FIG. 2 is a side view showing the three-dimensional object manufacturing apparatus. FIG. 13 is a plan view showing a modified example of the three-dimensional object manufacturing apparatus. FIG. 13 is a plan view showing a modified example of the three-dimensional object manufacturing apparatus.

A preferred embodiment of the present disclosure is described in detail below with reference to the drawings.

1 and 2, the three-dimensional object manufacturing device 1 includes a base 10, a stage 12, a first inkjet head 14, and a second inkjet head 16. The base 10 is generally rectangular. In the following explanation, the short side direction of the base 10 is referred to as the X direction, the long side direction of the base 10 as the Y direction, and the direction perpendicular to both the X direction and the Y direction as the Z direction. The Z direction is the up-down direction.

The stage 12 has a base 13. The base 13 is formed in a flat plate shape, and the pallet P is placed on its upper surface. The pallet P is made of a metal such as iron or stainless steel. The pallet P placed on the base 13 is fixedly held to the base 13 by having both edges in the X direction clamped by a holding device (not shown). In addition, a lifting device (not shown) is disposed below the base 13, and raises and lowers the base 13 in the Z direction.

The first inkjet head 14 ejects ultraviolet curable resin onto the pallet P placed on the base 13. The ultraviolet curable resin is a resin that hardens when exposed to ultraviolet light. The first inkjet head 14 may be, for example, a piezo type that uses a piezoelectric element, or a thermal type that heats the ultraviolet curable resin to generate bubbles and ejects the resin from multiple nozzles.

The second inkjet head 16 ejects metal ink in a line shape onto the palette P placed on the base 13. Metal ink is made of fine metal particles dispersed in a solvent. The second inkjet head 16 ejects metal ink from multiple nozzles, for example, by a piezoelectric method using a piezoelectric element.

The three-dimensional object manufacturing device 1 further includes a stage guide rail 18, a first guide rail 20, and a second guide rail 22. The stage guide rail 18 is provided on the base 10 along the Y direction. In contrast, the first and second guide rails 20, 22 are provided on the base 10 along the X direction at a fixed distance in the Y direction, and intersect with the stage guide rail 18 at right angles by crossing over it above.

The stage guide rail 18 allows the stage 12 to move in the Y direction. The first and second guide rails 20, 22 allow the first and second inkjet heads 14, 16 to move in the X direction. As a result, when the stage 12 and the first and second inkjet heads 14, 16 move to the vicinity of the intersection of the stage guide rail 18 and the first and second guide rails 20, 22, the first and second inkjet heads 14, 16 are able to eject ultraviolet curable resin and metal ink from the first and second inkjet heads 14, 16 onto the pallet P placed on the base 13 of the stage 12.

The three-dimensional object manufacturing apparatus 1 further includes a flattening device 24, a UV irradiation device 26, and a heat ray irradiation device 28. The flattening device 24, the UV irradiation device 26, and the heat ray irradiation device 28 are arranged in a line above the stage guide rail 18, between the first and second guide rails 20, 22. This allows the stage 12 and the pallet P placed on its base 13 to move below the flattening device 24, the UV irradiation device 26, and the heat ray irradiation device 28.

The flattening device 24 flattens the top surface of the UV-curable resin discharged onto the pallet P by the first inkjet head 14, for example by scraping off excess resin with a roller or blade while leveling the surface of the UV-curable resin, thereby making the thickness of the UV-curable resin uniform. The UV irradiation device 26 has a mercury lamp or LED as a light source, and irradiates the UV-curable resin discharged onto the pallet P with UV rays. This causes the UV-curable resin discharged onto the pallet P to harden, forming a resin layer.

The heat ray irradiation device 28 is a device that irradiates the metal ink ejected onto the pallet P with infrared rays or a laser, and the metal ink irradiated with the infrared rays or laser is baked to form circuit wiring. Note that baking of metal ink is a phenomenon in which the application of energy causes the solvent to evaporate and the metal particle protective film to decompose, and the metal particles come into contact or fuse together, thereby increasing the conductivity. Then, as the metal ink is baked, metal circuit wiring is formed.

In this way, in the 3D object manufacturing device 1, 3D additive manufacturing of a 3D object is performed on the pallet P placed on the base 13 of the stage 12. That is, on the base 10, 3D additive manufacturing of a 3D object is performed in a modeling area 30 that occupies the area between the area where the stage guide rail 18 and the first guide rail 20 intersect and the area where the stage guide rail 18 and the second guide rail 22 intersect.

The three-dimensional object manufacturing apparatus 1 further includes a first maintenance device 32 and a second maintenance device 34. The first and second maintenance devices 32, 34 are provided on the base 10 so as to be located outside the modeling area 30 in the X direction and below the first and second guide rails 20, 22. The first and second maintenance devices 32, 34 perform maintenance such as wiping, capping, flushing, or purging on the first and second inkjet heads 14, 16. Note that the first and second maintenance devices 32, 34 are publicly known technologies, and therefore detailed description thereof will be omitted.

The three-dimensional object manufacturing device 1 further includes a heating unit 40, a first conveyor 42, a second conveyor 44, and a moving unit 46. Furthermore, on the base 10, outside the printing area 30 in the Y direction, a loading position 200, a transfer position 202, a heating position 204, and an unloading position 206 are arranged in the X direction in the order listed.

The heating unit 40 is provided at the heating position 204 of the base 10. The heating unit 40 is a so-called hot plate type electric heater and is equipped with an electric heating wire or a ceramic heater, and when a pallet P is placed above the heating position 204, the heating unit 40 heats the entire pallet P, and heats the three-dimensional object on the pallet P from its underside. The heating unit 40 may be composed of an infrared lamp, an infrared heater, or an electric furnace.

Therefore, for example, when a conductive adhesive is transferred to a three-dimensional object on a pallet P by a transfer device (not shown), the conductive adhesive is cured by heating from the heating unit 40. Also, when a thermosetting resin is ejected from the first inkjet head 14 instead of the above-mentioned UV-curable resin, the thermosetting resin is cured by heating from the heating unit 40. Note that the above-mentioned transfer device is a known technology, and therefore a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

The first conveyor 42 is a linear conveyor along the X direction, with one end side positioned outside the three-dimensional object manufacturing apparatus 1 and the other end side positioned at the loading position 200 of the base 10. This allows the first conveyor 42 to load the pallet P from outside the three-dimensional object manufacturing apparatus 1 to the loading position 200 of the base 10 in a plan view.

A transfer position 202 is disposed on the base 10 between the first conveyor 42 and the heating unit 40. A stage guide rail 18 extends to the transfer position 202. This allows the stage 12 to move between the transfer position 202 on the base 10 and the modeling area 30 in a plan view.

The second conveyor 44 is a linear conveyor along the X direction, with one end side located at the discharge position 206 of the base 10 and the other end side located outside the three-dimensional object manufacturing apparatus 1. This allows the second conveyor 44 to discharge the pallet P from the discharge position 206 of the base 10 to the outside of the three-dimensional object manufacturing apparatus 1 in a plan view.

In this way, on the base 10, in the X direction, a transfer position 202 is arranged adjacent to the loading position 200, a heating position 204 is arranged adjacent to the transfer position 202, and an unloading position 206 is arranged adjacent to the heating position 204.

The moving unit 46 includes a guide rail 48 and a slider 50. The guide rail 48 is provided on the base 10 along the loading position 200, the transfer position 202, the heating position 204, and the unloading position 206 (i.e., the X direction in which the positions 200, 202, 204, and 206 are aligned). The guide rail 48 allows the slider 50 to move in the X direction. The guide rail 48 is perpendicular to the stage guide rail 18 in a side view by crossing the stage guide rail 18 above it.

In the moving unit 46, a pair of locking claws 52, 52 and a cooling port 54 are provided on the underside of the slider 50. The pair of locking claws 52, 52 are used to grip or release the pallet P, and protrude downward from both edges of the slider 50 in the X direction. The cooling port 54 blows out cold air, and is located in the center of the slider 50 in the X direction.

As shown in Figure 3, the three-dimensional object manufacturing device 1 includes a control device 60. The control device 60 includes a controller 62 and a number of drive circuits 64. The controller 62 is mainly a computer, and includes a CPU, ROM, RAM, etc., and is connected to the multiple drive circuits 64.

The first inkjet head 14, the second inkjet head 16, the flattening device 24, the UV irradiation device 26, the heat ray irradiation device 28, the first maintenance device 32, the second maintenance device 34, the heating unit 40, the first conveyor 42, and the second conveyor 44 are connected to the multiple drive circuits 64. As a result, the operation of these devices is controlled by the controller 62. This also applies to the holding device and the lifting device provided on the stage 12.

Furthermore, a stage slide mechanism 66, a first head slide mechanism 68, a second head slide mechanism 70, a moving slide mechanism 72, a gripping device 74, and a cooling device 76 are connected to the multiple drive circuits 64. As a result, the operation of these devices is controlled by the controller 62.

The stage slide mechanism 66 has an electromagnetic motor (not shown) in addition to the above-mentioned stage guide rail 18. In the stage slide mechanism 66, the stage 12 moves to any position in the Y direction on the stage guide rail 18 by driving the electromagnetic motor.

The first and second head slide mechanisms 68, 70 have an electromagnetic motor (not shown) and the like in addition to the first and second guide rails 20, 22. In the first and second head slide mechanisms 68, 70, the first and second inkjet heads 14, 16 are moved to any position in the X direction on the first and second guide rails 20, 22 by driving the electromagnetic motors.

The moving slide mechanism 72 has an electromagnetic motor (not shown) in addition to the above-mentioned guide rail 48. In the moving slide mechanism 72, the slider 50 of the moving unit 46 moves to any position in the X direction on the guide rail 48 by driving the electromagnetic motor. This allows the slider 50 to move above the loading position 200, the transfer position 202, the heating position 204, and the unloading position 206 on the stage 12.

The gripping device 74 is provided in the moving unit 46. The gripping device 74 raises or lowers the pair of locking claws 52, 52 in the slider 50 in the Z direction by motor drive, pneumatic drive, or the like, and moves them closer to or farther apart in the X direction. This allows the pair of locking claws 52, 52 to grip the pallet P by clamping both edges of the pallet P in the X direction, and allows the pallet P to be released by moving away from both edges of the pallet P in the X direction.

The cooling device 76 is provided in the moving unit 46. The cooling device 76 is provided inside the slider 50. The cooling device 76 blows cold air downward from the cooling port 54. A device that generates cold air by supplying compressed air to a vortex tube is used as the cooling device 76. The cooling device 76 may be a device that blows compressed air from the cooling port 54, or may be a fan that blows air downward from the cooling port 54.

Next, the movement of the pallet P when a three-dimensional object is manufactured by three-dimensional additive manufacturing in the three-dimensional object manufacturing apparatus 1 will be described with reference to the operating conditions of the moving unit 46 and the stage 12. When three-dimensional additive manufacturing of a three-dimensional object is started in the three-dimensional object manufacturing apparatus 1, the pallet P is transported by the first conveyor 42 from outside the three-dimensional object manufacturing apparatus 1 to the loading position 200 of the base 10 in a plan view, as shown by the white arrow in Figure 1 above.

When the pallet P is carried in by the first conveyor 42, as shown in Figures 4 and 5, on the base 10, the stage 12 moves to above the transfer position 202. Such movement of the stage 12 may occur before or during the carrying in of the pallet P. Also, on the base 10, the slider 50 of the moving unit 46 moves to above the carrying in position 200. Furthermore, on the slider 50, a pair of locking claws 52, 52 grip the pallet P by descending in the Z direction and approaching each other in the X direction.

When the pallet P is gripped by the pair of locking claws 52, 52, the pair of locking claws 52, 52 of the slider 50 of the moving unit 46 rise in the Z direction, thereby lifting the pallet P. Furthermore, as shown in Figure 6, on the base 10, the slider 50 moves from above the loading position 200 to above the transfer position 202 while maintaining the pallet P in a lifted state.

7, on the base 10, the slider 50 of the moving unit 46 moves above the transfer position 202. After that, on the slider 50, the pair of locking claws 52, 52 move down in the Z direction, placing the pallet P on the stage 12. Furthermore, on the slider 50, the pair of locking claws 52, 52 move away from each other in the X direction and rise in the Z direction, releasing the pallet P. As a result, the pallet P is placed on the stage 12.

9, the stage 12, while maintaining the pallet P placed thereon, moves to the vicinity of the intersection of the stage guide rail 18 and the first guide rail 20. Furthermore, in that vicinity, the first inkjet head 14 moves above the stage 12, i.e., the pallet P. As a result, the ultraviolet curable resin ejected from the first inkjet head 14 is layered on the pallet P. The stage 12 then moves below the flattening device 24 and the UV irradiation device 26. As a result, the ultraviolet curable resin ejected on the pallet P hardens, and the resin layer of the three-dimensional object 100 is formed.

10, the stage 12, while maintaining the pallet P placed thereon, moves to the vicinity of the intersection of the stage guide rail 18 and the second guide rail 22. Furthermore, in that vicinity, the second inkjet head 16 moves above the stage 12, i.e., the pallet P. As a result, the metal ink ejected from the second inkjet head 16 is layered on the pallet P. The stage 12 then moves below the heat ray irradiation device 28. As a result, the metal ink ejected on the pallet P is baked, and the circuit wiring of the three-dimensional object 100 is formed.

In this way, the stage 12 moves within the printing area 30 of the base 10 in a planar view, and the formation of the resin layer and circuit wiring of the three-dimensional object 100 is repeatedly performed, thereby three-dimensionally additively manufacturing the three-dimensional object 100 on the pallet P.

When the three-dimensional object 100 has been three-dimensionally additively manufactured, as shown in Figures 11 and 12, the stage 12 moves above the transfer position 202 on the base 10 while maintaining the pallet P placed thereon. After that, on the slider 50 of the moving unit 46, a pair of locking claws 52, 52 move downward in the Z direction and approach each other in the X direction to grip the pallet P on the stage 12.

When the pallet P is gripped by the pair of locking claws 52, 52, the pair of locking claws 52, 52 of the slider 50 of the moving unit 46 rise in the Z direction, thereby lifting the pallet P. Furthermore, as shown in Figure 13, on the base 10, the slider 50 moves from above the transfer position 202 to above the heating position 204 while maintaining the pallet P in a lifted state.

14, on the base 10, the slider 50 of the moving unit 46 moves above the heating position 204. Then, as shown in Fig. 15, on the slider 50, the pair of locking claws 52, 52 move down in the Z direction, placing the pallet P on the heating unit 40. Furthermore, on the slider 50, the pair of locking claws 52, 52 move away from each other in the X direction and rise in the Z direction, releasing the pallet P. As a result, the pallet P is placed on the heating unit 40.

After that, in the heating unit 40, the 3D model 100 that has been 3D additively manufactured on the pallet P is heated together with the pallet P. At that time, on the base 10, the slider 50 of the moving unit 46 moves from above the heating position 204 to above the transfer position 202, for example, as shown in Fig. 16, in order to escape from the heat received from the heating unit 40. However, the slider 50 may remain above the heating position 204 if there is no adverse effect caused by receiving heat from the heating unit 40.

When heating by the heating unit 40 is completed, the slider 50 of the moving unit 46 on the base 10 moves above the heating position 204. Then, as shown in FIG. 17, the pair of locking claws 52, 52 of the slider 50 move downward in the Z direction and approach each other in the X direction to grip the pallet P. At that time, as shown by the three arrows, cold air blows downward from the cooling port 54 of the slider 50. As a result, the cold air from the cooling port 54 blows against the pallet P and the three-dimensional model 100, promoting heat dissipation (i.e., cooling) of the pallet P.

When the pallet P is gripped by the pair of locking claws 52, 52, the pair of locking claws 52, 52 of the slider 50 of the moving unit 46 rise in the Z direction, thereby lifting the pallet P. Furthermore, as shown in Figure 18, on the base 10, the slider 50 moves from above the heating position 204 to above the unloading position 206 while maintaining the state in which the pallet P is lifted and the state in which cold air is blowing downward from the cooling port 54.

This promotes heat dissipation (i.e., cooling) of the pallet P on the base 10, even while the pallet P is being moved by the slider 50 of the moving unit 46 from above the heating position 204 to above the unloading position 206.

Furthermore, as shown in Figure 19, on the base 10, the slider 50 of the moving unit 46 moves above the unloading position 206. Then, as shown in Figure 20, on the slider 50, the pair of locking claws 52, 52 move downward in the Z direction, placing the pallet P on the second conveyor 44. Furthermore, on the slider 50, the pair of locking claws 52, 52 move apart in the X direction and upward in the Z direction, releasing the pallet P. As a result, the pallet P is placed on the second conveyor 44.

Thereafter, the slider 50 of the moving unit 46 stops blowing cold air from the cooling port 54. Such stopping may be performed at a timing preset based on the cooling performance of the pallet P, or may be performed based on the measured temperature of the pallet P, etc.

21, the pallet P is transported by the second conveyor 44 from the unloading position 206 of the base 10 in a plan view to the outside of the three-dimensional object manufacturing apparatus 1. Also, on the base 10, the slider 50 of the moving unit 46 moves from above the unloading position 206 to above the heating position 204.

22, the slider 50 of the moving unit 46 moves above the heating position 204 on the base 10. After that, on the slider 50, cold air blows downward from the cooling port 54, as shown by the three arrows. This causes the cold air from the cooling port 54 to blow against the heating unit 40, promoting heat dissipation (i.e., cooling) of the heating unit 40. The slider 50 may reciprocate above the heating unit 40 while maintaining the state in which cold air blows downward from the cooling port 54.

Thereafter, the slider 50 of the moving unit 46 stops blowing cold air from the cooling port 54. Such stopping may be performed at a timing preset based on the cooling performance of the heating unit 40, or may be performed based on the measured temperature of the heating unit 40, etc.

In this way, in the three-dimensional object manufacturing apparatus 1, the moving unit 46 moves the pallet P between the first conveyor 42, the stage 12, the heating unit 40, and the second conveyor 44.

As described in detail above, the three-dimensional object manufacturing device 1 of this embodiment enables the movement of the pallet P, on which the three-dimensional object 100 is manufactured by three-dimensional additive manufacturing, between the first conveyor 42, the second conveyor 44, the stage 12, and the heating unit 40 to be performed by a single moving unit 46, thereby achieving size reduction and cost reduction.

Incidentally, in this embodiment, the first conveyor 42 and the second conveyor 44 are an example of a conveyor. The pair of locking claws 52, 52 and the gripping device 74 are an example of a gripping tool. The cooling port 54 and the cooling device 76 are an example of a cooling section. The loading position 200 and the unloading position 206 are an example of a loading/unloading position. The X direction is an example of a specified direction.

The present disclosure is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications are possible without departing from the spirit of the present disclosure.
For example, in the slider 50 of the moving unit 46, the cooling port 54 may blow cold air intermittently.

23, the second conveyor 44 may be a linear conveyor along the Y direction. The same applies to the first conveyor 42.

24, the heating position 204 and the unloading position 206 may be interchanged on the base 10. Such interchange is possible between the loading position 200, the transfer position 202, the heating position 204, and the unloading position 206. In conjunction with such interchange, the locations of the first conveyor 42, the stage 12, the heating unit 40, and the second conveyor 44 are also interchanged.

In addition, either the first conveyor 42 or the second conveyor 44 may be omitted. For example, when the first conveyor 42 is omitted, the second conveyor 44 carries the pallet P from outside the three-dimensional object manufacturing apparatus 1 to the carry-out position 206 of the base 10 in a planar view. In contrast, when the second conveyor 44 is omitted, the first conveyor 42 carries the pallet P from the carry-in position 200 of the base 10 in a planar view to outside the three-dimensional object manufacturing apparatus 1.

1: 3D object manufacturing device, 10: base, 12: stage, 30: printing area, 40: heating unit, 42: first conveyor, 44: second conveyor, 46: moving unit, 48: guide rail, 50: slider, 52: locking claw, 54: cooling port, 74: gripping device, 76: cooling device, 100: 3D object, 200: loading position, 202: transfer position, 204: heating position, 206: unloading position, P: pallet

Claims (3)

A three-dimensional object manufacturing apparatus that manufactures a three-dimensional object on a pallet by three-dimensional additive manufacturing, comprising:
a base in which a carry-in/out position, a transfer position, and a heating position are arranged in a predetermined direction;
a conveyor for carrying the pallet into the loading/unloading position on the base, or carrying the pallet out from the loading/unloading position on the base;
a stage that is movable, with the pallet placed thereon, between the transfer position on the base and a modeling area on the base where three-dimensional additive manufacturing of the three-dimensional model is performed;
a heating unit that is disposed at the heating position on the base and heats the three-dimensional object that has been three-dimensionally additively manufactured on the pallet together with the pallet;
a moving unit that moves the pallet between the conveyor, the stage, and the heating unit;
The mobile unit includes:
a guide rail disposed along the predetermined direction in which the loading/unloading position, the transfer position, and the heating position are aligned;
A slider that is movable while being guided by the guide rail;
A gripping tool disposed on the slider for gripping or releasing the pallet;
A cooling section disposed on the slider to promote heat dissipation from the pallet held by the gripper;
wherein the cooling section promotes heat dissipation from the heating unit in a state in which the slider is moved above the heating unit . the loading/unloading position on the base comprises a loading position and an unloading position;
The conveyor is
a first conveyor that delivers the pallet to the delivery position on the base;
The three-dimensional object manufacturing apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising: a second conveyor configured to convey the pallet out from the unloading position on the base. The three-dimensional object manufacturing device according to claim 2, wherein, on the base, in the predetermined direction, the transfer position is arranged adjacent to the carry-in position, the heating position is arranged adjacent to the transfer position, and the unloading position is arranged adjacent to the heating position.

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