DE102017220640A1 - Device for unpacking at least one component and a method to realize this unpacking - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for unpacking at least one component, in particular an additive manufactured component, from a container filled with process agents and a method to realize this unpacking.
It is provided that a device for unpacking at least one component is provided. The component is in particular an additively manufactured component. The component is to be unpacked from a container filled with process agents. The process agent is smaller than the at least one part to be unpacked. The device comprises an area which is intended to receive the container. The container has a construction platform as the lower boundary, wherein the construction platform is at least partially vertically movably mounted in the container. A vibration unit of the device transmits vibrations of a certain frequency to the construction platform and thus to the container and the contents contained therein. Due to the vibration with the at least one specific frequency, the at least one component migrates upwards through the process means due to the para-nut effect.

Description

The invention relates to a device for unpacking a component, in particular an additively manufactured component from a container filled with process agents. The so-called unpacking (unpacking) of a container or a job box in 3D printing is done manually by hand or by hand in plastic printing, sand printing and metal printing. In this case, a colleague from a mixture of process agents, in particular, for example, powder or sand, must seek out or remove the printed components. Due to the development of dust, this process must be carried out under suction. The old powder can be sucked off and fed into the powder circuit. Furthermore, the used powder (old powder) must be fed through a sieve of a mixing plant (powder circuit), so that it can be mixed with new powder. These manual processes are time-consuming and associated with a corresponding effort in which the employee must wear a respirator mask and goggles. For example, in the case of the SLS process (plastic) it is known to drive the Jobbox with integrated build platform into an unpacking station. In the unpacking station, a cylinder moves the build platform upwards so that the excess powder and the components reach the surface. By optional suction, the excess powder can be reused. Residual powder is often pushed manually into a sieve. Likewise, the processes of sucking, sieving and the removal of components by hand. An automated solution minimizing manual activities is currently unknown. All solutions described as automated describe that the unpacking is done in a kind of locked cabin with the processes described above. A reduction of the manual activity is not in the focus.

From the DE 10 2013 223 407 For example, an apparatus and a method for layering a three-dimensional object and for unpacking the finished object are known. In this case, a swap body, in which the produced three-dimensional object and the surrounding, unconsolidated powder is located, twisted. The device has for this purpose a rotating device which can receive the swap body. By simply rotating in the rotating device, the unconsolidated powder can then be discharged or sucked into a collecting container below it. To assist, means may be provided for transmitting vibration and / or knocking to the fabricated object so as to assist in detaching the powder from the object. In this case, neither a movement of the object in the powder due to the vibration is provided, nor a certain frequency. Rather, even a simple knock may optionally be considered sufficient to produce the desired effect here.

From the DE 10 2008 060 046 For example, a method of providing an identifiable amount of powder and a method of manufacturing an object are known. The focus is on the production of an object from a powder modified by means of a laser, wherein in particular the quality of the composition of the powder plays a role. Unused powder during the process, so-called old powder, is returned to the process. The method shows a method with regard to the data management of the powder mixture. The object to be manufactured stands during the manufacturing process on a vertically movable support, which is provided in an upwardly open building container. The movement downwards takes place whenever a new layer of the object is to be produced. Although in this context in 3 discloses an unpacking station. However, a detailed guide to unpacking can not be found in the expert of this document. Also, it is only noticed that the used powder leaves the system as output. Again, no further details about a related function are disclosed.

From the DE 10 2016 201 824 is known a molding line casting machine with 3D printer and a method for mass production of castings. In this context, a Entsandungsstation is disclosed in which the mold segments produced with the 3D printer are dispatched. In this case, this Entsandungsstation has at least one air blower with which the mold segments outside and especially inside can be freed by blowing or blowing loose loose sand. The presented system may further comprise a demolding station, wherein, for example, by shaking, tapping, blowing, sonicating, bombardment and the like by destroying the mold segments, the castings can be released from the molding sand or dissolved out.

A common drawback in the above-appreciated approaches is that the unpacking processes are not yet fully automated. Instead of an automatic process sequence according to the logic of, for example, a production line, at least partially manual or manual processes are still provided.

The invention is based on the object of providing a device for unpacking components, in particular of components produced by additive, from a container filled with process agents, which enables an automated and cost-effective method.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, it is provided that a device for unpacking at least one component, in particular an additive manufactured component, is provided from a container filled with process agents. The process agent is smaller than the at least one component. The device comprises the container and an area which is provided to receive the container and a building platform as the lower boundary of the container, wherein the building platform is at least partially supported vertically movable in the container. Furthermore, the device comprises a vibration unit, which is designed to set the construction platform and thus the container with the content in vibration with at least one specific frequency, wherein due to the vibration with the at least one specific frequency in the container, the at least one component by the Process agent is transported through upwards. The core of the invention is the application of the Paranusseffekts. The para-nut effect describes the segregation or segregation of granular media. Vertical vibrations cause the larger particles to move upwards. As a result, the 3D printed components automatically migrate to the surface by means of the applied vibration at a corresponding frequency and can then be removed and finely sanded. The vibration unit can be used to determine how long the vibration is transmitted to the container and its contents. In other words, the components move upwards due to the vibration. In this way, by the appropriate vibration (the right frequency) of the container or the Jobbox, the respective component to move to the surface, without an employee must do a human intervention. The subsequent coarse despatch occurs automatically. The components must first be touched again during fine desanding. In summary, it can be said that a great advantage of the invention is that an automated process can be implemented by a known physical connection, which means a considerable amount of work for the employee. Furthermore, there is potential to accelerate process times, which may be interesting for 3D printing, especially with regard to industrialization. In addition, due to the transmitted vibration, the process material can be loosened so that, for example, based on sand as a process agent adjusts an integrated pre-fine desanding.

Further preferred embodiments of the invention will become apparent from the remaining, mentioned in the dependent claims characteristics.

Thus, in a further preferred embodiment of the invention, it is provided that a movably mounted cylinder is arranged on the construction platform. Due to the cylinder, the build platform is moveable upwardly in the container to assist in the unpacking process. Thus, an automated and inexpensive method is ensured by means of the device in a particularly efficient manner.

In a further preferred embodiment of the invention it is provided that the process agent is powder or sand. These process agents are so small in comparison to the component to be manufactured, so that the desired Paranusseffekt sets particularly well.

It is also provided in one embodiment of the invention that the container is designed to transmit the vibration obtained by means of the vibration unit on the content in the container, in particular on the powder or sand and the at least one component, in the substantially same frequency. The deliberately controlled vibration with a certain frequency can thus always be chosen so that a particularly fast and thus efficient unpacking is possible. The relevant parameters for the para-nut effect are the relative density of the particles (component and process means), the relative diameter of the particles and the frequency of the vibration. For example, the following behavior occurs at a frequency of f = 5Hz and a density ρ _r :

This relationship can thus be adjusted depending on the size of the components to be manufactured, with a certain frequency correspondingly has an influence on the Paranusseffekt. It also shows that the ascent time T _{R is} a nonmonotonic function of the relative density ρ _r . In the friction-dominated regime, the following applies to the energy: $$e_{\text{kin}}=e_{\text{friction}}\AE {\text{T}}_{\text{R}}\mu {\rho }_{\text{r}}{}^{-1}$$

Depending on the relative diameter, the ascent time behaves as follows:

It is also provided in one embodiment of the invention that the device further comprises at least one screen plate, which is arranged laterally at the upper edge of the container and which is designed, which transported due to the vibration in the container by the powder or the sand up at least to pick up a component. In this way, the process material already previously loosened due to the vibration can automatically fall into the sieve, so that, for example, in the case of sand, an automatic coarse sanding of the components to be manufactured is established. In addition, it is possible in a simple manner to collect the process agent below the screen plate and possibly to collect it for reuse.

According to another embodiment of the invention, it is provided that the vibration unit is continuously adjustable to different frequencies. Thus, depending on the nature of the components to be manufactured an accelerated unpacking process using the device can be designed.

In a further preferred embodiment of the invention it is provided that the screen plate is designed as a vibrating plate. The vibrations of such a vibrating plate additionally accelerate the previously mentioned coarse sanding of the components to be manufactured.

It is also provided in one embodiment of the invention that the device further comprises a conveyor belt, which is designed to receive the components of the at least one screen plate. Automatic unpacking is thus easily supported.
In a further preferred embodiment of the invention, it is provided that the at least one component is either due to gravity of the at least one screen plate on the conveyor belt movable or with the aid of a robot gripper movable. Automatic unpacking is thus easily supported.

• • Platzieren des Behälters in einen Bereich einer Vorrichtung nach den Ansprüchen 1 - 9;
• • Einschalten einer Vibrationseinheit, welche in Wirkverbindung mit einer Bauplattform des Behälters steht;
• • optional Ausfahren eines Zylinders, welcher an der Bauplattform angeordnet ist;
• • Aufnehmen des zumindest einen Bauteils, welches sich aufgrund der übertragenen Vibrationen von dem kleinteiligeren Prozessmaterial segregiert hat und nach oben gewandert ist, am oberen Rand des Behälters mittels zumindest einer Siebplatte;
• • Entnahme des zumindest einen Bauteils von der Siebplatte entweder mittels der Schwerkraft oder mittels eines Robotergreifers und Beförderung auf ein Förderband;
• • Druckluftbeaufschlagung des zumindest einen Bauteils zur restlichen Feinentsandung.

Finally, in one embodiment of the invention, a method for unpacking at least one component, in particular an additively manufactured component, from a container filled with process agents, in particular powder or sand, is provided, the method comprising the following steps:

• • placing the container in an area of a device according to claims 1-9;
• • switching on a vibration unit, which is in operative connection with a building platform of the container;
• Optionally extending a cylinder located on the build platform;
• • receiving the at least one component which has segregated due to the transmitted vibrations of the finer-sized process material and has migrated upwards, at the upper edge of the container by means of at least one screen plate;
• Removing the at least one component from the sieve plate either by gravity or by means of a robotic gripper and conveyed onto a conveyor belt;
• • Compressed air is applied to the at least one component for the remaining fine desanding.

The aforementioned advantages in the device apply to the same extent for the presented method.

The various embodiments of the invention mentioned in this application are, unless otherwise stated in the individual case, advantageously combinable with each other.

• 1 eine Vorrichtung zum Auspacken eines Bauteils aus einem mit Prozessmitteln gefüllten Behälter.

The invention will be explained below in embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings. It shows:

• 1 a device for unpacking a component from a container filled with process agents.

1 shows a device 10 for unpacking at least one component 12 , in particular an additively manufactured component 12 , one with process agents 14 filled containers 16 , The container 16 will be in one area 17 the device 10 placed. In the container 16 is a movably mounted building platform 18 provided, which the container 16 limited to the bottom. Below this construction platform 18 is a cylinder 20 arranged. This cylinder 20 can with the build platform 18 be firmly connected. This compound can either be material or be realized by means not shown connecting means. It is also conceivable that a substantially planar surface of the cylinder 20 only with the bottom of the build platform 18 is actively connected. The cylinder 20 is vertically movable, so that a movement pulse of the cylinder 20 ultimately on the movably mounted construction platform 18 transfers. In this way, the on-building platform 18 located content in the container 16 , for example, process agents 14 in the form of powder or sand and at least one manufactured component 12 moved upwards. A vibration unit, not shown, sends a vibration 22 with a certain frequency. The period of vibration 22 depends on the desired degree of achievement of unpacking. The vibration 22 causes the segregation of the at least one component 12 from the process agent 14 , so that in the upper part of the container after a certain period of applied vibration 22 the at least one component 12 located. The vibration 22 for example, by a bottom 23 from the build platform 18 on the container 16 and the content contained therein. Also conceivable are other variants of the transmission, wherein it should be noted that a substantially vertical vibration 22 so that the Paranus effect is particularly advantageous. At the top of the container 16 are screen plates on both sides 24 to recognize. These sieve plates 24 close seamlessly to the top edge of the container 16 so that a due to the transmitted vibration 22 through the process agent 14 moving component through 12 after leaving the container 16 located there. The transition from the container 16 on the sieve plates 24 also takes place due to the vibration 22 instead of. This process can be supported by the building platform that moves upwards 18 become. This pushes the moving construction platform 18 the contents from the container 16 out. The speed is adjusted in such a way so that a sorting of the contents already entering through the Paranus effect is taken into account analogously and thus a fast and automated unpacking of the components 12 from the container 16 can adjust. The sand or the powder or the process agent 14 itself falls into the sieve of the sieve plate 24 or falls through the openings of the screen, since it is already loosened. Which is on the screen plate 24 located components 12 are thus partially feinentsandet due to the vibration support. A removal of the components 12 from the sieve plate 24 can be realized for example by a robot gripper, not shown. It would also be conceivable that the components 12 fall on a likewise not shown conveyor belt, which, for example, either by gravity or due to the nachdrückenden remaining content from the container 16 happens.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

10

device

12

component

14

process means

16

container

17

Area

18

building platform

20

cylinder

22

vibration

23

bottom

24

sieve plate

QUOTES INCLUDE IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list of the documents listed by the applicant has been generated automatically and is included solely for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions.

Cited patent literature

• DE 102013223407 [0002]
• DE 102008060046 [0003]
• DE 102016201824 [0004]

Claims (10)

Device for unpacking at least one component, in particular an additively manufactured component, from a container filled with process agents, wherein the process medium is smaller than the at least one component comprising the container and a region which is intended to receive the container, a building platform as lower Boundary of the container, wherein the building platform is at least partially supported vertically movable in the container, characterized in that the apparatus further comprises a vibration unit which is adapted to the building platform and thus the container with the content in vibration with at least one specific frequency offset due to the vibration with the at least one specific frequency in the container, the at least one component is transportable through the process means upwards. Device after Claim 1 , characterized in that a movably mounted cylinder is arranged on the construction platform. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the processing agent is powder or sand. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the container is adapted to transmit the vibration obtained by means of the vibration unit to the content in the container, in particular to the powder or sand and the at least one component, in the substantially same frequency , Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the device further comprises at least one screen plate, which is arranged laterally at the upper edge of the container and which is designed, which transported due to the vibration in the container by the powder or the sand upwards to record at least one component. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the vibration unit is continuously adjustable to different frequencies. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the screen plate is designed as a vibrating plate. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the device further comprises a conveyor belt which is adapted to receive the components of the at least one screen plate. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the at least one component is either due to gravity of the at least one screen plate on the conveyor belt movable or with the aid of a robot gripper is movable. Method for unpacking at least one component, in particular an additive-manufactured component, from a container filled with processing agents, in particular powder or sand, wherein the method comprises the following steps: ◯ placing the container in a region of a device according to Claim 1 - 9 ; ◯ switching on a vibration unit, which is in operative connection with a building platform of the container; ◯ optional extension of a cylinder, which is arranged on the building platform; ◯ receiving the at least one component which has segregated due to the transmitted vibration of the finer-sized process material and has migrated upwards in the container, at the upper edge of the container by means of at least one screen plate; ◯ removing the at least one component from the screen plate either by gravity or by means of a robot gripper and conveyed onto a conveyor belt; ◯ Compressed air is applied to the at least one component for the remaining fine desanding.

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