IPC分类号：
B29C64/35 | B29C64/129 | B29C64/112 | B29C64/118 | B33Y30/00 | B33Y40/00
当前申请(专利权)人：
UNIVERSITAT POLITÈCNICA DE CATALUNYA
原始申请(专利权)人：
UNIVERSITAT POLITÈCNICA DE CATALUNYA
当前申请(专利权)人地址：
C/Jordi Girona 31,08034 Barcelona,ES
发明人：
MUGURUZA BLANCO, ASIER | BONADA BO, JORDI | MINGUELLA CANELA, JOAQUIM | GÓMEZ FERNÁNDEZ, AGUSTÍN
代理机构：
JUNCOSA MIRÓ, JAIME
摘要：
Three-dimensional printing machine comprising a frontal photopolymerization printing station (10) including a printing basin (11) filled with a photo-curable polymer (12) and an image-forming light energy emitter (14) directed against the photo-curable polymer (12); a cleaning station (20) including a cleaning basin (21) filled with a cleaning liquid (22); a deposition printing station (30) including at least one deposition head (31) oriented downwards and movable across a deposition printing area by an actuator device (32); a platform (40) connected to a transport device (41) configured to move it from the frontal photopolymerization printing station (10) to the cleaning station (20) and to a printing position below the deposition printing area of the deposition printing station (30).
技术问题语段：
The technical problem addressed by this patent is the combination of different tri-dimensional printing technologies, specifically stereolithography printing and deposition printing, to allow for the use of different materials with different capabilities and very different layer thickness in a 3D printed model. Previous patents describe the use of two or more different materials, but this invention combines both techniques, allowing for greater flexibility in material selection and layer thickness.
技术功效语段：
The present invention relates to a three-dimensional printing method combining two different printing processes: frontal photopolymerization and deposition printing. The frontal photopolymerization printing process uses a photo-curable polymer and a laser to create layers of the object in a vertical direction. The deposition printing process uses a deposition head to deliver the material to the object. The invention also includes a cleaning station to remove any non-polymerized material and a transport device to move the platform between different stations. The combination of these features allows for the creation of objects with different materials, properties, and resolutions. The invention also provides a three-dimensional printing machine that includes both frontal photopolymerization and deposition printing stations, as well as a cleaning station and a transport device.
权利要求：
1. Three-dimensional printing machine comprising: • a frontal photopolymerization printing station (10) including a printing basin (11) filled with a photo-curable polymer (12) which has an exposed upper surface (13) and an image-forming light energy emitter (14) directed against said exposed upper surface (13); • a platform (40) connected to a transport device (41) configured to move said platform (40) in a vertical direction between multiple submerged printing positions where the platform (40) is submerged in the photo-curable polymer at a different depths; characterized in that the 3D printing machine further includes: • a cleaning station (20) including a cleaning basin (21) filled with a cleaning liquid (22) or a cleaning basin (21) filled with a cleaning liquid (22) in contact with a vibration generator (23); • a deposition printing station (30) including at least one deposition head (31) oriented downwards and movable across a deposition printing area by an actuator device (32); wherein the transport device (41) is also configured to move said platform from the frontal photopolymerization printing station (10) to a submerged cleaning position in the cleaning liquid (22) of the cleaning station (20) and to an emerged printing position below the deposition printing area of the deposition printing station (30) at a multiple vertical distances thereof.
2. Three-dimensional printing machine according to claim 1 wherein the transport device (41) includes a vertical transport device (46), connected to the platform (40), including a vertical actuator and a vertical guide member (42) for the vertical movement of said platform (40), and said transport device (41) also including a horizontal transport device (45), connected to the vertical transport device (46), including a horizontal actuator and a horizontal guide member (43) for the horizontal movement of said vertical transport device (46).
3. Three-dimensional printing machine according to claim 2 wherein the horizontal guide member (43) is a vertical shaft (44), being the vertical transport device (46) rotatively connected in cantilever to said vertical shaft (44) and being the frontal photopolymerization printing station (10), the deposition printing station (30) and the cleaning station (20) surrounding said vertical shaft (44).
4. Three-dimensional printing machine according to any preceding claim wherein the frontal photopolymerization printing station (10) is protected from the ambient light by a cover (50) which content the image-forming light energy emitter (14).
5. Three-dimensional printing machine according to claim 3 wherein an annular lid (51) protect the frontal photopolymerization printing station (10), the deposition printing station (30) and the cleaning station (20) from the ambient light, said annular lid (51) being supported on the horizontal transport device (45) and integrating a cover (50) which contains the image-forming light energy emitter (14) and the vertical transport device (46), said cover being positionable with correspondence with at least the frontal photopolymerization printing station (10), and the cleaning station (20).
6. Three-dimensional printing machine according to claim 5 wherein the deposition printing station (30) is also contained in said cover (50), connected to the horizontal transport device (45).
7. Three-dimensional printing machine according to any preceding claim wherein the printing basin (11) has an horizontal upper edge surrounded with a collection channel (15) and a pumping device (16) connected to said collection channel (15) and to the printing basin (11) in order to pump photo-curable polymer (12) in the printing basin (11) until produce its overflowing, assuring that the photo-curable polymer (12) is always leveled with the horizontal upper edge of the printing basin (11).
8. Three-dimensional printing machine according to claim 7 wherein a wiper device (70) is connected to a wiper actuator device (71) and configured to be moved along the exposed upper surface (13) to eliminate imperfections or bubbles.
9. Three-dimensional printing machine according to claim 5 or 6 wherein the cover includes vertical anti-splash shields (60) adjacent to the vertical projection of the platform (40), each vertical anti-splash shield (60) includes a matrix of holes (61), each connected with a blowing device (62).
10. Three-dimensional printing machine according to any preceding claim wherein multiple frontal photopolymerization printing stations are integrated in the printing machine, each having different photo-curable polymer and/or a photo-curable polymer having different additives able to change its physical and chemical properties.
11. Three-dimensional printing machine according to claim 4 or 5 wherein the cover is totally or partially filled with a non-reactive gas under specific conditions of pressure and temperature.
12. Three-dimensional printing machine according to any preceding claim wherein the printing product of the deposition printing station has different physical properties, and/or different chemical properties, and/or different biological properties than the consolidated photo-curable polymer printed in the frontal photopolymerization printing station.
13. Three-dimensional printing method implemented in a three-dimensional printing machine described on any claim 1 to 12, characterized in that the method includes activate the transport device to: • move the platform to a multiple submerged printing positions where the platform is submerged in the photo-curable polymer at different depths, activating the image-forming light energy emitter between each activation of the transport device producing multiple overlapped solid printed layers of polymerized photo-curable polymer; • move the platform from the frontal photopolymerization printing station to a submerged cleaning position in the cleaning liquid of the cleaning station; • move the platform to an emerged printing position below the deposition printing area of the deposition printing station at a multiple vertical distances thereof, activating the deposition head between each activation of the transport device producing multiple overlapped solid printed layers on top of the printed layers previously obtained in the frontal photopolymerization printing station.
14. Three-dimensional printing method according to claim 13 wherein the deposition head projects a printing product on uneven and/or ramped surfaces of the three-dimensional printed object previously produced in the frontal photopolymerization printing station, producing a non-flat layer of printed product.