JP2002307562A - Three-dimensional shaping device and three-dimensional shaping method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a three-dimensional shaping technique by which a three- dimensionally shaped object is created in a short time. SOLUTION: A three-dimensional shaping device 100 allows a powder material to drop from an opening 22h while transferring a thin layer forming part in a +X direction and thereby, forms a powder layer 82 on a shaping stage 42. Then a binder of an ultraviolet-curable resin is discharged from a head part 34 to a selected region of the powder layer 82. Next, the ultraviolet-curable resin applied to the powder layer 82 is cured to bind the powder material by irradiating the powder layer 82 with an ultraviolet light from an ultraviolet irradiation part 39. The three-dimensionally shaped object is created by repeating the described operating steps to the powder layer 82 to be sequentially formed. In this way, the ultraviolet-curable resin is used as a binder and the powder material can be rapidly bound by irradiation with an ultraviolet light, so that the three-dimensionally shaped object can be created in a short time.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a three-dimensional printing technique, and more particularly to a three-dimensional printing technique for producing a three-dimensional printing object by applying a binder to bind a powder material.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a conventional three-dimensional printing apparatus, a binder that dries and hardens is discharged to a layer of a powder material by an ink jet or the like, and a combined body of the powder materials is sequentially formed to form a three-dimensional printing object. There is something to shape. In this three-dimensional printing apparatus, for example, the following operation is performed, and a three-dimensional printing object is generated.

[0003] First, a powder material such as gypsum or starch is spread uniformly in a thin layer by a roller mechanism or the like. Next, an inkjet head is scanned over a region to be formed in the thin layer of the powder material, and a binder that cures by drying is applied. The powder material in the area where the binder is applied is combined with the underlying or adjacent cured area. Until the modeling is completed, the steps of sequentially forming thin layers of the powder material and applying the binder are repeated. When the shaping is completed, the powder material in the region where the binder is not applied is kept individually independent, so that the three-dimensional structure bonded by the binder can be taken out.

[0004]

However, since the above-described three-dimensional modeling apparatus uses a binder that cures by drying, it requires time to dry the binder after the binder is applied and to combine the powder material, thereby increasing the speed of modeling. Is difficult.

Further, when the above-mentioned binder is applied using an ink-jet head, the hole diameter of the nozzle portion is very small (20 μm or less). Hardens easily and causes clogging. If such a problem occurs, the powder material in the region to which the binder is to be applied is not bonded by the clogged nozzle, which causes a reduction in the shape accuracy and strength of the three-dimensional structure.

For this reason, when an ink jet head is used, only a binder having a weak adhesive force can be used, and the strength of a completed three-dimensional structure is reduced. Further, in this case, only a powder material that is bonded with a binder having a weak adhesive force can be used, and the degree of freedom in selecting the powder material is limited.

[0007] The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and has as its object to provide a three-dimensional printing technique capable of generating a three-dimensional printing object in a short time.

[0008]

Means for Solving the Problems In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, an invention according to claim 1 is a three-dimensional printing apparatus for generating a three-dimensional printing object by binding a powder material,
(a) layer forming means for sequentially forming a layer of the powder material, and (b) applying means for applying a binder that cures in response to a specific energy to selected regions in the layer of the powder material, (c) radiating means for radiating the specific energy to the binder applied to the powder material, wherein the binder is cured by the radiating means, whereby a binder of the powder material is formed. It is formed.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the three-dimensional modeling apparatus according to the first aspect, the radiating means radiates the specific energy for each layer of the powder material formed sequentially.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the three-dimensional modeling apparatus according to the first or second aspect of the present invention, (d) after the combined body of the powder material is formed, the combined body of the powder material is formed. And coloring means for giving a colored carrier to the colored region in the above.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the three-dimensional modeling apparatus according to the third aspect of the present invention, the coloring means comprises (d-
1) It has a plurality of nozzles that respectively discharge colored carriers of different colors.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the three-dimensional modeling apparatus according to the third or fourth aspect, the coloring region is near a surface of the three-dimensional molded object.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the three-dimensional modeling apparatus according to any one of the first to fifth aspects, the binder cures in response to light energy having a predetermined wavelength. .

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the three-dimensional modeling apparatus according to any one of the first to sixth aspects, the binder hardens in response to heat energy.

According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, in the three-dimensional modeling apparatus according to any one of the first to seventh aspects, the layer forming means (a-1) selects a plurality of types of powder materials. And a supply means for supplying the liquid.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, in the three-dimensional modeling apparatus according to the eighth aspect of the present invention, the supply means selects the plurality of types of powder material into a plurality of regions for each layer of the powder material. Can be supplied.

According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, in the three-dimensional modeling apparatus according to any one of the first to ninth aspects, the applying means discharges the binder by a piezoelectric element, and the To the binder.

According to an eleventh aspect of the present invention, in the three-dimensional modeling apparatus according to the second aspect of the present invention, the applying means and the radiating means are activated in parallel with the activation of the layer forming means, and Form a conjugate according to the layer of material.

According to a twelfth aspect of the present invention, in the three-dimensional modeling apparatus according to the eleventh aspect of the present invention, the applying means is
It is provided between the layer forming means and the radiation means.

According to a thirteenth aspect of the present invention, in the three-dimensional modeling apparatus according to the second aspect of the present invention, after the layer forming means is activated and the layer of the powder material is formed, the applying means and the radiator are formed. Activating the means to form a conjugate with the layer of powdered material.

According to a fourteenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the three-dimensional modeling apparatus according to the thirteenth aspect, further comprising: holding means for integrally holding the layer forming means, the applying means, and the radiation means, In the holding unit, the radiating unit is disposed between the layer forming unit and the applying unit.

According to a fifteenth aspect of the present invention, in the three-dimensional modeling apparatus according to the thirteenth aspect, a holding means for integrally holding the layer forming means, the applying means, and the radiating means, In the holding means, the applying means is disposed between the layer forming means and the radiating means.

According to a sixteenth aspect of the present invention, in the three-dimensional modeling apparatus according to any one of the second to fifteenth aspects, the radiating means includes a main scanning and / or a sub-scanning. Emits energy.

[0024] Further, the invention of claim 17 is a three-dimensional modeling method for forming a three-dimensional structure by bonding powder materials, wherein (a) a layer forming step of sequentially forming layers of the powder material. And (b) for a selected region in the layer of the powder material, an application step of applying a binder that cures in response to specific energy, and (c) for the binder applied to the powder material And a radiating step of radiating the specific energy. In the radiating step, the binder is cured to form a binder of the powder material.

According to an eighteenth aspect of the present invention, in the three-dimensional modeling method according to the seventeenth aspect, in the radiating step, the specific energy is radiated for each layer of the powder material formed sequentially. .

According to a nineteenth aspect of the present invention, in the three-dimensional molding method according to the seventeenth or eighteenth aspect,
(d) after the combination of the powder materials is formed, the method further includes a coloring step of applying a colored carrier to a colored region in the combination of the powder materials.

According to a twentieth aspect of the present invention, in the three-dimensional modeling method according to the nineteenth aspect, the coloring step comprises:
(d-1) There is an ejection step of ejecting colored carriers of different colors from the plurality of nozzles.

According to a twenty-first aspect of the present invention, in the three-dimensional forming method according to the nineteenth or twentieth aspect,
The coloring region is near the surface of the three-dimensional structure.

According to a twenty-second aspect of the present invention, in the three-dimensional modeling method according to any one of the seventeenth to twenty-first aspects, the binder cures in response to light energy having a predetermined wavelength. .

According to a twenty-third aspect of the present invention, in the three-dimensional molding method according to any one of the seventeenth to twenty-second aspects, the binder hardens in response to heat energy.

According to a twenty-fourth aspect of the present invention, in the three-dimensional modeling method according to any one of the seventeenth to twenty-third aspects, the layer forming step includes the step of (a-1) selecting a plurality of types of powder materials. And a supply step for supply.

According to a twenty-fifth aspect of the present invention, in the three-dimensional molding method according to the twenty-fourth aspect, in the supplying step, the plurality of types of powder materials are divided into a plurality of regions for each layer of the powder materials. Supply selectively.

According to a twenty-sixth aspect of the present invention, in the three-dimensional modeling method according to any one of the seventeenth to twenty-fifth aspects, in the applying step, the binder is discharged by a piezoelectric element and the selection is performed. Apply the binder to the area.

According to a twenty-seventh aspect of the present invention, in the three-dimensional modeling method according to the eighteenth aspect, the applying step and the radiating step are performed in parallel with the layer forming step, and the layer of the powder material is formed. Such a conjugate is formed.

According to a twenty-eighth aspect of the present invention, in the three-dimensional molding method according to the eighteenth aspect, after the powder material layer is formed in the layer forming step, the applying step and the radiation step are performed. To form a composite according to the layer of powdered material.

[0036]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS <First Embodiment><Main Configuration of Three-Dimensional Modeling Apparatus> FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a main configuration of a three-dimensional modeling apparatus 100 according to a first embodiment of the present invention. .

The three-dimensional printing apparatus 100 includes a control unit 10
Thin layer forming section 20, binder applying section 30, and shaping section 40
It is comprised including.

The control unit 10 includes a computer 11 and a drive control unit 12 electrically connected to the computer 11.

The computer 11 is a general desk-top type computer or the like which includes a CPU, a memory and the like inside. The computer 11 converts the three-dimensional object into shape data as shape data, and outputs to the drive control unit 12 cross-sectional data obtained by slicing the data into thin parallel cross-sections.

The drive control section 12 functions as control means for driving the thin layer forming section 20, the binder applying section 30, and the modeling section 40, respectively. When the section data is acquired from the computer 11, the drive control section 12 gives a drive command to each of the above-described sections based on the section data, thereby causing the modeling section 40 to supply and extend the powder material, and The overall control is carried out so that a powdered composite is sequentially formed for each layer.

Further, the drive control unit 12 specifies a selection region to which the powder material is to be bonded based on the cross-sectional data, and becomes a binder every time one thin layer of the powder material is formed in the thin layer forming unit 20. Drive control is performed so that the binder is discharged to a predetermined region of the layer surface.

The thin layer forming section 20 includes an extending roller 21 functioning as a layer forming means, a powder supply mechanism 22, and a driving section 29 having, for example, a motor. The thin layer forming section 20 can be reciprocated by the driving section 29 in the X direction.

Extension roller 21 and powder supply mechanism 22
Is elongated in the Y direction, and is configured such that a thin layer of the powder material can be formed on the modeling unit 40 by one operation in the X direction by the driving unit 29.

The powder supply mechanism 22 includes a
When moving in the X direction, it is arranged so as to be located on the front side in the traveling direction of the extension roller 21 (that is, on the downstream side in the traveling direction). When the thin layer forming section 20 moves in the + X direction, the extension roller 21 and the powder supply mechanism 22 are activated, and the powder supply mechanism 22 supplies the powder material to the front side in the movement direction of the extension roller 21. .

The upper side of the powder supply mechanism 22 is configured as a powder container 23 for storing a powder material such as gypsum or starch, and a porous supply roller 24 is provided below the powder container 23. Can be

The surface of the supply roller 24 is porous, and the hole of the powder container 23 in contact with the powder material has
The powder material is filled. When the supply roller 24 rotates, the powder filled in the hole on the roller surface is filled with an opening 22 h formed at the lowermost portion of the powder supply mechanism 22.
The powder material is guided to the side and falls from the opening 22h, whereby the powder material is supplied to the modeling unit 40.

The extension roller 21 is configured to rotate in conjunction with the rotation of the supply roller 24. Thereby, the powder material dropped from the opening 22h of the powder supply mechanism 22 can be appropriately extended.

As for the powder material stored in the powder container 23, it is preferable to use a white one in order to improve color development. When printing on white paper, for example, applying colored ink only to the colored areas enables gradation expression of the color in balance with the white background, but the same applies to the coloring of three-dimensional objects. Therefore, it is desirable to use a white powder material.

The binder applying section 30 includes a tank section 31 and
A head section 34 and an ultraviolet irradiation section 39 are provided.

The tank section 31 has four ink tanks 32.
And a binder tank 33.

The ink tanks 32a to 32d contain liquid inks having different color components, three primary colors of Y (yellow), M (magenta) and C (cyan) and W (white). . It should be noted that each ink that functions as a colored carrier does not change its color even when combined with a powder material, and it is desirable to use one that does not change its color or discolor even after a long period of time.

The binder tank 33 is made of a light-shielding material, and contains a liquid ultraviolet curable resin. As the ultraviolet curable resin, it is preferable to use a resin having a low viscosity such as an acrylic monomer resin having a low molecular weight so that the resin can be discharged using an ink jet head. Note that an epoxy resin or the like may be used as the ultraviolet curing resin.

Tubes are laid in each of the ink tanks 32 a to 32 d and the binder tank 33, and the liquid in the tank is individually guided to the head unit 34. The tube laid from the binder tank 33 to the head portion 34 is formed of a light-shielding material.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a configuration of a main part of the head section 34. As shown in FIG.

The head section 34 includes a head section main body 35, a driving section 36 connected to the head section main body 35, and a plurality of ejection nozzles 37 a to 37 e protruding below the head section main body 35.
And a light blocking plate 38.

The head section 34 is configured to be able to eject (eject) the ink of each color and the ultraviolet curable resin from the ejection nozzles 37a to 37e as minute liquid droplets by an ink jet method or the like. The head section 34 is preferably configured as a detachable piezo type inkjet head, that is, a head that performs ejection by obtaining ejection force by volume change due to flexural deformation of a piezoelectric element. With the head portion 34 having such a configuration, stable discharge can be performed regardless of the physical properties of the ultraviolet curable resin as a binder, and troubles such as clogging of the discharge nozzle 37 due to hardening of the binder in the head portion 34 occur. Since it is also detachable and can be easily replaced, quick recovery is possible.

The driving section 36 is capable of moving the head section 34 in the X direction along a guide rail (not shown) extending in the X direction.

Each of the discharge nozzles 37a to 37e has a multi-nozzle mechanism having a plurality of binder discharge holes in the Y direction, and the drive control unit 12 forms a combined body of powder from the plurality of binder discharge holes. It is possible to individually control the binder discharge by selecting a binder discharge hole necessary for the above. The ink and the ultraviolet curable resin discharged from each of the discharge nozzles 37 a to 37 e adhere to the powder layer 82 of the modeling unit 40 provided at a position facing the discharge nozzle 37.

The light shielding plate 38 is formed so as to cover the discharge nozzle 37 in a rectangular shape, and prevents light including ultraviolet rays from reaching the discharge nozzle 37e. With this light blocking plate,
Clogging of the discharge nozzle 37e can be prevented.

The ultraviolet irradiator 39 irradiates the powder layer 82 with ultraviolet light as light energy having a wavelength in the ultraviolet region in order to cure the ultraviolet curable resin applied to the powder layer 82 and bond the powder material. It is a part to do.

Returning to FIG. 1, the description will be continued.

The modeling section 40 includes a modeling section main body 41 having a concave portion at the center, a modeling stage 42 provided inside the concave section of the modeling section main body 41, and a Z-direction moving section for moving the modeling stage 42 in the Z direction. 43 and a driving unit 44 for driving the Z-direction moving unit 43.

The modeling unit main body 41 plays a role of providing a work area for generating a three-dimensional modeled object.

The molding stage 42 has a rectangular shape in the XY section, and its side surface is in contact with the vertical inner wall 41 a of the concave portion in the molding portion main body 41. Then, the rectangular solid three-dimensional space formed by the modeling stage 42 and the vertical inner wall 41a of the modeling part main body 41 functions as a modeling space for generating a three-dimensional modeled object. That is, the three-dimensional object is created by bonding the powder on the modeling stage 42 by the binder discharged from the discharge nozzle 37e.

The Z-direction moving section 43 has a support bar 43 a connected to the modeling stage 42. And support rod 4
The modeling stage 42 connected to the support bar 43a by vertically driving the driving unit 3a vertically.
Can be moved in the Z direction.

<Operation of Three-Dimensional Modeling Apparatus 100> FIG.
5 is a flowchart illustrating a basic operation of the three-dimensional printing apparatus 100. Hereinafter, the basic operation will be described with reference to FIG.

In step S1, the computer 11
Model data representing a three-dimensional object having a color pattern or the like on its surface is created. Color three-dimensional model data created by general three-dimensional CAD modeling software can be used as shape data that is the basis for modeling. It is also possible to use shape data and texture measured by the three-dimensional shape input device.

In the model data, there are data in which color information is provided only on the surface of the three-dimensional model, and data in which color information is provided up to the inside of the model. In the latter case, it is possible to use only the color information of the model surface at the time of modeling, and it is also possible to use the color information inside the model. For example, when generating a three-dimensional structure such as a human body model, there is a case where it is desired to apply a different color to each internal organ, and in that case, color information inside the model is used.

In step S2, the computer 11 generates section data for each section obtained by horizontally slicing the modeling object from the model data. A cross section sliced at a pitch (layer thickness t) corresponding to the thickness of one layer of the powder to be laminated is cut out from the model data, and shape data and coloring data are created. In addition, the pitch for slicing can be changed within a predetermined range (a range of a thickness capable of binding the powder).

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of the cross-sectional data generated in step S2. As shown in FIG. 4, a cross section including the color information is cut out from the model data and subdivided into a lattice shape. It is handled in the same way as a two-dimensional image bitmap, and is converted into bitmap information for each color. This bitmap information is information taking into account the gradation and the like. Here, only the part that appears on the surface of the three-dimensional structure has YCMW color information.

In step S 3, information on the powder stacking thickness (slice pitch at the time of creating cross-sectional data) and the number of stacks (the number of cross-sectional data sets) at the time of shaping the object to be formed are transmitted from the computer 11 to the drive control unit. 12 is input.

The operation from step S4 onward is performed by the drive control unit 12 controlling each unit. FIG. 5 is a conceptual diagram illustrating these operations.
Hereinafter, description will be made with reference to FIG.

In step S 4, the molding stage 42 is input from the computer 11 by the Z-direction moving unit 43 in order to form a combined body of the Nth layer (N = 1, 2,...) Of the powder on the molding stage 42. Based on the above-mentioned layer thickness t, it is lowered and held by a distance corresponding to the thickness. In the initial state, the modeling stage 42 is located at the same height position as the upper end position of the modeling section 40, and descends therefrom by a distance corresponding to the layer thickness t. Then, the modeling stage 42 descends step by step by a distance corresponding to the layer thickness t sequentially for each layer of the powder material. As a result, a powder material is deposited on the modeling stage 42, and a space for forming a new powder layer by one layer can be formed above the powder layer in which the necessary bonding by the binder has been completed.

In step S5, the thin layer forming section 20 is set to + X
By performing the movement in the direction, while forming a thin layer of one layer of the powder material while supplying the powder as the material in the formation of the three-dimensional structure, the ultraviolet curable resin is transferred from the head portion 34 to a predetermined region. The required portion of the powder material is joined by performing the discharge of the liquid.

As shown in FIG. 5A, when the thin layer forming section 20 moves in the + X direction, the lowest point of the extension roller 21 is at the same height position as the upper end of the modeling section 40. Then, the movement in the + X direction is performed in this state, so that a uniform thin layer of the powder material is accurately formed by the powder supply mechanism 22 and the extension roller 21.

The amount of the powder material supplied from the powder supply mechanism 22 at the time of forming one layer (during one movement in the X direction) is slightly larger than the amount required for forming one layer. It is set to avoid powder shortage at any position in the molding space. For this reason, after the formation of one layer, the powder material remains, but the surplus powder material can be collected and reused.

The head section 34 also moves in the + X direction together with the movement of the thin layer forming section 20, and moves on the basis of the control signal from the drive control section 12 with respect to the powder layer extended from the discharge nozzle 37 e. Discharges a binder of an ultraviolet curable resin. At this time, the drive control unit 12 applies a control signal to the head unit 34 based on the shape data of the cross-sectional data (see FIG. 4), so that the binder is applied to the selected region to be formed.

In step S6, a thin layer of the powder material is irradiated with ultraviolet rays by an ultraviolet irradiation section 39 which moves together with the head section 34. Thereby, the binder of the ultraviolet curable resin applied to the thin layer of the powder material is cured. As a result, a combination of the powder materials is generated for each powder layer, and the powder materials in the region where the binder is not applied remain individually independent.

When the thin layer forming section 20 reaches the position as shown in FIG. 5B, one bonding operation of the powder material is completed, and the molding of one layer is completed.

In step S7, the head unit 34 is moved in the −X direction, and the discharge nozzle 37
Ink of each color is ejected from a to 37d. At this time, the drive control unit 12 gives a control signal to the head unit 34 based on the YCMW coloring data (see FIG. 4) in the cross-sectional data, thereby controlling the coloring region near the surface of the three-dimensional structure. Ink is applied. Thereby, a desired coloring can be applied to the three-dimensional structure.
In this case, it is preferable to irradiate ultraviolet rays from the ultraviolet irradiating section 39 in order to surely cure the ultraviolet curable resin applied to the powder layer 82.

In general, it is sufficient to mix the three primary colors of Y, M, and C in order to perform coloring. However, in order to express the density (gradation) of the colors, a white binder is ejected in addition to the three primary colors to discharge the mixed colors. It is effective to do. In general printers, etc., characters and images are printed on white paper with ink, toner, and the like. Therefore, if the white color of the base paper is used, white ink is not required, and three colors of Y, M, and C are used. By simply using, the shading of each color component can be expressed in principle. However,
In the case where the color of the powder used as the material for three-dimensional modeling is not white, it is particularly effective to use a white binder.

An example of the form of ink ejection when displaying shades when coloring a three-dimensional object in this way will be described.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of gradation expression for cyan. When predetermined gradation conversion is performed in the drive control unit 12, the multi-value gradation data included in the cross-sectional data is converted into binary data for each basic dot area (the minimum rectangle in FIG. 6). The binary data is information for ON / OFF control of each of the ejection nozzles 37a to 37d for ejecting ink. When displaying pale cyan, cyan is ejected to one basic dot area in a 2 × 2 matrix array, and white is ejected to the other basic dot areas. When displaying dark cyan, cyan is ejected to the entire basic set area. As described above, by changing the ejection ratio of the cyan ink and the white ink with respect to the basic set area, it is possible to appropriately express a gradation change from light cyan to dark cyan.

Next, FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of an expression changing from pale cyan to pale yellow. The left end of FIG. 7 is a discharge pattern of C and W when expressing light cyan, and the right end is a discharge pattern of Y and W when expressing light yellow. When changing from pale cyan to pale yellow through a mixed color of cyan and yellow, as shown in FIG. 7, the ratio of discharging C, Y, and W into the basic set area is gradually changed. This makes it possible to express such a color change.

FIG. 8 shows a case where a plurality of basic set areas for coloring are set. FIG. 8A shows C and W
FIG. 8B specifically shows a coloring form expressed by the ejection pattern of FIG. 8A. As shown in FIG. 8, the drive control unit 12 controls the ejection pattern, so that it is possible to perform coloring in the process of forming the three-dimensional structure.

In step S8, it is determined whether the formation of the three-dimensional structure has been completed. Here, when the modeling is not completed, an operation of forming a new powder combined body of the (N + 1) th layer on the upper side of the (N) th layer is performed. Then, when the formation of the three-dimensional structure is completed, by separating the individual powder materials to which the binder is not provided, a combined body (three-dimensional structure) of the powder materials combined with the binder can be taken out. it can. The unbound powder material may be collected and reused as the powder material.

As described above, the operations shown in FIGS. 5A to 5F are repeated by the number of laminations, so that the colored composites for each layer are sequentially laminated on the stage 42, and finally the modeling is performed. The three-dimensional structure of the object is formed on the forming stage 42.

With the operation of the three-dimensional printing apparatus 100 as described above, since the ultraviolet curable resin which is cured by the irradiation of ultraviolet rays is used as the binder, the molding time is shortened, and the three-dimensional molded article can be generated in a short time. Also, since the curing of the binder can be controlled by the presence or absence of ultraviolet rays, if the ultraviolet rays are blocked by the discharge nozzle, the fluidity of the binder can be secured,
Clogging can be prevented.

Further, in the conventional three-dimensional printing apparatus, since the operation of hardening the binder is not performed for each layer of the powder material, there are the following problems.

(1) When a binder is applied to the modeling area with each layer of the powder material and then the ink is further applied and colored, the ink is applied in a state where the binder is not cured, so that bleeding occurs and the color reproducibility is increased. Resolution decreases.

(2) Since the upper powder material layer is formed in a state where the binder is not cured, the powder material in the surrounding unsolidified area adheres to the area to be displayed on the display surface of the three-dimensional structure. In addition, the shape accuracy and color reproducibility of the completed three-dimensional structure are reduced.

Regarding the above-mentioned problems, in the three-dimensional modeling apparatus 100, since the coloring is performed after each layer is irradiated with ultraviolet rays to combine the powder material, the color reproducibility and the like are improved.

<Second Embodiment> FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a main configuration of a three-dimensional printing apparatus 100A according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

The three-dimensional printing apparatus 100A has a configuration similar to that of the three-dimensional printing apparatus 100 of the first embodiment.
The thin layer forming part 60 is different. The configuration of the thin layer forming section 60 will be described below.

The thin layer forming section 60 includes an extension roller 61 and a powder supply mechanism 6 similarly to the thin layer forming section 20 of the first embodiment.
2 and a drive unit 69. The thin layer forming section 60 can be reciprocated by the driving section 69 in the X direction. The extension roller 61 and the powder supply mechanism 62 are elongated in the Y direction, and can form a thin layer of the powder material on the modeling unit 40 by a single operation in the X direction by the driving unit 69. It is configured as follows.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a main configuration of the powder supply mechanism 62. As shown in FIG. Here, FIG. 10A is a cross-sectional view of the powder supply mechanism 62 with respect to the XZ plane, and FIG. 10B is a view of the powder supply mechanism 62 as viewed from below.

The upper side of the powder supply mechanism 62 has two powder containers 63a and 63b for accommodating different powder materials, and the lower portions of the powder containers 63a and 63b have porous supply rollers 64a and 64b. Is provided. Also,
The powder supply mechanism 62 includes 30 shutters 65 and an actuator 66 that drives the shutters 65.

Each of the shutters 65 is actuated by an actuator 66 based on a command from the drive control unit 12.
Switching between the open state SO and the closed state SC at the openings Ha and Hb is possible. By controlling the opening and closing of the shutter 65, two types of powder materials accommodated in the powder containers 63a and 63b are selectively supplied to form a layer of the powder material. The powder containers 63a and 63b contain, for example, two types of powder materials having different particle sizes.

<Operation of Three-Dimensional Modeling Apparatus 100A> The operation of the three-dimensional modeling apparatus 100A is substantially the same as the operation shown in the flowchart of FIG. 3, but the operation of forming a thin layer of the powder material corresponding to step S5 is different.

In this thin layer forming operation, the thin layer forming section 60
While moving along the + X direction, the powder container 63a,
Two kinds of powder materials stored in 63b are supplied. Specifically, as shown in FIG.
, One of the two openings Ha and Hb at the same position in the Y direction is opened and the other is closed, thereby selectively supplying two types of powder materials.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of a layer of a powder material formed on the modeling stage 42 by the thin layer forming section 60. As shown in FIG.

As shown in FIG. 11, the powder material 82a in the powder container 63a and the powder material 82b in the powder container 63b
(Parallel hatched portions), one powder layer is formed. By forming such a layer, the surface roughness, the strength, and the like of a part of the three-dimensional structure can be made different from those of the other parts, so that variations of the three-dimensional structure are increased.

By the operation of the three-dimensional printing apparatus 100A as described above, the same effects as those of the three-dimensional printing apparatus 100 of the first embodiment can be obtained. Furthermore, since a plurality of powder materials can be used for three-dimensional modeling, the degree of freedom in modeling is improved.

<Third Embodiment> A three-dimensional printing apparatus 100B according to a third embodiment of the present invention has a configuration similar to that of the three-dimensional printing apparatus 100 of the first embodiment. The configuration is different. The configuration of the binder applying section 30B will be described below.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing a main configuration of the binder applying section 30B.

In the binder applying section 30B, an ultraviolet irradiation section 39 is provided between the discharge nozzles 37a to 37d for discharging ink of each color and the discharge nozzle 37e for discharging a binder of an ultraviolet curable resin.

That is, the binder discharge unit Ub having the discharge nozzle 37e and functioning as an application means is composed of the extension roller 21 functioning as a layer forming means and the ultraviolet irradiation unit having the ultraviolet irradiation section 39 and functioning as a radiation means. Uv.

<Operation of Three-dimensional Modeling Apparatus 100B> The operation of the three-dimensional modeling apparatus 100B is almost the same as the operation shown in the flowchart of FIG. 3, except that steps S5 to S7 are performed in parallel with respect to the powder layer.

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an outline of the operation of the three-dimensional printing apparatus 100B. FIG. 13A shows the state of the binder applying unit 3.
FIG. 13B shows the operation of the forward path (+ X direction) of FIG.
Indicates the operation of the binder applying section 30B in the return path (−X direction).

[0110] As shown in FIG.
Is moved in the + X direction, and the color ink ejection unit Uc, the ultraviolet irradiation unit Uv, and the binder ejection unit Ub are integrally moved in the + X direction.

Here, a powder material layer is formed by the extension roller 21 on the powder mass Ka supplied by the powder supply mechanism 20 while the binder discharge unit U is formed.
While discharging the binder of the ultraviolet curing resin from b,
The layer of the powder material is irradiated with ultraviolet rays by sub-scanning the ultraviolet irradiation unit Uv in the + X direction. Further, each color ink is ejected from the color ink ejection unit Uc to the powder layer.

That is, in parallel with the activation of the extension roller 21, the binder discharge unit Ub, the ultraviolet irradiation unit Uv, and the color ink discharge unit Uc are activated (ON), so that a combined body of the powder material is generated on the outward path. It can be colored as well as possible.

Then, as shown in FIG. 13B, on the return path in the -X direction, the extension roller 21, the binder discharge unit Ub, the ultraviolet irradiation unit Uv, and the color ink discharge unit Uc are not activated, and The operation of returning to the initial position is performed at a moving speed higher than the moving speed of the.

By repeating the above operation, a binder is sequentially generated for each layer of the powder material, and a three-dimensional structure can be generated by separating the binder from the powder material not bound by the binder.

By the operation of the three-dimensional printing apparatus 100B described above, the same effect as the three-dimensional printing apparatus 100 of the first embodiment can be exhibited. In addition, modeling and coloring operations are performed on the outward path, and these operations are omitted and the apparatus moves at high speed on the return path, so that the three-dimensional modeling time can be reduced.

The arrangement of the units is not limited to the arrangement of the three-dimensional printing apparatus 100B, but may be configured as shown in FIG.

In the configuration shown in FIG. 14, the binder discharge unit Ub, the color ink discharge unit Uc, and the ultraviolet irradiation unit Uv are arranged in this order from the extension roller 21. Here, on the outward path, as shown in FIG. 14A, the extension roller 21 and the binder discharge unit Ub are activated to discharge the binder to the powder layer, and the ultraviolet irradiation unit Uv is activated to irradiate the ultraviolet rays. On the other hand, in the return path, as shown in FIG. 14B, the ultraviolet irradiation unit Uv is activated to perform the second ultraviolet irradiation on the powder layer, and the color ink ejection unit Uc is activated to eject ink of each color. .

By the above operation, the ultraviolet irradiation can be performed twice before the ink is applied to the powder layer, so that the binder of the ultraviolet curable resin can be hardened and the coloring can be appropriately performed. Further, since the binder discharge unit Ub and the ultraviolet irradiation unit Uv are not adjacent to each other, it is possible to prevent the discharge nozzle 37e of the binder discharge unit Uv from being clogged due to ultraviolet light leakage from the ultraviolet irradiation unit Uv.

The arrangement of each unit may be configured as shown in FIG.

In the configuration shown in FIG. 15, the color ink discharge unit Uc, the binder discharge unit Ub, and the ultraviolet irradiation unit Uv are arranged in this order from the extension roller 21. Here, on the outward path, as shown in FIG. 15A, the extension roller 21 and the binder discharge unit Ub are activated to discharge the binder to the powder layer, and the ultraviolet irradiation unit Uv is activated to irradiate the ultraviolet rays. On the other hand, in the return path, the ultraviolet irradiation unit Uv is activated to perform the second ultraviolet irradiation on the powder layer, and the color ink ejection unit Uc is activated to eject ink of each color.

By the above operation, the ultraviolet irradiation can be performed twice before the ink application, so that the binder of the ultraviolet curable resin can be hardened and the coloring can be appropriately performed. Further, since the binder discharge unit Ub and the ultraviolet irradiation unit Uv are adjacent to each other, the time from application of the binder to the powder layer to irradiation of the ultraviolet light can be shortened. Thereby, since the bleeding of the binder in the powder layer can be suppressed, the molding with higher precision and higher definition can be performed.

Further, the arrangement of each unit may be configured as shown in FIG.

In the configuration shown in FIG. 16, similar to FIG.
Binder discharge unit Ub, color ink discharge unit U
c, the ultraviolet irradiation units Uv are arranged in this order from the extension roller 21. Further, each unit Ub, Uc, Uv
Above the entire molding area, that is, the molding stage 4
A fixed ultraviolet irradiation unit Uw for irradiating the entire surface of the powder layer on the upper surface 2 is provided. Here, on the outbound route,
As shown in FIG. 16 (a), the extension roller 21 and the binder discharge unit Ub are activated to discharge the binder to the powder layer, the ultraviolet irradiation unit Uv is activated to irradiate ultraviolet rays, and the fixed ultraviolet irradiation unit Uw is used for molding. Irradiate the entire area with UV light. On the other hand, on the return trip,
As shown in FIG. 16 (b), the UV irradiation unit Uv is activated to perform the second UV irradiation on the powder layer, and the color ink discharge unit Uc is activated to discharge ink of each color, and the fixed UV irradiation unit Uw Irradiates the entire molding area with ultraviolet rays.

By the above operation, the same effect as in the case of FIG. 14 can be obtained, and the ultraviolet irradiation from the fixed ultraviolet irradiation unit Uw is added to the ultraviolet irradiation from the ultraviolet irradiation unit Uv. And the binder can be hardened firmly.

<Fourth Embodiment> A three-dimensional printing apparatus 100C according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention has a configuration similar to that of the three-dimensional printing apparatus 100 of the first embodiment. And the configuration of the binder applying section 30C is different. The thin layer forming section 20C and the binder applying section 30
The configuration of B will be described below. As shown in FIG. 17, a mechanism including the extension roller 21 of the thin layer forming section 20C is referred to as an extension unit Up.

As shown in FIG. 17, the binder applying section 30C includes the extension unit U in the order of the color ink discharge unit Uc, the ultraviolet irradiation unit Uv, and the binder discharge unit Ub.
p. This is an arrangement in which the arrangement of each unit of the binder applying section 30B of the third embodiment is mirror-finished in the X direction, so that modeling and coloring can be performed on the return path in the −X direction. Each of the extension unit Up, the color ink discharge unit Uc, the ultraviolet irradiation unit Uv, and the binder discharge unit Ub is provided and integrated on one base plate functioning as a holding unit, and is held by the ultraviolet light. The irradiation unit Uv is arranged between the extension unit Up and the binder discharge unit Ub. Each unit Uv, Uc, Ub, Up is integrally connected to a guide G extending in the X direction, and is movable in the X direction along the guide G.

The binder discharge unit Ub and the color ink discharge unit Uc are provided with discharge heads Hb and Hc that can move (main scan) in the Y direction. These ejection heads Hb and Hc can apply the binder and the color ink to a desired region in the layer of the powder material by performing the main scanning and the sub-scanning along the guide G.

<Operation of Three-Dimensional Modeling Apparatus 100C> The operation of the three-dimensional modeling apparatus 100C is almost the same as the operation shown in the flowchart of FIG. 3, but the extension unit Up, the color ink discharge unit Uc, and the ultraviolet irradiation unit Since Uv and the binder discharge unit Ub move integrally in the X direction, the following consideration is required.

In the units Ub and Uc having the ejection heads Hb and Hc, unless the main scanning in the Y direction is completed,
Since the sub-scanning in the X direction cannot be performed, the movement in the X direction is not performed intermittently, that is, continuously and smoothly. This is because the movement of the extension unit Up in the X direction
This is contrary to the fact that it is preferable to perform the powder material continuously from the viewpoint of uniformly developing the powder material.

Therefore, in the forward movement in the + X direction, only the extension unit Up is activated with respect to the powder material supplied in front of the extension unit Up to form a uniform powder layer. On the other hand, on the return path moving in the −X direction, the color ink ejection units U other than the extension unit Up
(c) Activate the ultraviolet irradiation unit Uv and the binder discharge unit Ub to perform binder application, ultraviolet irradiation, and coloring.

That is, in the outward path, the extension unit Up
After the powder material layer is formed by activating the binder, the binder applying unit and the ultraviolet irradiation unit are activated to form a combined body relating to the powder material layer.

In the above-described three-dimensional printing apparatus 100C, since the units Ub, Uv, Uc, and Up are integrally disposed, the apparatus configuration can be simplified, and a thin layer of powder material can be formed and other operations can be performed. Is performed independently, so that a powder layer can be formed appropriately. In addition, the three-dimensional modeling device 1
In the configuration of 00C, the powder supply mechanism 22 as shown in FIG.
In addition to the above, the present invention can be applied to powder supply from above, and also powder supply from below, which extrudes and supplies a powder material upward from the inside of the shaping section 40.

The configuration of each unit as shown in FIG. 18 is not limited to the configuration of the three-dimensional printing apparatus 100C.

Here, as shown in FIG. 18, the binder discharge unit Ub, the ultraviolet irradiation unit Uv, and the color ink discharge unit Uc are arranged in this order from the extension unit Up. Then, similarly to the three-dimensional printing apparatus 100C, each of the extension unit Up, the binder discharge unit Ub, the ultraviolet irradiation unit Uv, and the color ink discharge unit Uc is disposed and integrated and held on one base plate. And the binder discharge unit Ub is the extension unit Up
And the ultraviolet irradiation unit Uv. Each unit Uv, Uc, Ub, Up is integrally connected to a guide G extending in the X direction, and is movable in the X direction along the guide G.

In the apparatus shown in FIG. 18, similarly to the three-dimensional printing apparatus 100C, in the outward path (+ X direction), only the extension unit Up is activated with respect to the powder material supplied in front of the extension unit Up. Form a uniform layer of powdered material. On the other hand, in the return path (-X), the extension unit U
The color ink ejection unit Uc other than p, the ultraviolet irradiation unit Uv, and the binder ejection unit Ub are activated to perform binder application, ultraviolet irradiation, and coloring. Thereby, the same effect as the above-described three-dimensional printing apparatus 100C can be exerted. In the case of powder supply from above, the supplied powder material lump passes below the binder discharge unit Ub and the color ink discharge unit Uc on the outward path before the extension unit Up, so that the powder material lump is at the very end. Care must be taken that the upper end does not contact the lowermost ends of the binder discharge unit Ub and the color ink discharge unit Uc.

It is not essential that each unit is integrally formed as in the three-dimensional printing apparatus 100C.
As shown in FIGS. 9 and 20, the extension unit Up and the binder applying section may be separated. That is, in this configuration, the binder discharge unit Ub, the ultraviolet irradiation unit Uv, and the color ink discharge unit Uc are provided on one base plate, and the extension unit Up is provided separately. In this case, since the weight of the binder applying portion can be reduced, the movement in the X direction can be performed quickly. In addition,
An extension unit Up, a unit Ub of a binder applying unit,
Since the Uv and Uc can be moved independently, the extension unit Up can be smoothly moved continuously and independently of the intermittent movement of the binder applying unit. Thereby, the operation such as the application of the binder and the like can be performed in the outward path as well as the formation of the powder layer.

<Fifth Embodiment> A three-dimensional printing apparatus 100D according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention has a configuration similar to that of the three-dimensional printing apparatus 100C of the fourth embodiment. And the configuration of the binder applying section 30D is different. That is, the three-dimensional printing apparatus 10 of the fourth embodiment
In 0C, each unit Ub, Uv, Uc, Up is integrated, but in the three-dimensional printing apparatus 100D, each unit Ub, Uv, Uc, Up is separated.

As shown in FIG. 21, the binder applying section 30D is arranged in the order of an ultraviolet irradiation unit Uv, a color ink discharge unit Uc, a binder discharge unit Ub, and an extension unit Up. Each of the extension unit Up, the binder discharge unit Ub, the color ink discharge unit Uc, and the ultraviolet irradiation unit Uv is connected to a guide G extending in the X direction. Along this guide G, each unit Uv, Uc, Ub, Up can be independently moved in the X direction.

The binder discharge unit Ub and the color ink discharge unit Uc are provided with discharge heads Hb and Hc that can move (main scan) in the Y direction.

The operation of the three-dimensional printing apparatus 100D is different from the operation of the three-dimensional printing apparatus 100C in that the units Uv, Uc, Ub, and Up can be moved independently in the X direction, so that the extension unit Up is activated on the outward path. Therefore, it is not necessary to form only a thin layer. That is, for example, the forward path (+
In the (X direction), the extension unit Up, the binder discharge unit Ub, and the ultraviolet irradiation unit are activated to form a combined body in the powder layer, and in the return path (-X direction), the color ink discharge unit Uc is activated. Then, coloring can be performed.

By the above-described operation of the three-dimensional printing apparatus 100D, a three-dimensional printing object can be appropriately generated similarly to the above embodiments. In addition, since each unit can move independently, the degree of freedom of the modeling operation and the coloring operation is improved.

Note that the configuration is not limited to the configuration of the three-dimensional printing apparatus 100D, but may be a configuration as shown in FIG.

In the configuration shown in FIG. 22, the binder discharge unit Ub, the ultraviolet irradiation unit Uv, the color ink discharge unit Uc, and the extension unit Up are arranged in this order and connected to the guide G. Then, as in the case of the three-dimensional printing apparatus 100D, each unit is configured to be independently movable, so that the degree of freedom of the printing operation and the coloring operation is improved.

It is not essential that all units are separated as in the three-dimensional printing apparatus 100D.
As shown in (1), a configuration may be adopted in which a binder / color ink discharge unit Ubc is formed by integrating the binder discharge unit Ub and the color ink discharge unit Uc.

This binder / color ink discharge unit Ub
c has a discharge head Hbc in which the discharge head Hb of the binder and the discharge head Hc of the color ink in the three-dimensional printing apparatus 100D are integrated.

FIG. 24 is a plan view showing the configuration of the main part of the ejection head Hbc.

In the ejection head Hbc, the binder ejection holes Qb having a plurality of ejection holes, and the Y ink ejection holes Qy, the M ink ejection holes Qm, and the C ink ejection holes Qc each having the plurality of ejection holes are Y. They are arranged in parallel in the direction.

With such a configuration of the ejection head Hbc, a driving mechanism for performing the main scanning of the ejection head Hbc in the Y direction can be simplified.

The ejection head may have an ultraviolet light source Lv using a lamp or an LED like the ejection head Hbc1 shown in FIG. In this case, the binder can be discharged from the binder discharge hole Qb while moving the discharge head Hbc1 in the direction M1 (+ Y direction), and immediately after that, the ultraviolet can be irradiated from the light source Lv. Thereby, the main scanning of the light source Lv can be performed, and the movement of the binder / color ink ejection unit Ubc in the X direction, that is, the addition of the sub-scanning makes it possible to irradiate the entire surface of the powder layer with ultraviolet rays by the light source Lv. Here, when the main scanning is completed, the discharge head Hb is moved by the scan (scanning) width Sc in the X direction.
Move c1. In addition, about the length of the light source Lv,
It may be extended to a virtual line shown in FIG.

As for the ejection head, two ultraviolet light sources L are used as in the ejection head Hbc2 shown in FIG.
It may have v1 and Lv2. These light sources Lv
1 and Lv2 are provided on both sides of the binder discharge hole Qb. In this case, the ejection head Hbc2
Is moved to the bidirectional M2, the binder application and the ultraviolet irradiation can be performed. That is, on the outward path, ultraviolet light is emitted from the light source Lv1 while discharging the binder from the binder discharge hole portion Qb, and on the return path, ultraviolet light is emitted from the light source Lv2 while discharging the binder.

Further, as for the ejection heads, instead of the arrangement of the ejection holes in parallel as shown in FIG. 24, a series arrangement of holes as in the ejection head Hbc3 shown in FIG. 27 may be used.

The ejection head Hbc3 includes a binder ejection hole Rb having a plurality of ejection holes, Y ink ejection holes Ry, M
The ink ejection holes Rm and the C ink ejection holes Rc are arranged in series in the Y direction. Also in such a configuration of the ejection head Hbc3, the driving mechanism for performing the main scanning of the ejection head Hbc for ejecting the binder and the color ink in the Y direction can be simplified.

Note that, in the ejection head Hbc3, between the binder ejection hole Rb and the Y ink ejection hole Ry, the M ink ejection hole Rm, and the C ink ejection hole Rc.
The structure of the ejection head Hbc4 in which the ultraviolet light source Lv3 is inserted may be used. In this case, the ejection head Hbc4 is moved in the direction M
3 (+ Y direction), the binder is discharged from the binder discharge holes Rb, and immediately after that, ultraviolet light can be emitted from the light source Lv3. Then, when the main scanning is completed, the sub-scanning in which the ejection head Hbc1 is moved by the scan width Sc in the X direction is performed.

The ejection heads Hbc5 shown in FIG. 29 and the ejection head H shown in FIG.
As shown by bc6, a device having two ultraviolet light sources Lv4 and Lv5 may be used. These light sources Lv4 and Lv5 are:
Each of the binder discharge holes Rb and the ink discharge holes R
It is interposed between y, Rm, and Rc. In this case, similarly to the ejection head Hbc2, the ejection head Hbc
5. While moving Hbc6 in bidirectional M4, binder application and ultraviolet irradiation can be performed.

It is preferable that the ejection head Hbc and the like shown in FIG. 24 have a configuration as shown in FIG. That is, a head mount Mt for detachably holding the ejection head Hbc is provided. By this head mount Mt, as shown in FIG. 31B, ultraviolet light Lu (parallel hatched portion) leaking from the adjacent ultraviolet irradiation unit Uv can be shielded, and at the same time, the discharge head is discharged from the powder material Pw scattered on the powder layer 82. Hbc can be protected.

<Modifications> In the three-dimensional printing apparatus according to the second embodiment, it is not essential to use two kinds of powder materials for each layer of the powder material, and it is not necessary to use a plurality of powder materials for each three-dimensional printing object. A powder material may be selected. In this case, since the powder material to be removed is of the same type, reuse is facilitated.

The two types of powder materials in the second embodiment are not limited to combinations having different particle diameters, but may be combinations of inexpensive materials and expensive materials. In this case,
By using an expensive powder material for a conspicuous portion of the modeled object and using an inexpensive material for other portions, the cost of the three-dimensional modeled product can be reduced.

Further, a combination of a lightweight material and a heavy material may be used. In this case, the weight balance of the three-dimensional structure can be controlled.

Regarding the coloring in each of the above embodiments, it is not essential to apply the inks of the three primary colors of Y, M and C, but the three primary colors of R (red), G (green) and B (blue) May be applied.

It is not essential to perform coloring with ink, and coloring may be performed with toner or the like.

It is not essential to use a binder that reacts with light having a wavelength in the ultraviolet region, such as an ultraviolet curable resin, as the binder in each of the above embodiments.
A liquid that cures in response to light in the visible region, such as a visible light curable resin, or a liquid that cures in response to specific thermal energy, such as a thermosetting resin, may be used. You may.

When this visible light curable resin is used,
Means for irradiating light having a wavelength in the visible region is provided instead of the above-described ultraviolet irradiation unit. When a thermosetting resin is used, a heater that emits thermal energy is provided instead of the above-described ultraviolet irradiation unit.

In the binder applying section having the structure shown in FIG. 20, the ejection heads Hb and Hc are connected by a common drive mechanism Dv as shown in FIG.
The scanning may be performed by synchronizing b and Hc. In this case, the driving mechanism for driving the ejection heads Hb and Hc can be simplified.

◎ Regarding the binder discharge unit Ub,
As shown in FIG. 33, two light sources Lv6 for irradiating the discharge head Hb with ultraviolet light may be added. With this configuration, the entire surface of the powder layer can be irradiated with the ultraviolet light by the light source Lv6 by the sub-scan of the binder discharge unit Ub and the main scan of the discharge head Hb. At this time, the light source Lv6 irradiates ultraviolet light having a higher intensity than the ultraviolet irradiation unit Uv. This is because the hardening of the binder is facilitated by irradiating the ultraviolet curable resin binder with strong ultraviolet rays first and irradiating weak ultraviolet rays later. Thereby, the binder can be appropriately cured.

[0165]

As described above, according to the first to twenty-eighth aspects of the present invention, a binder that reacts with a specific energy and hardens in response to a specific energy is applied to a selected region in a layer of a powder material. Since a specific energy is emitted to the binder, the three-dimensional object can be generated in a short time.

In particular, in the inventions of claims 2 and 18, since a specific energy is radiated for each layer of the powder material sequentially formed, three-dimensional modeling can be performed reliably.

Further, in the invention of claim 3 and claim 19, after the combined body of the powder material is formed, the colored carrier is provided to the colored region in the combined body of the powder material, so that the color reproduction in the coloring is performed. Performance and resolution are improved.

In the inventions of claims 4 and 20, since colored carriers of different colors are ejected from a plurality of nozzles, the expressiveness of coloring is improved.

In the fifth and twenty-first aspects of the present invention, since the coloring region is near the surface of the three-dimensional structure, the coloring range can be reduced.

In the inventions of claims 6 and 22, the binder is cured in response to light energy of a predetermined wavelength, so that the binder can be appropriately cured.

[0171] In the inventions of claims 7 and 23, the binder is cured in response to heat energy, so that the binder can be appropriately cured.

In the inventions of claims 8 and 24, since a plurality of types of powder materials are selectively supplied, the degree of freedom in molding is improved.

In the ninth and twenty-fifth aspects of the present invention, a plurality of types of powder materials are selectively supplied to a plurality of regions for each layer of the powder material, so that the degree of freedom in modeling is further improved.

In the tenth and twenty-sixth aspects of the present invention, since the binder is discharged by the piezoelectric element,
Stable ejection is possible regardless of the physical properties of the binder.

According to the eleventh aspect of the present invention, since the applying means and the radiating means are activated in parallel with the activation of the layer forming means to form a combined body relating to the layer of the powder material, the molding time is reduced. Can be achieved.

In the twelfth aspect of the present invention, since the applying means is provided between the layer forming means and the radiating means,
A configuration for shortening the molding time can be easily realized.

According to the thirteenth aspect of the present invention, after the layer of powder material is formed by activating the layer forming means, the applying means and the radiating means are activated to form a combined body relating to the layer of powder material. Therefore, the layer of the powder material can be appropriately formed.

According to the fourteenth aspect of the present invention, in the holding means for integrally holding the layer forming means, the applying means and the radiating means, the radiating means is disposed between the layer forming means and the applying means. The structure can be simplified, and the layer of the powder material can be appropriately formed.

Further, in the invention of claim 15, in the holding means for integrally holding the layer forming means, the applying means and the radiating means, the applying means is disposed between the layer forming means and the radiating means. The structure can be simplified, and the layer of the powder material can be appropriately formed.

In the invention of claim 16, since the radiating means radiates a specific energy with the main scanning and / or the sub-scanning, the specific energy can be efficiently radiated to the powder material layer.

According to the twenty-seventh aspect of the present invention, since the applying step and the radiating step are performed in parallel with the layer forming step to form a combined body relating to the layer of the powder material, the molding time can be shortened.

According to the twenty-eighth aspect of the present invention, after the powder material layer is formed in the layer forming step, the applying step and the radiating step are performed to form a conjugate related to the powder material layer. The formation of the material layer can be performed appropriately.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 shows a three-dimensional printing apparatus 1 according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
It is a figure which shows the principal part structure of 00.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a main configuration of a head unit.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a basic operation of the three-dimensional printing apparatus 100.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of cross-sectional data.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating the operation of the three-dimensional printing apparatus 100.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of gradation expression for cyan.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of an expression changing from light cyan to light yellow.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a group of a plurality of basic set areas for coloring.

FIG. 9 shows a three-dimensional printing apparatus 1 according to a second embodiment of the present invention.
It is a figure which shows the principal part structure of 00A.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a main configuration of a powder supply mechanism 62.

FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an example of a layer of a powder material formed on a modeling stage by a thin layer forming unit 60;

FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating a main configuration of a binder applying unit 30B according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating an operation outline of the three-dimensional printing apparatus 100B.

FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating another operation in three-dimensional printing.

FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating another operation in three-dimensional printing.

FIG. 16 is a diagram illustrating another operation in three-dimensional printing.

FIG. 17 is a diagram illustrating a thin-layer forming unit 20 according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.
It is a figure which shows the principal part structure of C and the binder provision part 30B.

FIG. 18 is a diagram showing another configuration of the thin layer forming section and the binder applying section.

FIG. 19 is a diagram showing another configuration of the thin layer forming section and the binder applying section.

FIG. 20 is a diagram showing another configuration of the thin layer forming section and the binder applying section.

FIG. 21 is a diagram illustrating a thin layer forming unit 20 according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention.
It is a figure which shows the principal part structure of D and the binder provision part 30D.

FIG. 22 is a diagram showing another configuration of the thin layer forming section and the binder applying section.

FIG. 23 is a diagram showing another configuration of the thin layer forming section and the binder applying section.

FIG. 24 is a plan view illustrating a main configuration of the ejection head Hbc.

FIG. 25 is a plan view showing a configuration of a main part of a discharge head Hbc1.

FIG. 26 is a plan view illustrating a configuration of a main part of a discharge head Hbc2.

FIG. 27 is a plan view showing a configuration of a main part of a discharge head Hbc3.

FIG. 28 is a plan view illustrating a configuration of a main part of a discharge head Hbc4.

FIG. 29 is a plan view illustrating a main configuration of a discharge head Hbc5.

FIG. 30 is a plan view showing a configuration of a main part of a discharge head Hbc6.

FIG. 31 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a discharge head Hbc.

FIG. 32 is a view showing a configuration of an ejection head according to a modified example of the invention.

FIG. 33 is a view illustrating a configuration of a binder discharge unit according to a modification.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Control part 20, 60 Thin layer formation part 23, 63a, 63b Powder container 30 Binder provision part 32a-d Ink tank 33 Binder tank 34 Head part 38 Light shielding plate 39 Ultraviolet irradiation part 40 Modeling part 65 Shutter 100, 100A, 100B, 100C, 100D 3D modeling apparatus Hb, Hc, Hbc Discharge head Ub Binder discharge unit Uc Color ink discharge unit Up Extension unit Uv Ultraviolet irradiation unit

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Akira Wada 2-3-1-13 Azuchicho, Chuo-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka Inside Osaka International Building Minolta Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Makoto Miyazaki Azuchi-cho, Chuo-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka 2-3-1-3 Osaka International Building Minolta Co., Ltd. F-term (reference) 4F213 AA21 AA36 AA39 AB12 AC04 WA25 WL04 WL10 WL13 WL24 WL43 WL67 WL74 WL87 WL96 WW33 WW34

Claims (28)

[Claims] 1. A three-dimensional modeling apparatus for producing a three-dimensional molded object by binding a powder material, comprising: (a) a layer forming means for sequentially forming layers of the powder material; For a selected region in the layer of the material, applying means for applying a binder that cures in response to a specific energy, (c) for the binder applied to the powder material, the specific energy A radiating means for radiating, wherein the binder is cured by the radiating means to form a combined body of the powder material, a three-dimensional modeling apparatus. 2. The three-dimensional modeling apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the radiating unit emits the specific energy for each layer of the powder material formed sequentially. . 3. The three-dimensional modeling apparatus according to claim 1, wherein (d) after the combined body of the powder material is formed, a colored carrier for a colored region in the combined body of the powder material. A three-dimensional modeling apparatus, further comprising: a coloring unit that imparts a color. 4. The three-dimensional printing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the coloring means includes: (d-1) a plurality of nozzles for discharging colored carriers of different colors, respectively. apparatus. 5. The three-dimensional printing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the coloring area is near a surface of the three-dimensional printing object. 6. The three-dimensional printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the binder cures in response to light energy having a predetermined wavelength. apparatus. 7. The three-dimensional printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the binder is cured in response to heat energy. 8. The three-dimensional modeling apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the layer forming unit includes: (a-1) a supply unit that selectively supplies a plurality of types of powder materials. A three-dimensional printing apparatus characterized by having: 9. The three-dimensional modeling apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the supply unit can selectively supply the plurality of types of powder materials to a plurality of regions for each layer of the powder material. Characteristic three-dimensional modeling device. 10. The three-dimensional printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the applying unit discharges the binder using a piezoelectric element, and applies the binder to the selected area. A three-dimensional printing apparatus characterized by performing. 11. The three-dimensional modeling apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the applying means and the radiating means are activated in parallel with the activation of the layer forming means, and a combined body relating to the layer of the powder material is formed. A three-dimensional printing apparatus characterized by forming. 12. The three-dimensional printing apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said applying means is provided between said layer forming means and said radiating means. 13. The three-dimensional modeling apparatus according to claim 2, wherein after the layer forming means is activated to form a layer of the powder material, the applying means and the radiating means are activated to activate the powder. A three-dimensional modeling apparatus for forming a combination according to a layer of a material. 14. The three-dimensional printing apparatus according to claim 13, further comprising: holding means for integrally holding said layer forming means, said applying means, and said radiating means, wherein said holding means includes: said radiating means. Is disposed between the layer forming means and the applying means. 15. The three-dimensional printing apparatus according to claim 13, further comprising: holding means for integrally holding the layer forming means, the applying means, and the radiating means, wherein the holding means comprises the applying means. Is disposed between the layer forming means and the radiating means. 16. The three-dimensional printing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the radiating unit radiates the specific energy with main scanning and / or sub-scanning. 3D modeling equipment. 17. A three-dimensional modeling method for producing a three-dimensional structure by bonding powder materials, comprising: (a) a layer forming step of sequentially forming layers of the powder material; For a selected region in the layer of the material, an application step of applying a binder that cures in response to a specific energy, (c) for the binder applied to the powder material, the specific energy A radiating step of radiating, wherein the binder is cured in the radiating step to form a bonded body of the powder material, a three-dimensional modeling method. 18. The three-dimensional printing method according to claim 17, wherein, in the radiating step, the specific energy is radiated for each layer of the powder material formed sequentially. Method. 19. The three-dimensional molding method according to claim 17, wherein (d) after the composite of the powder material is formed, a colored carrier for a colored region in the composite of the powder material. A three-dimensional modeling method, further comprising: 20. The three-dimensional modeling method according to claim 19, wherein the coloring step includes: (d-1) a discharging step of discharging colored carriers of different colors from a plurality of nozzles. Original molding method. 21. The three-dimensional printing method according to claim 19, wherein the coloring region is near a surface of the three-dimensional printing object. 22. The three-dimensional printing method according to claim 17, wherein the binder is cured in response to light energy having a predetermined wavelength. Method. 23. The three-dimensional molding method according to claim 17, wherein the binder is cured in response to heat energy. 24. The three-dimensional modeling method according to claim 17, wherein the layer forming step includes: (a-1) a supplying step of selectively supplying a plurality of types of powder materials. A three-dimensional printing method characterized by having: 25. The three-dimensional modeling method according to claim 24, wherein, in the supplying step, the plurality of types of powder materials are selectively supplied to a plurality of regions for each layer of the powder material. 3D modeling method. 26. The three-dimensional modeling method according to claim 17, wherein in the applying step, the binder is discharged by a piezoelectric element, and the binder is applied to the selected region. A three-dimensional printing method characterized by providing. 27. The three-dimensional modeling method according to claim 18, wherein the applying step and the radiating step are performed in parallel with the layer forming step to form a combined body relating to the layer of the powder material. Characteristic three-dimensional modeling method. 28. The three-dimensional modeling method according to claim 18, wherein after the layer of the powder material is formed in the layer forming step, the applying step and the radiating step are performed to form the layer of the powder material. A three-dimensional printing method characterized by forming such a combined body.