阅读说明：本技术 用于增材制备制造产品的卸除装置 (A discharging equipment for additive manufacturing product ) 是由 T·沃德迈尔 于 2019-08-16 设计创作，主要内容包括：描述了一种用于增材制备制造产品的装置的构造容器(100)的卸除装置(1),以及用于控制这种卸除装置(1)的方法,其中构造容器(100)具有连续的构造容器壁(101)和安装在其中的高度可调的构建平台(102)。卸除装置(1)至少包括用于接收构造容器(100)的接收室(2)、位于接收室(2)上方的卸除室(3)、在接收室(2)和卸除室(3)之间的具有转移开口(6)的分隔壁(5),位于接收室中的构造容器提升装置(30),其设计成将构造容器(100)从构造容器接收位置(P1)移动到构造容器卸除位置(P2),位于接收室(2)中的构建平台提升装置(40),其设计成将构建平台(102)从构建平台初始位置(P3)移动到构建平台卸除位置(P4),以及用于将至少一个控制信号(AHS,AHS’,ASS,ASS’,BHS,BHS’,BSS,BSS’)输出到构造容器提升装置(30)和构建平台提升装置(40)的控制装置(50)。(A discharge device (1) for a build container (100) of a device for the additive production of manufactured products is described, as well as a method for controlling such a discharge device (1), wherein the build container (100) has a continuous build container wall (101) and a height-adjustable build platform (102) mounted therein. The discharge device (1) comprises at least a receiving chamber (2) for receiving a build container (100), a discharge chamber (3) located above the receiving chamber (2), a partition wall (5) with a transfer opening (6) between the receiving chamber (2) and the discharge chamber (3), a build container lifting device (30) located in the receiving chamber, designed to move the construction container (100) from a construction container receiving position (P1) to a construction container discharge position (P2), a build platform lifting device (40) located in the receiving chamber (2), designed to move the build platform (102) from a build platform initial position (P3) to a build platform removal position (P4), and a control means (50) for outputting at least one control signal (AHS, AHS ', ASS, ASS', BHS, BHS ', BSS, BSS') to the build container lifting means (30) and the build platform lifting means (40).)

1. A discharge device (1) for a build container (100) of a device for the additive production of manufactured products, which build container (100) has a continuous build container wall (101) and a height-adjustable build platform (102) mounted in the build container (100),

wherein the discharge device (1) comprises at least the following:

a receiving chamber (2), the receiving chamber (2) being for receiving a build container (100),

-a discharge chamber (3), the discharge chamber (3) being located above the receiving chamber (2),

-a partition wall (5), said partition wall (5) having a transfer opening (6) between the receiving chamber (2) and the discharge chamber (3),

-a construction container lifting device (30), said construction container lifting device (30) being located in said receiving chamber, said construction container lifting device (30) being designed to move said construction container (100) from a construction container receiving position (P1) to a construction container discharge position (P2),

-a build platform lifting device (40), the build platform lifting device (40) being located in the receiving chamber (2), the build platform lifting device (40) being designed to move the build platform (102) from a build platform initial position (P3) to a build platform discharge position (P4),

-a control device (50), said control device (50) being adapted to output at least one control signal (AHS, AHS ', ASS', BHS ', BSS') to said construction container lifting device (30) and to said construction platform lifting device (40).

2. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said device (1) has a user interface (80), said user interface (80) being coupled with said control means (50) so as to output at least one lifting control command (HS) or at least one lowering control command (SS) to said control means (50).

3. Discharge device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the control means (50) are designed, on receipt of one or more lift control signals (HS),

-sending a construction-vessel lifting control signal (BHS, BHS') to the construction-vessel lifting device (30) in order to move a construction vessel (100) located on the construction-vessel lifting device (30) from the construction-vessel receiving position (P1) to the construction-vessel discharging position (P2), and

-sending a build platform lift control signal (AHS, AHS') to said build platform lift (40) for automatically moving said build platform (102) of said construction container (100) from said build platform initial position (P3) to said build platform discharge position (P4), preferably in a time delayed manner, by said build platform lift (40),

wherein the control device (50) is preferably designed to move the building platform (102) of the construction container (100) to a building platform discharge position (P4) only if the construction container (100) has substantially reached the construction container discharge position (P2).

4. A device as claimed in one of the foregoing claims, wherein said control means (50) are designed, on receipt of one or more fall control signals (SS),

-sending a build platform lowering control signal (ASS, ASS') to the build platform lift (40) for moving the build platform (102) of a build container (100) located on the build container lift (30) from a build platform off-loading position (P4) to the build platform initial position (P3) by the build platform lift (40), and

-sending a construction container lowering control signal (BSS, BSS') to the construction container lifting device (30) for automatically moving the construction container (100) from the construction container discharge position (P2) to the construction container receiving position (P1), preferably in a time delayed manner,

wherein the control device (50) is preferably designed to move the construction container (100) away from the construction container discharge position (P2) only if the building platform (102) of the construction container (100) has moved a little downwards in the construction container (100).

5. A device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said control device (50) and/or user interface (80) are designed in such a way that a lift control signal (BHS, BHS ', AHS'), in particular a build container lift control signal (BHS, BHS ') and/or a build platform lift control signal (AHS, AHS'), is output only when at least two separate control elements (a, c) are activated synchronously and/or when the user interface (80) is activated simultaneously with both hands.

6. A device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said construction vessel lifting means (30) has at least two lifting cylinders (31), preferably at least four lifting cylinders (31).

7. A device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said building platform lift (40) has at least one lift table (41).

8. A device as claimed in any one of the foregoing claims, wherein said transfer opening (6) is designed in such a way as to completely surround the side wall of the construction container wall (101) of the construction container (100) adjacent to said partition wall (5) when said construction container (100) is in said construction-container removal position (P2).

9. A device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the device (1) has a residual powder chamber (4), preferably below the discharge chamber (3) and preferably beside the receiving chamber (2), wherein the residual powder chamber (4) preferably has a powder receiving box (60) and/or a powder removing device.

10. A device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the discharge chamber (3) is connected to the residual powder chamber (4) by a screening device (7), preferably a screening area (7) in the partition wall (5) and/or below the partition wall (5).

11. A device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the device (1) has a vacuum (8), in particular for drawing dust away from the chamber (3).

12. A device according to claim 11, wherein said evacuation means (8) has an evacuation opening (9), said evacuation opening (9) being preferably located above the discharge Area (AB).

13. A device according to claim 12, wherein said evacuation means (8) has a plurality, preferably a large number, of evacuation openings (9), said evacuation openings (9) being distributed along a main extension of said device (1), preferably along substantially all of the main extension within said device (1).

14. A device as claimed in one of the foregoing claims, wherein the receiving chamber (3) has centring elements (21, 22) for positioning a construction container (100) received in the receiving chamber (3) on the construction container lifting device (30).

15. A method for controlling a discharge device (1), which discharge device (1) is used for a build container (100) of a device for the additive production of a manufactured product, wherein the build container (100) has a continuous build container wall (101) and a height-adjustable build platform (102) mounted in the build container (100), wherein the discharge device (1) has a receiving chamber (2) for receiving the build container (100), a discharge chamber (3) located above the receiving chamber (2) and a partition wall (5) with a transfer opening (6) between the receiving chamber (2) and the discharge chamber (3), and a build container lifting device (30) and a build platform lifting device (40),

wherein the method comprises at least the following steps:

-receiving a build container (100) in the receiving chamber (3),

-outputting at least one control signal (AHS, AHS ', BHS') to the build container lift (30) and the build platform lift (40) such that the build container (100) located on the build container lift (30) is moved from a build container receiving position (P1) to a build container discharge position (P2) and the build platform (102) of the build container (100) is automatically moved in a time coordinated manner by the build platform lift (40) from a build platform receiving position (P3) to a build platform discharge position (P4).

Technical Field

The invention relates to a discharge device for a build container of a device for the additive production of a manufactured product (hereinafter also referred to as manufacturing device), wherein the discharge device has a receiving chamber for receiving the build container, a discharge chamber located above the receiving chamber, and a separating wall with a transfer opening between the receiving chamber and the discharge chamber. The invention also relates to a method for controlling such a discharging device.

Background

Additive manufacturing processes are becoming increasingly important in prototyping processes, while also being used for mass production. In general, an "additive manufacturing process" is understood to be a manufacturing process in which a manufactured product or part is typically built based on digital 3D build data, for example, via selective fusing of materials. The construction here is often carried out layer by layer, but this is not mandatory. The term "3D printing" is also commonly used as a synonym for additive manufacturing, the production of models, samples and prototypes is commonly referred to as "rapid prototyping" and the production of molds is referred to as "rapid mold machining". As mentioned at the outset, a core point in many additive manufacturing processes involves selective curing of the build material, wherein the curing may be carried out in many manufacturing processes by radiation having radiation energy, for example electromagnetic radiation (in particular optical and/or thermal radiation), but also possibly particle radiation (such as electron radiation). Examples of procedures using radiation include "selective laser sintering" or "selective laser melting. Here, typically a powdered build material or thin layers of build material are repeatedly stacked one on top of the other, and the build material in each layer is selectively solidified via spatially confined radiation corresponding to the location of a cross-section of the manufactured product to be prepared in the respective layer, in particular by partially or completely melting powder particles of the build material using energy locally introduced at that location by the radiation. After cooling, these powder particles then combine with each other into a solid.

Typically, the components are here manufactured in a construction vessel having a continuous construction vessel wall and a building platform that is vertically movable in the construction vessel. The build platform seals the bottom of the build container, thereby forming a floor of the build container. The component to be manufactured may be built on the build platform itself, which itself thus comprises the build base. To this end, the construction vessel is initially positioned in the manufacturing device while the construction platform is raised to the top, and the construction platform is gradually moved downwards during the manufacturing of the component, in order to thus place the layers of construction material on top of each other and locally solidify them at the desired locations of the construction material.

After the part has been prepared, not only is the part located in the build container, but also the uncured build material or powder. At the end of the manufacturing process, the construction container is therefore most commonly first transported by a handling device (e.g. a forklift or the like) from the manufacturing device into a discharge station where uncured construction material around the component is removed.

Correctly, when the build material is metal, the build vessel and its contents can be very heavy; even considering construction materials containing plastics, for example, a construction container with dimensions of 64 × 47 × 46cm (length × width × height), the filled construction container can even weigh about 200 kg. For this reason, receiving and transporting the build container in a position where the prepared part can be removed is a particular challenge.

In a conventional method of discharging components located in a build container, the build container in the receiving chamber of the discharge station is pushed up onto a rail, wherein the rail is gripped laterally under a flange on the upper edge of the flange. The rail is movable from a receiving position, in which it can receive the construction container, to a discharge position, in which the construction container is pressed upwards against the opening towards the discharge chamber. This movement is achieved by a rotating mechanism which is connected to the support. Where the rack is rotated upward to receive the build container with the tracks aligned obliquely downward. In order to position the construction container in the device, the construction container is first lifted by the handling device for transport in order to then push it obliquely onto the rails of the support with the outer edge, although this can be cumbersome. The rack is then folded down, during which the rails are horizontally aligned, and the build container is pressed up from the rails and clamped in the discharge position. The stand is manually folded up and down. However, manually lifting the build container with a stand can be very difficult given the very high weight of the build container and its contents.

After the build container is gripped by the support, a mechanism may be used to move the build platform of the build container towards the top so that the transported parts may be removed. The mechanism has an upwardly movable web which presses against the build platform from below. To allow this web to press against the build platform, corresponding slits are required which extend from the lower edge towards the top into the build container wall of the build container and increase the manufacturing costs of the build container.

Disclosure of Invention

It is an object of the invention to provide a discharge device of the initially mentioned kind, which facilitates loading and unloading at the same time as the component from the construction container is discharged, and an improved method for controlling such a discharge device.

This object is achieved by a discharge device according to the combination of features of claim 1, wherein the dependent claims describe at least advantageous embodiments and further developments, and also by a method for controlling a discharge device according to claim 15.

The discharge device of the construction device of the device for additive manufacturing of manufactured products or components according to the invention comprises at least one receiving chamber for receiving a construction container, as described above, for example containing one or more additive manufactured components to be discharged from the construction container and uncured construction material. The construction vessel "to be emptied" in the receiving chamber here also has a continuous construction vessel wall (hereinafter also simply referred to as "frame") and a height-adjustable build platform mounted therein.

As before, the discharge chamber is located above the receiving chamber, wherein the component received in the receiving chamber can be discharged from the uncured residual build material.

A horizontal dividing wall is located between the receiving chamber and the discharge chamber. The partition wall prevents uncured powder from entering the receiving chamber when the component is removed. However, in order to still be able to remove the component in the removal chamber, the partition wall has a transfer opening or channel.

In the discharge device according to the invention, the transport and transfer of the construction containers from the manufacturing device to the discharge device can also be carried out using a handling device such as a forklift or the like.

According to the invention, however, the height-adjustable constructional container lifting device is located in the receiving chamber. The latter is designed in such a way that the construction container to be emptied and held in the receiving chamber is automatically moved from the construction container receiving position to the construction container discharge position. A "construction container receiving position" is here characterized in that a construction container can be received in the receiving chamber in this position.

The construction vessel lifting device can be used for easily, reliably and uniformly lifting the construction vessel. In addition, the stand or the like does not need to be manually rotated upward to facilitate alignment of the very heavy construction containers. Furthermore, the build container need not be held by an operator in an additional step in order to facilitate fixing of the build container in its target position.

In addition, the construction vessel can be simply inserted below the discharge chamber of the discharge device according to the invention, which means that the construction vessel does not need to be lifted further with the handling device in order to be able to receive it in the discharge chamber. The construction container is particularly preferably designed in such a way that it is pressed from below against the construction container wall of the construction container. Thus, it is no longer necessary to construct the container wall with a flange on its upper edge.

Furthermore, the discharge device according to the invention has a height-adjustable build platform lifting device in the receiving chamber, which build platform lifting device is designed to move a build platform of a build container received in the receiving chamber from a build platform initial position to a build platform discharge position. The build platform hoist here operates parallel to the build container hoist, i.e. the two hoists mentioned have parallel path lengths or hoist directions. The "initial position of the build platform" is characterized in that the build platform of the build vessel can be received by the build platform lifting means in this position and that the build platform rests on the lower edge of the build vessel, meaning below the build vessel wall of the build vessel. In contrast, the "build platform discharge position" is characterized in that a component mounted on the build platform and prepared in the apparatus for additive manufacturing can be discharged or cleaned in this position in the discharge chamber, such that the build platform is moved within the frame of the build container as required and incrementally towards the top during discharge until the end position of the path of the build platform in the build container has been reached ("build platform discharge end position"). In this "build platform removal end position", the build platform is located at the highest possible position inside the build vessel. Thus, the build platform initial position and the build platform discharge position are always related to the position of the build platform (i.e. the floor of the build vessel) relative to the successive build vessel walls of the build vessel, strictly speaking there are a plurality of build platform discharge positions therein, from the initial build platform discharge position up to the build platform discharge end position. Hereinafter, each of the plurality of build platform discharge positions is generally broadly referred to as a build platform discharge position. By "on-demand" is meant here that, depending on the part geometry, the operator may partially remove uncured build material from the part, in particular manually. It is possible that the movable building platform discharge positions can also adjoin one another substantially continuously.

An additional component of the discharging device according to the invention is a control device for outputting at least one control signal to the build container lifting device and the build platform lifting device. Basically a shared control signal can be output to the build container lifting means and the build platform lifting means. However, it is also possible to output individual control signals, which are coordinated with one another in terms of time sequence, to the build container and build platform lifting devices. In other words, the control device may communicate with the build container and build platform lifting devices in such a way that the movements of the build container and build platform lifting devices travel in a desired manner, in coordination and in synchronization with each other. Particularly preferred time sequences and variants of the control signals will be described later.

In a corresponding method according to the invention for controlling a discharge, at least the following steps are carried out accordingly:

the construction container is initially received in a receiving chamber, for example as previously described, which has been transported to the discharge device by means of a handling device, for example a forklift. The control signal(s) are then output to the build container lifting device and the build platform lifting device to cause the build container on the build container lifting device to move from the build container receiving position to the build container discharge position. The building platform of the build container is here automatically moved in a time-coordinated manner from the building platform receiving position to the building platform discharge position by means of the building platform lifting device.

Additional, particularly advantageous embodiments and further developments of the invention can be obtained from the dependent claims and the following description, wherein the independent claims in the scope of one claim can be further developed analogously to the exemplary embodiments in the scope of the dependent claims and the further claims, and in particular individual features of different exemplary embodiments or variants can be combined to produce new exemplary embodiments or variants.

As mentioned above, the build container located in the receiving chamber of the discharge device can be moved vertically in the direction of the discharge chamber towards the top in order to discharge the component. On the other hand, the build container can also be moved downwards again in order to move it back out of the discharge chamber once the uncured residual build material or the manufactured product has been removed. To this end, correspondingly coordinated control signals may be output to the build platform lifting device and the build container lifting device for lowering the build platform from the build platform discharge position back to the build platform receiving position of the build container and for lowering the build container from the build container discharge position to the build container receiving position.

Whether and when the build container is moved up or down on the build container elevator and the build platform elevator depends on the needs or decisions of the user of the discharge apparatus according to the invention.

For this purpose, the removal device has a user interface which is coupled to the control device. Depending on when the build container is to be lifted and when the build platform of the build container is to be lifted in a coordinated manner, or depending on the structural design of the user interface or the offloading device, the user interface may then output one or more coordinated lifting control commands or one or more coordinated lowering control commands to the control device (to lower the build platform of the build container and lower the build container in a coordinated manner).

The control device is here preferably designed in such a way that in the case of one or more input lifting control commands a control container lifting control signal is sent to the construction container lifting device. The input control command/commands thus cause the construction container lifting device and thus the construction container located on the construction container lifting device to move from the construction container receiving position to the construction container discharge position. In addition, the control device is preferably configured such that it can send a build platform lift control signal to the build platform lift device. The build platform lift control signal causes the build platform lift device to automatically move such that the build platform on which the container is constructed moves toward the top from a build platform initial position to a build platform discharge position.

In this connection it should be noted that in the following the terms "top" and "bottom" etc., generally and within the framework of the present invention, relate to spatially conventional arrangements. In this case, the "top" faces in the direction of the top wall of the discharge unit and the "bottom" faces in the direction of the bottom plate of the discharge unit.

The build platform lifting device is here preferably moved in a time-delayed manner with respect to the build container lifting device. The time delay may ensure that the uncured residual build material remains in the build container and does not slowly move out while the latter is moving and has not yet "docked" with the take-off chamber. In other words, the coordination time ensures that the build platform in the build container is pushed into the frame only to a certain extent and at a speed that (before the build container lifting device is in the build container discharge position of the build container) prevents the filling in the build container from overflowing the upper edge of the build container wall of the build container.

For example, the build platform lifting device can only be moved when the build container lifting device and the build container lifting device of the build container located on the build container lifting device have reached, or at least reached, the build container removal position. By "substantially" is here meant that the build container has reached the build container discharge position to some extent, while the build platform lift does not rise during the remaining travel time of the build container lift to the point where the filler reaches the upper edge of the build container wall of the build container. This depends, of course, on the fill level in the construction vessel. For example, it can be checked by means of a limit switch whether the build container has reached or substantially reached the build container removal position and then switched accordingly, for example with a two-position three-way valve.

However, a simultaneous activation is also possible as long as it does not cause the build platform in the build container to move towards the top, because when the build container is in the build container receiving position, there is a gap between the build platform and the build platform lifting means, which means that, for example, the build platform lifting means moves at most at the same speed as the build container lifting means.

The structural configuration of the path and/or the controlled travel speed here preferably ensures that-even if simultaneous activation is taken into account-the building platform lifting device of the building platform of the building container to be emptied arrives only when the building container lifting device has reached the building container discharge position of the building container.

If the build container lifting means and the build platform lifting means are preferably activated simultaneously, this can particularly preferably be done by a shared lifting control signal, i.e. the build container lifting control signal corresponds to the build platform lifting control signal simultaneously or acts as one, or vice versa. The shared accompanying lift control signal is then used to move the build container lift and thereby move a build container located on the build container lift from a build container receiving position to a build container discharge position and automatically move the build platform lift from the build platform initial position to a build platform discharge position.

The process of outputting control signals to the build container and build platform lifting means and driving the latter may be largely or entirely performed by software or electronic control and/or electrical control, for example with motor control such as a spindle motor. However, the activation and driving of the build container and build platform lifting means may preferably also be performed at least partially hydraulically and/or pneumatically. The implementation by pneumatic and/or hydraulic means is particularly interesting if the build container and build platform lifting means are to be activated with a shared control signal. The provision of hydraulic or pneumatic and mechanical paths makes it particularly easy to coordinate the timing such that, even in view of the shared actuation, the building platform lifting device reaches the building platform of the building container to be emptied only when the building container lifting device has reached the building container discharge position of the building container.

For example, pneumatic and/or hydraulic drives have the advantage of continuously variably switching or adjusting the speed and path of the drive. In addition, the pneumatic drive does not require additional energy when "holding" its position, which is the case in this application when holding in the build platform discharge position.

As mentioned before, the control device may preferably be designed in such a way that, in case of input of a lowering control command or a lowering control command from the user interface, a build platform lowering signal is sent to the build platform lifting device in order to move the build platform of the build container located on the build container lifting device from the build platform discharge position to the build platform initial position by means of the build platform lifting device. Furthermore, the control device may then also send a build container lowering control signal to the build container lifting device, preferably delayed in time with respect to the build platform lowering control signal, in order to also automatically move the build container from the build container discharge position back down again to the build container receiving position. As mentioned, the build vessel descent control signal and the build platform descent control signal may be one and the same descent control signal.

It is particularly preferred that the control device is designed in such a way that the build container is moved away from the build container discharge position once the build platform of the build container has moved a little downwards in the build container. This ensures that any residual build material on the build platform initially remains in the build container and does not fall laterally into the receiving chamber. For example, limit switches may be used to check whether the build platform hoist is still down. It is then also ensured that the build platform of the build container has reached its initial position (inside the build container), meaning that it is positioned further straight down in the build container. Based on this check it can be ensured that the build platform lift has only moved fully downwards to remove the build container from the discharge. Here, the build container lifting means and the build platform lifting means may also be activated simultaneously.

The process of activating or driving the build container and build platform lifting means here can also be carried out strictly on the basis of software or electronically and/or electrically and/or pneumatically and/or hydraulically. For example, in the case of at least partially pneumatic and/or hydraulic implementation, it is also possible to use a position switch or the like on the descent to ensure that the build platform lifting device is initially activated and that the build container lifting device only starts to descend once the build platform lifting device has reached a certain position, for example, the build platform initial position again.

The user interface coupled to the control device may have one or more control elements. In principle, the control element may have any desired design. For example, they may be designed to be operated manually, for example as switches or control buttons, wherein these may also take the form of touch buttons on a touch display or the like. Another possibility relates to a control element for recognizing a gesture of a user as a control command. These include, for example, cameras and gesture recognition modules. Control elements for recognizing gestures of a user are also to a certain extent understood here as manual control elements, which are intended to interpret gestures of one or both hands of the user as control commands. However, the control element may also be designed for receiving voice commands, for example in the form of a microphone and a voice recognition module. In particular, the user interface may also comprise a combination of different control elements.

The user interface as well as the control device can preferably be designed in such a way that in the case of a synchronous activation of at least two spatially separated control interfaces of the user interface only the build container lifting control signal and/or the build platform lifting control signal is output.

To this end, the user interface preferably has at least three control interfaces or control elements in order to output one or more lifting control commands to the control device when the first control element and the second control element are operated or used simultaneously.

In the case of a manual control element, such as a switch, a descent control command may be output to the control device upon operation or use of the third control element.

For example, the condition of the start of the synchronous control interface or the verification of this condition as to whether all the hoist control commands are present at the same time may be performed with a safety circuit, for example with an and gate. The safety circuit or a part of the safety circuit may be integrated before the control device. Thus, as previously mentioned, the user interface may output one or more lift control commands to the control device if the above conditions have been met. However, this condition can also be verified completely only in the control device, which will be explained in more detail later.

The control device is particularly preferably designed to output the build container lift control signal and/or the build platform lift control signal only during simultaneous activation with both hands. This may be achieved by the above-mentioned checking that the build container hoist control signal and/or the build platform hoist control signal is only output when at least two spatially separated control interfaces of the user interface are activated in view of synchronization, in particular in case of simultaneity. However, the user may also be required to use both hands for formulating (visual) control commands for gesture recognition.

This constitutes an additional safety aspect of the discharging device when the user must inevitably use the two hands-triggered build container lifting control signal and/or build platform lifting control signal automatically, as this ensures that the user has removed the hands from the span and therefore will not get stuck in the discharging device.

Voice activation may also achieve a corresponding level of safety without hands on the device if it is ensured that the user must issue a command at a sufficient distance from the removal device in order to recognize and/or accept the command.

The discharge chamber of the discharge device preferably has a lid. If the cover is sealed, which can be verified, for example, by a sensor, a signal can be sent to the control device accordingly. Preferably, the build container lift signal is then sent to the build container and the build platform lift control signal is sent to the build platform only when the control interfaces are selected in a synchronized manner, i.e. if all lift control commands are present simultaneously and the lid is still sealed. Furthermore, this may reduce the risk of the user or operator or other adjacent personnel getting a finger or the like stuck in the removal compartment.

In addition, the cover can greatly reduce or even completely avoid operator exposure to dust. In order to allow the user to remove the components without a sealed lid, the lid preferably has an engagement area through which the user can access in order to clean the components in the removal area of the removal chamber. The joining region particularly preferably comprises a sheet through which the user passes when it is desired to remove the component. The lamellae may also ensure that only relatively little and possibly no powder is discharged outside the discharge device. For example, the sheet may wipe any remaining powder from the user's hand as the user removes the hand from the discharge chamber during discharge. For example, to observe and verify the removal process of a lid with a seal, the lid preferably has a window.

There are a number of options for specifically constructing the build container and build platform lifts.

The construction container lifting device preferably comprises at least two lifting cylinders, particularly preferably at least four lifting cylinders, for example hydraulic or pneumatic stampings. The lifting cylinder here preferably has a cylinder housing and an upwardly extendable piston which is movably mounted in the cylinder housing. The piston can preferably be arranged in such a way that it presses from below against the construction vessel wall of the construction vessel, for example against two opposite sides, particularly preferably simultaneously in all four corner regions. The advantage of a construction platform hoist with such a structure that the hoist cylinder presses laterally or in the corner area against the frame below the construction container is that the central area in the middle below the construction container remains free for the construction platform hoist.

The construction platform lifting device is thus preferably designed in such a way that it can act on the bottom plate of the construction platform or the construction container from below, for example in order to push the bottom plate in the frame towards the top after the aforementioned construction platform lifting control signal. This obviates the need for any additional configuration of the construction vessel wall of the construction vessel (e.g. comprising slits or the like) so that the construction platform can be gripped by the construction platform lifting means. The building platform lifting device preferably comprises at least one lifting platform, particularly preferably a scissor lift.

As previously mentioned, advantageously, no uncured residual build material enters the receiving chamber when the build container is being moved toward the top to the build container discharge position. To achieve this, the transfer opening can be constructed in various ways.

One option involves designing the transfer opening in the separating wall between the receiving chamber and the discharge chamber, preferably in such a way that, when the construction container or the construction container lifting device is in the construction container discharge position, the outer upper edge of the construction container wall of the respective construction container, which is indirectly or directly (viewed from the receiving chamber) adjacent to the separating wall, surrounds or encloses the entire transfer opening or passage, or seals the transfer opening against the receiving chamber. The container wall is now constructed such that the partition wall is pressed from below.

Here, the periphery of the transfer opening is particularly preferably greater than or equal to the inner periphery of the defined inner frame dimension of the continuous construction container wall of the construction container to be received (i.e. the discharge device is provided for receiving the latter), and the periphery of the transfer opening is smaller than the outer periphery of the defined outer frame dimension of the continuous construction container wall of the construction container to be received, wherein the edge contour of the construction container wall and the opening of the construction container are aligned substantially parallel to one another. The transfer opening is therefore particularly preferably located within the boundary defined by the outer edge and the inner edge of the construction container wall of the construction container. Within the framework of the invention, a "defined" or defined construction container dimension or inner frame dimension or outer frame dimension is to be understood correspondingly to mean the corresponding specification or standard dimension of the construction container to be used or removed in the removal device.

In particular, the minimum side length of the transfer opening is greater than or equal to the minimum inner side length of the defined inner frame dimension (as viewed from the outer upper edge of the construction container wall), and the maximum side length of the transfer opening is greater than or equal to the maximum inner side length of the defined inner frame dimension (as viewed from the outer upper edge of the construction container wall). The minimum side length of the transfer opening is also smaller than the minimum outside side length of the defined outer frame dimension (as viewed from the outer upper edge of the construction container wall) and the maximum side length of the transfer opening is smaller than the maximum outside side length of the defined outer frame dimension (as viewed from the outer upper edge of the construction container wall). This prevents the transfer opening from protruding into the gap of the build container and prevents uncured residual build material from being pressed into the overlapping area of the partition wall and build platform, which may then be difficult to remove again.

In a preferred embodiment of the transfer opening, the transfer opening is configured in such a way that a construction vessel wall of the construction vessel can be moved into the transfer opening precisely when the construction vessel is moved into the construction vessel discharge position. The transfer opening is here designed in such a way as to completely surround the side wall of the construction container adjacent to the partition wall when the construction container is in the construction container removal position. The outer side wall of the continuously constructed container wall which is moved into the transfer opening is now completely surrounded by the transfer opening.

If the construction container is in the construction-container removal position, the upper edge of the construction container and the upper side of the partition wall preferably lie on a level or plane, i.e. flush with one another.

The constructed container wall used preferably tapers towards the top or has a conical design at its upper end, i.e. directed towards its upper edge. The slopes at the upper edge of the construction container wall converge towards the top to form a conical shape.

Below the partition wall, the discharge device preferably has an insertion aid or insertion rail for precisely aligning the construction container as it is being moved towards the top. For this purpose, the insertion rail is preferably beveled at the lower edge pointing towards the construction container wall, i.e. the insertion aid has a downwardly extending conical shape there, which interacts with the construction of the construction container wall which converges conically towards the top.

In order to be able to pick up and collect loose, i.e. uncured, residual construction material after cleaning the component, the discharging device preferably has a residual powder chamber. The residual powder chamber is particularly preferably also located below the discharge chamber. The residual powder chamber is preferably located beside the receiving chamber.

The residual powder chamber preferably has a rollable, displaceable powder receiving cassette. The powder collected in the powder receiving box may then for example be prepared again and returned to the additive manufacturing process. Alternatively or additionally, however, the residual powder chamber itself may be equipped with a powder removal device. The powder removal device here preferably comprises a powder pump with which the preferably sieved powder can be transported in an external box for powder reprocessing.

The discharge chamber is preferably connected to the residual powder chamber by means of a screening device.

For example, the sieving device may preferably comprise a sieving area in or below the separating wall between the discharge chamber and the residual powder chamber. The screening device can particularly preferably also be multi-stage. For example, it may consist of a coarse screen in the partition wall and a fine screen below the partition wall or below the coarse screen. The sieving device is preferably located above the receiving box or above the interface of the powder removal device. Uncured residual build material may then pass from the discharge chamber into the residual powder chamber through the screening region. For example, a screening device may be used to separate larger pieces of residual build material from powder that is still available, which may correspond to a build material rework step. Most importantly, the screening device can ensure that no small parts are removed with the powder.

Alternatively or additionally, the sieving unit may then be directly connected to the powder removal device. Here the powder pump can deliver the sieved powder directly into the box of the manufacturing apparatus, which would eliminate the need for a powder receiving box.

While the part is being discharged in the discharge chamber, swirling dust composed of uncured fine residual build material may be encountered. For example, in order to prevent the dust from placing an excessive burden on the operator and immediately remove the dust, the discharging device preferably has a vacuum-pumping device. Thus, excess dust is drawn away from the discharge chamber, while a major portion of the uncured residual build material is preferably removed by a screening device.

The evacuation device preferably has an evacuation opening, which is particularly preferably above the discharge region, meaning in particular above the build platform lifting device in the build platform discharge position.

In order to be able to evacuate the dust at the point where it is lifted, the evacuation device preferably has a plurality of evacuation openings, meaning at least two evacuation openings, in positions spatially separated from each other. The evacuation device particularly preferably has a plurality of evacuation openings, for example preferably at least five, particularly preferably ten, very particularly preferably at least twenty. In order to evacuate dust in as large an area as possible in the discharge chamber, the evacuation openings are preferably distributed along the main extension direction of the discharge within the discharge. They are particularly preferably distributed inside the discharge device along substantially the entire length in the main extension direction. In order also to uniformly evacuate dust in the space of the discharge chamber, the evacuation openings are preferably distributed and arranged at substantially equal intervals. The main direction of extension of the discharge chamber is understood to be the direction of the longest extension of the discharge chamber, here preferably meaning the direction in which the discharge chamber extends from the region above the receiving chamber to the region above the residual powder chamber.

In order to provide the user of the dismounting device with another protection mechanism, the receiving chamber may preferably comprise a lockable loading opening through which the construction container can be transferred into the receiving chamber. The loading opening preferably has one or more doors. If the build container is already positioned in the receiving chamber, the door may be closed again. Thus, for example, a user cannot reach the receiving chamber when the construction container is lowered or moved downwards.

In order to check whether the door is closed, the door can have a sensor which is connected electronically and/or pneumatically and/or hydraulically to the control device. It is then preferred that when the control interface is selected in a synchronized manner, which means that when all lifting control commands are present simultaneously and the door is also closed, a build container lifting control signal is first sent to the build container and a build platform lifting control signal is sent to the build platform. Furthermore, this may reduce the risk of the user or operator or other adjacent personnel getting a finger or the like stuck in the removal compartment.

By the control elements required for the lifting and/or lowering process no longer being started, the different lifting and/or lowering processes of the construction container can preferably be stopped at any time and/or when the sensor signals (suddenly) scanned for safety purposes no longer occur, for example from sensors for checking a closed door and/or for checking a closed lid.

In order to reduce the risk of the construction container on the construction container lifting device tilting during displacement, and thus to ensure that the construction container is aligned as precisely as possible with the transfer opening in the partition wall to the discharge chamber, the discharge chamber preferably has centering elements or spacers in order to precisely position the construction container received in the receiving chamber on the construction container lifting device. The centering elements are preferably located on the (side and rear) inner walls of the door and the receiving compartment.

Drawings

The invention will be described again in more detail below on the basis of exemplary embodiments with reference to the drawings. Like components in the various figures are provided with like reference numerals. In general, the drawings are not to scale. Respectively schematically shown as:

FIG. 1 is a front view of a discharge device according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a front view in partial section through the discharge device according to FIG. 1 with the lid open, the doors of the receiving chamber and the residual powder chamber open, and the section through the build container with the build container lifting device in the build container receiving position and the build platform lifting device in the build platform initial position;

FIG. 3 is the dismounting device according to FIGS. 1 and 2 with the lid open and the receiving chamber door open, with the build container lifting device in the build container dismounting position and the build platform lifting device in the build platform dismounting end position;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged partial cross-sectional view of the build container according to FIG. 3 in a build container discharge position;

FIG. 5 is a top view of the divider wall of the discharge device;

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of a block diagram of a first embodiment of a safety circuit;

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram of a block diagram of another embodiment of a security circuit.

Detailed Description

In the following, fig. 1, 2 and 3 will be described together, since they show the same exemplary embodiment of a discharging device 1 according to the invention, but in different operating states.

As can be seen from fig. 2 and 3, the discharge device 1 has a receiving chamber 2 (at the respective lower left in the figures), into which receiving chamber 2 one or more components B to be cleaned in a build container 100 (also referred to as "interchangeable frame") can be transferred.

In plan view, the substantially rectangular build container 100 has a continuous build container wall 101, the cross-section of which resembles an L-shaped profile. The short side of the L-shaped profile of the build container wall 101 is located at the lower end of the build container wall 101 and extends inwardly to form a continuous flange. The build platform 102, which is movable in the build vessel wall 101, is located at the top on a short side or flange of the build vessel wall 101, the build platform 102 thereby forming a highly displaceable floor of the build vessel 100. The region or flange on which the build platform 102 is located, hereinafter also referred to as the lower edge 104 of the build vessel 100. On this build platform 102, the part is built in an additive manufacturing process in a manufacturing apparatus, wherein powdered build material P (hereinafter also referred to as powder P) is applied in layers and selectively solidified while gradually lowering the build platform 102. The container 100 is constructed so that it is filled with powder at least up to the upper end of the uppermost component B. The powder P must be removed in order to remove the part B.

For this purpose, the discharge device 1 has a discharge chamber 3 located above the receiving chamber 2, in which discharge chamber 3 the component B received in the receiving chamber 2 can be discharged.

The discharge chamber 3 has a lid 18, and the lid 18 is connected to the upper edge of the frame of the discharge chamber 3 by a hinge 24. The handle 16 can be used to rotate up and open the lid 18 about its axis of rotation Ax along the hinge 24 and rotate it back down and close again.

Located below the discharge chamber 3 and beside the receiving chamber 2 is a residual powder chamber 4, in which residual build-up material P that is not solidified or powder removed from the component B accumulates. The receiving chamber 2 and the residual powder chamber 4 are separated from the discharge chamber 3 by a horizontal partition wall 5, which partition wall 5 extends substantially over the entire internal length or main extension of the discharge device 1.

For example, the build container 100 may be transferred to the discharge device 1 by a handling device (not shown here) or a lifting device (e.g. a forklift), due to its possibly very heavy weight. For this purpose, the front part of the receiving chamber 2 has a lockable loading opening 13 with a door 13T and a handle 15 (see fig. 1). In order to be able to position the build container 100 easily and precisely here, the receiving chamber 2 has centering elements 21 and 22, the centering elements 21 being on the inside of the door 13T and the centering elements 22 to the sides and back being on the inner side wall of the discharge device (not shown here). When pushed in, the construction container 100 is thus first centered laterally by the centering element 22 located on the inner side wall of the receiving chamber 2. The build container 100 is then centred towards the rear by the centring elements 22 located on the inner rear wall of the receiving chamber 2. Upon closing the door 13T, the construction container 100 is finally centered towards the front by the centering element 21. The centering element can here be made, for example, of a hard plastic pad or the like.

The build container 100 transferred to the receiving chamber 2 is carried by a height adjustable build container lift 30 in the receiving chamber 2. The construction vessel lifting device 30 comprises a plurality of lifting cylinders 31, here embodied as four hydraulic stampings 31 (only two front lifting cylinders are visible in fig. 2 and 3, whereas in fig. 5 all four lifting cylinders are shown, in view of a front view), on which lifting cylinders 31 the construction vessel 100 rests with its four corner regions. Here, the hydraulic ram 31 has a cylinder housing 32 and a height-adjustable piston 33 (which can also be multi-stage) therein. As shown in fig. 2, in the position to receive the build container 100, the build container lift 30 is in a build container receiving position P1. In fig. 2, the build platform lift 40 is also in a build platform initial position P3, in which it is disposed substantially in a plane with the upper support surface 34 of the lift cylinder 31 of the build container lift 30, and thus has not yet been in direct contact with the build platform 102.

The build platform lift 40 here comprises a lift table 41 with a scissor lift having two rods or struts 46 hinged together on a scissor axle 43. The end of the strut 46 has a bearing bolt 44 which can be pushed into a slide rail 45. Here, the two bearing bolts 44 (in this case the upper right and lower right bearing bolts) can be fixed (fixed bearing), so that only the respective horizontally opposite bearing bolts 44 can be displaced (floating bearing). The support plate 42 is located on the upper slide rails 45 and the build platform 102 rests on the support plate 42. However, the build platform lift 40 may also include additional scissor lifts for load distribution purposes. The scissor lifts with the same (virtual) axis of rotation are preferably arranged parallel to each other and can be moved in parallel. However, due to their arrangement, only one scissor lift can be seen in fig. 2 and 3, since the additional scissor lift will be covered by the first scissor lift.

If the build container 100 is now to be moved towards the top, the door 13T and lid 18 will be closed as shown in FIG. 1.

The area on which the user interface 80 is arranged (only depicted in fig. 1) extends horizontally in front of the housing of the discharging device 1 between the lid 18 and the door 13T of the receiving chamber 2, the door 14 of the residual powder chamber 4. The user interface 80 here comprises three control interfaces or control elements a, b, c in the form of buttons a, b, c.

If the two external buttons a, c are activated and the door 13T is closed, a lift control command HS is sent to the control device 50, the control device 50 being only shown in dashed lines in FIG. 1, since it is located inside the casing of the discharge device 1. In order to determine whether the doors 13T are closed, the doors 13T each have a sensor 20 (only one of which is shown here), which is electrically and/or hydraulically and/or pneumatically connected to the control device 50.

If the control device 50 receives the desired lifting control command HS, it sends a control signal BHS or a build container lifting control signal BHS to the build container lifting device 30. The control signal BHS causes the build container 100 located on the build container lift 30 to move from the build container receiving position P1 to the build container removal position P2.

If the build container 100 is then in the build container removal position P2, the outer upper edge 103 of the continuous build container wall 101 lies in one plane with the upper side of the partition wall 5, as can be seen in fig. 3. This is achieved by correspondingly adjusting the height setting of the lift cylinder 31.

The container wall 101 is here constructed to taper or taper upwards, i.e. in the direction of its upper edge 103. The outer upper edge (in the direction of the upper edge 103) of the container wall 101 is here constructed as a bevel.

The build platform 102 is then moved to a build platform removal end position P4, which essentially means towards the top that the support surface on which the component B to be removed rests is also flush with the upper edge of the partition wall 5, or to a point where the component B can be removed by a user. The build platform 102 is here centrally located in the transfer opening 6 of the partition wall 5.

In this respect, fig. 5 shows a top view of the partition wall 5, which partition wall 5 has a screening area 7 above the residual powder chamber 4 (see also the cross-sectional views of fig. 2 and 3) and a transfer opening 6 to the receiving chamber 2 on the left, where the screening area 7 is embodied as a right-hand circular screen 7. Here the build platform 102 is located exactly in the transfer opening 6.

The continuous build container wall 101 is represented here by a dashed line and the piston 33 of the build container lifting device 30 is represented by a dashed circle. As shown in fig. 1 and 2, here the shorter frame sides of the left and right construction vessel walls 101 rest on the construction vessel hoist 30 at respective corners.

In addition, two support surfaces 34 or support rails 34 running parallel along the short sides of the build container are indicated here by dash-dot lines, which interconnect the respective cylinder housings 32 of the two hydraulic stampings 31 on the short sides of the build container 100 on their upper edges, so that the stability of the build container lifting device 30 is additionally ensured. The construction container 100 can be easily pushed onto these support rails 34 for transfer into the discharge device 1. In this position, i.e. a short distance below the build platform 102, the upper side of the support plate 42 of the lift table 41 is flush aligned with the support rail 34. When travelling upwardly, the build container 100 is then automatically carried at the corners by four pistons 33 each extending through a hydraulic ram 31 of the support track.

In the construction container discharge position P2, the construction container 100 has been moved into the mentioned transfer opening 6, and the upper edge 103 of the construction container wall 102 here becomes flush with the upper side of the partition wall 5. The dimensions of the transfer opening 6 are here selected in such a way that they are adjusted to the (prescribed) dimensions of the construction vessel wall 101 of the construction vessel 100 to be received.

The maximum side length OL of the transfer opening 6, viewed from the upper edge 103 of the continuous build container wall 101, is here substantially (including the fitting tolerance) as large as the maximum outer side length RaL of the defined outer frame dimension. The minimum side length OB of the transfer opening 6, viewed from the upper edge 103 of the continuous construction vessel wall 101, is here substantially (including the fitting tolerance) as large as the minimum outside side length RaB of the defined outer frame dimensions. These dimensions allow the construction container 100 to be moved into the transfer opening 6, wherein the upper part of the outer side wall of the construction container wall 101 is completely surrounded by the partition wall 5. Therefore, no powder P will fall from the construction container 100 through the construction container wall 101 to the receiving chamber 2.

As shown in fig. 2 and 3, if the construction vessel 100 is filled to the outer upper edge 103 of the construction vessel wall 101, it is particularly advantageous if the outer dimensions of the construction vessel wall 101 correspond to the outer dimensions of the transfer opening 6, and the construction vessel 100 (as described above) is moved into the transfer opening 6 of the partition wall 5. This also prevents any powder P that might be located on the outer upper edge 103 of the upper build container wall 101 and be pressed between the outer upper edge 103 and the partition wall 5.

In order to be able to insert the construction container 100 as easily as possible into the transfer opening 6 of the partition wall 5, the construction container wall 101 of the construction container 100 tapers or tapers upwards, as described above. In other words, it can be seen in the cross-section of fig. 4 that here the upper outer edge of the construction vessel wall 101 is bevelled. In addition, the discharge device 1 here has an insertion rail 5S (not shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 for greater clarity) below the partition wall 5. This insertion rail 5S can be used for additional centering of the construction container 100 in order to make it easier or easier to move the construction container wall 101 precisely into the transfer opening 6. To this end, the lower edge directed towards the construction container wall 101 is inclined, i.e. the insertion track 5S has a conical shape matching the conical configuration of the upper edge of the construction container.

The spacers 105 extending here around the build vessel wall 101 provide additional assurance that no uncured build material or dust can enter the receiving chamber 2 of the discharge device 1 (except for aligning the build vessel 100 in the transfer opening 6 when in the build vessel discharge position P2 and coordinating the movement of the build vessel wall 101 and build platform 102). If the construction vessel wall 101 is in the construction vessel removal position P2 of the construction vessel 100, the upper side of the spacer 105 is pressed against the lower side of the insertion rail 5S. For example, here the gasket 105 may be fixed (e.g. adhesively bonded) on the outside of the construction vessel wall 101. Additional stability is provided here by an upwardly open, substantially rectangular holding frame 106 (see fig. 4), which holding frame 106 extends outwardly from the outside of the construction vessel wall 101, which extends annularly outwardly around the construction vessel wall 101 and is fixed to the construction vessel wall 101, wherein a gasket 105 is located in this holding frame 106. In order to achieve an optimal and uniform sealing, the gasket may be pressed resiliently against the insert rail 5S.

If the construction container hoist 30 has reached the construction container discharge position P2, the control 50 now sends a control signal AHS (or construction platform lift control signal AHS) to the construction platform hoist 40. Whether the construction container lifting device 30 has reached the construction container removal position P2 may be checked by means of a limit switch (not shown here). The AHS control signal then moves the build platform 102 of the build container 100 from the build platform receiving position P3 to the build platform removal end position P4 in a time coordinated manner by the build platform lift 40. As shown in fig. 3, if the build container lifting device 30 is in the build container discharge position P2 and the build platform lifting device 40 is in the build platform discharge end position P4, the part B to be cleaned on the build platform 102 is located in the discharge area AB of the discharge chamber 3.

However, the build container elevator 30 and the build platform elevator 40 may also be moved in a time coordinated manner by a shared control signal, which will be explained in more detail later.

In order to allow the user to remove and clean the component B without opening the cover 18, the cover 18 here has an engagement area 11 with a sheet 12, which is accessible to the user through the sheet 12. During the discharging process, the flakes largely prevent the powder P and dust from flowing out of the discharging chamber 3. If the user removes his or her hand past the splice protector 11, the sheet 12 may additionally wipe the powder P off the hand. In order to allow the user to see inside the removal chamber 3, the lid 18 here has a window 19.

The unloading process typically results in dust being lifted. This raised dust can be removed by means of a vacuum 8. The evacuation device 8 has a suction pipe 8R above the discharge area AB, the suction pipe 8R extending horizontally over substantially the entire length of the discharge chamber 3. The dust can thus be sucked in through a plurality of, here in particular 20, suction openings 9 in the suction duct 8R. The evacuation openings 9 are here distributed very uniformly along the longitudinal or main extension of the evacuation device 8. In the example described, the dust is sucked via the pump 17 of the discharge device 1, which pump 17 is connected to the suction pipe 8R of the evacuation device 8 via a line 10. The pump 17 is also electrically connected to the control device 50 and can be activated by the latter by means of a pump control signal VS. Alternatively, the evacuation may also be performed via an external suction port, such as a vacuum cleaner or a household evacuation system (not shown).

For example, the discharge device 1 may alternatively or additionally also have one or more flexible suction boxes in the discharge chamber 3 for sucking the powder.

The majority of the uncured residual construction material P is transported down into the residual powder chamber 4 via the sieve 7 in the partition wall 5. If desired, the sieve 7 can be removed from the partition wall 5, for example in such a way that it can be replaced or cleaned. In the residual powder chamber 4, the uncured residual build material P is captured there and accumulated in a powder receiving bin 60 located below the sieve 7. The powder P pumped up by the vacuum pumping device 8 can also be deposited into the powder receiving box 60. The drawn-up powder P is separated from the air also drawn up by the separator 23 in the line 10, and is supplied to the powder receiving box 60.

Once the powder receiving magazine 60 has reached a defined filling level, the door 14 of the residual powder chamber 4 can be opened and the powder receiving magazine 60, which is provided here with rollers 61, can be rolled out of the residual powder chamber 4. For example, the powder receiving magazine 60 may then be moved to the device for the component B of the additive manufacturing. The powder P can be further processed there and fed to the powder chamber if desired. In this way, the powder P can then easily be reused for new construction work. However, the conveying process can alternatively be used for powder removal, wherein a powder pump is used which conveys the sieved powder P directly into a box for the manufacturing device.

The discharged component B can then be removed from the discharge chamber 3. Alternatively, however, the component B can be lowered again into an otherwise empty construction container 100 and removed from the receiving chamber 2 with the construction container 100. To this end, the user activates a third control element b, which sends a lowering control command SS to the control device 50. Upon receiving the lowering control command SS, the control device 50 in turn sends a build platform lowering control signal ASS to the build platform lift device 40 in order to move the build platform 102 of the build container 100 located on the build container lift device 30 by the build platform lift device 40 from the build platform discharge position P4 to the build platform initial position P3. If the build platform 102 is again in the build platform initial position P3, the control device 50 sends a build container lowering control signal BSS to the build container lifting device 30 to automatically move the build container 100 from the build container removal position P2 back to the build container receiving position P1.

Here, the build container lifting device 30 and the build platform lifting device 40 may also be moved in a time coordinated manner by a single shared lowering control signal to either the build container receiving position P1 or to the build platform initial position P3 of the build container 100, as will be described in more detail later.

Fig. 6 presents a block diagram illustrating a simple circuit (here implemented in the control device 50) with which the construction-container-lifting control signal BHS can be transmitted to the construction-container-lifting device 30 and the construction-platform-lifting control signal AHS to the construction-platform-lifting device 40, wherein the required conditions, in particular the simultaneous activation of the two spatially separated buttons a, c and the closing of the door 13T, have to be automatically fulfilled, and with which the construction-container-lowering control signal BSS can be transmitted to the construction-container-lifting device 30 and the construction-platform-lowering control signal ASS can be transmitted to the construction-platform-lifting device 40.

As a first condition for transmitting the build container lift control signal BHS to the build container lift 30 and the build platform lift control signal AHS to the build platform lift 40, the first control element a and the second control element c, which is spatially separated from the first control element a, are simultaneously activated and issue their respective lift control commands HS. This state can be illustrated or realized by an AND gate 53 as a link between two input signals in the control means 50. The status is true or correct if both control elements a, c are pressed, meaning that both lift control commands HS are generated simultaneously. Then 1 appears at both inputs of and gate 53 and 1 is also delivered at the output of and gate 53. If only one or neither of the control elements a, c is pressed, only one or even none of the inputs of the link is assigned a value of 1. Therefore, the output terminal is not assigned the value 1.

Another condition for transmission of the build container lift control signal BHS to the build container lift 30 and the build platform lift control signal AHS to the build platform lift 40 here is that the door 13T of the offloader 1 is closed. As mentioned previously, the gate 13T has a sensor for verifying this, for example a pneumatic key in this case, the state of which is obtained through an input of a further and gate 52, the further input of the and gate 52 being connected to the output of the first and gate 53. The initial state of the additional and gate 52 is here also considered to be "true" or "correct" if the first control element a and the second control element c are activated simultaneously and the gate 13T is closed. This means that the output of and gate 53 is given the value 1, and therefore one input of the circuit of and gate 52 is given the value 1, and the second input is given the value 1 because gate 13T is closed. Thus, the circuit of the and gate 52 delivers 1 at its output. If one of the two spatially separated first control elements a, c is not activated simultaneously, which means that the circuit of the and gate 52 will deliver 0 if all required lift control commands HS are not present simultaneously or the gate 13T is not closed.

Furthermore, the control device 50 has a third and gate 54, which is electrically connected to the third control element b and to the sensor 20 of the gate 13T. As mentioned before, the control element b may be activated if the build container lifting means 30 and the build platform lifting means 40 are to be lowered. In this way, then, only when the door 13T of the discharging device 1 is closed, the build container lowering control signal BSS is transmitted to the build container lifting device 30, and the build platform lowering control signal ASS is transmitted to the build platform lifting device 40. This can be verified by the third and gate 54. If the third control element b is activated and the door 13T is closed, the status is also considered "true" or "correct" at this time. This means that one input of the and gate 54 is assigned the value 1 and the second input is assigned the value 1 because the gate 13T is closed. Thus, the link of the and gate 54 delivers 1 at its output.

In the evaluation means 51 of the control device 50, the input signal is then detected, checked and correspondingly converted. Thereafter, no signals are transmitted to build container riser 30 and build platform riser 40, neither is build container lift control signal BHS transmitted to build container riser 30 and build platform lift control signal AHS transmitted to build platform riser 40 in a time-coordinated manner, such as a time-series fit, nor is build container descent control signal BSS transmitted to build container riser 30 and build platform descent control signal ASS transmitted to build platform riser 40. For example, the signals may be electrical signals that activate the corresponding motors.

The above-described actuation of the build platform hoist 40 and build container hoist 30 is primarily done electronically or electrically. To a large extent, it can also be implemented in software, for example by implementing a gate by means of a corresponding query in a software module.

In a further preferred embodiment of the control device 50 shown in the schematic illustration of fig. 7, the build platform hoist 40 and the build container hoist 30 are not only activated or driven by software or electrical or electronic means, but also to a large extent by pneumatic control elements. For this purpose, the control device 50 has an electrical or electronic part 50e and a pneumatic part 50 p. It should be expressly noted, however, that additional control sections, including the electrical or electronic section 50e shown in fig. 7, and in particular the entire control device therefore, may also be implemented by pneumatic and/or hydraulic means.

The electrical or electronic part 50e of the control device 50 in fig. 7 corresponds substantially to the control device 50 in fig. 6, with the exception of the evaluation device 51. Thus, as previously described, if the first control element a and the second control element c are activated simultaneously and the gate 13T is closed, for example, the and gate 52 delivers 1 at its output. Thus, build container lift control signal BHS is sent to build container lift 30 and build platform lift control signal AHS is sent to build platform lift 40, where build container lift control signal BHS and build platform lift control signal AHS are not two distinct lift control signals, but rather a single shared lift control signal.

Here the lift control signals AHS, BHS are sent to a first channel valve 71 connected to an electronic or electrical part 50e of the control device 50. The first passage valve 71 is preferably a two-position, two-way valve 71, the first passage valve 71 being connected to the compressed air source 70 and converting the electrical lift control signals AHS, BHS into pneumatic lift control signals AHS ', BHS'.

It is to be noted at this point that instead of pneumatic components with compressed air or the like, it is also possible to use corresponding hydraulic components which operate with hydraulic fluid. Without loss of generality, however, the pneumatic design will continue as an example below.

If the channel valve 71 now receives the lift control signals AHS, BHS, the valve 71 opens the path of compressed air to which it is opened by the compressed air source 70 (with the compressed air line in FIG. 7 being represented by the dashed line). This compressed air extends both to the piston 77 of the cylinder 73 of the build container lifting apparatus 30 and to the piston 78 of the cylinder 74 of the build platform lifting apparatus 40, the cylinder 73 preferably being a double acting cylinder 73 and the cylinder 74 preferably being a double acting cylinder 74. Here the construction-container lifting device 30 is fully extended so that the construction container 100 located thereon reaches the construction-container removal position P2. Although the build platform lift 40 is activated simultaneously with the build container lift 30, it is structurally designed to contact the build platform 102 only when the build container 100 has reached the build container removal position P2.

This is achieved by the build platform hoist 40 here comprising a hoist table 41, in which the hoist cylinder 74 acts obliquely with respect to the vertical direction of travel and thus has a longer path than the build container hoist 30, where the build container hoist 30 moves the build container wall 101 into the build container discharge position P2 by means of four directly vertically moving hoist cylinders 31, among other things.

The build platform lift 40 is now moved towards the top until one of the control elements a, c required for the lift process is no longer activated, or until it is designed to reach its end position.

The construction of the build platform hoist 40 and the build container hoist 30 is thus such that the build container 100 to be emptied can be moved into the build container discharge position P2 of the build container by only one shared hoist control signal AHS, BHS and the build platform 102 located in the build container wall 101 can be moved to the build platform discharge position in a coordinated, time-delayed manner.

The control device 50 shown in fig. 7 may also be used to move the build container 100 back to the build container receiving position P1, for example to remove an empty build container 100 again, as follows.

If the third control element b is activated for this purpose and if the door 13T is closed, the and-gate 54 delivers 1 at its output as described previously. Thus, the electronic or electrical build platform descent control signal ASS is now sent to the second passage valve 72. The second passage valve 72 is preferably a two-position, two-way valve 72, the second passage valve 72 also being in contact with compressed air via the compressed air source 70.

If the second passage valve 72 has received the electronic build platform descent control signal ASS, it converts the latter into a hydraulic build platform descent control signal ASS' and opens the path of the compressed air. The compressed air now flows in on the opposite side, acting on it to move the build platform 102 upwards. Thus, the compressed air is now pressed in the opposite direction of the cylinder 74 and the build platform lift 40 is again moved from the build platform discharge position P4 to a position where the build platform 102 is at the lowest position in the build container 100.

In this position, the contact element 76 on the piston 78 of the cylinder affects the roller lever valve 75, triggering or switching the latter. Once the roller lever valve 75 has been triggered, compressed air flows into the cylinder 73 of the build container lift 30, so that the cylinder receives a pneumatic build container descent control signal BSS '(delayed with respect to the build platform descent control signal ASS'). Likewise, a flow of compressed air on the opposite side acts thereon to move the build container 100. In other words, cylinder 73 or build container lifting device 30 is now "pressed" downward or build container lifting device 30 is now continuously traveling from build container discharge position P2 to build container receiving position P1. The build container 100 and build platform 102 can only be removed when the build container lifting apparatus 30 is once again in the build container receiving position P1.

It is to be noted at this point that the actuators shown in fig. 7 are only very schematically depicted, and therefore do not show any components necessary for actuating the construction of the container lifting device 30 and the build platform lifting device 40. For example, the relief valves required to move the pistons 77, 78 of the cylinders 73, 74 of the lifters 30, 40 back and forth are also not shown.

It must also be mentioned that the above-mentioned lifting and lowering process of the building container 100 and of the building platform 102 in the discharge device 1 can be stopped at any time by not activating the control elements a, b, c required for the lifting and/or lowering process any more.

Finally, it is again noted that the devices and methods described in detail above represent exemplary embodiments only, which can be modified in various ways by the person skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention. As described above, verifying that all conditions for moving the build container are met is done within the control device. For example, the verification may also take place outside the control device, such as in logic circuits in or on the user interface. However, even combinations of these variations are possible. Any combination of the above-described software or variants of electronically and/or electrically operated control means with hydraulically and/or pneumatically operated control means is equally possible. Furthermore, the use of the indefinite article "a" or "an" does not imply that the features discussed are not to be repeated.

REFERENCE LIST

1 dismounting device

2 receiving chamber

3 discharge chamber

4 residual powder chamber

5 partition wall

5S insertion rail

6 transfer opening/channel

7 screening area/screening device/screen

8 evacuating device

8R suction tube

9 evacuation opening

10 line

11 bonding area

12 sheet

13 loading opening

13T door

14 doors

15. 16 handle

17 pump

18 cover

19 view window

20 sensor

21. 22 centering element

23 separator

24 hinge

30-structure container lifting device

31 Lift Cylinder/Hydraulic ram

32 cylinder shell

33 piston

34 support surface

40 build platform lifting device

41 lifting platform

42 support plate

43 scissor shaft

44 roller

45 sliding rail

46 support/rod

50 control device

50e electric/electronic control device

50p pneumatic control device

51 evaluation device

52. 53, 54 and gate

60 powder receiving box

61 roller

70 compressed air source

71. 72 channel valve

73. 74 cylinder

75 roller lever valve

76 contact element

77. 78 piston

80 user interface

100 configuration container/switching frame

101 construction of the vessel wall

102 build platform

103 outer upper edge

104 lower edge

105 shim

106 holding frame

a. b, c control element/button

AB dump area

AHS, AHS' control signal/build platform lift control signal

ASS, ASS' control signal/construct platform descent control signal

Ax axis

B part

BHS, BHS' control signals/build container lift control signals

BSS, BSS' control signal/construction container descent control signal

HS hoist control command

Minimum side length of OB

Maximum side length of OL

P uncured build material/powder

P1 configuration container receiving location

P2 construction Container removal position

P3 construction platform initial position

P4 build platform removal end position

Minimum outer side length of RaB

RaL maximum outside edge length

SS down control command

VS pump control signal