Technical Field

The present invention relates to an adjusting mechanism for switching a processing table, that is located in a horizontal position, into a desired position according to a horizontal plane by means of three joint assemblies one of which is movable in a fixed vertical direction whereas the other two are movable in a fixed vertical direction.

Background of the Invention

While 3D and 4D printers produce a desired product, the product occurs on the processing table gradually. The fact that the processing table is located in a horizontal position affects the accuracy of the product to be produced and accordingly, the position of the processing table is controlled by measuring the distance by means of comparators and laser measurement systems mostly in dust spreaders and it is required to switch it into a desired position horizontally. Therefore, adjusting mechanism whereby a table is switched into a desired position according to a horizontal plane by being located in the lower part of the table where the process occurs are used.

The Chinese utility model document no. CN204149532, an application included in the state of the art, discloses a 3D printer. The printer mentioned in the said Chinese document comprises a rack, a nozzle assembly arranged at the upper part of the rack and a printing platform located below the nozzle assembly. The said printer comprises a working platform and a lifting platform located below the working platform. An adjusting nut, an adjusting bolt and a gradienter are located at the lower part of the working platform. Vertical movement of the working platform is provided by means of the lifting mechanism and the movement of the screw inside the threaded nut is used for this. Thus, the height and inclination of the working platform can be adjusted. It is also disclosed in the said document that a lifting assembly consisting of nut screw and spring can be applied to the 3 areas under the working platform so as to make the height and inclination adjustment of the working platform and the three lifting assemblies must not be in the same straight direction so as to make the height adjustment.

The Chinese utility model document no. CN208853709, an application included in the state of the art, discloses a multi-dimensional metal 3D printer. The said printer comprises a printing platform and three screw rods extending parallel to each other under the printing platform. Each of these rods is connected to the bottom of the printer platform independently of each other and universal joints are used in connections. The screw rods located at the bottom part of the printing platform are present so as to form an equilateral triangle and the inclination and height of the printing platform can be adjusted relative to the horizontal plane by controlling the movement of each screw rod by means of one motor. Thereby, a precise height and angle adjustment is made on the printing platform.

The Chinese utility model document no. CN203876240, an application included in the state of the art, discloses a 3D printer and a leveling (level adjustment) device used to adjust the level of the printer. The said leveling device operates automatically and comprises a fixed platform, a linear motor, a distance measuring sensor and a display. The said fixed platform is positioned below the printing platform and it moves the fixed platform by means of a spherical connecting piece relative to the movement of the screw. The fixed platform moves up and down and the said movements are controlled by means of sensors. Thereby, a precise level adjustment is made.

Summary of the Invention An objective of the present invention is to realize an adjusting mechanism for switching a processing table, that is located in a horizontal position, into a desired position according to a horizontal plane by means of three joint assemblies one of which is movable in a fixed vertical direction whereas the other two are movable in a fixed vertical direction.

Detailed Description of the Invention

“An Adjusting Mechanism for the Switching a Table into a Desired Position according to a Horizontal Plane” realized to fulfil the objective of the present invention is shown in the figures attached, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the inventive adjusting mechanism.

Figure l is a cross-section view of the inventive adjusting mechanism.

The components illustrated in the figures are individually numbered, where the numbers refer to the following:

1. Adjusting mechanism

2. Joint assembly

3. Ball joint

4. Joint cover

5. Shaft

6. Female screw

7. Male screw

8. Threaded member (reducer)

9. Motion provider (precision motor)

T : Movable table

A: Lower table The inventive adjusting mechanism (1) for switching a process surface into a desired position according to a horizontal plane in 3D and 4D printers comprises:

- three joint assemblies (2) which are present between a movable table (T) and a lower table (A) included on the lower part of the movable table (T), such that they will be located at the comers of a triangle; comprise two ball joints (3) each positioned reciprocally; and one of which has a fixed structure in a vertical direction and the other two have a movable structure in a vertical direction; a plurality of joint covers (4) which are located in an overlapping way so as to be one in number outside the ball joints (3) composing the joint assembly (2); the ones included in the joint assembly (2) with fixed height are fixed to the movable table (T) and the lower table (A); whereas the ones included in the movable joint assembly (3) are only fixed to the lower table (A); at least one shaft (5) which is located among the ball joints (3) in the fixed joint assembly (2) and connected to the ball joints (3) fixedly; at least one female screw (6) which is located at the inner part of the ball joint (3) included in the upper part of the two ball joints (3) that are present in the movable joint assembly (2) reciprocally and which has a limited rotation; at least one movable male screw (7) which is located at the inner part of the other ball joint (3), namely the lower ball joint (3), wherein no female screw (6) is included from the two ball joints (3) that are present in the movable joint assembly (2) reciprocally; at least one threaded member (8) which is connected to the male screw (7) from one end thereof and moves it; and at least one motion provider (9) which is located at the end of the threaded member (8) that is not connected to the male screw (7); enables the female screw (6) to move up and down by contacting the movable table (T) upon providing the motion and enables to switch the contacted point of the movable table (T) into a desired position according to the horizontal plane.

In the inventive adjusting mechanism (1), each joint assembly (2) consists of two ball joints (3) positioned in an overlapping way between the movable table (T) and the lower table (A). One joint cover (4) is located outside each ball joint (3) such that it is fixed to the ball joint and the shaft (5) or the female/male screw (7, 8) is located at the inner part of thereof. In one preferred embodiment, the fixed joint assembly (2) is located at the right-angled fixed comer of the right triangle. The other movable joint assemblies (2) are located at the other corners of the right triangle. Thereby, it is ensured that the movable table (T) is switched into a desired horizontal position upon the movable joint (3) balls move.

In the inventive adjusting mechanism (1), the joint cover (4) is located at the outer part of the ball joints (3) such that it is fixed to the ball joints (3). The joint covers (4) located outside the ball joints (3) in the fixed joint assembly (2) are fixed to the movable table (T) and the lower table (A). One (4) of the joint covers (4) located outside the ball joints (3) in the movable joint assembly (2) is fixed to the lower table (A), whereas the other one is idle according to the movable table (T), however it is fixed to the female screw (6) by means of a connection member. Thereby, upon the male screw (7) turns the female screw (6), the female screw (6) moves the movable table (T) upwards by protruding from the joint cover (4).

In the inventive adjusting mechanism (1), the shaft (5) is located such that it is fixed to the ball joints (3) included in the fixed joint assembly (2) from the ends thereof. The shaft (5) is connected to the ball joints (3) fixedly and ensures that the vertical distance between ball centers of the ball joints (3) remains constant.

In the inventive adjusting mechanism (1), the female screw (6) is located at the inner part of idle one -that is not connected- of the ball joints (3) included in the movable joint assembly (2) according to the movable table (T), such that its rotational motion is limited. Whereas the male screw (7) is located inside the female screw (6) from one end thereof and inside the ball joints (3) located in a fixed position according to the lower table (A) from the other end thereof, such that it can perform rotational motion. The male screw (7) moves the female screw (6) by providing the rotational motion and this motion enables the movable table (T) to move in a vertical direction.

In the inventive adjusting mechanism (1), the threaded member (8) is a reducer and it is connected to the male screw (7) from one end thereof and to the motion provider (9) from the other end thereof. The threaded member (8) transfers the motion it receives from the motion provider (9), to the male screw (7) as a rotational motion. Thus, the male screw (7) enables the female screw (6) to move the movable table (T) by performing rotational motion inside the female screw (6).

In the inventive adjusting mechanism (1), the motion provider (9) is a precision motor which moves the threaded member (8) from one end thereof. The motion provider (9) enables up and down movement of the female screw (6) by means of the motion it provides to the threaded member (8) when it moves. Upon the female screw (6) moves up and down, the movable table (T) and thus the processing table located at the upper part of the movable table (T) are enabled to be positioned according to a horizontal plane by ensuring that rot-x and rot-y motion is performed around the corner where the fixed joint assembly (2) is located. (Figure 1)

In the inventive adjusting mechanism (1), it is ensured that a processing table can be switched to a desired position according to a horizontal plane, due to the fact that it comprises joint assemblies (2) -one of which is fixed and the other two are movable- such that they are positioned at the corners of a triangle, preferably a right triangle, between two tables (T, A). Therefore, the female screw (6) is used in one of the ball joints (3) within the movable joint assembly (2) whereas the male screw (7) performing rotational motion inside the female screw (6) is used in the other one. Upon the male screw (7) moves, the female screw (6) with limited rotational motion moves in the direction of the male screw axis and moves the point where the movable table (T) is connected, up or down.

Within these basic concepts; it is possible to develop various embodiments of the inventive “An Adjusting Mechanism (1) for the Switching a Table into a Desired Position according to a Horizontal Plane”; the invention cannot be limited to examples disclosed herein and it is essentially according to claims.