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List of KIMM TechnologiesResearch Institute of Autonomous Manufacturing

High Resolution Dispenser for Fine Powder of Particle Size 10 μm

Division Advanced Manufacturing Systems Research Division > Department of 3D Printing
Name Dr. Changwoo Lee
Department Department of 3D Printing
Tel +82 - 42 - 868 – 7146
E-mail lcwlej@kimm.re.kr
Attachment Download 050_High_Resolution_Dispenser_for_Fine_Powder_of_Particle_Size_10_μm.pdf (1.6 KB)

A fine powder dispenser for particle size of 10 μm with the life extended 10 times the existing device and has resolution of mg.

Automatic generation of control algorithm and joint gain tuning secures real-time control and precision at the level of industrial robots.

 

Client / Market

  • LED manufacturer, pharmaceutical company, Laser cladding, other industries using fine powder including dying companies.

 

Necessity of this Technology

  • Using a metal filter and the forced insertion and discharge structure, resolution and life of the dispenser-limitations of current technology-were greatly improved.
  • To control fixed quantity of fine powder, power is filled inside a frame with a certain volume and extra powder overflowing the frame is scraped. However, this method has following issues.
    - If the frame size is smaller than a certain size, powder cannot be filled inside the frame, therefore the frame size has to be greater than a specific size-difficult to improve resolution of the dispenser
    - Life of dispenser is shortened as the frame wears out as powder gets stuck during scraping.
  • Fine powders are used widely for LED fluorescent body, medicines in powder form, metal power used for laser cladding, and dying.
  • In cases like LCD fluorescent body and medicines where a slight difference in quantity can change the performance and function of the product, the quantity control is crucial.

 

Technical Differentiation

  • The metal filter is located on the bottom of the frame so that the powder can be inhaled and discharged by force using vacuum and pressure; even with a small frame, fine powder can be filled inside the frame.
  • By filling the frame by force, powder can be inserted from the side.
  • The design where powder can be filled from the side has the frame inside a cylinder; as the power filled from the side rotates, the powder is scraped automatically due to gravity that the dispenser is not worn off from powder getting stuck during scraping; therefore the life of dispenser is extended.
  • If automatic scraping cannot be applied, a smooth material like sponge can be used for scraping that it only applies relatively mild abrasion, which leads to longer life.
  • Since powder can be filled inside a small frame with forced insertion using the metal filter and vacuum, high resolution becomes possible. The automatic scraping by gravity barely wears off the dispenser, therefore longer life is expected.

 

Excellence of Technology

  • The table on the right shows the result of experiment conducted 30 times using metal powder.
  • The scale used has resolution of 0.01 g, and the highest result was 2.75 g and the lowest result was 2.7 g with the maximum deviation of 0.05 g-only 1/4 of the maximum deviation from existing powder dispenser of 0.2 g. With the average result of 2.73 g and standard deviation of 0.0108 g or 0.39%, its high precision has been proven.
  • Other than this quantitative result, the powder dispensing device developed with this patent is expected to have life 10 times longer than the existing powder dispensers.

 

Current Intellectual Property Right Status

PATENT
  • Fixed Quantity Powder Dispenser (KR1332312)
  • Fixed Quantity Powder Supply Control Device (KR2013-0015323)
  • Powder Dispenser (KR1398110)
  • Powder Spraying Control Device (KR1261588)
  • Fixed Quantity Powder Collection Device (KR1170645)
KNOW-HOW
  • Low density fine powder dispensing technology

 

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