Molding device

Abstract

The present invention relates to a mold forming device, which has: an injection kettle (2); a lid member (60); and an injection air supply unit (65b) that presses the foamed mixture in the injection kettle (2) with compressed air and injects it from an injection port. A sealing body (60) is provided on the lid member (60), and the sealing body (60) is deformed due to the injection of fluid during the pressing and thus closely adheres to the inner peripheral surface of the injection kettle (2).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a mold forming device that presses and fills a foamed mixture into a cavity of a heated metal mold to form a mold. Background Art

[0002] In recent years, the following method has been proposed: using a water-soluble binder as a binder for granular aggregate, and curing the water-soluble binder by heating to evaporate water, thereby forming a mold, because the mold has good disintegrability after casting.

[0003] For example, in Patent Document 1, a foamed mixture as a material for such a mold is manufactured, and a mold forming device that injects the foamed mixture into a cavity of a metal mold by air is disclosed. The mold forming device of Patent Document 1 includes: a groove having a filling hole formed therethrough at the bottom; a stopper mechanism for opening and closing the filling hole; and a lid member that closes one side of the opening of the groove in a sealed state. Further, the mold forming device also includes: a stirring mechanism having stirring blades provided at the lower part; and a compressed air supply mechanism that supplies compressed air into the groove when filling the foamed mixture from the filling hole into the cavity of the metal mold.

[0004] Prior Art Documents

[0005] Patent Documents

[0006] Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2018-192512 Summary of the Invention

[0007] Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0008] In the mold forming device described in Patent Document 1, when the lid member is installed and the groove is closed, and when the lid member is removed and the groove is opened, a sealing body provided on the circumferential surface of the lid member slides on the inner circumferential surface of the groove. Therefore, there is a problem that the sealing body is easily deteriorated due to wear. The sealing body is easily deteriorated due to wear, which may increase the repair man-hours, for example.

[0009] One aspect of the present invention is completed in view of the above problems, and an object thereof is to realize a mold forming device in which a sealing body provided on the circumferential surface of a lid member is hardly deteriorated due to wear.

[0010] Solutions to the Problems

[0011] In order to solve the above problems, a molding device according to one aspect of the present invention includes: an injection kettle that stores a foamed kneaded material; a lid member that can open and close an opening provided in the upper part of the injection kettle; and an air supply unit that injects the foamed kneaded material from an injection port provided in the injection kettle by supplying air into the injection kettle. A seal is provided on the circumferential surface of the lid member, and the seal expands due to the supply of fluid and closely adheres to the inner circumferential surface of the injection kettle. When the supply of the fluid is released, the seal separates from the inner circumferential surface of the injection kettle.

[0012] Advantages of the Invention

[0013] According to one aspect of the present invention, a molding device can be provided in which a seal provided on the circumferential surface of a lid member is less likely to deteriorate due to wear. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0014] Figure 1 is a perspective view of the periphery of an injection kettle of a molding device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0015] Figure 2 is Figure 1 a cross-sectional view of the periphery of the injection kettle of the molding device shown.

[0016] Figure 3 is a view showing Figure 1 a cross-sectional view of the seal of the molding device shown.

[0017] Figure 4 shows Figure 3 a modified example of the seal shown.

[0018] Figure 5 is a view schematically showing an example of the operation of the molding device with respect to Figure 1 the one shown.

[0019] Figure 6 is a view schematically showing an example of the operation of the molding device with respect to Figure 1 the one shown. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0020] Hereinafter, a molding device according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail.

[0021] (1) Overall Structure of the Molding Device 1

[0022] Figure 1 is a perspective view of the structure of the periphery of the injection kettle of the molding device 1 of the present embodiment. In addition, Figure 2 is a view showing along Figure 1Arrow vector sectional view of the situation after the mold forming device 1 is cut along the cutting line A-A' shown. The mold forming device 1 can be used in the process of injecting a filling material into the cavity of a mold for mold forming. Among them, it is ideal to use a foamed kneaded mixture obtained by stirring particulate bone material, a water-soluble binder, a surfactant, and water as the mold material, and it is applicable to the process of forming a mold core.

[0023] As Figure 1 shown, the mold forming device 1 has: an injection kettle 2 for storing the foamed kneaded mixture; a lid member 60 capable of opening and closing an opening provided in the upper part of the injection kettle 2; and an injection air supply part 65b ( Figure 3 ) for injecting the foamed kneaded mixture from an injection port 20 provided at the lower end of the injection kettle 2 by supplying air into the injection kettle 2. And, the mold forming device 1 is configured such that a seal 61 (such as an inflatable seal) is provided on the peripheral surface 60a of the lid member 60, and the seal expands due to the supply of fluid and closely adheres to the inner peripheral surface of the injection kettle 2, and when the supply of fluid is released, the seal 61 separates from the inner peripheral surface of the injection kettle 2. The air supplied from the injection air supply part 65b is, for example, compressed air, but it can also be non-compressed air.

[0024] And, as Figure 1 shown, the mold forming device 1 further includes: a stirring mechanism 5, a sealing air supply part 65a ( Figure 3 ), an up-and-down drive mechanism 3, and a connecting part 4. In addition, as Figure 2 shown, the mold forming device 1 also has a stopper mechanism 7 for closing the injection port 20 of the injection kettle 2. In addition, as shown in (iii) described later Figure 5 , the mold forming device 1 also has a mold 11 for receiving the foamed kneaded mixture injected from the injection port 20.

[0025] (2) Details of each structure of the mold forming device 1

[0026] The injection kettle 2 is a container for generating a foamed kneaded mixture by kneading various materials (mold materials), and is also a container for storing the generated foamed kneaded mixture until the foamed kneaded mixture is injected. The injection kettle 2 has: a lower side part 21 provided with an injection port 20; an upper side part 22 disposed opposite to the lower side part 21; and a side part 23 made of a transparent material, which is disposed between the lower side part 21 and the upper side part 22. The side part 23 is in a cylindrical shape, and the opening on the lower end side thereof is sealed by the lower side part 21, whereby the lower side part 21 becomes the bottom of the kettle and can accommodate the foamed kneaded mixture inside. As Figure 1 shown, the injection kettle 2 is provided with a plurality of support columns 24 connecting the lower side part 21 and the upper side part 22 on the outside of the side part 23.

[0027] AsFigure 2 As shown, the lower side portion 21 has: a lower flange 25 having a shape protruding laterally from near the outer diameter of the side portion 23; and an injection plate body 26 disposed below the lower flange 25. An opening 25a is provided in the lower flange 25, and the opening 25a has an opening diameter slightly larger than the outer diameter of the side portion 23. By fitting the lower end of the side portion 23 with the opening 25a, it is connected to the side portion 23. The injection plate body 26 is connected to the lower surface of the lower flange 25, and a region of a part of the upper surface is exposed toward the inner surface of the kettle. This exposed portion constitutes the upper surface of the bottom of the injection kettle 2. The injection port 20 is a through hole provided in the injection plate body 26. For example, as Figure 1 shown, three through holes are provided. The number of injection ports 20 is not limited to this. Alternatively, a valve structure body for preventing the foaming kneaded material from leaking may be provided on each injection port 20. The valve structure body may be a known valve structure body made of rubber, for example.

[0028] The lower side portion 21 is a two-piece structure and can ensure a certain thickness, thereby contributing to improving the rigidity of the injection kettle 2. The lower flange 25 and the injection plate body 26 are preferably made of a material resistant to alkalinity and from which the kneaded sand can be easily peeled off, and may be made of a metal such as stainless steel or a fluororesin such as PTFE, for example. If the lower flange 25 and the injection plate body 26 are made of metal, the rigidity can be further improved. The lower flange 25 and the injection plate body 26 may be made of the same material or different materials.

[0029] As Figure 1 and Figure 2 shown, the upper side portion 22 has an upper flange 27 having a shape protruding laterally from near the outer diameter of the side portion 23. As Figure 2 shown, an opening 27a is provided in the upper flange 27, and the opening 27a has an opening diameter slightly larger than the outer diameter of the side portion 23. By fitting the opening 27a with the upper end of the side portion 23, it is connected to the side portion 23. The upper flange 27 may be made of a metal such as stainless steel or a fluororesin such as PTFE. However, it is not limited to these materials. The upper flange 27 contributes to improving the rigidity of the injection kettle 2 by having a certain thickness. And if they are made of metal, the rigidity can be further improved.

[0030] The upper side portion 22 further has a clamping sleeve 28 connected to the upper surface of the upper flange 27. The clamping sleeves 28 are provided at two positions facing each other, and the central axis of the injection kettle 2 is located between these two positions. And a hole 28a for inserting a clamping pin 43 described later is provided in each clamping sleeve 28. The clamping sleeve 28 and the clamping pin 43 described later together constitute a connecting portion 4. The clamping sleeve 28 may be made of the same material as the upper flange 27 or a different material.

[0031] As Figure 1 shown, the support part 24 is connected to the lower part 21 and the upper part 22. Preferably, the support part 24 is the same as the lower part 21 and the upper part 22 and is made of metal. Thus, the support part 24 can also contribute to improving the rigidity of the injection kettle 2 together with the lower part 21 and the upper part 22. In addition, the support part 24 maintains the separation distance between the lower part 21 and the upper part 22 at a predetermined distance. In addition, in the present embodiment, four support parts 24 are provided at equal intervals along the outer periphery of the side part 23. In addition, the number of the support parts 24 provided is not limited to four.

[0032] The side part 23 is fixed to the lower part 21 and the upper part 22 and constitutes the side part of the kettle for accommodating the foaming kneaded material. The side part 23 is made of a transparent material. Thus, the situation inside the injection kettle 2 can be observed well. Through the observation, the change and capacity of the kneaded sand can be confirmed, and it can also be confirmed whether there are attachments to be removed during the cleaning of the injection kettle 2 and whether there is a residue of the attachment during the cleaning. And it can also be confirmed whether it is sealed by the seal 61 described later. As the transparent material, a thermoplastic resin (so-called plastic) having transparency can be used. Among them, preferably, a rigid plastic selected from acrylic resin, polycarbonate, vinyl chloride, polystyrene, etc. is used.

[0033] The side part 23 only needs to have a strength capable of withstanding the weight of the accommodated foaming kneaded material and the pressure during the press-filling. Since the rigidity of the injection kettle 2 can be ensured by the lower part 21, the upper part 22, and the support part 24, the thickness of the side part 23 can be made thinner to the extent that it can withstand the internal pressure.

[0034] The stirring mechanism 5 kneads various materials supplied to the injection kettle 2. As Figure 2 shown, the stirring mechanism 5 includes a stirring blade 51, a stirring shaft 53, and a stirring motor 55. The stirring shaft 53 is arranged in the vertical direction. The stirring blade 51 is provided at the lower end of the stirring shaft 53. The stirring shaft 53 is connected to the stirring motor 55. By driving the stirring motor 55, the stirring blade 51 rotates. The stirring mechanism 5 kneads various materials in the injection kettle 2 through the stirring blade 51. The input of various materials (particulate bone material, water-soluble binder, surfactant, and water) into the injection kettle 2 is performed by various supply mechanisms (not shown), for example.

[0035] As these various materials, for example, they can be: artificial sand (such as emery) as the particulate bone material, sodium silicate as the water-soluble binder, an anionic surfactant as the surfactant, and water. However, it is not limited to these, and other additives, etc. can also be contained.

[0036] The lid member 60 has a peripheral surface 60a that faces the inner peripheral surface of the opening on one side of the upper side portion 22 of the injection kettle 2, and a sealing body 61 is provided on the peripheral surface 60a.

[0037] The sealing body 61 can be deformed in the radial direction (radial direction) from the central portion of the lid member 60 toward the peripheral surface 60a. When the sealing body 61 is deformed in the radial direction, the front end of the sealing body 61 closely adheres to the inner peripheral surface of the injection kettle 2, so that the upper opening of the injection kettle 2 can be sealed. In other words, before the sealing body 61 is deformed, a gap is generated between the sealing body 61 and the inner peripheral surface of the injection kettle 2. The deformation of the sealing body 61 is performed by pressing air into the hollow portion provided on the sealing body 61 by the sealing air supply portion 65a. If the lid member 60 closes the upper opening of the injection kettle 2 and the sealing body 61 closely adheres to the inner peripheral surface of the injection kettle 2, the inside of the injection kettle 2 becomes a sealed state. In this state, if air is pressed into the injection kettle 2 through the injection air supply portion 65b, the foamed kneaded product in the injection kettle 2 will be extruded by the compressed air and injected from the injection port 20.

[0038] Hereinafter, use Figure 3 to describe in detail the structure of the peripheral surface 60a of the lid member 60. Figure 3 is Figure 1 the cross-sectional view taken along B-B' shown, and is an enlarged cross-sectional view near the peripheral surface 60a of the lid member 60.

[0039] On the peripheral surface 60a of the lid member 60, a recess 60b for arranging the sealing body 61 is provided along the circumferential direction of the lid member 60. The sealing body 61 has a sealing portion 61a and mounting portions 61b, 61c. The sealing portion 61a has a cross-section that is a convex curved surface facing the inner peripheral surface of the injection kettle 2, and the mounting portions 61b, 61c are provided at both ends of the sealing portion 61a. The mounting portions 61b, 61c are provided at both ends in the vertical direction of the sealing portion 61a. The recess 60b exposes the convex portion side of the sealing portion 61a and arranges the portions other than the exposed portion, and the recess 60a abuts against the mounting portions 61b, 61c and restricts the mounting portions 61b, 61c from moving toward the inner peripheral surface side of the injection kettle 2. In other words, the recess 60b is arranged to accommodate the portions other than the exposed portion of the sealing body 61 inside. When observed in the cross-sectional view, the sealing portion 61a has a shape in the radial direction of the lid member 60 ( Figure 3a circular arc shape protruding in the direction of the arrow in []. That is to say, the mounting portions 61b and 61c are flanges provided at both ends of the sealing portion 61a. The sealing body 61 is arranged such that a portion other than the front end portion is exposed at the concave portion 60b of the circumferential surface 60a at the front end portion of the circular arc of the sealing portion 61a. A diameter-expanded portion 60c that expands in the vertical direction corresponding to the mounting portions 61b and 61c is provided on the concave portion 60b, and the mounting portions 61b and 61c are inserted into the diameter-expanded portion 60c with a certain gap. An opening 62a is provided at a position corresponding to the bottom of the concave portion 60b, and the opening 62a constitutes one end of a flow path 62 provided in the lid member 60. The other end of the flow path 62 is connected to the sealing air supply portion 65a, and air is supplied to or the supply of the air is released from the other end to the opening 62a. When air is supplied from the opening 62a to the hollow portion inside the opening 62a and the circular arc-shaped sealing portion 61a, the sealing portion 61a expands at the front end and deforms in the radial direction of the lid member 60. In addition, a portion of the concave portion 60b of the lid member 60 that is not diameter-expanded (the portion on the circumferential surface 60a side of the concave portion 60b), in other words, wall portions 601a and 602a that stand up in the vertical direction may be formed over the entire circumference. By providing the wall portions 601a and 602a, the mounting portions 61b and 61c of the sealing body 61 do not move toward the inner circumferential surface side of the injection kettle 2.

[0040] When the supply of air to the hollow portion inside the sealing body 61 is stopped, the sealing portion 61a returns to its original state (the state before expansion). That is, the portion of the lid member 60 where the sealing body 61 is located, which has been diameter-expanded, contracts in diameter. In other words, when the supply of air is released, the sealing body 61 becomes separated from the inner circumferential surface of the injection kettle 2.

[0041] During the process of injecting the foaming compound from the injection kettle 2, the sealing body 61 deforms (expands) to seal the injection kettle 2. In addition, it also deforms (expands) during mixing to seal the injection kettle 2. The reason for sealing during mixing is to suppress the shaking of the injection kettle 2 caused by mixing. As will be described later, during mixing, the injection kettle 2 is placed on the stopper plate 7b, but when the stirring blade 51 stirs, the injection kettle 2 may shake due to this vibration. Therefore, by expanding the sealing body 61 at the upper side portion and closely adhering it to the injection kettle 2, the shaking can be suppressed.

[0042] The sealing body 61 does not contact the inner circumferential surface of the injection kettle 2 except during injection and mixing. Before the lid member 60 is lowered from above to make the circumferential surface 60a and the predetermined positions of the inner circumferential surface of the injection kettle 2 face each other in order to seal the injection kettle 2, the sealing body 61 is in a non-contact state with the inner circumferential surface. That is, the sealing body 61 does not slide on the inner circumferential surface of the injection kettle 2. When the lid member 60 is removed from the sealed state, the sealing body 61 also does not slide on the inner circumferential surface of the injection kettle 2.

[0043] Thus, since the sealing body 61 is not structured to slide relative to the inner peripheral surface of the injection kettle 2, damage to the sealing body 61 and the injection kettle 2 due to sliding will not occur, thereby realizing the mold forming device 1 that is not easily deteriorated.

[0044] In addition, by using the lid member 60 having such a sealing body 61, when the lid member 60 is arranged on the upper end side of the injection kettle 2, it is not necessary to accurately center the lid member 60. This is because the lid member 60 is structured to expand the sealing body 61 to increase the diameter. Even if there is a difference in the separation distance between the peripheral surface 60a of the lid member 60 and the inner peripheral surface of the injection kettle 2 in the circumferential direction position, it can be offset by the expansion of the sealing body 61, so that the entire circumference of the opening of the injection kettle 2 can be properly sealed.

[0045] The sealing body 61 is made of an elastically deformable material. As a representative material, rubber with excellent tensile strength, abrasion resistance, and chemical resistance can be used. In particular, from the viewpoint of ease of centering, a material with a relatively large expansion rate and a relatively low rubber hardness (i.e., soft) is preferred. The rubber hardness of the sealing body 61 is preferably, for example, A20 - A70 of the JIS standard type A durometer (Shore A). In addition, the elastic modulus (Young's modulus) of the sealing body 61 is preferably about 1 - 6 MPa. As a specific example, the sealing body 61 is preferably composed of one selected from nitrile rubber, chloroprene rubber, butyl rubber, natural rubber, etc.

[0046] The mounting portions 61b, 61c of the sealing body 61 are arranged inside the diameter-expanded portion 60c of the concave portion 60b. For example, the mounting portions 61b, 61c are inserted into the diameter-expanded portion 60c with an appropriate gap. Here, Figure 4 shows the sealing body 61 in a state observed in the same cross-section as Figure 3 . In Figure 4 , there is a gap between one mounting portion 61b (upper side) and the other mounting portion 61c (lower side). Therefore, in the manner shown in Figure 4 , when the sealing body 61 expands due to air supply, the positions of the mounting portions 61b, 61c may shift, and after the air supply stops, the sealing body 61 may not return to its original state.

[0047] Therefore, in the present embodiment, at the position where there is a gap in Figure 4 , as in Figure 3A spacer 63 is provided as shown. The spacer 63 is an annular structure along the circumferential direction of the lid member 60. The spacer 63 is provided with ventilation holes for air supply. In addition, the spacer 63 may be made of a porous body, for example. By the spacer 63, it is possible to prevent the mounting portions 61b and 61c from being excessively deformed and falling off from the recess 60b when the seal 61 is deformed. In addition, when the positions of the mounting portions 61b and 61c are shifted and the supply of air stops, it is possible to prevent the seal 61 from not returning to its original state. From the above, by providing the spacer 63, it is possible to ensure the expansion required for sealing and to realize the seal 61 with improved assemblability with respect to the lid member 60. The spacer 63 as described above is preferably made of a material harder than the seal 61. Here, "harder than the seal 61" is not limited to the case where the rubber hardness estimated in type A is higher than that of the seal 61. For example, the rubber hardness estimated in type D is higher than that of the seal 61, or the rubber hardness estimated in type E is higher than that of the seal 61, etc., and it is sufficient that the hardness estimated on any scale is higher than that of the seal 61. As a material harder than the seal 61, for example, it may be rubber, acrylic resin, ABS resin, styrene resin, Duracon (registered trademark) resin, etc. In addition, Figure 4 This mode is also included within the scope of one mode of the present invention. In addition, the spacer 63 may be a material that can be deformed toward the outside of the ring during installation and removal.

[0048] The lid member 60 may be composed of two upper and lower split bodies 601 and 602. Depressions are respectively provided on the opposing surfaces between the upper split body 601 and the lower split body 602, and they are combined to form the recess 60b. When performing maintenance such as cleaning of the lid member 60, by leaving a gap between the two split bodies 601 and 602 of the lid member 60, it is possible to easily remove the seal 61 and the spacer 63. It is also possible to easily assemble the seal 61 to the lid member 60 in the first place. In order to ensure the rigidity of the lid, the upper split body 601 is preferably made of a metal such as iron. The lower split body 602 has a surface facing the inside of the injection kettle 2, and considering the case where cleaning is required, it is preferably made of a lightweight and wear-resistant material. As an example, the lower split body 602 may be made of a fluororesin, but is not limited thereto.

[0049] A stirring shaft insertion hole 64 ( Figure 2 ) is provided in the lid member 60, and the stirring shaft insertion hole 64 has a bearing 68 through which a stirring shaft 53 having stirring blades 51 at its lower end is inserted. The vertical movement of the lid member 60 and the vertical movement of the stirring shaft 53 and the stirring blades 51 are integrally driven and controlled by a vertical drive mechanism 3 ( Figure 1 ).

[0050] The air supply section 65a for sealing supplies air to the above-described hollow portion of the seal body 61. Specifically, the air supply section 65a for sealing is connected to the other end of the flow path 62 provided in the lid member 60, and in the process of injecting the foamed kneaded material in the injection kettle 2 from the injection port 20, in order to cause the seal body 61 to deform, air is supplied to the above-described hollow portion. Thereby, the opening at the upper part of the injection kettle 2 is blocked, and the inside of the injection kettle 2 becomes a sealed state.

[0051] Regarding the supply of air to the seal body 61, the air supply section 65a for sealing has a port and a pressure gauge (not shown) on the lid member 60, and a compressed air supply device is connected to the port via a hose, a flow meter, and a three-way valve. The compressed air supply device can supply compressed air to the seal body 61 via the flow meter, the three-way valve, the hose, and the port. The pressure gauge measures the pressure in the hollow portion of the seal body 61.

[0052] In addition, the air supply section 65a for sealing has an air supply control section connected to the pressure gauge, the flow meter, the three-way valve, and the compressed air supply device respectively. The air supply control section controls the respective operations of the compressed air supply device and the three-way valve, and performs the air supply to and the stop of the supply to the seal body 61.

[0053] The air supply section 65b for injection supplies air into the injection kettle 2. Specifically, as Figure 3 shown, the air supply section 65b for injection is connected to the introduction pipe 67 provided on the lid member 60, and air can be supplied into the injection kettle 2 via the introduction pipe 67. The air supply section 65b for injection supplies air into the injection kettle 2 in a state where the injection port 20 of the injection kettle 2 is opened by the plugging mechanism 7 described later. At this time, the air supply section 65a for sealing causes the seal body 61 to expand by supplying air to the seal body 61. And, the expanded seal body 61 seals the inside of the injection kettle 2. In this state, by supplying air into the injection kettle 2 through the air supply section 65b for injection, the foamed kneaded material in the injection kettle 2 is injected from the injection port 20. The timing of supplying air by the air supply section 65a for sealing and the air supply section 65b for injection is different. In addition, compared with the air supply section 65b for injection, the air supply pressure of the air supply section 65a for sealing is higher.

[0054] The air supply section 65b for injection has a port and a pressure gauge (not shown) on the lid member 60, and a compressed air supply device is connected to the port via a hose, a flow meter, and a three-way valve. The compressed air supply device supplies compressed air into the injection kettle 2 through the flow meter, the three-way valve, the hose, and the port. The pressure gauge measures the pressure inside the injection kettle 2.

[0055] In addition, the air supply unit 65b for injection has an air supply control unit that is respectively connected to a pressure gauge, a flow meter, a three-way valve, and a compressed air supply device. The air supply control unit controls the respective operations of the compressed air supply device and the three-way valve.

[0056] The vertical drive mechanism 3 is a mechanism that moves the lid member 60 up and down in the depth direction of the injection kettle 2. The vertical drive mechanism 3 can move the injection kettle 2 and the lid member 60 up and down integrally as needed. In addition, the vertical drive mechanism 3 always moves the lid member 60 and the stirring mechanism 5 up and down integrally.

[0057] The vertical drive mechanism 3 has a cylinder body 30a, a rod 30b, and an electric servo motor (not shown) for vertical drive, which are arranged with the device's vertical direction as the axis. The lower end of the rod 30b is connected to the lid member 60 and the stirring mechanism 5. Thus, a structure is formed in which, through the operation of the electric servo motor, the lid member 60 and the stirring mechanism 5 move integrally in the direction approaching the bottom of the injection kettle 2 and the opposite direction (in other words, the device's vertical direction). The electric servo motor is connected to a vertical movement control unit (not shown).

[0058] The connecting portion 4 has a kettle clamping mechanism 40 that connects or disconnects the vertical drive mechanism 3, the lid member 60, and the stirring mechanism 5 to / from the injection kettle 2. The connection is achieved by inserting the clamping pin 43 of the kettle clamping mechanism 40 into the hole 28a of the clamping sleeve 28 connected to the upper flange 27 of the upper side portion 22 of the injection kettle 2. Therefore, the kettle clamping mechanism 40 and the clamping sleeve 28 constitute the connecting portion 4. The upper portion of the connecting portion 4 is connected and fixed to the lower end portion of the rod 30b of the vertical drive mechanism 3. A plate-like member 4a is provided at the lower portion of the connecting portion 4, and the lid member 60 is connected and fixed to the plate-like member 4a. As Figure 1 and Figure 2 shown, the plate-like member 4a is provided at two positions facing each other, the stirring shaft 53 of the stirring mechanism 5 is located between these two positions, and the plate-like member 4a is respectively connected to the kettle clamping mechanism 40.

[0059] As Figure 2 shown, the kettle clamping mechanism 40 includes: a clamping cylinder 44 having a rod 41, a clamping base 42, and a clamping pin 43. The kettle clamping mechanism 40 is connected to the plate-like member 4a fixed to the lid member 60, and the rod 41 ( Figure 2 ) is pivotally supported on the plate-like member 4a. A clamping base 42 is connected to the front end of the rod 41, and a clamping pin 43 pivotally supported by the plate-like member 4a is provided on the clamping base 42. There are two clamping bases 42, and they are arranged in parallel with the two clamping pins 43 respectively.

[0060] The protruding ends of the respective clamping pins 43 are inserted into the holes 28a of the clamping bush 28, which is connected to the upper flange 27 of the upper side portion 22 of the above-described injection kettle 2. The clamping bush 28 is provided at two positions along the circumferential direction of the upper flange 27 corresponding to the kettle clamping mechanism 40, and two holes 28a are provided in each clamping bush 28.

[0061] The clamping cylinder 44 can move the clamping base 42 via the rod 41. Thus, the clamping pins 43 protruding from the clamping base 42 advance or retreat along the protruding direction, and along with this, the insertion into the hole 28a and the release of the insertion (pulling out from the hole 28a) are achieved. The clamping cylinder 44 inserts the clamping pins 43 into the holes 28a or releases the insertion through a clamping control section (not shown). By inserting the clamping pins 43 into the holes 28a, the injection kettle 2 and the lid member 60 are in a connected state. Thus, by the up-and-down drive mechanism 3, the lid member 60 moves up and down, and the injection kettle 2 moves up and down.

[0062] As Figure 2 shown, the stopper mechanism 7 has a stopper bolt 7a for closing the injection port 20 of the lower side portion 21 of the injection kettle 2. The stopper bolt 7a protrudes upward from the horizontally arranged stopper plate 7b. In addition, the stopper mechanism 7 moves in the left-right direction (horizontal direction) on the plane of Figure 2 the drawing through a mechanism not shown.

[0063] As Figure 5 (iii) of the figure shows, the mold 11 is provided on the lower side of the mold forming apparatus 1 and is a mold for molding the foamed kneaded material kneaded by the stirring mechanism 5 into a predetermined shape by mold forming. A filling hole 11a adjacent to the injection port 20 of the injection kettle 2 is formed through the mold 11. In addition, the mold forming apparatus 1 further has a mold pressing mechanism (not shown) for taking out the mold from the mold 11 by opening the mold 11.

[0064] (3) Operation of the mold forming apparatus 1

[0065] Hereinafter, the operation of the mold forming apparatus 1 will be described. The description starts from the state in which the foamed kneaded material is accommodated inside. In Figure 5 and Figure 6 , the illustration of the foamed kneaded material is omitted.

[0066] First, Figure 5 (i) of the figure shows a state in which the foamed kneaded material is accommodated and the lid member 60 closes the upper opening of the injection kettle 2. The clamping pins 43 are inserted into the holes 28a of the clamping bush 28, and the lid member 60 is connected to the injection kettle 2. The sealing body 61 provided on the lid member 60 does not seal the upper opening of the injection kettle 2. In addition, the stopper bolt 7a closes the injection port 20.

[0067] Next, remove the stopper 7a that closes the injection port 20. The lid member 60 and the injection kettle 2 in the connected state shown in (i) of Figure 5 are lifted to pull out the stopper 7a from the injection port 20. This state is shown in (ii) of Figure 5 . In the state of (ii) of Figure 5 , the stopper mechanism 7 can be moved horizontally to avoid directly below the injection kettle 2.

[0068] Next, an injection process of injecting the foamed compound from the injection kettle 2 with the injection port 20 open is performed. Move the stopper 7a horizontally from the state shown in (ii) of Figure 5 , and lower the injection kettle 2 until it is located above the mold 11, and arrange the injection port 20 of the injection kettle 2 adjacent to the filling hole 11a of the mold 11. This state is shown in (iii) of Figure 5 . In the injection process, air is supplied from the injection air supply unit 65b into the injection kettle 2. The foamed compound in the injection kettle 2 is filled into the cavity of the mold 11 through the injection port 20. The mold 11 is heated by a heating member (not shown) and is heated and cured by the foamed compound filled in the cavity.

[0069] In addition, before injection, it is determined whether the seal 61 is properly tightly attached to the inner peripheral surface of the injection kettle 2, that is, it is determined whether the opening of the injection kettle 2 has been sealed. Specifically, the pressure of the air supplied from the sealing air supply unit 65a to the seal 61 is measured, and the determination is made based on whether the measured value is above the threshold. If the measured value is above the threshold, it means that the seal 61 is properly tightly attached to the inner peripheral surface of the injection kettle 2. On the other hand, when the measured value is less than the threshold, it means that air leakage or the like may have occurred from the seal 61. If the state of being less than the threshold continues from the start of supply until a predetermined time has passed, an error will be displayed. In this case, maintenance such as inspection and replacement of the seal 61 is performed.

[0070] If the injection process is completed, from the state shown in (iii) of Figure 5 , the injection kettle 2, the lid member 60, and the stirring mechanism 5 are integrally lifted again toward the top direction to the stopper forward position. And the stopper mechanism 7 moves to directly below the injection kettle 2, as shown in (ii) of Figure 5 , lower the injection kettle 2, the lid member 60, and the stirring mechanism 5, and insert the stopper 7a into the injection port 20, as shown in (i) of Figure 5 . When it becomes Figure 5In the state shown in (i) thereof, the clamping pin 43 is removed from the hole 28a of the clamping sleeve 28, thereby releasing the connection between the injection kettle 2, the lid member 60, and the stirring mechanism 5. During this period, the mold 11 is moved from directly below the injection kettle 2. Thus, a series of operations related to injection are completed. Additionally, during the pressing process, while the foamed mixture is heated and cured by heating the mold 11, the injection kettle 2, the lid member 60, and the stirring mechanism 5 can also be integrally lifted in the upward direction to the stopper forward position.

[0071] Next, with the injection kettle 2 placed on the stopper plate 7b, the lid member 60 and the stirring mechanism 5 are raised to the material input position. Figure 5 (iv) thereof shows this state. In this state, a material input process of introducing particulate aggregate, water-soluble binder, surfactant, and water into the injection kettle 2 is performed. The introduction is carried out from a material supply section (not shown) via an input port or an opening in the upper part provided on the injection kettle 2. After the materials are introduced, in order to manage the input amount of the materials, the weight of the injection kettle 2 into which the materials have been introduced is measured. The measurement can be performed by a metering device mounted on the stopper mechanism 7. At this stage, since neither the lid member 60 nor the stirring blade 51 is in contact with the injection kettle 2, the weight of the injection kettle 2 into which the materials have been introduced can be accurately measured.

[0072] Next, the lid member 60 and the stirring mechanism 5 are lowered toward the injection kettle 2, and a kneading process is performed. In the kneading process, the position of the lid member 60 and the stirring mechanism 5 relative to the injection kettle 2 is such that the height of the clamping pin 43 is lower than the height of the hole 28a of the clamping sleeve 28. Figure 5 (v) thereof shows this state. In other words, in Figure 5 the kneading state of (v), compared with Figure 5 the original position of (i) or the state during the clamping operation, the stirring blade 51 is located on the lower side, that is, closer to the bottom of the kettle.

[0073] Next, when the kneading is completed, the lid member 60 and the stirring mechanism 5 are raised to a position where the height of the clamping pin 43 is equal to the height of the hole 28a of the clamping sleeve 28, and the clamping pin 43 is inserted into the hole 28a of the clamping sleeve 28. This state is Figure 5 the state shown in (i) thereof.

[0074] The mold forming device 1 takes the above injection, material input, metering, and kneading as an action cycle and can repeat this action cycle.

[0075] In addition, in the case of performing maintenance, in Figure 5In the state shown in (i), the cycle is stopped, and the clamping pin 43 is removed from the hole 28a of the clamping sleeve 28, so that the injection kettle 2 is separated from the lid member 60 and the stirring mechanism 5. Thus, the injection kettle 2 is placed on the plug plate 7b of the plug mechanism 7. In this state, the lid member 60 and the stirring mechanism 5 are lifted. And the connecting portion 52 where the stirring shaft 53 and the stirring blade 51 are connected rises above the upper end of the injection kettle 2 as shown in Figure 6 (vi), and when a working space can be ensured around the connecting portion 52, the lifting is stopped.

[0076] Next, the connecting portion 52 is operated, and as shown in Figure 6 (vii), the stirring blade 51 is removed from the stirring shaft 53, and only the stirring blade 51 is accommodated in the injection kettle 2. Since the injection kettle 2 containing the stirring blade 51 is placed on the plug plate 7b, the injection kettle 2 can be directly moved horizontally together with the plug plate 7b. At the moved position away from directly below the connecting portion 4, maintenance such as cleaning the injection kettle 2 and the stirring blade 51 can be performed. As described above, since the injection kettle 2 is separated from the lid member 60 and the stirring mechanism 5, the mold forming device 1 can significantly improve the maintenance work. In addition, as described above, if the structure is such that the stirring blade 51 is removed, the vertical movement area of the stirring mechanism 5 can be set shorter without having to lift the lower end of the stirring blade 51 above the upper end of the injection kettle 2. In addition, the vertical drive mechanism 3 can be miniaturized.

[0077] (4) Effects of the present embodiment

[0078] According to the mold forming device 1 of the present embodiment, there is a lid member 60 having a peripheral surface 60a provided with a seal body 61. When it is desired to seal the upper opening of the injection kettle, this sealing can be achieved by deforming (expanding) the seal body 61. In other words, in the case where sealing is not required, a state can be achieved in which a gap is provided between the inner peripheral surface of the injection kettle and the seal body 61 in such a way that this deformation does not occur. Thus, when the lid member 60 is moved up and down, the seal body 61 does not slide on the inner peripheral surface of the injection kettle 2. Therefore, deterioration due to sliding friction between both the injection kettle 2 and the lid member 60 is avoided, and thus the service life of the seal body 61 becomes longer. In addition, in addition to being able to reduce the replacement frequency of consumables, the maintenance man-hours can also be reduced.

[0079] In addition, since sealing is performed by expanding the seal body 61, the centering accuracy between the injection kettle 2 and the lid member 60 can be relaxed. In other words, even if the centering accuracy is relaxed, appropriate sealing can be achieved.

[0080] In addition, since wear of the injection kettle 2 does not need to be considered, transparent materials such as propylene can be used. As a result, visual observation of the movement of the foamed mixture during kneading and injection or the sealing condition of the seal body 61 can be achieved. Since the support portion 24 improves the rigidity of the injection kettle 2, even if a transparent material is used, the strength can be maintained, that is, the thickness of the transparent material can be relatively thin. In addition, by using a transparent material for the side portion 23 of the injection kettle 2, the weight can be reduced compared with metal. Therefore, in addition to improving the safety of maintenance work, it is also possible to perform metering with high precision when metering various materials input before or after kneading. In addition, by using a transparent material for the side portion 23 of the injection kettle 2, even during the cleaning work after molding, visual observation and confirmation can be achieved, thereby improving workability.

[0081] (Summary)

[0082] The mold forming device according to Mode 1 of the present invention includes: an injection kettle for storing a foamed mixture; a lid member capable of opening and closing an opening provided in the upper part of the injection kettle; and an air supply portion for injecting the foamed mixture from an injection port provided in the injection kettle by supplying air into the injection kettle. A seal body is provided on the circumferential surface of the lid member, and the seal body expands due to the supply of fluid and closely adheres to the inner circumferential surface of the injection kettle. When the supply of the fluid is released, the seal body separates from the inner circumferential surface of the injection kettle.

[0083] According to the above structure, by releasing the supply of the fluid to separate the seal body, it is possible to prevent the seal body from sliding on the inner circumferential surface of the injection kettle when the lid member is installed to close the injection kettle and when the lid member is pulled out to open it. Thereby, deterioration caused by wear of the seal body can be prevented.

[0084] In addition, since the structure is such that the upper opening of the injection kettle is sealed by expanding the seal body, appropriate sealing can be achieved by relaxing the centering accuracy of the injection kettle and the lid member.

[0085] In addition, since wear of the injection kettle does not need to be considered, the injection kettle can use transparent materials such as acrylic, and as a result, visual observation of the movement of the foamed mixture during kneading and injection or the sealing condition of the seal body can be achieved.

[0086] In addition, if the seal body slides on the inner circumferential surface of the injection kettle when the lid member is installed and pulled out, the pressure inside the injection kettle will change. However, according to the above structure, since the seal body separates from the inner circumferential surface of the injection kettle when the lid member is moved up and down, such a change will not occur, and thus good mold forming can be performed.

[0087] In addition, the mold forming device of Method 2 of the present invention may also have the following structure on the basis of the above-mentioned Method 1: The injection kettle has a lower side portion provided with the injection port, an upper side portion disposed opposite to the lower side portion, a side portion made of a transparent material disposed between the lower side portion and the upper side portion, and a plurality of support portions provided outside the side portion and connecting the lower side portion and the upper side portion.

[0088] According to the above structure, the rigidity of the injection kettle can be ensured by the lower side portion, the upper side portion and the support portions. Therefore, the thickness of the side portion of the injection kettle can be reduced to a degree that can withstand the internal pressure.

[0089] In addition, if the injection kettle is made of a transparent material, compared with the case where the injection kettle is made of metal, the weight of the components can be reduced. Therefore, in addition to improving the safety of maintenance operations, it is also possible to perform highly accurate metering when metering various materials input before or after mixing. In addition, if the injection kettle is made of a transparent material, even during the cleaning operation after the molding is completed, visual observation and confirmation can be achieved, thereby improving workability, and the foaming mixture remaining in the injection kettle can be cleaned more reliably.

[0090] In addition, the mold forming device of Method 3 of the present invention may also have the following structure on the basis of the above-mentioned Method 1 or 2: The seal has a sealing portion and a mounting portion. The sealing portion has a cross-section with a convex curved surface facing the inner peripheral surface of the injection kettle. The mounting portion is provided at both ends of the sealing portion. A concave portion is provided on the circumferential surface. The concave portion exposes the convex portion side of the sealing portion and disposes the portions other than the exposed portion, and the concave portion abuts against the mounting portion and restricts the mounting portion from moving toward the inner peripheral surface side of the injection kettle.

[0091] According to the above structure, the convex portion of the sealing portion exposed from the concave portion provided on the circumferential surface of the cover member is deformed due to the supply of the fluid, so as to closely fit the inner peripheral surface of the injection kettle. When the supply of the fluid is released, the convex portion separates from the inner peripheral surface of the injection kettle. In this way, even if the sealing portion is deformed, since the concave portion abuts against the mounting portion, the seal does not fall off from the cover member, and thus good sealing performance can be achieved.

[0092] In addition, the mold forming device of Method 4 of the present invention may also have the following structure on the basis of the above-mentioned Methods 1 to 3: A spacer is provided between the mounting portions provided at both ends of the sealing portion, and the spacer is used to maintain the distance between the mounting portions at a predetermined length.

[0093] According to the above structure, it is possible to prevent the mounting portions from being excessively deformed in the direction of approaching each other. As a result, it is possible to prevent the seal body from falling off from the recess or shifting in position. Therefore, while ensuring the expansion required for the seal portion, it is also possible to achieve the seal body with improved assemblability.

[0094] In addition, the molding apparatus according to Mode 5 of the present invention may have the following structure on the basis of the above Modes 1 to 4: the seal body is made of rubber, and the spacer is made of a material harder than the seal body.

[0095] According to the above structure, since the seal body is made of rubber, it is easily elastically deformed, and thus the expansion can be easily controlled. In addition, even in the case where the seal body is made of a material that is easily elastically deformed, by providing a spacer between the mounting portions, it is possible to suppress the misalignment of these mounting portions.

[0096] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications can be made within the scope shown in the claims. Moreover, embodiments obtained by appropriately combining technical means separately disclosed in different embodiments are also included in the technical scope of the present invention.

[0097] Reference Numeral Explanation

[0098] 1: Molding apparatus;

[0099] 2: Injection kettle;

[0100] 5: Stirring mechanism;

[0101] 20: Injection port;

[0102] 21: Lower side portion;

[0103] 22: Upper side portion;

[0104] 23: Side portion;

[0105] 24: Support column portion;

[0106] 60: Cover member;

[0107] 60a: Peripheral surface;

[0108] 60b: Recess;

[0109] 61: Seal body;

[0110] 61a: Seal portion;

[0111] 61b, 61c: Mounting portions;

[0112] 63: Spacer;

[0113] 65a: Air supply section for sealing;

[0114] 65b: Air supply section for injection.

Claims

1. A mold forming device, comprising: An injection kettle for storing a foamed mixture; A lid member capable of opening and closing an opening provided in the upper part of the injection kettle; and An air supply unit for injecting the foamed mixture from an injection port provided in the injection kettle by supplying air into the injection kettle, A seal is provided on the circumferential surface of the lid member, and the seal expands due to the supply of fluid and closely adheres to the inner circumferential surface of the injection kettle, The seal is configured such that when the supply of the fluid is released from the state where it expands due to the supply of the fluid and closely adheres to the inner circumferential surface of the injection kettle, the seal contracts, releases the close adhesion, and separates from the inner circumferential surface of the injection kettle, When the lid member closes the opening of the injection kettle and when the lid member closing the opening of the injection kettle is removed from the opening, during the closing and the removal, the lid member and the seal move without sliding on the inner circumferential surface of the injection kettle, The lid member includes an upper split body and a lower split body, The lower split body has a surface facing the inside of the injection kettle, The upper split body and the lower split body are respectively provided with recesses on their opposing surfaces, and by combining the recesses, a concave portion is formed on the circumferential surface of the lid member, The seal has a sealing portion and a mounting portion, the seal exposes the sealing portion from the circumferential surface of the lid member and abuts the mounting portion against the concave portion, the sealing portion has a cross-section with a convex curved surface facing the inner circumferential surface of the injection kettle, and the mounting portion is provided at both ends of the sealing portion in the up-and-down direction.

2. The mold forming device according to claim 1, wherein The injection kettle has: A lower side portion provided with the injection port; An upper side portion disposed opposite to the lower side portion; A side portion made of a transparent material disposed between the lower side portion and the upper side portion; and A plurality of support pillars provided outside the side portion and connecting the lower side portion and the upper side portion.

3. The mold forming device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein On the circumferential surface, the convex portion side of the sealing portion is exposed and the portion other than the exposed portion is disposed, and the concave portion restricts the mounting portion from moving toward the inner circumferential surface side of the injection kettle by abutting against the mounting portion.

4. The mold forming device according to claim 3, wherein A spacer is provided between the mounting portions provided at both ends of the sealing portion, and the spacer is used to maintain the distance between the mounting portions at a predetermined length.

5. The mold forming device according to claim 4, wherein The seal is made of rubber, The spacer is made of a material harder than the seal.

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