Preheating device and injection device

Abstract

A preheating device (21) according to one embodiment of the present invention is used for preheating a molding material (Mm), the preheating device (21) comprising: a material conveying passage (22) through which the molding material (Mm) passes; and a heating element (24) for heating the molding material (Mm) passing through the material conveying passage (22), the material conveying passage (22) comprising a pair of passage forming members (23), the pair of passage forming members (23) being arranged opposite to each other and mutually defining the material conveying passage (22), at least one of the pair of passage forming members (23) being movable, so as to be configured to be able to adjust the passage width between the passage forming members (23). Furthermore, an injection device (1) according to one embodiment of the present invention comprises the preheating device (21) and a cylinder (11) for melting the molding material (Mm) preheated by the preheating device (21), and injecting the molding material (Mm) melted by the cylinder (11) into a mold device.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to a preheating device and an injection device. Background Art

[0002] For example, when manufacturing molded products such as bottle caps for plastic bottles, injection molding machines are sometimes used for high-cycle molding, which repeatedly performs a series of processes in a relatively short cycle from melting resin pellets or other molding materials to injecting them into a mold device to obtain a molded product. In this case, the injection molding machine is required to have a high production capacity.

[0003] The molding cycle of the injection molding machine can be shortened by increasing the rotation speed of the screw arranged in the cylinder of the injection device, thereby completing the plasticization of the molding material in a short time, thereby shortening the time required for the molding material to accumulate at the front end of the cylinder.

[0004] However, if the screw is rotated at a high speed, the molding material inside the cylinder will be quickly sent to the front end side of the cylinder, and will not be fully heated by the heater provided around the cylinder. At this time, the molten molding material injected from the front end of the cylinder into the mold device sometimes contains unmelted molding material, which may cause the molded product to have poor appearance or reduced strength. In addition, the plasticization of the molding material can be promoted by increasing the heating temperature of the heater around the cylinder, but since the residence time of the molding material inside the cylinder is short in high-cycle molding, even if the heating temperature is increased, it is not possible to fully prevent the unmelted molding material from being injected as described above.

[0005] As a countermeasure, it may be considered to preheat the molding material before supplying it into the cylinder.

[0006] In addition, in Patent Document 1, with the purpose of "providing an injection molding device that can minimize fiber damage even when melting granular long fiber reinforced thermoplastic resin, and can melt the resin while defibrillating the fiber bundles in the granules while maintaining the fiber length, thereby molding a high-strength fiber reinforced thermoplastic resin", "an injection molding device for long fiber reinforced thermoplastic resin, characterized in that it includes: a plasticizing device that melts and plasticizes the granules of long fiber reinforced thermoplastic resin by a planar heating body moving toward the outlet side; an extruder that extrude the molten resin from the outlet of the plasticizing device; and a plunger injection machine that introduces the resin from the extruder for injection". Specifically, "the planar heating body is a combination of a plurality of heating rollers", "the planar heating body is a combination of a heating roller and a heating belt", "the planar heating body is a combination of two heating belts", etc. (refer to Patent Document 1) Figure 1 to Figure 4 ).

[0007] Furthermore, according to the “Injection Molding Apparatus for Long Fiber Reinforced Thermoplastic Resins” described in Patent Document 1, “If particles of long fiber reinforced thermoplastic resin are supplied to the surface of a planar heating body, the particles roll on the surface of the planar heating body, and the longitudinal axis of the particles gradually becomes parallel to the surface of the planar heating body. In this state, the particles are pressed by the surface, and move toward the outlet as the planar heating body moves, being sent to the outlet of the plasticizing device while being melted. Then, the molten resin is extruded into the injection cylinder of the injection machine through an extruder, and the resin in the injection cylinder is injected into the mold through a plunger. Therefore, the particles do not need to be kneaded in a plasticizing device, an extruder, and an injection machine, and the resin can be melted while defibration is performed while maintaining the fiber length, thereby being able to mold a high-strength fiber reinforced thermoplastic resin.”

[0008] Patent Document 2 describes "a hopper of an injection molding machine, which supplies molding material to a heating cylinder of the injection molding machine, wherein the hopper is characterized in that a dehumidification and temperature control device communicating with the interior of the hopper is installed outside the hopper."

[0009] Patent document 3 discloses "an injection molding system comprising: an injection molding machine for performing injection at an optimal accumulation amount at each injection, the optimal accumulation amount being obtained by supplying undried resin pellets into a cylinder of the injection molding machine for initial injection, and then checking the clean quality of the resin injected after a predetermined time from the initial injection; a pellet supply path for supplying pellets into the cylinder of the injection molding machine; a gas exhaust path for exhausting moisture or gas, etc., from the resin discharged from the injection molding machine and / or the mold; and a decompression device connected to the exhaust path". Regarding this "injection molding system", Patent document 3 states that "it also comprises a heating device for heating pellets supplied to the injection molding machine", "the heating device is a heat exchanger utilizing hot gas exhausted from the injection molding machine", "the heating device is disposed in the pellet supply path", and "preferably, the heating device comprises a first and a second heating device. Furthermore, the second heating device is disposed in the pellet supply path on the injection molding machine side". More specifically, it is recorded that "the heating device 68 for the pellets is a heat exchanger. The hot air from the injection molding machine is transported to the heat exchanger. On the other hand, the air in the atmosphere is transported to the heat exchanger via a compressor (not shown). In this way, the air in the atmosphere is heated to about 80°C when passing through the heat exchanger. And, the warm air is supplied to the pellet storage tank 12."

[0010] Patent document 4 records the following: In "a molding method of a long fiber composite material, which uses a counter-rotating twin-shaft intermeshing screw extruder to plasticize a composite material of long fibers and thermoplastic resins for reinforcement, i.e., a long fiber composite material, and supplies the plasticized material to a plunger extruder, and injects the plasticized material from the plunger extruder into an injection compression molding mold, or extrude the plasticized material from the plunger extruder into an extrusion mold", "the long fiber composite material supplied to the twin-shaft screw extruder is heated to a softened state by passing a high-temperature inert gas". In Patent document 4, regarding "high-temperature inert gas", it is recorded that "a high-temperature inert gas circulation device 18 is connected in series with an exhaust gas treatment device 21, a blower 22, and a heating element 23, and a nitrogen bottle 24 is connected upstream of the blower 22, and uses high-temperature nitrogen as a heat medium to heat the long fiber particles or block-shaped long fiber composite material 15 to a softened state."

[0011] Previous technical literature

[0012] Patent Literature

[0013] Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 8-142139

[0014] Patent Document 2: Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 62-104915

[0015] Patent Document 3: International Publication No. 99 / 33630

[0016] Patent Document 4: Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 7-52185 Summary of the invention

[0017] Technical issues to be solved by the invention

[0018] Here, the conventional techniques described in the above-mentioned documents cannot be said to be sufficiently helpful in improving the productivity of molded products, and a technique capable of effectively preheating the molding material before supplying it to the inside of the cylinder of the injection device is required.

[0019] Specifically, in the case of preheating the molding material before supplying it to the cylinder, especially in high-cycle molding, in order to effectively heat the molding material in a short time, it is effective to reduce the width of the channel through which the plurality of molding materials pass during preheating to a certain extent. Thus, the molding materials are arranged in a row through the channel, and at this time, it is easy to directly heat most of the molding materials through the heating elements on both sides of the channel. However, molding materials such as resin particles have various sizes and shapes, so it is difficult to set the channel width suitable for all these various molding materials.

[0020] Patent Documents 1 and 2 do not pay attention to the optimization of preheating in consideration of the size and shape of such a molding material.

[0021] Furthermore, although Patent Document 1 describes that a plasticizing device for obtaining molten resin to be supplied to a plunger type injection machine presses and crushes pellets for plasticization, it does not describe or reveal any preheating as described above.

[0022] In Patent Document 2, Figure 1 As shown, a conical hopper or the like for supplying molding materials into the cylinder of an injection molding machine is provided with a dehumidifying thermostat. In the conical hopper or the like, since a plurality of molding materials are irregularly overlapped with each other, the dehumidifying thermostat of the hopper cannot sufficiently and effectively heat the plurality of molding materials.

[0023] Therefore, a first invention aims to solve such a problem, and an object of the invention is to provide a preheating device and an injection device capable of effectively preheating a molding material before supplying it into a cylinder.

[0024] The hopper described in the above-mentioned patent document 2 also has the following problems. That is, as mentioned above, the hopper described in the patent document 2 Figure 1 As shown in FIG. 1 , a conical hopper or the like for supplying molding material to the cylinder of an injection molding machine is provided with a dehumidifying thermostat. Although the hopper can preheat the molding material, there is still room for improvement. That is, as an injection device, it is required to effectively heat the molding material such as resin pellets in a short time, and it is also required to heat the molding material uniformly.

[0025] Therefore, a second invention aims to solve such a problem, and an object of the invention is to provide a preheating device and an injection device that can effectively preheat a molding material before supplying it into a cylinder.

[0026] Here, the above-mentioned Patent Documents 3 and 4 also have the following problems. That is, the thermal energy of the warm air or high-temperature inert gas such as high-temperature nitrogen obtained by heating the air as described in Patent Documents 3 and 4 is not high. Therefore, even if such warm air or high-temperature inert gas is used as a heat medium to heat the molding material before preheating the molding material before supplying it to the inside of the cylinder, it will take a certain amount of time to heat the molding material to a specified temperature. Therefore, especially in high-cycle molding in which the molding material is quickly supplied to the cylinder, the above-mentioned heat medium may cause insufficient preheating of the molding material.

[0027] Therefore, a third invention aims to solve such a problem, and an object of the invention is to provide a preheating device and an injection device capable of relatively quickly raising the temperature of a molding material before preheating the molding material supplied to the inside of a cylinder.

[0028] The above-mentioned patent document 1 also has the following problem. That is, in order to preheat the molding material before supplying it to the inside of the cylinder, it is conceivable to heat the molding material in the channel (hereinafter also referred to as the material conveying channel) through which the molding material passes for preheating. However, when using an injection device for injection molding, the injection device may sometimes stop for some reason, and accordingly, the molding material may also stop moving in the material conveying channel. Moreover, when the movement of the molding material in the material conveying channel stops, the residual heat will continue to heat the molding material, causing the molding material to melt, and it is possible that the molding materials will fuse with each other or with the wall. Moreover, in the case of such fusion, even if the injection molding is restarted, the molding material may not be able to pass through the material conveying channel. Moreover, this problem has not received any attention in, for example, patent document 1 that discloses a previous injection device.

[0029] Therefore, the fourth invention aims to solve this problem and its purpose is to provide a preheating device and an injection device that can preheat the molding material before supplying it to the inside of the cylinder and prevent the molding material from being overheated and melted in the channel through which the molding material to be preheated passes.

[0030] Means for solving technical problems

[0031] The first preheating device capable of solving the problem of the first invention is used for preheating the molding material, and the preheating device comprises: a material conveying channel for the molding material to pass through; and a heating element for heating the molding material passing through the material conveying channel, the material conveying channel comprises a pair of channel forming components, the pair of channel forming components are arranged opposite to each other and the material conveying channel is divided between them, and at least one of the pair of channel forming components is movable, so as to be able to adjust the channel width between the channel forming components.

[0032] The second preheating device capable of solving the problem of the above-mentioned second invention is used for preheating the molding material. The preheating device has a material conveying channel for the molding material to pass through, and the material conveying channel has: a confluence section for the molding material and the heating medium to merge; and an instant mixing section for mixing the molding material and the heating medium merged at the confluence section, and heating the molding material by the heating medium.

[0033] The third preheating device capable of solving the problem of the third invention is used for preheating the molding material, and the preheating device comprises: a material passage for the molding material to pass through; and a superheated steam inlet for introducing superheated steam for heating the molding material in the material passage into the material passage.

[0034] The fourth preheating device capable of solving the problem of the fourth invention is used for preheating the molding material, and the preheating device comprises: a material conveying channel for the molding material to pass through; a heating part for heating the molding material passing through the material conveying channel; and a cooling part for cooling the molding material passing through the material conveying channel.

[0035] Effects of the Invention

[0036] According to the first preheating device, since the passage width between the passage forming members can be adjusted, the molding material can be preheated efficiently before being supplied to the inside of the cylinder of the injection device.

[0037] According to the second preheating device, it is possible to effectively preheat the molding material before supplying it to the inside of the cylinder of the injection device.

[0038] According to the third preheating device, when preheating is performed before supplying to the inside of the cylinder of the injection device, the temperature of the molding material can be raised relatively quickly.

[0039] According to the fourth preheating device, the molding material can be preheated before being supplied to the cylinder of the injection device, and the molding material can be prevented from being excessively heated and melted in the passage through which the preheated molding material passes. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0040] Figure 1 It is a cross-sectional view showing a preheating device and an injection device according to one embodiment of the first invention.

[0041] Figure 2 It is a magnified representation Figure 1 A cross-sectional view of the preheating device and its vicinity.

[0042] Figure 3 Yes means Figure 2 A front view of a specific example of a channel forming component of a preheating device.

[0043] Figure 4 Yes means Figure 2 An enlarged stereoscopic view of the material conveying channel and channel forming components of the preheating device.

[0044] Figure 5 Yes means it can be set to Figure 2 A three-dimensional view of an example of an anti-stagnation mechanism of a preheating device.

[0045] Figure 6 Yes means it can be set to Figure 2 A three-dimensional view of another example of the anti-stagnation mechanism of the preheating device.

[0046] Figure 7 Yes means it can be set to Figure 2A three-dimensional view of another example of the anti-stagnation mechanism of the preheating device.

[0047] Figure 8 Yes means it can be set to Figure 2 A three-dimensional view of another example of the anti-stagnation mechanism of the preheating device.

[0048] Fig. 9 Yes means it can be set to Figure 2 A three-dimensional view of another example of the anti-stagnation mechanism of the preheating device.

[0049] Fig.10 Yes means it can be set to Figure 2 A three-dimensional view of another example of the anti-stagnation mechanism of the preheating device.

[0050] Fig.11 It is a cross-sectional view showing a preheating device according to another embodiment of the first invention.

[0051] Fig.12 This is a cross-sectional view showing a preheating device according to still another embodiment of the first invention.

[0052] Fig.13 It means passing Figure 2 A cross-sectional view and a graph showing the temperature of the molding material in the material conveying channel of the preheating device.

[0053] Fig.14 It means use Figure 2 A flowchart of an example of control that can be performed by the preheating device.

[0054] Fig.15 It is a cross-sectional view showing a preheating device and an injection device according to an embodiment of the second invention.

[0055] Fig.16 It is a magnified representation Fig.15 A cross-sectional view of the preheating device and its vicinity.

[0056] Fig.17 It is a magnified representation Fig.15 A three-dimensional diagram of a mixer included in a preheating device.

[0057] Fig.18 It is a magnified representation Fig.15 A cross-sectional view of a gas compressor provided in a preheating device.

[0058] Fig.19 This is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing a preheating device and its vicinity according to another embodiment of the second invention.

[0059] Fig. 20 This is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing a preheating device and its vicinity according to still another embodiment of the second invention.

[0060] Fig.21 It means use Fig.16 A flowchart of an example of control that can be performed by the preheating device.

[0061] Fig. 22 It is a cross-sectional view cut along the vertical direction showing a preheating device and an injection device according to an embodiment of the third invention.

[0062] Fig.23 Yes means Fig. 22 An enlarged cross-sectional view of the preheating device and its vicinity.

[0063] Fig.24 It is a magnified representation Fig.23 A cross-sectional view of a portion of a preheating device.

[0064] Fig.25 It is a cross-sectional view showing a part of a preheating device according to another embodiment of the third invention.

[0065] Fig.26 This is a cross-sectional view showing a part of a preheating device according to still another embodiment of the third invention.

[0066] Fig. 27 This is a cross-sectional view cut along the horizontal direction showing a part of a preheating device according to still another embodiment of the third invention.

[0067] Fig.28 Yes means Fig.23 A front view of a specific example of a channel forming component included in a material conveying channel of a preheating device.

[0068] Fig.29 Yes means Fig.23 An enlarged stereoscopic view of the material conveying channel and channel forming components of the preheating device.

[0069] Fig.30 Yes means it can be set to Fig.23 A three-dimensional view of an example of an anti-stagnation mechanism of a preheating device.

[0070] Fig.31 Yes means it can be set to Fig.23 A three-dimensional view of another example of the anti-stagnation mechanism of the preheating device.

[0071] Fig.32 Yes means it can be set to Fig.23 A three-dimensional view of another example of the anti-stagnation mechanism of the preheating device.

[0072] Fig.33 Yes means it can be set to Fig.23 A three-dimensional view of another example of the anti-stagnation mechanism of the preheating device.

[0073] Fig.34Yes means it can be set to Fig.23 A three-dimensional view of another example of the anti-stagnation mechanism of the preheating device.

[0074] Fig.35 Yes means it can be set to Fig.23 A three-dimensional view of another example of the anti-stagnation mechanism of the preheating device.

[0075] Fig.36 This is a cross-sectional view showing a preheating device and its vicinity according to still another embodiment of the third invention.

[0076] Fig.37 This is a cross-sectional view showing a preheating device and its vicinity according to still another embodiment of the third invention.

[0077] Fig.38 It means passing Fig.23 A cross-sectional view and a graph showing the temperature of the molding material in the material conveying channel of the preheating device.

[0078] Fig.39 It means use Fig.23 A flowchart of an example of control that can be performed by the preheating device.

[0079] Fig.40 It is a cross-sectional view showing a preheating device and an injection device according to a first embodiment of the fourth invention.

[0080] Fig.41 It is a magnified representation Fig.40 A cross-sectional view of the preheating device and its vicinity.

[0081] Fig.42 yes Fig.40 Block diagram of the control device of the preheating device.

[0082] Fig.43 It means passing Fig.41 A cross-sectional view and a graph showing the temperature of the molding material in the material conveying channel of the preheating device.

[0083] Fig.44 It means use Fig.41 A flowchart of an example of control that can be performed by the preheating device.

[0084] Fig.45 Yes means Fig.41 , Fig.56 A front view of a specific example of a channel forming component of a preheating device.

[0085] Fig.46 Yes means Fig.41 , Fig.56 An enlarged stereoscopic view of the material conveying channel and channel forming components of the preheating device.

[0086] Fig.47 Yes means it can be set to Fig.41 , Fig.56 A three-dimensional view of an example of an anti-stagnation mechanism of a preheating device.

[0087] Fig.48 Yes means it can be set to Fig.41 , Fig.56 A three-dimensional view of another example of the anti-stagnation mechanism of the preheating device.

[0088] Fig.49 Yes means it can be set to Fig.41 , Fig.56 A three-dimensional view of another example of the anti-stagnation mechanism of the preheating device.

[0089] Fig.50 Yes means it can be set to Fig.41 , Fig.56 A three-dimensional view of another example of the anti-stagnation mechanism of the preheating device.

[0090] Fig.51 Yes means it can be set to Fig.41 , Fig.56 A three-dimensional view of another example of the anti-stagnation mechanism of the preheating device.

[0091] Fig.52 Yes means it can be set to Fig.41 , Fig.56 A three-dimensional view of another example of the anti-stagnation mechanism of the preheating device.

[0092] Fig.53 It is a cross-sectional view showing a preheating device according to a first modified example of the first embodiment.

[0093] Fig.54 It is a cross-sectional view showing a preheating device according to a second modified example of the first embodiment.

[0094] Fig.55 It is a cross-sectional view cut along the vertical direction showing a preheating device and an injection device according to a second embodiment of the fourth invention.

[0095] Fig.56 Yes means Fig.55 An enlarged cross-sectional view of the preheating device and its vicinity.

[0096] Fig.57 It is a magnified representation Fig.56 A cross-sectional view of a portion of a preheating device.

[0097] Fig.58 It is a cross-sectional view showing a part of the preheating device according to the first modified example of the second embodiment.

[0098] Fig.59It is a cross-sectional view showing a part of a preheating device according to a second modified example of the second embodiment.

[0099] Fig.60 It is a cross-sectional view cut along the horizontal direction and showing a part of the preheating device according to the third modified example of the second embodiment.

[0100] Fig.61 It is a cross-sectional view showing a preheating device and its vicinity according to a fourth modified example of the second embodiment.

[0101] Fig.62 It is a cross-sectional view showing a preheating device and its vicinity according to a fifth modified example of the second embodiment.

[0102] Fig.63 It is a cross-sectional view showing a preheating device and an injection device according to a third embodiment of the fourth invention.

[0103] Fig.64 It is a magnified representation Fig.63 A cross-sectional view of the preheating device and its vicinity.

[0104] Fig.65 It is a magnified representation Fig.64 A three-dimensional diagram of a mixer included in a preheating device.

[0105] Fig.66 It is a magnified representation Fig.64 A cross-sectional view of a gas compressor provided in a preheating device.

[0106] Fig.67 This is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing a preheating device and its vicinity according to a first modified example of the third embodiment.

[0107] Fig.68 This is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing a preheating device and its vicinity according to a second modified example of the third embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0108] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

[0109] [First Invention]

[0110] In this embodiment, the preheating device 21 is used to preheat the molding material. Figure 1 The injection device 1 illustrated in FIG. 2 can supply the preheated molding material to the injection device 1 . Figure 1The injection device 1 illustrated in the figure is, for example, arranged on a sliding base 101 of a moving device that moves the injection device 1 forward / backward in the injection molding machine to inject molding material into the mold device. The injection device 1 may include a preheating device 21 and a cylinder 11 to which molding material preheated by the preheating device is supplied to melt the molding material inside. In addition, the illustrated injection device 1 also includes a screw 12 that is rotationally driven inside the cylinder 11 to plasticize the molding material and a heater 13 that is arranged around the cylinder 11 to heat the molding material inside the cylinder 11, etc. The detailed structure of the injection device 1 will be described later.

[0111] (Preheating device)

[0112] The preheating device 21 is arranged in the direction of the rotation axis of the screw 12 of the injection device 1 ( Figure 1 In the left-right direction), the rear end portion of the cylinder 11 is mounted on the side opposite to the front end portion 14 of the injection molding material. Figure 2 As shown, the preheating device 21 is connected to a through-hole supply port 11a provided at a part of the circumference at the rear end of the cylinder 11, and substantially supplies molding material Mm such as spherical, cylindrical or other shaped resin particles to the supply port 11a.

[0113] In this embodiment, the preheating device 21 has: a material conveying channel 22 for the molding material Mm to pass through; and a heating element 24 for heating the molding material Mm passing through the material conveying channel 22. Here, the material conveying channel 22 has a pair of channel forming components 23, and the pair of channel forming components 23 are arranged opposite to each other and define the material conveying channel 22 between each other. In addition, the heating element 24 is arranged on the outside of the material conveying channel 22 in the channel width direction across the channel forming components 23. The channel width direction mentioned here refers to the arrangement direction of the channel forming components 23 arranged parallel to each other, and refers to the direction in which the molding material Mm passes in the material conveying channel 22, that is, the material passing direction ( Figure 2 The direction perpendicular to the up and down direction) Figure 2 In addition, the material conveying passage 22, the passage forming member 23 and the heating element 24 are arranged to be accommodated inside a box-shaped frame body 25 made of a heat insulating material or the like.

[0114] In the preheating device 21 having such a structure, the molding material Mm supplied to the inside of the cylinder 11 can be preheated before being supplied. As a result, after the preheated molding material Mm is supplied to the inside of the cylinder 11 through the supply port 11a, it is fully melted in the inside in a short time and injected from the front end of the cylinder 11, so that the molding cycle can be shortened.

[0115] And, here, if Figure 2As shown by the arrow in , at least one of the paired channel forming members 23 that partition and form the material conveying channel 22 is movable, so that the preheating device 21 is configured to be able to adjust the interval between the paired channel forming members 23, that is, the channel width of the material conveying channel 22. At least one of the channel forming members 23 is movable in the channel width direction, for example, by manually moving the user by placing a spacer or the like between the installation positions thereof inside the frame 25, or automatically moving the user by using a motor or other actuator or the like.

[0116] By being able to adjust the channel width of the material delivery channel 22, it is possible to set an appropriate channel width corresponding to various molding materials Mm having various sizes and shapes. Figure 2 As shown in the figure, when the channel width is set to a degree that only one molding material Mm passes through, the molding materials Mm pass through the material conveying channel 22 in a posture of being roughly arranged in a row. At this time, most of the molding materials Mm are effectively heated by the heating member 24 on the outer side of the channel width direction of the channel forming member 23. As a result, it is possible to effectively prevent the molten molding material injected from the front end of the cylinder 11 from being mixed with unmelted molding material, thereby preventing the appearance of the molded product from being poor or the strength from being reduced.

[0117] The channel width set by the movable channel forming component 23 is preferably greater than the length of one molding material Mm and less than the length of two molding materials Mm. At this time, it is possible to suppress the overlapping of multiple molding materials Mm in the material conveying channel 22 in the channel width direction, so that most of these molding materials Mm can be further effectively heated. The length of one molding material Mm is preferably the shortest dimension of the molding material Mm. For example, in the case where the molding material Mm is roughly spherical, it is preferably its diameter, or, in the case where the molding material Mm is an irregular sphere with an ellipse or an oblong cross-section, it is preferably the diameter of its shortest side. Alternatively, the molding material Mm is sometimes cylindrical, prism or other columnar, so that the shorter dimension of its diameter or width and height is set to the length of one molding material Mm.

[0118] In addition, at the front end side of the material passing direction of the material conveying passage 22 ( Figure 2A supply container 26 (the supply container 26 for supplying the cylinder body, also referred to as the supply container 26) such as a hopper is provided on the lower surface of the frame 25 (the lower end side) for supplying the molding material to the cylinder body. In the example shown in the figure, the supply container 26 has, for example, a truncated cone-shaped portion 26a whose inner and outer shapes are both truncated cones, and a cylindrical portion 26b formed at the end of the small diameter side of the truncated cone-shaped portion 26a. After receiving the molding material Mm after passing through the material conveying passage 22 through the truncated cone-shaped portion 26a, the supply container 26 supplies it to the inside of the cylinder body 11 through the cylindrical portion 26b in front thereof. An opening portion 26c having a width substantially the same as that of the material conveying passage 22 is formed at the end of the truncated cone-shaped portion 26a, and the molding material Mm after passing through the material conveying passage 22 enters the supply container 26 from the opening portion 26c.

[0119] Furthermore, at the rear end side of the material passing direction of the material conveying passage 22 ( Figure 2 A supply container 27 (supply container 27 for supplying the channel, also referred to as supply container 27 for short) for supplying the molding material to the channel, such as a hopper for storing a plurality of molding materials Mm and supplying an appropriate amount of the molding material Mm to the material conveying channel 22, is placed on the upper surface of the frame 25. The supply container 27 has a cylindrical portion 27a and a tapered portion 27b provided on the material conveying channel 22 side of the cylindrical portion 27a and having gradually decreasing inner and outer diameters to form a tapered shape.

[0120] In the example shown in the figure, the molding material Mm is supplied to the preheating device 21 from the supply container 27 for channel supply. Then, the molding material Mm supplied to the preheating device 21 passes through the material conveying channel 22 while being preheated, and after passing through the supply container 26 for cylinder supply, it is supplied to the inside of the cylinder 11. That is, here, the molding material Mm preheated by the preheating device 21 is supplied to the inside of the cylinder 11. However, the shape of the supply container 26 and / or the supply container 27 is not limited to this, and can be appropriately changed, and sometimes the supply container 26 and / or the supply container 27 is omitted. Assuming that the supply container 26 for cylinder supply is omitted, the frame of the preheating device will be arranged on the cylinder, so that the front end side of the material conveying channel in the material passing direction will be directly connected to the supply port of the cylinder. At this time, the molding material preheated by the preheating device will be supplied to the inside of the cylinder immediately after the preheating.

[0121] Here, the heating element 24 may be arranged only on one side of the material conveying passage 22 outside the passage width direction of one of the passage forming members 23, but in this embodiment, the heating element 24 is arranged on both sides of the material conveying passage 22 outside the passage width direction of each passage forming member 23. In this way, the molding material Mm can be quickly heated by the heating elements 24 on both sides, so that even if the passing speed of the molding material Mm in the material conveying passage 22 is relatively fast, the molding material Mm can be effectively heated. In addition, the conditions of the heating element 24 and the like are set so that the molding material Mm reaches a desired temperature at the front end side of the material passing direction of the material conveying passage 22.

[0122] As long as the molding material Mm can be heated via the channel forming component 23, the heating method of the heating element 24 is not particularly limited. For example, a hot air heating type heating element that transports a heating gas such as high-temperature air, an electric heating type heating element such as high-frequency dielectric heating, an infrared heating type heating element such as a halogen lamp or a ceramic heating element, a laser heating type heating element, etc. can be used. In the case where the heating element 24 is an infrared heating type heating element or a laser heating type heating element, the channel forming component 23 can be composed of a translucent or transparent material such as glass that transmits light or laser. In addition, the configuration of the heating element 24 is not limited to the example shown in the figure, and it can also be configured outside the frame 25 to allow hot air to flow through the material conveying channel 22.

[0123] As an example, the preheating device 21 shown in the figure has a heating element 24 including a hot air heating type heating element. Specifically, the hot air heating type heating element can heat the compressed air delivered from the compressor through a jacket heater, etc., thereby obtaining hot air. The temperature of the hot air can be adjusted by changing the output of the jacket heater.

[0124] At this time, the channel forming member 23 may have a plurality of vents penetrating the channel forming member 23 along the channel width direction, so that the heated gas delivered from the hot air heating type heating element can flow to the material delivery channel 22. Thus, the heated gas from the heating element 24 flows to the material delivery channel 22 through the vents of the channel forming member 23, so that the molding material Mm in the material delivery channel 22 can be heated by the heated gas.

[0125] Specifically, for example, Figure 3 As shown in (a), the channel forming member 23 may also be a plate-shaped member having a plurality of vent holes 23b formed on a plate 23a made of metal or the like by a stamping process, such as so-called stamped metal. In this case, by adjusting the processing method, a plurality of vent holes 23b arranged regularly can be formed on the plate 23a.

[0126] Or, if Figure 3As shown in (b), the channel forming component 23 may be, for example, a mesh component in which wires 23c are arranged in a grid shape and a plurality of ventilation holes 23b in a square or other polygonal shape when viewed from the front are provided between them. If the thickness of such a mesh component is relatively thin, resulting in insufficient strength of the mesh component required for forming the material conveying channel 22 by the channel forming component 23, the mesh component and the reinforcement component may be overlapped to form the channel forming component 23 by these mesh components and reinforcement components. As long as the heated gas can pass through, the reinforcement component may be in various shapes such as a honeycomb or a grid. For example, the mesh of the reinforcement component may be coarser than the mesh of the mesh component. The mesh component shown in the figure is arranged so that the plurality of ventilation holes 23b are arranged along the longitudinal direction when viewed from the front ( Figure 3 (b) vertical direction) and horizontal direction ( Figure 3 (b) left and right direction) and are arranged regularly.

[0127] For example, when the material conveying passage 22 is divided and formed by the mesh-like passage forming member 23, as shown in FIG. Figure 4 As shown, a plurality of molding materials Mm are spread out in the transverse direction of the channel forming member 23, and as shown in FIG. Figure 4 As shown by the arrow in the middle, the material moves along the longitudinal direction of the channel forming member 23, that is, the direction in which the material passes. In addition, between the paired channel forming members 23, a channel dividing member 22a in the shape of a square strip or the like is arranged on each side of the material conveying channel 22 in the lateral direction of the channel forming member 23, and the channel dividing member 22a divides the area of ​​the material conveying channel 22 in the lateral direction of the channel forming member 23.

[0128] When the vent holes 23b are evenly dispersed and regularly arranged when viewed from the front as in the mesh or plate-like passage forming member 23, the heated gas from the heating element 24, which is a hot air heating type heating element, can be evenly fed to the material conveying passage 22 in the longitudinal and transverse directions of the passage forming member 23. Thus, the heated gas is sprayed on most of the plurality of molding materials Mm passing through the material conveying passage 22, so that the molding materials Mm can be further effectively heated.

[0129] exist Figure 2In the embodiment shown, as the plasticization by the screw 12 or the like inside the cylinder 11 of the injection device 1 progresses, the molding material Mm is supplied from the cylinder supply container 26 to the inside of the cylinder 11. At the same time, the molding material Mm in the channel supply container 27 is heated by the heating element 24 after passing through the material conveying channel 22 in sequence, and then is put into the cylinder supply container 26. At this time, the speed of the molding material Mm passing through the material conveying channel 22 may depend on the speed of the plasticization of the molding material Mm inside the cylinder 11, but the passing speed of the molding material Mm can also be adjusted by changing the channel width as described above. In addition, as needed, a screw-shaped feeder or other supply adjustment machine (not shown) for adjusting the supply of the molding material Mm from the material conveying channel 22 to the supply container 26 can be set between the material conveying channel 22 and the supply container 26 to adjust the speed of the molding material Mm passing through the material conveying channel 22 and the degree of heating of the molding material Mm affected by it.

[0130] Furthermore, a mechanism (not shown) may be provided for changing the position of the material conveying passage 22 while keeping the passage width constant. By changing the position of the material conveying passage 22, the amount of molding material passing per unit time can be adjusted.

[0131] In the mesh or plate-shaped channel forming member 23 having a plurality of vent holes 23b, the molding material Mm may be stuck in the vent holes 23b in the material conveying channel 22 formed thereby, causing the molding material Mm to be blocked or accumulated in at least a portion of the lateral direction of the channel forming member 23. The accumulation of the molding material Mm in the material conveying channel 22 may cause the molding material Mm to be overheated or even melted.

[0132] Therefore, it is preferable to provide the preheating device 21 with an anti-retention mechanism for preventing the molding material Mm from being retained in the material conveying passage 22 .

[0133] As the anti-retention mechanism, for example, a driving unit may be provided. Figures 5 to 8 As shown, when the injection molding machine is working, the relative position and / or orientation of one of the channel forming members 23 relative to the other channel forming member 23 is changed by displacing at least one of the paired channel forming members 23 continuously or intermittently only when necessary. In addition, the illustration of the driving source thereof is omitted here.

[0134] like Figure 5 As shown in FIG. 1 , on the outer side of one of the channel forming members 23 in the channel width direction, square strip-shaped moving members 22b are respectively provided on both sides of the channel forming member 23 in the lateral direction. Figure 5 (b) and Figure 5As shown by the arrow in (c), one of the passage forming members 23 is moved in the lateral direction of the passage forming members 23 by these moving members 22b, thereby changing the relative position of one of the passage forming members 23 with respect to the other passage forming member 23. Therefore, even if the molding material Mm is stuck in the vent hole 23b, the blocking can be released by moving one of the passage forming members 23, thereby preventing the molding material Mm from being retained.

[0135] Furthermore, one of the passage forming members 23 may be moved in a longitudinal direction (up and down direction) parallel to the material passing direction, instead of in a lateral direction of the passage forming member 23 .

[0136] exist Figure 6 In the anti-retention mechanism shown in FIG. 1 , a square strip-shaped moving member 22b is provided at both ends of the longitudinal direction of the channel forming member 23, outside the channel width direction of one channel forming member 23. During the period when the molding material Mm passes through, Figure 6 (b) and Figure 6 As shown in (c), the anti-retention mechanism moves one of the channel forming components 23 along the channel width direction by the moving component 22b, thereby changing the relative position of one of the channel forming components 23 relative to the other channel forming component 23. At this time, the channel width of the material conveying channel 22 increases or decreases slightly. In addition, Figure 6 The anti-retention mechanism can also be used as a mechanism for moving the channel forming member 23 to adjust the channel width as described above.

[0137] Figure 7 The anti-retention mechanism comprises: a square bar-shaped moving part 22b, which is arranged at the longitudinal ends of one of the channel forming parts 23 on the outer side of the channel width direction; and a cylindrical fulcrum part 22c, which is arranged between the channel forming part 23 and the channel dividing part 22a at a midway position such as the center position of the material passing direction of the material conveying channel 22 and extends in the lateral direction of the channel forming part 23. Here, the fulcrum part 22c is installed on the channel dividing part 22a. At this time, if Figure 7 (b) and Figure 7As shown in (c), if each moving member 22b is moved in opposite directions in the channel width direction, one of the channel forming members 23 is rotated and displaced around the fulcrum member 22c, and the direction becomes inclined relative to the other channel forming member 23. In more detail, when one end of the longitudinal direction of one of the channel forming members 23 approaches or moves away from the other channel forming member 23, the other end of the longitudinal direction of one of the channel forming members 23 moves away from or approaches the other channel forming member 23, and the direction of one of the channel forming members 23 changes in this way. In addition, at the same time, the channel width of the material conveying channel 22 sometimes becomes non-constant in the direction in which the material passes. This anti-retention mechanism can also effectively prevent the retention of the molding material Mm.

[0138] Figure 8 The anti-retention mechanism has Figure 7 The structure is roughly the same, but the fulcrum member 22c is fixed and installed on one of the channel forming members 23 instead of the channel dividing member 22a. Figure 8 In the embodiment, the fulcrum member 22c is driven to rotate instead of moving the moving member 22b, so that one of the channel forming members 23 is rotated and displaced around the fulcrum member 22c together with the fulcrum member 22c, thereby Figure 7 The orientation relative to the other passage forming member 23 is changed substantially in the same manner.

[0139] Or, if Fig. 9 As shown in (a), the anti-retention mechanism may also be composed of an impact imparting portion 28, which is arranged outside the channel width direction of at least one of the channel forming members 23 and strikes the channel forming member 23 at a predetermined period or the like. The illustrated impact imparting portion 28 includes: a plate-like member 28b, which is arranged outside the channel width direction of another channel forming member 23 in parallel with the channel forming member 23 and has one or more through holes 28a formed therein; and one or more pin-like members 28c, which are arranged to pass through the through holes 28a of the plate-like member 28b and move away from / close to the other channel forming member 23. The same impact imparting portion 28 may also be provided outside the channel width direction of one of the channel forming members 23.

[0140] And, if Fig. 9 As shown in (b), the anti-retention mechanism can be composed of a vibration imparting portion 29 such as one or more vibrators, and the vibration imparting portion 29 is installed on the surface of the outer side of the channel width direction of at least one of the channel forming components 23 (for example, another channel forming component 23) and imparts vibration to the channel forming component 23.

[0141] And, as an anti-retention mechanism, e.g. Fig.10As shown in (a), a blower 30 may be provided, which is arranged outside the channel width direction of at least one of the channel forming components 23, so that gases of different flow rates pass through the vent holes 23b of the channel forming component 23 and are sprayed onto the molding material Mm in the material delivery channel 22. Fig.10 (b) or Fig.10 As shown in (c), the blast unit 30 changes the flow rate of the gas delivered to the molding material Mm in the material delivery channel 22 over time, thereby enabling the gas to be blown to the molding material Mm with varying strengths. In addition, when the gas is delivered from the blast unit 30 to the molding material Mm, it can be as follows Fig.10 (b) to periodically repeat periods of zero flow and periods of high flow, or Fig.10 (c) The period of low flow rate and the period of high flow rate are periodically repeated. The blast section 30 as the anti-stagnation mechanism may be separately provided, but the heating element 24 as the above-mentioned hot air heating type heating element may also be provided as the blast section 30, so that the heating element 24 is also used as the anti-stagnation mechanism. In the case where the heating element 24 is used as both the preheating and the anti-stagnation mechanism, the gas from the blast section 30 is equivalent to the heating gas from the heating element 24.

[0142] like Figures 5 to 10 The above-mentioned anti-retention mechanism shown in the figure can be used in the preheating device 21 by using one of them, and in addition, they can also be used in combination. That is, the preheating device 21 may include Figures 5 to 10 One or more of the anti-retention mechanisms shown.

[0143] Furthermore, it is preferred that a retention detection mechanism (not shown) is provided in the preheating device 21, and the retention detection mechanism detects the retention of the molding material Mm in the material conveying passage 22. The retention detection mechanism may be, for example, a sensor that detects retention based on temperature, an image captured by a camera, infrared rays, laser, or the like.

[0144] Such a sensor of the retention detection mechanism is preferably provided at the front end side of the material conveying passage 22 in the material passing direction, that is, at a position closer to the material conveying passage 22 than the cylinder supply container 26 in the material passing direction. Figure 4 As shown, the sensors 23d may be provided in plurality at intervals along the lateral direction of the channel forming member 23, on the front end side of the material passing direction of the material conveying channel 22, on the outer side of the channel width direction of the channel forming member 23. Thus, the position where the molding material Mm is accumulated in the lateral direction of the channel forming member 23 can be found as early as possible.

[0145] Assuming that the sensor 23d of the retention detection mechanism is set as a temperature sensor, it is preferable to configure the temperature sensor so that the temperature of the molding material Mm located at the front end side of the material passing direction of the material conveying passage 22 can be measured by the temperature sensor. The temperature of the molding material Mm mentioned here may be the temperature of the molding material Mm itself, the temperature of the passage forming member 23, or the temperature of the space in the vent 23b of the passage forming member 23. In the case of a contact temperature sensor, in order to measure the temperature of the molding material Mm itself or the temperature of the passage forming member 23, for example, the temperature sensor is configured so that the temperature sensor passes through the vent 23b of the passage forming member 23 and the front end thereof contacts the molding material Mm, or the front end of the temperature sensor contacts the passage forming member 23.

[0146] The anti-retention mechanism may operate continuously when the injection molding machine is operating, or may operate intermittently at a specific time such as when the retention detection mechanism detects retention of the molding material Mm in the material conveying passage 22 .

[0147] Fig.11 2 shows a preheating device 121 of another embodiment. The preheating device 121 has a supply container 127 for channel supply and a supply container 126 for cylinder supply that are substantially the same as those of the preheating device 21 described above, and is different from the preheating device 21 described above mainly in that a plurality of material conveying channels 122 are provided in a frame 125 therebetween. By providing a plurality of material conveying channels 122 in this way, the area of ​​each material conveying channel 122 can be reduced, thereby miniaturizing the preheating device 121.

[0148] In more detail, the preheating device 121 has: three material conveying channels 122, all arranged in parallel to each other, for conveying the molding material Mm from the channel supply container 127 to the cylinder supply container 126; three pairs of channel forming members 123, for partitioning these material conveying channels 122; and a heating element 124, for heating the molding material Mm in the material conveying channel 122 from the outer side in the channel width direction across the material conveying channel 122 and the channel forming member 123. Three openings 126c corresponding to the number of the material conveying channels 122 are provided at the end of the truncated cone-shaped portion 126a of the supply container 126.

[0149] From the viewpoint of realizing rapid and uniform preheating of the molding material Mm, as in the illustrated embodiment, the heating elements 124 are preferably provided on both sides of the channel width direction of each material conveying channel 122. The preheating device 121 is also configured such that at least one of the paired channel forming members 123 forming each material conveying channel 122 is movable, thereby being able to adjust the channel width of each material conveying channel 122. In addition, two or more material conveying channels (not shown) may be provided.

[0150] Fig.12 A preheating device 221 of another embodiment is shown in FIG. Fig.12 In the preheating device 221, a pair of conveyor belts 223a are provided, and the pair of conveyor belts 223a include: a plurality of rollers 223b, including a driving roller and a driven roller; and a channel forming member 223, which is an endless ring-shaped belt wound around these rollers 223b. In addition, a material conveying channel 222 for the molding material Mm to pass through is defined between these conveyor belts 223a.

[0151] The pair of conveyor belts 223a are respectively driven by the driving rollers of the rollers 223b to rotate the channel forming member 223 as a belt, so that the molding material Mm is conveyed through the material conveying channel 222 between the pair of conveyor belts 223a in a state of being sandwiched between them. The molding material Mm after passing through the material conveying channel 222 is put into a supply container 226 for supplying a cylinder such as a hopper. The supply container 226 has a truncated cone-shaped portion 226a and a cylindrical portion 226b similar to the supply container 26 of the preheating device 21, and further, a cylindrical opening portion 226c is provided at the upper end of the truncated cone-shaped portion 226a for receiving the molding material Mm from the conveyor belts 223a. In addition, in this example, after the molding material Mm is conveyed in the material conveying channel 222 in the horizontal direction, it is put into the supply container 226, but the pair of conveyor belts 223a can also be arranged in an inclined or orthogonal direction relative to the horizontal direction, so that the material passing direction in the material conveying channel 222 becomes an inclined or orthogonal direction relative to the horizontal direction.

[0152] A heating element 224 is arranged outside the conveyor belt 223a in the channel width direction. When the heating element 224 is the hot air heating type heating element, each belt as the channel forming member 223 can be composed of, for example, a mesh member as described above, so that the heated gas can pass through. Thus, the heated gas can be conveyed to the molding material Mm passing through the material conveying channel 222, thereby effectively heating the molding material Mm.

[0153] And, if Fig.12As shown by the blank arrow in the middle, the preheating device 221 is configured to enable at least one of a pair of conveyor belts 223a to move together with the channel forming component 223 included therein to adjust the interval between the pair of conveyor belts 223a, that is, the channel width of the material conveying channel 222.

[0154] (Control of preheating device)

[0155] The preheating devices 21, 121, and 221 can be controlled, for example, as follows. In addition, here, as an example, the control thereof will be described using the preheating device 21 among the preheating devices 21, 121, and 221.

[0156] When the preheating device 21 is used, as described above, the temperature of the molding material Mm at the front end side of the material passing direction of the material conveying passage 22 is always monitored by a temperature sensor or the like as the sensor 23d, and the sensor 23d is provided at the front end side of the material passing direction of the material conveying passage 22 as a retention detection mechanism or the like. The information on the temperature of the molding material Mm thus measured is sent to, for example, a control unit of the injection molding machine.

[0157] During normal operation, Fig.13 As shown in (a), the molding material Mm is heated by the heating gas Gh or the like, so that the temperature rises as it moves along the material passing direction in the material conveying passage 22. At this time, the heating temperature or other conditions of the heating element 24 are sometimes set so that the temperature of the molding material Mm is lower than the allowable upper limit value Tu, which is predetermined to be a temperature lower than the melting point Tm of the molding material Mm. The allowable upper limit value Tu can be set, for example, to a temperature about 10°C lower than the melting point Tm.

[0158] Here, when the operation of the injection molding machine is stopped for some reason, or when the sensor 23d as the retention detection mechanism detects the retention of the molding material Mm in the material conveying passage 22 regardless of whether the anti-retention mechanism is working, as shown in FIG. Fig.13 As shown in (b), the temperature of the molding material Mm may rise in the material conveying passage 22. If the temperature of the molding material Mm approaches the melting point Tm or exceeds the melting point Tm, the molding materials Mm or the molding material Mm and the passage forming member 23 melt and fuse, and the molding material Mm may not be able to pass through the material conveying passage 22.

[0159] In order to prevent this situation, when the injection molding machine stops working, or when the molding material Mm is detected to be stagnant in the material conveying passage 22 (for example, when the molding material Mm is detected to be stagnant while the anti-stagnation mechanism is continuously working, or when the molding material Mm is detected to be stagnant in the material conveying passage 22 while the anti-stagnation mechanism is not working, and in response to this, the anti-stagnation mechanism is operated, but even this cannot solve the stagnation and the stagnation is still detected), the control unit sends a work stop signal or a stagnation detection signal. In response, the control unit sends a heating stop signal to the preheating device 21 to stop the heating element 24 from heating the molding material Mm, and the preheating device 21 stops the heating element 24 from heating the molding material Mm. That is, the preheating device 21 stops the heating element 24 from heating the molding material Mm according to the work stop information of the injection molding machine and / or the information related to the stagnation of the molding material Mm in the material conveying passage 22.

[0160] In addition, the operation stop of the injection molding machine includes, for example, stopping due to completion of production, stopping due to detection of abnormality, stopping due to pressing of an emergency stop button, etc. Such a stop can be detected by various sensors and the like.

[0161] Even when the heating of the molding material Mm by the heating element 24 is stopped, the temperature of the molding material Mm in the material conveying passage 22 may rise due to residual heat. Therefore, when the temperature of the molding material Mm measured by the temperature sensor after the heating of the heating element 24 is stopped satisfies a predetermined reference, such as Fig.13 As shown in (c), for example, the molding material Mm in the material conveying passage 22 is cooled by cooling gas Gc or the like.

[0162] The above-mentioned prescribed criterion for starting the cooling of the molding material Mm may be a criterion determined by comparing the actual measured value of the temperature of the molding material Mm with the allowable upper limit value Tu. Specifically, the cooling of the molding material Mm may be started based on the actual measured value of the temperature of the molding material Mm reaching the allowable upper limit value Tu. Alternatively, the amount of temperature rise that the molding material Mm may rise in the future may be estimated based on the difference between the temperature of the molding material Mm and the ambient temperature of the preheating device 21, and a criterion determined by comparing the estimated temperature rise with the allowable upper limit value Tu may be used as the above-mentioned prescribed criterion. Alternatively, a criterion determined by comparing the estimated value of the temperature of the molding material Mm with the allowable upper limit value Tu may be used as the above-mentioned prescribed criterion. In other words, the preheating device 21 cools the molding material Mm in the material conveying passage 22 based on information related to the temperature of the molding material Mm.

[0163] The cooling of the molding material Mm can be achieved by setting the hot air heating type heating element of the heating element 24 or the blowing section 30 to a structure that can transport normal temperature gas such as cold air or cooling gas Gc. In addition, a cooling section for cooling the molding material Mm in the material conveying channel 22 can be set separately in the preheating device 21 together with the heating element 24 or the blowing section 30.

[0164] This can effectively prevent the material conveying passage 22 from being clogged due to melting of the molding material Mm.

[0165] An example of the above control is shown in Fig.14 .exist Fig.14 In the process, first, the molding material Mm is passed through the preheating device 21 and then supplied to the inside of the cylinder 11 to form the molded product. During this period, if the injection molding machine stops working, the heating element 24 is stopped. For example, if the molding material Mm is retained in the material conveying channel 22 while the anti-retention mechanism is continuously working, the heating element 24 is stopped even if the injection molding machine is not stopped. In addition, in the case where the injection molding machine is not stopped and the anti-retention mechanism is stopped, resulting in the molding material Mm being retained in the material conveying channel 22, first, the anti-retention mechanism is operated, and if the retention cannot be resolved even in this way, the heating element 24 is stopped. In the case where the injection molding machine is not stopped and the molding material Mm is not retained, molding continues. In addition, the confirmation of whether the injection molding machine is stopped and the confirmation of whether the molding material Mm is retained can be switched in order, or only one of them can be confirmed.

[0166] Next, after stopping the heater 24, it is checked whether the temperature of the molding material Mm is above the allowable upper limit. If the temperature of the molding material Mm is above the allowable upper limit, the molding material Mm is cooled and it is checked again whether the temperature of the molding material Mm is above the allowable upper limit.

[0167] When the temperature of the molding material Mm is lower than the allowable upper limit, it is determined whether to restart molding. When it is determined that molding can be restarted, molding is restarted.

[0168] (Injection device)

[0169] like Figure 1 As shown in the example, the injection device 1 to which the preheating device 21 described above can be applied mainly comprises: the preheating device 21; the cylinder 11, in which the molding material supplied from the preheating device 21 is melted; the screw 12, which is driven to rotate inside the cylinder 11 to plasticize the molding material; and the metering motor 31, which is arranged on the rear side of the rotation axis direction of the screw 12 ( Figure 1 and an injection motor 41, which is disposed further rearwardly of the metering motor 31.

[0170] A heater 13 is disposed around the cylinder 11, and the heater 13 heats the molding material plasticized by the screw 12 inside the cylinder 11. The cylinder 11 has an inner and outer diameter at the front end side in the direction of the rotation axis ( Figure 1 The cylinder 11 has a front end portion 14 which is reduced in size and a heater 13 is also arranged around the front end portion 14. In addition, the cylinder 11 is provided with a through-hole-shaped supply port 11a at the rear end side in the direction of the rotation axis, and the preheating device 21 is installed therein.

[0171] The metering motor 31 and the injection motor 41 are fixed to the back side of the rear end side of the rotation axis direction of each of the two motor support plates 32 and 42 arranged at a distance from each other in a posture standing on the slide base 101. The screw 12 is driven to rotate by the metering motor 31 and is driven to move forward and backward by the injection motor 41. The two motor support plates 32 and 42 are connected to each other by rods 51 and 52 at multiple positions on the upper side and the lower side of the metering motor 31.

[0172] The metering motor 31 mainly includes: a rotor 33; a stator 34, which is arranged around the rotor 33; and a stator frame 35, which surrounds the rotor 33 and the stator 34 and has the stator 34 arranged on the inner surface. The rotor 33 of the metering motor 31 is supported on the inner side of the stator frame 35 through bearings 33a at each end in the direction of the rotation axis. In addition, the rotor 33 is spline-connected to the periphery of the metering spline shaft 36, and the metering spline shaft 36 is connected to the screw mounting portion 37 on which the screw 12 is mounted. In addition, at the rear end in the direction of the rotation axis of the outer peripheral surface of the metering spline shaft 36, one or more keys 36a corresponding to the key grooves arranged on the inner peripheral surface of the rotor 33 are formed. As a result, the rotational driving force is transmitted from the metering motor 31 to the screw 12, so that the screw 12 can be rotated.

[0173] The injection motor 41 mainly includes: a rotor 43; a stator 44 arranged around the rotor 43; and a stator frame 45, which is provided so as to surround the rotor 43 and the stator 44, and the stator 44 is provided on the inner surface. The rotor 43 is supported on the inner side of the stator frame 45 via bearings 43a at each end in the direction of the rotation axis. The rotor 43 of the injection motor 41 is connected to a drive shaft. More specifically, the drive shaft includes: an injection spline shaft 46 spline-connected to the rotor 43 in a groove 43b provided on the inner circumference of the cylindrical rotor 43; a screw shaft 48 connected to the injection spline shaft 46; and a rotating shaft 50 rotatably mounted on the inner side of the metering spline shaft 36 via a bearing 49. The screw nut 47 screwed with the screw shaft 48 is mounted on the motor support plate 42 via a pressure detector 38 described later. With this structure, the rotational driving force of the injection motor 41 is converted into a linear driving force in the rotation axis direction of the screw 12 , and is transmitted to the screw 12 .

[0174] In addition, a pressure detector 38 is arranged between the stator frame 45 of the injection motor 41 and the motor support plate 42. The pressure detector 38 is mounted on the motor support plate 42 and the lead screw nut 47, respectively, to detect the load acting on the pressure detector 38 on the transmission path of the driving force from the injection motor 41 to the screw 12. A cylindrical portion 39 is interposed between the pressure detector 38 and the stator frame 45.

[0175] An encoder 45a is provided on the rear end surface of the stator frame 45 of the injection motor 41 located on the opposite side of the drive shaft in the rotation axis direction. The encoder 45a is connected to the rotor 43 and the shaft portion 45b to detect the rotation of the rotor 43.

[0176] If describing an example of the molding process of the injection molding machine equipped with such an injection device 1, a mold closing process is performed, in which a mold device (not shown) is closed to make it a mold closing state in a state where a predetermined amount of molding material has been measured and arranged inside the cylinder 11 in the second half of the previous molding process. Next, a filling process is performed in order to inject the molding material into the mold device by advancing the screw 12, thereby filling the cavity in the mold device with the molding material; and a pressure holding process is performed in order to further advance the screw 12 to maintain the molding material inside the front end 14 of the cylinder 11 at a predetermined pressure.

[0177] Then, a cooling process is performed, in which the molding material filled in the mold device is cooled and solidified to obtain a molded product. At this time, a metering process is performed, in which the molding material separately supplied from the preheating device 21 to the cylinder body 11 is conveyed toward the front end portion 14 of the cylinder body 11 by the rotation of the screw 12 under the heating of the heater 13, and the molding material is melted at the same time, so that a predetermined amount of molding material is arranged at the front end portion 14.

[0178] Here, in this embodiment, the molding material supplied to the cylinder 11 has been heated to an appropriate temperature by the preheating device 21. Therefore, even if the screw 12 is rotated at a high speed to deliver the molding material to the front end 14 of the cylinder 11 in a short time, the molding material can be fully plasticized. As a result, the time required for metering is shortened, thereby shortening the molding cycle.

[0179] In addition, thereafter, a removal step is performed in which the mold device is opened to be in an open mold state, and the molded product is removed from the mold device by an ejector device or the like.

[0180] [Second Invention]

[0181] In this embodiment, the preheating device 81 is used to preheat the molding material. Fig.15The injection device 1 illustrated in FIG. 2 can supply the preheated molding material to the injection device 1 . Fig.15 The injection device 1 illustrated in the figure is, for example, arranged on a sliding base 101 of a moving device that moves the injection device 1 forward / backward in the injection molding machine to inject molding material into the mold device. The injection device 1 may include a preheating device 81 and a cylinder 11 to which molding material preheated by the preheating device is supplied to melt the molding material inside. In addition, the illustrated injection device 1 also includes a screw 12 that is rotationally driven inside the cylinder 11 to plasticize the molding material and a heater 13 that is arranged around the cylinder 11 to heat the molding material inside the cylinder 11, etc. The detailed structure of the injection device 1 will be described later.

[0182] (Preheating device)

[0183] The preheating device 81 is arranged in the direction of the rotation axis of the screw 12 of the injection device 1 ( Fig.15 In the left-right direction), the rear end portion of the cylinder 11 is mounted on the side opposite to the front end portion 14 of the injection molding material. Fig.16 As shown, the preheating device 81 is connected to a through-hole supply port 11a provided at a part of the circumference at the rear end of the cylinder 11, and substantially supplies molding material Mm such as spherical, cylindrical or other shaped resin particles to the supply port 11a.

[0184] In this embodiment, the preheating device 81 has a material conveying channel 82 for the molding material Mm to pass through. The material conveying channel 82 is divided by the inner circumference of a tubular body 83 such as a pipe formed by metal (in other words, the material conveying channel 82 is formed inside the tubular body 83). In addition, the material conveying channel 82 has: a confluence portion 82a for the molding material Mm and the heating medium Gh to merge; and an instant mixing portion 82b for mixing the molding material Mm and the heating medium Gh that merge at the confluence portion 82a, and heating the molding material Mm by the heating medium Gh. Therefore, as Fig.16 As shown, the molding material Mm is from the upstream of the material passing direction ( Fig.16 ) towards the downstream ( Fig.16 On the right side of the cylinder 11, the material passes through the material conveying passage 82 and is supplied to the supply port 11a of the cylinder 11. On the way, it passes through the confluence portion 82a where it merges with the heating medium Gh, and then passes through the mixing portion 82b where the molding material Mm and the heating medium Gh are mixed.

[0185] In the preheating device 81 having such a structure, the molding material Mm supplied to the inside of the cylinder 11 can be preheated before being supplied. As a result, after the preheated molding material Mm is supplied to the inside of the cylinder 11 through the supply port 11a, it is fully melted in the inside in a short time and injected from the front end of the cylinder 11, so that the molding cycle can be shortened.

[0186] Here, in the example shown in the figure, the material conveying passage 82 includes: a first portion 821 extending from upstream to downstream in the material passing direction in the vertical direction (the vertical direction in the figure); a second portion 822 extending in the horizontal direction (the horizontal direction in the figure) continuing from the lower end in the vertical direction (the downstream side in the material passing direction) of the first portion 821; and a third portion 823 extending in the vertical direction continuing from the downstream side in the material passing direction of the second portion 822. The molding material Mm is supplied into the material conveying passage 82 at the upper end in the vertical direction of the first portion 821, and the second portion 822 includes a converging portion 82a and a mixing portion 82b. Furthermore, the third portion 823 is connected to a supply container 26 described later at the lower end in the vertical direction.

[0187] In addition, the size of the material delivery channel 82 can be arbitrarily set according to the amount of molding material Mm delivered, the heating temperature, etc. Fig.16 The shape shown can be any shape. Furthermore, a heat insulating material can be provided around the tubular body 83 forming the material conveying passage 82.

[0188] The confluence portion 82a in the material conveying passage 82 is a portion where the heating medium Gh heated by the heater 84 is conveyed from the heater 84 through the heat medium conveying passage 84a and merges with the molding material Mm conveyed from upstream to downstream in the material passing direction.

[0189] As the heating medium Gh, a heating gas (specifically, a medium obtained by heating air, an inert gas or other gas) or superheated steam can be used, but as the heating medium Gh, there is no particular limitation as long as it can flow downstream in the material passing direction after merging with the molding material Mm at the confluence 82a. In addition, the heating medium Gh is heated by the heating element 84 possessed by the preheating device 81. As the heating element 84, for example, a hot air heating type heating element can be used. Specifically, the hot air heating type heating element can, for example, heat the compressed air delivered from the compressor by a sheath heating element, thereby obtaining hot air. The temperature of the hot air can be adjusted by changing the output of the sheath heating element. In addition, the heating medium Gh is delivered to the confluence 82a through the heat medium delivery channel 84a possessed by the preheating device 81. The heat medium delivery channel 84a between the heating element 84 and the confluence 82a can be divided, for example, by a pipe 84b formed of metal and provided with an insulating material around it.

[0190] After the heating medium Gh is generated by the heating element 84, it passes through Fig.16 The heat medium conveying channel 84 a conveys the heat medium to the confluence portion 82 a of the material conveying channel 82 .

[0191] As described above, the heat medium transport passage 84a branches off from the material transport passage 82 at the merging portion 82a, and a passing prevention portion such as a net may be provided between the merging portion 82a and the heat medium transport passage 84a to prevent the molding material Mm from being transported to the heat medium transport passage 84a.

[0192] The mixing section 82b is a section that instantly mixes the molding material Mm and the heating medium Gh that merge at the confluence section 82a and heats the molding material Mm through the heating medium Gh. By setting the confluence section 82a, the molding material Mm merges with the heating medium Gh at the confluence section 82a, and is transported along the material passing direction together with the heating medium Gh, so that the molding material Mm and the heating medium Gh are in contact, and the molding material Mm can be locally heated. However, it is difficult to effectively heat the molding material Mm in a short time in a sufficiently uniform manner only by contacting with such a heating medium Gh. Therefore, by further providing the mixing section 82b in the material conveying passage 82, the flow of the molding material Mm and the heating medium Gh is made uniform, so that the temperature of the molding material Mm can be uniformly increased. In addition, by effectively mixing, the entire surface of the molding material Mm is fully heated, so that high-speed temperature rise can be achieved.

[0193] As the mixing section 82b, Fig.16 In the example, an instant mixer without a driving unit, i.e., a static mixer, is used. Specifically, the static mixer in the illustrated example includes a plurality of spirally twisted plates 82c disposed in a material conveying passage 82. By including such spirally twisted plates 82c, the flows of the molding material Mm and the heating medium Gh are divided, converted, and turned over while passing through the mixing section 82b, thereby being able to effectively and uniformly heat the molding material Mm in a short time.

[0194] like Fig.17 As shown ( Fig.17 (two plates are shown in the figure), the spiral plate 82c has a shape formed by twisting a flat plate about 180° around an axis to form a spiral shape, and the spiral plate 82c is configured so that the axis is along the direction of material passing in the material conveying channel 82. In addition, the directions in which adjacent spiral plates 82c are twisted around the axis are opposite to each other, and they are joined to each other in a direction in which the ends of the plates 82c are approximately orthogonal. A static mixer including such a spiral plate 82c preferably includes a plurality of such spiral plates 82c, thereby being able to effectively mix the molding material Mm and the heating medium Gh. In addition, the spiral plate 82c can be formed of metal. However, the static mixer is not limited to the plate 82c twisted into a spiral shape as described above, for example, as long as the contact efficiency between the molding material Mm and the heating medium can be improved by changing the flow direction of the heating medium and / or narrowing a portion of the material conveying channel 82.

[0195] In addition, in the present embodiment, as the mixing section 82b, as long as it can immediately mix the molding material Mm and the heating medium Gh, it is not limited to the above-mentioned mixer, and any mixing section can be used, and it can have a driving section or not. In addition, a mixer that can be mixed immediately without a driving section is preferred. By using such a mixer, for example, the existing conveying path of the molding material Mm can be used as the material conveying channel 82, and the mixer is set therein, thereby reducing the equipment introduction cost.

[0196] Furthermore, the preheating device 81 of this embodiment includes a conveyor 85 for conveying the molding material Mm from the upstream to the downstream of the material conveying passage 82. Fig.16 In the example of FIG. 8 , the conveyor 85 is a gas pressure conveyor for conveying the molding material Mm by gas pressure. Fig.18 As shown, the gas compressor 85 introduces compressed gas Gp produced by a compressor (not shown) into the gas compressor 85, and directs the compressed gas Gp toward the downstream side of the material passing direction of the material conveying passage 82 ( Fig.18 The discharge side airflow Gb is generated by the discharge port (in other words, the discharge port for generating the discharge side airflow Gb faces the downstream side in the material passing direction), thereby causing the compressed gas Gp to flow upstream ( Fig.18 Thus, a suction side airflow Gf sucked toward the downstream side is generated on the upstream side of the gas compressor 85 in the material passing direction, thereby conveying the molding material Mm on the upstream side of the material conveying passage 82 in the material passing direction to the downstream side.

[0197] Furthermore, in this embodiment, if Fig.16 As shown, the gas compressor 85 is disposed on the upstream side of the confluence portion 82a in the material conveying passage 82, whereby the gas compressor 85 sucks and conveys the molding material Mm existing in the material passing direction upstream of the material conveying passage 82 to the confluence portion 82a, and then passes the molding material Mm together with the heating medium Gh through the mixing portion 82b, and is compressed and conveyed to the downstream side of the material conveying passage 82. Furthermore, by being disposed on the upstream side of the confluence portion 82a in the material conveying passage 82, the gas compressor 85 can prevent the heating medium Gh from flowing back to the upstream of the material passing direction.

[0198] In this way, by using a gas pressure feeder that feeds the molding material Mm by pressure using a gas as the conveyor 85, for example, an existing conveying path of the molding material Mm can be utilized, thereby reducing the equipment introduction cost.

[0199] When a gas compressor is used as the conveyor 85, the compressed gas Gp is ​​not particularly limited, and air may be used. The material conveying passage 82 is located in front of the supply port 11a of the cylinder 11 on the downstream side of the material passing direction (for example, at Fig.16 In the example shown, the supply container 26 is provided with a discharge port (not shown) for discharging the heating medium Gh, and the discharge port can also be used to exhaust the gas from the gas compressor 85 introduced for the purpose of transportation.

[0200] And, in another embodiment, if Fig.19 As shown, in the preheating device 181, the gas compressor serving as the conveyor 185 can be arranged at a position closer to the downstream side of the material passing direction than the mixing section 182b in the material conveying channel 182, and the molding material Mm can be conveyed via the confluence section 182a and the mixing section 182b in the material conveying channel 182 by utilizing the suction force toward the downstream side generated at a position closer to the upstream side of the material passing direction than the gas compressor 185.

[0201] And, in yet another embodiment, if Fig. 20 As shown, instead of the above-mentioned gas compressor, a feed screw 285 is used as the conveyor 285 in the preheating device 281. By arranging the feed screw 285 upstream in the material passing direction of the material conveying channel 282, the molding material Mm can be conveyed through the confluence portion 282a and the mixing portion 282b in a manner of being extruded from the material conveying channel 282. In addition, Fig. 20 The feed screw 285 shown in the figure includes: a screw 285a that moves the molding material Mm by rotating; a cylindrical cylinder 285b that includes the screw 285a inside; and a driving part 285c that rotates the screw 285a. In addition, the feed screw 285 is connected to the supply container 227 (hopper) at the opening 285d on the driving part 285c side of the cylinder 285b, and the molding material Mm is supplied through the supply container 227. Furthermore, the feed screw 285 is connected to the material conveying passage 282 at the opening 285e on the front end side of the cylinder 285b, and the molding material Mm is delivered to the material conveying passage 282 from the opening 285e.

[0202] In this embodiment, the material conveying passage 82 has a material passing direction downstream side ( Fig.16A supply container 26 for supplying the cylinder body, such as a hopper, is provided at the lower end side of the cylinder body 11. In the example shown in the figure, the supply container 26 has, for example, a truncated cone-shaped portion 26a whose inner and outer shapes are both truncated cones, and a cylindrical portion 26b formed at the end of the small diameter side of the truncated cone-shaped portion 26a. After the supply container 26 receives the molding material Mm after passing through the material conveying passage 82 through the truncated cone-shaped portion 26a, it supplies it to the inside of the cylinder body 11 through the cylindrical portion 26b in front thereof. An opening portion 26c having a width substantially the same as that of the material conveying passage 82 is formed at the end of the truncated cone-shaped portion 26a, and the molding material Mm after passing through the material conveying passage 82 enters the supply container 26 from the opening portion 26c.

[0203] In addition, a channel supply container 27 such as a hopper that stores a plurality of molding materials Mm and supplies an appropriate amount of the molding materials Mm to the material conveying channel 82 is placed in front of the conveyor 85 on the upstream side of the material conveying channel 82 in the material passing direction.

[0204] In the illustrated example, the molding material Mm is supplied from the supply container 27 for channel supply to the preheating device 81. Then, the molding material Mm supplied to the preheating device 81 passes through the material conveying channel 82 while being preheated, and after passing through the supply container 26 for cylinder supply, it is supplied to the inside of the cylinder 11. That is, here, the molding material Mm preheated by the preheating device 81 is supplied to the inside of the cylinder 11. However, the shape of the supply container 26 and / or the supply container 27 is not limited to this, and can be appropriately changed, and sometimes the supply container 26 and / or the supply container 27 is omitted. Assuming that the cylinder supply container 26 is omitted, the preheating device will be arranged on the cylinder, so that the front end side of the material passing direction of the material conveying channel will be directly connected to the supply port of the cylinder. At this time, the molding material preheated by the preheating device will be supplied to the inside of the cylinder immediately after the preheating.

[0205] In addition, Fig.16In the illustrated embodiment, as the plasticization by the screw 12 or the like inside the cylinder 11 progresses, the molding material Mm is supplied from the cylinder supply container 26 to the inside of the cylinder 11. At the same time, the molding material Mm in the channel supply container 27 passes through the material conveying channel 82 in sequence, is heated by the heating element 84, and is then put into the cylinder supply container 26. At this time, the speed of the molding material Mm passing through the material conveying channel 82 may depend on the speed of the plasticization of the molding material Mm inside the cylinder 11, but the passing speed of the molding material Mm can also be adjusted by the conveyor 85 as described above. In addition, as needed, a screw-shaped feeder or other supply adjustment machine (not shown) for adjusting the supply of the molding material Mm from the material conveying channel 82 to the supply container 26 can be provided between the material conveying channel 82 and the supply container 26 to adjust the speed of the molding material Mm passing through the material conveying channel 82 and the degree of heating of the molding material Mm affected by it.

[0206] In this embodiment, it is preferred that a retention detection mechanism (not shown) is provided in the preheating device 81, and the retention detection mechanism detects the retention of the molding material Mm in the material conveying passage 82. As the retention detection mechanism, for example, a sensor that detects the retention based on temperature or the like may be used. By providing the retention detection mechanism, for example, in the case where the molding material Mm is retained due to the stop of the injection device or the like, it is possible to detect the situation as early as possible when the temperature of the molding material Mm rises excessively. In addition, the temperature of the molding material Mm mentioned here may be the temperature of the molding material Mm itself, the temperature of the space in the material conveying passage, or the temperature of the tubular body forming the material conveying passage.

[0207] Such a sensor of the accumulation detection mechanism is preferably provided at a position near the merging portion 82 a or the mixing portion 82 b of the material conveying passage 82 or at a position on the downstream side thereof.

[0208] (Control of preheating device)

[0209] The above-mentioned preheating device can be controlled, for example, as follows. In addition, here, as an example, the control thereof will be described using the preheating device 81 among the preheating devices 81, 181, and 281.

[0210] When the preheating device 81 is used, as described above, the temperature of the molding material Mm in the material conveying passage 82 is always monitored by a temperature sensor or the like as a sensor, and the sensor is provided in the material conveying passage 82 as a retention detection mechanism or the like. The information on the temperature of the molding material Mm thus measured is sent to, for example, a control unit of the injection molding machine.

[0211] During normal operation, the heating temperature or other conditions of the heating element 84 are sometimes set so that the temperature of the molding material Mm is lower than the allowable upper limit Tu, which is predetermined to be a temperature lower than the melting point Tm of the molding material Mm. The allowable upper limit Tu can be set, for example, to a temperature about 10°C lower than the melting point Tm.

[0212] Here, when the operation of the injection molding machine stops for some reason, the temperature of the molding material Mm may rise in the material conveying passage 82. If the temperature of the molding material Mm approaches the melting point Tm or exceeds the melting point Tm, the molding materials Mm or the molding material Mm and the tubular body 83 melt and fuse, and the molding material Mm may not be able to pass through the material conveying passage 82.

[0213] In order to prevent this situation, when the injection molding machine stops working, or when the molding material Mm is detected to be retained in the material conveying passage 82, a work stop signal or retention detection signal is sent to the control unit. In response, the control unit sends a heating stop signal to the preheating device 81 to stop the heating element 84 from heating the molding material Mm, and the preheating device 81 stops the heating element 84 from heating the molding material Mm. That is, the preheating device 81 stops the heating element 84 from heating the molding material Mm according to the work stop information of the injection molding machine and / or the information related to the retention of the molding material Mm in the material conveying passage 82.

[0214] Even when the heating of the molding material Mm by the heating element 84 is stopped, the temperature of the molding material Mm in the material conveying passage 82 may rise due to residual heat. Therefore, when the temperature of the molding material Mm measured by the temperature sensor after the heating of the heating element 84 is stopped satisfies a predetermined reference, the molding material Mm in the material conveying passage 82 is cooled, for example, by the cooling gas Gc or the like.

[0215] The above-mentioned prescribed reference for starting the cooling of the molding material Mm may be a reference determined by comparing the actual measured value of the temperature of the molding material Mm with the allowable upper limit value Tu. Specifically, the cooling of the molding material Mm may be started based on the actual measured value of the temperature of the molding material Mm reaching the allowable upper limit value Tu. Alternatively, the amount of temperature rise that the molding material Mm may rise in the future may be estimated based on the difference between the temperature of the molding material Mm and the ambient temperature of the preheating device 81, and a reference determined by comparing the estimated temperature rise with the allowable upper limit value Tu may be used as the above-mentioned prescribed reference. In other words, the preheating device 81 cools the molding material Mm in the material conveying passage 82 based on information related to the temperature of the molding material Mm.

[0216] The molding material Mm can be cooled by providing a hot air heating type heater or a blower (not shown) of the heater 84 with a structure capable of conveying a normal temperature gas such as cold air or a cooling gas Gc.

[0217] This can effectively prevent the material conveying passage 82 from being clogged due to melting of the molding material Mm.

[0218] An example of the above control is shown in Fig.21 .exist Fig.21 In the process, first, the molding material Mm is passed through the preheating device 81 and then supplied to the inside of the cylinder 11 to form the molded product. During this period, if the injection molding machine stops working, the heating element 84 is stopped. If the molding material Mm is retained in the material conveying passage 82, the heating element 84 is stopped even if the injection molding machine is not stopped. In the case where the injection molding machine is not stopped and the molding material Mm is not retained, molding continues. In addition, the confirmation of whether the injection molding machine stops working and the confirmation of whether the molding material Mm is retained can be switched in order, or only one of them can be confirmed.

[0219] Next, after stopping the heating element 84, it is checked whether the temperature of the molding material Mm is above the allowable upper limit. If the temperature of the molding material Mm is above the allowable upper limit, the molding material Mm is cooled and it is checked again whether the temperature of the molding material Mm is above the allowable upper limit.

[0220] When the temperature of the molding material Mm is lower than the allowable upper limit, it is determined whether to restart molding. When it is determined that molding can be restarted, molding is restarted.

[0221] (Injection device)

[0222] like Fig.15 As shown in the example, the injection device 1 to which the preheating device 81 described above can be applied mainly comprises: the preheating device 81; the cylinder 11, which melts the molding material supplied from the preheating device 81; the screw 12, which is driven to rotate inside the cylinder 11 to plasticize the molding material; and the metering motor 31, which is arranged on the rear side of the rotation axis direction of the screw 12 ( Fig.15 and an injection motor 41, which is disposed further rearwardly of the metering motor 31.

[0223] A heater 13 is disposed around the cylinder 11, and the heater 13 heats the molding material plasticized by the screw 12 inside the cylinder 11. The cylinder 11 has an inner and outer diameter at the front end side in the direction of the rotation axis ( Fig.15The cylinder 11 has a front end portion 14 which is reduced in size and a heater 13 is also arranged around the front end portion 14. In addition, the cylinder 11 is provided with a through-hole-shaped supply port 11a at the rear end side in the direction of the rotation axis, and the preheating device 81 is installed therein.

[0224] The metering motor 31 and the injection motor 41 are fixed to the back side of the rear end side of the rotation axis direction of each of the two motor support plates 32 and 42 arranged at a distance from each other in a posture standing on the slide base 101. The screw 12 is driven to rotate by the metering motor 31 and is driven to move forward and backward by the injection motor 41. The two motor support plates 32 and 42 are connected to each other by rods 51 and 52 at multiple positions (for example, four positions) around the metering motor 31.

[0225] The metering motor 31 mainly includes: a rotor 33; a stator 34, which is arranged around the rotor 33; and a stator frame 35, which surrounds the rotor 33 and the stator 34 and has the stator 34 arranged on the inner surface. The rotor 33 of the metering motor 31 is supported on the inner side of the stator frame 35 through bearings 33a at each end in the direction of the rotation axis. In addition, the rotor 33 is spline-connected to the periphery of the metering spline shaft 36, and the metering spline shaft 36 is connected to the screw mounting portion 37 on which the screw 12 is mounted. In addition, at the rear end in the direction of the rotation axis of the outer peripheral surface of the metering spline shaft 36, one or more keys 36a corresponding to the key grooves arranged on the inner peripheral surface of the rotor 33 are formed. As a result, the rotational driving force is transmitted from the metering motor 31 to the screw 12, so that the screw 12 can be rotated.

[0226] The injection motor 41 mainly includes: a rotor 43; a stator 44 arranged around the rotor 43; and a stator frame 45, which is provided so as to surround the rotor 43 and the stator 44, and the stator 44 is provided on the inner surface. The rotor 43 is supported on the inner side of the stator frame 45 via bearings 43a at each end in the direction of the rotation axis. The rotor 43 of the injection motor 41 is connected to a drive shaft. More specifically, the drive shaft includes: an injection spline shaft 46 spline-connected to the rotor 43 in a groove 43b provided on the inner circumference of the cylindrical rotor 43; a screw shaft 48 connected to the injection spline shaft 46; and a rotating shaft 50 rotatably mounted on the inner side of the metering spline shaft 36 via a bearing 49. The screw nut 47 screwed with the screw shaft 48 is mounted on the motor support plate 42 via a pressure detector 38 described later. With this structure, the rotational driving force of the injection motor 41 is converted into a linear driving force in the rotation axis direction of the screw 12 , and is transmitted to the screw 12 .

[0227] In addition, a pressure detector 38 is arranged between the stator frame 45 of the injection motor 41 and the motor support plate 42. The pressure detector 38 is mounted on the motor support plate 42 and the lead screw nut 47, respectively, to detect the load acting on the pressure detector 38 on the transmission path of the driving force from the injection motor 41 to the screw 12. A cylindrical portion 39 is interposed between the pressure detector 38 and the stator frame 45.

[0228] An encoder 45a is provided on the rear end surface of the stator frame 45 of the injection motor 41 located on the opposite side of the drive shaft in the rotation axis direction. The encoder 45a is connected to the rotor 43 and the shaft portion 45b to detect the rotation of the rotor 43.

[0229] If describing an example of the molding process of the injection molding machine equipped with such an injection device 1, a mold closing process is performed, in which a mold device (not shown) is closed to make it a mold closing state in a state where a predetermined amount of molding material has been measured and arranged inside the cylinder 11 in the second half of the previous molding process. Next, a filling process is performed in order to inject the molding material into the mold device by advancing the screw 12, thereby filling the cavity in the mold device with the molding material; and a pressure holding process is performed in order to further advance the screw 12 to maintain the molding material inside the front end 14 of the cylinder 11 at a predetermined pressure.

[0230] Then, a cooling process is performed, in which the molding material filled in the mold device is cooled and solidified to obtain a molded product. At this time, a metering process is performed, in which the molding material separately supplied from the preheating device 81 to the cylinder body 11 is conveyed toward the front end portion 14 of the cylinder body 11 by the rotation of the screw 12 under the heating of the heater 13, and the molding material is melted, so that a predetermined amount of molding material is arranged at the front end portion 14.

[0231] Here, in this embodiment, the molding material supplied to the cylinder 11 has been heated to an appropriate temperature by the preheating device 81. Therefore, even if the screw 12 is rotated at a high speed to deliver the molding material to the front end 14 of the cylinder 11 in a short time, the molding material can be fully plasticized. As a result, the time required for metering is shortened, thereby shortening the molding cycle.

[0232] In addition, thereafter, a removal step is performed in which the mold device is opened to be in an open mold state, and the molded product is removed from the mold device by an ejector device or the like.

[0233] [Third Invention]

[0234] In this embodiment, the preheating device 60 is used to preheat the molding material. Fig. 22 The injection device 1 illustrated in FIG. 2 can supply the preheated molding material to the injection device 1 . Fig. 22 The injection device 1 illustrated in the figure is, for example, arranged on a sliding base 101 of a moving device that moves the injection device 1 forward / backward in the injection molding machine to inject molding material into the mold device. The injection device 1 may include a preheating device 60 and a cylinder 11 to which molding material preheated by the preheating device is supplied to melt the molding material inside. In addition, the illustrated injection device 1 also includes a screw 12 that is rotationally driven inside the cylinder 11 to plasticize the molding material and a heater 13 that is arranged around the cylinder 11 to heat the molding material inside the cylinder 11, etc. The detailed structure of the injection device 1 will be described later.

[0235] (Preheating device)

[0236] The preheating device 60 is arranged in the direction of the rotation axis of the screw 12 of the injection device 1 ( Fig. 22 In the left-right direction), the rear end portion of the cylinder 11 is mounted on the side opposite to the front end portion 14 of the injection molding material. Fig.23 As shown, the preheating device 60 is connected to a through-hole supply port 11a provided at a part of the circumference at the rear end of the cylinder 11, and substantially supplies molding material Mm such as spherical, cylindrical or other shaped resin particles to the supply port 11a.

[0237] Here, if Figure 22 to Figure 24 As shown, the preheating device 60 includes: a material passage 61 for the molding material Mm to pass through; and a superheated steam inlet 62 for introducing superheated steam Ss into the material passage 61 to heat the molding material Mm in the material passage 61. In the material passage 61, the molding material Mm is heated by the superheated steam Ss introduced from the superheated steam inlet 62. Thus, the molding material Mm can be preheated before being supplied to the cylinder 11.

[0238] The superheated steam Ss introduced from the superheated steam inlet 62 into the material passage 61 can be generated by further heating the steam obtained by boiling and vaporizing water by a superheated steam generating device (not shown). Generally, heated air (hot air) or the like heats the heating object by convection heat transfer, whereas superheated steam not only heats the heating object by convection heat transfer, but also heats the heating object by radiation heat transfer and condensation heat transfer, and thus has a very large thermal energy compared to heated air or the like. Here, the molding material Mm is heated by the superheated steam Ss introduced from the superheated steam inlet 62, so that the temperature of the molding material Mm rises to a predetermined temperature in a short time. As a result, in this embodiment, the preheating of the molding material Mm is performed instantly, so that the molding cycle of the injection molding machine can be shortened. This is particularly advantageous for high-cycle molding.

[0239] For example, the superheated steam generating device may have a structure in which a heating device such as a jacket heater is provided in a heat-insulating frame. In this case, the superheated steam generating device can heat saturated steam delivered from a boiler or the like to generate superheated steam.

[0240] The superheated steam inlet port 62 may be supplied with superheated steam generated by a superheated steam generating device that may be installed in an injection molding machine including an injection device. In addition, the superheated steam inlet port 62 may be supplied with superheated steam generated by a specified device at the installation location (such as a factory where the injection device is installed).

[0241] As shown in the example, the preheating device 60 may further include a channel partitioning wall portion 63 of a cylindrical or other cylindrical shape, and the channel partitioning wall portion 63 is provided around the material channel 61. The material channel 61 is provided inside the channel partitioning wall portion 63 in a partitioned manner. In particular, in this example, the cylindrical channel partitioning wall portion 63 is arranged in a lateral direction so that its central axis is, for example, aligned with the horizontal direction, i.e., the direction of the rotation axis of the screw 12 ( Figure 22 to Figure 24 The material channel 61 is substantially parallel to the left and right direction of the screw 12. In the material channel 61 on the inner side of the channel dividing wall portion 63, the molding material Mm moves along the above-mentioned rotation axis direction, and the direction in which the molding material Mm passes, that is, the material flow direction, becomes parallel to the rotation axis direction. However, as in the embodiment described later, the material channel 61 can be set so that the material flow direction in the material channel 61 becomes a vertical direction orthogonal to the rotation axis direction of the screw 12. In addition, the material channel 61 can be set obliquely so that the material flow direction in the material channel 61 becomes a direction inclined relative to the rotation axis direction of the screw 12 (not shown in the figure).

[0242] In addition, if Fig.24 As shown, the rear end side of the material passage 61 in the material passage direction ( Figure 22 to Figure 24 A hole-shaped channel inlet 61a is provided on the right side of the channel 63, and the channel inlet 61a is formed by hollowing out a part of the circumference of the channel partition wall 63. In essence, a truncated cone-shaped hopper 61b can be installed at the channel inlet 61a.

[0243] The material passage 61 has a front end side in the material passage direction ( Figure 22 to Figure 24 A channel outlet 61c is provided (on the left side in the figure), and the channel outlet 61c is protruded toward the outer peripheral side in a part of the circumferential direction of the channel dividing wall portion 63, and is formed into a tapered shape toward the lower side in the direction orthogonal to the material passing direction, that is, the front end side.

[0244] In addition, the preheating device 60 may further include a conveying mechanism that conveys the molding material Mm along the material passage direction in the material passage 61. In this embodiment, as an example of the conveying mechanism, a preheating screw 64 is provided in the material passage 61. In addition to the preheating screw 64, the conveying mechanism may also be a conveyor belt or the like (not shown).

[0245] The preheating screw 64 shown in the figure includes: a rotating shaft 65, which is rotated around an axis in the material passage 61 along the material passing direction; and a thread 66, which is vertically provided on the outer peripheral surface of the rotating shaft 65 and extends around the above-mentioned axis in a predetermined shape such as a spiral shape, but the shape of the preheating screw 64 is not limited to this. If the preheating screw 64 is rotated by a driving source 67 such as a motor, then Fig.23 As shown, in the material passage 61 , the molding material Mm is conveyed along the material passing direction by a screw thread 66 provided on the outer peripheral surface of the rotating shaft 65 at the outer peripheral side of the rotating shaft 65 .

[0246] The preheating screw 64 of this embodiment is formed as a hollow rotating shaft 65. Specifically, Fig.24 As can be seen, the rotating shaft 65 has: an internal space 68 inside thereof; a cylindrical peripheral wall portion 69 that partitions the internal space 68; and a plurality of communication holes 70 formed in the peripheral wall portion 69 so as to penetrate the peripheral wall portion 69. In addition, here, the superheated steam inlet 62 is provided in the preheating screw 64, more specifically, in the front end surface of the rotating shaft 65 of the preheating screw 64 in the direction of the rotating axis. For example, the front end portion of the rotating shaft 65 of the preheating screw 64 in the direction of the rotating axis is exposed to the outside of the channel partitioning wall portion 63 from the opening portion 63a provided in the end surface of the channel partitioning wall portion 63 and is located at this position, so that the superheated steam inlet 62 can be provided at the front end portion.

[0247] In the material passage 61 provided with such a preheating screw 64, the superheated steam Ss introduced into the material passage 61 from the superheated steam inlet 62 once flows into the internal space 68 of the rotating shaft 65 of the preheating screw 64 in the material passage 61. Then, the superheated steam Ss flowing into the internal space 68 passes through a plurality of communicating holes 70 provided in the peripheral wall portion 69 and is transported from the internal space 68 to the outer peripheral side of the rotating shaft 65 through the communicating holes 70. On the outer peripheral side of the rotating shaft 65, the molding material Mm transported in the material passing direction by the screw 66 is heated by the superheated steam Ss after passing through the communicating holes 70.

[0248] In addition, the height of the outer peripheral edge of the screw thread 66 of the preheating screw 64 from the outer peripheral surface of the rotating shaft 65 (the groove depth of the preheating screw 64) is preferably greater than the length of one molding material Mm and less than the length of two molding materials Mm. At this time, on the outer peripheral side of the rotating shaft 65, it is possible to suppress the overlap of multiple molding materials Mm in the radial direction of the preheating screw 64, so that, for example, the superheated steam transported from the connecting hole 70 of the rotating shaft 65 to the outer peripheral side can be further effectively heated through each molding material Mm passing through the material passage 61. As a result, it is possible to effectively suppress the mixing of unmelted molding material in the molten state of the molding material injected from the front end portion 14 of the cylinder 11, so that it is possible to prevent the appearance of the molded product from being poor or the strength from being reduced.

[0249] Furthermore, in the radial direction of the preheating screw 64, the gap between the outer peripheral edge of the thread 66 and the inner peripheral surface of the channel partition wall 63 is preferably narrower than the length of one molding material Mm. Thus, it is possible to prevent the molding material Mm from crossing over the thread 66 in the direction of the rotation axis. In addition, a small gap is provided between the outer peripheral edge of the thread 66 and the inner peripheral surface of the channel partition wall 63 to prevent them from contacting. Furthermore, the distance from the outer peripheral surface of the rotating shaft 65 of the preheating screw 64 to the inner peripheral surface of the channel partition wall 63 is also preferably greater than the length of one molding material Mm and less than the length of two molding materials Mm.

[0250] The length of one molding material Mm is preferably the shortest dimension of the molding material Mm. For example, when the molding material Mm is roughly spherical, it is preferably its diameter, or, when the molding material Mm is an irregular sphere whose cross section includes an ellipse or an oblong, it is preferably the diameter of its shortest side. Alternatively, the molding material Mm is sometimes cylindrical, prism or other columnar, so that the shorter dimension of its diameter or width and height is set as the length of one molding material Mm.

[0251] Alternatively, the superheated steam inlet 62, the channel partition wall 63 and the preheating screw 64 may be replaced by using Fig.25 The superheated steam inlet 162, the channel partition wall 163 and the preheating screw 164 are shown. Fig.25 In the embodiment, the channel dividing wall portion 163 is provided with a plurality of through-hole-shaped superheated steam inlets 162 penetrating the channel dividing wall portion 163 along the circumferential direction and the direction of the rotation axis. The rotating shaft 165 of the preheating screw 164 can be either hollow or solid, but does not have the connecting hole 70 as described above. In addition, no opening is provided on the end face of the channel dividing wall portion 163, and the front end portion of the rotating shaft 165 in the direction of the rotation axis ends on the inner side of the channel dividing wall portion 163. Fig.25In the embodiment shown, superheated steam Ss is introduced into the material channel 61 from the superheated steam inlet 162 provided in the channel partition wall 163. Thus, the molding material Mm conveyed on the outer peripheral side of the rotating shaft 165 is heated. In addition to the structures of the superheated steam inlet 162, the channel partition wall 163 and the preheating screw 164, Fig.25 The embodiment shown has Figure 22 to Figure 24 The embodiments shown have essentially the same structure.

[0252] Or, if Fig.26 As shown, it can also be Figure 22 to Figure 24 In the embodiment shown, a plurality of through-hole-shaped superheated steam inlets 262 are further provided in the channel partition wall 263. Fig.26 In the embodiment shown, the molding material Mm conveyed on the outer peripheral side of the rotating shaft 65 of the preheating screw 64 passes through the superheated steam inlet 262 of the channel partition wall portion 263 and the superheated steam inlet 62 of the preheating screw 64 from the radial direction ( Fig.26 The inner and outer sides of the channel (in the vertical direction) are heated by superheated steam. In addition to the superheated steam inlet 262 provided in the channel partition wall 263, Fig.26 The implementation method is Figure 22 to Figure 24 The embodiments shown have substantially the same structure.

[0253] As described above, the communicating holes 70 of the peripheral wall portion 69 of the preheating screw 64 or the superheated steam inlet ports 162, 262 of the channel partitioning walls 163, 263 are preferably provided in a plurality of uniformly distributed manners along the circumferential direction and the rotation axis direction of the peripheral wall portion 69 or the channel partitioning walls 163, 263. In order to realize such a preheating screw 64 or the channel partitioning walls 163, 263, the peripheral wall portion 69 and / or the channel partitioning walls 163, 263 may be formed, for example, by a cylindrical mesh member having a plurality of holes in a square or other polygonal shape when viewed from the front or a cylindrical plate member having a plurality of holes formed on a metal plate by a stamping process such as so-called stamped metal. When the strength of the mesh member is insufficient, the peripheral wall portion 69 and / or the channel partitioning walls 163, 263 may be formed by a member in which the mesh member is overlapped with a honeycomb or grid-like reinforcing member.

[0254] For example, when the plasticizing capacity in the cylinder 11 of the injection device 1 is required to be high so as to supply the molding material Mm into the cylinder 11 at a faster speed, this can be dealt with by increasing the outer diameter of the preheating screw 64, 164. Fig. 27As shown in the cross-sectional view of the material channel viewed from above, the material channel 361 for conveying the molding material Mm to a channel outlet 361c, for example, together with the channel partition wall 363 around it and the preheating screw 364 inside it, is Fig. 27 In the example shown, four straight material channels 361 are arranged at 90° angles around the channel outlet 361c, but the number and arrangement of the material channels 361 can be changed as appropriate. When a plurality of material channels 361 are provided, a superheated steam inlet is provided so as to introduce superheated steam into each material channel 361. In this example, for example, a plurality of superheated steam inlets can be provided in each channel partition wall 363. In addition, a superheated steam outlet can also be provided.

[0255] As described above, the superheated steam that heats the molding material Mm in the material passage 61 can rapidly increase the temperature of the molding material Mm. On the other hand, the molding material Mm heated by the superheated steam may generate condensation at a temperature lower than 100°C, for example.

[0256] In order to remove the moisture generated by the condensation, the molding material Mm heated by the superheated steam through the material passage 61 is dried or further heated. Fig.23 As shown, the preheating device 60 of this embodiment further comprises: a material conveying channel 22 for the molding material Mm that has been heated by superheated steam and passed through the material channel 61; and a heating element 24 for heating the molding material Mm that has passed through the material conveying channel 22. In this embodiment, after the molding material Mm passes through the material channel 61 along the direction of the rotation axis, it falls into the material conveying channel 22 from the channel outlet 61c of the material channel 61 due to its own weight and passes through the material conveying channel 22. Here, the material passing direction in the material channel 61 is the same as the direction in which the molding material Mm passes through the material conveying channel 22, i.e., the material passing direction ( Fig.23 The molding material Mm passes through the material conveying channel 22 along the vertical direction).

[0257] The material conveying channel 22 has a pair of channel forming components 23, and the pair of channel forming components 23 are arranged opposite to each other and define the material conveying channel 22 between each other. In addition, the heating element 24 is arranged on the outside of the material conveying channel 22 in the channel width direction across the channel forming component 23. The channel forming component 23 and the heating element 24 have the function of drying the molding material Mm after being heated by superheated steam and passing through the material channel 61, and also have the function of further heating the molding material Mm. The channel width direction mentioned here refers to the arrangement direction of the channel forming components 23 arranged parallel to each other, and refers to the direction orthogonal to the material passing direction in the material conveying channel 22 ( Fig.23 In the illustrated embodiment, the material conveying passage 22, the passage forming member 23, and the heating element 24 are arranged to be accommodated inside a box-shaped frame 25 made of a heat insulating material or the like.

[0258] In addition, at least one of the paired channel forming components 23 that partition the material conveying channel 22 may be movable, so that the material conveying channel 22 is configured to be able to adjust the interval between the paired channel forming components 23, that is, the channel width thereof. At least one of the channel forming components 23 may be moved in the channel width direction, for example, by a user manually moving the component by disposing a spacer between its installation positions inside the frame 25, or automatically moving the component by using a motor or other actuator. If the channel width of the material conveying channel 22 can be adjusted, it is possible to set appropriate channel widths corresponding to various molding materials Mm of various sizes and shapes. For example, Fig.23 As shown, when the channel width is set to a degree that only one molding material Mm can pass through, the molding materials Mm pass through the material conveying channel 22 in a posture roughly arranged in a row. At this time, most of the molding materials Mm will be effectively heated by the heating element 24 on the outside of the channel width direction of the channel forming component 23.

[0259] The channel width of the material conveying channel 22 is preferably greater than the length of one molding material Mm and less than the length of two molding materials Mm. At this time, the plurality of molding materials Mm can be prevented from overlapping in the channel width direction in the material conveying channel 22, so most of these molding materials Mm can be further effectively heated.

[0260] At the front end side of the material passing direction of the material conveying passage 22 ( Fig.23 A supply container 26 such as a hopper is provided on the lower surface of the frame 25 (the lower end side). In the example shown in the figure, the supply container 26 has, for example, a truncated cone-shaped portion 26a whose inner and outer shapes are both truncated cones, and a cylindrical portion 26b formed at the end of the small diameter side of the truncated cone-shaped portion 26a. The supply container 26 preferably includes an insulating material in such a manner that its peripheral wall is formed of an insulating material or the surface of the peripheral wall is covered with an insulating material. After receiving the molding material Mm after passing through the material conveying passage 22 through the truncated cone-shaped portion 26a, the supply container 26 supplies it to the inside of the cylinder body 11 through the cylindrical portion 26b in front thereof. An opening portion 26c having a width substantially the same as that of the material conveying passage 22 is formed at the end of the truncated cone-shaped portion 26a, and the molding material Mm after passing through the material conveying passage 22 enters the supply container 26 from the opening portion 26c.

[0261] In the example shown in the figure, the molding material Mm passes through the material conveying channel 22 and the supply container 26, and is then supplied to the inside of the cylinder 11. That is, here, the molding material Mm preheated by the preheating device 60 is supplied to the inside of the cylinder 11. However, the shape of the supply container 26 is not limited to this, and can be appropriately changed, and sometimes the supply container 26 is omitted. Assuming that the supply container 26 is omitted, the frame will be arranged on the cylinder, so that the front end side of the material conveying channel in the material passing direction will be directly connected to the supply port of the cylinder. At this time, the molding material will be immediately supplied to the inside of the cylinder after passing through the material conveying channel.

[0262] Here, the heating element 24 may be arranged only on one side of the material conveying passage 22 outside the passage width direction of one of the passage forming members 23, but in this embodiment, the heating element 24 is arranged on both sides of the material conveying passage 22 outside the passage width direction of each passage forming member 23. In this way, the molding material Mm can be quickly heated by the heating elements 24 on both sides, so that even if the passing speed of the molding material Mm in the material conveying passage 22 is relatively fast, the molding material Mm can be effectively heated. In addition, the conditions of the heating element 24 and the like are set so that the molding material Mm reaches a desired temperature at the front end side of the material passing direction of the material conveying passage 22.

[0263] As long as the molding material Mm can be heated via the channel forming component 23, the heating method of the heating element 24 is not particularly limited. For example, a hot air heating type heating element that transports a heating gas such as high-temperature air, an electric heating type heating element such as high-frequency dielectric heating, an infrared heating type heating element such as a halogen lamp or a ceramic heating element, a laser heating type heating element, etc. can be used. In the case where the heating element 24 is an infrared heating type heating element or a laser heating type heating element, the channel forming component 23 can be composed of a translucent or transparent material such as glass that transmits light or laser. In addition, the configuration of the heating element 24 is not limited to the example shown in the figure, and it can also be configured outside the frame 25 to allow hot air to flow through the material conveying channel 22.

[0264] As an example, the preheating device 60 shown in the figure has a heating element 24 including a hot air heating type heating element. Specifically, the hot air heating type heating element can heat the compressed air delivered from the compressor through a sheath heating element, etc., thereby obtaining hot air. The temperature of the hot air can be adjusted by changing the output of the sheath heating element. From the viewpoint of being able to more effectively dry the molding material Mm, the hot air heating type heating element is preferred.

[0265] At this time, the channel forming member 23 may have a plurality of vents penetrating the channel forming member 23 along the channel width direction, so that the heated gas delivered from the hot air heating type heating element can flow to the material delivery channel 22. Thus, the heated gas from the heating element 24 flows to the material delivery channel 22 through the vents of the channel forming member 23, so that the molding material Mm in the material delivery channel 22 can be heated by the heated gas.

[0266] Specifically, for example, Fig.28 As shown in (a), the channel forming member 23 may also be a plate-shaped member having a plurality of vent holes 23b formed on a plate 23a made of metal or the like by a stamping process, such as so-called stamped metal. In this case, by adjusting the processing method, a plurality of vent holes 23b arranged regularly can be formed on the plate 23a.

[0267] Or, if Fig.28 As shown in (b), the channel forming component 23 may be, for example, a mesh component in which wires 23c are arranged in a grid shape and a plurality of ventilation holes 23b in a square or other polygonal shape when viewed from the front are provided between them. If the thickness of such a mesh component is relatively thin, resulting in insufficient strength of the mesh component required for forming the material conveying channel 22 by the channel forming component 23, the mesh component and the reinforcement component may be overlapped to form the channel forming component 23 by these mesh components and reinforcement components. As long as the heated gas can pass through, the reinforcement component may be in various shapes such as a honeycomb or a grid. For example, the mesh of the reinforcement component may be coarser than the mesh of the mesh component. The mesh component shown in the figure is arranged so that the plurality of ventilation holes 23b are arranged along the longitudinal direction when viewed from the front ( Fig.28 (b) vertical direction) and the lateral direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction ( Fig.28 (b) left and right direction) and are arranged regularly.

[0268] For example, when the material conveying passage 22 is divided and formed by the mesh-like passage forming member 23, as shown in FIG. Fig.29 As shown, a plurality of molding materials Mm are spread out in the transverse direction of the channel forming member 23, and as shown in FIG. Fig.29 As shown by the arrow in the middle, the material moves along the longitudinal direction of the channel forming member 23, that is, the direction in which the material passes. In addition, between the paired channel forming members 23, a channel dividing member 22a in the shape of a square strip or the like is arranged on each side of the material conveying channel 22 in the lateral direction of the channel forming member 23, and the channel dividing member 22a divides the area of ​​the material conveying channel 22 in the lateral direction of the channel forming member 23.

[0269] When the vent holes 23b are evenly dispersed and regularly arranged when viewed from the front as in the mesh or plate-like passage forming member 23, the heated gas from the heating element 24, which is a hot air heating type heating element, can be evenly fed to the material conveying passage 22 in the longitudinal and transverse directions of the passage forming member 23. Thus, the heated gas is sprayed on most of the plurality of molding materials Mm passing through the material conveying passage 22, so that the molding materials Mm can be further effectively heated.

[0270] In this embodiment, as the plasticization of the molding material by the screw 12 inside the cylinder 11 progresses, the molding material is supplied from the supply container 26 to the inside of the cylinder 11. At the same time, the molding material Mm after passing through the material passage 61 is heated by the heating element 24 through the material conveying passage 22 in sequence, and then is put into the supply container 26. At this time, the speed of the molding material Mm passing through the material conveying passage 22 may depend on the speed of the plasticization of the molding material Mm inside the cylinder 11, but the passing speed of the molding material Mm can also be adjusted by changing the passage width as described above. And, as needed, a screw-shaped feeder or other supply adjustment machine (not shown) for adjusting the supply of the molding material Mm from the material conveying passage 22 to the supply container 26 can be set between the material conveying passage 22 and the supply container 26 to adjust the speed of the molding material Mm passing through the material conveying passage 22 and the degree of heating of the molding material Mm affected by it.

[0271] Furthermore, a mechanism (not shown) may be provided for changing the position of the material conveying passage 22 while keeping the passage width constant. By changing the position of the material conveying passage 22, the amount of the molding material Mm passing through per unit time can be adjusted.

[0272] In the mesh or plate-shaped channel forming member 23 having a plurality of vent holes 23b, the molding material Mm may be stuck in the vent holes 23b in the material conveying channel 22 formed thereby, causing the molding material Mm to be blocked or accumulated in at least a portion of the lateral direction of the channel forming member 23. The accumulation of the molding material Mm in the material conveying channel 22 may cause the molding material Mm to be overheated or even melted.

[0273] Therefore, it is preferable to provide the preheating device 60 with an anti-retention mechanism for preventing the molding material Mm from being retained in the material conveying passage 22 .

[0274] As the anti-retention mechanism, for example, a driving unit may be provided. Figure 30 to Figure 33As shown, when the injection molding machine is working, the relative position and / or orientation of one of the channel forming members 23 relative to the other channel forming member 23 is changed by displacing at least one of the paired channel forming members 23 continuously or intermittently only when necessary. In addition, the illustration of the driving source thereof is omitted here.

[0275] like Fig.30 As shown in FIG. 1 , on the outer side of one of the channel forming members 23 in the channel width direction, square strip-shaped moving members 22b are respectively provided on both sides of the channel forming member 23 in the lateral direction. Fig.30 (b) and Fig.30 As shown by the arrow in (c), one of the passage forming members 23 is moved in the lateral direction of the passage forming members 23 by these moving members 22b, thereby changing the relative position of one of the passage forming members 23 with respect to the other passage forming member 23. Therefore, even if the molding material Mm is stuck in the vent hole 23b, the blocking can be released by moving one of the passage forming members 23, thereby preventing the molding material Mm from being retained.

[0276] Furthermore, one of the passage forming members 23 may be moved in a longitudinal direction (up and down direction) parallel to the material passing direction, instead of in a lateral direction of the passage forming member 23 .

[0277] exist Fig.31 In the anti-retention mechanism shown in FIG. 1 , a square strip-shaped moving member 22b is provided at both ends of the longitudinal direction of the channel forming member 23, outside the channel width direction of one channel forming member 23. During the period when the molding material Mm passes through, Fig.31 (b) and Fig.31 As shown in (c), the anti-retention mechanism moves one of the channel forming components 23 along the channel width direction by the moving component 22b, thereby changing the relative position of one of the channel forming components 23 relative to the other channel forming component 23. At this time, the channel width of the material conveying channel 22 increases or decreases slightly. In addition, Fig.31 The anti-retention mechanism can also be used as a mechanism for moving the channel forming member 23 to adjust the channel width as described above.

[0278] Fig.32The anti-retention mechanism comprises: a square bar-shaped moving part 22b, which is arranged at the longitudinal ends of one of the channel forming parts 23 on the outer side of the channel width direction; and a cylindrical fulcrum part 22c, which is arranged between the channel forming part 23 and the channel dividing part 22a at a midway position such as the center position of the material passing direction of the material conveying channel 22 and extends in the lateral direction of the channel forming part 23. Here, the fulcrum part 22c is installed on the channel dividing part 22a. At this time, if Fig.32 (b) and Fig.32 As shown in (c), if each moving member 22b is moved in opposite directions in the channel width direction, one of the channel forming members 23 is rotated and displaced around the fulcrum member 22c, and the direction becomes inclined relative to the other channel forming member 23. In more detail, when one end of the longitudinal direction of one of the channel forming members 23 approaches or moves away from the other channel forming member 23, the other end of the longitudinal direction of one of the channel forming members 23 moves away from or approaches the other channel forming member 23, and the direction of one of the channel forming members 23 changes in this way. In addition, at the same time, the channel width of the material conveying channel 22 sometimes becomes non-constant in the direction in which the material passes. This anti-retention mechanism can also effectively prevent the retention of the molding material Mm.

[0279] Fig.33 The anti-retention mechanism has Fig.32 The structure is roughly the same, but the fulcrum member 22c is fixed and installed on one of the channel forming members 23 instead of the channel dividing member 22a. Fig.33 In the embodiment, the fulcrum member 22c is driven to rotate instead of moving the moving member 22b, so that one of the channel forming members 23 is rotated and displaced around the fulcrum member 22c together with the fulcrum member 22c, thereby Fig.32 The orientation relative to the other passage forming member 23 is changed substantially in the same manner.

[0280] Or, if Fig.34 As shown in (a), the anti-retention mechanism may also be composed of an impact imparting portion 28, which is arranged outside the channel width direction of at least one of the channel forming members 23 and strikes the channel forming member 23 at a predetermined period or the like. The illustrated impact imparting portion 28 includes: a plate-like member 28b, which is arranged outside the channel width direction of another channel forming member 23 in parallel with the channel forming member 23 and has one or more through holes 28a formed therein; and one or more pin-like members 28c, which are arranged to pass through the through holes 28a of the plate-like member 28b and move away from / close to the other channel forming member 23. The same impact imparting portion 28 may also be provided outside the channel width direction of one of the channel forming members 23.

[0281] And, if Fig.34 As shown in (b), the anti-retention mechanism can be composed of a vibration imparting portion 29 such as one or more vibrators, and the vibration imparting portion 29 is installed on the surface of the outer side of the channel width direction of at least one of the channel forming components 23 (for example, another channel forming component 23) and imparts vibration to the channel forming component 23.

[0282] And, as an anti-retention mechanism, e.g. Fig.35 As shown in (a), a blower 30 may be provided, which is arranged outside the channel width direction of at least one of the channel forming components 23, so that gases of different flow rates pass through the vent holes 23b of the channel forming component 23 and are sprayed onto the molding material Mm in the material delivery channel 22. Fig.35 (b) or Fig.35 As shown in (c), the blast unit 30 changes the flow rate of the gas delivered to the molding material Mm in the material delivery channel 22 over time, thereby enabling the gas to be blown to the molding material Mm with varying strengths. In addition, when the gas is delivered from the blast unit 30 to the molding material Mm, it can be as follows Fig.35 (b) to periodically repeat periods of zero flow and periods of high flow, or Fig.35 (c) The period of low flow rate and the period of high flow rate are periodically repeated. The blast section 30 as the anti-stagnation mechanism may be separately provided, but the heating element 24 as the above-mentioned hot air heating type heating element may also be provided as the blast section 30, so that the heating element 24 is also used as the anti-stagnation mechanism. In the case where the heating element 24 is used as both the preheating and the anti-stagnation mechanism, the gas from the blast section 30 is equivalent to the heating gas from the heating element 24.

[0283] like Figure 30 to Figure 35 The above-mentioned anti-retention mechanism shown in the figure can be used in the preheating device 60 by using one of them, and in addition, they can also be used in combination of multiple ones. That is, the preheating device 60 may include Figure 30 to Figure 35 One or more of the anti-retention mechanisms shown.

[0284] Furthermore, the preheating device 60 is preferably provided with a retention detection mechanism that detects retention of the molding material Mm in the material conveying passage 22. The retention detection mechanism may be, for example, a sensor that detects retention based on temperature, an image captured by a camera, infrared rays, or laser.

[0285] Such a sensor of the retention detection mechanism is preferably provided at the front end side of the material conveying passage 22 in the material passing direction, that is, at a position near the material conveying passage 22 closer to the material passing direction than the supply container 26. Fig.29As shown, the sensors 23d may be provided in plurality at intervals along the lateral direction of the channel forming member 23, on the front end side of the material passing direction of the material conveying channel 22, on the outer side of the channel width direction of the channel forming member 23. Thus, the position where the molding material Mm is accumulated in the lateral direction of the channel forming member 23 can be found as early as possible.

[0286] Assuming that the sensor 23d of the retention detection mechanism is set as a temperature sensor, it is preferable to configure the temperature sensor so that the temperature of the molding material Mm located at the front end side of the material passing direction of the material conveying passage 22 can be measured by the temperature sensor. The temperature of the molding material Mm mentioned here may be the temperature of the molding material Mm itself, the temperature of the passage forming member 23, or the temperature of the space in the vent 23b of the passage forming member 23. In the case of a contact temperature sensor, in order to measure the temperature of the molding material Mm itself or the temperature of the passage forming member 23, for example, the temperature sensor is configured so that the temperature sensor passes through the vent 23b of the passage forming member 23 and the front end thereof contacts the molding material Mm, or the front end of the temperature sensor contacts the passage forming member 23.

[0287] The anti-retention mechanism may operate continuously when the injection molding machine is operating, or may operate intermittently at a specific time such as when the retention detection mechanism detects retention of the molding material Mm in the material conveying passage 22 .

[0288] A plurality of material conveying channels may also be provided (not shown). In this case, the area of ​​each material conveying channel can be reduced, thereby miniaturizing the preheating device. For example, when two or more material conveying channels arranged in parallel to each other are provided, from the viewpoint of achieving rapid and uniform preheating of the molding material Mm, it is preferred to provide heating elements on both sides of each material conveying channel in the channel width direction.

[0289] On the other hand, it is also possible to Fig.36 As in the illustrated embodiment, the material conveying passage is omitted, and the passage outlet 61 c of the material passage 61 is directly connected to the opening 26 c of the supply container 26 . Fig.36 The preheating device 260 is omitted Fig.23 The frame 25 and the internal structure (i.e., the material conveying channel 22, the channel forming member 23 and the heating element 24) of the preheating device 60 are provided. Fig.23 The preheating device 60 has substantially the same structure. Fig.36In the preheating device 260 shown, the molding material Mm heated by the superheated steam Ss and passing through the material passage 61 is supplied to the inside of the cylinder 11 through the supply container 26. At this time, a hot air heating type heater (not shown) may be provided at the passage outlet 61c of the material passage 61, and the molding material Mm may be dried there. In addition, the supply container 26 may be further omitted, and the passage outlet of the material passage may be connected to the supply port of the cylinder (not shown).

[0290] Fig.37 A preheating device 460 according to yet another embodiment is shown. Fig.37 The preheating device 460 does not have a conveying mechanism such as a preheating screw, and the molding material Mm falls downward due to its own weight and passes through the material passage 461. Here, the material passage direction of the material passage 461 is the same as the material passing direction of the material conveying passage 22, and the material passage 461 may be inclined relative to the vertical direction as long as the molding material Mm can pass through.

[0291] In the preheating device 460, for example, a plurality of superheated steam inlets 462 are provided in the channel partition wall 463 around the material channel 461. The superheated steam Ss is sent from the superheated steam inlet 462 into the material channel 461 to heat the molding material Mm.

[0292] In the preheating device 460 having such a material passage 461 and a superheated steam inlet 462, the frame 25 and its internal structure (ie, the material conveying passage 22, the passage forming member 23 and the heating element 24) and / or the supply container 26 may be omitted.

[0293] (Control of preheating device)

[0294] The preheating devices 60, 360, and 460 can be controlled, for example, as follows. In addition, here, as an example, the control thereof will be described using the preheating device 60 among the preheating devices 60, 360, and 460.

[0295] When the preheating device 60 is used, as described above, the temperature of the molding material Mm at the front end side of the material passing direction of the material conveying passage 22 is always monitored by the temperature sensor or the like as the sensor 23d, and the sensor 23d is provided at the front end side of the material passing direction of the material conveying passage 22 as a retention detection mechanism or the like. The information on the temperature of the molding material Mm thus measured is sent to, for example, the control unit of the injection molding machine.

[0296] During normal operation, Fig.38As shown in (a), the molding material Mm is heated by the heating gas Gh or the like, so that the temperature rises as it moves along the material passing direction in the material conveying passage 22. At this time, the heating temperature or other conditions of the heating element 24 are sometimes set so that the temperature of the molding material Mm is lower than the allowable upper limit value Tu, which is predetermined to be a temperature lower than the melting point Tm of the molding material Mm. The allowable upper limit value Tu can be set, for example, to a temperature about 10°C lower than the melting point Tm.

[0297] Here, when the operation of the injection molding machine is stopped for some reason, or when the sensor 23d as the retention detection mechanism detects the retention of the molding material Mm in the material conveying passage 22 regardless of whether the anti-retention mechanism is working, as shown in FIG. Fig.38 As shown in (b), the temperature of the molding material Mm may rise in the material conveying passage 22. If the temperature of the molding material Mm approaches the melting point Tm or exceeds the melting point Tm, the molding materials Mm or the molding material Mm and the passage forming member 23 melt and fuse, and the molding material Mm may not be able to pass through the material conveying passage 22.

[0298] In order to prevent this situation, when the injection molding machine stops working, or when the molding material Mm is detected to be retained in the material conveying passage 22 (for example, when the molding material Mm is detected to be retained while the anti-retention mechanism is continuously working, or when the molding material Mm is detected to be retained in the material conveying passage 22 while the anti-retention mechanism is not working, and in response to this, the anti-retention mechanism is operated, but even this cannot solve the retention and the retention is still detected), the control unit sends a work stop signal or a retention detection signal. In response, the control unit sends a heating stop signal to the preheating device 60 to stop the heating of the molding material Mm by the heating element 24, and the preheating device 60 stops the heating of the molding material Mm by the heating element 24. That is, the preheating device 60 stops the heating of the molding material Mm by the heating element 24 according to the work stop information of the injection molding machine and / or the information related to the retention of the molding material Mm in the material conveying passage 22.

[0299] In addition, the operation stop of the injection molding machine includes, for example, stopping due to completion of production, stopping due to detection of abnormality, stopping due to pressing of an emergency stop button, etc. Such a stop can be detected by various sensors and the like.

[0300] Even when the heating of the molding material Mm by the heating element 24 is stopped, the temperature of the molding material Mm in the material conveying passage 22 may rise due to residual heat. Therefore, when the temperature of the molding material Mm measured by the temperature sensor after the heating of the heating element 24 is stopped satisfies a predetermined reference, such as Fig.38As shown in (c), for example, the molding material Mm in the material conveying passage 22 is cooled by cooling gas Gc or the like.

[0301] The above-mentioned prescribed reference for starting the cooling of the molding material Mm may be a reference determined by comparing the actual measured value of the temperature of the molding material Mm with the allowable upper limit value Tu. Specifically, the cooling of the molding material Mm may be started based on the actual measured value of the temperature of the molding material Mm reaching the allowable upper limit value Tu. Alternatively, the amount of temperature rise that the molding material Mm may rise in the future may be estimated based on the difference between the temperature of the molding material Mm and the ambient temperature of the preheating device 60, and a reference determined by comparing the estimated temperature rise with the allowable upper limit value Tu may be used as the above-mentioned prescribed reference. Alternatively, a reference determined by comparing the estimated value of the temperature of the molding material Mm with the allowable upper limit value Tu may be used as the above-mentioned prescribed reference. In other words, the preheating device 60 cools the molding material Mm in the material conveying passage 22 based on information related to the temperature of the molding material Mm.

[0302] The cooling of the molding material Mm can be achieved by setting the hot air heating type heating element of the heating element 24 or the blowing section 30 to a structure that can transport normal temperature gas such as cold air or cooling gas Gc. In addition, a cooling section for cooling the molding material Mm in the material conveying channel 22 can be set separately in the preheating device 60 together with the heating element 24 or the blowing section 30.

[0303] This can effectively prevent the material conveying passage 22 from being clogged due to melting of the molding material Mm.

[0304] An example of the above control is shown in Fig.39 .exist Fig.39 In the process, first, the molding material Mm is passed through the preheating device 60 and then supplied to the inside of the cylinder 11 to form the molded product. During this period, if the injection molding machine stops working, the heating element 24 is stopped. For example, if the molding material Mm is retained in the material conveying channel 22 while the anti-retention mechanism is continuously working, the heating element 24 is stopped even if the injection molding machine is not stopped. In addition, in the case where the injection molding machine is not stopped and the anti-retention mechanism stops working, resulting in the molding material Mm being retained in the material conveying channel 22, first, the anti-retention mechanism is operated, and if the retention cannot be resolved even in this way, the heating element 24 is stopped. In the case where the injection molding machine is not stopped and the molding material Mm is not retained, molding continues. In addition, the confirmation of whether the injection molding machine is stopped and the confirmation of whether the molding material Mm is retained can be switched in order, or only one of them can be confirmed.

[0305] Next, after stopping the heater 24, it is checked whether the temperature of the molding material Mm is above the allowable upper limit. If the temperature of the molding material Mm is above the allowable upper limit, the molding material Mm is cooled and it is checked again whether the temperature of the molding material Mm is above the allowable upper limit.

[0306] When the temperature of the molding material Mm is lower than the allowable upper limit, it is determined whether to restart molding. When it is determined that molding can be restarted, molding is restarted.

[0307] (Injection device)

[0308] like Fig. 22 As shown in the example, the injection device 1 to which the preheating device 60 described above can be applied mainly comprises: the preheating device 60; the cylinder 11, in which the molding material supplied from the preheating device 60 is melted; the screw 12, which is driven to rotate inside the cylinder 11 to plasticize the molding material; and the metering motor 31, which is arranged on the rear side of the rotation axis direction of the screw 12 ( Fig. 22 and an injection motor 41, which is disposed further rearwardly of the metering motor 31.

[0309] A heater 13 is disposed around the cylinder 11, and the heater 13 heats the molding material plasticized by the screw 12 inside the cylinder 11. The cylinder 11 has an inner and outer diameter at the front end side in the direction of the rotation axis ( Fig. 22 The cylinder 11 has a front end portion 14 which is reduced in size and a heater 13 is also arranged around the front end portion 14. In addition, the cylinder 11 is provided with a through-hole-shaped supply port 11a at the rear end side in the direction of the rotation axis, and the preheating device 60 is installed therein.

[0310] The metering motor 31 and the injection motor 41 are fixed to the back side of the rear end side of the rotation axis direction of each of the two motor support plates 32 and 42 arranged at a distance from each other in a posture standing on the slide base 101. The screw 12 is driven to rotate by the metering motor 31 and is driven to move forward and backward by the injection motor 41. The two motor support plates 32 and 42 are connected to each other by rods 51 at multiple positions (for example, four positions) around the metering motor 31.

[0311] The metering motor 31 mainly includes: a rotor 33; a stator 34, which is arranged around the rotor 33; and a stator frame 35, which surrounds the rotor 33 and the stator 34 and has the stator 34 arranged on the inner surface. The rotor 33 of the metering motor 31 is supported on the inner side of the stator frame 35 through bearings 33a at each end in the direction of the rotation axis. In addition, the rotor 33 is spline-connected to the periphery of the metering spline shaft 36, and the metering spline shaft 36 is connected to the screw mounting portion 37 on which the screw 12 is mounted. In addition, at the rear end in the direction of the rotation axis of the outer peripheral surface of the metering spline shaft 36, one or more keys 36a corresponding to the key grooves arranged on the inner peripheral surface of the rotor 33 are formed. As a result, the rotational driving force is transmitted from the metering motor 31 to the screw 12, so that the screw 12 can be rotated.

[0312] The injection motor 41 mainly includes: a rotor 43; a stator 44 arranged around the rotor 43; and a stator frame 45, which is provided so as to surround the rotor 43 and the stator 44, and the stator 44 is provided on the inner surface. The rotor 43 is supported on the inner side of the stator frame 45 via bearings 43a at each end in the direction of the rotation axis. The rotor 43 of the injection motor 41 is connected to a drive shaft. More specifically, the drive shaft includes: an injection spline shaft 46 spline-connected to the rotor 43 in a groove 43b provided on the inner circumference of the cylindrical rotor 43; a screw shaft 48 connected to the injection spline shaft 46; and a rotating shaft 50 rotatably mounted on the inner side of the metering spline shaft 36 via a bearing 49. The screw nut 47 screwed with the screw shaft 48 is mounted on the motor support plate 42 via a pressure detector 38 described later. With this structure, the rotational driving force of the injection motor 41 is converted into a linear driving force in the rotation axis direction of the screw 12 , and is transmitted to the screw 12 .

[0313] In addition, a pressure detector 38 is arranged between the stator frame 45 of the injection motor 41 and the motor support plate 42. The pressure detector 38 is mounted on the motor support plate 42 and the lead screw nut 47, respectively, to detect the load acting on the pressure detector 38 on the transmission path of the driving force from the injection motor 41 to the screw 12. A cylindrical portion 39 is interposed between the pressure detector 38 and the stator frame 45.

[0314] An encoder 45a is provided on the rear end surface of the stator frame 45 of the injection motor 41 located on the opposite side of the drive shaft in the rotation axis direction. The encoder 45a is connected to the rotor 43 and the shaft portion 45b to detect the rotation of the rotor 43.

[0315] If describing an example of the molding process of the injection molding machine equipped with such an injection device 1, a mold closing process is performed, in which a mold device (not shown) is closed to make it a mold closing state in a state where a predetermined amount of molding material has been accumulated and arranged inside the cylinder 11 in the second half of the previous molding process. Then, a filling process is performed in order to inject the molding material into the mold device by advancing the screw 12, thereby filling the cavity in the mold device with the molding material; and a pressure holding process is performed in order to further advance the screw 12 to maintain the molding material inside the front end 14 of the cylinder 11 at a predetermined pressure.

[0316] Then, a cooling process is performed, in which the molding material filled in the mold device is cooled and solidified to obtain a molded product. At this time, a metering process is performed, in which the molding material separately supplied from the preheating device 60 to the cylinder body 11 is conveyed toward the front end portion 14 of the cylinder body 11 by the rotation of the screw 12 under the heating of the heater 13, and the molding material is melted at the same time, so that a predetermined amount of molding material is arranged at the front end portion 14.

[0317] Here, in this embodiment, the molding material supplied to the cylinder 11 has been heated to an appropriate temperature by the preheating device 60. Therefore, even if the screw 12 is rotated at a high speed to convey the molding material to the front end 14 of the cylinder 11 in a short time, the molding material can be fully plasticized. As a result, the time required for the molding material to accumulate in the front end 14 of the cylinder 11 is shortened, thereby shortening the molding cycle.

[0318] In addition, thereafter, a removal step is performed in which the mold device is opened to be in an open mold state, and the molded product is removed from the mold device by an ejector device or the like.

[0319] [Fourth Invention]

[0320] In this embodiment, the preheating device 21 is used to preheat the molding material. Fig.40 The injection device 1 illustrated in FIG. 2 can supply the preheated molding material to the injection device 1 . Fig.40 The injection device 1 illustrated in the figure is, for example, arranged on a sliding base 101 of a moving device that moves the injection device 1 forward / backward in the injection molding machine to inject molding material into the mold device. The injection device 1 may include a preheating device 21 and a cylinder 11 to which molding material preheated by the preheating device is supplied to melt the molding material inside. In addition, the illustrated injection device 1 also includes a screw 12 that is rotationally driven inside the cylinder 11 to plasticize the molding material and a heater 13 that is arranged around the cylinder 11 to heat the molding material inside the cylinder 11, etc. The detailed structure of the injection device 1 will be described later.

[0321] (Preheating device)

[0322] The preheating device 21 is arranged in the direction of the rotation axis of the screw 12 of the injection device 1 ( Fig.40 In the left-right direction), the rear end portion of the cylinder 11 is mounted on the side opposite to the front end portion 14 of the injection molding material. Fig.41 As shown, the preheating device 21 is connected to a through-hole supply port 11a provided at a part of the circumference at the rear end of the cylinder 11, and substantially supplies molding material Mm such as spherical, cylindrical or other shaped resin particles to the supply port 11a.

[0323] In the first embodiment, the preheating device 21 includes: a material conveying passage 22 for the molding material Mm to pass through; a heating unit 24 for heating the molding material Mm passing through the material conveying passage 22; and a cooling unit ( Fig.41 (not shown in the figure), the molding material Mm passing through the material conveying channel 22 is cooled.

[0324] In the preheating device 21 having such a structure, the molding material Mm supplied to the inside of the cylinder 11 can be preheated before being supplied. As a result, after the preheated molding material Mm is supplied to the inside of the cylinder 11 through the supply port 11a, it is fully melted in the inside in a short time and injected from the front end of the cylinder 11, so that the molding cycle can be shortened. In addition, even if the injection device stops during injection molding and the movement of the molding material Mm in the material conveying channel 22 stops, the molding material Mm passing through the material conveying channel 22 can be cooled by the cooling unit, so that the molding material Mm can be prevented from being melted and fused due to the residual heat in the material conveying channel 22.

[0325] (Control of preheating device)

[0326] Here, if Fig.42 As shown in the block diagram of , the preheating device 21 may further include a control unit, which controls the heating unit 24 and / or the cooling unit. Fig.42 As shown, the control unit can control the heating unit 24 and / or the cooling unit based on the signal obtained by the working state detection mechanism, the retention detection mechanism and / or the temperature information detection mechanism described later.

[0327] The control unit can control the preheating device 21 as follows, for example.

[0328] In addition, when the injection device 1 includes the preheating device 21 , a control unit included in the injection device 1 for controlling the operation of the injection device 1 may also serve as a control unit for controlling the heating unit 24 and / or the cooling unit.

[0329] When the preheating device 21 is used, the temperature of the molding material Mm at the front end side of the material conveying passage 22 in the material passing direction is always monitored by a temperature sensor or the like provided at a portion of the material conveying passage 22, for example, at the front end side in the material passing direction. The information on the temperature of the molding material Mm thus measured is sent to, for example, a control unit of the preheating device 21.

[0330] During normal operation, Fig.43 As shown in (a), the molding material Mm is heated by the heating gas Gh generated by the heating unit 24, so that the temperature rises as the material moves along the material passing direction in the material conveying passage 22. At this time, the heating temperature or other conditions of the heating unit 24 are sometimes set so that the temperature of the molding material Mm is lower than the allowable upper limit value Tu, which is predetermined to be a temperature lower than the melting point Tm of the molding material Mm. The allowable upper limit value Tu can be set, for example, to a temperature about 10°C lower than the melting point Tm.

[0331] Here, if the operation of the injection molding machine stops for some reason or the molding material Mm is retained in the material conveying passage 22, the movement of the molding material Mm may stop in the material conveying passage 22. Fig.43 As shown in (b), the temperature of the molding material Mm may rise in the material conveying passage 22. If the temperature of the molding material Mm approaches the melting point Tm or exceeds the melting point Tm, the molding materials Mm or the molding material Mm and the passage forming member 23 melt and fuse, and the molding material Mm may not be able to pass through the material conveying passage 22.

[0332] In addition, as described later, the preheating devices 21 and 60 of the first and second embodiments may be provided with an anti-retention mechanism, but the above-mentioned "case where the molding material Mm is retained in the material conveying passage 22" also includes a case where the molding material Mm is retained in the material conveying passage 22 regardless of whether the anti-retention mechanism is working at this time.

[0333] In order to prevent this situation, the preheating device 21 is provided with an operating state detection mechanism for detecting the operating state of the injection device 1 and / or a retention detection mechanism for detecting the retention of the molding material Mm in the material conveying passage 22. When the operating state detection mechanism detects information related to the stop of the operation of the injection device 1, or when the retention detection mechanism detects information related to the retention of the molding material Mm, its detection signal (specifically, the operation stop signal of the injection device 1 or the retention detection signal of the molding material Mm) is sent to the control unit. In response to this, the control unit controls the heating unit 24. Specifically, the control unit sends a heating stop signal to the preheating device 21 to stop the heating of the molding material Mm by the heating unit 24, and the preheating device 21 stops the heating of the molding material Mm by the heating unit 24.

[0334] In addition, as described later, when the preheating devices 21, 60 of the first embodiment and the second embodiment are equipped with an anti-retention mechanism, the above-mentioned "case in which the retention detection mechanism detects information related to the retention of the molding material Mm" also includes, for example, the following cases: the retention of the molding material Mm is detected during the period when the anti-retention mechanism is continuously operating; or the retention of the molding material Mm in the material conveying passage 22 is detected during the period when the anti-retention mechanism is not operating, and in response to this, the anti-retention mechanism is operated, but even so, the retention cannot be resolved and retention is still detected.

[0335] In this way, the preheating device 21 has a working state detection mechanism and / or a retention detection mechanism, and the control unit controls the heating unit 24 according to the information detected by the working state detection mechanism and / or the retention detection mechanism, thereby stopping the heating of the heating unit 24, thereby preventing the molding material Mm from melting and fusing due to excessive heating in the material conveying channel 22.

[0336] In addition, in this specification, the state in which the movement of the molding material Mm stops refers to the state in which the movement of the entire molding material Mm stops, and does not mean that each molding material Mm stops in a strict sense.

[0337] Furthermore, the detection by the working state detection mechanism can be performed, for example, by providing a transmission unit that transmits the working state of the injection device 1, and more specifically, transmits the working state of the metering motor 31 or the injection motor 41 of the injection device 1. Furthermore, the working state detection mechanism can also detect, for example, stopping due to completion of production, stopping due to detection of an abnormality, stopping due to pressing of an emergency stop button, etc., and the above-mentioned stopping can be detected by various sensors and the like.

[0338] Furthermore, the detection of the accumulation of the molding material Mm in the material conveying passage 22 by the accumulation detection mechanism can be performed by using a sensor that detects the accumulation of the molding material Mm in the material conveying passage 22 .

[0339] Even when the heating of the molding material Mm by the heating unit 24 is stopped, the temperature of the molding material Mm in the material conveying passage 22 may sometimes rise due to residual heat. In order to prevent this, the preheating device 21 has a temperature information detection mechanism, which detects information related to the temperature of the molding material Mm in the material conveying passage 22. When the temperature information detection mechanism detects information related to the temperature of the molding material Mm in the material conveying passage 22 after the heating by the heating unit 24 is stopped, specifically, for example, when the temperature information detection mechanism detects that the temperature of the molding material Mm measured by the temperature sensor satisfies a prescribed reference, the detection signal thereof is sent to the control unit. In response to this, the control unit controls the cooling unit. Specifically, the control unit controls the cooling unit, such as Fig.43 As shown in (c), for example, the molding material Mm in the material conveying passage 22 is cooled by cooling gas Gc or the like.

[0340] The above-mentioned prescribed benchmark for starting the cooling of the molding material Mm may be a benchmark determined by comparing the actual measured value of the temperature of the molding material Mm with the allowable upper limit value Tu. Specifically, the cooling of the molding material Mm may be started based on the actual measured value of the temperature of the molding material Mm reaching the allowable upper limit value Tu. Alternatively, the amount of temperature rise that the molding material Mm may rise in the future may be estimated based on the difference between the temperature of the molding material Mm and the ambient temperature of the material conveying passage 22, and a benchmark determined by comparing the estimated temperature rise with the allowable upper limit value Tu may be used as the above-mentioned prescribed benchmark. Alternatively, a benchmark determined by comparing the estimated value of the temperature of the molding material Mm with the allowable upper limit value Tu may be used as the above-mentioned prescribed benchmark. Furthermore, the information that at least one of the above-mentioned benchmarks is satisfied is included in the information related to the temperature of the molding material Mm in the material conveying passage 22 detected by the temperature information detection mechanism.

[0341] In addition, the cooling of the cooling unit only needs to reduce the temperature of the molding material Mm, and the cooling medium sprayed on the molding material Mm can be cold air, or it can be air with a temperature lower than the temperature of the molding material Mm (for example, air at room temperature). In addition, the cooling unit can be provided in the preheating device 21, but it can also be achieved by setting the heating unit 24 as a structure that can transport room temperature gas such as cold air or cooling gas Gc.

[0342] This can effectively prevent the material conveying passage 22 from being clogged due to melting of the molding material Mm.

[0343] An example of the above control is shown in Fig.44 .exist Fig.44In the present invention, first, the molding material Mm is passed through the preheating device 21 and then supplied to the inside of the cylinder 11 to form a molded product. During this period, if the working state detection mechanism detects information related to the stop of the operation of the injection device 1 (for example, the operation of the injection device 1 stops), the heating unit 24 is stopped according to the control of the control unit. If the retention detection mechanism detects information related to the retention of the molding material Mm (for example, the retention of the molding material Mm occurs in the material conveying channel 22), the heating unit 24 is stopped according to the control of the control unit even if the operation of the injection device 1 does not stop. In the case where the operation of the injection device 1 does not stop and the retention of the molding material Mm does not occur, the molding continues. In addition, the confirmation of whether the operation of the injection device 1 stops and the confirmation of whether the retention of the molding material Mm occurs can be switched in order, or only one of them can be confirmed.

[0344] In addition, as described later, when the preheating device 21, 60 of the first embodiment and the second embodiment is equipped with an anti-stagnation mechanism, the above-mentioned "if the molding material Mm is stagnated in the material conveying passage 22, even if the operation of the injection device 1 is not stopped" also includes, for example: if the molding material Mm is stagnated in the material conveying passage 22, even if the anti-stagnation mechanism continues to operate. In the case of the anti-stagnation mechanism, when the operation of the injection device 1 is not stopped and the anti-stagnation mechanism stops operating, resulting in the molding material Mm being stagnated in the material conveying passage 22, it is preferred that the anti-stagnation mechanism is first operated, and if the stagnation cannot be resolved even in this way, the heating unit 24 is stopped.

[0345] Next, after the heating unit 24 is stopped, it is confirmed whether the temperature of the molding material Mm is above the allowable upper limit. That is, when the temperature information detection mechanism detects information related to the temperature of the molding material Mm in the material conveying passage 22 (for example, information that the temperature of the molding material Mm is above the allowable upper limit), the cooling unit is started according to the control of the control unit to cool the molding material Mm. Then, it is confirmed by the temperature information detection mechanism whether the information related to the temperature is still detected, that is, it is reconfirmed whether the temperature of the molding material Mm is above the allowable upper limit.

[0346] When the temperature information detection means does not detect information related to temperature (for example, when the temperature of the molding material Mm is lower than the allowable upper limit), it is determined whether to restart molding. When it is determined that molding can be restarted, molding is restarted.

[0347] (Preheating device according to the first embodiment)

[0348] Next, the preheating device according to the first embodiment will be described in more detail with reference to the drawings.

[0349] In the first embodiment, if Fig.41 As shown, the preheating device 21 has: a material conveying channel 22 for the molding material Mm to pass through; and a heating unit 24 for heating the molding material Mm passing through the material conveying channel 22. Here, the material conveying channel 22 has a pair of channel forming components 23, and the pair of channel forming components 23 are arranged opposite to each other and the material conveying channel 22 is divided between them. In addition, the heating unit 24 is arranged on the outside of the material conveying channel 22 in the channel width direction across the channel forming components 23. The channel width direction mentioned here refers to the arrangement direction of the channel forming components 23 arranged parallel to each other, and refers to the direction in which the molding material Mm passes in the material conveying channel 22, that is, the material passing direction ( Fig.41 The direction perpendicular to the up and down direction) Fig.41 In addition, the material conveying passage 22, the passage forming member 23 and the heating unit 24 are arranged to be accommodated in a box-shaped frame body 25 made of a heat insulating material or the like.

[0350] In the preheating device 21 having such a structure, the molding material Mm supplied to the inside of the cylinder 11 can be preheated before being supplied. As a result, after the preheated molding material Mm is supplied to the inside of the cylinder 11 through the supply port 11a, it is fully melted in the inside in a short time and injected from the front end of the cylinder 11, so that the molding cycle can be shortened.

[0351] And, here, if Fig.41 As shown by the arrow in , the material conveying passage 22 is partitioned and at least one of the paired passage forming members 23 is movable, so that the preheating device 21 is configured to be able to adjust the interval between the paired passage forming members 23, that is, the passage width of the material conveying passage 22. At least one of the passage forming members 23 is movable in the passage width direction, for example, by manually moving the user by placing a spacer between the installation positions of the user inside the frame 25 or automatically moving the user by using a motor or other actuator.

[0352] By being able to adjust the channel width of the material delivery channel 22, it is possible to set an appropriate channel width corresponding to various molding materials Mm having various sizes and shapes. Fig.41As shown in the figure, when the channel width is set to a degree that only one molding material Mm passes through, the molding materials Mm pass through the material conveying channel 22 in a posture that is roughly arranged in a row. At this time, most of the molding materials Mm are effectively heated by the heating portion 24 on the outer side of the channel width direction of the channel forming member 23. As a result, it is possible to effectively prevent the molten molding material injected from the front end of the cylinder 11 from being mixed with unmelted molding material, thereby preventing the appearance of the molded product from being poor or the strength from being reduced.

[0353] The channel width set by the movable channel forming component 23 is preferably greater than the length of one molding material Mm and less than the length of two molding materials Mm. At this time, it is possible to suppress the overlapping of multiple molding materials Mm in the material conveying channel 22 in the channel width direction, so that most of these molding materials Mm can be further effectively heated. The length of one molding material Mm is preferably the shortest dimension of the molding material Mm. For example, in the case where the molding material Mm is roughly spherical, it is preferably its diameter, or, in the case where the molding material Mm is an irregular sphere with an ellipse or an oblong cross-section, it is preferably the diameter of its shortest side. Alternatively, the molding material Mm is sometimes cylindrical, prism or other columnar, so that the shorter dimension of its diameter or width and height is set to the length of one molding material Mm.

[0354] In addition, at the front end side of the material passing direction of the material conveying passage 22 ( Fig.41 A supply container 26 (the supply container 26 for supplying the cylinder body, also referred to as the supply container 26) such as a hopper is provided on the lower surface of the frame 25 (the lower end side) for supplying the molding material Mm to the cylinder body. In the example shown in the figure, the supply container 26 has, for example, a truncated cone-shaped portion 26a whose inner and outer shapes are both truncated cones, and a cylindrical portion 26b formed at the end of the small diameter side of the truncated cone-shaped portion 26a. After receiving the molding material Mm after passing through the material conveying passage 22 through the truncated cone-shaped portion 26a, the supply container 26 supplies it to the inside of the cylinder body 11 through the cylindrical portion 26b in front thereof. An opening portion 26c having a width substantially the same as that of the material conveying passage 22 is formed at the end of the truncated cone-shaped portion 26a, and the molding material Mm after passing through the material conveying passage 22 enters the supply container 26 from the opening portion 26c.

[0355] Furthermore, at the rear end side of the material passing direction of the material conveying passage 22 ( Fig.41A supply container 27 (supply container 27 for supplying the channel, also referred to as supply container 27 for short) for supplying the molding material to the channel, such as a hopper for storing a plurality of molding materials Mm and supplying an appropriate amount of the molding material Mm to the material conveying channel 22, is placed on the upper surface of the frame 25. The supply container 27 has a cylindrical portion 27a and a tapered portion 27b provided on the material conveying channel 22 side of the cylindrical portion 27a and having gradually decreasing inner and outer diameters to form a tapered shape.

[0356] In the example shown in the figure, the molding material Mm is supplied to the preheating device 21 from the supply container 27 for channel supply. Then, the molding material Mm supplied to the preheating device 21 passes through the material conveying channel 22 while being preheated, and after passing through the supply container 26 for cylinder supply, it is supplied to the inside of the cylinder 11. That is, here, the molding material Mm preheated by the preheating device 21 is supplied to the inside of the cylinder 11. However, the shape of the supply container 26 and / or the supply container 27 is not limited to this, and can be appropriately changed, and sometimes the supply container 26 and / or the supply container 27 is omitted. Assuming that the supply container 26 for cylinder supply is omitted, the frame of the preheating device will be arranged on the cylinder, so that the front end side of the material passing direction of the material conveying channel will be directly connected to the supply port of the cylinder. At this time, the molding material Mm preheated by the preheating device will be supplied to the inside of the cylinder immediately after the preheating.

[0357] Here, the heating unit 24 may be arranged only on one side of the material conveying passage 22 outside the passage width direction of one of the passage forming members 23, but in this embodiment, the heating unit 24 is arranged on both sides of the material conveying passage 22 outside the passage width direction of each passage forming member 23. In this way, the molding material Mm can be quickly heated by the heating units 24 on both sides, so that even if the passing speed of the molding material Mm in the material conveying passage 22 is relatively fast, the molding material Mm can be effectively heated. In addition, the conditions of the heating unit 24 and the like are set so that the molding material Mm reaches a desired temperature at the front end side of the material passing direction of the material conveying passage 22.

[0358] As long as the molding material Mm can be heated via the channel forming component 23, the heating method of the heating part 24 is not particularly limited. For example, a hot air heating type heater that transports a heating gas such as high-temperature air, an electric heating type heater such as a high-frequency dielectric heating, an infrared heating type heater such as a halogen lamp or a ceramic heating type heater, a laser heating type heater, etc. can be used. In the case where the heating part 24 is an infrared heating type heater or a laser heating type heater, the channel forming component 23 can be composed of a translucent or transparent material that transmits light or laser light, such as glass. In addition, the configuration of the heating part 24 is not limited to Fig.41 For example, it can also be arranged outside the frame 25 and allow hot air to flow through the material conveying passage 22.

[0359] As an example, the preheating device 21 shown in the figure has a heating unit 24 including a hot air heating type heater. Specifically, the hot air heating type heater can heat the compressed air delivered from the compressor through a jacket heater, etc., thereby obtaining hot air. The temperature of the hot air can be adjusted by changing the output of the jacket heater.

[0360] At this time, the channel forming member 23 may have a plurality of vents penetrating the channel forming member 23 along the channel width direction, so that the heated gas delivered from the hot air heating type heater passes to the material delivery channel 22. Thus, the heated gas from the heating portion 24 flows to the material delivery channel 22 through the vents of the channel forming member 23, so that the molding material Mm in the material delivery channel 22 can be heated by the heated gas.

[0361] Specifically, for example, Fig.45 As shown in (a), the channel forming member 23 may also be a plate-shaped member having a plurality of vent holes 23b formed on a plate 23a made of metal or the like by a stamping process, such as so-called stamped metal. In this case, by adjusting the processing method, a plurality of vent holes 23b arranged regularly can be formed on the plate 23a.

[0362] Or, if Fig.45 As shown in (b), the channel forming component 23 may be, for example, a mesh component in which wires 23c are arranged in a grid shape and a plurality of ventilation holes 23b in a square or other polygonal shape when viewed from the front are provided between them. If the thickness of such a mesh component is relatively thin, resulting in insufficient strength of the mesh component required for forming the material conveying channel 22 by the channel forming component 23, the mesh component and the reinforcement component may be overlapped to form the channel forming component 23 by these mesh components and reinforcement components. As long as the heated gas can pass through, the reinforcement component may be in various shapes such as a honeycomb or a grid. For example, the mesh of the reinforcement component may be coarser than the mesh of the mesh component. The mesh component shown in the figure is arranged so that the plurality of ventilation holes 23b are arranged along the longitudinal direction when viewed from the front ( Fig.45 (b) vertical direction) and horizontal direction ( Fig.45 (b) left and right direction) and are arranged regularly.

[0363] For example, when the material conveying passage 22 is divided and formed by the mesh-like passage forming member 23, as shown in FIG. Fig.46 As shown, a plurality of molding materials Mm are spread out in the transverse direction of the channel forming member 23, and as shown in FIG. Fig.46As shown by the arrow in the middle, the material moves along the longitudinal direction of the channel forming member 23, that is, the direction in which the material passes. In addition, between the paired channel forming members 23, a channel dividing member 22a in the shape of a square strip or the like is arranged on each side of the material conveying channel 22 in the lateral direction of the channel forming member 23, and the channel dividing member 22a divides the area of ​​the material conveying channel 22 in the lateral direction of the channel forming member 23.

[0364] When the vent holes 23b are evenly dispersed and regularly arranged when viewed from the front as in the mesh or plate-like passage forming member 23, the heated gas from the heating unit 24, which is a hot air heating type heater, can be evenly fed to the material conveying passage 22 in the longitudinal and transverse directions of the passage forming member 23. Thus, the heated gas is sprayed on most of the plurality of molding materials Mm passing through the material conveying passage 22, so that the molding materials Mm can be further effectively heated.

[0365] exist Fig.41 In the embodiment shown, as the plasticization by the screw 12 or the like inside the cylinder 11 progresses, the molding material Mm is supplied from the cylinder supply container 26 to the inside of the cylinder 11. At the same time, the molding material Mm in the channel supply container 27 is heated by the heating unit 24 after passing through the material conveying channel 22 in sequence, and then is put into the cylinder supply container 26. At this time, the speed of the molding material Mm passing through the material conveying channel 22 may depend on the speed of the plasticization of the molding material Mm inside the cylinder 11, but the passing speed of the molding material Mm can also be adjusted by changing the channel width as described above. In addition, as needed, a screw-shaped feeder or other supply adjustment machine (not shown) for adjusting the supply of the molding material Mm from the material conveying channel 22 to the supply container 26 can be set between the material conveying channel 22 and the supply container 26 to adjust the speed of the molding material Mm passing through the material conveying channel 22 and the degree of heating of the molding material Mm affected by it.

[0366] Furthermore, a mechanism (not shown) may be provided for changing the position of the material conveying passage 22 while keeping the passage width constant. By changing the position of the material conveying passage 22, the amount of the molding material Mm passing through per unit time can be adjusted.

[0367] Here, as described above, the preheating device 21 includes a cooling unit (not shown) for cooling the molding material Mm passing through the material conveying passage 22. Specifically, the cooling unit may be disposed at Fig.41The cooling medium generated by the cooling unit can flow into the interior of the frame 25 by using a pipe extending from the cooling unit to the interior of the frame 25, thereby cooling the molding material Mm passing through the material conveying passage 22. The cooling medium generated by the cooling unit can be cold air, or air having a temperature lower than that of the molding material Mm (for example, air at room temperature).

[0368] Furthermore, the cooling unit may be provided in the preheating device 21, but it may also be realized by providing the heating unit 24 with a structure capable of conveying normal temperature gas such as cold wind or the cooling gas Gc.

[0369] And, if Fig.42 As shown in the block diagram of , the preheating device 21 may further include a control unit, which controls the heating unit 24 and / or the cooling unit. Fig.42 As shown, the control unit may control the heating unit 24 and / or the cooling unit according to the signal obtained by the working state detection unit, the retention detection unit and / or the temperature information detection unit.

[0370] The operating state detection mechanism of the preheating device 21 of the first embodiment detects the operating state of the injection device 1, for example, when the operation of the injection molding machine stops for some reason. This detection can be performed by providing a transmission unit that transmits the operating state of the injection device 1, more specifically, the operating state of the metering motor 31 or the injection motor 41 of the injection device 1.

[0371] Furthermore, the accumulation detection mechanism detects information on accumulation of the molding material Mm when the molding material Mm accumulates in the material conveying passage 22 for some reason. This detection can be performed using a sensor that detects accumulation of the molding material Mm in the material conveying passage 22.

[0372] However, in the preheating device 21 of the first embodiment, as described below, it is preferable to provide a mechanism for preventing the molding material Mm from stagnating in the material transport passage 22 in the preheating device 21 from the beginning.

[0373] That is, in the mesh or plate-shaped channel forming member 23 having a plurality of vent holes 23b as in the first embodiment, the molding material Mm may be stuck in the vent holes 23b and the like in the material conveying channel 22 formed thereby, causing the molding material Mm to be clogged or accumulated in at least a portion of the lateral direction of the channel forming member 23. As described above, the accumulation of the molding material Mm in the material conveying channel 22 may cause the molding material Mm to be overheated or even melted.

[0374] Therefore, it is preferable to provide the preheating device 21 with an anti-retention mechanism for preventing the molding material Mm from being retained in the material conveying passage 22 .

[0375] As the anti-retention mechanism, for example, a driving unit may be provided. Figures 47 to 50 As shown, when the injection molding machine is working, the relative position and / or orientation of one of the channel forming members 23 relative to the other channel forming member 23 is changed by displacing at least one of the paired channel forming members 23 continuously or intermittently only when necessary. In addition, the illustration of the driving source thereof is omitted here.

[0376] like Fig.47 As shown in FIG. 1 , on the outer side of one of the channel forming members 23 in the channel width direction, square strip-shaped moving members 22b are respectively provided on both sides of the channel forming member 23 in the lateral direction. Fig.47 (b) and Fig.47 As shown by the arrow in (c), one of the passage forming members 23 is moved in the lateral direction of the passage forming members 23 by these moving members 22b, thereby changing the relative position of one of the passage forming members 23 with respect to the other passage forming member 23. Therefore, even if the molding material Mm is stuck in the vent hole 23b, the blocking can be released by moving one of the passage forming members 23, thereby preventing the molding material Mm from being retained.

[0377] Furthermore, one of the passage forming members 23 may be moved in a longitudinal direction (up and down direction) parallel to the material passing direction, instead of in a lateral direction of the passage forming member 23 .

[0378] exist Fig.48 In the anti-retention mechanism shown in FIG. 1 , a square strip-shaped moving member 22b is provided at both ends of the longitudinal direction of the channel forming member 23, outside the channel width direction of one channel forming member 23. During the period when the molding material Mm passes through, Fig.48 (b) and Fig.48 As shown in (c), the anti-retention mechanism moves one of the channel forming components 23 along the channel width direction by the moving component 22b, thereby changing the relative position of one of the channel forming components 23 relative to the other channel forming component 23. At this time, the channel width of the material conveying channel 22 increases or decreases slightly. In addition, Fig.48 The anti-retention mechanism can also be used as a mechanism for moving the channel forming member 23 to adjust the channel width as described above.

[0379] Fig.49The anti-retention mechanism comprises: a square bar-shaped moving part 22b, which is arranged at the longitudinal ends of one of the channel forming parts 23 on the outer side of the channel width direction; and a cylindrical fulcrum part 22c, which is arranged between the channel forming part 23 and the channel dividing part 22a at a midway position such as the center position of the material passing direction of the material conveying channel 22 and extends in the lateral direction of the channel forming part 23. Here, the fulcrum part 22c is installed on the channel dividing part 22a. At this time, if Fig.49 (b) and Fig.49 As shown in (c), if each moving member 22b is moved in opposite directions in the channel width direction, one of the channel forming members 23 is rotated and displaced around the fulcrum member 22c, and the direction becomes inclined relative to the other channel forming member 23. In more detail, when one end of the longitudinal direction of one of the channel forming members 23 approaches or moves away from the other channel forming member 23, the other end of the longitudinal direction of one of the channel forming members 23 moves away from or approaches the other channel forming member 23, and the direction of one of the channel forming members 23 changes in this way. In addition, at the same time, the channel width of the material conveying channel 22 sometimes becomes non-constant in the direction in which the material passes. This anti-retention mechanism can also effectively prevent the retention of the molding material Mm.

[0380] Fig.50 The anti-retention mechanism has Fig.49 The structure is roughly the same, but the fulcrum member 22c is fixed and installed on one of the channel forming members 23 instead of the channel dividing member 22a. Fig.50 In the embodiment, the fulcrum member 22c is driven to rotate instead of moving the moving member 22b, so that one of the channel forming members 23 is rotated and displaced around the fulcrum member 22c together with the fulcrum member 22c, thereby Fig.49 The orientation relative to the other passage forming member 23 is changed substantially in the same manner.

[0381] Or, if Fig.51 As shown in (a), the anti-retention mechanism may also be composed of an impact imparting portion 28, which is arranged outside the channel width direction of at least one of the channel forming members 23 and strikes the channel forming member 23 at a predetermined period or the like. The illustrated impact imparting portion 28 includes: a plate-like member 28b, which is arranged outside the channel width direction of another channel forming member 23 in parallel with the channel forming member 23 and has one or more through holes 28a formed therein; and one or more pin-like members 28c, which are arranged to pass through the through holes 28a of the plate-like member 28b and move away from / close to the other channel forming member 23. The same impact imparting portion 28 may also be provided outside the channel width direction of one of the channel forming members 23.

[0382] And, if Fig.51 As shown in (b), the anti-retention mechanism can be composed of a vibration imparting portion 29 such as one or more vibrators, and the vibration imparting portion 29 is installed on the surface of the outer side of the channel width direction of at least one of the channel forming components 23 (for example, another channel forming component 23) and imparts vibration to the channel forming component 23.

[0383] And, as an anti-retention mechanism, e.g. Fig.52 As shown in (a), a blower 30 may be provided, which is arranged outside the channel width direction of at least one of the channel forming components 23, so that gases of different flow rates pass through the vent holes 23b of the channel forming component 23 and are sprayed onto the molding material Mm in the material delivery channel 22. Fig.52 (b) or Fig.52 As shown in (c), the blast unit 30 changes the flow rate of the gas delivered to the molding material Mm in the material delivery channel 22 over time, thereby enabling the gas to be blown to the molding material Mm with varying strengths. In addition, when the gas is delivered from the blast unit 30 to the molding material Mm, it can be as follows Fig.52 (b) to periodically repeat periods of zero flow and periods of high flow, or Fig.52 (c) The period of low flow rate and the period of high flow rate are periodically repeated. The blast section 30 as the anti-stagnation mechanism may be separately provided, but the heating section 24 as the above-mentioned hot air heating type heating element may also be provided as the blast section 30, so that the heating section 24 is also used as the anti-stagnation mechanism. In the case where the heating section 24 is used as both the preheating and the anti-stagnation mechanism, the gas from the blast section 30 is equivalent to the heating gas from the heating section 24.

[0384] Furthermore, the cooling unit can also be used as an anti-stagnation mechanism by configuring the cooling unit as the blast unit 30 only for blowing air. When the cooling unit is used as both a cooling and anti-stagnation mechanism, the gas from the blast unit 30 corresponds to the cooling gas from the cooling unit.

[0385] like Figures 47 to 52 The above-mentioned anti-retention mechanism shown in the figure can be used in the preheating device 21 by using one of them, and in addition, they can also be used in combination. That is, the preheating device 21 may include Figures 47 to 52 One or more of the anti-retention mechanisms shown.

[0386] Furthermore, as described above, it is preferable to provide a retention detection mechanism (not shown) in the preheating device 21, which detects retention of the molding material Mm in the material conveying passage 22. The retention detection mechanism may be, for example, a sensor that detects retention based on temperature, an image captured by a camera, infrared rays, laser, or the like.

[0387] Such a sensor of the retention detection mechanism is preferably provided at the front end side of the material conveying passage 22 in the material passing direction, that is, at a position closer to the material conveying passage 22 than the cylinder supply container 26 in the material passing direction. Fig.46 As shown, the sensors 23d may be provided in plurality at intervals along the lateral direction of the channel forming member 23, on the front end side of the material passing direction of the material conveying channel 22, on the outer side of the channel width direction of the channel forming member 23. Thus, the position where the molding material Mm is accumulated in the lateral direction of the channel forming member 23 can be found as early as possible.

[0388] Assuming that the sensor 23d of the retention detection mechanism is set as a temperature sensor, it is preferable to configure the temperature sensor so that the temperature of the molding material Mm located at the front end side of the material passing direction of the material conveying passage 22 can be measured by the temperature sensor. The temperature of the molding material Mm mentioned here may be the temperature of the molding material Mm itself, the temperature of the passage forming member 23, or the temperature of the space in the vent 23b of the passage forming member 23. In the case of a contact temperature sensor, in order to measure the temperature of the molding material Mm itself or the temperature of the passage forming member 23, for example, the temperature sensor is configured so that the temperature sensor passes through the vent 23b of the passage forming member 23 and the front end thereof contacts the molding material Mm, or the front end of the temperature sensor contacts the passage forming member 23.

[0389] In addition, when the sensor 23d of the retention detection mechanism is a temperature sensor, it can be used in conjunction with the temperature sensor that can be used in the temperature information detection mechanism that can be provided in the preheating device 21. That is, when the temperature sensor is used in conjunction, the preheating device 21 can detect the retention of the molding material Mm by the temperature sensor as the retention detection mechanism, and the control unit controls the heating unit 24 based on the detection of the retention of the molding material Mm obtained by the retention detection mechanism, thereby stopping the heating of the heating unit 24. And, when the temperature information detection mechanism detects information related to the temperature of the molding material Mm in the material conveying passage 22, specifically, for example, when the temperature of the molding material Mm measured by the temperature sensor satisfies a predetermined reference, the control unit can control the cooling unit based on the information related to the temperature to cool the molding material Mm.

[0390] The anti-retention mechanism may operate continuously when the injection molding machine is operating, or may operate intermittently at a specific time such as when the retention detection mechanism detects retention of the molding material Mm in the material conveying passage 22 .

[0391] Furthermore, in the preheating device 21, in order to make the temperature information detection mechanism detect information related to the temperature, for example, a temperature sensor may be provided in the material conveying passage 22 (as described above, when the sensor 23d of the retention detection mechanism is set as a temperature sensor, it can be used concurrently). More specifically, it is preferable that the temperature sensor is configured so that the temperature of the molding material Mm located at the front end side of the material passing direction of the material conveying passage 22 can be measured by the temperature sensor. The temperature of the molding material Mm mentioned here may be the temperature of the molding material Mm itself, the temperature of the passage forming member 23, or the temperature of the space in the vent 23b of the passage forming member 23. In the case of a contact temperature sensor, in order to measure the temperature of the molding material Mm itself or the temperature of the passage forming member 23, for example, the temperature sensor is configured so that the temperature sensor passes through the vent 23b of the passage forming member 23 and the front end thereof contacts the molding material Mm, or the front end of the temperature sensor contacts the passage forming member 23.

[0392] Fig.53 1 shows a preheating device 121 of a first modified example of the first embodiment. The preheating device 121 has a supply container 127 for channel supply and a supply container 126 for cylinder supply that are substantially the same as the preheating device 21 described above, and is different from the preheating device 21 described above mainly in that a plurality of material conveying channels 122 are provided in a frame 125 therebetween. By providing a plurality of material conveying channels 122 in this manner, the area of ​​each material conveying channel 122 can be reduced, thereby miniaturizing the preheating device 121.

[0393] In more detail, the preheating device 121 has: three material conveying channels 122, all arranged in parallel to each other, for conveying the molding material Mm from the channel supply container 127 to the cylinder supply container 126; three pairs of channel forming members 123, for partitioning these material conveying channels 122; and a heating unit 124, for heating the molding material Mm in the material conveying channel 122 from the outer side in the channel width direction across the material conveying channel 122 and the channel forming member 123. Three openings 126c corresponding to the number of the material conveying channels 122 are provided at the end of the truncated cone-shaped portion 126a of the supply container 126.

[0394] From the viewpoint of realizing rapid and uniform preheating of the molding material Mm, as in the illustrated embodiment, the heating parts 124 are preferably provided on both sides of the channel width direction of each material conveying channel 122. The preheating device 121 is also configured such that at least one of the paired channel forming members 123 forming each material conveying channel 122 is movable, thereby being able to adjust the channel width of each material conveying channel 122. In addition, two or more material conveying channels (not shown) may be provided.

[0395] Fig.54 2 shows a preheating device 221 according to a second modified example of the first embodiment. Fig.54 In the preheating device 221, a pair of conveyor belts 223a are provided, and the pair of conveyor belts 223a include: a plurality of rollers 223b, including a driving roller and a driven roller; and a channel forming member 223, which is an endless ring-shaped belt wound around these rollers 223b. In addition, a material conveying channel 222 for the molding material Mm to pass through is defined between these conveyor belts 223a.

[0396] The pair of conveyor belts 223a are respectively driven by the driving rollers of the rollers 223b to rotate the channel forming member 223 as a belt, so that the molding material Mm is conveyed through the material conveying channel 222 between the pair of conveyor belts 223a in a state of being sandwiched between them. The molding material Mm after passing through the material conveying channel 222 is put into a supply container 226 for supplying a cylinder such as a hopper. The supply container 226 has a truncated cone-shaped portion 226a and a cylindrical portion 226b similar to the supply container 26 of the preheating device 21, and further, a cylindrical opening portion 226c is provided at the upper end of the truncated cone-shaped portion 226a for receiving the molding material Mm from the conveyor belts 223a. In addition, in this example, after the molding material Mm is conveyed in the material conveying channel 222 in the horizontal direction, it is put into the supply container 226, but the pair of conveyor belts 223a can also be arranged in an inclined or orthogonal direction relative to the horizontal direction, so that the material passing direction in the material conveying channel 222 becomes an inclined or orthogonal direction relative to the horizontal direction.

[0397] A heating unit 224 is arranged outside the conveyor belt 223a in the channel width direction. When the heating unit 224 is the hot air heating type heater, each belt as the channel forming member 223 can be composed of a mesh member as described above, so that the heated gas can pass through. In this way, the heated gas can be conveyed to the molding material Mm passing through the material conveying channel 222, thereby effectively heating the molding material Mm.

[0398] And, if Fig.54 As shown by the blank arrow in the middle, the preheating device 221 is configured to enable at least one of a pair of conveyor belts 223a to move together with the channel forming component 223 included therein to adjust the interval between the pair of conveyor belts 223a, that is, the channel width of the material conveying channel 222.

[0399] The preheating device 121 of the first modified example of the first embodiment and the preheating device 221 of the second modified example of the first embodiment can be controlled in the same manner as the control of the preheating device 21 described above.

[0400] (Preheating device of the second embodiment)

[0401] Next, the preheating device according to the second embodiment will be described in more detail with reference to the drawings.

[0402] and Fig.40 Similar to the preheating device 21 of the first embodiment shown, Fig.55 The preheating device 60 of the second embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1 is arranged in the direction of the rotation axis of the screw 12 of the injection device 1 ( Fig.55 In the left-right direction), the rear end portion of the cylinder 11 is mounted on the side opposite to the front end portion 14 of the injection molding material. Fig.56 As shown, the preheating device 60 is connected to a through-hole supply port 11a provided at a part of the circumference at the rear end of the cylinder 11, and substantially supplies molding material Mm such as spherical, cylindrical or other shaped resin particles to the supply port 11a.

[0403] Here, if Figure 55 to Figure 57 As shown, the preheating device 60 includes: a material passage 61 for the molding material Mm to pass through; and a superheated steam inlet 62 for introducing superheated steam Ss into the material passage 61 to heat the molding material Mm in the material passage 61. In the material passage 61, the molding material Mm is heated by the superheated steam Ss introduced from the superheated steam inlet 62. Thus, the molding material Mm can be preheated before being supplied to the cylinder 11.

[0404] The superheated steam introduced from the superheated steam inlet 62 into the material passage 61 can be generated by further heating the steam obtained by boiling and vaporizing water by a superheated steam generating device (not shown). Usually, heated air (hot air) or the like heats the heating object by convection heat transfer, whereas superheated steam not only heats the heating object by convection heat transfer, but also heats the heating object by radiation heat transfer and condensation heat transfer, and thus has a very large thermal energy compared to heated air or the like. Here, the molding material Mm is heated by the superheated steam introduced from the superheated steam inlet 62, so that the temperature of the molding material Mm rises to a predetermined temperature in a short time. As a result, in this embodiment, the preheating of the molding material Mm is performed instantaneously, so that the molding cycle of the injection molding machine can be shortened. This is particularly advantageous for high-cycle molding.

[0405] For example, the superheated steam generating device may have a structure in which a heating device such as a jacket heater is provided in a heat-insulating frame. In this case, the superheated steam generating device can heat saturated steam delivered from a boiler or the like to generate superheated steam.

[0406] The superheated steam inlet port 62 may be supplied with superheated steam generated by a superheated steam generating device that may be installed in an injection molding machine including an injection device. In addition, the superheated steam inlet port 62 may be supplied with superheated steam generated by a specified device at the installation location (such as a factory where the injection device is installed).

[0407] As shown in the example, the preheating device 60 may further include a channel partitioning wall portion 63 of a cylindrical or other cylindrical shape, and the channel partitioning wall portion 63 is provided around the material channel 61. The material channel 61 is provided inside the channel partitioning wall portion 63 in a partitioned manner. In particular, in this example, the cylindrical channel partitioning wall portion 63 is arranged in a lateral direction so that its central axis is, for example, aligned with the horizontal direction, i.e., the direction of the rotation axis of the screw 12 ( Figure 55 to Figure 57 The material channel 61 is substantially parallel to the left and right direction of the screw 12. In the material channel 61 on the inner side of the channel dividing wall portion 63, the molding material Mm moves along the above-mentioned rotation axis direction, and the direction in which the molding material Mm passes, that is, the material flow direction, becomes parallel to the rotation axis direction. However, as in the embodiment described later, the material channel 61 can be set so that the material flow direction in the material channel 61 becomes a vertical direction orthogonal to the rotation axis direction of the screw 12. In addition, the material channel 61 can be set obliquely so that the material flow direction in the material channel 61 becomes a direction inclined relative to the rotation axis direction of the screw 12 (not shown in the figure).

[0408] In addition, if Fig.57 As shown, the rear end side of the material passage 61 in the material passage direction ( Figure 55 to Figure 57 A hole-shaped channel inlet 61a is provided on the right side of the channel 63, and the channel inlet 61a is formed by hollowing out a part of the circumference of the channel partition wall 63. In essence, a truncated cone-shaped hopper 61b can be installed at the channel inlet 61a.

[0409] The material passage 61 has a front end side in the material passage direction ( Figure 55 to Figure 57 A channel outlet 61c is provided (on the left side in the figure), and the channel outlet 61c is protruded toward the outer peripheral side in a part of the circumferential direction of the channel dividing wall portion 63, and is formed into a tapered shape toward the lower side in the direction orthogonal to the material passing direction, that is, the front end side.

[0410] In addition, the preheating device 60 may further include a conveying mechanism that conveys the molding material Mm along the material passage direction in the material passage 61. In the second embodiment, as an example of the conveying mechanism, a preheating screw 64 is provided in the material passage 61. In addition to the preheating screw 64, the conveying mechanism may also be a conveyor belt or the like (not shown).

[0411] The preheating screw 64 shown in the figure includes: a rotating shaft 65, which is rotated around an axis in the material passage 61 along the material passing direction; and a thread 66, which is vertically provided on the outer peripheral surface of the rotating shaft 65 and extends around the above-mentioned axis in a predetermined shape such as a spiral shape, but the shape of the preheating screw 64 is not limited to this. If the preheating screw 64 is rotated by a driving source 67 such as a motor, then Fig.56 As shown, in the material passage 61 , the molding material Mm is conveyed along the material passing direction by a screw thread 66 provided on the outer peripheral surface of the rotating shaft 65 at the outer peripheral side of the rotating shaft 65 .

[0412] The preheating screw 64 of the second embodiment is formed as a hollow rotating shaft 65. Fig.57 As can be seen, the rotating shaft 65 has: an internal space 68 inside thereof; a cylindrical peripheral wall portion 69 that partitions the internal space 68; and a plurality of communication holes 70 formed in the peripheral wall portion 69 so as to penetrate the peripheral wall portion 69. In addition, here, the superheated steam inlet 62 is provided in the preheating screw 64, more specifically, in the front end surface of the rotating shaft 65 of the preheating screw 64 in the direction of the rotating axis. For example, the front end portion of the rotating shaft 65 of the preheating screw 64 in the direction of the rotating axis is exposed to the outside of the channel partitioning wall portion 63 from the opening portion 63a provided in the end surface of the channel partitioning wall portion 63 and is located at this position, so that the superheated steam inlet 62 can be provided at the front end portion.

[0413] In the material passage 61 provided with such a preheating screw 64, the superheated steam Ss introduced into the material passage 61 from the superheated steam inlet 62 once flows into the internal space 68 of the rotating shaft 65 of the preheating screw 64 in the material passage 61. Then, the superheated steam Ss flowing into the internal space 68 passes through a plurality of communicating holes 70 provided in the peripheral wall portion 69 and is transported from the internal space 68 to the outer peripheral side of the rotating shaft 65 through the communicating holes 70. On the outer peripheral side of the rotating shaft 65, the molding material Mm transported in the material passing direction by the screw 66 is heated by the superheated steam Ss after passing through the communicating holes 70.

[0414] In addition, the height of the outer peripheral edge of the screw thread 66 of the preheating screw 64 from the outer peripheral surface of the rotating shaft 65 (the groove depth of the preheating screw 64) is preferably greater than the length of one molding material Mm and less than the length of two molding materials Mm. At this time, on the outer peripheral side of the rotating shaft 65, it is possible to suppress the overlap of multiple molding materials Mm in the radial direction of the preheating screw 64, so that, for example, the superheated steam transported from the connecting hole 70 of the rotating shaft 65 to the outer peripheral side can be further effectively heated through each molding material Mm passing through the material passage 61. As a result, it is possible to effectively suppress the mixing of unmelted molding material in the molten state of the molding material injected from the front end portion 14 of the cylinder 11, so that it is possible to prevent the appearance of the molded product from being poor or the strength from being reduced.

[0415] Furthermore, in the radial direction of the preheating screw 64, the gap between the outer peripheral edge of the screw thread 66 and the inner peripheral surface of the channel partition wall portion 63 is preferably narrower than the length of one molding material Mm. Thus, it is possible to suppress the molding material Mm from passing over the screw thread 66 in the direction of the rotation axis. In addition, a small gap is provided between the outer peripheral edge of the screw thread 66 and the inner peripheral surface of the channel partition wall portion 63 to prevent them from contacting each other.

[0416] Furthermore, the distance from the outer peripheral surface of the rotating shaft 65 of the preheating screw 64 to the inner peripheral surface of the channel partition wall 63 is preferably not less than the length of one molding material Mm and less than the length of two molding materials Mm.

[0417] The length of one molding material Mm is preferably the shortest dimension of the molding material Mm. For example, when the molding material Mm is roughly spherical, it is preferably its diameter, or, when the molding material Mm is an irregular sphere whose cross section includes an ellipse or an oblong, it is preferably the diameter of its shortest side. Alternatively, the molding material Mm is sometimes cylindrical, prism or other columnar, so that the shorter dimension of its diameter or width and height is set as the length of one molding material Mm.

[0418] Alternatively, the superheated steam inlet 62, the channel partition wall 63 and the preheating screw 64 may be replaced by using Fig.58 The superheated steam inlet 162, the channel partition wall 163 and the preheating screw 164 of the first modified example of the second embodiment shown in FIG. Fig.58 In the embodiment, the channel dividing wall portion 163 is provided with a plurality of through-hole-shaped superheated steam inlets 162 penetrating the channel dividing wall portion 163 along the circumferential direction and the direction of the rotation axis. The rotating shaft 165 of the preheating screw 164 can be either hollow or solid, but does not have the connecting hole 70 as described above. In addition, no opening is provided on the end face of the channel dividing wall portion 163, and the front end portion of the rotating shaft 165 in the direction of the rotation axis ends on the inner side of the channel dividing wall portion 163. Fig.58 In the first modified example of the second embodiment shown in FIG. 1 , superheated steam is introduced into the material channel 61 from the superheated steam inlet 162 provided in the channel partition wall 163. Thus, the molding material Mm conveyed on the outer peripheral side of the rotating shaft 165 is heated. In addition to the structures of the superheated steam inlet 162, the channel partition wall 163, and the preheating screw 164, Fig.58 The first variant of the second embodiment shown has the same Figure 55 to Figure 57 The structure is substantially the same as that of the second embodiment shown.

[0419] Or, if Fig.59 As shown, it can also be Figure 55 to Figure 57In the second embodiment shown in FIG. 1 , a plurality of through-hole-shaped superheated steam inlets 262 are further provided in the passage partition wall portion 263. Fig.59 In the second modified example of the second embodiment shown in FIG. 1 , the molding material Mm conveyed on the outer peripheral side of the rotating shaft 65 of the preheating screw 64 passes through the superheated steam inlet 262 of the channel partition wall portion 263 and the superheated steam inlet 62 of the preheating screw 64 from the radial direction ( Fig.59 The inner and outer sides of the channel (in the vertical direction) are heated by superheated steam. In addition to the superheated steam inlet 262 provided in the channel partition wall 263, Fig.59 The second variation of the second embodiment is Figure 55 to Figure 57 The structure is substantially the same as that of the second embodiment shown.

[0420] As described above, the communicating holes 70 of the peripheral wall portion 69 of the preheating screw 64 or the superheated steam inlet ports 162, 262 of the channel partitioning walls 163, 263 are preferably provided in a plurality of uniformly distributed manners along the circumferential direction and the rotation axis direction of the peripheral wall portion 69 or the channel partitioning walls 163, 263. In order to realize such a preheating screw 64 or the channel partitioning walls 163, 263, the peripheral wall portion 69 and / or the channel partitioning walls 163, 263 may be formed, for example, by a cylindrical mesh member having a plurality of holes in a square or other polygonal shape when viewed from the front or a cylindrical plate member having a plurality of holes formed on a metal plate by a stamping process such as so-called stamped metal. When the strength of the mesh member is insufficient, the peripheral wall portion 69 and / or the channel partitioning walls 163, 263 may be formed by a member in which the mesh member is overlapped with a honeycomb or grid-like reinforcing member.

[0421] For example, when the plasticizing capacity in the cylinder 11 of the injection device 1 is required to be high so as to supply the molding material Mm into the cylinder 11 at a faster speed, this can be dealt with by increasing the outer diameter of the preheating screw 64, 164. Fig.60 As shown in the cross-sectional view of the material channel viewed from above, the material channel 361 for conveying the molding material Mm to a channel outlet 361c, for example, together with the channel partition wall 363 around it and the preheating screw 364 inside it, is Fig.60In the third modified example of the second embodiment shown in the figure, four straight material channels 361 are arranged at 90° intervals around the channel outlet 361c, but the number and arrangement of the material channels 361 can be changed as appropriate. In the case where a plurality of material channels 361 are provided, a superheated steam inlet is provided in such a manner as to introduce superheated steam into each material channel 361. In this example, for example, a plurality of superheated steam inlets can be provided in each channel partition wall 363. In addition, a superheated steam discharge port can also be provided.

[0422] As described above, the superheated steam that heats the molding material Mm in the material passage 61 can rapidly increase the temperature of the molding material Mm. On the other hand, the molding material Mm heated by the superheated steam may generate condensation at a temperature lower than 100°C, for example.

[0423] In order to remove the moisture generated by the condensation, the molding material Mm heated by the superheated steam through the material passage 61 is dried or further heated. Fig.56 As shown, the preheating device 60 of the second embodiment further comprises: a material conveying passage 22 for the molding material Mm that has been heated by superheated steam and passed through the material passage 61; and a heating unit 24 for heating the molding material Mm that has passed through the material conveying passage 22. In the second embodiment, after the molding material Mm passes through the material passage 61 along the direction of the rotation axis, it falls into the material conveying passage 22 from the passage outlet 61c of the material passage 61 due to its own weight and passes through the material conveying passage 22. Here, the material passing direction in the material passage 61 is the same as the direction in which the molding material Mm passes through the material conveying passage 22, i.e., the material passing direction ( Fig.56 The molding material Mm passes through the material conveying channel 22 along the vertical direction).

[0424] The material conveying channel 22 has a pair of channel forming parts 23, and the pair of channel forming parts 23 are arranged opposite to each other and define the material conveying channel 22 between each other. In addition, the heating part 24 is arranged on the outside of the material conveying channel 22 in the channel width direction across the channel forming part 23. The channel forming part 23 and the heating part 24 have the function of drying the molding material Mm after being heated by superheated steam and passing through the material channel 61, and also have the function of further heating the molding material Mm. The channel width direction mentioned here means the arrangement direction of the channel forming parts 23 arranged parallel to each other, and means the direction orthogonal to the material passing direction in the material conveying channel 22 ( Fig.56 In the illustrated embodiment, the material conveying passage 22, the passage forming member 23, and the heating unit 24 are arranged to be accommodated inside a box-shaped frame 25 made of a heat insulating material or the like.

[0425] In addition, at least one of the paired channel forming components 23 that partition the material conveying channel 22 may be movable, so that the material conveying channel 22 is configured to be able to adjust the interval between the paired channel forming components 23, that is, the channel width thereof. At least one of the channel forming components 23 may be moved in the channel width direction, for example, by a user manually moving the component by disposing a spacer between its installation positions inside the frame 25, or automatically moving the component by using a motor or other actuator. If the channel width of the material conveying channel 22 can be adjusted, it is possible to set appropriate channel widths corresponding to various molding materials Mm of various sizes and shapes. For example, Fig.56 As shown, when the channel width is set to a degree that only one molding material Mm can pass through, the molding materials Mm pass through the material conveying channel 22 in a posture roughly arranged in a row. At this time, most of the molding materials Mm will be effectively heated by the heating part 24 on the outside of the channel width direction of the channel forming component 23.

[0426] The channel width of the material conveying channel 22 is preferably greater than the length of one molding material Mm and less than the length of two molding materials Mm. At this time, the plurality of molding materials Mm can be prevented from overlapping in the channel width direction in the material conveying channel 22, so most of these molding materials Mm can be further effectively heated.

[0427] At the front end side of the material passing direction of the material conveying passage 22 ( Fig.56 A supply container 26 such as a hopper is provided on the lower surface of the frame 25 (the lower end side). In the example shown in the figure, the supply container 26 has, for example, a truncated cone-shaped portion 26a whose inner and outer shapes are both truncated cones, and a cylindrical portion 26b formed at the end of the small diameter side of the truncated cone-shaped portion 26a. The supply container 26 preferably includes an insulating material in such a manner that its peripheral wall is formed of an insulating material or the surface of the peripheral wall is covered with an insulating material. After receiving the molding material Mm after passing through the material conveying passage 22 through the truncated cone-shaped portion 26a, the supply container 26 supplies it to the inside of the cylinder body 11 through the cylindrical portion 26b in front thereof. An opening portion 26c having a width substantially the same as that of the material conveying passage 22 is formed at the end of the truncated cone-shaped portion 26a, and the molding material Mm after passing through the material conveying passage 22 enters the supply container 26 from the opening portion 26c.

[0428] In the example shown in the figure, the molding material Mm passes through the material conveying channel 22 and the supply container 26, and is then supplied to the inside of the cylinder 11. That is, here, the molding material Mm preheated by the preheating device 60 is supplied to the inside of the cylinder 11. However, the shape of the supply container 26 is not limited to this, and can be appropriately changed, and sometimes the supply container 26 is omitted. Assuming that the supply container 26 is omitted, the frame will be arranged on the cylinder, so that the front end side of the material conveying channel in the material passing direction will be directly connected to the supply port of the cylinder. At this time, the molding material will be immediately supplied to the inside of the cylinder after passing through the material conveying channel.

[0429] Here, the heating unit 24 may be arranged only on one side of the material conveying passage 22 outside the passage width direction of one of the passage forming members 23, but in the second embodiment, the heating unit 24 is arranged on both sides of the material conveying passage 22 outside the passage width direction of each passage forming member 23. In this way, the molding material Mm can be quickly heated by the heating units 24 on both sides, so that even if the passing speed of the molding material Mm in the material conveying passage 22 is relatively fast, the molding material Mm can be effectively heated. In addition, the conditions of the heating unit 24 and the like are set so that the molding material Mm reaches a desired temperature at the front end side of the material passing direction of the material conveying passage 22.

[0430] As long as the molding material Mm can be heated via the channel forming component 23, the heating method of the heating part 24 is not particularly limited. For example, a hot air heating type heater that transports a heating gas such as high-temperature air, an electric heating type heater such as a high-frequency dielectric heating, an infrared heating type heater such as a halogen lamp or a ceramic heating type heater, a laser heating type heater, etc. can be used. In the case where the heating part 24 is an infrared heating type heater or a laser heating type heater, the channel forming component 23 can be composed of a translucent or transparent material that transmits light or laser light, such as glass. In addition, the configuration of the heating part 24 is not limited to Fig.56 For example, it can also be arranged outside the frame 25 and allow hot air to flow through the material conveying passage 22.

[0431] As an example, the preheating device 60 shown in the figure has a heating unit 24 including a hot air heating type heater. Specifically, the hot air heating type heater can heat the compressed air delivered from the compressor by, for example, a jacket heater, thereby obtaining hot air. The temperature of the hot air can be adjusted by changing the output of the jacket heater. From the viewpoint of being able to more effectively dry the molding material Mm, the hot air heating type heater is preferred.

[0432] At this time, the channel forming member 23 may have a plurality of vents penetrating the channel forming member 23 along the channel width direction, so that the heated gas delivered from the hot air heating type heater passes to the material delivery channel 22. Thus, the heated gas from the heating portion 24 flows to the material delivery channel 22 through the vents of the channel forming member 23, so that the molding material Mm in the material delivery channel 22 can be heated by the heated gas.

[0433] Specifically, for example, Fig.45 As shown in (a), the channel forming member 23 may also be a plate-shaped member having a plurality of vent holes 23b formed on a plate 23a made of metal or the like by a stamping process, such as so-called stamped metal. In this case, by adjusting the processing method, a plurality of vent holes 23b arranged regularly can be formed on the plate 23a.

[0434] Or, if Fig.45 As shown in (b), the channel forming component 23 may be, for example, a mesh component in which wires 23c are arranged in a grid shape and a plurality of ventilation holes 23b in a square or other polygonal shape when viewed from the front are provided between them. If the thickness of such a mesh component is relatively thin, resulting in insufficient strength of the mesh component required for forming the material conveying channel 22 by the channel forming component 23, the mesh component and the reinforcement component may be overlapped to form the channel forming component 23 by these mesh components and reinforcement components. As long as the heated gas can pass through, the reinforcement component may be in various shapes such as a honeycomb or a grid. For example, the mesh of the reinforcement component may be coarser than the mesh of the mesh component. The mesh component shown in the figure is arranged so that the plurality of ventilation holes 23b are arranged along the longitudinal direction when viewed from the front ( Fig.45 (b) vertical direction) and the lateral direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction ( Fig.45 (b) left and right direction) and are arranged regularly.

[0435] For example, when the material conveying passage 22 is divided and formed by the mesh-like passage forming member 23, as shown in FIG. Fig.46 As shown, a plurality of molding materials Mm are spread out in the transverse direction of the channel forming member 23, and as shown in FIG. Fig.46 As shown by the arrow in the middle, the material moves along the longitudinal direction of the channel forming member 23, that is, the direction in which the material passes. In addition, between the paired channel forming members 23, a channel dividing member 22a in the shape of a square strip or the like is arranged on each side of the material conveying channel 22 in the lateral direction of the channel forming member 23, and the channel dividing member 22a divides the area of ​​the material conveying channel 22 in the lateral direction of the channel forming member 23.

[0436] When the vent holes 23b are evenly dispersed and regularly arranged when viewed from the front as in the mesh or plate-like passage forming member 23, the heated gas from the heating unit 24, which is a hot air heating type heater, can be evenly fed to the material conveying passage 22 in the longitudinal and transverse directions of the passage forming member 23. Thus, the heated gas is sprayed on most of the plurality of molding materials Mm passing through the material conveying passage 22, so that the molding materials Mm can be further effectively heated.

[0437] In the second embodiment, as the plasticization of the molding material by the screw 12 inside the cylinder 11 progresses, the molding material is supplied from the supply container 26 to the inside of the cylinder 11. At the same time, the molding material Mm after passing through the material passage 61 is heated by the heating unit 24 through the material conveying passage 22 in sequence, and then is put into the supply container 26. At this time, the speed of the molding material Mm passing through the material conveying passage 22 may depend on the speed of the plasticization of the molding material Mm inside the cylinder 11, but the passing speed of the molding material Mm can also be adjusted by changing the passage width as described above. And, as needed, a screw-shaped feeder or other supply adjustment machine (not shown) for adjusting the supply of the molding material Mm from the material conveying passage 22 to the supply container 26 can be set between the material conveying passage 22 and the supply container 26 to adjust the speed of the molding material Mm passing through the material conveying passage 22 and the degree of heating of the molding material Mm affected by it.

[0438] Furthermore, a mechanism (not shown) may be provided for changing the position of the material conveying passage 22 while keeping the passage width constant. By changing the position of the material conveying passage 22, the amount of molding material passing per unit time can be adjusted.

[0439] As described above, the preheating device 60 includes a cooling unit (not shown) for cooling the molding material Mm passing through the material conveying passage 22. Specifically, the cooling unit may be disposed at Fig.56 The cooling medium generated by the cooling unit can flow into the interior of the frame 25 by using a pipe extending from the cooling unit to the interior of the frame 25, thereby cooling the molding material Mm passing through the material conveying passage 22. The cooling medium generated by the cooling unit can be cold air, or air having a temperature lower than that of the molding material Mm (for example, air at room temperature).

[0440] Furthermore, the cooling unit may be provided in the preheating device 21, but it may also be realized by providing the heating unit 24 with a structure capable of conveying normal temperature gas such as cold wind or the cooling gas Gc.

[0441] Furthermore, in the second embodiment, the preheating device 60, 360, 460 can be controlled in the same manner as the control of the preheating device 21 in the first embodiment. That is, the preheating device 60, 360, 460 can further include a control unit that controls the heating unit 24 and / or the cooling unit. In more detail, the control unit can control the heating unit 24 and / or the cooling unit based on the signal obtained by the operation state detection mechanism, the retention detection mechanism, and / or the temperature information detection mechanism.

[0442] The operating state detection mechanism of the second embodiment detects the operating state of the injection device 1 when the operation of the injection molding machine stops for some reason. This detection can be performed by providing a transmission unit that transmits the operating state of the injection device 1, more specifically, the operating state of the metering motor 31 or the injection motor 41 of the injection device 1.

[0443] Furthermore, the retention detection mechanism detects information related to the retention of the molding material Mm, for example, when the molding material Mm is retained in the material conveying passage 22 for some reason. This detection can be performed by using a sensor that detects the retention of the molding material Mm in the material conveying passage 22. However, in the preheating device 60 of the second embodiment, as described below, it is preferable to provide a mechanism for preventing the molding material Mm from being retained in the material conveying passage 22 in the preheating device 60 from the beginning.

[0444] That is, in the mesh or plate-shaped channel forming member 23 having a plurality of vent holes 23b as in the second embodiment, the molding material Mm may be stuck in the vent holes 23b and the like in the material conveying channel 22 formed thereby, causing clogging or the like of the molding material Mm in at least a portion of the lateral direction of the channel forming member 23. The retention of the molding material Mm in the material conveying channel 22 may cause the molding material Mm to be overheated or even melted.

[0445] Therefore, it is preferable to provide the preheating device 60 with an anti-retention mechanism for preventing the molding material Mm from being retained in the material conveying passage 22 .

[0446] As the anti-retention mechanism, for example, a driving unit may be provided. Figures 47 to 50 As shown, when the injection molding machine is working, the relative position and / or orientation of one of the channel forming members 23 relative to the other channel forming member 23 is changed by displacing at least one of the paired channel forming members 23 continuously or intermittently only when necessary. In addition, the illustration of the driving source thereof is omitted here.

[0447] like Fig.47As shown in FIG. 1 , on the outer side of one of the channel forming members 23 in the channel width direction, square strip-shaped moving members 22b are respectively provided on both sides of the channel forming member 23 in the lateral direction. Fig.47 (b) and Fig.47 As shown by the arrow in (c), one of the passage forming members 23 is moved in the lateral direction of the passage forming members 23 by these moving members 22b, thereby changing the relative position of one of the passage forming members 23 with respect to the other passage forming member 23. Therefore, even if the molding material Mm is stuck in the vent hole 23b, the blocking can be released by moving one of the passage forming members 23, thereby preventing the molding material Mm from being retained.

[0448] Furthermore, one of the passage forming members 23 may be moved in a longitudinal direction (up and down direction) parallel to the material passing direction, instead of in a lateral direction of the passage forming member 23 .

[0449] exist Fig.48 In the anti-retention mechanism shown in FIG. 1 , a square strip-shaped moving member 22b is provided at both ends of the longitudinal direction of the channel forming member 23, outside the channel width direction of one channel forming member 23. During the period when the molding material Mm passes through, Fig.48 (b) and Fig.48 As shown in (c), the anti-retention mechanism moves one of the channel forming components 23 along the channel width direction by the moving component 22b, thereby changing the relative position of one of the channel forming components 23 relative to the other channel forming component 23. At this time, the channel width of the material conveying channel 22 increases or decreases slightly. In addition, Fig.48 The anti-retention mechanism can also be used as a mechanism for moving the channel forming member 23 to adjust the channel width as described above.

[0450] Fig.49 The anti-retention mechanism comprises: a square bar-shaped moving part 22b, which is arranged at the longitudinal ends of one of the channel forming parts 23 on the outer side of the channel width direction; and a cylindrical fulcrum part 22c, which is arranged between the channel forming part 23 and the channel dividing part 22a at a midway position such as the center position of the material passing direction of the material conveying channel 22 and extends in the lateral direction of the channel forming part 23. Here, the fulcrum part 22c is installed on the channel dividing part 22a. At this time, if Fig.49 (b) and Fig.49As shown in (c), if each moving member 22b is moved in opposite directions in the channel width direction, one of the channel forming members 23 is rotated and displaced around the fulcrum member 22c, and the direction becomes inclined relative to the other channel forming member 23. In more detail, when one end of the longitudinal direction of one of the channel forming members 23 approaches or moves away from the other channel forming member 23, the other end of the longitudinal direction of one of the channel forming members 23 moves away from or approaches the other channel forming member 23, and the direction of one of the channel forming members 23 changes in this way. In addition, at the same time, the channel width of the material conveying channel 22 sometimes becomes non-constant in the direction in which the material passes. This anti-retention mechanism can also effectively prevent the retention of the molding material Mm.

[0451] Fig.50 The anti-retention mechanism has Fig.49 The structure is roughly the same, but the fulcrum member 22c is fixed and installed on one of the channel forming members 23 instead of the channel dividing member 22a. Fig.50 In the embodiment, the fulcrum member 22c is driven to rotate instead of moving the moving member 22b, so that one of the channel forming members 23 is rotated and displaced around the fulcrum member 22c together with the fulcrum member 22c, thereby Fig.49 The orientation relative to the other passage forming member 23 is changed substantially in the same manner.

[0452] Or, if Fig.51 As shown in (a), the anti-retention mechanism may also be composed of an impact imparting portion 28, which is arranged outside the channel width direction of at least one of the channel forming members 23 and strikes the channel forming member 23 at a predetermined period or the like. The illustrated impact imparting portion 28 includes: a plate-like member 28b, which is arranged outside the channel width direction of another channel forming member 23 in parallel with the channel forming member 23 and has one or more through holes 28a formed therein; and one or more pin-like members 28c, which are arranged to pass through the through holes 28a of the plate-like member 28b and move away from / close to the other channel forming member 23. The same impact imparting portion 28 may also be provided outside the channel width direction of one of the channel forming members 23.

[0453] And, if Fig.51 As shown in (b), the anti-retention mechanism can be composed of a vibration imparting portion 29 such as one or more vibrators, and the vibration imparting portion 29 is installed on the surface of the outer side of the channel width direction of at least one of the channel forming components 23 (for example, another channel forming component 23) and imparts vibration to the channel forming component 23.

[0454] And, as an anti-retention mechanism, e.g. Fig.52As shown in (a), a blower 30 may be provided, which is arranged outside the channel width direction of at least one of the channel forming components 23, so that gases of different flow rates pass through the vent holes 23b of the channel forming component 23 and are sprayed onto the molding material Mm in the material delivery channel 22. Fig.52 (b) or Fig.52 As shown in (c), the blast unit 30 changes the flow rate of the gas delivered to the molding material Mm in the material delivery channel 22 over time, thereby enabling the gas to be blown to the molding material Mm with varying strengths. In addition, when the gas is delivered from the blast unit 30 to the molding material Mm, it can be as follows Fig.52 (b) to periodically repeat periods of zero flow and periods of high flow, or Fig.52 (c) The period of low flow rate and the period of high flow rate are periodically repeated. The blast section 30 as the anti-stagnation mechanism may be separately provided, but the heating section 24 as the above-mentioned hot air heating type heating element may also be provided as the blast section 30, so that the heating section 24 is also used as the anti-stagnation mechanism. In the case where the heating section 24 is used as both the preheating and the anti-stagnation mechanism, the gas from the blast section 30 is equivalent to the heating gas from the heating section 24.

[0455] Furthermore, the cooling unit can also be used as an anti-stagnation mechanism by configuring the cooling unit as the blast unit 30 only for blowing air. When the cooling unit is used as both a cooling and anti-stagnation mechanism, the gas from the blast unit 30 corresponds to the cooling gas from the cooling unit.

[0456] like Figures 47 to 52 The above-mentioned anti-retention mechanism shown in the figure can be used in the preheating device 60 by using one of them, and in addition, they can also be used in combination of multiple ones. That is, the preheating device 60 may include Figures 47 to 52 One or more of the anti-retention mechanisms shown.

[0457] Furthermore, the preheating device 60 is preferably provided with a retention detection mechanism that detects retention of the molding material Mm in the material conveying passage 22. The retention detection mechanism may be, for example, a sensor that detects retention based on temperature, an image captured by a camera, infrared rays, or laser.

[0458] Such a sensor of the retention detection mechanism is preferably provided at the front end side of the material conveying passage 22 in the material passing direction, that is, at a position near the material conveying passage 22 closer to the material passing direction than the supply container 26. Fig.46As shown, the sensors 23d may be provided in plurality at intervals along the lateral direction of the channel forming member 23, on the front end side of the material passing direction of the material conveying channel 22, on the outer side of the channel width direction of the channel forming member 23. Thus, the position where the molding material Mm is accumulated in the lateral direction of the channel forming member 23 can be found as early as possible.

[0459] Assuming that the sensor 23d of the retention detection mechanism is set as a temperature sensor, it is preferable to configure the temperature sensor so that the temperature of the molding material Mm located at the front end side of the material passing direction of the material conveying passage 22 can be measured by the temperature sensor. The temperature of the molding material Mm mentioned here may be the temperature of the molding material Mm itself, the temperature of the passage forming member 23, or the temperature of the space in the vent 23b of the passage forming member 23. In the case of a contact temperature sensor, in order to measure the temperature of the molding material Mm itself or the temperature of the passage forming member 23, for example, the temperature sensor is configured so that the temperature sensor passes through the vent 23b of the passage forming member 23 and the front end thereof contacts the molding material Mm, or the front end of the temperature sensor contacts the passage forming member 23.

[0460] In addition, when the sensor 23d of the retention detection mechanism is a temperature sensor, it can be used in conjunction with the temperature sensor that can be used in the temperature information detection mechanism that can be provided in the preheating device 60. That is, when the temperature sensor is used in conjunction, the preheating device 60 can detect the retention of the molding material Mm by the temperature sensor as the retention detection mechanism, and the control unit can control the heating unit 24 based on the detection of the retention of the molding material Mm obtained by the retention detection mechanism, thereby stopping the heating of the heating unit 24. And, when the temperature information detection mechanism detects information related to the temperature of the molding material Mm in the material conveying passage 22, specifically, for example, when the temperature of the molding material Mm measured by the temperature sensor satisfies a predetermined reference, the control unit can control the cooling unit based on the information related to the temperature to cool the molding material Mm.

[0461] The anti-retention mechanism may operate continuously when the injection molding machine is operating, or may operate intermittently at a specific time such as when the retention detection mechanism detects retention of the molding material Mm in the material conveying passage 22 .

[0462] Furthermore, in the preheating device 60, in order to make the temperature information detection mechanism detect information related to the temperature, for example, a temperature sensor may be provided in the material conveying passage 22 (as described above, when the sensor 23d of the retention detection mechanism is set as a temperature sensor, it can be used as a temperature sensor). More specifically, it is preferable to configure the temperature sensor so that the temperature of the molding material Mm located at the front end side of the material passing direction of the material conveying passage 22 can be measured by the temperature sensor. The temperature of the molding material Mm mentioned here may be the temperature of the molding material Mm itself, the temperature of the passage forming member 23, or the temperature of the space in the vent 23b of the passage forming member 23. In the case of a contact temperature sensor, in order to measure the temperature of the molding material Mm itself or the temperature of the passage forming member 23, for example, the temperature sensor is configured so that the temperature sensor passes through the vent 23b of the passage forming member 23 and the front end thereof contacts the molding material Mm, or the front end of the temperature sensor contacts the passage forming member 23.

[0463] Furthermore, in the second embodiment, the control unit preferably controls the heating unit 24 and / or the cooling unit, and in addition, controls the introduction of superheated steam, and preferably controls the heating unit 24 and the introduction of superheated steam based on information related to the stop of the operation of the injection device 1 detected by the operation state detection mechanism and / or information related to the retention of the molding material Mm detected by the retention detection mechanism. When the control unit receives this information, the control unit is controlled in a manner such that the heating of the heating unit 24 is stopped and the introduction of superheated steam is stopped, thereby further preventing the molding material Mm from melting and fusing.

[0464] A plurality of material conveying channels may also be provided (not shown). In this case, the area of ​​each material conveying channel can be reduced, thereby miniaturizing the preheating device. For example, when two or more material conveying channels arranged in parallel to each other are provided, from the viewpoint of achieving rapid and uniform preheating of the molding material Mm, it is preferred to provide heating elements on both sides of each material conveying channel in the channel width direction.

[0465] On the other hand, it is also possible to Fig.61 As in the fourth modified example of the second embodiment shown in the figure, the material conveying passage is omitted, and the passage outlet 61 c of the material passage 61 is directly connected to the opening 26 c of the supply container 26 . Fig.61 The preheating device 260 is omitted Fig.56 The frame 25 and the internal structure (i.e., the material conveying passage 22, the passage forming member 23 and the heating portion 24) of the preheating device 60 are provided. Fig.56 The preheating device 60 has substantially the same structure. Fig.61In the preheating device 260 shown, the molding material Mm heated by the superheated steam Ss and passing through the material passage 61 is supplied to the inside of the cylinder 11 through the supply container 26. At this time, a hot air heating type heater (not shown) may be provided at the passage outlet 61c of the material passage 61, and the molding material Mm may be dried there. In addition, the supply container 26 may be further omitted, and the passage outlet of the material passage may be connected to the supply port of the cylinder (not shown).

[0466] In addition, in this modification, in order to make the temperature information detection mechanism detect information related to temperature, for example, a temperature sensor can be set in the material passage 61. More specifically, it is preferable to configure the temperature sensor so that the temperature of the molding material Mm located at the front end side of the material passing direction of the material passage 61 can be measured by the temperature sensor. The temperature of the molding material Mm mentioned here can be the temperature of the molding material Mm itself, the temperature of the preheating screw 64, or the temperature of the space in the connecting hole 70 of the preheating screw 64. In the case of a contact temperature sensor, in order to measure the temperature of the molding material Mm itself or the temperature of the preheating screw 64, for example, the temperature sensor is configured so that the temperature sensor passes through the connecting hole 70 of the preheating screw 64 and the front end thereof contacts the molding material Mm, or the front end of the temperature sensor contacts the preheating screw 64.

[0467] Fig.62 Detailed Description of the Preheating Device 460 of the Fifth Modification Example of the Second Embodiment is shown. Fig.62 The preheating device 460 does not have a conveying mechanism such as a preheating screw, and the molding material Mm falls downward due to its own weight and passes through the material passage 461. Here, the material passage direction of the material passage 461 is the same as the material passing direction of the material conveying passage 22, and the material passage 461 may be inclined relative to the vertical direction as long as the molding material Mm can pass through.

[0468] In the preheating device 460, for example, a plurality of superheated steam inlets 462 are provided in the channel partition wall 463 around the material channel 461. The superheated steam Ss is sent from the superheated steam inlet 462 into the material channel 461 to heat the molding material Mm.

[0469] In the preheating device 460 having such a material passage 461 and a superheated steam inlet 462, the frame 25 and its internal structure (ie, the material conveying passage 22, the passage forming member 23 and the heating portion 24) and / or the supply container 26 may be omitted.

[0470] (Preheating device of the third embodiment)

[0471] Next, the preheating device according to the third embodiment will be described in more detail with reference to the drawings.

[0472] and Fig.40 Similar to the preheating device 21 of the first embodiment shown, Fig.63 The preheating device 81 of the third embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1 is arranged in the direction of the rotation axis of the screw 12 of the injection device 1 ( Fig.63 The cylinder 11 is mounted on the rear end portion of the cylinder 11 on the side opposite to the front end portion 14 of the injection molding material Mm. Fig.63 As shown, the preheating device 81 is connected to a through-hole supply port 11a provided at a part of the circumference at the rear end of the cylinder 11, and substantially supplies molding material Mm such as spherical, cylindrical or other shaped resin particles to the supply port 11a.

[0473] In the third embodiment, Fig.64 As shown, the preheating device 81 has a material conveying channel 82 for the molding material Mm to pass through. The material conveying channel 82 is divided by the inner circumference of a tubular body 83 such as a pipe formed by metal (in other words, the material conveying channel 82 is formed inside the tubular body 83). In addition, the material conveying channel 82 has: a confluence portion 82a for the molding material Mm and the heating medium Gh to merge; and an instant mixing portion 82b for mixing the molding material Mm and the heating medium Gh that merge at the confluence portion 82a, and heating the molding material Mm by the heating medium Gh. Therefore, as Fig.64 As shown, the molding material Mm is from the upstream of the material passing direction ( Fig.64 ) towards the downstream ( Fig.64 On the right side of the cylinder 11, the material passes through the material conveying passage 82 and is supplied to the supply port 11a of the cylinder 11. On the way, it passes through the confluence portion 82a where it merges with the heating medium Gh, and then passes through the mixing portion 82b where the molding material Mm and the heating medium Gh are mixed.

[0474] In the preheating device 81 having such a structure, the molding material Mm supplied to the inside of the cylinder 11 can be preheated before being supplied. As a result, after the preheated molding material Mm is supplied to the inside of the cylinder 11 through the supply port 11a, it is fully melted in the inside in a short time and injected from the front end of the cylinder 11, so that the molding cycle can be shortened.

[0475] Here, in the example shown in the figure, the material conveying passage 82 has: a first portion 821 extending from upstream to downstream in the material passing direction along the vertical direction ( Fig.64 The second part 822 extends from the lower end of the first part 821 in the vertical direction (the downstream side of the material passing direction) and extends in the horizontal direction ( Fig.64The first part 821 is provided with the molding material Mm in the material conveying passage 82 at the upper end in the vertical direction, and the second part 822 has a converging portion 82a and a mixing portion 82b. Furthermore, the third part 823 is connected to the supply container 26 described later at the lower end in the vertical direction.

[0476] In addition, the size of the material delivery channel 82 can be arbitrarily set according to the amount of molding material Mm delivered, the heating temperature, etc. Fig.64 The shape shown can be any shape. Furthermore, a heat insulating material can be provided around the tubular body 83 forming the material conveying passage 82.

[0477] The merging portion 82a in the material conveying passage 82 is a portion where the heating medium Gh heated by the heating portion 84 is conveyed from the heating portion 84 through the heating medium conveying passage 84a and merges with the molding material Mm conveyed from upstream to downstream in the material passing direction.

[0478] As the heating medium Gh, a heating gas (specifically, a medium obtained by heating a gas such as air or an inert gas) or superheated steam can be used, but as the heating medium Gh, there is no particular limitation as long as it can flow downstream in the material passing direction after merging with the molding material Mm at the confluence section 82a. In addition, the heating medium Gh is heated by the heating section 84 possessed by the preheating device 81, and as the heating section 84, for example, a hot air heating type heating element can be used. Specifically, the hot air heating type heating element can, for example, heat the compressed air delivered from the compressor by a sheath heating element, thereby obtaining hot air. The temperature of the hot air can be adjusted by changing the output of the sheath heating element. In addition, the heating medium Gh is delivered to the confluence section 82a through the heat medium delivery channel 84a possessed by the preheating device 81, and the heat medium delivery channel 84a between the heating section 84 and the confluence section 82a can be divided by, for example, a pipe 84b formed of metal and provided with an insulating material around it.

[0479] After being generated by the heating unit 84, the heating medium Gh passes through Fig.64 The heat medium conveying channel 84 a conveys the heat medium to the confluence portion 82 a of the material conveying channel 82 .

[0480] As described above, the heat medium transport passage 84a branches off from the material transport passage 82 at the merging portion 82a, and a passing prevention portion such as a net may be provided between the merging portion 82a and the heat medium transport passage 84a to prevent the molding material Mm from being transported to the heat medium transport passage 84a.

[0481] The mixing section 82b is a section that instantly mixes the molding material Mm and the heating medium Gh that merge at the confluence section 82a and heats the molding material Mm through the heating medium Gh. By setting the confluence section 82a, the molding material Mm merges with the heating medium Gh at the confluence section 82a, and is transported along the material passing direction together with the heating medium Gh, so that the molding material Mm and the heating medium Gh are in contact, and the molding material Mm can be locally heated. However, it is difficult to effectively heat the molding material Mm in a short time in a sufficiently uniform manner only by contacting with such a heating medium Gh. Therefore, by further providing the mixing section 82b in the material conveying passage 82, the flow of the molding material Mm and the heating medium Gh is made uniform, so that the temperature of the molding material Mm can be uniformly increased. In addition, by effectively mixing, the entire surface of the molding material Mm is fully heated, so that high-speed temperature rise can be achieved.

[0482] As the mixing section 82b, Fig.64 In the example, an instant mixer without a driving unit, i.e., a static mixer, is used. Specifically, the static mixer in the illustrated example includes a plurality of spirally twisted plates 82c disposed in a material conveying passage 82. By including such spirally twisted plates 82c, the flows of the molding material Mm and the heating medium Gh are divided, converted, and turned over while passing through the mixing section 82b, thereby being able to effectively and uniformly heat the molding material Mm in a short time.

[0483] like Fig.65 As shown ( Fig.65 (two plates are shown in the figure), the spiral plate 82c has a shape formed by twisting a flat plate about 180° around an axis to form a spiral shape, and the spiral plate 82c is configured so that the axis is along the direction of material passing in the material conveying channel 82. In addition, the directions in which adjacent spiral plates 82c are twisted around the axis are opposite to each other, and they are joined to each other in a direction in which the ends of the plates 82c are approximately orthogonal. A static mixer including such a spiral plate 82c preferably includes a plurality of such spiral plates 82c, thereby being able to effectively mix the molding material Mm and the heating medium Gh. In addition, the spiral plate 82c can be formed of metal. However, the static mixer is not limited to the plate 82c twisted into a spiral shape as described above, for example, as long as the contact efficiency between the molding material Mm and the heating medium can be improved by changing the flow direction of the heating medium and / or narrowing a portion of the material conveying channel 82.

[0484] In addition, in the third embodiment, as the mixing section 82b, as long as it can immediately mix the molding material Mm and the heating medium Gh, it is not limited to the above-mentioned mixer, and any mixing section can be used, and it can have a driving section or not. And, preferably, a mixer that can be mixed immediately without a driving section. By using such a mixer, for example, the existing conveying path of the molding material Mm can be used as the material conveying channel 82, and the mixer is set there, so that the equipment introduction cost can be reduced.

[0485] Furthermore, the preheating device 81 of the third embodiment includes a conveyor 85 for conveying the molding material Mm from the upstream to the downstream of the material conveying passage 82. Fig.64 In the example of FIG. 8 , the conveyor 85 is a gas pressure conveyor for conveying the molding material Mm by gas pressure. Fig.66 As shown, the gas compressor 85 introduces compressed gas Gp produced by a compressor (not shown) into the gas compressor 85, and directs the compressed gas Gp toward the downstream side of the material passing direction of the material conveying passage 82 ( Fig.66 The discharge side airflow Gb is generated by the discharge port (in other words, the discharge port for generating the discharge side airflow Gb faces the downstream side in the material passing direction), thereby causing the compressed gas Gp to flow upstream ( Fig.66 Thus, a suction side airflow Gf sucked toward the downstream side is generated on the upstream side of the gas compressor 85 in the material passing direction, thereby conveying the molding material Mm on the upstream side of the material conveying passage 82 in the material passing direction to the downstream side.

[0486] Furthermore, in the third embodiment, as Fig.64 As shown, the gas compressor 85 is disposed on the upstream side of the confluence portion 82a in the material conveying passage 82, whereby the gas compressor 85 sucks and conveys the molding material Mm existing in the material passing direction upstream of the material conveying passage 82 to the confluence portion 82a, and then passes the molding material Mm together with the heating medium Gh through the mixing portion 82b, and is compressed and conveyed to the downstream side of the material conveying passage 82. Furthermore, by being disposed on the upstream side of the confluence portion 82a in the material conveying passage 82, the gas compressor 85 can prevent the heating medium Gh from flowing back to the upstream of the material passing direction.

[0487] In this way, by using a gas pressure feeder that feeds the molding material Mm by pressure using a gas as the conveyor 85, for example, an existing conveying path of the molding material Mm can be utilized, thereby reducing the equipment introduction cost.

[0488] When a gas compressor is used as the conveyor 85, the compressed gas Gp is ​​not particularly limited, and air may be used. The material conveying passage 82 is located in front of the supply port 11a of the cylinder 11 on the downstream side of the material passing direction (for example, at Fig.41 In the example shown, the supply container 26 is provided with a discharge port (not shown) for discharging the heating medium Gh, and the discharge port can also be used to exhaust the gas from the gas compressor 85 introduced for the purpose of transportation.

[0489] Furthermore, in the first variation of the third embodiment, Fig.67 As shown, in the preheating device 181, the gas compressor serving as the conveyor 185 can be arranged at a position closer to the downstream side of the material passing direction than the mixing section 182b in the material conveying channel 182, and the molding material Mm can be conveyed via the confluence section 182a and the mixing section 182b in the material conveying channel 182 by utilizing the suction force toward the downstream side generated at a position closer to the upstream side of the material passing direction than the gas compressor 185.

[0490] Furthermore, in the second variation of the third embodiment, as Fig.68 As shown, instead of the above-mentioned gas compressor, a feed screw 285 is used as the conveyor 285 in the preheating device 281. By arranging the feed screw 285 upstream in the material passing direction of the material conveying channel 282, the molding material Mm can be conveyed through the confluence portion 282a and the mixing portion 282b in a manner of being extruded from the material conveying channel 282. In addition, Fig.68 The feed screw 285 shown in the figure includes: a screw 285a that moves the molding material Mm by rotating; a cylindrical cylinder 285b that includes the screw 285a inside; and a driving part 285c that rotates the screw 285a. In addition, the feed screw 285 is connected to the supply container 227 (hopper) at the opening 285d on the driving part 285c side of the cylinder 285b, and the molding material Mm is supplied through the supply container 227. Furthermore, the feed screw 285 is connected to the material conveying passage 282 at the opening 285e on the front end side of the cylinder 285b, and the molding material Mm is delivered to the material conveying passage 282 from the opening 285e.

[0491] In the third embodiment, the material conveying passage 82 has a material passing direction downstream side ( Fig.64A supply container 26 for supplying the cylinder body, such as a hopper, is provided at the lower end side of the cylinder body 11. In the example shown in the figure, the supply container 26 has, for example, a truncated cone-shaped portion 26a whose inner and outer shapes are both truncated cones, and a cylindrical portion 26b formed at the end of the small diameter side of the truncated cone-shaped portion 26a. After the supply container 26 receives the molding material Mm after passing through the material conveying passage 82 through the truncated cone-shaped portion 26a, it supplies it to the inside of the cylinder body 11 through the cylindrical portion 26b in front thereof. An opening portion 26c having a width substantially the same as that of the material conveying passage 82 is formed at the end of the truncated cone-shaped portion 26a, and the molding material Mm after passing through the material conveying passage 82 enters the supply container 26 from the opening portion 26c.

[0492] In addition, a channel supply container 27 such as a hopper that stores a plurality of molding materials Mm and supplies an appropriate amount of the molding materials Mm to the material conveying channel 82 is placed in front of the conveyor 85 on the upstream side of the material conveying channel 82 in the material passing direction.

[0493] In the illustrated example, the molding material Mm is supplied from the supply container 27 for channel supply to the preheating device 81. Then, the molding material Mm supplied to the preheating device 81 passes through the material conveying channel 82 while being preheated, and after passing through the supply container 26 for cylinder supply, it is supplied to the inside of the cylinder 11. That is, here, the molding material Mm preheated by the preheating device 81 is supplied to the inside of the cylinder 11. However, the shape of the supply container 26 and / or the supply container 27 is not limited to this, and can be appropriately changed, and sometimes the supply container 26 and / or the supply container 27 is omitted. Assuming that the cylinder supply container 26 is omitted, the preheating device will be arranged on the cylinder, so that the front end side of the material passing direction of the material conveying channel will be directly connected to the supply port of the cylinder. At this time, the molding material Mm preheated by the preheating device will be supplied to the inside of the cylinder immediately after the preheating.

[0494] In addition, Fig.64In the third embodiment shown, as the plasticization by the screw 12 or the like inside the cylinder 11 progresses, the molding material Mm is supplied from the cylinder supply container 26 to the inside of the cylinder 11. At the same time, the molding material Mm in the channel supply container 27 is sequentially passed through the material conveying channel 82 and heated by the heating unit 84, and then is put into the cylinder supply container 26. At this time, the speed of the molding material Mm passing through the material conveying channel 82 may depend on the speed of the plasticization of the molding material Mm inside the cylinder 11, but the passing speed of the molding material Mm can also be adjusted by the conveyor 85 as described above. In addition, as needed, a screw-shaped feeder or other supply adjustment machine (not shown) for adjusting the supply of the molding material Mm from the material conveying channel 82 to the supply container 26 can be provided between the material conveying channel 82 and the supply container 26 to adjust the speed of the molding material Mm passing through the material conveying channel 82 and the degree of heating of the molding material Mm affected by it.

[0495] As described above, the preheating device 81 includes a cooling unit (not shown) for cooling the molding material Mm passing through the material conveying passage 82. Specifically, the cooling unit may be disposed at Fig.64 The outside of the tubular body 83 that partitions the material conveying passage 82 is shown, and by using a pipe extending from the cooling unit to the inside of the material conveying passage 82 or the heat medium conveying passage 84a, the cooling medium generated by the cooling unit can flow into the material conveying passage 82 to cool the molding material Mm passing through the material conveying passage 82. The cooling medium generated by the cooling unit may be cold air, or may be air having a temperature lower than that of the molding material Mm (for example, air at room temperature).

[0496] Furthermore, the cooling unit may be provided in the preheating device 81, but it may also be realized by providing the heating unit 24 with a structure capable of conveying normal temperature gas such as cold wind or the cooling gas Gc.

[0497] Furthermore, the preheating device 81, 181, 281 of the third embodiment can be controlled in the same manner as the control of the preheating device 21 of the first embodiment. That is, the preheating device 81, 181, 281 can further include a control unit that controls the heating unit 84 and / or the cooling unit. In more detail, the control unit can control the heating unit 84 and / or the cooling unit based on the signal obtained by the operation state detection unit, the retention detection unit, and / or the temperature information detection unit.

[0498] The operating state detection mechanism of the third embodiment detects the operating state of the injection device 1 when the operation of the injection molding machine stops for some reason. This detection can be performed by providing a transmission unit that transmits the operating state of the injection device 1, more specifically, the operating state of the metering motor 31 or the injection motor 41 of the injection device 1.

[0499] Furthermore, the accumulation detection mechanism detects information on accumulation of the molding material Mm when the molding material Mm accumulates in the material conveying passage 82 for some reason. This detection can be performed using a sensor that detects accumulation of the molding material Mm in the material conveying passage 82.

[0500] That is, in the third embodiment, it is preferred that a retention detection mechanism (not shown) is provided in the preheating device 81, and the retention detection mechanism detects the retention of the molding material Mm in the material conveying passage 82. As the retention detection mechanism, for example, a sensor that detects the retention based on temperature or the like may be used. By providing the retention detection mechanism, for example, in the case where the molding material Mm is retained, when the temperature of the molding material Mm rises excessively, the situation can be discovered as early as possible. In addition, the temperature of the molding material Mm mentioned here may be the temperature of the molding material Mm itself, the temperature of the space in the material conveying passage, or the temperature of the tubular body forming the material conveying passage.

[0501] Such a sensor of the accumulation detection mechanism is preferably provided at a position near the merging portion 82 a or the mixing portion 82 b of the material conveying passage 82 or at a position on the downstream side thereof.

[0502] In addition, when the sensor of the retention detection mechanism is a temperature sensor, it can be used in conjunction with the temperature sensor that can be used in the temperature information detection mechanism that can be provided in the preheating device 81. That is, when the temperature sensor is used in conjunction, the preheating device 81 can detect the retention of the molding material Mm by the temperature sensor as the retention detection mechanism, and the control unit can control the heating unit 84 based on the detection of the retention of the molding material Mm obtained by the retention detection mechanism, thereby stopping the heating of the heating unit 84. And, when the temperature information detection mechanism detects information related to the temperature of the molding material Mm in the material conveying passage 82, specifically, for example, when the temperature of the molding material Mm measured by the temperature sensor satisfies a predetermined reference, the control unit can control the cooling unit based on the information related to the temperature to cool the molding material Mm.

[0503] Furthermore, in the preheating device 81, in order to make the temperature information detection mechanism detect information related to temperature, for example, a temperature sensor may be provided in the material conveying passage 82 (as described above, when the sensor of the retention detection mechanism is set as a temperature sensor, it may be used concurrently). More specifically, the temperature sensor is preferably provided in the confluence portion 82a, the mixing portion 82b of the material conveying passage 82, or a position near the downstream side thereof. The temperature of the molding material Mm mentioned here may be the temperature of the molding material Mm itself, the temperature of the space in the material conveying passage, or the temperature of the tubular body forming the material conveying passage.

[0504] (Injection device)

[0505] like Fig.40 As shown in the examples in the above, the injection device 1 to which the preheating device 21 is applicable mainly comprises: the preheating device 21; the cylinder 11, which melts the molding material supplied from the preheating device 21; the screw 12, which is driven to rotate inside the cylinder 11 to plasticize the molding material; and the metering motor 31, which is arranged on the rear side of the rotation axis direction of the screw 12 ( Fig.40 and an injection motor 41, which is disposed further rearwardly of the metering motor 31.

[0506] A heater 13 is disposed around the cylinder 11, and the heater 13 heats the molding material plasticized by the screw 12 inside the cylinder 11. The cylinder 11 has an inner and outer diameter at the front end side in the direction of the rotation axis ( Fig.40 The cylinder 11 has a front end portion 14 which is reduced in size and a heater 13 is also arranged around the front end portion 14. In addition, the cylinder 11 is provided with a through-hole-shaped supply port 11a at the rear end side in the direction of the rotation axis, and the preheating device 21 is installed therein.

[0507] The metering motor 31 and the injection motor 41 are fixed to the back side of the rear end side of the rotation axis direction of each of the two motor support plates 32 and 42 arranged at a distance from each other in a posture standing on the slide base 101. The screw 12 is driven to rotate by the metering motor 31 and is driven to move forward and backward by the injection motor 41. The two motor support plates 32 and 42 are connected to each other by rods 51 and 52 at multiple positions on the upper side and the lower side of the metering motor 31.

[0508] The metering motor 31 mainly includes: a rotor 33; a stator 34, which is arranged around the rotor 33; and a stator frame 35, which surrounds the rotor 33 and the stator 34 and has the stator 34 arranged on the inner surface. The rotor 33 of the metering motor 31 is supported on the inner side of the stator frame 35 through bearings 33a at each end in the direction of the rotation axis. In addition, the rotor 33 is spline-connected to the periphery of the metering spline shaft 36, and the metering spline shaft 36 is connected to the screw mounting portion 37 on which the screw 12 is mounted. In addition, at the rear end in the direction of the rotation axis of the outer peripheral surface of the metering spline shaft 36, one or more keys 36a corresponding to the key grooves arranged on the inner peripheral surface of the rotor 33 are formed. As a result, the rotational driving force is transmitted from the metering motor 31 to the screw 12, so that the screw 12 can be rotated.

[0509] The injection motor 41 mainly includes: a rotor 43; a stator 44 arranged around the rotor 43; and a stator frame 45, which is provided so as to surround the rotor 43 and the stator 44, and the stator 44 is provided on the inner surface. The rotor 43 is supported on the inner side of the stator frame 45 via bearings 43a at each end in the direction of the rotation axis. The rotor 43 of the injection motor 41 is connected to a drive shaft. More specifically, the drive shaft includes: an injection spline shaft 46 spline-connected to the rotor 43 in a groove 43b provided on the inner circumference of the cylindrical rotor 43; a screw shaft 48 connected to the injection spline shaft 46; and a rotating shaft 50 rotatably mounted on the inner side of the metering spline shaft 36 via a bearing 49. The screw nut 47 screwed with the screw shaft 48 is mounted on the motor support plate 42 via a pressure detector 38 described later. With this structure, the rotational driving force of the injection motor 41 is converted into a linear driving force in the rotation axis direction of the screw 12 , and is transmitted to the screw 12 .

[0510] In addition, a pressure detector 38 is arranged between the stator frame 45 of the injection motor 41 and the motor support plate 42. The pressure detector 38 is mounted on the motor support plate 42 and the lead screw nut 47, respectively, to detect the load acting on the pressure detector 38 on the transmission path of the driving force from the injection motor 41 to the screw 12. A cylindrical portion 39 is...

Claims

1. A preheating device for preheating injection molding materials, The preheating device comprises: A material conveying channel for the molding material to pass through; and A heating element is used to heat the molding material passing through the material conveying channel. The material conveying channel has a pair of channel forming components, the pair of channel forming components are arranged opposite to each other and define the material conveying channel between them. At least one of the paired passage forming members has a plurality of vent holes penetrating the passage forming member in the passage width direction and allowing the air heated by the heating element to pass through. At least one of the paired channel forming members is movable, and the channel width between the channel forming members can be adjusted, and the molding material can pass through the material conveying channel having a channel width of more than one and less than two lengths of the molding material by gravity.

2. The preheating device according to claim 1, wherein: There are multiple material conveying channels. The material conveying passages are arranged in parallel with each other, and the heating element heats the molding material in the material conveying passages from outside in the passage width direction across the material conveying passages and the passage forming member.

3. A preheating device for preheating injection molding materials, The preheating device comprises: A material channel for the molding material to pass through; a superheated water vapor inlet for introducing the superheated water vapor for heating the molding material in the material passage into the material passage; The material conveying passage according to claim 1 through which the molding material passes after being heated by superheated water steam and passing through the material passage; and The heating element heats the molding material passing through the material conveying channel.

4. The preheating device according to claim 3, wherein: The material conveying channel has a channel forming component, The passage forming member has a plurality of vent holes penetrating the passage forming member in a passage width direction and through which the air heated by the heating element passes.

5. A preheating device for preheating injection molding materials, The preheating device comprises: The material conveying channel as claimed in claim 1, through which the molding material passes; a heating element for heating the molding material passing through the material conveying passage; and A cooling section cools the molding material passing through the material conveying channel. The preheating device further comprises a control unit. The control unit stops heating by the heater when the injection molding machine stops operating, and controls whether to cool by the cooling unit according to the temperature of the molding material.

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