Material preheating device and injection device

Abstract

The present application relates to a material preheating device and an injection device. A material preheating device (21) performs preheating of a molding material (Mm) and supplies the molding material (Mm) to an injection device (1), the material preheating device (21) is provided with: a fluidized bed heater (22) that is a material heater that heats the molding material (Mm), and performs heating while making the first molding material into a fluidized bed by supply of hot air; and a heating inducing section (24) that induces the hot air to heat the second molding material before or after the second molding material is supplied to the first molding material.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to a material preheating device and an injection device. Background Technology

[0002] In injection molding machines for plastics, etc., the supplied raw materials, such as plastic granules or powders, are sometimes heated just before injection using a temperature control device equipped with a heating tank capable of forming a fluidized bed. Specifically, for example, in the temperature control device shown in Patent Document 1, hot air is blown from below the heating tank containing the molding material toward the molding material to heat the molding material into a fluidized bed state.

[0003] In addition, a device for heating the molding material before it is supplied to the injection unit of the injection molding machine is, for example, a dryer as described in Patent Documents 2 to 5.

[0004] Existing technical documents

[0005] Patent documents

[0006] Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 11-230670

[0007] Patent Document 2: Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2000-167840

[0008] Patent Document 3: Japanese Patent Publication No. 2012-521904

[0009] Patent Document 4: Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2016-26919

[0010] Patent Document 5: Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2001-62830 Summary of the Invention

[0011] The problem that the invention aims to solve

[0012] In conventional apparatuses, such as those described in Patent Document 1, which fluidize and heat molding materials, each molding material is heated to float in hot air, allowing it to come into contact with high-velocity hot air and thus enabling relatively high-speed heating. However, even with increased hot air volume, the cross-sectional area of ​​the hot air flow path and outlet remains unchanged. Therefore, simply increasing the hot air velocity does not improve the contact with the molding materials. In other words, even with increased air volume, the utilization efficiency of the hot air is low; only a portion of the molding materials forms a fluidized bed, while the situation remains unchanged where other molding materials struggle to form a fluidized bed, preventing a sufficient overall temperature rise in the molding materials. Consequently, it may be difficult to achieve high-speed and uniform heating of the molding materials.

[0013] The subject of this invention is to solve the problem of providing a material preheating device and an injection device that can efficiently utilize hot air and preheat the molding material before it is supplied to the cylinder at high speed and uniformly.

[0014] Methods for solving problems

[0015] A material preheating apparatus capable of solving the above-mentioned problems is an apparatus for preheating a molding material and supplying the molding material to an injection device, comprising: a fluidized bed heater, which is a material heater for heating the molding material, wherein the first molding material is fluidized by supplying hot air; and a heating induction unit, which induces a second molding material to be heated by the hot air supplied to the first molding material before or after supplying it.

[0016] Furthermore, an injection device capable of solving the above-mentioned problem is an injection device that includes a cylinder for melting molding material and injecting the molding material molten in the cylinder into a mold device, wherein the injection device includes the aforementioned material preheating device.

[0017] The effects of the invention

[0018] According to the above-mentioned material preheating device and injection device, the preheating of the molding material supplied to the inside of the cylinder can be carried out at high speed and uniformly. Attached Figure Description

[0019] Figure 1 This is a cross-sectional view showing a material preheating device and an injection device according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0020] Figure 2 yes Figure 1 An enlarged cross-sectional view of the material preheating device.

[0021] Figure 3 This is a cross-sectional view showing a material preheating device according to another embodiment.

[0022] Figure 4 This is a cross-sectional view showing a material preheating device according to yet another embodiment.

[0023] Figure 5 This is a cross-sectional view showing a material preheating device and an injection device according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0024] Figure 6 yes Figure 5 An enlarged cross-sectional view of the material preheating device.

[0025] Figure 7 This is a cross-sectional view showing a material preheating device and an injection device according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0026] Figure 8It is an enlarged representation Figure 7 A cross-sectional view of the fluidized bed heater of the material preheating device.

[0027] Figure 9 It is an enlarged representation Figure 7 A cross-sectional view of a modified example of a material preheating device.

[0028] Figure 10 It means that it can be used Figure 7 A flowchart illustrating an example of the control of a material preheating device.

[0029] Figure 11 It means and Figure 10 The flowchart shown is a different example of the control. Detailed Implementation

[0030] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0031] The material preheating apparatus of this invention is an apparatus for preheating a molding material and supplying the molding material to an injection molding apparatus. This material preheating apparatus includes: a fluidized bed heater, which heats the molding material by supplying hot air to form a first molding material (generally a portion of a plurality of molding materials) into a fluidized bed; and a heating induction unit, which induces a second molding material (another portion of molding material different from the aforementioned portion of molding material) to be heated by hot air supplied to the first molding material before or after it is supplied. In this invention, for example, it includes... Figures 1-9 The material preheating devices 21, 121, 221, 321, and 421 shown are not limited to those shown here.

[0032] Material preheating devices 21, 121, 221, 321, and 421 are installed in... Figure 1 , 5 The injection unit 1, as illustrated in section 7, preheats the molding material before it is supplied to the injection unit 1. The injection unit 1, which constitutes part of the injection molding machine, melts the molding material supplied from the material preheating devices 21, 121, 221, 321, and 421, and injects this molding material into a mold device (not shown). The illustrated injection unit 1 includes a cylinder 11 disposed on a sliding base 101 of a moving device that moves the injection unit 1 forward and backward, which melts the molding material inside; a screw 12 that rotates and plasticizes the molding material inside the cylinder 11; and a heater 13 disposed around the cylinder 11 and heats the molding material inside the cylinder 11. Detailed structure of this injection unit 1 will be described later. Hereinafter, [further details will be provided]. Figures 1-4 Material preheating devices 21, 121, 221 Figure 5 and 6Material preheating device 321 and Figures 7-9 The specific structure of the material preheating device 421 will be described.

[0033] ( Figures 1-4 Material preheating device)

[0034] For example, in the manufacture of molded products such as plastic bottle caps, injection molding machines are sometimes used in high-cycle molding processes. In this process, a series of steps are repeated in relatively short cycles, involving melting molding materials such as resin particles and injecting them into a mold to obtain the molded product. In such cases, the injection molding machine requires high production capacity. The molding cycle of an injection molding machine can be shortened by increasing the rotational speed of the screw within the cylinder of the injection unit, thereby completing the plasticization of the molding material in a shorter period and reducing the time required for the molding material to accumulate at the front end of the cylinder.

[0035] On the other hand, if the screw rotates at high speed, the molding material cannot be adequately heated inside the cylinder by the heaters located around the cylinder and is rapidly transferred to the front end of the cylinder. Even if the heating temperature of the heaters is increased, the heating of the molding material may still be insufficient due to the short residence time of the molding material inside the cylinder. In this case, the molten molding material injected into the mold device from the front end of the cylinder may sometimes contain unmelted molding material. The inclusion of unmelted molding material in the molded product can lead to defects such as poor appearance and reduced strength.

[0036] To address this issue, preheating the molding material before supplying it to the injection unit can be considered. Additionally, in conventional dryers intended for drying the molding material, the temperature of each molding material sometimes does not rise rapidly and sufficiently to the level required in high-cycle molding.

[0037] Here, if a heater is designed to levitate the molding material and create a fluidized bed by supplying hot air in order to preheat the molding material before it is supplied to the injection unit, it is expected that each molding material will be heated effectively in a relatively short time in such a heater. However, even with such a heater, considering factors such as the amount or speed of molding material supplied to the injection unit and the air supply capacity of the machine supplying hot air to the heater, it is presumed that it would be difficult to achieve rapid heating of each molding material in a single heater.

[0038] Therefore, in order to effectively preheat the molding material before it is supplied to the injection unit, the material preheating device 21 of this embodiment is equipped with a plurality of fluidized bed heaters 22, 23.

[0039] The material preheating device 21 is located in the direction of the rotation axis of the screw 12 ( Figure 1It is mounted on the rear end of the cylinder 11 on the side opposite to the front end 14 of the injection-molded material (in the left-right direction). More specifically, as Figure 2 As shown, the material preheating device 21 is connected to a through-hole-shaped supply port 11a located at a portion of the rear end of the cylinder 11 in the circumferential direction, and supplies molding materials Mm, such as resin particles in substantially spherical or cylindrical shapes, to the supply port 11a.

[0040] The material preheating device 21 of this embodiment includes two fluidized bed heaters 22 and 23, which heat the molding material Mm into a fluidized bed by supplying hot air inside. In each fluidized bed heater 22 and 23, hot air generated by a heating gas such as air is supplied from the lower side of the molding material Mm contained therein in most cases. As a result, as shown in the figure, at least a portion of the molding material Mm floats up by the hot air from below, thereby forming a fluidized bed. At this time, the area of ​​the molding material Mm in contact with the hot air is larger when it is floating in the fluidized bed heaters 22 and 23 compared to when it is piled up, so the temperature is effectively raised by the hot air. As a result, if fluidized bed heaters 22 and 23 are used, the molding material Mm can be sufficiently heated in a relatively short time.

[0041] On the other hand, depending on the number or amount of molding material Mm supplied to the injection unit 1 in high-cycle molding and the like, as well as the supply speed, a certain amount of molding material Mm needs to be heated during each preheating. At this time, in order to rapidly heat the multiple molding materials Mm to a predetermined temperature on the fluidized bed, it is necessary to increase the flow rate of the hot air delivered to the molding materials Mm. However, it is sometimes impractical to use a high-performance hot air generator capable of generating such a flow rate in the injection molding machine.

[0042] In contrast, in this embodiment, the material preheating device 21 includes multiple, for example, two fluidized bed heaters 22 and 23. By dividing the molding material Mm to be preheated into small portions within the multiple fluidized bed heaters 22 and 23 and then fluidizing and heating it in each of the individual heaters, a large amount of molding material Mm can be preheated quickly and effectively. Therefore, high-cycle molding can be handled without significantly increasing the capacity of the hot air generator.

[0043] Furthermore, in the illustrated embodiment, as an example, each fluidized bed heater 22, 23 is a container-shaped heater, which has: located on the downstream side in the supply direction of supplying molding material Mm to the injection device 1 (in Figure 2The front cylindrical portions 22a and 23a (lower side) include: front end cylindrical portions 22a and 23a; conical portions 22b and 23b, including the small-diameter end connected to the front end cylindrical portions 22a and 23a, and having a conical shape such as a frustum conical on both the inner and outer sides; cylindrical main body portions 22c and 23c connected to the large-diameter end of the conical portions 22b and 23b; and a side of the cylindrical main body portions 22c and 23c opposite to the side of the conical portions 22b and 23b (on the lower side). Figure 2 The annular portions 22d and 23d extend from the upper end of the fluidized bed heater towards the inner circumference. However, as long as the fluidized bed heater is a heater capable of heating the molding material while it is forming a fluidized bed inside, its specific shape and other structure are not particularly limited. Furthermore, in this embodiment, the two fluidized bed heaters 22 and 23 have substantially the same shape and size, but at least one of the plurality of fluidized bed heaters may be provided with a different shape and / or size than the other fluidized bed heater.

[0044] Regarding the configuration of multiple fluidized bed heaters 22 and 23, in Figure 2 In the material preheating device 21 shown, two fluidized bed heaters 22 and 23 are arranged in a vertically parallel configuration, and a vertical connecting channel 24 is provided to connect these fluidized bed heaters 22 and 23 to each other. In this example, the vertical connecting channel 24 is located inside the front end cylindrical portion 23a of the fluidized bed heater 23, which is located on the upper side in the vertical direction (upstream side in the supply direction of the molding material Mm). The front end cylindrical portion 23a extends along a vertical direction that is substantially consistent with the supply direction of the molding material Mm and connects to the annular portion 22d of the fluidized bed heater 22, which is located on the lower side in the vertical direction (downstream side in the supply direction of the molding material Mm).

[0045] like Figure 2 As shown in the embodiment, when the material preheating device 21 is equipped with a vertical connecting channel 24 connecting the fluidized bed heaters 22 and 23 to each other, when the downstream fluidized bed heater 22 heats the molding material Mm, the upstream fluidized bed heater 23 can also heat the molding material Mm. Then, after the molding material Mm heated by the downstream fluidized bed heater 22 is supplied to the injection unit 1, the molding material Mm heated by the upstream fluidized bed heater 23 is conveyed through the vertical connecting channel 24 to the downstream fluidized bed heater 22, where it is then heated. Through such two-stage or multiple-stage heating, the molding material Mm is easily heated to a predetermined temperature by the fluidized bed heater 22 before being supplied to the injection unit 1. In order to realize multiple-stage heating based on the fluidized bed heaters 22 and 23, the material preheating device 21 of this embodiment has a structure as described below.

[0046] exist Figure 2In each fluidized bed heater 22 and 23 of the material preheating device 21 shown, a ventilation opening / closing component 25a and 25b is provided at the front end cylindrical portion 22a and 23a, which serves as the outlet for the molding material Mm. This ventilation opening / closing component 25a and 25b is driven by a drive source (not shown) to open or close to allow the molding material Mm to pass through or stop passing through the outlet. If the ventilation opening / closing component 25a and 25b is closed, hot air supplied to each fluidized bed heater 22 and 23 from the outlet side can pass through the ventilation opening / closing component 25a and 25b, as described later. On the other hand, the molding material Mm cannot pass through the ventilation opening / closing component 25a and 25b and remains on the ventilation opening / closing component 25a and 25b. Examples of the ventilation opening / closing components 25a and 25b include: perforated metal plates with multiple through holes formed by stamping or other processes on metal sheets; and mesh components with square or polygonal meshes when viewed from the front.

[0047] Furthermore, the material preheating device 21 includes: a material supply channel 26 facing the injection device 1, connecting the outlet of the downstream fluidized bed heater 22 to the supply port 11a of the injection device 1; a hot air conveying flow path 27a connecting the hot air generator 27 and the material supply channel 26; and a hot air return flow path 27b connecting the annular portion 23d of the upstream fluidized bed heater 23 and the hot air generator 27. A hot air blocking member 28, driven to open and close, is provided at a position downstream of the point in the material supply channel 26 from the point of connection with the hot air conveying flow path 27a in the supply direction of the molding material Mm. Although not shown in the figure, a hot air blocking member driven to open and close can also be provided on the hot air conveying flow path 27a; if this hot air blocking member is closed, the flow of hot air from the hot air generator 27 to the fluidized bed heater 22 is blocked. In most cases, the material preheating device 21 also has a hot air generator 27 that generates hot air to be supplied to the fluidized bed heaters 22 and 23, but the material preheating device 21 sometimes does not have a hot air generator 27, and the source of hot air supply is not limited to the hot air generator 27.

[0048] Furthermore, as illustrated in the material preheating device 21, the upstream fluidized bed heater 23 preferably has, for example, a material inlet 23e provided in the annular portion 23d for feeding the molding material Mm into the fluidized bed heater 23. A hot air blocking member 23f driven by an opening and closing mechanism can be provided on the material inlet 23e. If the upstream fluidized bed heater 23 has a material inlet 23e, the molding material Mm can be fed from the material inlet 23e through the fluidized bed heater 23 and the inline connecting channel 24 into the downstream fluidized bed heater 22. Therefore, it is not necessary to provide a material inlet on the downstream fluidized bed heater 22, but in this material preheating device 21, a material inlet 22e with a hot air blocking member 22f driven by an opening and closing mechanism is also provided on the downstream fluidized bed heater 22.

[0049] In the material preheating device 21 with the structure described above, with the ventilation opening / closing member 25b open and the ventilation opening / closing member 25a closed, the hot air blocking member 23f is opened, and the molding material Mm is fed into the downstream fluidized bed heater 22 through the material inlet 23e. Then, the ventilation opening / closing member 25b is closed, and the molding material Mm is fed into the upstream fluidized bed heater 23 through the material inlet 23e. Alternatively, when the material inlet 22e is also used, with both the ventilation opening / closing members 25a and 25b closed, the hot air blocking members 22f and 23f are opened, and the molding material Mm is fed into each of the fluidized bed heaters 22 and 23 through the material inlets 22e and 23e, respectively.

[0050] In order to heat the molding material Mm within the fluidized bed heaters 22 and 23, with the ventilation opening and closing components 25a and 25b closed, the hot air blocking components 22f, 23f, and 28 are closed, and hot air is supplied from the hot air generator 27 to the fluidized bed heaters 22 and 23. At this time, the hot air generated by the hot air generator 27... Figure 2As indicated by the arrow, the hot air flows from the hot air conveying path 27a to the material supply channel 26, and then through the permeable ventilatory opening and closing member 25a to the downstream fluidized bed heater 22, without flowing to the injection device 1 side which is blocked by the hot air blocking member 28. The hot air is then heated in the downstream fluidized bed heater 22 while the molding material Mm is floated to form a fluidized bed, and flows through the ventilatory opening and closing member 25b in the inline connecting channel 24 to the upstream fluidized bed heater 23. The same fluidized bed heating of the molding material Mm is also performed in the upstream fluidized bed heater 23 based on the hot air. The hot air after passing through the upstream fluidized bed heater 23 returns to the hot air generator 27 through the hot air return path 27b. At this time, the inline connecting channel 24 functions as a flow path or channel for hot air to be conveyed from the downstream fluidized bed heater 22 to the upstream fluidized bed heater 23. Thus, the inline connecting channel 24 induces the molding material Mm (second molding material) in the upstream fluidized bed heater 23 to be heated by the hot air supplied to the downstream fluidized bed heater 22 with the molding material Mm (first molding material). From another perspective, the inline connecting channel 24 can also be considered a channel that induces the molding material Mm (second molding material) in the downstream fluidized bed heater 22 to be heated by the hot air supplied to the upstream fluidized bed heater 23 with the molding material Mm (first molding material). In any case, the inline connecting channel 24 corresponds to a heating induction section.

[0051] Through the flow of hot air, the downstream fluidized bed heater 22 fully heats the molding material Mm within a predetermined time. Once the preheating of the molding material Mm is complete, the hot air generator 27 stops, and the ventilation opening / closing component 25a and the hot air blocking component 28 are opened. As a result, the molding material Mm inside the fluidized bed heater 22 falls due to its own weight and is fed into the cylinder 11 through the supply port 11a. Then, by closing the ventilation opening / closing component 25a and opening the ventilation opening / closing component 25b, the molding material Mm in the upstream fluidized bed heater 23 is transferred to the downstream fluidized bed heater 22 through the inline connection channel 24. Finally, by closing the ventilation opening / closing component 25b and opening the hot air blocking component 23f, the molding material Mm is fed into the upstream fluidized bed heater 23 through the material inlet 23e.

[0052] Afterwards, the hot air blocking components 22f, 23f and 28 are turned off, and the molding material Mm in the fluidized bed heaters 22 and 23 based on the hot air supply is heated, and the heating of the molding material Mm and its supply to the injection device 1 are repeated.

[0053] Although the illustration is omitted, three or more fluidized bed heaters can be arranged in a straight line side by side. A straight connecting channel is provided between each adjacent fluidized bed heater in the straight line arrangement. In addition to the fluidized bed heaters arranged in a straight line, the material preheating device may also include fluidized bed heaters arranged in parallel as described below, or other fluidized bed heaters that are not arranged in a straight line.

[0054] exist Figure 3 The diagram shows a material preheating device 121 according to another embodiment. This material preheating device 121 has a plurality of fluidized bed heaters 122, 123 arranged side-by-side, in addition to having... Figure 2 The material preheating device 21 shown has a substantially the same structure. That is, in Figure 3 In the material preheating device 121, two fluidized bed heaters 122 and 123 are arranged side by side in a direction inclined or orthogonal to the vertical direction (typically horizontal). Moreover, parallel supply channels 126 are provided between these fluidized bed heaters 122 and 123 and the injection device 1, respectively conveying and supplying molding material Mm from the fluidized bed heaters 122 and 123 toward the injection device 1.

[0055] More specifically, the parallel supply channel 126 has two branch channel portions 126a and 126b connected to the front end cylindrical portions 122a and 123a of the fluidized bed heaters 122 and 123 respectively connected to the parallel supply channel 126; and a confluence channel portion 126c where these branch channel portions 126a and 126b merge to reach the supply port 11a of the injection device 1. Although not shown in the figure, three or more fluidized bed heaters can be arranged in a parallel configuration, in which case the branch channel portions can be set to three or more corresponding to the number of fluidized bed heaters.

[0056] Here, with the fluidized bed heaters 122 and 123 arranged side by side, each fluidized bed heater 122 and 123 connected to the parallel supply channel 126 has a material inlet 122e and 123e with hot air blocking components 122f and 123f for feeding the molding material Mm into each fluidized bed heater 122 and 123.

[0057] Furthermore, in order to transfer hot air from the hot air generator 127 to each fluidized bed heater 122, 123, in addition to providing a hot air conveying flow path 127a connecting the hot air generator 127 to the fluidized bed heater 123 located near the hot air generator 127, an extended conveying flow path 127c connecting the branch channel portion 126b to the branch channel portion 126a located away from the hot air generator 127. Hot air blocking components 128b and 128a are respectively arranged at the downstream side of the branch channel portion 126b from the location where it connects to the hot air conveying flow path 127a in the supply direction of the molding material Mm, and at the downstream side of the branch channel portion 126a from the location where it connects to the extended conveying flow path 127c in the supply direction of the molding material Mm. Although the illustration is omitted, a hot air blocking component capable of blocking the flow of hot air from the hot air generator 127 to the fluidized bed heater 122 or 123 may be provided on the hot air conveying flow path 127a and / or the extended conveying flow path 127c.

[0058] In addition, Figure 3 The material preheating device 121 illustrated herein includes a fluidized bed heater 123 located near the hot air generator 127 and a fluidized bed heater 122 located away from the hot air generator 127. However, multiple fluidized bed heaters may also be arranged at approximately equal distances from the hot air generator. In this case, the hot air delivery path from the hot air generator can be branched into two or more branches and connected to each fluidized bed heater. Figure 3 In the example shown, a hot air conveying path that branches off to each fluidized bed heater 122, 123 can also be provided instead of an extended conveying path 127c.

[0059] Furthermore, in order to return the hot air after heating the molding material Mm in each fluidized bed heater 122, 123 to the hot air generator 127, the hot air return flow path 127b is configured to include branch flow path portions 127d, 127e connected to each fluidized bed heater 122, 123 and a main flow path portion 127f connected to these branch flow path portions 127d, 127e and connected to the hot air generator 127.

[0060] exist Figure 3 In the material preheating device 121, with the ventilation opening and closing components 125a and 125b closed, molding material Mm is fed into the fluidized bed heaters 122 and 123 through material inlets 122e and 123e, respectively. While the molding material Mm is being heated in the fluidized bed heaters 122 and 123, all hot air blocking components 122f, 123f, 128a, and 128b are closed, and hot air is supplied to the fluidized bed heaters 122 and 123 from the hot air generator 127. At this time, as... Figure 3 As indicated by the arrows, hot air from the hot air generator 127 is conveyed to each fluidized bed heater 122, 123 via hot air conveying path 127a and extended conveying path 127c. The hot air used for heating the molding material Mm in each fluidized bed heater 122, 123 is returned to the hot air generator 127 via branch pipe sections 127d, 127e and main pipe section 127f of the hot air return flow path 127b. Hot air conveying path 127a and extended conveying path 127c convey hot air and induce the molding material Mm (second molding material) in the fluidized bed heater 122 away from the hot air generator 127 to be heated by the same hot air supplied to the molding material Mm (first molding material) in the fluidized bed heater 123 closer to the hot air generator 127. Therefore, hot air conveying path 127a and extended conveying path 127c correspond to a heating induction section. Furthermore, the hot air conveying path 127a and the extended conveying path 127c can be regarded as hot air paths that connect the fluidized bed heater 123 and the fluidized bed heater 122.

[0061] After the hot air generator 127 stops, by opening the ventilation opening and closing components 125a, 125b and the hot air blocking components 128a, 128b, the molding material Mm heated by the fluidized bed heaters 122, 123 can be supplied to the injection device 1 from the branch channel portions 126a, 126b and the confluence channel portion 126c of the parallel supply channel 126.

[0062] Here, in the material preheating device 121, heated molding material Mm can be alternately supplied to the injection unit 1 from multiple fluidized bed heaters 122 and 123. For example, when the heating of molding material Mm in one of the fluidized bed heaters 122 is completed, the molding material Mm in that fluidized bed heater 122 is supplied to the injection unit 1. Then, the venting opening and closing component 125a is closed, and molding material Mm is introduced into one of the fluidized bed heaters 122 through the material inlet 122e, and the above-mentioned hot air-based heating of molding material Mm is performed. At this time, the molding material Mm remaining in the other fluidized bed heater 123 is also reheated by hot air. Afterwards, when the heating in the other fluidized bed heater 123 is completed, the state of molding material Mm remaining in one of the fluidized bed heaters 122 is maintained, and the molding material Mm from the other fluidized bed heater 123 is supplied to the injection unit 1. Thus, if the molding material Mm is alternately supplied to the injection device 1 from multiple fluidized bed heaters 122 and 123 arranged in parallel, the molding material Mm is heated multiple times by hot air in each fluidized bed heater 122 and 123, so that the predetermined high temperature molding material Mm can be supplied to the injection device 1 in a fast cycle.

[0063] Alternatively, after the hot air-based molding material Mm is heated, the ventilation opening and closing components 125a and 125b and the hot air blocking components 128a and 128b can be opened almost simultaneously, supplying each molding material Mm in the multiple fluidized bed heaters 122 and 123 to the injection unit 1 at once. When a large amount of molding material Mm is consumed in a single melting and injection in the injection unit 1, it is advantageous to divide the relatively large amount of molding material Mm supplied to the injection unit 1 at once into smaller portions in each fluidized bed heater 122 and 123 and heat them sufficiently.

[0064] exist Figure 4 In another embodiment of the material preheating device 221 shown, in such a way... Figure 3 Fluidized bed heaters 222 and 223, arranged side-by-side like fluidized bed heaters 122 and 123, are respectively connected to fluidized bed heaters 229 and 230 in the upstream direction of the material Mm being supplied via inline connecting channels 224a and 224b. Other structures are substantially the same as those of the material preheating device 121 described above, and therefore will not be described again. The inline connecting channels 224a and 224b are heating induction sections, and the hot air conveying path 227a and the extended conveying path 227c are also heating induction sections.

[0065] In this material preheating device 221, each fluidized bed heater 222, 223, 229, and 230 is provided with material inlets 222e, 223e, 229e, and 230e equipped with hot air blocking components 222f, 223f, 229f, and 230f. Furthermore, if the upstream fluidized bed heaters 229 and 230 in the supply direction of the molding material Mm have material inlets 229e and 230e, then the molding material Mm can also be fed into the downstream fluidized bed heaters 222 and 223 in the supply direction of the molding material Mm. Therefore, the material inlets 222e and 223e of the downstream fluidized bed heaters 222 and 223 can be omitted.

[0066] The molding material Mm within the fluidized bed heaters 222, 223, 229, and 230 can be heated by hot air generated in a hot air generator (not shown). Here, as... Figure 4 As indicated by the arrows, hot air from the hot air generator is conveyed via hot air conveying path 227a or extended conveying path 227c to fluidized bed heaters 222, 229, 223, and 230, which are connected in parallel by inline connecting channels 224a and 224b, respectively. The hot air after passing through the upstream fluidized bed heaters 229 and 230 then flows from the branch pipe sections 227d and 227e of the hot air return path 227b to the main pipe section 227f and returns to the hot air generator.

[0067] The heated molding material Mm in the downstream fluidized bed heaters 222 and 223 can be supplied to the injection unit 1 alternately or simultaneously. At this time, by opening the ventilation opening and closing parts 225a and 225b and the hot air blocking parts 228a and 228b, the molding material Mm falls from the fluidized bed heaters 222 and 223 and reaches the injection unit 1 through the branch channel portion 226a or 226b and the confluence channel portion 226c of the parallel supply channel 226. After the molding material Mm is supplied to the injection unit 1 from the downstream fluidized bed heaters 222 and 223, the molding material Mm, heated to a certain degree by the upstream fluidized bed heaters 229 and 230, enters the downstream fluidized bed heaters 222 and 223 by closing the ventilation opening and closing parts 225a and 225b and opening the ventilation opening and closing parts 225c and 225d. During subsequent hot air supply, it is reheated by the downstream fluidized bed heaters 222 and 223. Therefore, in this material preheating device 221, the rapid heating of the molding material Mm and its supply in short cycles can be achieved more effectively.

[0068] Additionally, as needed, a material press can be installed between the material preheating device and the injection device 1. This material press draws in the molding material Mm and presses it by introducing compressed gas from a compressor or the like. This is particularly useful when the material preheating device is positioned around the cylinder 11 but not directly above the supply port 11a of the cylinder 11 of the injection device 1, making it impossible to supply the molding material from the material preheating device to the injection device 1 by its own weight. A material conveyor such as a belt conveyor can also be used instead of a material press. Furthermore, when there are fluidized bed heaters connected in a straight line, a material press, as described above, can be installed on the straight connecting channel connecting them.

[0069] ( Figure 5 and 6 Material preheating device)

[0070] When the molding material is preheated using a preheating heater before being supplied to the injection unit, if the injection unit is not yet ready to receive the molding material after the heating of the molding material using this heater is completed, the heated molding material discharged from the heater must remain idle before reaching the injection unit. In this case, there is a concern about the temperature of the molding material dropping. Furthermore, using an additional heat source to heat the molding material during idle time would increase the energy consumption required for preheating.

[0071] In order to suppress the increase in energy consumption during preheating of the molding material before it is supplied to the injection unit, the material preheating device 321 of this embodiment includes a plurality of material heaters 322 and 323 for heating the molding material. At least one of the plurality of material heaters 322 and 323 is a heat reuse heater 322 that heats the molding material using the heating medium used for heating the molding material in other material heaters.

[0072] The material preheating device 321 is located in the direction of the rotation axis of the screw 12 ( Figure 5 The material preheating device 321 is mounted on the cylinder 11 at the rear end opposite to the front end 14 of the injection molding material (in the left-right direction). More specifically, the material preheating device 321 is connected to the cylinder 11 to a through-hole-shaped supply port 11a located at a portion of the rear end of the cylinder 11 in the circumferential direction, and supplies molding material Mm, such as resin particles in substantially spherical or cylindrical shapes, to the supply port 11a.

[0073] The material preheating device 321 includes multiple material heaters 322 and 323 for heating the molding material. Here, at least one of the material heaters 322 and 323 is designated as a heat reuse heater in this embodiment. More specifically, the other material heaters 323, besides the material heater 322, use a heating medium such as air or a gas supplied to the other material heaters 323 to heat the molding material Mm. Then, the heating medium remaining after heating the molding material Mm in the other material heaters 323 is supplied to the material heater 322, which serves as the heat reuse heater, and the molding material Mm is heated using the heating medium remaining after use in the other material heaters 323. Here, the material heater 322 is also referred to as the heat reuse heater 322.

[0074] If at least one of the material heaters 322 and 323 is configured as a heat reuse heater 322 for reusing the heating medium after it has been used in other material heaters 323, then even if the heat source is not intended to be different from the heat source such as the hot air generator 325 (described later) that supplies the heating medium to other material heaters 323, the heat reuse heater 322 can be used to heat or keep the molding material Mm warm. Furthermore, for example, when the molding material Mm that has finished heating in other material heaters 323 is transferred to the heat reuse heater 322, if the plasticization and injection of the molding material Mm present in the cylinder 11 during the previous supply to the injection device 1 have not been completed and the injection device 1 is not yet ready to receive new molding material Mm, the heat reuse heater 322 can be used to effectively keep the molding material Mm warm while the device is on standby until the injection device 1 is ready to receive it. As a result, the energy consumption required for preheating the molding material supplied to the injection unit 1 can be suppressed, and the preheating of the molding material Mm can be carried out effectively.

[0075] The used heating medium, transferred from the other material heater 323 to the heat recycling heater 322, is supplied to the interior of the heat recycling heater 322 as in this embodiment, and preferably, the heating medium is brought into contact with the molding material Mm inside the heat recycling heater 322. In this case, the molding material Mm inside the heat recycling heater 322 is directly heated by the heating medium, thus achieving higher heating efficiency for each molding material Mm. However, the used heating medium can also be transferred to the outside and surrounding area of ​​the heat recycling heater, and indirectly heated to the internal molding material Mm via the peripheral wall of the heat recycling heater using this heating medium.

[0076] Additionally, as an example, the material heaters 322 and 323 shown in the figure are container-shaped heaters, each having a downstream side located in the supply direction of supplying molding material Mm to the injection unit 1 (in... Figure 6 The front cylindrical portions 322a and 323a (lower side) include: front cylindrical portions 322a and 323a; conical portions 322b and 323b, including the small-diameter end connected to the front cylindrical portions 322a and 323a and having a conical shape such as a frustum conical on both the inner and outer sides; cylindrical main body portions 322c and 323c connected to the large-diameter end of the conical portions 322b and 323b; and cylindrical main body portions 322c and 323c disposed on the opposite side of the cylindrical main body portions 322c and 323c from the conical portions 322b and 323b (on the lower side); Figure 6The annular portions 322d and 323d extend from the upper end of the material heater towards the inner circumference. However, the specific shape and structure of the material heater are not particularly limited as long as it can heat the molding material while containing it internally. In this embodiment, the heat recycling heater 322 is set to have a shape that is approximately the same as that of the other material heaters 323, but slightly larger. However, multiple material heaters can also be set to the same size. Furthermore, at least one of the multiple material heaters can be set to a different shape from the other material heaters.

[0077] In this embodiment, the other material heater 323 is configured as a fluidized bed heater that heats the molding material by supplying hot air while forming a fluidized bed. The other material heater 323 is sometimes also referred to as a fluidized bed heater 323. In the fluidized bed heater 323, hot air generated by a heating gas such as air is supplied to the interior from below the molding material Mm contained therein, in most cases. As a result, as shown, at least a portion of the molding material Mm floats due to the hot air from below, thus forming a fluidized bed. At this time, the area of ​​the molding material Mm in contact with the hot air is larger when it is floating in the fluidized bed heater 323 compared to when it is in a stacked state, thus effectively raising its temperature. Consequently, if the fluidized bed heater 323 is used, the molding material Mm can be sufficiently heated in a relatively short time. From this viewpoint, the other material heater 323 is suitable as a fluidized bed heater. Alternatively, the other material heater is sometimes configured as a heater that heats the molding material in a non-flowing, stacked state using hot air or a heating jacket or similar mechanism. Furthermore, as another example of heaters for other materials, screw feeders that heat and convey the molding material at the same time can be cited.

[0078] When the other material heater 323 is configured as a fluidized bed heater, a ventilation opening / closing member 324 can be provided at the outlet of the molding material, such as the front end cylinder 323a, on the lower side of the fluidized bed heater 323. This ventilation opening / closing member 324 is driven by a drive source (not shown) and is opened and closed to allow the molding material Mm to pass through or stop passing through the outlet. Then, the material preheating device 321 preferably includes a hot air supply flow path 325a connecting the front end cylinder 323a of the fluidized bed heater 323 and the hot air generator 325. At this time, with the ventilation opening / closing member 324 closed, the molding material Mm in the fluidized bed heater 323 cannot pass through the ventilation opening / closing member 324 and is held on the ventilation opening / closing member 324. On the other hand, the hot air supplied from the hot air generator 325 through the hot air supply flow path 325a flows into the fluidized bed heater 323 from the lower side through the ventilation opening / closing member 324. Therefore, a fluidized bed of the molding material Mm can be easily formed in the fluidized bed heater 323, and the molding material Mm can be effectively heated. Specifically, the aforementioned ventilation opening and closing component 324 can be a perforated metal plate with multiple through holes formed on a metal sheet by stamping or other processes, or a mesh component with square or polygonal meshes when viewed from the front. In most cases, the material preheating device 321 has a hot air generator 325, but sometimes the material preheating device 321 does not have a hot air generator 325, and the source of hot air supply is not limited to the hot air generator 325.

[0079] Furthermore, the material preheating device 321 may include a hot air conveying path 326, which conveys the hot air used for heating the molding material Mm in the fluidized bed heater 323 as a used heating medium to the heat recycling heater 322. In the example shown, the hot air conveying path 326 is configured as a pipe-like flow path connected to the annular portion 323d of the fluidized bed heater 323 and extending outside the fluidized bed heater 323 and the heat recycling heater 322, entering the heat recycling heater 322 from the annular portion 322d. The hot air conveying path 326 may have an enlarged diameter front end 326a, which serves as the front end of a pipe located within the heat recycling heater 322, and its inner and outer diameters gradually increase as it approaches the accumulation layer of molding material Mm within the heat recycling heater 322. The expansion end portion 326a is preferably provided on the hot air conveying flow path 326 to heat the molding material Mm within the heat recycling heater 322 over a wide range of its stacked layer using the hot air conveyed from the hot air conveying flow path 326. When the molding material Mm is stacked within the heat recycling heater 322, the expansion end portion 326a is preferably provided at a position in the height direction embedded within the stacked layer of the molding material Mm. Thus, hot air is conveyed from the expansion end portion 326a into the stacked layer of the molding material Mm, enabling more effective heating or heat preservation of the molding material Mm. The hot air conveying flow path 326 is a heating induction section that conveys hot air supplied to the molding material Mm (first molding material) in the fluidized bed heater 323 to the heat recycling heater 322 and induces the molding material Mm (second molding material) within the heat recycling heater 322 to be heated by the hot air. Furthermore, the hot air conveying path 326 is the path for the hot air to connect the fluidized bed heater 323 and the other material heaters, which are different from the fluidized bed heater 323, to the hot air reuse heater 322.

[0080] Furthermore, the material preheating device 321 may include a hot air return path 325b that returns hot air, which is the heating medium, from the heat recycling heater 322 to the hot air generator 325. The hot air return path 325b may be configured to extend from, for example, a side opening provided in the cylindrical main body 322c of the heat recycling heater 322 to the hot air generator 325, but the portion of the hot air return path 325b connected to the heat recycling heater 322 is not limited to the cylindrical main body 322c.

[0081] The fluidized bed heater 323 and the heat recycling heater 322, which serve as heaters for other materials, can be connected by a material conveying channel 327 that conveys the molding material Mm from the fluidized bed heater 323 to the heat recycling heater 322. At this time, the heat recycling heater 322 is located downstream of the fluidized bed heater 323 in the supply direction of the molding material Mm.

[0082] In this embodiment, the fluidized bed heater 323 and the heat recycling heater 322 are arranged side-by-side vertically, and the material transfer channel 327 is located within the front end cylinder 323a of the fluidized bed heater 323. Furthermore, a hot air blocking member 328a, driven to open and close, is provided on the downstream side of the front end cylinder 323a from the location connected to the hot air supply path 325a in the supply direction of the molding material Mm. Thus, when the fluidized bed heater 323 is positioned above the heat recycling heater 322 and connected to it by the material transfer channel 327, if the ventilation opening / closing member 324 and the hot air blocking member 328a are opened, the molding material Mm within the fluidized bed heater 323 falls due to its own weight and is transferred to the heat recycling heater 322. Alternatively, an on / off driven hot air blocking component (not shown) can be provided on the hot air supply flow path 325a. If the hot air blocking component is closed, the flow of hot air from the hot air generator 325 to the fluidized bed heater 323 is blocked.

[0083] Although the illustration is omitted, when space constraints prevent the placement of fluidized bed heaters or other material heaters above the heat recycling heater, these heaters can be positioned laterally away from the heat recycling heater, and a material pressurizer can be installed midway through the material conveying channel. The material pressurizer draws the molding material Mm from the side of the other material heaters and presses it towards the heat recycling heater by introducing compressed gas from a compressor or similar source. Alternatively, a belt conveyor or similar material conveyor can be used instead of the material pressurizer. Even in configurations where it is difficult to transfer the molding material from the other material heaters to the heat recycling heater, this material conveying can be achieved using such a material pressurizer.

[0084] When a material transfer channel 327 from the fluidized bed heater 323 to the heat recovery heater 322 is provided, as shown in the material preheating device 321, the fluidized bed heater 323 on the upstream side in the supply direction of the molding material Mm preferably has a material inlet 323e provided in the annular portion 323d for feeding the molding material Mm into the fluidized bed heater 323. An opening-closing driven hot air blocking member 323f can be provided on the material inlet 323e.

[0085] exist Figure 6 In the material preheating device 321, with the ventilation opening and closing component 324 closed and the hot air blocking component 323f open, the molding material Mm is fed into the fluidized bed heater 323 from the material inlet 323e.

[0086] To heat the molding material Mm using the fluidized bed heater 323, hot air blocking components 328a and 323f are closed, and hot air is supplied from the hot air generator 325 to the fluidized bed heater 323 via the hot air supply path 325a. At this time, since the hot air blocking component 328a is closed, the hot air does not flow towards the heat recovery heater 322 side, but it can flow into the fluidized bed heater 323 through the ventilation opening and closing component 324. In the fluidized bed heater 323, the molding material Mm is effectively heated by the hot air supplied from below, forming a fluidized bed.

[0087] After heating in the fluidized bed heater 323 is completed, the ventilation opening / closing component 324 and the hot air blocking component 328a are opened, and the molding material Mm is transferred from the material transfer channel 327 to the heat recycling heater 322. For example, when the cylinder 11 of the injection device 1 is still filled with molding material Mm, the molding material Mm transferred from the fluidized bed heater 323 to the heat recycling heater 322 needs to be stored in the heat recycling heater 322 in a standby state. On the other hand, new molding material Mm is introduced into the fluidized bed heater 323, and the above-mentioned heating of the molding material Mm based on hot air is carried out. At this time, the hot air after passing through the fluidized bed heater 323 is transferred to the heat recycling heater 322 via the hot air transfer path 326. As a result, the molding material Mm waiting in the heat recycling heater 322 is heated, thus effectively suppressing the temperature drop of the molding material Mm during the standby period. Furthermore, by reusing the hot air after passing through the fluidized bed heater 323, energy consumption during preheating can be suppressed compared to the use of other heat sources.

[0088] Once the plasticizing and injection of the molding material Mm in the injection unit 1 is complete, the molding material Mm in the heat recycling heater 322 is supplied to the injection unit 1. Subsequently, the ventilation opening / closing component 324 and the hot air blocking component 328a are opened, thereby transferring the molding material Mm from the fluidized bed heater 323 to the heat recycling heater 322. Thus, the predetermined high-temperature molding material Mm is successively supplied to the injection unit 1.

[0089] The material preheating device 321 described above is sometimes installed as part of the injection device 1. In this case, the heat reuse heater 322 of the material preheating device 321 can be installed as a hopper for supplying molding material into the cylinder 11 of the injection device 1 via a supply port 11a.

[0090] Specifically, for example, the front cylindrical portion 323a of another material heater 323, such as a fluidized bed heater, can be connected to the hopper, and the front end of a pipe configured with a hot air delivery path 326 can be inserted into the hopper. This allows the hopper to function as a heat recovery heater. Furthermore, it is preferable to connect a hot air return path 325b to the hopper so that hot air returns from the hopper to the hot air generator 325. Additionally, the hopper is preferably configured to be substantially sealed internally, except for the connection points with the material delivery channel 327, the hot air delivery path 326, and the hot air return path 325b.

[0091] ( Figures 7-9 Material preheating device)

[0092] In conventional apparatuses that fluidize and heat molding materials, each piece of material is heated to float in hot air, allowing it to come into contact with high-velocity hot air and thus enabling relatively high-speed heating. However, by simply exposing the molding materials to hot air from below, hot air may blow up and cause some of the materials to fall off, resulting in localized fluidization rather than a uniform fluidized bed. Consequently, it may be difficult to achieve high-speed and uniform heating of the molding materials.

[0093] In order to preheat the molding material supplied to the inside of the cylinder at high speed and uniformly, the material preheating device 421 of this embodiment includes: a fluidized bed heater 422 that heats the molding material Mm into a fluidized bed by supplying hot air; and a guide part 423 disposed in the fluidized bed within the fluidized bed heater 422 and guiding the flow of the molding material Mm in the fluidized bed.

[0094] The material preheating device 421 is located in the direction of the rotation axis of the screw 12 of the injection device 1 ( Figure 7 The material preheating device 421 is mounted on the rear end of the injection cylinder 11 on the opposite side of the front end 14 of the molding material Mm. More specifically, the material preheating device 421 is connected to the cylinder 11 to a through-hole-shaped supply port 11a located on a portion of the rear end of the cylinder 11 in the circumferential direction, and supplies molding material Mm, such as resin particles in substantially spherical or cylindrical shapes, to the supply port 11a.

[0095] Here, as Figure 8 As shown, the fluidized bed heater 422 supplies the molding material Mm into the fluidized bed heater 422 through the material supply port 521 and supplies hot air to a position above the bottom of the fluidized bed heater 422 in the vertical direction (e.g., above in the vertical direction), thereby causing the molding material Mm to flow and form a fluidized bed.

[0096] The fluidized bed heater 422 is a container with a circular cross-section in a direction orthogonal to the vertical direction, having an internal space. It has a funnel-shaped bottom with an inner diameter that gradually increases from the bottom to the top in the vertical direction, a side with a substantially constant inner diameter, and a lid-shaped top. The surface of the fluidized bed heater 422 can be formed of a heat-resistant material such as metal.

[0097] In the example shown in the figure, the material supply port 521 is located on the upper part of the fluidized bed heater 422 and does not overlap with the guide portion 423 described later in the vertical direction of the fluidized bed heater 422.

[0098] The material supply port 521 can be connected, for example, to a hopper or other container (not shown) that holds the molding material Mm for preheating. Furthermore, an opening / closing member (not shown) can be provided between the material supply port 521 and the container to allow the molding material Mm preheated in the fluidized bed heater 422 to pass through or stop passing through. Although not shown in the example, a conveyor such as a feeder can be provided, as needed, to supply the molding material Mm from the container to the fluidized bed heater 422.

[0099] Alternatively, the material supply port 521 can also be located on the side wall or bottom of the fluidized bed heater 422, other than the position shown in the figure, and can also be located in multiple locations.

[0100] The supply of hot air to the fluidized bed heater is not particularly limited and can be achieved by allowing the hot air generated in the hot air generator 424 to flow into the hot air supply path 425. In the example shown, the material preheating device 421 may include a material transfer channel 426 that supplies the preheated molding material Mm in the fluidized bed heater 422 to the cylinder 11 of the injection device 1. However, the hot air supply path 425 and the material transfer channel 426 merge at the opening side of the fluidized bed heater 422, and serve as both a portion 551 of the hot air supply path 425 facing the opening side of the fluidized bed heater 422 and a portion 551 of the material transfer channel 426 facing the opening side of the fluidized bed heater 422 (this combined portion is also referred to as the combined channel portion 551). Furthermore, the hot air generated in the hot air generator 424 flows through the shared channel portion 551 and is supplied upward in the vertical direction via the opening of the shared channel portion 551 provided at the bottom of the fluidized bed heater 422 (which is also the opening of the hot air supply path 425 and the material conveying path 426).

[0101] Furthermore, the opening of the combined channel portion 551 is located at the transverse center of the bottom of the fluidized bed heater 422, but it can also be located at a location other than the transverse center of the bottom or at a location other than the bottom. Moreover, this embodiment is not limited to the configuration where it serves as a part of both the hot air supply path 425 and the material conveying path 426 as shown in the example; the hot air supply path 425 and the material conveying path 426 can also be provided separately. Furthermore, hot air can be supplied into the fluidized bed heater 422 from multiple locations (specifically, the openings of the hot air supply path 425 towards the fluidized bed heater 422 can be multiple), and can be provided at locations other than the bottom of the fluidized bed heater 422, or at locations other than the bottom of the fluidized bed heater 422 instead of at the bottom.

[0102] The hot air supplied to the fluidized bed heater 422 heats the molding material Mm and is then discharged through the hot air outlet 522 located at the top of the fluidized bed heater 422. Furthermore, in the example shown, the discharged hot air flows through the hot air return channel 427 back to the hot air generator 424, where it is reheated and supplied to the fluidized bed heater 422.

[0103] In addition, in the example shown in the figure, the hot air outlet 522 is located at the upper part of the fluidized bed heater 422. Specifically, it is located at the upper part of the fluidized bed heater 422 and is arranged to open in a direction opposite to the supply direction of the supplied hot air. However, the hot air outlet 522 may also be located at a position other than the upper part of the fluidized bed heater 422.

[0104] As described above, the molding material Mm preheated by the fluidized bed heater 422 is supplied to the cylinder 11 through the material transfer channel 426 connecting the fluidized bed heater 422 and the injection device 1. In the example shown, the material transfer channel 426 merges with the hot air supply path 425 at the opening side facing the fluidized bed heater 422 to form a combined channel portion 551, and a conveyor 561 is provided further downstream (on the cylinder 11 side) than the combined channel portion 551, thereby conveying the molding material Mm present in the material transfer channel 426 to the cylinder 11. As a specific conveyor 561, a suction conveyor, a feeder, etc., can be used, for example. Furthermore, the suction conveyor is a device that allows the molding material Mm to pass through an internal cylindrical body and introduces compressed gas generated by a compressor (not shown) into the cylindrical body and discharges the compressed gas toward the downstream side of the material conveying channel 426. By discharging the compressed gas toward the downstream side of the material conveying channel 426, the upstream side of the cylindrical body becomes negative pressure, and the molding material Mm is conveyed to the downstream side. In the example shown, a conveyor 561 is provided on the material conveying channel 426, but the molding material Mm can also be supplied to the cylinder by gravity by placing the fluidized bed heater 422 above the cylinder body 11 in the vertical direction.

[0105] Furthermore, the fluidized bed heater 422 has an opening / closing member 523 at its outlet, which opens and closes to allow the molding material Mm to pass through or stop passing through the outlet. Specifically, the opening / closing member 523 is provided at the outlet of the fluidized bed heater 422; in other words, it is an opening in the material conveying channel 426 (also serving as the channel portion 551) facing into the fluidized bed heater 422, and by opening and closing this opening, it serves to convey or prevent the molding material Mm from being conveyed to the material conveying channel 426. Moreover, in the illustrated example, the material conveying channel 426 and the hot air supply path 425 are both used as channels in the channel portion 551. Therefore, in order to preheat the molding material Mm within the fluidized bed heater 422, the opening / closing member 523 has ventilation (ventilation opening / closing member), so that even when the opening / closing member 523 is closed and the molding material Mm stops passing through the outlet, hot air is still supplied to the fluidized bed heater 422 via the opening / closing member 523. Specifically, as shown in the figure, the ventilable opening and closing component 523 can be formed using a component with multiple through holes of a size larger than the molding material Mm, specifically formed from a metal mesh plate or the like.

[0106] Furthermore, the material preheating device 421 of this embodiment includes a guide section 423, which is disposed on the fluidized bed within the fluidized bed heater 422 and guides the flow of the molding material Mm in the fluidized bed. Specifically, if hot air is supplied to the fluidized bed heater 422 as described above, the molding material Mm floats within the fluidized bed heater 422, forming a fluidized bed inside the fluidized bed heater 422 from the floating molding material Mm. However, for example, if the amount of hot air supplied to the fluidized bed heater 422 is too strong relative to the molding material Mm, the molding material Mm is blown to a high position within the fluidized bed heater 422. Therefore, only a portion of the molding material Mm is blown up by the hot air, which may result in a localized fluidized bed formation instead of forming a fluidized bed within the overall molding material Mm.

[0107] Therefore, in this embodiment, the guide portion 423 is disposed on the fluidized bed (above the fluidized bed) formed within the fluidized bed heater 422 to guide the flow of the floating molding material Mm. Thus, by providing the guide portion 423 to the material preheating device 421, the fluidized bed formation state of the molding material Mm can be adjusted. More specifically, in the heating of the molding material Mm, it is important that a fluidized bed is formed throughout the molding material Mm and that each piece of molding material Mm is in uniform contact with the hot air. In this embodiment, the material preheating device 421, by providing the guide portion 423, guides the flow of the molding material Mm blown by the hot air. By guiding the flow of the molding material Mm to adjust the fluidized bed formation state, each piece of molding material Mm can be in uniform contact with the hot air. As a result, the preheating of the molding material Mm supplied to the cylinder 11 of the injection device 1 can be performed at high speed and uniformly. According to the guide section 423, the flow of the floating molding material Mm is guided within the fluidized bed heater 422. Therefore, after the first molding material Mm (the first molding material), which is heated by hot air, falls to the bottom, the second molding material (the second molding material) that has accumulated at the bottom floats up and is heated by the same hot air. Thus, the guide section 423 can be considered a heating induction section that guides the flow of the molding material Mm (the first and second molding materials) within the fluidized bed heater 422, inducing the accumulated molding material Mm (the second molding material) to be heated by hot air supplied before or after the first molding material Mm (the floating molding material). In this way, the first and second molding materials each refer to a portion of the molding material Mm that enters the fluidized bed heater 422.

[0108] In detail, the guide portion 423 can be shaped like a plate or a mesh. More specifically, since hot air contacts the guide portion 423, the guide portion 423 preferably has wind resistance, where a portion of its shape can be deformed by the hot air, but the overall shape will not be deformed by the hot air. Furthermore, the guide portion, as shown in the example, can guide the flow of the molding material Mm while allowing hot air to pass through, and therefore is preferably shaped like a mesh.

[0109] Furthermore, "plate-like" refers to a shape that does not allow hot air to pass through (lacking ventilation) and has a wide surface area relative to its thickness, while "mesh-like" refers to a shape that allows air to pass through (possibly ventilation) and has a wide surface area relative to its thickness. Specifically, the guide portion 423 of the mesh-like shape can be exemplified by: a perforated plate such as a perforated metal plate, a mesh formed from strong steel wire such as metal wire, or a mesh formed by framing the periphery of a mesh formed from flexible lines or ropes with strong metal or other components. Moreover, the guide portion 423 can have both plate-like and mesh-like portions. Furthermore, the entire structure can be formed from a single material or from a mixture or coexistence of multiple materials. The material is not particularly limited as long as it has higher heat resistance than the forming material Mm; metal is preferred.

[0110] Furthermore, the guide section 423 can be equipped with a reinforcing member that is reinforced in a direction opposite to the force of the hot air. In this case, the presence of the reinforcing member enables the guide section 423 to have wind resistance so that its shape will not deform due to the hot air. Moreover, the guide section 423 can also be formed from a component capable of elastic deformation.

[0111] The guide portion 423 can be disposed within the fluidized bed heater 422 at an angle relative to the supply direction of the hot air, thereby enabling guidance. Specifically, the guide portion 423 may include a peripheral portion 531, a central portion 532 that protrudes further toward the fluidized bed than the peripheral portion 531, and a curved portion 533 that connects the peripheral portion 531 and the central portion 532 and bends into a concave shape in a direction away from the fluidized bed. With this configuration, the flow of the molding material Mm that comes into contact with the guide portion 423 is guided to diffuse from the central portion 532 toward the curved portion 533. As a result, it is easier to adjust the floating range of the molding material Mm, and the molding material Mm can be made to contact the hot air uniformly as a whole.

[0112] Furthermore, when the guide portion 423 is formed by the peripheral portion 531, the central portion 532, and the curved portion 533, the guide portion 423 can be plate-shaped or mesh-shaped. Moreover, the guide portion 423 is preferably formed in a concentric circle shape with the central portion 532 as the center.

[0113] In order to guide the flow of the molding material Mm, the guide part 423 can be provided at any position within the fluidized bed heater 422, for example, it can also be fixed by a mounting part extending from the inner wall of the bottom, side or top of the fluidized bed heater 422.

[0114] However, in this embodiment, from the viewpoint that the flow of the molding material Mm can be more easily guided by the guide portion 423 even during operation using the material preheating device 421, such as Figure 8 As shown, a position adjustment mechanism 428 capable of adjusting the position of the guide portion 423 within the fluidized bed heater 422 is preferably used. Furthermore, the guide portion 423 is preferably positioned in the hot air supply direction, and the position adjustment mechanism 428 adjusts the position of the guide portion 423 at least along the hot air supply direction. Specifically, the guide portion 423 is positioned on the extension line of the hot air supply path 425, and the position adjustment mechanism 428 adjusts the position of the guide portion 423 at least along the extension line of the hot air supply path 425. With this configuration, the flow of the molding material Mm is more easily guided by the guide portion 423, and the floating range of the molding material Mm can be more easily adjusted.

[0115] The position adjustment mechanism 428 is not particularly limited, for example, Figure 8 As shown, it can include: a first transmission section (not shown) that transmits the driving force for adjusting the position of the guide section 423 from the outside of the fluidized bed heater 422 to the inside; and a first connecting section 581 that connects the first transmission section and the guide section 423 and uses the driving force to displace the guide section 423.

[0116] More specifically, in the illustrated example, the position adjustment mechanism 428 is capable of adjusting the position of the guide 423 at least in the direction of hot air supply. However, the first connecting part 581 includes a rod-shaped member connected to the central portion 532 of the guide 423 at one (lower) end, extending outward from one end toward the other (upper) end in the direction of hot air supply beyond the hot air outlet 522 of the fluidized bed heater 422, with the other end located within the hot air return channel 427. Furthermore, the driving force is transmitted from the outside to the inside of the fluidized bed heater 422 via the first transmission part, thereby displacing the first connecting part 581 in the direction of supply (e.g., ...). Figure 8The position of the guide portion 423 is adjusted at least in the direction of hot air supply by the displacement of the position adjustment mechanism 428 (as indicated by the arrow on the right). At this time, at least the rod-shaped member of the first connecting portion 581 extends in the same direction as the adjustment direction of the guide portion 423 by the position adjustment mechanism 428, so that the guide portion 423 can be effectively supported even when hot air has been supplied into the fluidized bed heater 422, and the position of the guide portion 423 can be reliably adjusted when the position adjustment mechanism 428 is used to adjust the position of the guide portion 423.

[0117] Furthermore, the position adjustment mechanism 428 can be configured in a structure other than the one shown in the figure, as long as it can adjust the position of the guide portion 423 within the fluidized bed heater 422. For example, it can be configured such that the first connecting portion 581 of the figure extends from the side of the fluidized bed heater 422 and is connected to the guide portion 423. Moreover, the position adjustment mechanism 428 can adjust the position of the guide portion 423 by, for example, a drive based on an electric motor or a manual drive.

[0118] However, in a variation of the material preheating device of this embodiment, when the guide portion 423 includes a peripheral portion 531, a central portion 532, and a curved portion 533, such as Figure 9 As shown, a bending adjustment mechanism 429 may also be provided, capable of adjusting the degree of bending of the curved portion 533 of the guide portion 423. Specifically, in the example shown, by using the bending adjustment mechanism 429 to push and pull the guide portion 423 from the side opposite to the fluidized bed side, the degree of bending of the curved portion 533 of the guide portion 423 can be adjusted. More specifically, the bending adjustment mechanism 429 may include: a second transmission part (not shown) that transmits the driving force for adjusting the degree of bending of the curved portion 533 from the outside to the inside of the fluidized bed heater 422; a second connecting part 591 located around the first connecting part 581 of the position adjustment mechanism 428 and displaced along the extension direction of the first connecting part 581 by the driving force from the second transmission part; and a third connecting part 592 connecting one end of the second connecting part 591 on the guide portion side and the guide portion 423. The second transmission part of the bending adjustment mechanism 429 causes the second connecting part 591 to be displaced relative to the first connecting part 581 (e.g., Figure 9 The bending adjustment mechanism 429 is displaced as indicated by the arrow on the left, thereby the third connecting part 592, which is connected to one end of the second connecting part 591, pushes and pulls the guide part 423 in the vertical and / or horizontal directions, thereby adjusting the degree of bending of the bending part 533.

[0119] More specifically, when the third connecting portion 592 of the bending adjustment mechanism 429 is connected, for example, to the peripheral portion 531 of the guide portion 423, if the second connecting portion 591 is displaced relative to the first connecting portion 581, the tilt angle of the third connecting portion 592 changes relative to the displacement direction of the second connecting portion 591, thereby changing the degree of bending of the bending portion 533. In this case, the guide portion 423 and the third connecting portion 592 can be formed from a component capable of elastic deformation. Furthermore, the third connecting portion 592 can be formed from the same component as the guide portion 423 and then positioned in the opposite direction in the vertical direction to the guide portion 423. Thus, the third connecting portion 592 serves as a reinforcing part, enabling the guide portion 423 as a whole to have wind resistance so that its shape does not deform due to hot air. Furthermore, if the second connecting part 591, which serves as the bending adjustment mechanism 429, is displaced relative to the first connecting part 581, the third connecting part 592 can cause the guide part 423 to be pushed and stretched or pulled and contracted mainly in the lateral direction, thereby adjusting the degree of bending of the bending part 533.

[0120] Here, the material preheating device 421 of this embodiment and its modifications, as described above, includes a temperature information detection mechanism that detects information related to the temperature of the molding material Mm inside the fluidized bed heater 422. Specifically, the temperature information detection mechanism can utilize temperature sensors such as thermocouples installed inside the fluidized bed heater 422, or... Figure 8 , Figure 9The thermal imager 430, etc., which observes from the outside through the observation window 524 of the fluidized bed heater 422, obtains information related to the temperature of the molding material Mm inside the fluidized bed heater 422. This information, for example, relates to the degree of temperature distribution of the molding material Mm. When the temperature information detection mechanism detects information related to the temperature of the molding material Mm inside the fluidized bed heater 422, for example, a user of the material preheating device 421 adjusts the position of the guide section 423 via the position adjustment mechanism 428 based on this information. This allows for adjustment of the flow guidance of the molding material Mm, thereby achieving high-speed and uniform preheating of the molding material Mm. Furthermore, when the material preheating device 421 is equipped with a bending adjustment mechanism 429, in addition to the adjustment based on the position adjustment mechanism 428, the bending degree of the bending portion 533 of the guide portion 423 is also adjusted based on the bending adjustment mechanism 429. Alternatively, the bending degree of the bending portion 533 of the guide portion 423 can be adjusted based on the bending adjustment mechanism 429 instead of the adjustment based on the position adjustment mechanism 428, thereby enabling more efficient, faster, and more uniform preheating of the molding material Mm. In addition, based on the information related to the temperature of the molding material Mm inside the fluidized bed heater 422 detected by the temperature information detection mechanism, the user of the material preheating device 421 can also take countermeasures such as increasing the intensity of the hot air and adjusting the supply amount of the molding material Mm.

[0121] Furthermore, when the material preheating device 421 of this embodiment includes a position adjustment mechanism 428, it may also include a control unit (not shown) that controls the position adjustment mechanism 428 based on temperature-related information detected by the temperature information detection mechanism. Furthermore, when the material preheating device 421 includes a bending adjustment mechanism, the control unit can control the position adjustment mechanism 428 and / or the bending adjustment mechanism 429 based on temperature-related information detected by the temperature information detection mechanism. Specifically, for example, when the control unit determines that the temperature distribution of the molding material Mm detected by the temperature information detection mechanism exceeds a predetermined threshold, the control unit controls the position adjustment mechanism 428 and / or the bending adjustment mechanism 429, thereby adjusting the guidance of the guide unit 423 on the flow of the molding material Mm, and automatically and uniformly preheating the molding material Mm.

[0122] In addition, when the injection device 1 is equipped with a material preheating device 421, the control unit of the injection device 1 for controlling the operation of the injection device 1 can also be used as a control unit for controlling the position adjustment mechanism 428 and / or the bending adjustment mechanism 429.

[0123] Furthermore, when a thermocouple is installed in the fluidized bed heater 422, the degree of temperature distribution of the molding material Mm detected by the temperature information detection mechanism can be calculated based on the measurement results of multiple thermocouples installed in the fluidized bed heater 422. Moreover, when a thermal imager is installed in the fluidized bed heater 422, any number of temperature data can be extracted from the obtained thermal image and calculated based on the extracted multiple temperature data.

[0124] ( Figures 7-9 (Control of material preheating device)

[0125] The material preheating device 421 described above can be controlled, for example, as described below.

[0126] First, such as Figure 10 As shown, the material preheating device 421 sets the ventilation opening and closing component 523 to the closed state, supplies the molding material Mm for preheating to the fluidized bed heater 422, and supplies hot air to start heating (step S10). In the material preheating device 421, when using the material preheating device 421, the temperature of the molding material Mm inside the fluidized bed heater 422 is constantly monitored by temperature sensors such as thermocouples installed inside the fluidized bed heater 422 as temperature information detection mechanisms, or by thermal imagers 430 that are observed from the outside through the observation window 524 of the fluidized bed heater 422. As for temperature-related information, it is not particularly limited. Here, the temperature information detection mechanism obtains information related to the degree of temperature distribution of the molding material Mm based on the measured temperature of the molding material Mm, and then sends this information to, for example, the control unit of the material preheating device 421.

[0127] The control unit determines whether the temperature distribution of the molding material Mm exceeds a predetermined threshold (step S20). Furthermore, the determination made by the control unit is performed after a predetermined time has elapsed since the molding material Mm was supplied to the fluidized bed heater 422.

[0128] When the control unit determines that the temperature distribution of the molding material Mm exceeds a predetermined threshold (step S20 - Yes), the control unit controls the position adjustment mechanism 428 and / or the bending adjustment mechanism 429 (step S21). Through the control unit's control, the guiding part 423 can adjust the flow of the molding material Mm, thus uniformly preheating the molding material Mm. Then, after control by the control unit, the control unit again determines whether the temperature distribution of the molding material Mm exceeds the predetermined threshold (step S20). This determination can be performed again after a predetermined time has elapsed.

[0129] On the other hand, when the control unit determines that the temperature distribution of the molding material Mm does not exceed the predetermined threshold (step S20 - No), the control unit does not control the position adjustment mechanism 428 and the bending adjustment mechanism 429 and maintains the status quo of these position adjustment mechanisms 428 and bending adjustment mechanisms 429 (proceed to step S30).

[0130] Next, the control unit determines, based on information related to the temperature of the molding material Mm detected by the temperature information detection mechanism, whether the temperature distribution of the molding material Mm has reached the predetermined temperature (in other words, whether preheating has been completed) (step S30). When the control unit determines that the temperature distribution of the molding material Mm has reached the predetermined temperature (step S30 - Yes), it sends a control to stop the supply of hot air and open the ventilation opening and closing component 523 of the material preheating device 421, supplying the molding material Mm to the injection device 1 via the material transfer channel 426 (step S31). After the molding material Mm in the fluidized bed heater 422 is discharged, the process returns to the process of supplying the molding material Mm before preheating.

[0131] On the other hand, when the control unit determines that the molding material Mm has not reached the predetermined temperature with uniform temperature distribution (step S30 - No), the control unit determines again whether the molding material Mm has reached the predetermined temperature with uniform temperature distribution (step S30). At this time, it is possible to make a second determination after a predetermined time has elapsed.

[0132] Furthermore, as another control method for the material preheating device 421, the following methods can also be used.

[0133] First, such as Figure 11 As shown, similar to the control method described above, the material preheating device 421 sets the ventilation opening and closing component 523 to the closed state, supplies the molding material Mm for preheating to the fluidized bed heater 422 and supplies hot air to start heating (step S10).

[0134] Next, the control unit determines whether the molding material Mm has reached the predetermined temperature based on information related to the temperature detected by the temperature information detection device (step S40). The predetermined temperature of the molding material Mm can be set as the average of temperature data obtained from multiple thermocouples or thermal imagers. Furthermore, the determination made by the control unit can be performed after the molding material Mm has been supplied to the fluidized bed heater 422 for a predetermined period of time.

[0135] When the control unit determines that the molding material Mm has reached the predetermined temperature (step S40 - Yes), proceed to the next step S50.

[0136] On the other hand, when the control unit determines that the molding material Mm has not reached the predetermined temperature (step S40 - No), the control unit determines again whether the molding material Mm has reached the predetermined temperature (step S40). At this time, it is possible to make a second determination after a predetermined time has elapsed.

[0137] Next, the control unit determines whether the degree of temperature distribution of the molding material Mm exceeds a predetermined threshold (step S50).

[0138] When the control unit determines that the temperature distribution of the molding material Mm exceeds a predetermined threshold (step S50 - Yes), the control unit controls the position adjustment mechanism 428 and / or the bending adjustment mechanism 429 (step S51). Then, after the control unit performs the control, the control unit again determines whether the temperature distribution of the molding material Mm exceeds the predetermined threshold (step S50). At this time, the determination can be performed again after a predetermined time has elapsed.

[0139] On the other hand, when the control unit determines that the temperature distribution of the molding material Mm does not exceed a predetermined threshold (step S50 - No), the control unit does not control the position adjustment mechanism 428 and the bending adjustment mechanism 429, and maintains the current state of these mechanisms. Furthermore, the control unit sends a control to stop the supply of hot air and open the ventilation opening / closing component 523 of the material preheating device 421, supplying the molding material Mm to the injection device 1 via the material transfer channel 426 (step S52). After the molding material Mm in the fluidized bed heater 422 is discharged, the process returns to the supply of the molding material Mm before preheating.

[0140] (Injection device)

[0141] like Figure 1 , 5 As illustrated in examples 7, the injection device 1, which can be applied to the material preheating device 21 as described above, mainly comprises: a cylinder 11 that melts the molding material supplied from the material preheating device 21, etc., inside; a screw 12 that is driven to rotate inside the cylinder 11 to plasticize the molding material; and a rear side disposed in the direction of the rotation axis of the screw 12. Figure 1 Metering motor 31 (on the right side); and injection motor 41 disposed further rearward of metering motor 31.

[0142] A heater 13 is arranged around the cylinder body 11 to heat the molding material supplied to the inside of the cylinder body 11. The front end side of the cylinder body 11 in the direction of the rotation axis ( Figure 1The cylinder 11 has a front end portion 14 with decreasing inner and outer diameters on its left side, and a heater 13 is also arranged around the front end portion 14. Furthermore, a through-hole-shaped supply port 11a is provided on the rear end side in the direction of the rotation axis of the cylinder 11, and the aforementioned material preheating device 21 is installed in the through-hole-shaped supply port 11a.

[0143] The metering motor 31 and the injection motor 41 are respectively fixed to the rear side of the respective rotation axis direction of two motor support plates 32 and 42, which are arranged vertically and spaced apart on the sliding base 101. The screw 12 is driven to rotate by the metering motor 31 and to move forward and backward by the injection motor 41. The two motor support plates 32 and 42 are connected to each other at multiple locations, such as four locations, around the metering motor 31 by rods 51 and 52.

[0144] The metering motor 31 mainly includes: a rotor 33; a stator 34 disposed around the rotor 33; and a stator frame 35 surrounding the rotor 33 and the stator 34, with the stator 34 having a portion on its inner surface. The rotor 33 of the metering motor 31 is supported at each end along its rotational axis by bearings 33a on the inner side of the stator frame 35. Furthermore, the rotor 33 is splined around a metering spline shaft 36, which is connected to a screw mounting portion 37 on which a screw 12 is mounted. Additionally, one or more keys 36a corresponding to keyways on the inner circumferential surface of the rotor 33 are formed at the rear end of the outer circumferential surface of the metering spline shaft 36 along its rotational axis. Thus, rotational driving force can be transmitted from the metering motor 31 to the screw 12, causing the screw 12 to rotate.

[0145] The injection motor 41 mainly comprises: a rotor 43; a stator 44 disposed around the rotor 43; and a stator frame 45 arranged around the rotor 43 and the stator 44, with the stator 44 having an inner surface. Each end of the rotor 43 in the direction of its rotation axis is supported by bearings 43a on the inner side of the stator frame 45. The rotor 43 of the injection motor 41 is connected to a drive shaft. More specifically, the drive shaft comprises: an injection spline shaft 46 splined via a slot 43b provided on the inner circumference of the cylindrical rotor 43; a lead 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 bearings 49. A lead screw nut 47, screwed to the lead screw shaft 48, is mounted on a motor support plate 42 via a pressure detector 38 described later. Through this structure, the rotational driving force generated by the injection motor 41 is converted into a linear driving force in the direction of the rotation axis of the screw 12 and transmitted to the screw 12.

[0146] Additionally, a pressure detector 38 is disposed between the stator frame 45 of the injection motor 41 and the motor support plate 42. This pressure detector 38 is mounted on both the motor support plate 42 and the lead screw nut 47, and detects the load acting on it along the transmission path of the driving force from the injection motor 41 to the screw 12. A cylindrical portion 39 is sandwiched between the pressure detector 38 and the stator frame 45. Furthermore, an encoder 45a is provided on the rear end face of the stator frame 45 of the injection motor 41, located on the opposite side of the drive shaft in the rotational axis direction. This encoder 45a is connected to the rotor 43 via a shaft portion 45b and detects the rotation of the rotor 43.

[0147] Additionally, when the injection device 1 has such Figures 7-9 When the material preheating device 421 is shown, the material preheating device 421 may not have a control unit for controlling the position adjustment mechanism 428 and / or the bending adjustment mechanism 429. Instead, the injection device 1 has such a control unit. Moreover, the injection device 1, instead of the control unit for controlling the position adjustment mechanism 428 and / or the bending adjustment mechanism 429, can perform the same control as when the material preheating device 421 has such a control unit.

[0148] An example of the molding process performed by an injection molding machine equipped with such an injection device 1 will be described. In the latter half of the previous molding process, with a predetermined amount of molding material already metered and placed inside the cylinder 11, a mold closing process is performed, in which the mold device (not shown) is closed to set the mold to a closed state. Next, a filling process is performed in sequence, in which the molding material is injected into the mold device by the advance of the screw 12 to fill the cavity in the mold device, and a pressure holding process is performed, in which the screw 12 is further advanced to maintain the molding material located inside the front end 14 of the cylinder 11 at a predetermined pressure.

[0149] Furthermore, a cooling process is then performed to cool and solidify the molding material filled in the mold device to obtain a molded article. At this time, a metering process is performed, that is, the molding material supplied separately from the material preheating device 21 to the cylinder 11 is melted while being conveyed toward the front end 14 of the cylinder 11 by the rotation of the screw 12 under the heating of the heater 13, thereby placing a predetermined amount of molding material at the front end 14.

[0150] In this metering process, in this embodiment, the molding material supplied to the cylinder 11 has been heated to an appropriate temperature by the material preheating device 21. Therefore, even if the screw 12 rotates at high speed and the molding material is conveyed to the front end 14 of the cylinder 11 in a short time, the molding material can be fully plasticized. As a result, the metering time is shortened, and the molding cycle can be shortened.

[0151] In addition, there is a take-out process where the mold opening device is set to the mold opening state, and the molded product is taken out from the mold device by an ejection device or the like.

[0152] (The embodiments included in this invention)

[0153] The present invention includes a material preheating device and an injection device according to the following embodiments.

[0154] (A1) A material preheating device for preheating a molding material and supplying the molding material to an injection unit, wherein...

[0155] The material preheating device includes multiple fluidized bed heaters, which heat the molding material by supplying hot air to form a fluidized bed.

[0156] (A2) The material preheating device according to (A1) above has an in-line connecting channel that connects two of the plurality of fluidized bed heaters to each other and conveys molding material from one of the fluidized bed heaters to the other.

[0157] (A3) The material preheating device according to (A2) above, wherein,

[0158] The fluidized bed heater of the two fluidized bed heaters connected to each other by the straight connecting channels, at least the upstream side of the fluidized bed heater in the supply direction of the molding material to the injection device, has a material inlet for feeding the molding material into the fluidized bed heater.

[0159] (A4) The material preheating apparatus according to any one of (A1) to (A3) above, comprising parallel supply channels that convey and supply molding material from each of at least two of a plurality of fluidized bed heaters toward the injection apparatus.

[0160] (A5) According to the material preheating device described in (A4) above, wherein,

[0161] The parallel supply channel has: at least two branch channel portions, respectively connected to the at least two fluidized bed heaters connected to the parallel supply channel; and

[0162] The confluence channel section and the branch channel section merge and reach the injection device.

[0163] (A6) The material preheating device according to (A4) or (A5) above, wherein the at least two fluidized bed heaters connected to the parallel supply channels each have a material inlet for feeding the molding material into the fluidized bed heater.

[0164] (A7) The material preheating apparatus according to any one of (A1) to (A6) above, wherein each of the plurality of fluidized bed heaters has a ventilable opening and closing member at the outlet of the molding material, the ventilable opening and closing member allowing the hot air to pass through and opening or closing to allow the molding material to pass through or stop the passage at the outlet.

[0165] (A8) The material preheating apparatus according to any one of (A1) to (A7) above, comprising a hot air generator that generates hot air to be supplied to the fluidized bed heater.

[0166] (A9) An injection apparatus comprising a cylinder for melting a molding material, and for injecting the molten molding material in the cylinder into a mold assembly, wherein...

[0167] The injection device includes the material preheating device described in any one of (A1) to (A8) above.

[0168] (B1) A material preheating apparatus for preheating a molding material and supplying the molding material to an injection unit, wherein...

[0169] The material preheating device includes multiple material heaters for heating the molding material.

[0170] At least one of the multiple material heaters is a heat reuse heater that heats the molding material by means of a heating medium used for heating the molding material in other material heaters.

[0171] (B2) The material preheating apparatus according to (B1) above, wherein the heating medium in the heat recycling heater contacts the molding material to heat the molding material.

[0172] (B3) The material preheating device according to (B1) or (B2) above, wherein the other material heater is a fluidized bed heater that heats the molding material while forming a fluidized bed by supplying hot air.

[0173] The material preheating device includes a hot air conveying path, which uses the hot air after passing through the fluidized bed heater as the heating medium to convey the heat reuse heater.

[0174] (B4) The material preheating apparatus according to (B3) above includes a hot air generator that generates hot air to be supplied to the fluidized bed heater.

[0175] (B5) The material preheating device according to (B4) above includes a hot air return flow path, which returns the hot air, which is the heating medium, from the heat reuse heater to the hot air generator.

[0176] (B6) The material preheating apparatus according to any one of (B3) to (B5) above, wherein the other material heater has a ventilable opening and closing member at the outlet of the molding material, the ventilable opening and closing member allowing the hot air to pass through and opening and closing to allow the molding material to pass through or stop the passage at the outlet.

[0177] (B7) The material preheating apparatus according to any one of (B1) to (B6) above, comprising a material conveying channel for conveying molding material from the other material heater to the heat recycling heater.

[0178] (B8) The material preheating device according to (B7) above, wherein the heat reuse heater is used for heat preservation of the molding material after it has been heated by the other material heater.

[0179] (B9) The material preheating device according to (B7) or (B8) above, wherein the other material heater has a material inlet for feeding molding material into the other material heater.

[0180] (B10) An injection apparatus comprising a cylinder for melting a molding material, and for injecting the molten molding material in the cylinder into a mold apparatus, wherein,

[0181] The injection device includes the material preheating device described in any one of (B1) to (B9) above.

[0182] (B11) The injection apparatus according to (B10) above includes a hopper for supplying molding material into the cylinder.

[0183] The hopper is the heat recycling heater.

[0184] (C1) A material preheating apparatus for preheating a molding material and supplying the molding material to an injection device, the material preheating apparatus comprising:

[0185] A fluidized bed heater heats the molding material into a fluidized bed by supplying hot air; and a guide is disposed in the fluidized bed within the fluidized bed heater and guides the flow of the molding material in the fluidized bed.

[0186] (C2) The material preheating device according to (C1) above further includes a position adjustment mechanism capable of adjusting the position of the guide portion within the fluidized bed heater.

[0187] (C3) The material preheating device according to (C1) or (C2) above, wherein the guide portion is disposed in the direction of hot air supply.

[0188] The position adjustment mechanism adjusts the position of the guide section at least in the direction of hot air supply.

[0189] (C4) The material preheating apparatus according to any one of (C1) to (C3) above, wherein the guide portion is plate-shaped or mesh-shaped.

[0190] The guide portion has: a peripheral portion; a central portion that protrudes further toward the fluidized bed than the peripheral portion; and a curved portion that connects the peripheral portion and the central portion and bends into a concave shape in a direction away from the fluidized bed.

[0191] (C5) The material preheating device according to (C4) above, wherein the material preheating device further comprises a bending adjustment mechanism capable of adjusting the bending degree of the bending portion of the guide portion.

[0192] (C6) The material preheating apparatus according to any one of (C1) to (C5) above, wherein the fluidized bed heater has a ventilable opening and closing member at the outlet of the molding material, the ventilable opening and closing member allowing the hot air to pass through and opening and closing to allow the molding material to pass through or stop the passage at the outlet.

[0193] (C7) The material preheating apparatus according to any one of (C1) to (C6) above, wherein the material preheating apparatus has a temperature information detection mechanism for detecting information related to the temperature of the molding material inside the fluidized bed heater.

[0194] (C8) The material preheating device according to (C7) above further includes a control unit, which controls the position adjustment mechanism based on temperature-related information detected by the temperature information detection mechanism.

[0195] (C9) The material preheating device according to (C8) above, wherein the material preheating device further comprises a bending adjustment mechanism capable of adjusting the bending degree of the bending portion of the guide portion.

[0196] The injection device also includes a control unit that controls the position adjustment mechanism and / or the bending adjustment mechanism based on temperature-related information detected by the temperature information detection mechanism.

[0197] (C10) An injection apparatus comprising a cylinder for melting a molding material, and for injecting the molten molding material in the cylinder into a mold apparatus, wherein,

[0198] The injection device includes the material preheating device described in any one of (C1) to (C9) above.

[0199] Explanation of symbols

[0200] 1-Injection device, 11-Cylinder, 11a-Supply port, 12-Screw, 13-Heater, 14-Front end, 21, 121, 221-Material preheating device, 22, 23, 122, 123, 222, 223, 229, 230-Fluidized bed heater, 22a, 23a, 122a, 123a, 222a, 223a, 229a, 230a-Front end cylindrical section, 22b, 23b, 122b, 123b, 222b, 223b, 229b, 230b-Conical section, 22c, 23c, 122c, 123c, 222c, 223c, 229c, 230c-Cylindrical main body section, 22d, 23d, 122d, 123d, 222d, 2 23d, 229d, 230d - Annular section; 22e, 23e, 122e, 123e, 222e, 223e, 229e, 230e - Material inlet; 22f, 23f, 28, 122f, 123f, 128a, 128b, 222f, 223f, 229f, 230f, 228a, 228b - Hot air blocking component; 24, 224a, 224b - Straight connecting channel; 25a, 25b, 125a, 125b, 225a, 225b, 225c, 225d - Ventilation opening and closing component; 26 - Material supply channel; 126, 226 - Parallel supply channels; 126a, 126b, 226a, 226b - Branch channel section. 126c, 226c - Confluence channel section; 27, 127 - Hot air generator; 27a, 127a, 227a - Hot air conveying path; 27b, 127b, 227b - Hot air return path; 127c, 227c - Extended conveying path; 127d, 127e, 227d, 227e - Branch pipe flow path section; 127f, 227f - Main pipe flow path section; 321 - Material preheating device; 322 - Material heater (heat recovery heater); 322a, 323a - Front cylindrical section; 322b, 323b - Conical section; 322c, 323c - Cylindrical main body section; 322d, 323d - Annular section; 323 - Other material heaters (fluidized bed heaters); 323e - Material... Inlet, 323f, 328a - Hot air blocking component, 324 - Ventilation opening and closing component, 325 - Hot air generator, 325a - Hot air supply path, 325b - Hot air return path, 326 - Hot air conveying path, 326a - Expanded diameter front end, 327 - Material conveying channel, 421 - Material preheating device, 422 - Fluidized bed heater, 521 - Material supply inlet, 522 - Hot air outlet, 523 - Opening and closing component, ventilation opening and closing component, 524 - Observation window, 423 - Guide section, 531 - Peripheral section, 532 - Central section, 533 - Bend section, 424 - Hot air generator, 425 - Hot air supply path, 551 - Combined channel section, 426 - Material conveying channel, 561 - Conveyor.427-Hot air return channel, 428-Position adjustment mechanism, 581-First connecting part, 429-Bending adjustment mechanism, 591-Second connecting part, 592-Third connecting part, 430-Thermal imager, 31-Metering motor, 32-Motor support plate, 33-Rotor, 33a-Bearing, 34-Stator, 35-Stator frame, 36-Metering spline shaft, 36a-Key, 37-Screw mounting part, 38-Pressure... Force detector, 39-cylindrical part, 41-injection motor, 42-motor support plate, 43-rotor, 43a-bearing, 43b-slot, 44-stator, 45-stator frame, 45a-encoder, 45b-shaft, 46-injection spline shaft, 47-lead screw nut, 48-lead screw shaft, 49-bearing, 50-rotating shaft, 51-rod, 52-rod, 101-sliding base, Mm-molding material.

Claims

1. A material preheating apparatus for preheating a molding material and supplying the molding material to an injection device, the material preheating apparatus comprising: A fluidized bed heater is a material heater for heating molding materials. It heats the first molding material by supplying hot air to form a fluidized bed. A heating induction section induces the second molding material to be heated by the hot air supplied to the first molding material before or after the heating process. The heating induction section is a flow path or channel for the hot air that connects the fluidized bed heater and heaters made of other materials different from the fluidized bed heater. The other material heaters are fluidized bed heaters, and the material preheating device includes multiple such fluidized bed heaters. The material preheating device has an in-line connecting channel that connects two of the plurality of fluidized bed heaters to each other and transfers the first molding material or the second molding material from one of the fluidized bed heaters to the other.

2. The material preheating device according to claim 1, wherein, It has parallel supply channels that convey and supply the first molding material and the second molding material from each of at least two of the plurality of fluidized bed heaters toward the injection device.

3. The material preheating device according to claim 1, wherein, The other material heater is a heat reuse heater that heats the second molding material by means of the hot air used to heat the first molding material in the fluidized bed heater.

4. The material preheating device according to claim 3, wherein, It has a material transfer channel for transferring the first molding material from the fluidized bed heater to the heat recycling heater.

5. The material preheating device according to claim 1, wherein, The heating induction section is a guiding section, which is disposed in the fluidized bed within the fluidized bed heater and guides the flow of the first forming material and the second forming material in the fluidized bed.

6. The material preheating device according to claim 5, wherein, It also has a position adjustment mechanism that can adjust the position of the guide section within the fluidized bed heater.

7. The material preheating device according to claim 6, wherein, The material preheating device has a temperature information detection mechanism that detects information related to the temperature of the molding material inside the fluidized bed heater. The material preheating device also includes a control unit that controls the position adjustment mechanism based on temperature-related information detected by the temperature information detection mechanism.

8. An injection apparatus comprising a cylinder for melting a molding material, and for injecting the molten molding material in the cylinder into a mold apparatus, wherein, The injection device includes a material preheating device as described in any one of claims 1 to 7.

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