Novel mold device for producing fuel tank and control method

Abstract

The embodiment of the invention discloses a novel mold device for producing a fuel tank and a control method. According to one specific implementation mode, the novel mold device comprises a mold, a mold cavity and a pipeline are formed in the mold, the pipeline is arranged around the mold cavity, and an inlet and an outlet are formed in the outer surface of the mold and connected with the two ends of the pipeline respectively; the cooling box, the first liquid inlet and the first liquid return opening are respectively connected with an inlet and an outlet of the mold through pipelines; a heater and a temperature detector are arranged in the heating box, and a second liquid inlet and a second liquid return opening of the heating box are connected with an inlet and an outlet of the mold through pipelines respectively; in the process of producing the fuel tank, the inlet of the mold is only communicated with the cooling box or the heating box at the same time. According to the mold device, the heating box is connected, so that the temperature difference between the mold cavity and the environment (especially in summer) can be reduced, condensate water is prevented from being generated, and the reject ratio of uneven surfaces of products caused by the condensate water is reduced.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The embodiments of the present disclosure relate to the technical field of fuel tank production, and in particular to a novel mold device and a control method for producing fuel tanks. Background Art

[0002] The plastic molding industry usually requires the use of a variety of molds for production and manufacturing. In order to improve production efficiency, water channels are usually arranged inside the mold and cold water is passed through for cooling. However, due to environmental humidity issues, a large amount of condensed water is usually generated on the surface of the mold cavity in summer, resulting in the product appearance being not smooth and flat, and having condensed water marks. In the production and manufacturing process of automobile fuel tanks, the problem of uneven product surface due to condensed water is particularly prominent.

[0003] In the process of adopting technical solutions to solve the above technical problems, the following technical problems are often accompanied:

[0004] Technical Problem 2: In actual production, the determined process parameters are often fixed within a period of time (such as the same season or day). However, the temperature during the day and at night is usually different. In other words, the ambient temperature is always changing. This cannot guarantee the cooling effect of the product or the heating effect of the mold cavity, which will affect the stability of the product production quality.

[0005] Technical Problem 3: During the switching process between the cooling box and the heating box, residual liquid will remain in the mold and pipeline. This residual liquid will flow into the liquid tank after the switch. Since the liquid temperature before and after the switch is different, especially when the pipeline is long and the residual liquid is large, it will affect the liquid temperature in the liquid tank after the switch. This will affect the subsequent product cooling or mold heating effect.

[0006] The above information disclosed in this Background section is only for enhancement of understanding of the background of the present disclosure concept and therefore it may contain information that does not form the prior art that is already known in this country to a person of ordinary skill in the art. Summary of the invention

[0007] The content of this disclosure is used to introduce concepts in a brief form, and these concepts will be described in detail in the specific implementation section below. The content of this disclosure is not intended to identify the key features or necessary features of the technical solution for which protection is sought, nor is it intended to limit the scope of the technical solution for which protection is sought. Some embodiments of the present disclosure propose a new mold device for producing fuel tanks and a control method for producing fuel tanks, which can effectively reduce the generation of condensed water in the mold cavity in summer, thereby reducing the problem of uneven surface of the produced fuel tanks, which is conducive to improving the production quality and yield rate of fuel tanks.

[0008] In a first aspect, some embodiments of the present disclosure provide a novel mold device for producing fuel tanks, comprising: a mold, wherein an injection molding cavity is formed inside, and a pipeline for liquid circulation, the pipeline is arranged around the cavity, and an inlet and an outlet are arranged on the outer surface of the mold, which are respectively connected to the two ends of the pipeline; a cooling box, which is used to transport cooling liquid into the pipeline of the mold, and a first liquid inlet and a first liquid return port of the cooling box are respectively connected to the inlet and the outlet of the mold through pipelines; a heating box, which is used to transport warm liquid into the pipeline of the mold, and a heater and a temperature detector are arranged inside, and a second liquid inlet and a second liquid return port of the heating box are respectively connected to the inlet and the outlet of the mold through pipelines; wherein, in the process of producing the fuel tank, the inlet of the mold is only connected to one of the cooling box or the heating box at the same time.

[0009] In some embodiments, a control valve is also provided on the pipeline connecting the mold and the cooling box and the heating box, which is used to control the on and off of the mold and the cooling box and the heating box; and the first liquid inlet is connected to the inlet pipeline at the first interface, and the second liquid inlet is connected to the inlet pipeline at the second interface; the first liquid return port is connected to the outlet pipeline at the third interface, and the second liquid return port is connected to the outlet pipeline at the fourth interface.

[0010] In some embodiments, a first control valve is arranged between the first liquid inlet and the first interface, a second control valve is arranged between the second liquid inlet and the second interface, a third control valve is arranged between the first liquid return port and the third interface, and a fourth control valve is arranged between the second liquid return port and the fourth interface.

[0011] In some embodiments, a fifth control valve is set at the first target interface, and a sixth control valve is set at the second target interface, wherein the fifth control valve and the sixth control valve are three-way control valves, the first target interface is the interface between the first interface and the second interface, close to the inlet of the mold, and the second target interface is the interface between the third interface and the fourth interface, close to the outlet of the mold.

[0012] In some embodiments, the interior of the heating box is divided into a liquid inlet area and a liquid return area, the second liquid inlet and the heater are arranged in the liquid inlet area, the second liquid return port is arranged in the liquid return area, and the liquid return area is also provided with a liquid replenishment interface; a filter element is arranged between the liquid inlet area and the liquid return area, which is used to filter the liquid flowing from the liquid return area into the liquid inlet area.

[0013] In some embodiments, a first circulation pump is provided at the first liquid inlet, and a second circulation pump is provided at the second liquid inlet; the second circulation pump is also connected to the liquid return area of ​​the heating box through a circulation pipeline, wherein the interface connected to the circulation pipeline is located between the second circulation pump and the second control valve; the circulation pipeline includes a first sub-pipeline and a second sub-pipeline in parallel, a pressure relief valve is provided on the first sub-pipeline, and a circulation control valve is provided on the second sub-pipeline, wherein when the second control valve and the fourth control valve are opened, the circulation control valve is closed.

[0014] In some embodiments, drain valves are respectively provided at the bottom of the liquid inlet area and the liquid return area of ​​the heating box; a manual valve is provided between the second liquid inlet and the second control valve, the manual valve is located between the interface connecting the circulation pipeline and the second control valve, and a manual valve is provided at the inlet of the circulation pipeline; a manual valve is provided between the second liquid return port and the fourth control valve.

[0015] In a second aspect, some embodiments of the present disclosure provide a control method for producing fuel tanks, comprising: determining the cooling temperature of the cooling liquid in the cooling box of the new mold device according to the injection temperature and the ambient temperature, and cooling the cooling liquid to the cooling temperature; in response to determining that the mold in the new mold device has been closed, before product injection molding, controlling the inlet of the mold to be connected to the first liquid inlet of the cooling box, so as to use the cooling liquid to cool the product in the mold; determining the heating temperature of the warm liquid in the heating box of the new mold device according to the temperature of the mold cavity and the ambient temperature, and heating the warm liquid to the heating temperature; in response to setting a time before the product injection molding is completed, controlling the inlet of the mold to be connected to the second liquid inlet of the heating box, so as to use the warm liquid to heat the mold; wherein the new mold device adopts the structure of the new mold device described in any implementation method in the above-mentioned first aspect.

[0016] In some embodiments, the control method also includes: when the inlet of the mold is connected to the first liquid inlet of the cooling box, controlling the first control valve and the third control valve to open, and controlling the second control valve and the fourth control valve to close; when the inlet of the mold is connected to the second liquid inlet of the heating box, controlling the second control valve and the fourth control valve to open, and controlling the first control valve and the third control valve to close; in response to determining that the temperature of the mold cavity reaches the set temperature, controlling the second control valve and the fourth control valve to close, and controlling the mold to open, wherein the set temperature is determined according to the ambient temperature.

[0017] The above-mentioned various embodiments of the present disclosure have the following beneficial effects: the new mold device for producing fuel tanks disclosed in the present disclosure, by adding a heating box, can adopt the method of alternating cooling liquid and warm liquid through the pipes in the mold to achieve temperature control of the cavity in the mold. When the mold is in the production process, the mold can be connected to the cooling box, so that the cooling liquid can be used to cool the product. Before the production of the mold product is completed, the mold can be switched in advance to connect to the heating box, so that the warm liquid can be used to make the mold surface reach an appropriate temperature. In this way, when the mold cavity is exposed to the air, the generation of condensed water on the cavity surface can be reduced or avoided. Furthermore, when the next product is produced, the occurrence of condensed water marks on the product appearance due to condensed water can be reduced, thereby effectively reducing the defective rate of the product. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0018] The above and other features, advantages and aspects of the embodiments of the present disclosure will become more apparent with reference to the following detailed description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Throughout the accompanying drawings, the same or similar reference numerals represent the same or similar elements. It should be understood that the drawings are schematic and that components and elements are not necessarily drawn to scale.

[0019] Figure 1 It is a schematic diagram of the structure of some embodiments of the novel mold device disclosed in the present invention;

[0020] Figure 2 It is a schematic diagram of the structure of some embodiments of the heating box in the novel mold device disclosed in the present invention;

[0021] Figure 3 is a flow chart of some embodiments of the control method of the present disclosure. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0022] Embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Although certain embodiments of the present disclosure are shown in the accompanying drawings, it should be understood that the present disclosure can be implemented in various forms and should not be construed as being limited to the embodiments set forth herein. On the contrary, these embodiments are provided to provide a more thorough and complete understanding of the present disclosure. It should be understood that the drawings and embodiments of the present disclosure are only for exemplary purposes and are not intended to limit the scope of protection of the present disclosure.

[0023] It should also be noted that, for ease of description, only the parts related to the invention are shown in the drawings. In the absence of conflict, the embodiments and features in the embodiments of the present disclosure can be combined with each other.

[0024] It should be noted that the concepts such as "first" and "second" mentioned in the present disclosure are only used to distinguish different devices, modules or units, and are not used to limit the order or interdependence of the functions performed by these devices, modules or units.

[0025] It should be noted that the modifications of "one" and "plurality" mentioned in the present disclosure are illustrative rather than restrictive, and those skilled in the art should understand that unless otherwise clearly indicated in the context, it should be understood as "one or more".

[0026] The present disclosure will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and in conjunction with embodiments.

[0027] Figure 1 The schematic diagrams of the structures of some embodiments of the novel mold device for producing fuel tanks disclosed in the present invention are shown. Figure 1 As shown, the novel mold device may include a mold, a cooling box and a heating box. Here, a cavity and a pipeline may be formed inside the mold, which are not shown in the figure. The shape structure of the cavity is adapted to the outer structure of the fuel tank and is used for blow molding of the fuel tank. The pipeline ring may be arranged around the cavity for the circulation of the liquid. And the outer surface of the mold may be provided with an inlet and an outlet, which are respectively connected to the two ends of the pipeline.

[0028] Here, the cooling box is generally used to transport cooling liquid into the pipeline of the mold. The cooling box may be provided with a first liquid inlet A and a first liquid return port B. Among them, the first liquid inlet A can be connected to the inlet of the mold through a pipeline. And the first liquid return port B can also be connected to the outlet of the mold through a pipeline. The heating box is generally used to transport warm liquid into the pipeline of the mold. A heater and a temperature detector may be provided inside the heating box. Among them, the heater can heat the liquid in the heating box. The temperature detector can detect the temperature of the liquid in the heating box. In addition, the heating box may also be provided with a second liquid inlet C and a second liquid return port D. The second liquid inlet C can be connected to the inlet of the mold through a pipeline. The second liquid return port D can also be connected to the outlet of the mold through a pipeline.

[0029] It should be noted that the liquids in the cooling box and the heating box can be set according to actual needs. For example, in order to reduce production costs, ordinary water can be used here. For another example, in order to improve thermal conductivity and shorten production time, a mixture of water and other liquids can also be used. Since liquids will be mixed during use, the cooling liquid and the warm liquid are usually the same liquid.

[0030] It is understandable that the mold used for blow molding of fuel tanks usually includes two parts. When the two parts are molded together, a complete cavity can be formed inside the mold to produce the fuel tank. After the production of the fuel tank is completed, the mold can be opened, that is, the two parts can be opened to take out the produced fuel tank for the next production. In this case, in order to ensure the uniformity of cooling, pipes can be set in both parts of the mold. And the end faces of the two parts of the mold facing each other can be provided with pipe interfaces. In this way, after the mold is closed, the pipes in the two parts of the mold can be connected through the pipe interface. At this time, the outer surface of one of the two parts of the mold can be provided with an inlet, and the outer surface of the other mold can be provided with an outlet.

[0031] Optionally, in order to further improve the cooling efficiency, both mold parts can be provided with an inlet and an outlet to be connected to the respective internal pipes. In this way, cooling liquid can be delivered to the two mold parts at the same time. Since the temperature of the liquid input into the two mold parts is the same, the uniformity of cooling can be further improved, thereby improving the cooling and production efficiency of the product.

[0032] It is understandable that during the production of the fuel tank, the inlet of the mold is usually connected to only one of the cooling box or the heating box at the same time. That is, during the production process, only cooling liquid or only warm liquid flows through the pipeline in the mold. Generally, cooling liquid is used to cool the product during the production process. Warm liquid is used to heat the mold to reduce the temperature difference between the mold (especially the cavity) and the environment. This can reduce or avoid the situation where condensation water is generated on the surface of the cavity due to temperature difference after the mold is opened. Therefore, only one liquid is delivered to the mold at the same time.

[0033] It can be seen from the above description that the new mold device for producing fuel tanks disclosed in the present invention can realize the temperature control of the mold cavity by adding a heating box, and adopting the method of alternating cooling liquid and warm liquid through the pipe inside the mold. When the mold is in the production process, the mold can be connected to the cooling box, so that the cooling liquid can be used to cool the product. Before the production of the mold product is completed, the mold can be switched in advance to connect to the heating box, so that the mold surface can be brought to an appropriate temperature by using warm liquid. In this way, when the mold cavity is exposed to the air, the generation of condensed water on the cavity surface can be reduced or avoided. Then, when the next product is produced, the situation that the product appearance is not smooth and flat due to condensed water and there are condensed water marks can be reduced, thereby effectively reducing the defective rate of the product. In addition, before the production of the next product, the mold can be switched again to connect to the cooling box, so that the mold enters the optimal cooling state for molding operations.

[0034] Here, the mold and the cooling box or the heating box can be connected and disconnected in a variety of ways. As an example, at least one interface can be provided on the pipeline at the entrance of the mold, and at the same time, the pipelines connected to the first liquid inlet of the cooling box and the second liquid inlet of the heating box can be provided with joints adapted to the interface. In this way, during the switching process, the plug-in connection between different joints and interfaces can be realized by the driving component, so as to realize the switching of different liquids. For example, two interfaces can be symmetrically arranged on the pipeline to be connected to the two joints respectively. The driving component can be arranged at the position corresponding to the interface below the pipeline, including a driver, a driving track, and a driving block. The two joints can be located at both ends of the driving block respectively. In this way, when the driving block moves to one end along the driving track, a connection between a joint and a corresponding interface can be realized; when the driving block moves to the other end along the driving track, another joint can be connected to the corresponding interface, so as to realize liquid switching. Similarly, the above structure can also be used on the pipeline at the outlet of the mold to realize the plug-in connection with the first liquid return port of the cooling box and the second liquid return port of the heating box.

[0035] Optionally, in order to simplify the equipment structure, a control valve may be provided on the pipeline connecting the mold and the cooling box and the heating box. The control valve may be used to control the on-off of the mold and the cooling box and the heating box. That is, the control valve may be used to adjust and control the liquid flowing into the mold pipeline.

[0036] It is understandable that the structure model and installation position of the control valve can also be set according to actual needs. Figure 1 As shown, the first liquid inlet A and the inlet pipeline can be connected at the first interface. The second liquid inlet C and the inlet pipeline can be connected at the second interface. The inlet pipeline is usually a pipeline connected to the inlet of the mold. The first interface and the second interface can be interfaces at the same position or interfaces at different positions. In addition, the first liquid return port B and the outlet pipeline can be connected at the third interface. The second liquid return port D and the outlet pipeline can be connected at the fourth interface. The outlet pipeline is usually a pipeline connected to the outlet of the mold. The third interface and the fourth interface can also be interfaces at the same position or interfaces at different positions.

[0037] In this case, if Figure 1 As shown, a first control valve (i.e., valve 1) may be provided between the first liquid inlet A and the first interface. And a second control valve (i.e., valve 2) may be provided between the second liquid inlet C and the second interface. In addition, a third control valve (i.e., valve 3) may be provided between the first liquid return port B and the third interface. And a fourth control valve (valve 4) may be provided between the second liquid return port D and the fourth interface. The first to fourth control valves here may be one-way control valves. In addition, in order to realize automated production, these control valves may be electric valves.

[0038] Optionally, in order to reduce the number of components in the device, a fifth control valve may be provided at the first target interface; and a sixth control valve may be provided at the second target interface. The fifth control valve and the sixth control valve may generally be three-way control valves. That is, one end of the three-way control valve is connected to the mold, and the other two ends are connected to the cooling box and the heating box, respectively. Here, the first target interface is generally the interface between the first interface and the second interface, which is close to the inlet of the mold. The second target interface is generally the interface between the third interface and the fourth interface, which is close to the outlet of the mold.

[0039] In some application scenarios, in order to realize the circulation of liquid, a circulation pump may be provided on the pipeline connecting the mold with the cooling box and the heating box. As an example, the circulation pump may be provided at the inlet of the mold. That is, the circulation pump is located between the interface connecting the first and second liquid inlets and the mold inlet.

[0040] Furthermore, if Figure 2 As shown, the interior of the heating box can be divided into a liquid inlet area J and a liquid return area H. The second liquid inlet C and the heater can be arranged in the liquid inlet area. The second liquid return port D can be arranged in the liquid return area H. And a filter element G is arranged between the liquid inlet area J and the liquid return area H. The filter element G can be used to filter the liquid flowing from the liquid return area H into the liquid inlet area J. Thereby, the impurity content in the pipeline can be effectively reduced to ensure the smooth flow of the liquid. It is understandable that with the continuous production and the continuous heating of the heater in the heating box, there will be a reduction in liquid volatilization, so as Figure 2 As shown, a liquid replenishment interface can also be provided in the liquid return area H, which is connected to the water replenishment pipe and is used to replenish liquid into the heating box.

[0041] It is understandable that before the mold is connected to the heating box, it is necessary to use a heater to heat the warm liquid therein to a specified temperature. Here, in order to ensure the uniformity of the temperature of the liquid in the heating box, it is usually necessary to install a circulating pump at the end of the heating box to achieve the internal circulation of the liquid in the heating box during the heating process. In this case, a first circulating pump can be provided at the first liquid inlet A. And a second circulating pump is provided at the second liquid inlet C. Among them, the first circulating pump is used to achieve the circulation of the cooling liquid when the mold is connected to the cooling box. The second circulating pump is used to achieve the circulation of the warm liquid when the mold is connected to the heating box.

[0042] In addition, the second circulation pump is also used for the internal circulation of the liquid in the heating box. At this time, the second circulation pump can be connected to the liquid return area of ​​the heating box through the circulation pipeline. Here, the interface connected to the liquid return area can be the same interface as the second liquid return port D, or it can be a different interface. Among them, in order to ensure that the liquid in the heating box can circulate normally in two states, such as Figure 2As shown, the interface connected to the circulation pipeline is usually located between the second circulation pump and the second control valve. In this way, no matter whether the heating box is connected to the mold, the circulation flow of the warm liquid can be achieved under the action of the second circulation pump.

[0043] Furthermore, the circulation pipeline may include a first sub-pipeline and a second sub-pipeline connected in parallel. A pressure relief valve is provided on the first sub-pipeline. The pressure relief valve can prevent excessive water pressure in the pipeline and ensure production safety. A circulation control valve is provided on the second sub-pipeline, that is, Figure 2 Valve C in the heating box. When the liquid in the heating box is circulated internally, the circulation control valve is usually opened. When the second control valve and the fourth control valve are opened, that is, when the heating box is connected to the mold, the circulation control valve is usually closed.

[0044] In some embodiments, in order to facilitate the repair and maintenance of the new mold device, drain valves can be respectively provided at the bottom of the liquid inlet area J and the liquid return area H of the heating box. The liquid in the heating box can be discharged through the drain valve, which is convenient for internal cleaning of the heating box and replacement of filter elements. And for safety and maintenance considerations, a manual valve can also be provided on the pipeline to achieve manual closure. For example, a manual valve can be provided between the second liquid inlet C and the second control valve. And the manual valve is located between the interface connecting the circulation pipeline and the second control valve. And a manual valve can be provided between the second liquid return port D and the fourth control valve. In this way, when the heating box needs maintenance and repair, the manual valves at these two places can be manually closed. In addition, a manual valve can also be provided at the inlet of the circulation pipeline. Thereby facilitating the maintenance and repair of the circulation pipeline.

[0045] In addition, a drain valve may be provided at the bottom of the cooling box. At the same time, a water level detection component may be provided in the cooling box and the heating box. In this way, when the liquid in the box reaches a set water level, the drain valve may be controlled to open, thereby draining excess liquid in the box. When the liquid in the box is less than the set water level, the drain valve may be controlled to close.

[0046] From the above description, it can be seen that the novel mold device disclosed in the present invention is mainly divided into two parts:

[0047] First, layout the heating box control system. The heating of the liquid inside the heating box is controlled by the heater. Through temperature feedback, when the set temperature is not reached, the heating is turned on; when the set water temperature is reached, the heating is stopped. At the same time, a filter is added inside the heating box to filter impurities in the liquid. The circulating pump sends the liquid in the heating box into the mold for heat exchange. When the second and fourth control valves of the heating box are opened and the circulating control valve is closed, the warm liquid is sent through the mold by the circulating pump and returns to the inside of the heating box to form a heat exchange cycle. When the second and fourth control valves of the heating box are closed and the circulating control valve is opened, the warm liquid circulates the liquid inside the heating box through the circulating pump to ensure the uniformity of the temperature inside the heating box. At the same time, a safety valve (i.e., a pressure relief valve) is added to avoid excessive water pressure in the pipeline and safety accidents. In addition, tooling settings are reserved on the pipeline to facilitate maintenance, water changes, and other maintenance.

[0048] The second is to integrate the heating box into the cooling box pipeline used by the mold itself. Through PLC or other control methods, it is connected to the production control system. The water flow can be controlled according to the actual situation. To avoid a large amount of warm liquid entering the cooling box, or cooling liquid entering the heating box. When the cooling box is connected, the heating box is in standby mode, that is, the warm liquid does not participate in the internal circulation of the mold. When the heating box needs to be connected, the cooling box is in standby mode, that is, the cooling liquid does not participate in the internal circulation of the mold.

[0049] By controlling the water temperature of the heating box and the timing and duration of passing cooling liquid and warm liquid through the mold, the condensed water on the surface of the mold cavity can be removed, and the cooling effect of the mold can be guaranteed to the maximum extent.

[0050] Continue to see Figure 3 , which shows a process 300 of some embodiments of the control method for producing a fuel tank disclosed in the present invention. The method may include the following steps:

[0051] Step 301, determining the cooling temperature of the cooling liquid in the cooling box of the novel mold device according to the injection temperature and the ambient temperature, and cooling the cooling liquid to the cooling temperature.

[0052] In some embodiments, a temperature detector may be provided in the production environment where the production equipment is located. The temperature detector may send the detected ambient temperature to the production equipment. Alternatively, the operator may input the ambient temperature through the operation interface of the production equipment. In addition, the operator may also input the injection temperature through the operation interface. In this way, the execution subject of the control method, such as the controller of the production equipment, may determine the cooling temperature of the cooling liquid in the cooling box of the new mold device. And after determining the cooling temperature, the refrigeration component in the cooling box may be controlled to cool the cooling liquid to the cooling temperature, so as to cool the injection molded product in the mold. Among them, the new mold device may adopt the structure of the new mold device in the above-mentioned embodiment.

[0053] It is understandable that, when the ambient temperature remains unchanged, the higher the injection temperature, that is, the greater the difference between the two temperatures, the lower the cooling temperature. When the injection temperature remains unchanged, the higher the ambient temperature, that is, the smaller the difference between the two temperatures, the lower the cooling temperature.

[0054] Step 302, in response to determining that the mold in the novel mold device has been closed, before product injection molding, control the mold inlet to communicate with the first liquid inlet of the cooling box to cool the product in the mold with cooling liquid.

[0055] In some embodiments, after determining that the mold in the novel mold device has been closed and before product injection molding, the inlet of the mold can be controlled to be connected to the first liquid inlet of the cooling box, so that the cooling liquid flows into the pipeline inside the mold. In this way, during the product injection molding process, the cooling liquid can be used to cool the product in the mold. As an example, in this case, the controller can control the first control valve and the third control valve to open, and control the second control valve and the fourth control valve to close.

[0056] Step 303, determining the heating temperature of the warm liquid in the heating box of the novel mold device according to the temperature of the mold cavity and the ambient temperature, and heating the warm liquid to the heating temperature.

[0057] It is understandable that the purpose of setting the heating box in the embodiment of the present disclosure is mainly to heat the mold, especially the mold cavity. Therefore, after the mold is opened, the mold cavity is exposed to the working environment, reducing the temperature difference between it and the environment. This reduces or avoids the generation of a large amount of condensed water on the surface of the cavity. Therefore, in some embodiments, a temperature detector may also be provided on the mold to detect the temperature of the mold. The temperature detector here can penetrate into the mold through the hole to get close to the mold cavity, so as to detect the approximate temperature of the cavity.

[0058] During the production process, cooling liquid previously flows in the mold. Therefore, there is a temperature difference between the inside of the mold and the environment, especially in summer. Here, the heating temperature of the warm liquid in the heating box of the new mold device can be determined according to the temperature of the mold cavity and the ambient temperature. Then, the heater in the heating box can be controlled to heat the liquid to heat the warm liquid to a certain heating temperature. Generally, the greater the temperature difference between the two, the higher the heating temperature.

[0059] It should be noted that during the production process, the ambient temperature is constantly changing, such as the ambient temperature in the four seasons is different. In this case, it is often necessary to conduct repeated tests before mass production to determine the production process parameters under different ambient temperatures. This will not only cause a waste of resources, but also seriously affect the production cycle. In addition, in actual production, the determined process parameters are often fixed for a period of time (such as the same season or day). However, the temperature during the day and at night is usually different. In other words, the ambient temperature is always changing. This cannot guarantee the cooling effect of the product or the heating effect of the mold cavity, which will affect the stability of the product production quality.

[0060] To solve the second technical problem, a machine learning model can be used to predict and judge the cooling temperature and heating temperature, thereby realizing dynamic adjustment and control of production. Specifically, first, actual production data can be collected or relevant data can be obtained from public resources to construct training data. The training data may include sample temperatures and corresponding process parameter labels. Among them, the sample temperature may include sample injection temperature, sample ambient temperature, and sample cavity temperature. The sample ambient temperature here may include not only ambient temperatures in different seasons, but also ambient temperatures in different time periods of a day. And the process parameter labels may include sample cooling temperature and sample heating temperature.

[0061] Here, the sample temperature can be input into the model so that the model can learn the correlation between these temperature data. And the loss function value between the process parameters predicted by the model and the corresponding process parameter labels can be used to adjust the model parameters. The model here may include an input layer, a first sub-model, a second sub-model, and an output layer. Among them, the input layer is used to analyze the input timing of the input data and vectorize the input data, so as to send the vectorized input data to the corresponding model layer according to the analysis results. The first sub-model is used to learn the correlation between sample temperatures in different seasons. The second sub-model can be used to learn the correlation between sample temperatures in different time periods within a day. The two sub-models can adopt various machine learning model structures, such as linear regression models (Linear Regression) or time series models, such as autoregression moving average models (ARMA, Auto Regression Moving Average), or long short-term memory networks (LSTM, Long Short-Term Memory). The output layer is used to output the prediction results of the model. Among them, the loss function can be obtained by weighted summation based on the prediction results of the two sub-models.

[0062] In this way, when production starts in a day, the controller can first input the current time, injection temperature and ambient temperature into the trained model. At this time, the first sub-model can be used to determine the season corresponding to the current time (date), so as to predict and determine the initial cooling temperature and heating temperature. As production proceeds, the controller can continue to input the current time, injection temperature and ambient temperature into the trained model. At this time, the second sub-model can be used to determine the time period of the current time (specific moment) within a day, so as to predict and determine the adjusted cooling temperature and heating temperature. The dynamic adjustment of production process parameters through large model prediction can not only ensure the accuracy of parameter adjustment, reduce resource and time consumption, but also ensure the stability of production quality.

[0063] It is understandable that when a new production process emerges or the production process changes, such as a change in injection temperature, the above trained model can also be used to predict and determine the cooling temperature and heating temperature. This can eliminate the testing process before mass production or reduce the number of tests, thereby reducing resource waste and shortening the production cycle.

[0064] Step 304, in response to the set time before the product injection molding is completed, the inlet of the mold is controlled to be connected to the second liquid inlet of the heating box to heat the mold with warm liquid.

[0065] In some embodiments, by setting a time before the injection molding of the product is completed, the inlet of the mold can be controlled to be connected to the second liquid inlet of the heating box, so that the warm liquid can flow into the pipe inside the mold. In this way, before the mold is opened, the mold (especially the cavity) can be heated with warm liquid to reduce the difference with the ambient temperature. As an example, in this case, the controller can control the second control valve and the fourth control valve to open, and control the first control valve and the third control valve to close. The set time here can be set according to actual conditions. It is understandable that the mold is heated in advance before the injection molding of the product is completed, so that different production processes can be executed simultaneously, thereby reducing the time occupied by the heating process, and then reducing the impact of process improvements on production efficiency.

[0066] Furthermore, when it is determined that the temperature of the mold cavity reaches the set temperature, the second control valve and the fourth control valve can be controlled to close. And the mold opening can be controlled to take out the injection molded product and produce the next product. Among them, the set temperature is usually determined according to the ambient temperature. As an example, the set temperature can be the ambient temperature. For another example, while avoiding the generation of condensed water in the mold cavity, energy consumption can be reduced as much as possible. The set temperature here can be a certain difference less than the ambient temperature.

[0067] It should be noted that during the switching process between the cooling box and the heating box, residual liquid will remain in the mold and the pipeline. This residual liquid will flow into the liquid tank after the switch. Since the liquid temperature before and after the switch is different, especially when the pipeline is long and the residual liquid is large, it will affect the liquid temperature in the liquid tank after the switch. This will affect the subsequent product cooling or mold heating effect.

[0068] To solve the third technical problem, a temperature detector can be provided at the outlet of the mold to detect the temperature of the liquid at the outlet. In this way, when it is determined that the mold is connected to the cooling box, the first control valve and the fourth control valve can be controlled to open first. Thereby, the cooling liquid flows into the mold, and the remaining warm liquid in the pipeline flows back to the heating box instead of flowing into the cooling box. At the same time, the temperature detector can be used to detect the temperature of the liquid at the outlet in real time. When a change in the temperature of the liquid at the outlet is detected, it means that the cooling liquid has flowed to the outlet, and the remaining warm liquid in the pipeline has been basically replaced by the cooling liquid. At this time, the fourth control valve can be controlled to close, and the third control valve can be controlled to open, thereby realizing the circulation of the cooling liquid in the cooling box.

[0069] Optionally, in order to achieve precise control, or the pipeline between the outlet of the mold and the fourth interface connected to the second liquid return port of the heating box is long, at this time, the flow rate of the cooling liquid can be determined according to the rotation speed of the first circulating pump. And determine the length of the pipeline between the outlet of the mold and the fourth interface. Thus, according to the length of the pipeline and the flow rate, the length of time for the cooling liquid to flow to the fourth interface can be calculated. In this way, when a change in the liquid temperature at the outlet is detected, the timing can be started until the above-calculated time is reached. At this time, the fourth control valve can be controlled to close, and the third control valve can be controlled to open at the same time.

[0070] Similarly, when it is determined that the mold is connected to the heating box, the second control valve and the third control valve can be controlled to open first. So that the warm liquid flows into the mold, and the remaining cooling liquid in the pipeline flows back to the cooling box instead of flowing into the heating box. At the same time, the temperature detector can be used to detect the liquid temperature at the outlet in real time. When the liquid temperature at the outlet is detected to have changed, it means that the warm liquid has flowed to the outlet, and the remaining cooling liquid in the pipeline has been basically replaced by the warm liquid. At this time, the flow rate of the warm liquid can be determined according to the rotation speed of the second circulating pump. And determine the length of the pipeline between the outlet of the mold and the third interface. Thus, according to the length of the pipeline and the flow rate, the length of time for the warm liquid to flow to the third interface can be calculated. In this way, when the liquid temperature at the outlet is detected to have changed, the timing can be started until the above-mentioned calculated time is reached. At this time, the third control valve can be controlled to close, and the fourth control valve can be controlled to open, so as to realize the circulation of the warm liquid in the heating box.

[0071] Through the above control method, when switching between the cooling box and the heating box, the mixing of liquids at different temperatures can be reduced or avoided, thereby helping to reduce the fluctuation range of liquid temperature changes and ensure the effect and efficiency of subsequent product cooling or mold heating.

[0072] The above descriptions are only some preferred embodiments of the present disclosure and an explanation of the technical principles used. Those skilled in the art should understand that the scope of the invention involved in the embodiments of the present disclosure is not limited to the technical solutions formed by a specific combination of the above-mentioned technical features, but should also cover other technical solutions formed by any combination of the above-mentioned technical features or their equivalent features without departing from the above-mentioned inventive concept. For example, the above-mentioned features are replaced with the technical features with similar functions disclosed in the embodiments of the present disclosure (but not limited to) and the technical solutions formed.

Claims

1. A new mold device for producing fuel tanks, in, The novel mold device comprises: A mold, wherein a cavity for injection molding and a pipeline for liquid circulation are formed inside, the pipeline is arranged around the cavity, and an inlet and an outlet are arranged on the outer surface of the mold, which are respectively connected to the two ends of the pipeline; A cooling box, used for conveying cooling liquid into the pipeline of the mold, wherein a first liquid inlet and a first liquid return port of the cooling box are respectively connected to an inlet and an outlet of the mold through pipelines; A heating box, used for conveying warm liquid into the pipeline of the mold, with a heater and a temperature detector arranged inside, and a second liquid inlet and a second liquid return port of the heating box, respectively connected to the inlet and the outlet of the mold through pipelines; Wherein, during the production of the fuel tank, the inlet of the mold is only connected to one of the cooling box or the heating box at the same time.

2. The novel mold device according to claim 1, in, A control valve is also provided on the pipeline connecting the mold and the cooling box and the heating box, for controlling the connection and disconnection between the mold and the cooling box and the heating box; and The first liquid inlet is connected to the inlet pipeline at a first interface, and the second liquid inlet is connected to the inlet pipeline at a second interface; The first liquid return port is connected to the outlet pipeline at a third interface, and the second liquid return port is connected to the outlet pipeline at a fourth interface.

3. The novel mold device according to claim 2, in, A first control valve is arranged between the first liquid inlet and the first interface, a second control valve is arranged between the second liquid inlet and the second interface, a third control valve is arranged between the first liquid return port and the third interface, and a fourth control valve is arranged between the second liquid return port and the fourth interface.

4. The novel mold device according to claim 2, in, A fifth control valve is set at the first target interface, and a sixth control valve is set at the second target interface, wherein the fifth control valve and the sixth control valve are three-way control valves, the first target interface is the interface between the first interface and the second interface, which is close to the inlet of the mold, and the second target interface is the interface between the third interface and the fourth interface, which is close to the outlet of the mold.

5. The novel mold device according to claim 3, in, The interior of the heating box is divided into a liquid inlet area and a liquid return area, the second liquid inlet and the heater are arranged in the liquid inlet area, the second liquid return port is arranged in the liquid return area, and the liquid return area is also provided with a liquid replenishment interface; A filter element is arranged between the liquid inlet area and the liquid return area, and is used for filtering the liquid flowing from the liquid return area into the liquid inlet area.

6. The novel mold device according to claim 5, in, A first circulation pump is provided at the first liquid inlet, and a second circulation pump is provided at the second liquid inlet; The second circulation pump is also connected to the liquid return area of ​​the heating box through a circulation pipeline, wherein the interface connected to the circulation pipeline is located between the second circulation pump and the second control valve; The circulation pipeline includes a first sub-pipeline and a second sub-pipeline connected in parallel, the first sub-pipeline is provided with a pressure relief valve, and the second sub-pipeline is provided with a circulation control valve, wherein when the second control valve and the fourth control valve are opened, the circulation control valve is closed.

7. The novel mold device according to claim 6, in, The bottoms of the liquid inlet area and the liquid return area of ​​the heating box are respectively provided with drain valves; and A manual valve is provided between the second liquid inlet and the second control valve, the manual valve is located between the interface connected to the circulation pipeline and the second control valve, and a manual valve is provided at the inlet of the circulation pipeline; A manual valve is provided between the second liquid return port and the fourth control valve.

8. A control method for producing a fuel tank, include: Determining a cooling temperature of a cooling liquid in a cooling box of the novel mold device according to an injection temperature and an ambient temperature, and cooling the cooling liquid to the cooling temperature; In response to determining that the mold in the novel mold device has been closed, before product injection molding, controlling the inlet of the mold to communicate with the first liquid inlet of the cooling box to cool the product in the mold using the cooling liquid; Determining the heating temperature of the warm liquid in the heating box of the novel mold device according to the temperature of the mold cavity and the ambient temperature, and heating the warm liquid to the heating temperature; In response to a set time before the injection molding of the product is completed, controlling the inlet of the mold to communicate with the second liquid inlet of the heating box to heat the mold with the warm liquid; Wherein, the novel mold device adopts the structure of the novel mold device as described in any one of claims 1-7.

9. The control method according to claim 8, in, The control method further comprises: When the inlet of the mold is connected to the first liquid inlet of the cooling box, the first control valve and the third control valve are controlled to be opened, and the second control valve and the fourth control valve are controlled to be closed; When the inlet of the mold is connected to the second liquid inlet of the heating box, the second control valve and the fourth control valve are controlled to be opened, and the first control valve and the third control valve are controlled to be closed; In response to determining that the temperature of the mold cavity reaches a set temperature, the second control valve and the fourth control valve are controlled to be closed, and the mold is controlled to be opened, wherein the set temperature is determined according to the ambient temperature.

Images