Forming machine

Abstract

The invention provides a forming machine which can properly determine whether a screw is replaced or not by a simple method. A molding machine includes an injection device that injects a molding material into a mold and a control device that controls the injection device. The injection device includes: a heating cylinder filled with a molding material; and a screw that advances and retreats inside the heating cylinder and injects the molding material filled in the heating cylinder, and the injection device is configured so as to be capable of advancing and retreating with respect to the mold between a communication posture in which the tip of the heating cylinder communicates with the mold after mold closing and a separation posture in which the tip of the heating cylinder is separated from the mold. And can rotate around a rotation shaft between a separation posture in which the screw cannot be inserted and pulled and a rotation posture in which the screw can be inserted and pulled. The molding machine also includes a sensor that detects a posture of the injection device. The control device determines that the screw in the heating cylinder has been replaced on the basis of the sensor detecting that the injection device has been turned from the separated position to the turned position and returned to the separated position again.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a molding machine which injects a molding material into a mold to form a molded product. Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, there is known a molding machine that includes a mold clamping device for opening, closing, and clamping a mold, and an injection device for injecting a molding material into a mold cavity of the mold after the mold is clamped. The injection device includes a heating cylinder filled with molding material, and a screw that moves forward and backward inside the heating cylinder to inject the molding material filled in the heating cylinder.

[0003] In such a molding machine, injection conditions may need to be changed depending on the type of screw inserted into the heating cylinder. Therefore, Patent Document 1 discloses a technique for determining whether the screw has been replaced based on information detected according to the operation of a metering motor.

[0004] Prior art literature

[0005] Patent Literature

[0006] Patent document 1: Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2023-089677. Summary of the invention

[0007] Problems to be solved by the invention

[0008] However, the method of Patent Document 1 requires complicated calculations, but it is difficult to accurately determine whether the screw has been replaced.

[0009] The present invention has been made to solve the problems of the prior art, and an object of the present invention is to provide a molding machine capable of appropriately determining whether or not a screw has been replaced by a simple method.

[0010] Means for solving problems

[0011] In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention provides a molding machine, characterized in that it includes: an injection device for injecting molding material into a mold cavity of a mold after mold closing; and a control device for controlling the injection device, the injection device includes: a heating cylinder filled with molding material; and a screw for advancing and retreating inside the heating cylinder to inject the molding material filled in the heating cylinder, the injection device is constructed to be able to advance and retreat relative to the mold between a connecting posture in which the top end of the heating cylinder is connected to the mold after mold closing and a separating posture in which the top end of the heating cylinder is separated from the mold, and to be able to rotate around a rotating axis between the separating posture in which the screw cannot be inserted and removed and the rotating posture in which the screw can be inserted and removed, the molding machine also includes a sensor for detecting the posture of the injection device, and the control device determines that the screw in the heating cylinder has been replaced based on the situation detected by the sensor that the injection device rotates from the separating posture to the rotating posture and returns to the separating posture again.

[0012] Effects of the Invention

[0013] According to the present invention, it is possible to appropriately determine whether the screw has been replaced by a simple method. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0014] Figure 1 It is a side view of the injection molding machine in this embodiment.

[0015] Figure 2 It is a figure which shows the posture of an injection device.

[0016] Figure 3 It is the hardware block diagram of the injection molding machine.

[0017] Figure 4 This is an example of data for the installed screw (A), injection conditions (B), and screw table (C).

[0018] Figure 5 This is an example of a screw detail screen.

[0019] Figure 6 This is an example of the injection condition setting screen.

[0020] Figure 7 is a flow chart of the injection control process.

[0021] Figure 8 This is an example of the display of the screw setting screen.

[0022] Fig. 9 This is another example of the screw detail screen.

[0023] Fig.10 This is another example of the injection condition setting screen. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0024] Hereinafter, an injection molding machine 10 according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The injection molding machine 10 is a device that injects a measured molding material into a mold to mold an injection molded product (hereinafter referred to as "injection molding").

[0025] (Structure of Injection Molding Machine 10)

[0026] Figure 1 is a side view of the injection molding machine 10 in this embodiment. Figure 1 As shown, the injection molding machine 10 mainly includes a mold clamping device 20 and an injection device 30. In addition, the injection molding machine 10 includes a base member 11 that supports the mold clamping device 20 and the injection device 30 at positions separated in the left-right direction.

[0027] The mold clamping device 20 performs opening, closing and mold clamping of the mold 21. Specifically, the mold clamping device 20 mainly includes a fixed mold plate 23 supporting the fixed side mold 22 and a movable mold plate 25 supporting the movable side mold 24. The fixed side mold 22 and the movable side mold 24 are supported to face each other in the left-right direction (horizontal direction) of the injection molding machine 10.

[0028] The driving force of the mold opening and closing motor 28 is transmitted through the toggle mechanism 26, whereby the movable die plate 25 moves in the left-right direction along the connecting rod 27. When the movable die plate 25 moves in the left direction, the fixed side mold 22 and the movable side mold 24 are separated. On the other hand, when the movable die plate 25 moves in the right direction, the fixed side mold 22 and the movable side mold 24 abut against each other, and a mold cavity (internal space) is formed inside the mold 21. Furthermore, if pressure is further applied in a direction to move the movable die plate 25 in the right direction, the fixed side mold 22 and the movable side mold 24 are molded together.

[0029] The injection device 30 plasticizes, measures, and injects the molding material. The injection device 30 in this embodiment is disposed opposite to the mold clamping device 20 in the horizontal direction (to the right of the mold clamping device 20). The injection device 30 mainly includes a heating cylinder 31, a screw 32, a hopper 33, and a hopper block 34.

[0030] The heating cylinder 31 is a cylindrical member extending in the left-right direction of the injection molding machine 10. The heating cylinder 31 mainly includes a resin passage 35 and a nozzle 36. A band heater (not shown) for heating the heating cylinder 31 is attached to the outer peripheral surface of the heating cylinder 31.

[0031] The resin passage 35 is a cylindrical space extending in the axial direction (length direction) inside the heating cylinder 31. The resin passage 35 is connected to the outside of the heating cylinder 31 (the cavity of the mold 21) through the nozzle 36 provided at the top end (front end) of the heating cylinder 31. In other words, the resin passage 35 is a space extending from the nozzle 36 in the axial direction.

[0032] The screw 32 is a cylindrical component. A spiral groove is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the screw 32. The screw 32 is accommodated in the internal space of the heating cylinder 31 in a state where the injection molding machine 10 can move in the left and right directions (hereinafter referred to as "advance and retreat") and rotate. The screw 32 advances and retreats by transmitting the driving force of the injection motor 37, and rotates by transmitting the driving force of the metering motor 38.

[0033] More specifically, when the injection motor 37 is rotated forward, the screw 32 moves (advances) toward the top end (i.e., the nozzle 36) of the heating cylinder 31. On the other hand, when the injection motor 37 is rotated reversely, the screw 32 moves (retresponds) toward the base end (i.e., the side opposite to the nozzle 36) of the heating cylinder 31.

[0034] Hereinafter, in the range that the top end position of the screw 32 in the heating cylinder 31 can reach, the position closest to the nozzle 36 is marked as the "forward limit", and the position farthest from the nozzle 36 is marked as the "retract limit". In addition, the terms "forward rotation" and "reverse rotation" of the injection motor 37 do not define the absolute rotation direction, but only define the relative relationship (that is, forward rotation and reverse rotation are rotations in opposite directions).

[0035] The hopper 33 is a funnel-shaped member that stores molding material as a raw material. The hopper block 34 is a member that supports the heating cylinder 31 and the hopper 33. The hopper 33 is connected to the resin passage 35 at a position closer to the base end side than the top end of the heating cylinder 31 through the hopper block 34. The molding material stored in the hopper 33 is supplied to the resin passage 35 of the heating cylinder 31 through an opening provided at the lower end. The molding material used in the injection molding machine 10 is, for example, so-called "pellets" molded into a cylindrical shape.

[0036] The injection device 30 rotates the injection motor 37 in reverse and rotates the metering motor 38, so that the screw 32 rotates and retreats. As a result, the pellets supplied from the hopper 33 are plasticized while being filled (metered) into the resin passage 35 in front of the screw 32. In addition, the injection device 30 rotates the injection motor 37 forward, so that the screw 32 moves forward. As a result, the plasticized resin in front of the screw 32 is injected into the cavity of the mold 21 through the nozzle 36.

[0037] Figure 2 is a diagram showing the posture of the injection device 30. Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown in FIG. 1 , the injection device 30 is supported on the base member 11 so as to be rotatable about a rotation axis 12 extending in the vertical direction. Figure 2 The connection posture shown in (A) Figure 2 The separation posture shown in (B) Figure 2The posture changes between the rotation postures shown in (C).

[0038] The communication posture is the posture of the injection device 30 in which the tip of the heating cylinder 31 (i.e., the nozzle 36) is connected to the mold 21 of the mold clamping. Furthermore, the communication posture is the posture of the injection device 30 in which the heating cylinder 31 is extended in the direction that coincides with the opposing direction of the mold clamping device 20 and the injection device 30. In addition, the communication posture is the posture of the injection device 30 when the molding material is plasticized, metered, and injected by moving the screw 32 forward and backward in the heating cylinder 31. Furthermore, the communication posture is the posture of the injection device 30 in which the screw 32 cannot be inserted or removed from the heating cylinder 31.

[0039] The separation posture is a posture of the injection device 30 in which the tip of the heating cylinder 31 (i.e., the nozzle 36) is separated from the mold 21. Furthermore, the separation posture is a posture of the injection device 30 in which the heating cylinder 31 is extended in a direction that coincides with the opposing direction of the mold clamping device 20 and the injection device 30. That is, the injection device 30 is configured to be able to move forward and backward (in parallel) relative to the mold 21 (in other words, the mold clamping device 20) between the connection posture and the separation posture. Furthermore, the separation posture is a posture of the injection device 30 in which the screw 32 cannot be inserted or removed from the heating cylinder 31.

[0040] The rotation posture is a posture of rotating around the rotation axis 12 from the separation posture. Furthermore, the rotation posture is a posture of the injection device 30 in which the heating cylinder 31 is extended in a direction intersecting the opposing direction of the mold clamping device 20 and the injection device 30. That is, the injection device 30 is configured to be able to rotate around the rotation axis 12 between the separation posture and the rotation posture. Furthermore, the rotation posture is a posture of the injection device 30 in which the screw 32 can be inserted and pulled out relative to the heating cylinder 31. More specifically, by setting the injection device 30 to the rotation posture and removing the nozzle 36 from the top end of the heating cylinder 31, the screw 32 can be inserted and pulled out relative to the heating cylinder 31.

[0041] That is, the injection device 30 moves in the first direction ( Figure 2 The injection device 30 rotates in the counterclockwise direction of the rotation axis 12, thereby changing the posture from the separation posture to the rotation posture. Figure 2 The first direction and the second direction are opposite directions. Figure 1 In the figure, the rotary shaft 12 extending in the up-down direction is illustrated, but the extending direction of the rotary shaft 12 is not particularly limited.

[0042] The injection device 30 is driven by a rotating mechanism 39 (refer to Figure 3) is rotated. As an example, the rotating mechanism 39 may be a hydraulic cylinder that is connected to the base member 11 at one end and to the injection device 30 at the other end so as to be extended and retracted. As another example, the rotating mechanism 39 may also be composed of an electric motor and a transmission mechanism that transmits the driving force of the electric motor to the injection device 30. However, the injection device 30 may not use the rotating mechanism 39. That is, the injection device 30 may also be rotated manually by the operator.

[0043] (Structure of Control Device 60)

[0044] Figure 3 is a hardware block diagram of the injection molding machine 10. The injection molding machine 10 includes a control device 60. Figure 3 As shown, the control device 60 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 61 and a memory 62. The memory 62 is composed of, for example, a ROM (Read Only Memory), a RAM (Random Access Memory), a HDD (Hard Disk Drive), or a combination thereof. The control device 60 implements the processing described below by the CPU 61 reading out the program code stored in the ROM or the HDD and executing it. The RAM is used as a work area when the CPU 61 executes the program.

[0045] However, the specific structure of the control device 60 is not limited thereto, and may be realized by hardware such as an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit) or an FPGA (Field-Programmable Gate Array).

[0046] The control device 60 controls the overall operation of the injection molding machine 10. More specifically, the control device 60 controls the mold opening and closing motor 28, the injection motor 37, the metering motor 38, and the rotary mechanism 39 based on various signals output from the rotary encoder 64, the load cell 65 (pressure sensor), and the posture sensor 66.

[0047] The mold opening and closing motor 28 , the injection motor 37 , and the metering motor 38 are servomotors that generate driving force for opening and closing the mold 21 , for advancing and retreating the screw 32 , and for rotating the screw 32 under control of, for example, a servo amplifier (not shown).

[0048] The rotary encoder 64 is a sensor that detects the speed and tip position of the screw 32. More specifically, the rotary encoder 64 outputs a pulse signal corresponding to the rotation of the injection motor 37 to the control device 60. Then, the control device 60 determines the speed of the screw 32 based on the number of pulse signals output per unit time. In addition, the control device 60 determines the tip position of the screw 32 based on the accumulated value of the pulse signal.

[0049] The load cell 65 is a sensor that detects the pressure applied to the screw 32. More specifically, the load cell 65 outputs a pressure signal (voltage value) corresponding to the pressure applied to the screw 32 to the control device 60. Then, the control device 60 determines the pressure applied to the screw 32 based on the pressure signal output from the load cell 65.

[0050] The posture sensor 66 is a sensor that detects the posture of the injection device 30. More specifically, the posture sensor 66 detects whether the injection device 30 is in the rotation posture. For example, the posture sensor 66 stops outputting the posture signal when the injection device 30 is in the rotation posture, and outputs the posture signal to the control device 60 when the injection device 30 is in a posture different from the rotation posture. Then, the control device 60 determines the posture of the injection device 30 based on the posture signal output from the posture sensor 66. However, the posture sensor 66 may output the posture signal when the injection device 30 is in the rotation posture, and stop outputting the posture signal when the injection device 30 is in a posture different from the rotation posture.

[0051] In addition, a display input device 67 is connected to the control device 60. The display input device 67 is a user interface including a display (display device) that displays various information to be notified to the operator, and buttons, switches, dials, etc. (input devices) that receive input operations from the operator. In addition, the display input device 67 may also include a touch panel overlapped with the display. The display input device 67 receives the input operation of the operator and outputs an input signal corresponding to the received input operation to the control device 60.

[0052] (Example of data stored in memory 62)

[0053] Figure 4 This is an example of data for the installed screw (A), injection conditions (B), and screw table (C). Figure 4 The mounted screw, injection conditions, and screw table shown are stored in the memory 62 .

[0054] Figure 4 The loading screw shown in (A) is the data shown by the screw 32 inserted into the heating cylinder 31. The control device 60 allows the operator to Figure 8 The type of the screw 32 set (input) on the screw setting screen shown is stored in the memory 62 .

[0055] Figure 4 The injection conditions shown in (B) are the operating conditions of the injection device 30 for injecting the molding material. The control device 60 controls the operator to Figure 6 The molding conditions set (input) on the injection condition setting screen shown are stored in the memory 62. Figure 7 In step S20, the injection device 30 is operated according to the molding conditions stored in the memory 62. The injection conditions according to the present embodiment include a plurality of parameters (eg, position, injection speed, injection pressure, and holding pressure).

[0056] The parameter "position" indicates the position (mm) of the top end of the screw 32 in the heating cylinder 31. More specifically, the parameter "position" indicates the switching position of the speed of the screw 32 when injecting the plasticized resin (hereinafter referred to as "injection process"). In addition, the parameter "position" can include a plurality of switching positions. The position in the heating cylinder 31 can be expressed as the distance from the forward limit toward the base end of the heating cylinder 31 when the forward limit is set to 0 mm. The position of the top end of the screw 32 is detected by the rotary encoder 64.

[0057] The parameter "injection speed" indicates the forward speed (mm / s) of the screw 32 during the injection process. More specifically, the parameter "injection speed" can include a plurality of speeds switched at a plurality of switching positions indicated by the parameter "position". That is, the forward speed indicated by the parameter "injection speed" is the forward speed of the screw 32 between adjacent switching positions. The forward speed of the screw 32 is detected by the rotary encoder 64.

[0058] The parameter "injection pressure" indicates the maximum value (MPa) of the pressure applied to the screw 32 during the injection process. That is, during the injection process, the speed control based on the parameter "injection speed" is given priority, but when the pressure indicated by the parameter "injection pressure" is reached, the speed control is performed so that the injection speed approaches the set value within the range not exceeding the pressure.

[0059] The parameter "holding pressure" indicates the pressure (MPa) applied by the screw 32 to the plasticized resin injected into the mold 21. In other words, the parameter "holding pressure" indicates the pressure applied by the screw 32 in the forward direction after the injection of the plasticized resin is completed. The parameter "holding pressure" may include multiple pressures. The pressure applied to the screw 32 is detected by the force sensor 65.

[0060] Figure 4The screw table shown in (C) is a table that stores the specifications (e.g., diameter, stroke) of the screw 32 and the limit values ​​of each of the plurality of parameters included in the molding conditions, respectively, corresponding to the types of the screws 32 (e.g., SAT, MIT, MXT, ...) that can be inserted into the heating cylinder 31. The limit value refers to at least one of the upper limit value and the lower limit value of the settable numerical range (the upper limit value in this embodiment).

[0061] (Screw details screen)

[0062] Figure 5 is an example of a screw detail screen. The screw detail screen is a screen that displays the type of screw 32 stored in the memory 62 (in other words, inserted into the heating cylinder 31). The control device 60 displays the screw 32 according to the input operation of the operator to the display input device 67. Figure 5 The screw detail screen shown is displayed on the display input device 67. Figure 5 As shown, the screw detail screen includes, for example, a title area A1 , a measured value area A2 , a screw area A3 , and an icon area A4 .

[0063] The title area A1 is an area for displaying the name of the screen. The measured value area A2 is an area for displaying the measured values ​​measured by the rotary encoder 64 and the load cell 65. The measured values ​​displayed in the measured value area A2 are not particularly limited, but in this embodiment, the screw position, injection speed, injection pressure, rotation speed, mold opening and closing position, and cycle timing are displayed.

[0064] Screw area A3 is displayed Figure 4 The screw shown in (C) is Figure 4 The area for information corresponding to the type "SAT" of the screw 32 shown in (A) is shown. In addition, the [? ] icon displayed adjacent to the type "SAT" of the screw 32 is an icon for indicating that the details of the screw 32 are displayed. For example, when the [? ] icon is clicked, the control device 60 displays the details of the screw 32 inserted into the heating cylinder 31 (for example, the corresponding model, overview, and detailed specifications) on the display input device 67.

[0065] The icon area A4 is an area where a [condition setting] icon is displayed as an icon operated by the operator through the display input device 67. When the [condition setting] icon is clicked, the control device 60 causes the display input device 67 to display Figure 6 The injection condition setting screen shown is replaced Figure 5 Detailed view of the screw shown.

[0066] (Injection condition setting screen)

[0067] Figure 6The injection condition setting screen is an example of an injection condition setting screen. The injection condition setting screen is a screen that displays the injection conditions stored in the memory 62 and allows the operator to edit them through the display input device 67. The control device 60 displays the injection conditions stored in the memory 62 according to the input operation of the operator to the display input device 67. Figure 6 The injection condition setting screen shown is displayed on the display input device 67. Figure 6 As shown, the injection condition setting screen includes, for example, a title area B1 , a condition editing area B2 , and an icon area B3 .

[0068] The title area B1 is an area for displaying the name of the screen. The condition editing area B2 is an area for displaying Figure 4 The icon area B3 is an area where the [setting] icon is displayed as an icon operated by the operator through the display input device 67. When the [condition setting] icon of the screw detail screen is clicked, the control device 60 Figure 6 The injection condition setting screen shown is displayed on the display input device 67 .

[0069] The control device 60 is operated according to Figure 6 In the injection process of the injection conditions shown, the screw 32 is advanced at 10 (mm / s) in the range of 32.00 (mm) to 30.00 (mm), at 30 (mm / s) in the range of 30.00 (mm) to 25.00 (mm), at 40 (mm / s) in the range of 25.00 (mm) to 10.00 (mm), at 20 (mm / s) in the range of 10.00 (mm) to 5.00 (mm), and at 10 (mm / s) after 5.00 (mm). In addition, during the injection process, the control device 60 performs speed control within a range not exceeding the maximum value (=40 (MPa)) of the pressure applied to the screw 32 so that the injection speed is close to the set value. In addition, the control device 60 applies a load of 10.0 (MPa) to the plasticized resin in the mold 21.

[0070] Furthermore, when the control device 60 receives an operation by the operator to change the injection condition displayed in the condition editing area B2 through the display input device 67, the changed injection condition is displayed in the condition editing area B2. Furthermore, when the [Set] icon is clicked, the control device 60 overwrites (updates) the injection condition displayed in the condition editing area B2 (i.e., the changed injection condition). Figure 4 The injection conditions are shown in (B).

[0071] (Injection control processing)

[0072] Figure 7 is a flow chart of the injection control process. Figure 8The example of the display of the screw setting screen is shown in FIG. The injection control process is a process for controlling the injection process, which is to inject the molding material filled in the heating cylinder 31 into the mold cavity of the mold 21 after the mold is closed. The control device 60, for example, starts the injection device 30 when it rotates from the separation posture to the rotation posture (that is, stops outputting the posture signal). Figure 7 Injection control treatment shown.

[0073] In addition, a permission flag is stored in the memory 62. The permission flag is information indicating whether the operation of the injection device 30 (more specifically, the execution of the injection process) is permitted. The permission flag is set to a first value "ON" that permits the execution of the injection process or a second value "OFF" that prohibits the execution of the injection process.

[0074] First, the control device 60 waits for the execution of the processing after step S12 until the injection device 30 returns to the separated posture again (that is, the output of the posture signal is restarted) (S11: No). In addition, the control device 60 determines that the screw 32 in the heating cylinder 31 has been replaced, based on the fact that the posture sensor 66 detects that the injection device 30 rotates from the separated posture to the rotation posture and the injection device 30 returns to the separated posture again (that is, the output of the posture signal is restarted) (S11: Yes).

[0075] In the injection molding machine 10, the injection device 30 is rotated to the rotational position to consider the case where the screw 32 in the heating cylinder 31 is replaced or the case where the heating cylinder 31 is cleaned. Therefore, even if the injection device 30 is rotated to the rotational position, the screw 32 is not necessarily replaced. In addition, even if the old screw 32 is pulled out from the heating cylinder 31, the same type of screw 32 may be inserted. However, the control device 60 in this embodiment regards that the screw 32 is replaced based on the injection device 30 rotating to the rotational position.

[0076] Next, when the control device 60 determines that the screw 32 has been replaced (S11: Yes), the control device 60 sets the second value "OFF" (S12) for the permission flag. That is, when the control device 60 determines that the screw 32 has been replaced, the execution of the injection process is prohibited until the permission flag is set to the first value "ON" in step S16 described later (that is, until the type of the screw 32 is input).

[0077] When the control device 60 determines that the screw 32 has been replaced (S11: Yes), the control device 60 causes the display input device 67 to display Figure 8 The screw setting screen (S13) is shown. The screw setting screen is an example of a screen that prompts the user to input the type of screw 32 to be inserted into the heating cylinder 31. Figure 8 As shown, the screw setting screen includes, for example, a title area C1 , a screw selection area C2 , and an icon area C3 .

[0078] The title area C1 is an area for displaying the name of the screen. The screw selection area C2 is an area for displaying a plurality of screw icons (e.g., [SAT], [MIT], [MXT], ...) corresponding to the types of screws 32 that can be inserted into the heating cylinder 31. The icon area C3 is an area for displaying a [setting] icon as an icon operated by the operator through the display input device 67.

[0079] When the control device 60 receives an operation of clicking the screw icon corresponding to the type of the screw 32 actually inserted into the heating cylinder 31 (i.e., inputting the type of the screw 32) and clicking the [Set] icon via the display input device 67 (S14: Yes), the control device 60 overwrites (updates) the input type of the screw 32. Figure 4 The screw 32 shown in (A) is mounted (S15). In addition, the control device 60 sets the first value "ON" to the permission flag (S16). That is, when the type of the screw 32 is input through the display input device 67, the control device 60 stores the input type of the screw 32 in the memory 62 and allows the injection of the molding material.

[0080] In addition, the control device 60 can receive an operation of an operator instructing execution of an injection process (hereinafter referred to as "injection instruction") at any timing through the display input device 67 (S17). Then, when the injection instruction is received through the display input device 67 (S17: Yes), the control device 60 determines the setting value of the permission flag (S18).

[0081] Then, when the permission flag is set to the second value "OFF" (i.e., the type of the screw 32 has not been input) (S18: OFF), the control device 60 does not execute the injection process, and notifies that the injection process cannot be started through the display input device 67 (S19). On the other hand, when the permission flag is set to the first value "ON" (i.e., the type of the screw 32 has been input) (S18: ON), the control device 60 causes the injection device 30 to execute the injection process according to the injection conditions stored in the memory 62 (S20).

[0082] (Various images after replacing screw 32)

[0083] Fig. 9 This is another example of the screw detail screen. Fig.10 is another example of the injection condition setting screen. More specifically, Fig. 9 and Fig.10 The screw detail screen and the injection condition setting screen are shown when the type of the screw 32 is changed from "SAT" to "LOT".

[0084] like Fig. 9 As shown, the control device 60 is based on Figure 4When the mounting screw shown in (A) is changed from "SAT" to "LOT", Fig. 9 The screw area A3 of the screw detail screen shown in the figure shows Figure 4 That is, every time the screw 32 in the heating cylinder 31 is replaced, the type, specification, and limit value of the screw 32 inserted into the heating cylinder 31 are updated in the screw detail screen.

[0085] In addition, when the control device 60 displays the injection condition setting screen, it compares the molding conditions stored in the memory 62 with the limit value corresponding to the type of the screw 32. Then, the control device 60 Fig.10 In the condition editing area B2 of the injection condition setting screen shown, parameters that do not exceed the limit value and parameters that exceed the limit value (for example, injection speed = 40) among the multiple parameters included in the injection condition are displayed in different ways. Fig.10 In the example, the parameter exceeding the limit value is highlighted, but it may also be changed in color, made to flash, etc. There is no particular limitation on the method of displaying the different methods.

[0086] Fig.10 The highlighted parameter exceeds the range that can be set for the screw 32 inserted into the heating cylinder 31. That is, the injection process according to the current molding condition cannot be performed in the current screw 32. Therefore, when the control device 60 determines that the current molding condition exceeds the limit value corresponding to the type of the screw 32, it notifies that the molding condition needs to be changed.

[0087] (Effects of this embodiment)

[0088] According to the above embodiment, it is determined that the screw 32 has been replaced by the rotation of the injection device 30 , and thus, replacement of the screw 32 can be appropriately determined by a simple method compared to the method of Patent Document 1.

[0089] In addition, in most injection molding machines 10 to date, the type of the screw 32 cannot be confirmed unless the marking on the main body of the screw 32 is observed. In contrast, in the above-mentioned embodiment, the type of the screw 32 can be confirmed at any time through the screw detail screen. However, even if the screw 32 is replaced, the correct information cannot be notified to the operator unless the setting value of the mounting screw is changed. Therefore, the execution of the injection process is prohibited before the type of the new screw 32 is input through the screw setting screen, thereby eliminating the inconvenience that the type of the screw 32 stored in the memory 62 is inconsistent with the type of the screw 32 actually inserted into the heating cylinder 31.

[0090] In addition, in the method of the above-mentioned embodiment, when the injection device 30 is rotated to the rotation posture, it is determined that the screw 32 has been replaced regardless of whether the screw 32 has actually been replaced. Therefore, even if the type of the screw 32 does not need to be changed, it is sometimes necessary to select the type of the screw 32 through the screw setting screen. However, by adopting such a method, it is possible to eliminate the inconvenience that the operator forgets to change the type of the screw 32 and the type of the screw 32 stored in the memory 62 does not match the type of the screw 32 actually inserted into the heating cylinder 31.

[0091] Furthermore, according to the above embodiment, when it is determined that the screw 32 has been replaced, execution of the injection process is prohibited until the type of the screw 32 is input through the screw setting screen, thereby preventing the injection process from being executed under injection conditions that do not match the newly inserted screw 32 .

[0092] According to the above embodiment, when it is determined that the screw 32 has been replaced, the display input device 67 displays the screw setting screen, thereby prompting the operator to input the type of the new screw 32. However, the operator may operate the display input device 67 to display the screw setting screen.

[0093] In addition, according to the above-mentioned embodiment, by displaying the loaded screw on the screw detail screen, the operator can confirm the type of the screw 32 inserted into the heating cylinder 31 at any time. In addition, by displaying the specifications and limit values ​​of the screw 32 in addition to the type of the screw 32 on the screw detail screen, the operator can be prompted to appropriately update the molding conditions.

[0094] Furthermore, according to the above-described embodiment, the parameters exceeding the limit value (e.g., injection speed = 40) among the multiple parameters included in the molding conditions are displayed in the injection condition setting screen in a manner different from other parameters. Thus, the operator can identify the parameters that need to be changed as the screw 32 is replaced.

[0095] The above-mentioned embodiments are examples for explaining the present invention, and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention to these embodiments. A person skilled in the art can implement the present invention in various other forms without departing from the gist of the present invention.

[0096] Description of Reference Numerals

[0097] 10…injection molding machine, 11…base member, 12…rotating shaft, 20…mold clamping device, 21…mold, 22…fixed side mold, 23…fixed mold plate, 24…movable side mold, 25…movable mold plate, 26…elbow mechanism, 27…connecting rod, 28…mold opening and closing motor, 30…injection device, 31…heating cylinder, 32…screw, 33…hopper, 34…hopper block, 35…resin passage, 36…nozzle, 37…injection motor, 38…metering motor, 39…rotating mechanism, 60…control device, 61…CPU, 62…memory, 64…rotary encoder, 65…load cell, 66…posture sensor, 67…display input device.

Claims

1. A molding machine, characterized in that: include: An injection device, for injecting molding material into the mold cavity of the mold after mold closing; and a control device for controlling the injection device, The injection device comprises: a heating cylinder filled with a molding material; and a screw that moves forward and backward inside the heating cylinder to inject the molding material filled in the heating cylinder, The injection device is configured to be able to advance and retreat relative to the mold between a connection posture in which the top end of the heating cylinder is connected to the mold after mold clamping and a separation posture in which the top end of the heating cylinder is separated from the mold, and to be able to rotate about a rotation axis between the separation posture in which the screw cannot be inserted or removed and a rotation posture in which the screw can be inserted or removed. The molding machine further includes a sensor for detecting the posture of the injection device. The control device determines that the screw in the heating cylinder has been replaced based on the fact that the sensor detects that the injection device has rotated from the separated posture to the rotating posture and then returned to the separated posture again.

2. The molding machine according to claim 1, characterized in that: include: An input device receives an input operation from an operator, When the control device determines that the screw has been replaced, the control device prohibits the injection of the molding material until the type of the screw inserted into the heating cylinder is input through the input device. When the type of the screw is input through the input device, the control device stores the input type of the screw in a memory and allows injection of a molding material.

3. The molding machine according to claim 2, characterized in that: including a display device for displaying information, When the control device determines that the screw has been replaced, the control device displays a screen on the display device that prompts the user to input the type of the screw through the input device.

4. The molding machine according to claim 2, characterized in that: including a display device for displaying information, The control device displays the type of the screw stored in the memory on the display device in accordance with an instruction input by an operator through the input device.

5. The molding machine according to claim 2, characterized in that: The memory stores the molding conditions inputted by the input device and stores the limit values ​​of the molding conditions corresponding to the types of the screws that can be inserted into the heating cylinder. The control device notifies that the molding condition needs to be changed when it is determined that the molding condition stored in the memory exceeds the limit value corresponding to the type of the screw stored in the memory.

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