Injection molding machine cooling system and injection molding machine

Abstract

The application provides an injection molding machine cooling system and an injection molding machine, and belongs to the technical field of injection molding equipment cooling. The system comprises a refrigeration device, a first heat exchange device, a second heat exchange device, an ambient temperature sensor and a control unit. The refrigeration device and the first heat exchange device can both cool the cooling medium to a first target temperature, the second heat exchange device can cool the cooling medium to a second target temperature higher than the first target temperature, and the system forms at least two independent cooling circuits. The control unit detects the ambient temperature through the ambient temperature sensor, and when the ambient temperature is higher than a preset temperature, the corresponding circuit of the refrigeration device is connected and the refrigeration device is started; when the ambient temperature is lower than the preset temperature, the corresponding circuit of the first heat exchange device is connected and the refrigeration device is turned off. Compared with the prior art, the application can automatically select the refrigeration device or the heat exchange device to cool the cooling medium according to the ambient temperature, the high-power consumption refrigeration device is turned off under low-temperature working conditions, and the power consumption of the equipment is effectively reduced.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of injection molding equipment technology, specifically to an injection molding machine cooling system and injection molding machine that can automatically switch cooling circuits according to ambient temperature and adapt to the cooling needs of multiple temperature zones. Background Technology

[0002] In the injection molding process, the temperature control of the mold directly affects the molding quality, production efficiency, and mold life. Therefore, it is necessary to continuously introduce a cooling medium to cool the mold. Currently, chilled water is commonly used as the mold cooling medium in the industry. The preparation and circulation of chilled water rely on a chiller. After the chiller cools the circulating water to the set temperature, it is then transported to the mold jacket to complete heat exchange and achieve mold cooling.

[0003] However, existing injection mold chilled water systems suffer from significant energy waste: due to the lack of a seasonal switching mechanism, chilled water cooling relies on the continuous operation of water-cooled chillers regardless of ambient temperature. Especially in winter or under low-temperature conditions, when the external environment already provides some cooling, the existing system still requires the chiller to operate at high load to ensure the chilled water temperature meets standards, resulting in a large amount of wasted electricity. This energy waste is particularly pronounced in scenarios involving multiple injection molding machines operating in parallel, increasing production and operating costs and contradicting the industry's trend towards energy conservation and environmental protection.

[0004] Some technical solutions attempt to stop the chiller by manually switching pipelines. However, this approach is cumbersome and inefficient. Furthermore, manual operation is prone to human error or misjudgment, leading to fluctuations in chilled water temperature and affecting the quality stability of injection-molded products. Existing cooling systems with automatic control functions primarily focus on fine-tuning chilled water temperature, lacking dedicated pipeline switching and chiller start-up / shutdown control structures designed for adaptability to ambient temperatures. Consequently, they fail to balance energy efficiency with production stability.

[0005] In addition, existing injection mold chilled water systems can only output cooling media at a single temperature, which cannot simultaneously meet the differentiated cooling needs of different areas such as the injection mold and the machine body.

[0006] Therefore, there is an urgent need for a chilled water system for injection molds that can automatically switch cooling paths according to ambient temperature, efficiently shut down the chiller in low-temperature conditions to achieve energy saving, adapt to the cooling conditions of multiple zones and temperature ranges of injection molding equipment, and ensure continuous and stable injection molding production. This system would solve the technical pain points of existing technologies, such as energy waste, inconvenient switching, and insufficient reliability. Summary of the Invention

[0007] To achieve the above objectives, this application provides a cooling system for an injection molding machine, which includes a refrigeration device, a first heat exchange device, a second heat exchange device, a first delivery pipeline, a first return pipeline, a second delivery pipeline, a second return pipeline, a switching valve group, an ambient temperature sensor, and a control unit.

[0008] The refrigeration equipment uses a refrigerant for cooling, and is used to cool the cooling medium to a first target temperature.

[0009] The first heat exchange device is used to exchange heat between the cooling medium and the environment, and to cool the cooling medium to a first target temperature; The second heat exchange device is used to exchange heat between the cooling medium and the environment, cooling the cooling medium to a second target temperature; the second target temperature is higher than the first target temperature; the two sets of heat exchange devices, together with corresponding pipelines, form independent cooling circuits that can output two different temperatures of cooling medium to meet the cooling requirements of different areas of the injection molding machine.

[0010] The first delivery pipeline is used to deliver the cooling medium at the first target temperature to the cooling medium channel of the injection molding machine mold; the first return pipeline is used to allow the cooling medium to flow back from the injection molding machine mold to the refrigeration equipment or the first heat exchange equipment, and the two together constitute the main cooling circulation loop of the injection molding machine mold. The second delivery pipeline is used to deliver the cooling medium at the second target temperature to the cooling medium channel of the injection molding machine; the second return pipeline is used to return the cooling medium from the injection molding machine to the second heat exchanger, and the two together constitute the auxiliary cooling circulation loop of the injection molding machine.

[0011] The switching valve assembly has a first working state and a second working state; the ambient temperature sensor is installed outside the injection molding machine to detect the external ambient temperature. The control unit is electrically connected to the refrigeration equipment, the switching valve group, and the ambient temperature sensor respectively; and obtains the ambient temperature through the ambient temperature sensor; the control unit has a preset temperature, which is lower than or equal to the first target temperature; When the ambient temperature is higher than the preset temperature, the control unit controls the switching valve group to switch to the first working state and starts the refrigeration equipment, so that the first delivery pipeline and the first return pipeline are connected to the refrigeration equipment.

[0012] When the ambient temperature is lower than the preset temperature, the control unit controls the switching valve group to switch to the second working state and shuts down the refrigeration equipment, so that the first delivery pipeline, the first return pipeline and the first heat exchange equipment are connected.

[0013] In a preferred embodiment, the switching valve group includes a first valve body, a second valve body, a third valve body, and a fourth valve body; the first delivery pipeline is connected to the refrigeration equipment through the first valve body and to the first heat exchange equipment through the second valve body; the first return pipeline is connected to the refrigeration equipment through the third valve body and to the first heat exchange equipment through the fourth valve body. When the switching valve group is in the first working state, the first valve body and the third valve body are open, and the second valve body and the fourth valve body are closed; when the switching valve group is in the second working state, the second valve body and the fourth valve body are open, and the first valve body and the third valve body are closed.

[0014] In a preferred embodiment, the device further includes a first container, the first delivery pipeline being connected to the refrigeration equipment via the first container and the first valve body in sequence; the first container being connected to the evaporator of the refrigeration equipment via the first valve body; the first delivery pipeline being connected to the first container; and the first return pipeline being connected to the refrigeration equipment via the third valve body and the first container in sequence. A first circulation pump is also provided on the pipeline between the refrigeration equipment and the first container, and a first output pump is also provided between the first delivery pipeline and the first container.

[0015] In a preferred embodiment, a first pressure sensor is further included, which is disposed on the first delivery pipeline and electrically connected to the control unit; the control unit is used to control the first output pump according to the detection value of the first pressure sensor.

[0016] In a preferred embodiment, when the switching valve group is in the first working state, it is also used to connect the first heat exchange device with the refrigeration device, so that the cooling medium circulates between the first heat exchange device and the refrigeration device to cool the refrigeration device.

[0017] In a preferred embodiment, the switching valve group includes a fifth valve body and a sixth valve body, the output end of the first heat exchange device is connected to the refrigeration device through the fifth valve body, and the input end of the first heat exchange device is connected to the refrigeration device through the sixth valve body; When the switching valve group is in the first working state, the fifth valve body and the sixth valve body are open; when the switching valve group is in the second working state, the fifth valve body and the sixth valve body are closed.

[0018] In a preferred embodiment, the device further includes a second container and a second circulation pump, wherein the output end of the first heat exchanger is connected to the refrigeration device in sequence through the fifth valve body, the second container, and the second circulation pump.

[0019] In a preferred embodiment, the system further includes a second output pump. The second delivery pipeline is connected to the second heat exchange device via the second output pump and the second container in sequence. The second delivery pipeline is connected to the second container via the second output pump, and the second container is connected to the output end of the second heat exchange device.

[0020] In a preferred embodiment, a second pressure sensor is further included, which is disposed on the second delivery pipeline and electrically connected to the control unit; the control unit is used to control the second output pump based on the detection value of the second pressure sensor.

[0021] On the other hand, this application also discloses an injection molding machine, which includes an injection mold, an injection molding machine body, and the aforementioned injection molding machine cooling system; The injection mold is provided with a first cooling medium channel, which is used to cool the injection mold; the injection mold is installed on the injection molding machine body; The injection molding machine body is provided with a second cooling medium channel, which is used to cool the injection molding machine body. The injection molding machine cooling system is connected to the first cooling medium channel through the first delivery pipeline and the first return pipeline, and is connected to the second cooling medium channel through the second delivery pipeline and the second return pipeline.

[0022] Beneficial effects: Compared with existing technologies, the technical solution of this application can automatically select between refrigeration equipment or heat exchange equipment to cool the cooling medium based on the ambient temperature. When the ambient temperature is low enough and the heat exchange equipment can cool the cooling medium to the target temperature, the high-power refrigeration equipment is turned off, and the cooling medium is cooled by the heat exchange equipment. The natural cooling cycle is used to meet the cooling requirements of the mold, avoiding energy waste caused by the long-term operation of the refrigeration equipment.

[0023] This system adopts a multi-loop design, equipped with at least two sets of independent heat exchange devices and supporting pipelines, capable of outputting cooling media at different temperatures to meet the differentiated cooling needs of different areas such as the injection molding machine mold and machine body. Overall energy utilization efficiency and adaptability to operating conditions are significantly improved, while ensuring the stability of injection molded product molding quality, reducing enterprise production and operating costs, and adapting to the large-scale production needs of multiple injection molding machines.

[0024] On the other hand, the technical solution of this application controls the opening and closing of each valve body of the switching valve group through the control unit. Based on the ambient temperature, it completes automatic control in combination with the preset temperature threshold, realizing the automatic switching of the working state of the switching valve group. It gets rid of the limitations of traditional water circuit temperature measurement and manual division of working conditions. There is no need for operators to manually operate each valve body. The operation is simple and avoids the impact of temperature fluctuations caused by manual switching errors on product quality, thus further ensuring product quality. Attached Figure Description

[0025] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the piping connections of an injection molding machine cooling system according to an embodiment of this application.

[0026] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the circuit connection relationship of an injection molding machine cooling system according to an embodiment of this application.

[0027] Figure label: 1. Refrigeration equipment; 2. First valve body; 3. First container; 4. First output pump; 5. First pressure sensor; 6. First delivery pipeline; 7. First return pipeline; 8. Third valve body; 9. First circulation pump; 10. First heat exchanger; 11. Second valve body; 12. Fourth valve body; 13. Fifth valve body; 14. Second container; 15. Second circulation pump; 16. Sixth valve body; 17. Second heat exchanger; 18. Second output pump; 19. Second pressure sensor; 20. Second delivery pipeline; 21. Second return pipeline; 22. Standby pump; 23. First control valve; 24. Second control valve; 25. Control unit; 26. Ambient temperature sensor; 100. Switching valve assembly. Detailed Implementation

[0028] Exemplary embodiments will now be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, these exemplary embodiments can be implemented in many forms and should not be construed as limited to the examples set forth herein; rather, they are provided to make the description of this application more comprehensive and complete, and to fully convey the concept of the exemplary embodiments to those skilled in the art. The drawings are merely illustrative of this application and are not necessarily drawn to scale. The same reference numerals in the drawings denote the same or similar parts, and therefore repeated descriptions of them will be omitted.

[0029] Furthermore, the described features, structures, or characteristics can be combined in any suitable manner in one or more exemplary embodiments. Numerous specific details are provided in the following description to give a full understanding of exemplary embodiments of this application. However, those skilled in the art will recognize that the technical solutions of this application can be practiced by omitting one or more of the specific details, or by employing other methods, components, steps, etc.

[0030] This application provides a cooling system for an injection molding machine, such as... Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, the system includes a refrigeration unit 1, a first heat exchanger 10, a first delivery pipeline 6, a first return pipeline 7, and a switching valve assembly 100. The refrigeration unit 1 is used to cool the cooling medium to a first target temperature using refrigerant. The first heat exchanger 10 is used to exchange heat between the cooling medium and the environment to cool the cooling medium to the first target temperature. The first delivery pipeline 6 is used to deliver the cooling medium at the first target temperature output from the refrigeration unit 1 or the first heat exchanger 10 to the cooling medium channel of the injection molding machine mold. The first return pipeline 7 is used to allow the cooling medium to flow back from the injection molding machine mold to the refrigeration unit 1 or the first heat exchanger 10. The switching valve assembly 100 is used to switch the first output pipeline 6 and the first return pipeline 7 to connect to the refrigeration unit 1 or the first heat exchanger 10.

[0031] The cooling medium can be water, or other types of fluids suitable for heat exchange, such as ethylene glycol or fluorinated liquids. When the cooling medium is water, the cooling medium at the first target temperature can also be called chilled water. For ease of description, a cooling medium with a lower input temperature to the equipment being cooled can be called a low-temperature cooling medium, and a cooling medium with a higher output temperature from the equipment being cooled can be called a high-temperature cooling medium.

[0032] Specifically, the refrigeration equipment includes a refrigerant circulation pipeline and components such as a compressor, condenser, expansion valve, and evaporator sequentially arranged along the pipeline. During operation, the compressor drives the refrigerant to circulate and undergo phase change within the pipeline. In the evaporator, the refrigerant absorbs heat as it changes from a liquid to a gaseous state; in the condenser, it releases heat as it changes from a gaseous to a liquid state. This heat transfer occurs from the evaporator to the condenser through the refrigerant's circulation. The evaporator also has a cooling medium channel; introducing a high-temperature cooling medium into this channel allows for heat exchange with the refrigerant, resulting in a low-temperature cooling medium. Similarly, the condenser has a cooling medium channel; introducing a low-temperature cooling medium into this channel allows for heat exchange with the refrigerant, removing heat from the condenser. When the cooling medium is water, the refrigeration equipment 1 can be a chiller / water chiller.

[0033] The first heat exchanger 10 cools the cooling medium by exchanging heat between the cooling medium and the environment; therefore, its cooling capacity is related to the ambient temperature. Generally, the cooling capacity of a heat exchanger is weaker than that of a refrigeration unit, but the lower the ambient temperature, the lower the temperature of the cooling medium that the heat exchanger can output. Therefore, when the ambient temperature is sufficiently low, the heat exchanger can also be used to output a cooling medium at the target temperature, and the energy consumption for cooling the medium through the heat exchanger is significantly lower than that of a refrigeration unit. In low-temperature environments, the first heat exchanger 10 can replace the refrigeration unit 1, shutting down the refrigeration unit 1 and outputting the low-temperature cooling medium through the first heat exchanger 10. This reduces the power consumption of the injection molding cooling system while ensuring normal output of the low-temperature cooling medium. When the cooling medium is water, the first heat exchanger 10 can be a cooling tower.

[0034] The switching valve assembly 100 has a first operating state and a second operating state. When the ambient temperature is higher than the preset temperature, the switching valve assembly 100 switches to the first operating state, connecting the first delivery pipeline 6 and the first return pipeline 7 to the refrigeration equipment 1, thereby cooling the cooling medium through the refrigeration equipment 1. When the ambient temperature is lower than the preset temperature, the switching valve assembly 100 switches to the second operating state, connecting the first delivery pipeline 6 and the first return pipeline 7 to the first heat exchanger 10, thereby cooling the cooling medium through the first heat exchanger 10. The first operating state can also be referred to as the high-temperature operating state, and the second operating state can also be referred to as the low-temperature operating state.

[0035] The preset temperature is less than or equal to the first target temperature, and those skilled in the art can set the preset temperature according to the actual situation. For example, if the working temperature of a mold is 25°C, a cooling medium at 25°C needs to be introduced into the mold during the injection molding process, meaning the first target temperature is 25°C. Those skilled in the art can set the preset temperature to be equal to the first target temperature, i.e., the preset temperature is also 25°C. Thus, when the ambient temperature is greater than 25°C, the switching valve group 100 switches to the first working state, and the refrigeration device 1 cools the cooling medium to the first target temperature. When the ambient temperature is less than 25°C, the switching valve group 100 switches to the second working state, and the first heat exchange device 10 cools the cooling medium to the first target temperature.

[0036] The switching valve assembly 100 includes a first switching valve assembly and a second switching valve assembly. A first delivery line 6 is selectively connected to the evaporator of the refrigeration equipment 1 and / or the first heat exchanger 10 via the first switching valve assembly. A first return line 7 is selectively connected to the evaporator of the refrigeration equipment 1 and / or the first heat exchanger 10 via the second switching valve assembly. Specifically, the first switching valve assembly includes a first valve body 2 and a second valve body 11, and the second switching valve assembly includes a third valve body 8 and a fourth valve body 12. The first delivery line 6 is connected to the output end of the evaporator of the refrigeration equipment 1 via the first valve body 2, and to the output end of the first heat exchanger 10 via the second valve body 11. The first return line 7 is connected to the input end of the evaporator of the refrigeration equipment 1 via the third valve body 8, and to the input end of the first heat exchanger 10 via the fourth valve body 12.

[0037] When the switching valve assembly 100 is in its first working state, the first valve body 2 and the third valve body 8 are open, while the second valve body 11 and the fourth valve body 12 are closed. At this time, the refrigeration equipment 1 delivers the low-temperature cooling medium at the first target temperature sequentially through the first valve body 2 and the first delivery pipeline 6 to the mold of the injection molding machine. After heat exchange within the mold, the low-temperature cooling medium transforms into a high-temperature cooling medium. The high-temperature cooling medium then flows back into the refrigeration equipment 1 sequentially through the first return pipeline 7 and the third valve body 8. The refrigeration equipment 1 then cools the high-temperature cooling medium to the first target temperature to obtain the low-temperature cooling medium, thus forming a cycle.

[0038] When the switching valve group 100 is in the second working state, the second valve body 11 and the fourth valve body 12 are open, and the first valve body 2 and the third valve body 8 are closed. At this time, the first heat exchange device 10 delivers the low-temperature cooling medium at the first target temperature to the injection molding machine mold through the second valve body 11 and the first delivery pipeline 6. After heat exchange in the mold, the low-temperature cooling medium is transformed into a high-temperature cooling medium. The high-temperature cooling medium flows back to the first heat exchange device 10 through the first return pipeline 7 and the fourth valve body 12. The first heat exchange device 10 then cools the high-temperature cooling medium to the first target temperature to obtain the low-temperature cooling medium, thus forming a cycle.

[0039] In other embodiments, the first switching valve group includes a first two-position three-way valve, which replaces the first valve body 2 and the second valve body 11. The output end of the first two-position three-way valve is connected to the first delivery pipeline 6, and the two input ends of the first two-position three-way valve are respectively connected to the refrigeration equipment 1 and the first heat exchange equipment 10. The first valve body 2 and the second valve body 11 are equivalent to two different fluid channels of the two-position three-way valve. Similarly, the second switching valve group includes a second two-position three-way valve, which replaces the third valve body 8 and the fourth valve body 12. That is, the input end of the second two-position three-way valve is connected to the first return pipeline 7, and the two output ends of the second two-position three-way valve are respectively connected to the refrigeration equipment 1 and the first heat exchange equipment 10. The third valve body 8 and the fourth valve body 12 are equivalent to two different fluid channels of the two-position three-way valve.

[0040] The switching valve assembly 100 also includes a fifth valve body 13 and a sixth valve body 16. The output end of the first heat exchange device 10 is connected to the input end of the condenser of the refrigeration device 1 through the fifth valve body 13, and the input end of the first heat exchange device 10 is connected to the output end of the condenser of the refrigeration device 1 through the sixth valve body 16.

[0041] When the switching valve group 100 is in the first working state, the fifth valve body 13 and the sixth valve body 16 are opened. The first heat exchange device 10 delivers the low-temperature cooling medium to the condenser of the refrigeration device 1 through the fifth valve body 13. After heat exchange with the condenser, the low-temperature cooling medium is converted into a high-temperature cooling medium. The high-temperature cooling medium flows back to the first heat exchange device 10 through the sixth valve body 16. The first heat exchange device 10 cools the high-temperature cooling medium again to obtain the low-temperature cooling medium, thereby forming a circulation of the cooling medium to cool the refrigeration device 1.

[0042] In other embodiments, the condenser of the refrigeration device 1 can also be cooled by air cooling. In this case, it is not necessary to cool the condenser of the refrigeration device 1 through the first heat exchange device 10, and therefore it is not necessary to set the fifth valve body 13 and the sixth valve body 16.

[0043] In a preferred embodiment, such as Figure 2As shown, the injection molding machine cooling system of this application also includes a control unit 25. The control unit 25 is electrically connected to each valve body of the switching valve group 100. The control unit 25 is used to control the switching valve group 100 to switch between a first working state and a second working state. Specifically, the control unit 25 is used to control the switching valve group 100 to switch to the first working state and start the refrigeration equipment 1 when the ambient temperature is higher than the preset temperature, and to control the switching valve group 100 to switch to the second working state and shut down the refrigeration equipment 1 to save energy when the ambient temperature is lower than the preset temperature. Specifically, the control unit 25 may include a controller and an instruction input module. The controller is electrically connected to each valve body of the switching valve group 100, and the instruction input module is electrically connected to the controller. The instruction input module may include buttons, a keyboard, a touch screen, etc. The operator can input control instructions to the controller through the instruction input module. The controller controls the opening and closing of each valve body of the switching valve group 100 according to the received control instructions, thereby realizing the switching of the working state of the switching valve group 100. The operator does not need to directly operate each valve body, which is simple to operate and avoids the impact of temperature fluctuations caused by manual switching errors on product quality. Among them, control unit 25 is the control unit of the entire cooling system.

[0044] In a preferred embodiment, such as Figure 2 As shown, it also includes an ambient temperature sensor 26 electrically connected to the control unit 25. The control unit 25 is used to detect the ambient temperature through the ambient temperature sensor 26, to control the switching valve group 100 to switch to a first working state when the ambient temperature is higher than a preset temperature, and to control the switching valve group 100 to switch to a second working state when the ambient temperature is lower than the preset temperature, thereby realizing fully automated control. The ambient temperature sensor 26 is located outside the injection molding machine to detect the ambient temperature outside the injection molding machine.

[0045] In a preferred embodiment, such as Figure 1 As shown, the injection molding machine cooling system also includes a first container 3, a first delivery pipe 6 connected to the refrigeration equipment 1 via the first container 3 and the first valve body 2, the first container 3 connected to the evaporator of the refrigeration equipment 1 via the first valve body 2, the first delivery pipe 6 connected to the first container 3, and a first return pipe 7 connected to the refrigeration equipment 1 via the third valve body 8 and the first container 3. To achieve the circulation and output of the cooling medium, a first circulation pump 9 is also provided on the pipe between the refrigeration equipment 1 and the first container 3, and a first output pump 4 is also provided between the first delivery pipe 6 and the first container 3.

[0046] Therefore, when the switching valve assembly 100 is in its first operating state, the first container 3 contains a cooling medium. The first circulating pump 9 delivers the cooling medium from the first container 3 to the refrigeration equipment 1. The refrigeration equipment 1 cools the cooling medium to the first target temperature and then delivers it back to the first container 3, thus forming a cycle to ensure that the cooling medium in the first container 3 reaches and maintains the first target temperature. On the other hand, the first output pump 4 delivers the low-temperature cooling medium at the first target temperature from the first container 3 to the mold of the injection molding machine through the first delivery pipeline 6. After heat exchange in the mold, the low-temperature cooling medium is converted into a high-temperature cooling medium. The high-temperature cooling medium then flows back to the first container 3 through the first return pipeline 7 to be cooled again. Thus, during the operation of the refrigeration equipment 1, the temperature difference between its input and output cooling media is small, and the flow rate of the cooling media input and output to the refrigeration equipment is not affected by changes in the flow rate required by the mold. Therefore, the refrigeration equipment 1 can maintain a stable operating state, ensuring that the output cooling medium remains stable at the first target temperature. Furthermore, the cooling medium contained in the first container 3 also acts as a buffer, reducing temperature fluctuations in the cooling medium output to the mold.

[0047] In a preferred embodiment, the first container 3 is an insulated container to prevent heat exchange between the cooling medium inside the first container 3 and the external environment, which could cause a change in the temperature of the cooling medium delivered to the injection mold. Specifically, the outer shell of the first container 3 has a double-layer structure to prevent heat exchange between the cooling medium inside the first container 3 and the external environment.

[0048] In other embodiments, other types of containers may be provided to reduce temperature fluctuations of the output cooling medium. For example, containers for containing the cooling medium may be provided between the first return pipe 7 and the refrigeration device 1 and between the first delivery pipe 86 and the refrigeration device 1, respectively.

[0049] To ensure stable operation of the equipment, in a preferred embodiment, the first circulation pump 9 includes multiple pumps, such as two, connected in parallel. This ensures that if one of the first circulation pumps 9 fails, the others can still be started to maintain the circulation of the cooling medium between the refrigeration device 1 and the first container 3. Similarly, the first output pump 4 also includes multiple pumps, such as two, connected in parallel. This ensures that if one of the first output pumps 4 fails, the others can still be started to maintain the output of the cooling medium.

[0050] like Figure 1 and Figure 2As shown, the injection molding machine cooling system of this application also includes a first pressure sensor 5, which is installed on the first delivery pipeline 6. The first output pump 4 is a variable frequency pump, which is electrically connected to the control unit 25 via a frequency converter. The first pressure sensor 5 is also electrically connected to the control unit 25. Therefore, the control unit 25 detects the pressure of the cooling medium output from the first delivery pipeline 6 through the first pressure sensor 5 and compares the detected pressure with a preset pressure. If the detected pressure is lower or higher than the preset pressure, the control unit 25 adjusts the speed of the first output pump 4 via the frequency converter, thereby adjusting the pressure of the cooling medium output from the first delivery pipeline 6. When the pressure detected by the first pressure sensor 5 reaches the set pressure, the control unit 25 controls the first output pump 4 to enter idle operation to achieve energy-saving and constant pressure.

[0051] In a preferred embodiment, the injection molding machine cooling system further includes a second container 14 and a second circulation pump 15. The output end of the first heat exchange device 10 is connected to the refrigeration device 1 in sequence through a fifth valve body 13, the second container 14, and the second circulation pump 15. Thus, when the switching valve group 100 is in the first working state, the first heat exchange device 10 delivers the low-temperature cooling medium through the fifth valve body 13 to the second container 14, and the second circulation pump 15 delivers the low-temperature cooling medium in the second container 14 to the condenser of the refrigeration device 1 for heat exchange to cool the condenser. The cooling medium after heat exchange flows back to the first heat exchange device 10 through the sixth valve body 16, and the first heat exchange device 10 cools the cooling medium again, thereby forming a cycle.

[0052] During the injection molding process, the injection molding equipment requires cooling media of various temperatures. Therefore, in a preferred embodiment, the injection molding machine cooling system further includes a second heat exchanger 17, a second delivery pipeline 20, and a second return pipeline 21. The second heat exchanger 17 is used to exchange heat between the cooling medium and the environment to cool the cooling medium to a second target temperature. The second delivery pipeline 20 is connected to the output end of the second heat exchanger 17 via a second container 14, and is used to deliver the cooling medium at the second target temperature to the cooling medium channel of the injection molding machine. The second return pipeline 21 is connected to the input end of the second heat exchanger 17, and is used to return the cooling medium from the injection molding machine to the second heat exchanger 17. To deliver the cooling medium to the injection molding machine, a second output pump 18 is provided between the second container 14 and the second delivery pipeline 20. The second target temperature is greater than the first target temperature. The cooling medium passing through the second heat exchanger 17 is the same as the cooling medium passing through the refrigeration equipment 1 and the first heat exchanger 10. When the cooling medium is water, the cooling medium at the second target temperature can also be called cooling water. The second heat exchanger 17 can also be a cooling water tower.

[0053] Thus, the low-temperature cooling medium at the second target temperature generated by the second heat exchanger 17 is delivered to the second container 14, and the second output pump 18 delivers the low-temperature cooling medium to the injection molding equipment through the second delivery pipeline 20. After heat exchange with the injection molding equipment, the low-temperature cooling medium becomes a high-temperature cooling medium. The high-temperature cooling medium flows back to the second heat exchanger 17 through the second return pipeline 21 for cooling, thereby forming a cycle.

[0054] like Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, the injection molding machine cooling system of this application also includes a second pressure sensor 19, which is installed on the second delivery pipeline 20. The second output pump 18 is a variable frequency pump, which is electrically connected to the control unit 25 via a frequency converter. The second pressure sensor 19 is also electrically connected to the control unit 25. Therefore, the control unit 25 detects the pressure of the cooling medium output from the second delivery pipeline 20 through the second pressure sensor 19 and compares the detected pressure with a preset pressure. If the detected pressure is lower or higher than the preset pressure, the control unit adjusts the speed of the second output pump 18 via the frequency converter, thereby adjusting the pressure of the cooling medium output from the second delivery pipeline 20. When the pressure detected by the second pressure sensor 19 reaches the set pressure, the control unit 25 controls the second output pump 18 to enter idle operation to achieve energy-saving constant pressure.

[0055] In a preferred embodiment, such as Figure 1 As shown, the system also includes a standby pump 22, a first control valve 23, and a second control valve 24. The input end of the standby pump 22 is connected to the second container 14, and the output end of the standby pump 22 is connected to the input end of the condenser of the refrigeration equipment 1 through the first control valve 23 and to the second delivery pipeline 20 through the second control valve 24. When the second circulation pump 15 fails, the first control valve 23 is opened and the second control valve 24 is closed, allowing the standby pump 22 to replace the second circulation pump 15. When the second output pump 18 fails, the first control valve 23 is closed and the second control valve 24 is opened, allowing the standby pump 22 to replace the second output pump 18. Therefore, the standby pump 22 can serve as a backup for both the second circulation pump 15 and the second output pump 18, eliminating the need for separate standby pumps for each, thus ensuring equipment redundancy and saving equipment costs.

[0056] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the system configuration of the switching valve group can adopt six winter-summer energy-saving switching valve bodies, multiple sets of output pumps adopt pipeline pumps, the first container adopts a stainless steel double-layer insulated water tank, the second container adopts a stainless steel single-layer square water tank, the refrigeration equipment, the first heat exchange equipment and the second heat exchange equipment are set on the steel structure support platform of the water tower, and are equipped with ambient temperature sensors and pressure sensors. The pumps supporting the refrigeration equipment, such as the first circulation pump and the second circulation pump, adopt power frequency control, and the pumps supplying water to the injection molding machine, such as the first output pump and the second output pump, adopt frequency conversion control.

[0057] This system supports two working modes: manual valve and electric valve. It can prioritize setting 25℃ as the preset temperature threshold for determining ambient temperature, and this preset ambient temperature threshold can be flexibly adjusted according to actual production conditions.

[0058] The entire set of equipment adopts a compact layout. The control unit controls the switching valve group to drive the switching of the conveying and return pipelines without stopping the whole machine, ensuring continuous production. At the same time, the pressure sensors in the conveying and return pipelines monitor the medium pressure in real time. When the pipeline pressure reaches the set value, the variable frequency pipeline pump automatically switches to idle speed to achieve constant pressure and secondary energy saving. The stainless steel double-layer insulated water tank used in the first container can effectively stabilize the temperature of the cooling medium and avoid temperature fluctuations caused by pipeline switching.

[0059] In a prior art injection molding machine cooling system, the power of the first and second circulating pumps is 22 kW, the power of the second first and second output pumps is 37 kW, and the power of the refrigeration equipment is 112 kW. The total power of the system can be calculated as 37 × 2 + 22 × 2 + 112 = 230 kW. The annual power consumption of the injection molding machine cooling system is 230 × 24 × 30 × 12 = 1,987,200 kWh.

[0060] If the existing technology is modified into the injection molding machine cooling system of this application, when the ambient temperature is higher than the preset temperature (high-temperature working state), the total system power = 37 × 0.7 × 2 + 22 × 2 + 112 = 207.8 kW. When the ambient temperature is lower than the preset temperature (low-temperature working state), the first circulation pump, the second circulation pump, and the refrigeration equipment all stop operating, while the first output pump and the second output pump continue to operate, and the total system power = 37 × 0.7 × 2 = 51.8 kW. Taking a preset temperature of 25℃ as an example, according to the temperature in central China, the duration of high-temperature working state (ambient temperature > 25℃) is 8 months per year, and the duration of low-temperature working state (ambient temperature < 25℃) is 4 months per year. Therefore, the annual power consumption of this system = 207.8 × 24 × 30 × 8 + 51.8 × 24 × 30 × 4 = 1,346,112 kWh.

[0061] Further calculations show that the annual power consumption of the injection molding machine cooling system of this application is only 67.7% of that of the prior art, which significantly reduces power consumption.

[0062] On the other hand, this application also provides an injection molding machine, which includes an injection mold, an injection molding machine body, and the aforementioned injection molding machine cooling system. The injection mold is mounted on the injection molding machine body, and a first cooling medium channel for cooling the injection molding mold is provided inside the injection molding mold. A second cooling medium channel for cooling the injection molding machine body is provided inside the injection molding machine body. The injection molding machine cooling system is connected to the first cooling medium channel through a first delivery pipe 6 and a first return pipe 7, and is connected to the second cooling medium channel through a second delivery pipe 20 and a second return pipe 21.

[0063] Finally, it should be noted that the above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of the present invention, and not to limit them; although the present invention has been described in detail with reference to the foregoing embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that modifications can still be made to the technical solutions described in the foregoing embodiments, or equivalent substitutions can be made to some of the technical features; and these modifications or substitutions do not cause the essence of the corresponding technical solutions to deviate from the spirit and scope of the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention.

Claims

1. A cooling system for an injection molding machine, characterized in that: It includes refrigeration equipment, a first heat exchanger, a second heat exchanger, a first delivery pipeline, a first return pipeline, a second delivery pipeline, a second return pipeline, a switching valve assembly, an ambient temperature sensor, and a control unit; The refrigeration equipment uses a refrigerant for cooling, and the refrigeration equipment is used to cool the cooling medium to a first target temperature; The first heat exchange device is used to exchange heat between the cooling medium and the environment, and to cool the cooling medium to a first target temperature; The second heat exchanger is used to exchange heat between the cooling medium and the environment, cooling the cooling medium to a second target temperature; the second target temperature is higher than the first target temperature. The first delivery pipeline is used to deliver the cooling medium at the first target temperature to the cooling medium channel of the mold; the first return pipeline is used to allow the cooling medium to flow back from the mold to the refrigeration equipment or the first heat exchange equipment; The second delivery pipeline is used to deliver the cooling medium at the second target temperature to the cooling medium channel of the injection molding machine; the second return pipeline is used to return the cooling medium from the injection molding machine to the second heat exchanger. The switching valve group has a first operating state and a second operating state; The ambient temperature sensor is located outside the injection molding machine and is used to detect the external ambient temperature; The control unit is electrically connected to the refrigeration equipment, the switching valve group, and the ambient temperature sensor, and obtains the ambient temperature through the ambient temperature sensor; the control unit has a preset temperature, which is lower than or equal to the first target temperature. When the ambient temperature is higher than the preset temperature, the control unit controls the switching valve group to switch to the first working state and starts the refrigeration equipment, so that the first delivery pipeline and the first return pipeline are connected to the refrigeration equipment; When the ambient temperature is lower than the preset temperature, the control unit controls the switching valve group to switch to the second working state and shuts down the refrigeration equipment, so that the first delivery pipeline, the first return pipeline and the first heat exchange equipment are connected.

2. The injection molding machine cooling system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The switching valve group includes a first valve body, a second valve body, a third valve body, and a fourth valve body; the first delivery pipeline is connected to the refrigeration equipment through the first valve body and to the first heat exchange equipment through the second valve body; the first return pipeline is connected to the refrigeration equipment through the third valve body and to the first heat exchange equipment through the fourth valve body. When the switching valve group is in the first working state, the first valve body and the third valve body are open, and the second valve body and the fourth valve body are closed; when the switching valve group is in the second working state, the second valve body and the fourth valve body are open, and the first valve body and the third valve body are closed.

3. The injection molding machine cooling system according to claim 2, characterized in that, It also includes a first container, the first delivery pipeline is connected to the refrigeration equipment in sequence through the first container and the first valve body, the first container is connected to the evaporator of the refrigeration equipment through the first valve body, the first delivery pipeline is connected to the first container, and the first return pipeline is connected to the refrigeration equipment in sequence through the third valve body and the first container; A first circulation pump is also provided on the pipeline between the refrigeration equipment and the first container, and a first output pump is also provided between the first delivery pipeline and the first container.

4. The injection molding machine cooling system according to claim 3, characterized in that, It also includes a first pressure sensor, which is disposed on the first delivery pipeline and electrically connected to the control unit; the control unit is used to control the first output pump according to the detection value of the first pressure sensor.

5. The injection molding machine cooling system according to claim 1, characterized in that, When the switching valve group is in the first working state, it is also used to connect the first heat exchange device with the refrigeration device, so that the cooling medium circulates between the first heat exchange device and the refrigeration device to cool the refrigeration device.

6. The injection molding machine cooling system according to claim 5, characterized in that, The switching valve group includes a fifth valve body and a sixth valve body. The output end of the first heat exchanger is connected to the refrigeration equipment through the fifth valve body, and the input end of the first heat exchanger is connected to the refrigeration equipment through the sixth valve body. When the switching valve group is in the first working state, the fifth valve body and the sixth valve body are open; when the switching valve group is in the second working state, the fifth valve body and the sixth valve body are closed.

7. The injection molding machine cooling system according to claim 6, characterized in that, It also includes a second container and a second circulation pump, and the output end of the first heat exchanger is connected to the refrigeration equipment in sequence through the fifth valve body, the second container and the second circulation pump.

8. The injection molding machine cooling system according to claim 7, characterized in that, It also includes a second output pump, and the second delivery pipeline is connected to the second heat exchanger via the second output pump and the second container in sequence. The second delivery pipeline is connected to the second container via the second output pump, and the second container is connected to the output end of the second heat exchanger.

9. The injection molding machine cooling system according to claim 8, characterized in that, It also includes a second pressure sensor, which is disposed on the second delivery pipeline and electrically connected to the control unit; the control unit is used to control the second output pump according to the detection value of the second pressure sensor.

10. An injection molding machine, characterized in that, Includes an injection mold, an injection molding machine body, and the injection molding machine cooling system as described in any one of claims 1-9; The injection mold is provided with a first cooling medium channel, which is used to cool the injection mold; the injection mold is installed on the injection molding machine body; The injection molding machine body is provided with a second cooling medium channel, which is used to cool the injection molding machine body. The injection molding machine cooling system is connected to the first cooling medium channel through the first delivery pipeline and the first return pipeline, and is connected to the second cooling medium channel through the second delivery pipeline and the second return pipeline.

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