INJECTION MOLDING MACHINE, CONTROL DEVICE AND PROGRAM

Abstract

An object is to control supply of a molding material (M) based on an amount of the molding material used in a molding cycle of a molded product, thereby suppressing supply of unnecessary molding material in a production process of the molded product in an injection molding machine (10).An injection molding machine (10) comprises: an injection unit (20) that injects a molding material (M) into a mold (31) for a molded product; and a control device (100) that controls supply of the molding material (M) to the injection unit (20), wherein the control device (100) sets the number of executions before stop, which is the number of molding cycles to be executed before stopping one execution of the molding cycle, based on the number of executions of molding cycles executable using the molding material (M) held in the injection unit (20), and stops the supply of the molding material (M) to the injection unit (20) at a time point traced back from when the molding cycle is stopped by the number of executions before stop.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONField of the invention

[0001] The present invention relates to an injection molding machine, a control device and a program.

[0002] Priority is claimed on the basis of Japanese Patent Application No. 2023-197661 filed in Japan on November 21, 2023, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. Description of the state of the art

[0003] In an injection molding machine, a process of discharging a molding material remaining inside the injection molding machine used to produce a molded product is performed when the molded product or the molding material such as resin is changed.

[0004] Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2021-160275 discloses an injection molding machine including a mold clamping / clamping unit to which a mold unit is attached and a control unit. The control unit performs other setup operations such as adjusting a mold clamping / clamping force by adjusting a mold thickness of the mold clamping / clamping unit according to a next mold unit during replacement of the mold unit attached to the mold clamping / clamping unit, discharging a molding material from an injection unit during replacement of the mold unit, and starting temperature control of the next mold unit during replacement of the mold unit. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] Since the mold material to be discharged is not necessary for the production of the molded product, it is desirable to reduce the amount of mold material to be discharged as much as possible. To reduce the amount of mold material to be discharged, it is necessary to stop the supply of mold material at an appropriate time during a molded product production process.

[0006] The present invention has an object to control the supply of the molding material based on an amount of the molding material used, thereby suppressing the supply of an unnecessary molding material in the production process of the molded product in an injection molding machine.

[0007] There is provided, according to one aspect of the present invention, an injection molding machine comprising: an injection unit that injects a molding material into a mold for a molded product; and a control device that controls supply of the molding material to the injection unit, wherein the control device sets a pre-stop operation volume representing a volume of operation of the injection unit to be performed before stopping the operation of the injection unit performed for producing the molded product, based on a parameter for specifying the number of molded products producible using the molding material held in the injection unit, and stops the supply of the molding material to the injection unit at a time point traced back from when the operation of the injection unit (20) is stopped by the pre-stop operation volume.

[0008] According to one aspect of the present invention, it is possible to control the supply of the molding material based on the amount of the molding material used, thereby suppressing the supply of the unnecessary molding material in the production process of the molded product in the injection molding machine. SHORT DESCRIPTION OF THE CHARACTERS Fig. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of an injection molding machine to which the present embodiment is applied. Fig. 2 is a diagram showing a configuration of a control device. Fig. 3 is a diagram showing a configuration of a data processing apparatus. Fig. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a hardware configuration of the control device and the data processing device. Fig. 5 is a diagram showing a configuration of an injection unit. Fig. 6 is a diagram showing a state in which the injection unit holds a molding material. Fig. 7 is a flowchart showing control of supply of the molding material to the injection unit. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. <vorrichtungskonfiguration>

[0010] Fig. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of an injection molding machine to which the present embodiment is applied. An injection molding machine 10 includes an injection unit 20, a mold closing / clamping unit 30, a control device 100, and a data processing device 200.

[0011] The injection unit 20 is configured to include a cylinder that heats a molding material, a screw provided to be rotatable within the cylinder and move back and forth in an axial direction, a rotary motor that drives the screw in a rotational direction, a motor that drives the screw in the axial direction, and the like. Details of a configuration of the injection unit 20 will be described later. The molding material is, for example, resin. The injection unit 20 injects the molding material that has been heated and liquefied within the cylinder by moving the screw forward from the injection unit 20 toward the mold closing / clamping unit 30 in a forward direction while rotating the screw, and fills a mold of the mold closing / clamping unit 30 positioned in front of the injection unit 20.In a production process of a molded product, for example, the injection unit 20 performs a plasticizing process, a filling process, and a pressure-holding process. The filling process and the pressure-holding process may be collectively referred to as an injection process.

[0012] The mold clamping / clamping unit 30 is configured to include a mold, a clamping / clamping mechanism that clamps / clamps the mold, a motor that drives the clamping / clamping mechanism, and the like. The mold clamping / clamping unit 30 closes the mold to receive the molding material injected into the mold from the injection unit 20. Here, the mold clamping / clamping unit 30 clamps the mold using the clamping / clamping mechanism to prevent the mold from opening due to filling of the molding material (mold clamping / clamping). By solidifying the molding material filled in the mold, the molded product is produced. After that, the mold clamping / clamping unit 30 opens the mold, allowing the molded product to be removed.In the production process of the molded product, the mold closing / clamping unit 30 performs, for example, a mold closing process, a pressurizing process, a mold closing / clamping process, a pressure releasing process, a mold opening process, and the like.

[0013] The control device 100 is a device that controls operations of the injection unit 20 and the mold closing / clamping unit 30. The data processing device 200 is a device that processes data obtained with the operations of the injection unit 20 and the mold closing / clamping unit 30. Although not shown, the control device 100 and the data processing device 200 are equipped with an input unit operated by a user to input instructions or data, and a display unit that displays various screens, such as an operation screen and an information presentation screen. <Konfiguration von Steuervorrichtung 100>

[0014] Fig. 2 is a diagram showing a configuration of the control device 100. The control device 100 controls the operations of the injection unit 20 and the mold closing / clamping unit 30. The control device 100 is implemented, for example, by a computer. The control device 100 includes a control unit 110, a molding condition setting unit 120, and a storage unit 130. The control device 100 controls the injection unit 20 and the mold closing / clamping unit 30 to repeatedly perform processes related to the production of the molded product, thereby repeatedly producing the molded product. The processes related to the production of the molded product include a plasticizing process, a mold closing process, a pressurizing process, a mold closing / clamping process, a filling process, a pressure-holding process, a cooling process, a pressure-relieving process, a mold opening process, an ejection process, and the like.Hereinafter, these processes related to production may be collectively referred to as the "production process." Furthermore, a series of operations for obtaining the molded product, for example, the operations from the start of the plasticizing process in the production process to the start of the next plasticizing process, are referred to as a "shot" or a "molding cycle." The processes for producing the molded product described above are merely examples. For example, processes other than those mentioned above may also be included in one shot.

[0015] The control unit 110 controls the injection unit 20 and the mold closing / clamping unit 30 based on control information.

[0016] The control information includes user-set conditions and fixed conditions. For example, the user-set conditions are generated based on information input by the user using the input unit (not shown). For example, the control information includes molding conditions such as a cylinder temperature (resin temperature), a mold temperature, an injection pressure holding time, a plasticizing value, a VP switching position, a holding pressure, an injection speed (filling speed), a screw rotational speed, a screw back pressure, and a mold closing / clamping force. Several combinations of these molding conditions are determined depending on the molded product or the mold. Hereinafter, combination data of the molding conditions may be referred to as a molding condition data set.The molding condition data set is prepared in accordance with the type of the molded product or mold and is stored in the storage unit 130.

[0017] The control unit 110 uses the above-described molding condition data set to control the injection unit 20 and the mold closing / clamping unit 30, and executes processes related to the production (shot) of the molded product, including the above-described processes. For example, at the start of producing the molded product, the control unit 110 reads a molding condition data set corresponding to the molded product to be produced from the storage unit 130. The control unit 110 then controls the operations of the injection unit 20 and the mold closing / clamping unit 30 based on the control information including the read molding condition data set. Specifically, the control unit 110 controls the injection unit 20 and the mold closing / clamping unit 30 so that the data obtained by the injection unit 20 and the mold closing / clamping unit 30 during the production process agree with setting values ​​of the molding condition data set.

[0018] The molding condition setting unit 120 sets the molding conditions used in controlling the injection unit 20 and the mold closing / clamping unit 30 through the control unit 110. The setting of the molding conditions is performed by the molding condition setting unit 120, which writes the molding condition data into the control information stored in the storage unit 130. Furthermore, the setting of the molding conditions is performed based on information input by the user using an input screen to be described later. When the production process of the molded product is repeated, the states of the injection unit 20 and the mold closing / clamping unit 30 change, and the change in the states of the injection unit 20 and the mold closing / clamping unit 30 affects a quality of the molded product (hereinafter referred to as a "molding quality").Therefore, in order to maintain the molding quality in operations during mass production of the molded products, the molding condition setting unit 120 can automatically adjust the molding conditions.

[0019] The storage unit 130 stores the control information used by the control unit 110 to control the injection unit 20 and the mold closing / clamping unit 30. The control information includes the molding condition data set by the molding condition setting unit 120. The molding condition data set is prepared in association with the molded product or mold to be produced. The storage unit 130 stores a molding condition data set for each molded product to be produced or for each mold. In addition, the storage unit 130 stores information about the molding conditions input by the user. The molding condition setting unit 120 writes the molding condition data set into the control information based on the information stored in the storage unit 130.

[0020] In addition, although not shown, the storage unit 130 contains a program for the control unit 110 to control the injection unit 20 and the mold closing / clamping unit 30, as well as a program for the molding condition setting unit 120 to set the molding conditions. Functions of the control unit 110 and the molding condition setting unit 120 are implemented by a processor of the control device 100, which reads and executes the program stored in the storage unit 130, as described in detail later. <Konfiguration von Datenverarbeitungsvorrichtung 200>

[0021] Fig. 3 is a diagram showing a configuration of the data processing device 200. The data processing device 200 acquires and processes data obtained when the injection unit 20 and the mold closing / clamping unit 30 perform operations in the processes related to the production of the molded product. Furthermore, the data processing device 200 receives an input operation from the user to generate information used by the molding condition setting unit 120 of the control device 100 to set the molding conditions, and transmits this information to the control device 100. The data processing device 200 is implemented, for example, by a computer. The data processing device 200 includes a data acquisition unit 210, a processing unit 220, and a storage unit 230.

[0022] The data acquisition unit 210 acquires data to be processed from the injection unit 20 and the mold closing / clamping unit 30. Various sensors, detectors, and the like are mounted on the injection unit 20 and the mold closing / clamping unit 30. Furthermore, various measuring instruments may also be connected to the injection unit 20 or the mold closing / clamping unit 30.

[0023] Data acquired using these sensors, detectors, and measuring instruments (hereinafter referred to as "acquisition data") is information representing molding results from the injection unit 20 and the mold closing / clamping unit 30, and is used for quality control of molded products. Specifically, the data includes, for example, a weight of the molded product, dimensions of the molded product, a mold cavity pressure, a minimum buffer position, characteristics of a filling pressure waveform, and the like. The acquisition data is an actual value obtained during the production process of the molded product. The data acquisition unit 210 receives the acquisition data transmitted from the sensors, detectors, or measuring instruments and stores the acquisition data in the storage unit 230.

[0024] The processing unit 220 processes the acquisition data stored in the storage unit 230. Specifically, the processing unit 220 performs processing such as extracting a representative value of the acquisition data at each process and generating time series data in which the acquisition data is temporally ordered at each process. When extracting the representative value, the processing unit 220 performs statistical processing on the acquisition data, such as calculating an average value, specifying a possible range of values, and identifying maximum and minimum values.

[0025] The storage unit 230 stores the acquisition data acquired by the data acquisition unit 210. For example, binary, text, comma-separated values ​​(CSV), INI, YAML (not Markup Language), JavaScript Object Notation (JSON), or the like can be used as a data format for the acquisition data stored in the storage unit 230. Data files using these general-purpose data formats make it possible to exchange a data file stored in the storage unit 230 with another information processing device or to edit a data file acquired by an external device.

[0026] In addition, although not shown, the storage unit 230 stores a program for executing data processing by the processing unit 220. The function of the processing unit 220 is implemented by the processor reading and executing the program held in the storage unit 230 in the data processing apparatus 200, as will be described in detail later. <Hardwarekonfiguration von Steuervorrichtung 100 und Datenverarbeitungsvorrichtung 200>

[0027] Fig. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a hardware configuration of a computer 400 that implements the control device 100 and the data processing device 200. The Fig. The computer 400 shown in Figure 4 includes a processor 401 as a computing unit, a main storage device (main memory) 402, and an auxiliary storage device 403 as storage means. For example, the processor 401 may be a central processing unit (CPU), a graphics processing unit (GPU), an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a field-programmable gate array (FPGA), or various other computing circuits. The processor 401 reads the program stored in the auxiliary storage device 403 into the main storage device 402 and executes the program. For example, random access memory (RAM) is used as the main storage device 402. For example, a magnetic disk device or a solid-state drive (SSD) is used as the auxiliary storage device 403.Furthermore, the computer 400 is connected to a display unit 404 for displaying images and to an input unit 405 as an input means to which an input operation is performed by a user of the computer. For example, a keyboard or a mouse is used as the input unit 405. Furthermore, a display unit 404 shown in FIG. Fig. 4 is merely an example, and the computer 400 used in the present embodiment is not limited to the configuration example of Fig. 4. For example, a non-volatile memory such as flash memory or read-only memory (ROM) may be provided as the storage device.

[0028] In a case where the control device 100 is controlled by the Fig. 4, the functions of the control unit 110 and the mold condition setting unit 120 are implemented, for example, by the processor 401, which reads and executes a program. The storage unit 130 is realized, for example, by the auxiliary storage device 403.

[0029] In a case where the data processing device 200 is controlled by the Fig. 4, the functions of the data acquisition unit 210 and the processing unit 220 are implemented, for example, by the processor 401, which reads and executes a program. The storage unit 230 is implemented, for example, by the auxiliary storage device 403. <Zufuhr und Einspritzung von Formmaterial bei Einspritzprozess>

[0030] Next, the supply and injection of the molding material in the injection process will be described. First, the configurations of a cylinder, a screw, and a hopper responsible for injecting the molding material in the injection unit 20 will be described, and then the operations of these configurations during the injection process will be described.

[0031] Fig. 5 shows the configuration of the injection unit 20. The injection unit 20 includes a cylinder 21, a screw 22 provided within the cylinder 21, and a motor 23 that drives the screw 22. Furthermore, the injection unit 20 includes a hopper 24 for supplying the molding material into the cylinder 21, a heater 25 for heating and melting the molding material in the cylinder 21, and a backflow prevention valve 26 for preventing the liquid molding material from flowing back within the cylinder 21.

[0032] Fig. 6 is a diagram showing a state in which the injection unit 20 holds the molding material. The hopper 24 stores a pellet-shaped molding material M. In the injection unit 20, when the motor 23 rotates the screw 22, the molding material M is fed forward from the hopper 24 along a groove of the screw 22 in the cylinder 21. The molding material M is heated by the heater 25 while moving along the groove of the screw 22 and is melted to become liquid. Thereafter, when the motor 23 drives the screw 22 to move it forward in the cylinder 21, the liquid molding material M accumulated on a front side in the cylinder 21 is injected and fills the inside of the mold 31 (see Fig. 5). The molding material M is fed to the hopper 24 by a material feed device 500.

[0033] The backflow prevention valve 26, provided near a tip portion of the screw 22, is configured to open when the screw 22 rotates to feed the molding material M forward in the cylinder 21 and to seal when the screw 22 moves forward in the cylinder 21. Accordingly, when the injection unit 20 injects the molding material M, the molding material M is prevented from flowing back within the cylinder 21.

[0034] After the production of the molded product by the injection molding machine 10 is completed, the injection unit 20 discharges (ejects) the excess molding material M remaining within the cylinder 21. Here, an amount of the molding material M to be discharged is preferably small because the molding material M to be discharged is an unnecessary material that is not used to produce the molded product. Therefore, the supply of the molding material M is stopped at a stage before the end of the production process, and the remaining few shots of the molded products are produced using the molding material M remaining within the cylinder 21. Meanwhile, if a timing for stopping the supply of the molding material M is too early, the molding material M within the cylinder 21 may be exhausted before the production process ends, eventually leading to a situation where the number of shots for a production target cannot be achieved.The number of shots refers to the number of times a molding cycle is executed in the production of the molded product.

[0035] Therefore, in the present embodiment, the timing for stopping the supply of the molding material M is calculated based on an amount of the molding material M that can be accumulated in the cylinder 21 and the hopper 24 and an amount of the molding material M used for one shot, and the supply of the molding material M is controlled. The calculation of the timing for stopping the supply of the molding material M is performed, for example, by the data processing device 200. For example, the supply control of the molding material M is performed based on the calculated timing from the control device 100 by transmitting a control signal to the material supply device 500 to issue an instruction to start and stop the supply of the molding material M.Specifically, for example, the molding condition setting unit 120 of the control device 100 performs setting of the supply control of the molding material M in accordance with a calculation result of the timing for stopping the supply of the molding material M as one of the molding conditions, and the control unit 110 instructs the material supply device 500 to start and stop the supply of the molding material M in accordance with set contents. In this case, the molding condition setting unit 120 is an example of a setting unit, and the control unit 110 is an example of a stopping unit. <Bestimmung von Zeitpunkt zum Stoppen von Zufuhr von Formmaterial M>

[0036] The timing for stopping the supply of the molding material M is determined as follows. First, based on a maximum amount (full amount) of the molding material M stored in the cylinder 21 and the hopper 24 of the injection unit 20, the number of molded products that can be produced with the maximum amount of the molding material M, in other words, the number of shots that can be performed (this number of shots is referred to as a "first shot number"), is specified. Next, an amount of the molding material M (so-called buffer) required to apply back pressure to the molding material M within the cylinder 21 is converted into the number of shots that can be performed with this amount of the molding material M (this number of shots is referred to as a "second shot number"), and the obtained value is subtracted from the previously specified first shot number.Then, the timing for stopping the supply of the molding material M is set to a timing of shots that precedes a timing at which the production of the molded product ends by executing the number of shots for the production target by the number of shots before stopping (= the first shot number - the second shot number). In other words, the number of shots before stopping is the number of shots executed before the production of the molded product ends and the execution of shots (molding cycle) is stopped. That is, the number of shots before stopping is the number of executions before stopping.

[0037] The first shot number in the number of shots before stopping is calculated, for example, by adding a volume of the cylinder 21 and a volume of the hopper 24 and dividing the obtained volume by a shot capacity. Here, the volume of the cylinder 21 corresponds to a volume of the screw 22 inserted into the cylinder 21 and is specified by a diameter (D) of the screw 22 and a length (L / D) of the screw 22. The volume of the hopper 24 is calculated based on a shape of the hopper 24 and a height of the molding material M stored in the hopper 24 when it is full. The value obtained by adding the volume of the cylinder 21 and the volume of the hopper 24 is substantially equivalent to the maximum amount of the molding material M that can be held by the injection unit 20.

[0038] The shot capacity is an amount of molding material M used for one shot. The shot capacity corresponds to a volume of the molded product and is specified by a shape of an inside of the mold 31. The shot capacity is also referred to as a molded product capacity. Therefore, the first shot number, which is the number of shots that can be performed in a state where the molding material M is fully stored in the cylinder 21 and the hopper 24, is obtained by dividing a value obtained by adding the volume of the cylinder 21 and the volume of the hopper 24 by the shot capacity.

[0039] In the above description, the first shot number is simply obtained based on the volumes of the cylinder 21 and the hopper 24. However, a more accurate first shot number can be obtained by considering other factors that affect the calculation of the first shot number. Examples of the factors that affect the calculation of the first shot number include a plasticizing completion position, a buffer position, and a maximum screw retraction position. The plasticizing completion position is a position of the screw 22 when the plasticizing process in the production process is completed. The plasticizing process is a process of melting the molding material M and feeding it to a tip side of the screw 22 for accumulation. In this plasticizing process, the screw 22 retracts to a specified position within the cylinder 21.The position after this backward movement is the plasticization completion position. The buffer position is a position where the screw 22 has moved the furthest forward within the cylinder 21. The maximum screw backward movement position is a position where the screw 22 has moved completely backward within the cylinder 21.

[0040] The second shot number is the amount of molding material M required to apply back pressure to the molding material M within the cylinder 21, and is set to, for example, a fixed value determined based on the volume of the cylinder 21 or the like. Since the number of shots before stopping is the first shot number - the second shot number, after the supply of the molding material M is stopped, at a time when the shots corresponding to the number of shots before stopping are executed to complete the production process of the molded product, the molding material M corresponding to the second shot number remains in the cylinder 21. The remaining molding material M is subjected to discharge. <Zufuhrsteuerung von Formmaterial M>

[0041] Fig. Fig. 7 is a flowchart showing the control of supplying the molding material M to the injection unit 20.

[0042] When the molded product is produced, the data processing device 200 of the injection molding machine 10 first calculates the number of shots before stopping (described as "number N of executions before stopping" in the drawing) by the above calculation described with reference to Fig. 5 and Fig. 6 (S101). Then, the molding cycle of the molded product is started under the control of the control device 100 (S102).

[0043] Next, the control device 100 determines whether or not a time to stop the supply of the molding material M has arrived. Specifically, in a case where the number of shots executed after the start of the molding cycle up to the present is defined as a shot number C, the number of shots for the production target is defined as a shot number T, and the number of shots executed before the supply of the molding material M is stopped is defined as a shot number N, it is determined whether or not C = T - N. In a case where C = T - N is not satisfied (NO at S103), it is determined for each shot whether or not C = T - N. Meanwhile, in a case where C = T - N (YES at S103), the control device 100 instructs the material supply device 500 to stop the supply of the molding material M (S104).

[0044] Next, the control device 100 determines whether C=T or not. In a case where C=T is not satisfied (NO at S105), it is determined for each shot whether C=T or not. Meanwhile, in a case where C=T (YES at S105), the control device 100 causes the injection unit 20 to move backward from the position during the injection process (S106) and discharges the molding material M remaining within the cylinder 21 (S107).

[0045] Although the embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the technical scope of the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment. For example, in the above embodiment, the data processing device 200 is configured to calculate the number of shots before stopping, which is the number of shots executed before the production of the molded product ends and the execution of shots is stopped when the molded product is produced. Meanwhile, for the mold 31 that is frequently used, the number of shots before stopping may be calculated based on the shot capacity of the mold 31 and stored in advance in the storage unit 230 of the data processing device 200, and in a case where this mold 31 is used, the supply control of the molding material M can be performed using the stored number of shots before stopping.

[0046] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the timing for stopping the supply of the molding material M is specified based on the number of shots (first shot number) that can be performed with the maximum amount (full amount) of the molding material M stored in the cylinder 21 and the hopper 24 of the injection unit 20, and the number of shots (second shot number) that can be performed with the amount of the molding material M required to exert back pressure within the cylinder 21. Meanwhile, as information for specifying the timing for stopping the supply of the molding material M, information other than the number of shots (the number of times the molding cycle is executed) may be used, as long as the information is related to the amount of the molding material M required to produce the molded product.

[0047] For example, the timing for stopping the supply of the molding material M may be specified based on the production number of molded products. In this case, for example, the production number of molded products that can be produced with the full amount of the molding material M is defined as a first production number, and the production number of molded products that can be produced with the amount of the molding material M required to exert back pressure within the cylinder 21 is defined as a second production number. Then, it is conceivable to set the timing for stopping the supply of the molding material M to be a time at which the production number of molded products is the production number that precedes a time of reaching the production target number by the production number before stop (= the first production number - the second production number).

[0048] Furthermore, the timing for stopping the supply of the molding material M may be specified based on the number of rotations of the screw 22 in the injection unit 20. In this case, for example, the number of rotations of the screw 22 when the molded product is produced with the full amount of the molding material M is defined as a first rotation speed, and the number of rotations of the screw 22 when the molded product is produced with the amount of the molding material M required to exert back pressure within the cylinder 21 is defined as a second rotation speed. Then, it is conceivable to set the timing for stopping the supply of the molding material M to be a time at which the number of rotations of the screw 22 is the number of rotations preceding the number of rotations until a time at which the production of the molded product ends by one rotation speed before stopping (= the first rotation speed - the second rotation speed).Here, the number of rotations of the screw 22 is used. However, instead of the number of rotations, a rotation time of the screw 22 can be used.

[0049] Furthermore, the timing for stopping the supply of the molding material M may be specified based on a drive time of the motor 23 at the injection unit 20. In this case, for example, the drive time of the motor 23 when the molded product is produced with the full amount of the molding material M is defined as a first drive time, and the drive time of the motor 23 when the molded product is produced with the amount of the molding material M required to exert back pressure within the cylinder 21 is defined as a second drive time. Then, it is conceivable to set the timing for stopping the supply of the molding material M so that it is a time at which the drive time of the motor 23 is a drive time preceding a drive time up to a time at which the production of the molded product ends by a drive time before stop (= the first drive time - the second drive time).

[0050] In addition, the timing for stopping the supply of the molding material M can be specified based on various parameters such as a molding time and a plasticizing time that can specify the number of molded products that can be produced using the full amount of the molding material M, by using an operation volume of the injection unit 20 specified by such parameters.For example, it is possible to specify an operation volume for stopping the supply of the molding material M with respect to an operation volume of the injection unit 20 until a time when the production of the molding material M ends, by using an operation volume of the injection unit 20 when the molded product is produced with the full amount of the molding material M and an operation volume of the injection unit 20 when the molded product is produced with the amount of the molding material M required to exert back pressure within the cylinder 21. Various modifications and alternative configurations that do not depart from the scope of the technical concept of the present invention are included in the present invention. Brief description of the reference symbols 10 injection molding machines 20 injection unit 21 cylinders 22 snail 23 Engine 24 funnels 25 Heating 26 Backflow prevention valve 30 mold closing / clamping unit 31 Shape 100 control device 110 Control unit 120 mold condition setting unit 130 storage units 200 data processing device 210 Data acquisition unit 220 processing units 230 storage unit 500 material feed device QUOTES CONTAINED IN THE DESCRIPTION

[0000] This list of documents submitted by the applicant was generated automatically and is included solely for the convenience of the reader. This list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions. Cited patent literature

[0000] JP 2023-197661

[0002] JP 2021-160275

[0004] < / vorrichtungskonfiguration>

Claims

[1] Injection molding machine (10), comprising: an injection unit (20) which injects a molding material (M) into a mold (31) for a molded product; and a control device (100) which controls the supply of the molding material (M) to the injection unit (20), wherein the control device (100) sets a pre-stop operation volume, which represents a volume of operation of the injection unit (20) to be performed before stopping the operation of the injection unit (20) performed to produce the molded product, based on a parameter for specifying the number of molded products producible using the molding material (M) held in the injection unit (20), and stops the supply of the molding material (M) to the injection unit (20) at a time point traced back from when the operation of the injection unit (20) is stopped by the pre-stop operation volume. [2] The injection molding machine (10) according to claim 1, wherein the operation volume before stop is an operation volume obtained by subtracting a predetermined operation volume of the injection unit (20) from an operation volume of the injection unit (20) for producing the number of molded products producible using the molding material (M) held in the injection unit (20). [3] The injection molding machine (10) according to claim 2, wherein the predetermined operating volume of the injection unit (20) is a value obtained by converting an amount of the molding material (M) required to apply back pressure to the molding material (M) within the injection unit (20) into an operating volume of the injection unit (20). [4] Injection molding machine (10) according to one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the injection unit (20) contains: a cylinder (21) to be filled with the molding material (M), and a hopper (24) used when the molding material (M) is fed to the cylinder (21), and the control device (100) calculates an operating volume of the injection unit (20) for producing the number of molded products that can be produced using the molding material (M) held in the injection unit (20) based on a volume of the molding material (M) in the cylinder (21) and the hopper (24) and a volume of the mold (31). [5] Injection molding machine (10), comprising: an injection unit (20) which injects a molding material (M) into a mold (31) for a molded product; and a control device (100) which controls the supply of the molding material (M) to the injection unit (20), wherein the control device (100) sets the number of executions before stop, which is the number of molding cycles to be executed before stopping one execution of the molding cycle, based on the number of executions of molding cycles of the molded products that can be executed using the molding material (M) held in the injection unit (20), and stops the supply of the molding material (M) to the injection unit (20) at a time point traced back from when the molding cycle is stopped by the number of executions before stop. [6] A control device (100) that controls the supply of a molding material (M) to an injection unit (20) that injects the molding material (M) into a mold (31) for a molded product, the control device (100) comprising: a setting unit (120) that sets a pre-stop operation volume, which represents a volume of operation of the injection unit (20) to be performed before stopping the operation of the injection unit (20) performed to produce the molded product, based on a parameter for specifying the number of molded products that can be produced using the molding material (M) held in the injection unit (20); and a stop unit (110) that stops the supply of the molding material (M) to the injection unit (20) at a time point traced back from when the operation of the injection unit (20) is stopped by the operation volume before stop. [7] A program executable by a computer (400) supplying a molding material (M) to an injection unit (20) injecting the molding material (M) into a mold (31) for a molded product, the program causing the computer (400) to implement: a function of setting a pre-stop operation volume, which represents a volume of operation of the injection unit (20) to be performed before stopping the operation of the injection unit (20) performed to produce the molded product, based on a parameter for specifying the number of molded products that can be produced using the molding material (M) held in the injection unit (20); and a function of stopping the supply of the molding material (M) to the injection unit (20) at a time point traced back from when the operation of the injection unit (20) is stopped by the operation volume before stop.

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