Molding machine

Abstract

To provide a molding machine that improves work efficiency by clarifying the timing of data acquisition.SOLUTION: A molding machine includes a mold and supply means for filling the mold with a material. In the molding machine that solidifies the material filled into the mold to obtain a molded product, the molding machine further includes control means for acquiring any operating state among the operating states of the molding machine and outputting the same as a diagram. The control means is provided so that changes over time in any operating state can be output.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a molding machine such as a die casting machine or a plastic injection molding machine. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, there is a technique for outputting the operating state of a molding machine as a scatter diagram (see, for example, Patent Document 1). With this technique, the change for each molding (shot) is output as a scatter diagram, improving the visibility of the molding state. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 6898382 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, in the above-mentioned conventional technology, although the changes for each shot are graphed (FIGS. 9 and 7), it is not clear at what point in time the data was acquired, which leads to a decrease in work efficiency.

[0005] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a molding machine in which the timing of data acquisition is clarified to improve work efficiency. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The present invention provides a molding machine which comprises a mold and a supply means for filling the mold with material, and which obtains a molded product by solidifying the material filled in the mold, further comprising a control means for acquiring an arbitrary operating state among the operating states of the molding machine and outputting it as a diagram, and the control means is configured to be able to output changes over time in the arbitrary operating state. Effect of the Invention

[0007] This makes it possible to provide a molding machine with improved work efficiency by clarifying the timing of data acquisition. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] 1 is an example of a die casting machine to which the present invention is applied. [Diagram 2] 1 shows a data display screen (percentage display of a scatter plot) according to the present invention. [Diagram 3] 1 is a data display screen (scatter plot) of the present invention. [Figure 4] 1 shows a data display screen (percentage display of a scatter plot) according to the present invention. [Diagram 5] 1 shows the change over time (data arranged in the order of acquisition) on the data display screen (pressure rise time) of the present invention. [Figure 6] 1 shows the change over time (data arranged in the order of acquisition) on the data display screen (metal pressure) of the present invention. [Figure 7] 1 is an example of an injection molding machine to which the present invention is applied. [Figure 8] 1 is a data display screen (box plot) of the present invention. [Figure 9] 1 is a data display screen (3D graph) of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0009] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0010] [Embodiment 1] [Die casting machine] First, a molding machine (die-casting machine) to which the present invention is applied will be described with reference to Fig. 1. The die-casting machine 100 shown in Fig. 1 includes an injection unit 10, a molding die 20, and a horizontal clamping unit 30.

[0011] The injection device 10 includes a cylindrical injection sleeve 11 whose tip abuts against the molding die 20, a plunger 12 inserted from the rear end of the injection sleeve 11 and sliding freely forward and backward inside the injection sleeve 11, and a pouring port 14 for supplying a predetermined amount of molding material into the injection sleeve 11 using a water heater or the like (not shown) while the plunger 12 is waiting at a waiting position BE. The molding material is a molten metal obtained by melting a metal material such as an aluminum alloy adjusted to a predetermined composition at a predetermined temperature in a melting furnace (not shown) appropriately selected according to the product application. The plunger 12 is connected to an injection drive unit 15 by a rod 13, and the plunger 12 moves inside the injection sleeve 11 by operating the injection drive unit 15 based on a control command from an injection control unit 16.

[0012] Here, the movement of the plunger 12 is defined as a forward movement toward the front F side and a backward movement toward the rear B side, with the side closer to the molding die 20 being defined as a forward movement and the movement toward the rear B side being defined as a backward movement. The injection drive unit 15 may be, for example, a hydraulic cylinder driven by hydraulic pressure, or may be a combination of a ball screw mechanism that converts a rotational movement into a linear movement and an electric motor. A combination of both may also be used. The injection sleeve 11 and the plunger 12 are provided with a cooling mechanism (not shown) including a flow path through which a cooling medium such as cooling water flows, as necessary. It is preferable to apply a lubricant to the sliding surfaces of the injection sleeve 11 and the plunger 12 to prevent wear and tear of the plunger 12, stabilize the sliding state, and suppress adhesion of molten metal residue.

[0013] The molding die 20 comprises a fixed die 21 and a movable die 22, which are clamped together to form a die cavity 23. A gate 24 for injecting and filling the molding material is provided in the die cavity 23, and the gate 24 is connected to the tip of the injection sleeve 11. The molding material supplied into the injection sleeve 11 is injected and filled into the die cavity 23 through the gate 24 by the forward movement of the plunger 12.

[0014] In the horizontal mold clamping device 30, a fixed platen 31 supporting a fixed mold 21, a movable platen 32 supporting a movable mold 22, and a mold clamping platen 33 supporting a mold opening / closing drive means 35 are arranged horizontally on a machine base MB. The movable platen 32 is slid freely forward and backward on the machine base MB by the mold opening / closing drive means 35 by operating a mold clamping drive unit 40 based on a control command from a mold clamping control unit 50. A plurality of tie bars 34 penetrate the movable platen 32 and connect the fixed platen 31 and the mold clamping platen 33. The movable platen 32 slides on the machine base MB while being guided by the plurality of tie bars 34. Therefore, an appropriate gap is set between the tie bars 34 and the movable platen 32.

[0015] Here, the operation of the movable platen 32 is defined as the operation of approaching the fixed platen 31 as the mold closing operation, and the operation of moving away from the fixed platen 31 as the mold opening operation. In addition, the state where the fixed platen 21 and the movable platen 22 are in contact with each other is defined as the mold touch point, the forward movement from the mold touch point is defined as the pressure increase operation (or mold clamping operation), the completion position of the pressure increase operation is defined as the pressure increase completion position (or mold clamping limit), and the mold opening operation from the pressure increase completion position toward the mold touch point is defined as the pressure decrease operation. In other words, in the range from the mold touch point to the pressure increase completion position, the fixed platen 21 and the movable platen 22 are clamped to form the mold cavity 23, and the mold PL surface 28 is formed around the mold cavity 23. The pressing force (mold clamping force) of the mold PL surface 28 is close to zero at the mold touch point and reaches a maximum value at the pressure increase completion position, and the mold clamping force can be adjusted and maintained as desired by stopping the pressure increase operation or the pressure decrease operation midway.

[0016] 1 uses a hydraulic cylinder driven by hydraulic pressure, but is not limited thereto. For example, it may be a combination of a ball screw mechanism that converts a rotational motion into a linear motion and an electric motor, or a combination of both. It may also be a toggle type mold clamping means combining a plurality of toggle link mechanisms. Alternatively, it may be a hybrid type mold clamping means in which the mold opening and closing motion is performed by a hydraulic drive means or an electric drive means, and the pressure increasing and decreasing motions are performed by a drive means incorporating a hydraulically driven hydraulic cylinder or the like at the tip of the tie bar 34. Regardless of the drive means, the movable platen 32 moves horizontally on the machine base MB.

[0017] [Data display screen] 2 to 6 are data display screens of the present invention, which are displayed by a control means not shown. For example, the operating state of the die casting machine 100 shown in FIG. 1 is shown. FIGS. 2 to 4 are diagrams (e.g., scatter plots) showing the changes for each molding (shot). FIGS. 5 and 6 show the time-dependent changes in data related to shots (casting by the die casting machine), showing the order in which the data was acquired. This makes it possible to provide a molding machine that allows the timing of data acquisition to be clearly visually recognized and improves work efficiency. FIGS. 2 and 4 also show the pressure increase time and the rate of metal pressure (pressure of the molten metal being increased).

[0018] A point corresponding to data selected (e.g., selected by moving the cursor) on the time-dependent changes (when the data was acquired) shown in Figures 5 and 6 may be displayed on the scatter plots of Figures 2 to 4, or the cursor may be moved to the data corresponding to the point selected on Figures 2 to 4. By displaying in this way, it becomes easier to estimate the cause of normality / abnormality of the operating state.

[0019] Furthermore, by setting a data range in advance and displaying the set range in a different color, for example, it becomes easier to grasp data that requires special attention.

[0020] [Embodiment 2] [Plastic injection molding machine] Next, a molding machine (plastic injection molding machine) according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Fig. 7. An injection molding machine 200 shown in Fig. 7 includes an injection unit 70, a molding die 80, and a horizontal clamping unit 30. Note that the horizontal clamping unit 30 overlaps with Fig. 1, so a description thereof will be omitted. Here, the injection unit 70 and the molding die 80, which are different from Fig. 1, will be described in detail.

[0021] The injection device 70 includes a cylindrical injection cylinder 71 with a nozzle 77 at the tip thereof abutting against a molding die 80, a screw 72 disposed within the injection cylinder 71, and a hopper 73 for supplying molding material into the injection cylinder 71. The screw 72 and an injection drive unit 75 are connected, and the screw 72 is operated by manipulating the injection drive unit 75 based on a control command from an injection control unit 76. Here, the operation of the screw 72 is defined as follows: the side closer to the molding die 80 is defined as the forward F, and the side farther from the molding die 80 is defined as the rear B; the operation toward the forward F side is defined as the forward operation, and the operation toward the rear B side is defined as the rearward operation. In addition, the screw 72 rotates in a direction in which the molding material supplied into the injection cylinder is transported to the forward F side by the continuous spiral flight of the screw 72 (called metering rotation).

[0022] The molding material is, for example, a thermoplastic resin such as polypropylene (PP) resin or nylon (PA) resin, mixed with additives such as coloring agents, nucleating agents, and flame retardants depending on the product application, and is supplied from a hopper 73 into the injection cylinder 71. The supplied molding material is transported to the forward F side while being melted and kneaded by the heat amount from the heater 74 arranged in the injection cylinder 71, the heat amount caused by the rotational movement of the screw 72, and the shear heat amount of the screw 72 designed to apply a shear force toward the forward F side, and is stored as plasticized molten resin in the injection cylinder 71 on the forward F side of the screw 72. As the plasticized molten resin is stored, the screw 72 moves backward to the rear B side. This backward movement is restricted to adjust the kneadability and melting temperature of the plasticized molten resin. This series of operations is called the plasticization metering process.

[0023] The molding die 80 comprises a fixed die 81 supported by the fixed platen 31 and a movable die 82 supported by the movable platen 32. The fixed die 81 and the movable die 82 are clamped together to form a die cavity 83 and a die PL surface 88. A gate 84 for injecting and filling the molding material is provided in the die cavity 83. As the screw 72 of the injection device 70 moves forward, the plasticized molten resin stored in the injection cylinder 71 on the front F side of the screw 72 is injected and filled into the die cavity 83 via the nozzle 77, the hot runner circuit HR, and the gate 84.

[0024] In the second embodiment as well, it is possible to provide a molding machine with improved work efficiency by clarifying the timing of data acquisition as in the first embodiment.

[0025] [Other Examples] Although a scatter plot is used in the first embodiment, a box plot in FIG. 8 or a 3D graph in FIG. 9 may also be used. [Explanation of symbols]

[0026] 12 Plunger (supply means) 20, 80 Molding mold (mold) 100 Die casting machine (molding machine) 200 Injection molding machine (molding machine)

Claims

1. The mold and A supply means for filling the mold with material; Equipped with In the molding machine for obtaining a molded product by solidifying the material filled in the mold, A control means for acquiring an arbitrary operating state of the molding machine and outputting the acquired operating state as a diagram, The control means is provided so as to be capable of outputting the change over time of the arbitrary operating state. The molding machine is characterized by:

2. 2. The molding machine according to claim 1, The control means outputs the graph corresponding to the change over time. The molding machine is characterized by:

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