Molding machine

Abstract

To provide a molding machine capable of properly determining whether or not a screw has been exchanged by a simple method.SOLUTION: A molding machine is provided with an injection apparatus for injection of a molding material to the inside of a mold and a control apparatus for control of the injection apparatus. The injection apparatus is provided with a heat cylinder to be filled with a molding material and a screw that moves back and forth inside the heat cylinder for injection of the molding material filled in the heat cylinder, and is configured to be able to move back and forth to the mold between a communication posture that a tip of the heat cylinder communicates with the clamped mold and a separation posture that a tip of the heat cylinder is separated from the mold and is configured to be able to rotate about a rotation axis between a separation posture not allowing insertion / removal of the screw and a rotation posture allowing the insertion / removal of the screw. The molding machine is further provided with a sensor for detecting a posture of the injection apparatus. The control apparatus determines that the screw in the heat cylinder has been exchanged by the sensor detecting that the injection apparatus rotates from the separation posture to the rotation posture and returns to the separation posture again.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 7

Description

[Technical field]

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

[0002] Conventionally, there has been known a molding machine that includes a clamping device that opens, closes, and clamps a mold, and an injection device that injects molding material into a cavity of the clamped mold. The injection device includes a heating cylinder filled with the molding material, and a screw that moves forward and backward inside the heating cylinder to inject the molding material filled in the heating cylinder.

[0003] In such a molding machine, it may be necessary to change the injection conditions depending on the type of screw inserted in the heating cylinder. Therefore, Patent Document 1 discloses a technology for determining whether the screw has been replaced based on information detected according to the movement of the metering motor. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] JP 2023-089677 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] However, the method of Patent Document 1 requires complex calculations, and it is difficult to say that it can accurately determine whether or not the screw has been replaced.

[0006] The present invention has been made to solve such problems in the conventional technology, and has an object to provide a molding machine that is capable of appropriately determining, in a simple manner, whether or not a screw has been replaced. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, the present invention provides a molding machine comprising an injection device which injects molding material into a cavity of a clamped mold and a control device which controls the injection device, wherein the injection device comprises a heating cylinder which is filled with molding material, and a screw which moves back and forth inside the heating cylinder to inject the molding material filled in the heating cylinder, and is configured to be able to move back and forth relative to the mold between a communicating position in which a tip of the heating cylinder communicates with the clamped mold and a separated position in which the tip of the heating cylinder is separated from the mold, and to be able to rotate about a rotation axis between the separated position in which the screw cannot be inserted or removed, and a rotating position in which the screw can be inserted or removed, wherein the molding machine further comprises a sensor which detects the position of the injection device, and the control device determines that the screw in the heating cylinder has been replaced in response to detection by the sensor that the injection device has rotated from the separated position to the rotating position and then returned to the separated position again. Effect of the Invention

[0008] According to the present invention, it is possible to appropriately determine in a simple manner whether or not a screw has been replaced. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a side view of an injection molding machine according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 2] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the attitude of an injection unit. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is a hardware block diagram of the injection molding machine. [Figure 4] This is an example of data for the installed screw (A), injection conditions (B), and screw table (C). [Diagram 5] 13 is an example of a screw details screen. [Figure 6] 13 is an example of an injection condition setting screen. [Figure 7] 4 is a flowchart of an injection control process. [Figure 8] 13 is a display example of a screw setting screen. [Figure 9]13 is another example of a screw details screen. [Figure 10] 13 is another example of the injection condition setting screen. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0010] An injection molding machine 10 according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. The injection molding machine 10 is a device that injects a measured amount of molding material into a mold to form an injection-molded product (hereinafter referred to as "injection molding").

[0011] [Configuration of injection molding machine 10]

[0012] Fig. 1 is a side view of an injection molding machine 10 according to this embodiment. As shown in Fig. 1, the injection molding machine 10 mainly includes a clamping unit 20 and an injection unit 30. The injection molding machine 10 also includes a base 11 member that supports the clamping unit 20 and the injection unit 30 at positions spaced apart in the left-right direction.

[0013] The clamping device 20 opens, closes, and clamps the mold 21. Specifically, the clamping device 20 mainly includes a fixed die plate 23 that supports a fixed-side mold 22, and a movable die plate 25 that supports a movable-side mold 24. The fixed-side mold 22 and the movable-side mold 24 are supported so as to face each other in the left-right direction (horizontal direction) of the injection molding machine 10.

[0014] The movable die plate 25 moves left and right along the tie bars 27 by transmitting the driving force of the die opening / closing motor 28 through the toggle link mechanism 26. When the movable die plate 25 moves leftward, the fixed die 22 and the movable die 24 move away from each other. On the other hand, when the movable die plate 25 moves rightward, the fixed die 22 and the movable die 24 come into contact with each other, forming a cavity (internal space) inside the die 21. Then, when pressure is further applied in a direction to move the movable die plate 25 rightward, the fixed die 22 and the movable die 24 are clamped.

[0015] The injection device 30 plasticizes, measures, and injects the molding material. The injection device 30 according to this embodiment is disposed facing the mold clamping device 20 in the horizontal direction (to the right of the mold clamping device 20). The injection device 30 mainly includes a heating cylinder 31, a screw 32, a hopper 33, and a hopper block 34.

[0016] The heating cylinder 31 is a cylindrical member extending in the left-right direction of the injection molding machine 10. The heating cylinder 31 mainly includes a resin passage 35 and a nozzle 36. In addition, a band heater (not shown) for heating the heating cylinder 31 is attached to the outer circumferential surface of the heating cylinder 31.

[0017] The resin passage 35 is a cylindrical space extending in the axial direction (longitudinal direction) inside the heating cylinder 31. The resin passage 35 communicates with the outside of the heating cylinder 31 (the cavity of the mold 21) through a nozzle 36 provided at the tip (front end) of the heating cylinder 31. In other words, the resin passage 35 is a space extending from the nozzle 36 along the axial direction.

[0018] The screw 32 is a cylindrical member. A spiral groove is formed on the outer circumferential surface of the screw 32. The screw 32 is accommodated in the internal space of the heating cylinder 31 in a state in which the screw 32 can move in the left-right direction of the injection molding machine 10 (hereinafter, referred to as "advance and retreat") and can rotate. The screw 32 advances and retreats when a driving force of an injection motor 37 is transmitted thereto, and rotates when a driving force of a metering motor 38 is transmitted thereto.

[0019] More specifically, when the injection motor 37 is rotated forward, the screw 32 moves (advances) toward the tip end (i.e., the nozzle 36) of the heating cylinder 31. On the other hand, when the injection motor 37 is rotated backward, the screw 32 moves (retreats) toward the base end (i.e., the opposite side to the nozzle 36) of the heating cylinder 31.

[0020] Hereinafter, within the range that the tip position of the screw 32 can reach within the heating cylinder 31, the position closest to the nozzle 36 will be referred to as the "forward limit," and the position farthest from the nozzle 36 will be referred to as the "reverse limit." Additionally, the terms "forward rotation" and "reverse rotation" of the injection motor 37 do not specify an absolute rotation direction, but merely specify a relative relationship (i.e., forward rotation and reverse rotation are rotations in opposite directions).

[0021] The hopper 33 is a funnel-shaped member that stores the raw molding material. The hopper block 34 is a member that supports the heating cylinder 31 and the hopper 33. The hopper 33 communicates with a resin passage 35 through the hopper block 34 at a portion of the heating cylinder 31 closer to the base end than the tip end. The molding material stored in the hopper 33 is supplied to the resin passage 35 of the heating cylinder 31 through an opening provided at the lower end. The molding material used in this injection molding machine 10 is, for example, so-called "pellets" that are formed into a cylindrical shape.

[0022] In the injection device 30, the screw 32 moves backward while rotating by rotating the injection motor 37 in the reverse direction and rotating the metering motor 38. As a result, the pellets supplied through the hopper 33 are filled (metered) into the resin passage 35 ahead of the screw 32 while being plasticized. In addition, in the injection device 30, the injection motor 37 rotates forward to move the screw 32 forward. As a result, the plasticized resin ahead of the screw 32 is injected into the cavity of the mold 21 through the nozzle 36.

[0023] Fig. 2 is a diagram showing the posture of the injection device 30. As shown in Fig. 1 and Fig. 2, the injection device 30 is supported by a base member 11 so as to be rotatable about a rotation shaft 12 extending in the vertical direction. The injection device 30 is configured so as to be capable of changing its posture among a communication posture shown in Fig. 2(A), a separation posture shown in Fig. 2(B), and a rotation posture shown in Fig. 2(C).

[0024] The communicating position is a position of the injection device 30 in which the tip of the heating cylinder 31 (i.e., the nozzle 36) communicates with the clamped mold 21. The communicating position is a position of the injection device 30 in which the heating cylinder 31 extends in a direction that coincides with the opposing direction of the clamping device 20 and the injection device 30. The communicating position is a position of the injection device 30 when the molding material is plasticized, measured, and injected by moving the screw 32 back and forth within the heating cylinder 31. The communicating position is a position of the injection device 30 in which the screw 32 cannot be inserted or removed from the heating cylinder 31.

[0025] The separated position is a position of the injection device 30 in which the tip of the heating cylinder 31 (i.e., the nozzle 36) is separated from the mold 21. The separated position is a position of the injection device 30 in which the heating cylinder 31 is extended in a direction that coincides with the opposing direction of the mold clamping device 20 and the injection device 30. That is, the injection device 30 is configured to be able to advance and retreat (move parallel) with respect to the mold 21 (in other words, the mold clamping device 20) between the communicating position and the separated position. The separated position is a position of the injection device 30 in which the screw 32 cannot be inserted or removed from the heating cylinder 31.

[0026] The swiveling posture is a posture rotated around the swivel shaft 12 from the separated posture. The swivel posture is a posture of the injection device 30 in which the heating cylinder 31 is extended in a direction intersecting the opposing direction of the mold clamping device 20 and the injection device 30. That is, the injection device 30 is configured to be swivellable around the swivel shaft 12 between the separated posture and the swiveling posture. The swivel posture is a posture of the injection device 30 in which the screw 32 can be inserted into and removed from the heating cylinder 31. More specifically, by placing the injection device 30 in the swivel posture and removing the nozzle 36 from the tip of the heating cylinder 31, the screw 32 can be inserted into and removed from the heating cylinder 31.

[0027] That is, the injection device 30 changes its posture from the separated posture to the swiveling posture by rotating in a first direction (counterclockwise in FIG. 2) about the swivel shaft 12. Also, the injection device 30 changes its posture from the swiveling posture to the separated posture by rotating in a second direction (clockwise in FIG. 2) about the swivel shaft 12. The first direction and the second direction are opposite directions. Also, while FIG. 1 illustrates the swivel shaft 12 extending in the vertical direction, the extension direction of the swivel shaft 12 is not particularly limited.

[0028] The injection device 30 is rotated by a rotation mechanism 39 (see FIG. 3). As one example, the rotation mechanism 39 may be a hydraulic cylinder that has one end connected to the base member 11 and the other end connected to the injection device 30 and that expands and contracts. As another example, the rotation mechanism 39 may be composed of an electric motor and a transmission mechanism that transmits the driving force of the electric motor to the injection device 30. However, the injection device 30 does not have to use the rotation mechanism 39. In other words, the injection device 30 may be rotated manually by an operator.

[0029] [Configuration of control device 60] FIG. 3 is a hardware block diagram of the injection molding machine 10. The injection molding machine 10 includes a control device 60. As shown in FIG. 3, the control device 60 includes a central processing unit (CPU) 61 and a memory 62. The memory 62 is, for example, a read only memory (ROM), a random access memory (RAM), a hard disk drive (HDD), or a combination of these. The control device 60 realizes the processing described below by the CPU 61 reading and executing program codes stored in the ROM or HDD. The RAM is used as a work area when the CPU 61 executes the program.

[0030] However, the specific configuration of the control device 60 is not limited to this, and may be realized by hardware such as an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) or a field programmable gate array (FPGA).

[0031] The control device 60 controls the overall operation of the injection molding machine 10. More specifically, the control device 60 controls the mold opening / closing motor 28, the injection motor 37, the metering motor 38, and the turning mechanism 39 based on various signals output from a rotary encoder 64, a load cell 65 (pressure sensor), and a posture sensor 66.

[0032] The mold opening / closing motor 28, the injection motor 37, and the metering motor 38 are servo motors that generate driving forces to open and close the mold 21, driving forces to move the screw 32 back and forth, and driving forces to rotate the screw 32, for example, under the control of a servo amplifier (not shown).

[0033] The rotary encoder 64 is a sensor that detects the speed and tip position of the screw 32. More specifically, the rotary encoder 64 outputs a pulse signal corresponding to the rotation of the injection motor 37 to the control device 60. Then, the control device 60 specifies the speed of the screw 32 based on the number of pulse signals output per unit time. The control device 60 also specifies the tip position of the screw 32 based on the accumulated value of the pulse signals.

[0034] The load cell 65 is a sensor that detects the pressure applied to the screw 32. More specifically, the load cell 65 outputs a pressure signal (voltage value) corresponding to the pressure applied to the screw 32 to the control device 60. Then, the control device 60 identifies the pressure applied to the screw 32 based on the pressure signal output from the load cell 65.

[0035] The attitude sensor 66 is a sensor that detects the attitude of the injection unit 30. More specifically, the attitude sensor 66 detects that the injection unit 30 is in a turning attitude. For example, the attitude sensor 66 stops outputting the attitude signal when the injection unit 30 is in a turning attitude, and outputs the attitude signal to the control device 60 when the injection unit 30 is in a different attitude from the turning attitude. Then, the control device 60 specifies the attitude of the injection unit 30 based on the attitude signal output from the attitude sensor 66. However, the attitude sensor 66 may output the attitude signal when the injection unit 30 is in a turning attitude, and stop outputting the attitude signal when the injection unit 30 is in a different attitude from the turning attitude.

[0036] A display input device 67 is also connected to the control device 60. The display input device 67 is a user interface that includes a display (display device) that displays various information to be notified to the operator, and buttons, switches, dials, and the like (input devices) that accept input operations by the operator. The display input device 67 may also include a touch panel superimposed on the display. The display input device 67 accepts input operations by the operator, and outputs an input signal corresponding to the accepted input operation to the control device 60.

[0037] [Example of data stored in memory 62] 4 shows an example of data on the mounted screw (A), the injection conditions (B), and the screw table (C). The mounted screw, the injection conditions, and the screw table shown in FIG.

[0038] The mounted screw shown in Fig. 4(A) is data indicating the screw 32 inserted in the heating cylinder 31. The control device 60 stores in the memory 62 the type of the screw 32 set (input) by the operator via the screw setting screen shown in Fig. 8.

[0039] The injection conditions shown in Fig. 4(B) are operating conditions of the injection device 30 that injects the molding material. The control device 60 stores in the memory 62 the molding conditions set (input) by an operator through the injection condition setting screen shown in Fig. 6, for example. Furthermore, in step S20 of Fig. 7, the control device 60 operates the injection device 30 according to the molding conditions stored in the memory 62. The injection conditions according to this embodiment include a plurality of parameters (for example, position, injection speed, injection pressure, and pressure hold).

[0040] The parameter "position" indicates the position (mm) of the tip of the screw 32 within the heating cylinder 31. More specifically, the parameter "position" indicates the speed switching position of the screw 32 when injecting the plasticized resin (hereinafter referred to as "injection process"). The parameter "position" can include multiple switching positions. The position within the heating cylinder 31 can be expressed as the distance from the forward movement limit toward the base end of the heating cylinder 31, with the forward movement limit being 0 mm. The position of the tip of the screw 32 is detected by the rotary encoder 64.

[0041] The parameter "injection speed" indicates the forward speed (mm / s) of the screw 32 in the injection process. More specifically, the parameter "injection speed" may include a plurality of speeds switched at a plurality of switching positions indicated by the parameter "position". That is, the forward speed indicated by the parameter "injection speed" is the forward speed of the screw 32 between adjacent switching positions. The forward speed of the screw 32 is detected by the rotary encoder 64.

[0042] The parameter "injection pressure" indicates the maximum pressure (MPa) applied to the screw 32 during the injection process. That is, in the injection process, the speed control by the parameter "injection speed" takes precedence, but when the pressure indicated by the parameter "injection pressure" is reached, the speed is controlled so that the injection speed approaches the set value without exceeding the pressure.

[0043] The parameter "holding pressure" indicates the pressure (MPa) that the screw 32 applies to the plasticized resin injected into the mold 21. In other words, the parameter "holding pressure" indicates the pressure that the screw 32 applies in the forward direction after the injection of the plasticized resin is completed. The parameter "holding pressure" can include multiple pressures. The pressure applied to the screw 32 is detected by the load cell 65.

[0044] 4(C) is a table that stores the specifications (e.g., diameter, stroke) of the screw 32 and the limit values ​​of each of a plurality of parameters included in the molding conditions in association with each type (e.g., SAT, MIT, MXT, ...) of the screw 32 that can be inserted into the heating cylinder 31. The limit value refers to at least one of the upper limit value and the lower limit value of the settable numerical range (in this embodiment, the upper limit value).

[0045] [Screw details screen] Fig. 5 is an example of a screw details screen. The screw details screen is a screen that displays the type of screw 32 stored in the memory 62 (in other words, inserted into the heating cylinder 31). The control device 60 displays the screw details screen shown in Fig. 5 on the display input device 67 in accordance with an input operation by an operator to the display input device 67. As shown in Fig. 5, the screw details screen includes, for example, a title area A1, a measurement value area A2, a screw area A3, and an icon area A4.

[0046] The title area A1 is an area for displaying the name of the screen. The measurement value area A2 is an area for displaying the measurement values ​​measured by the rotary encoder 64, the load cell 65, etc. The measurement values ​​displayed in the measurement value area A2 are not particularly limited, but in this embodiment, the screw position, injection speed, injection pressure, rotation speed, mold opening / closing position, and cycle timer are displayed.

[0047] The screw area A3 is an area that displays information associated with the type "SAT" of the screw 32 shown in Fig. 4(A) in the screw table shown in Fig. 4(C). Also, the [?] icon displayed adjacent to the type "SAT" of the screw 32 is an icon for instructing the display of details of the screw 32. For example, when the [?] icon is tapped, the control device 60 causes the display input device 67 to display details of the screw 32 inserted in the heating cylinder 31 (for example, a compatible model, an overview, and detailed specifications).

[0048] The icon area A4 is an area where a [Condition Setting] icon is displayed as an icon operated by an operator via the display input device 67. When the [Condition Setting] icon is tapped, the control device 60 causes the display input device 67 to display an injection condition setting screen shown in Fig. 6 instead of the screw details screen shown in Fig. 5.

[0049] [Injection condition setting screen] Fig. 6 is an example of an ejection condition setting screen. The ejection condition setting screen is a screen that displays the ejection conditions stored in the memory 62 and allows the operator to edit the ejection conditions via the display input device 67. The control device 60 displays the ejection condition setting screen shown in Fig. 6 on the display input device 67 in accordance with an input operation by the operator to the display input device 67. As shown in Fig. 6, the ejection condition setting screen includes, for example, a title area B1, a condition editing area B2, and an icon area B3.

[0050] The title area B1 is an area that displays the name of the screen. The condition editing area B2 is an area that displays the injection conditions shown in FIG. 4(B) and accepts an operation by the operator to change the injection conditions. The icon area B3 is an area that displays a [Settings] icon as an icon that the operator operates through the display input device 67. When the [Condition Setting] icon on the screw details screen is tapped, the control device 60 causes the display input device 67 to display the injection condition setting screen shown in FIG. 6.

[0051] In the injection process according to the injection conditions shown in FIG. 6, the control device 60 advances the screw 32 at 10 (mm / s) between 32.00 (mm) and 30.00 (mm), at 30 (mm / s) between 30.00 (mm) and 25.00 (mm), at 40 (mm / s) between 25.00 (mm) and 10.00 (mm), at 20 (mm / s) between 10.00 (mm) and 5.00 (mm), and at 10 (mm / s) after 5.00 (mm). In addition, the control device 60 controls the injection speed so that the injection speed approaches a set value within a range that does not exceed the maximum value (=40 (MPa)) of the pressure applied to the screw 32 in the injection process. Furthermore, the control device 60 applies 10.0 (MPa) to the plasticized resin in the mold 21.

[0052] Furthermore, when the control device 60 receives an operator's operation to change the ejection conditions displayed in the condition editing area B2 through the display input device 67, the control device 60 displays the changed ejection conditions in the condition editing area B2. Furthermore, when the [Setting] icon is tapped, the control device 60 overwrites (updates) the ejection conditions shown in FIG. 4(B) with the ejection conditions displayed in the condition editing area B2 (i.e., the changed ejection conditions).

[0053] [Injection control processing] Fig. 7 is a flowchart of the injection control process. Fig. 8 is a display example of a screw setting screen. The injection control process is a process for controlling an injection process in which the molding material filled in the heating cylinder 31 is injected into the cavity of the clamped mold 21. The control device 60 starts the injection control process shown in Fig. 7, for example, in response to the injection device 30 being rotated from the separated position to the rotating position (i.e., the output of the position signal is stopped).

[0054] It should be noted that a permission flag is stored in the memory 62. The permission flag is information indicating whether or not the operation of the injection device 30 (more specifically, the execution of the injection process) is permitted. The permission flag is set to a first value "ON" that permits the execution of the injection process, or a second value "OFF" that prohibits the execution of the injection process.

[0055] First, the control device 60 waits to execute the processes in and after step S12 until the injection device 30 returns to the separated position again (i.e., the output of the position signal is resumed) (S11: No). Then, when the position sensor 66 detects that the injection device 30 has rotated from the separated position to the rotating position and returned to the separated position again (i.e., the output of the position signal is resumed) (S11: Yes), the control device 60 determines that the screw 32 in the heating cylinder 31 has been replaced.

[0056] In the injection molding machine 10, the injection device 30 may be rotated to the turning position when the screw 32 in the heating cylinder 31 is replaced or when the inside of the heating cylinder 31 is cleaned. Therefore, even if the injection device 30 is rotated to the turning position, the screw 32 is not necessarily replaced. Even if the old screw 32 is removed from the heating cylinder 31, the same type of screw 32 may be inserted. However, the control device 60 according to this embodiment regards the screw 32 as being replaced in response to the injection device 30 being rotated to the turning position.

[0057] Next, when the control device 60 determines that the screw 32 has been replaced (S11: Yes), it sets the permission flag to the second value "OFF" (S12). That is, when the control device 60 determines that the screw 32 has been replaced, it prohibits the execution of the injection process until the permission flag is set to the first value "ON" in step S16 described later (that is, until the type of the screw 32 is input).

[0058] Furthermore, when the control device 60 determines that the screw 32 has been replaced (S11: Yes), it causes the display input device 67 to display a screw setting screen shown in Fig. 8 (S13). The screw setting screen is an example of a screen that prompts input of the type of the screw 32 inserted into the heating cylinder 31. As shown in Fig. 8, the screw setting screen includes, for example, a title area C1, a screw selection area C2, and an icon area C3.

[0059] The title area C1 is an area where the name of the screen is displayed. The screw selection area C2 is an area where a plurality of screw icons (e.g., [SAT], [MIT], [MXT], ...) corresponding to the types of the screw 32 that can be inserted into the heating cylinder 31 are displayed. The icon area C3 is an area where a [Settings] icon is displayed as an icon that the operator operates via the display input device 67.

[0060] When the control device 60 receives an operation of tapping the screw icon corresponding to the type of the screw 32 actually inserted into the heating cylinder 31 (i.e., inputting the type of the screw 32) and tapping the [Setting] icon through the display input device 67 (S14: Yes), the control device 60 overwrites (updates) the mounted screw shown in Fig. 4(A) with the input type of the screw 32 (S15). In addition, the control device 60 sets the permission flag to a first value "ON" (S16). In other words, when the type of the screw 32 is input through the display input device 67, the control device 60 stores the input type of the screw 32 in the memory 62 and permits the injection of the molding material.

[0061] Furthermore, the control device 60 can receive an operator's operation to instruct execution of an injection process (hereinafter, referred to as an "injection instruction") through the display input device 67 at any timing (S17). Then, when an injection instruction is received through the display input device 67 (S17: Yes), the control device 60 determines the setting value of the permission flag (S18).

[0062] Then, when the permission flag is set to the second value "OFF" (i.e., the type of the screw 32 has not yet been input) (S18: OFF), the control device 60 does not execute the injection process and notifies the display input device 67 that the injection process cannot be started (S19). On the other hand, when the permission flag is set to the first value "ON" (i.e., the type of the screw 32 has already been input) (S18: ON), the control device 60 causes the injection device 30 to execute the injection process according to the injection conditions stored in the memory 62 (S20).

[0063] [Screen display after replacing screw 32] Fig. 9 is another example of the screw details screen. Fig. 10 is another example of the injection condition setting screen. More specifically, Fig. 9 and Fig. 10 show the screw details screen and the injection condition setting screen when the type of the screw 32 is changed from "SAT" to "LOT".

[0064] As shown in Fig. 9, in response to the change of the mounted screw shown in Fig. 4(A) from "SAT" to "LOT", the control device 60 displays each value corresponding to the screw name "LOT" in Fig. 4(C) in the screw area A3 of the screw details screen shown in Fig. 9. That is, every time the screw 32 in the heating cylinder 31 is replaced, the type, specifications, and limit values ​​of the screw 32 inserted in the heating cylinder 31 are updated on the screw details screen.

[0065] Furthermore, when displaying the injection condition setting screen, the control device 60 compares the molding conditions stored in the memory 62 with the limit values ​​corresponding to the type of the screw 32. Then, the control device 60 displays, in a condition editing area B2 of the injection condition setting screen shown in Fig. 10, among the multiple parameters included in the injection conditions, parameters that do not exceed the limit value and parameters that exceed the limit value (e.g., injection speed = 40) in different modes. In the example of Fig. 10, parameters that exceed the limit value are highlighted, but the way of changing the display mode is not particularly limited, such as changing the color or blinking.

[0066] 10 are beyond the range that can be set for the screw 32 inserted in the heating cylinder 31. In other words, the injection process according to the current molding conditions cannot be performed with the current screw 32. Therefore, when the control device 60 determines that the current molding conditions exceed the limit values ​​corresponding to the type of screw 32, it notifies the user of the need to change the molding conditions.

[0067] [Effects of this embodiment] According to the above embodiment, by determining that the screw 32 has been replaced by the rotation of the injection device 30, it is possible to appropriately determine whether the screw 32 has been replaced in a simple manner compared to the method of Patent Document 1.

[0068] In many conventional injection molding machines 10, the type of the screw 32 could not be confirmed without looking at the marking on the body of the screw 32. In contrast, in the above embodiment, the type of the screw 32 can be confirmed at any time through the screw details screen. However, if the setting value of the mounted screw is not changed even when the screw 32 is replaced, the correct information cannot be notified to the operator. Therefore, by prohibiting the execution of the injection process until a new type of the screw 32 is input through the screw setting screen, the problem of the type of the screw 32 stored in the memory 62 not matching the type of the screw 32 actually inserted in the heating cylinder 31 can be eliminated.

[0069] In the method of the above embodiment, when the injection device 30 is rotated to the rotation posture, it is determined that the screw 32 has been replaced, regardless of whether the screw 32 has actually been replaced. Therefore, even if there is no need to change the type of the screw 32, it may be necessary to select the type of the screw 32 through the screw setting screen. However, by adopting such a method, it is possible to eliminate a problem in which the type of the screw 32 stored in the memory 62 does not match the type of the screw 32 actually inserted in the heating cylinder 31 due to the operator forgetting to change the type of the screw 32.

[0070] Furthermore, according to the above embodiment, when it is determined that the screw 32 has been replaced, the execution of the injection process is prohibited until the type of screw 32 is input through the screw setting screen, thereby preventing the injection process from being executed under injection conditions that are not suitable for the newly inserted screw 32.

[0071] Furthermore, according to the above embodiment, when it is determined that the screw 32 has been replaced, a screw setting screen is displayed on the display input device 67, thereby prompting the input of the type of the new screw 32. However, the screw setting screen may also be displayed by the operator operating the display input device 67.

[0072] Furthermore, according to the above embodiment, by displaying the installed screw on the screw details screen, the operator can check at any time the type of the screw 32 inserted in the heating cylinder 31. Furthermore, by displaying the specifications and limit values ​​of the screw 32 in addition to the type of the screw 32 on the screw details screen, the operator can obtain hints for appropriately updating the molding conditions.

[0073] Furthermore, according to the above embodiment, among the multiple parameters included in the molding conditions, a parameter that exceeds a limit value (e.g., injection speed=40) is displayed in a different manner from the other parameters on the injection condition setting screen. This allows the operator to recognize the parameters that need to be changed when replacing the screw 32.

[0074] The above-described embodiments are illustrative examples of the present invention, and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention to these embodiments. Those skilled in the art can implement the present invention in various other forms without departing from the gist of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0075] 10... injection molding machine, 11... base member, 12... rotating shaft, 20... mold clamping device, 21... mold, 22... fixed side mold, 23... fixed die plate, 24... movable side mold, 25... movable die plate, 26... toggle link mechanism, 27... tie bar, 28... mold opening and closing motor, 30... injection device, 31... heating cylinder, 32... screw, 33... hopper, 34... hopper block, 35... resin passage, 36... nozzle, 37... injection motor, 38... metering motor, 39... rotating mechanism, 60... control device, 61... CPU, 62... memory, 64... rotary encoder, 65... load cell, 66... ​​attitude sensor, 67... display input device

Claims

1. A molding machine including an injection device that injects a molding material into a cavity of a clamped mold and a control device that controls the injection device, The injection device is The molding machine includes a heating cylinder filled with a molding material, and a screw that moves forward and backward inside the heating cylinder to inject the molding material filled in the heating cylinder, the heating cylinder is configured to be movable with respect to the mold between a communicating position in which a tip of the heating cylinder communicates with the mold that has been clamped and a separating position in which the tip of the heating cylinder is separated from the mold, and to be rotatable around a rotation axis between the separating position in which the screw cannot be inserted or removed and a rotating position in which the screw can be inserted or removed; The molding machine further includes a sensor for detecting a posture of the injection unit. the control device determines that the screw in the heating cylinder has been replaced in response to detection by the sensor that the injection device has rotated from the separated position to the rotating position and then returned to the separated position again.

2. an input device for receiving an input operation by an operator; The control device includes: when it is determined that the screw has been replaced, prohibiting injection of molding material until the type of the screw inserted into the heating cylinder is input through the input device; 2. The molding machine according to claim 1, wherein, when the type of the screw is input through the input device, the input type of the screw is stored in a memory and injection of the molding material is permitted.

3. A display device for displaying information is provided, The molding machine according to claim 2, characterized in that, when the control device determines that the screw has been replaced, it displays on the display device a screen prompting the user to input the type of the screw through the input device.

4. A display device for displaying information is provided, 3. The molding machine according to claim 2, wherein the control device displays the type of the screw stored in the memory on the display device in accordance with an instruction from an operator via the input device.

5. The memory includes: Molding conditions input through the input device; storing limit values ​​of the molding conditions in association with each type of the screw that can be inserted into the heating cylinder; The molding machine according to claim 2, characterized in that the control device notifies the need to change the molding conditions when it determines that the molding conditions stored in the memory exceed the limit value corresponding to the type of the screw stored in the memory.

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