Wear determination method for friction reducing member and industrial machinery

Abstract

To provide a wear determination method capable of determining a wear state of a friction reducing member arranged in a movable member without disassembly of the movable member.SOLUTION: A wear state of a friction reducing member, i.e., a bush (35), that rotatably connects a movable member (15, 16, 18) provided in an industrial machinery (1), is determined by a color of grease (50, 51) externally leaked from the bush (35) and a pin (36).SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a wear determination method for determining a wear state of a friction reduction member provided on a movable member provided in an industrial machine and adapted to reduce friction. Although not limited thereto, in a movable member rotatably provided via a pin and a bush, the bush corresponds to the friction reduction member.

Background Art

[0002] Industrial machines include various types such as extruders, presses, NC machine tools, etc. For example, the injection molding machine described in Patent Document 1 is also an industrial machine. Industrial machines are provided with movable members, and the movable members are rotatably connected by, for example, bushes and pins. In the case of an injection molding machine, it includes a mold clamping device for clamping the mold and an injection device for injecting resin. When the mold clamping device is toggle type, a plurality of toggle links constituting the toggle mechanism become movable members. The toggle links are rotatably connected to each other by bushes and pins. The bush can be called a friction reduction member that reduces the friction of the movable member.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

[0004] Grease is supplied between the bush and the pin connecting the movable member, and wear is suppressed. The grease gradually leaks to the outside from the gap between the bush and the pin. Therefore, an industrial machine is provided with a grease supply device, and the bush is regularly supplied with grease by the grease supply device.

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] Since grease is supplied to the bush, wear of the bush and the pin is suppressed, but wear gradually progresses due to long-term operation. When the amount of wear increases, it is necessary to replace the bush and the pin as appropriate. However, it is impossible to visually confirm the degree of wear from the outside, and it is necessary to disassemble the movable member and directly measure the dimensions of the bush and the pin to determine the wear state. The movable member must be disassembled, and the operation is dangerous and complicated.

[0006] In the present disclosure, there is provided a wear determination method capable of determining the wear state of a friction reducing member provided on a movable member without disassembling the movable member.

[0007] Other problems and novel features will become apparent from the description of this specification and the accompanying drawings.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0008] The present disclosure is configured as a wear determination method for determining the wear state of a friction reducing member provided on a movable member of an industrial machine and adapted to reduce friction. Grease is supplied to the friction reducing member, and the wear state is determined based on the color of the grease leaked to the outside.

Effects of the Invention

[0009] The present disclosure can determine the wear state of the friction reducing member without disassembling the movable member.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0010]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6A

Figure 6B

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0011] Hereinafter, specific embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to the following embodiments. For clarity of explanation, the following description and drawings are appropriately simplified. In each drawing, the same elements are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant explanations are omitted as necessary. In addition, there are parts where hatching is omitted so that the drawings do not become complicated.

[0012] [First Embodiment] <Injection Molding Machine> The wear determination method of the friction reduction member according to the first embodiment targets industrial machines, and here, an injection molding machine will be described as a representative example of industrial machines. The injection molding machine 1 according to the present embodiment is a so-called vertical injection molding machine, and as shown in FIG. 1, it includes a mold clamping device 2 and an injection device 3 provided on the mold clamping device 2.

[0013] <Mold Clamping Device> The mold clamping device 2 includes a fixed platen 5 fixed to the bed 4, an upper movable platen 6 provided above the fixed platen 5, and a lower movable platen 7 provided in the bed 4. The upper movable platen 6 and the lower movable platen 7 are connected by a plurality of, for example, three tie bars 9, 9,.... A toggle mechanism 10 is provided between the lower movable platen 7 and the fixed platen 5. A lower mold 12 is provided on the fixed platen 5, and an upper mold 13 is provided on the upper movable platen 6, respectively.

[0014] <Toggle Mechanism> The toggle mechanism 10 is composed of a plurality of links. That is, it includes upper links 15, 15 on the fixed platen 5 side, lower links 16, 16 on the lower movable platen 7 side, and cross links 18, 18 connected thereto. One end of each of the upper links 15, 15 and the lower links 16, 16 is connected by connecting means 22a, 22b,... to be described later. And the other ends of the upper links 15, 15 and the lower links 16, 16 are connected to each other and to the cross links 18, 18 by connecting means 22c, 22c. The toggle mechanism 10 includes a cross head 19, and the cross links 18, 18 and the cross head 19 are connected by connecting means 22d, 22d.

[0015] A ball screw 23 is fixed to the cross head 19, and a ball nut 24 that engages with the ball screw 23 is provided rotatably with respect to the lower movable platen 7 and is rotated by a drive mechanism 25. Therefore, when the drive mechanism 25 is driven to rotate the ball nut 24, the ball screw 23 is driven in the axial direction. Thereby, the cross head 19 is driven and the toggle mechanism 10 flexes. That is, the mold clamping device 2 opens and closes the mold. The toggle links 15, 16, 18,... constituting the toggle mechanism 10 are movable members that are rotatably connected to each other.

[0016] <Injection device> In the vertical injection molding machine 1, the injection device 3 is provided on the upper movable platen 6. The injection device 3 includes a heating cylinder 28 and a screw 29 placed in the heating cylinder 28. An injection nozzle 32 is provided at the tip of the heating cylinder 28, and heaters 31, 31,... are provided on the outer peripheral surface. When the heating cylinder 28 is heated by the heaters 31, 31 and a material is supplied into the heating cylinder 28 from a hopper (not shown in the figure) to rotate the screw 29, the material is melted and metered. When the screw 29 is driven, the molten injection material is injected into the molds 12, 13.

[0017] <Connecting means> Regarding the connecting means 22a, 22b, … that connect the toggle links 15, 16, 18, taking the connecting means 22c, 22d that connect the cross link 18 as an example, it will be described with reference to FIG. 2. The connecting means 22c, 22d are composed of friction reduction members according to the first embodiment to be described below, that is, bushes 35c, 35d and pins 36c, 36d. The cross link 18 has bush insertion holes 38c, 38d, and the bushes 35c, 35d are fitted therein. When the toggle links 15, 16, 18 rotate relative to each other, the pins 36c, 36d rotate and slide relative to the bushes 35c, 35d. The connecting means 22c, 22d are regularly greased from a grease dispenser 40 equipped with a grease metering valve via grease pipes 41, 41.

[0018] <Bush> Regarding the bushes 35c, 35d, … which are friction reduction members according to the first embodiment, taking the bush 35c as an example, it will be described with reference to FIG. 3. The bush 35c has a bush body 43 formed in a cylindrical shape from a metal such as cast iron, copper alloy, or aluminum alloy. A plurality of holes 45, 45, … are formed in the bush body 43, and grease coloring means, that is, coloring material parts 47, 47, … that color the grease when worn, are inserted into these holes 45, 45, …. The coloring material parts 47, 47, … are made of a material that is softer than the metal forming the bush body 43 and colors the grease when worn. The coloring material parts 47, 47, … are more likely to wear than the bush body 43, and any material type may be used as long as it colors the grease when worn.

[0019] <Function> Operate the injection molding machine 1 (see Fig. 1) according to the first embodiment. The toggle mechanism 10 repeats flexion and extension. As already described, since the grease is regularly supplied to the connecting means 22a, 22b,... of the movable members, that is, the toggle links 15, 16, 18 (see Fig. 2), it gradually leaks to the outside. The leaked grease 50, 51 is shown in Fig. 4. When the wear of the bushes 35c, 35d,... and the pins 36c, 36d,... has not progressed, the leaked grease 50, 51 is close to the original color of the grease. That is, it is light yellow or brown.

[0020] However, when the bushes 35c, 35d,... which are friction reducing members, are worn even slightly, the grease coloring means, that is, the coloring material parts 47, 47,... (see Fig. 3) are worn. Then, the leaked grease 50, 51 will be colored. In Fig. 4, the grease 50 is relatively light in color, while the grease 51 is dark in color. It can be determined that the bush 35d and the pin 36d are likely to be worn. Disassemble the toggle mechanism 10 and replace the bush 35d and the pin 36d which are likely to be worn.

[0021] [Modification of the First Embodiment] The first embodiment can be modified, and the bushes 35c, 35d,... can be deformed. Fig. 5 shows a bush 55 according to a modification of the first embodiment. The bush 55 is composed of a cylindrical bush body 56 made of metal and grease coloring means, that is, coloring material parts 58, 58 provided at both ends of the bush body 56. The coloring material parts 58, 58 may be made of any material as long as they are softer than the metal forming the bush body 56 and are made of a material that colors the grease when worn. The coloring material parts 58, 58 have holes 61, 61 having the same diameter as the inner diameter of the bush body 56 or a slightly larger diameter. The bush 55 according to the modification of the present embodiment can also color the grease and determine the wear state when it is worn even slightly due to long-term operation.

[0022] [Second Embodiment] A second embodiment will be described. The injection molding machine according to the second embodiment is configured in the same manner as the injection molding machine 1 according to the present embodiment shown in FIG. 1, except for a part thereof. Therefore, the description of the injection molding machine according to the second embodiment will be omitted. FIG. 6A shows a part of the mold clamping device 2' of the injection molding machine according to the second embodiment. Three tie bars 9', 9',... are provided in the mold clamping device 2' according to the second embodiment. A turntable 70 that slides rotationally is provided on the fixed platen 5, and the turntable 70 rotates around one tie bar 9'. Friction reduction plates 72, 72,... described below are provided on the fixed platen 5. The turntable 70 slides with respect to these friction reduction plates 72, 72,...

[0023] <Friction reduction plate> The friction reduction plate 72, which is a friction reduction member according to the second embodiment, is made of a metal plate with a predetermined area as shown in FIG. 6B. The friction reduction plate 72 is formed from a sintered material containing a solid lubricant. Alternatively, the surface layer 74 of the friction reduction plate 72 is formed from a sintered material containing a solid lubricant. Four bolt holes 73, 73,... are drilled in the friction reduction plate 72 so as to be fixed to the fixed platen 5 (see FIG. 6A). Since the solid lubricant is sintered in the friction reduction plate 72, the friction between the friction reduction plate 72 and the turntable 70 can be reduced without supplying grease. However, in the second embodiment, grease is also supplied to the friction reduction plate 72.

[0024] That is, a grease supply hole 75 is drilled in the friction reduction plate 72 so that grease is supplied from the back side of the friction reduction plate 72. Grease supply grooves 77, 78 are formed on its surface. This makes it difficult for the grease to flow out from the surface. Grease is supplied to the friction reduction plates 72, 72,... by a grease dispenser 40, grease pipes 41, 41,... as shown in FIG. 6A. A little grease leaks out from the surface of the friction reduction plate 72 to the outside.

[0025] In the friction reduction plate 72 according to the second embodiment, coloring material components 80, 80,... are embedded as shown in FIG. 6B. That is, holes 81, 81,... are formed on the surface of the friction reduction plate 72, and the coloring material components are provided in these holes 81, 81,.... Therefore, when the wear reduction plate 72 wears, the coloring material components 80, 80,... wear and color the grease. Then, the color of the grease leaking to the outside changes. By observing the color change, the wear state of the friction reduction plate 72 can be determined.

[0026] As described above, the invention made by the present inventor has been specifically described based on the embodiments. However, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments already described, and it goes without saying that various changes can be made without departing from the gist thereof. The plurality of examples described above can also be implemented in appropriate combinations.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0027] 1 Injection molding machine 2 Mold clamping device 3 Injection device 4 Bed 5 Fixed platen 6 Upper movable platen 7 Lower movable platen 9 Tie bar 10 Toggle mechanism 12 Lower mold 13 Upper mold 15 Upper link 16 Lower link 18 Cross link 19 Cross head 22 Connecting means 23 Ball screw 24 Ball nut 28 Heating cylinder 29 Screw 32 Injection nozzle 35 Bush 36 Pin 38 Bush insertion hole 40 Grease distributor 41 Grease pipe 43 Bush body 45 Hole 47 Coloring material component 50, 51 Leaked grease 55 Bush 56 Bush body 58 Coloring material part 70 Turntable 72 Friction reduction plate 73 Bolt hole 74 Surface layer 75 Grease supply hole 78 Grease supply groove 80 Coloring material part 81 Hole

Claims

1. In an industrial machine, for grease supplied to a friction reducing member provided on a movable member where one member is movable relative to another member and is configured to reduce friction, a method for determining the wear state of the friction reducing member based on the color of the grease leaked to the outside.

2. The movable member is rotatably connected to a predetermined member by a bush and a pin, and the bush is the friction reducing member. The method for determining wear of the friction reducing member according to Claim 1.

3. On one member constituting the movable member, a friction reducing plate formed in a flat plate shape and having a solid lubricant sintered at least on the surface is provided on the one member. The other member is slidably provided with respect to the friction reducing plate. The friction reducing plate is the friction reducing member. The method for determining wear of the friction reducing member according to Claim 1.

4. Determining the wear state using grease coloring means that colors the grease when wear of the friction reducing member occurs. The method for determining wear of the friction reducing member according to Claim 1 or 2.

5. The grease coloring means is a coloring material part softer than the material of the friction reducing member, and the coloring material part is embedded or attached to the friction reducing member in advance so that when the friction reducing member wears, the coloring material part wears and the grease is colored. The method for determining wear of the friction reducing member according to Claim 4.

6. A movable member where one member is movable relative to another member, and grease coloring means. The movable member is provided with a friction reducing member for reducing friction. The grease coloring means is configured to color the grease supplied to the friction reducing member and leaking to the outside when the friction reducing member wears. An industrial machine.

7. The movable member is rotatably connected to a predetermined member by a bush and a pin, and the bush is the friction reducing member. The industrial machine according to Claim 6.

8. On one member of the movable member, a friction reducing plate formed in a flat plate shape and having a solid lubricant sintered at least on the surface is provided on a predetermined member. The other member is slidably provided with respect to the friction reducing plate. The friction reducing plate is the friction reducing member. The industrial machine according to Claim 6.

9. The industrial machine according to claim 7, wherein the industrial machine is an injection molding machine, and the movable member is a toggle link constituting a toggle mechanism.

10. The grease coloring means is composed of a coloring material part softer than the material of the friction reducing member. The coloring material part is embedded in or attached to the friction reducing member, and when the friction reducing member wears, the coloring material part wears and the grease is colored. The industrial machine according to claim 6 or 7.

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