Molding machine and molding method, and injection device and method for manufacturing the same

Abstract

To provide a molding machine adaptable to various molding processes.SOLUTION: The injection molding machine 1 includes an injection device 2 including an injection cylinder 11 extending horizontally and an injection unit 51 attached to the injection cylinder 11, and a mold clamping device 3 including a lower platen 101 to which a lower mold side M1 can be attached, an upper platen 102 to which an upper mold side M2 can be attached, and a platen driving device 103 that drives at least one of the lower platen 101 and the upper platen 102 in the vertical direction. The injection section 51 has an injection nozzle 52, and the angle of the injection nozzle 52 around the central axis CL of the injection cylinder 11 is variable.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a molding machine, a molding method, an injection device, and a manufacturing method thereof. [Background technology]

[0002] A molding machine equipped with a horizontal injection unit and a vertical mold clamping unit is known. Patent Document 1 describes an injection molding machine in which resin is injected downward from the upper plate of the vertical mold clamping unit. The horizontal injection unit has an injection cylinder extending horizontally and an injection nozzle facing downward. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 5349139 specification Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In a molding machine equipped with a horizontal injection unit and a vertical mold clamping unit, it is sometimes desired to inject material from various directions depending on the molding process. An object of the present disclosure is to provide a molding machine that can accommodate various molding processes. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] The molding machine of the present disclosure has an injection device including an injection cylinder extending horizontally and an injection section attached to the injection cylinder. The injection section has an injection nozzle, and the angle of the injection nozzle around the central axis of the injection cylinder is variable. [Effects of the Invention]

[0006] According to the present disclosure, a molding machine capable of handling a variety of molding processes can be provided. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0007] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a molding machine according to a first embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram of the injection device shown in FIG. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of part A in FIG. 2. [Figure 4A] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line BB in FIG. [Figure 4B] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line CC in FIG. [Figure 5] 5A to 5C are schematic diagrams illustrating a manufacturing method of the injection device. [Figure 6] FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram of an injection unit of a comparative example. [Figure 7] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing the operation of the molding machine. [Figure 8] FIG. 10 is a schematic configuration diagram of an injection unit of a molding machine according to a second embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0008] (General configuration of molding machine) An embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following description and drawings, the axial direction of the injection cylinder is defined as the X direction, and the vertical direction is defined as the Y direction. The X direction is horizontal and perpendicular to the Y direction. The forward direction of the injection cylinder (toward the mold clamping unit) is defined as the +X direction, the backward direction of the injection cylinder (away from the mold clamping unit) is defined as the -X direction, the upward vertical direction is defined as the +Y direction, and the downward vertical direction is defined as the -Y direction. The molding machine 1 of this embodiment can produce molded products from a resin material, but the material is not limited, and may be metal, for example. Figure 1 shows a schematic configuration diagram of a molding machine 1 according to a first embodiment. The molding machine 1 has an injection unit 2, a mold clamping unit 3, and a control unit 4.

[0009] (Schematic configuration of injection unit 2) Fig. 2 is a schematic diagram of the injection device 2, Fig. 3 is an enlarged view of part A in Fig. 2, Fig. 4A is a cross-sectional view taken along line BB in Fig. 3, and Fig. 4B is a cross-sectional view taken along line CC in Fig. 3. The injection device 2 is a horizontal injection device equipped with an injection cylinder 11 having a central axis C in the X direction. As shown in Fig. 3, an internal space 18 of the injection cylinder 11 accommodates a screw 12 which has a central axis in the X direction and moves in the X direction.

[0010] An injection unit 51 equipped with an injection nozzle 52 is fixed to the end of the injection cylinder 11 in the +X direction. As shown in FIG. 3, the injection cylinder 11 has a circular recess 13 at the end in the +X direction, and the recess 13 has an internal thread 14 extending in the X direction for fixing the injection unit 51. The internal thread 14 is not formed on a portion of the side of the recess 13 near the bottom surface 16, forming a smooth surface 15. The bottom surface 16 of the recess 13 is flat. As shown in FIG. 2, a material supply unit 17 composed of a hopper (not shown) or the like is provided near the end of the injection cylinder 11 in the -X direction.

[0011] Unlike a typical horizontal injection device, the injection device 2 of this embodiment can inject material in the -Y direction. To this end, the injection device 2 has a vertical movement device 31 that moves the injection cylinder 11 in the Y direction. The injection device 2 also has a horizontal movement device 41 that moves the injection cylinder 11 in the X direction, a drive device (not shown) that rotates the screw 12, and a drive device (not shown) that drives the screw 12 in the X direction inside the injection cylinder 11. The injection cylinder 11, the horizontal movement device 41, and the two drive devices are installed on the upper base 21 and can move in the X direction along guide rails 46 installed on the upper base 21. The vertical movement device 31 is installed on the lower base 22 and is connected to the upper base 21.

[0012] The injection unit 51 has an injection nozzle 52, a support unit 53 that supports the injection nozzle 52, and a flange member 54 attached to the support unit 53. The support unit 53 has a flow path unit 55 with a flow path 57 extending in the X direction, and a nozzle attachment unit 56 that is formed integrally with the flow path unit 55 and to which the injection nozzle 52 is attached. The nozzle attachment unit 56 is provided with a female thread 58 that engages with a male thread 59 provided on the injection nozzle 52, thereby attaching the injection nozzle 52 to the nozzle attachment unit 56. The injection nozzle 52 faces in the -Y direction, and is provided therein with a flow path 60 that extends in the Y direction. The nozzle attachment unit 56 is provided with a flow path 61 that communicates with the flow path 57 and the flow path 60 and extends in the Y direction.

[0013] The orientation of the injection nozzle 52 can be set appropriately depending on the molding process and application of the molding machine 1. That is, the angle θ of the injection nozzle 52 around the central axis CL of the injection cylinder 11 (see FIG. 4A), or the angle θ of the injection nozzle 52 as viewed from the X direction, can be varied within a range of 360° around the central axis CL extending in the X direction of the injection cylinder 11. The solid line in FIG. 4A shows the injection nozzle 52 facing in the -Y direction, but as shown by the dashed line, the angle θ can be adjusted as desired. As viewed from a direction perpendicular to the X and Y directions (i.e., in FIG. 3), the orientation of the injection nozzle 52 is perpendicular to the central axis CL (X direction), but it may face in any direction different from the central axis CL (X direction) (a direction oblique to the central axis CL).

[0014] The flow path portion 55 has a hole 62 that forms part of the flow path 57, and a hole 63 to which the flange member 54 is attached. The holes 62 and 63 extend in the X direction and are concentric, with the diameter of the hole 63 being larger than the diameter of the hole 62. An internal thread 64 is provided on the inner periphery of the hole 63.

[0015] A sleeve holding surface 65 that holds a sleeve 81 (described later) slidably in the X direction is provided in a part of the flow path portion 55. As shown in FIG. 4B, the sleeve holding surface 65 has two arcuate portions 66 facing each other and two flat portions 67 facing each other. The two arcuate portions 66 have the same curvature and are slightly smaller than the inner diameter of the sleeve 81. The two flat portions 67 are parallel to each other. By pressing the two flat portions 67 with hands or a tool (such as a wrench or adjustable wrench), the orientation of the injection nozzle 52 can be adjusted within a 360° range around the central axis CL.

[0016] The flange member 54 includes a cylindrical portion 69 having a male thread 68 formed on its outer circumferential surface, and a disk-shaped flange 70 formed coaxially with the cylindrical portion 69. The diameter of the flange 70 is larger than the diameter of the cylindrical portion 69. The male thread 68 meshes with the female thread 64, thereby screwing and fixing the flange member 54 to the support portion 53. The flange member 54 includes a through hole 71 that passes through the cylindrical portion 69 and the flange 70. The through hole 71 forms the remainder of the flow path 57 and communicates with the internal space 18 of the injection cylinder 11. The through hole 71 is coaxial with the hole 62, and the diameter of the through hole 71 and the diameter of the hole 62 may be the same.

[0017] The tip of the cylindrical portion 69 may be in close contact with the bottom of the hole 63 of the flow path portion 55. As a result, the tip of the cylindrical portion 69 and the bottom of the hole 63 form a sealing surface that prevents material from leaking from the injection cylinder 11. The female thread 64 is formed up to just before the bottom of the hole 63, and the side of the hole 63 forms a smooth surface between the female thread 64 and the bottom of the hole 63. In addition, the male thread 68 is formed up to just before the tip of the cylindrical portion 69, and the side of the cylindrical portion 69 forms a smooth surface between the male thread 68 and the tip of the cylindrical portion 69. These smooth surfaces form an interlocking structure.

[0018] The flange 70 has two surfaces facing in opposite directions in the X direction, namely, a cylinder-opposing surface 72 that faces the bottom surface 16 of the recessed portion 13 of the injection cylinder 11, and a sleeve-opposing surface 73 that faces the sleeve 81. In the assembled injection device 2, the cylinder-opposing surface 72 abuts against the bottom surface 16 of the recessed portion 13 of the injection cylinder 11, and the sleeve-opposing surface 73 abuts against the sleeve 81. The inner peripheral portion of the cylinder-opposing surface 72 is chamfered to allow the screw 12 to enter.

[0019] The cylinder opposing surface 72 is a flat surface that abuts against the bottom surface 16 of the recessed portion 13 of the injection cylinder 11, and the cylinder opposing surface 72 is pressed against the bottom surface 16 of the recessed portion 13. As a result, the cylinder opposing surface 72 and the bottom surface 16 of the recessed portion 13 form a sealing surface that prevents material from leaking from the injection cylinder 11. The sleeve opposing surface 73 is a flat surface that is pressed against the sleeve 81. The flange 70 is inserted into the recessed portion 13 of the injection cylinder 11 by fitting with the smooth surface 15 on the side surface of the recessed portion 13.

[0020] The injection device 2 has a sleeve 81 that fixes the injection unit 51 to the injection cylinder 11. The sleeve 81 is a hollow cylindrical member and has a male thread 82 on its outer surface that engages with the female thread 14 of the recess 13 of the injection unit 51. The inner surface of the sleeve 81 is a smooth circular surface, and the inner diameter of the inner surface of the sleeve 81 is slightly larger than the diameter of the sleeve holding surface 65. A small gap G is provided between the inner surface of the sleeve 81 and the sleeve holding surface 65. This gap G allows the sleeve 81 to slide in the X direction relative to the sleeve holding surface 65 during assembly of the injection unit 51 and when the sleeve 81 is loosened. The end of the sleeve 81 in the +X direction is outside the recess 13 of the injection cylinder 11 and has a polygonal cross section, such as a hexagon. This allows the sleeve 81 to be easily turned by hand or with a tool.

[0021] As will be explained in more detail later in the manufacturing method of the injection device 2, by tightening the sleeve 81, the flange 70 is sandwiched between the sleeve 81 and the injection cylinder 11, and the rotation of the injection part 51 is locked. On the other hand, by loosening the sleeve 81, the lock of the injection part 51 is released, and the injection part 51 becomes rotatable.

[0022] (Vertical movement device 31) 2, the vertical movement device 31 has a plurality of nuts 32 and a plurality of ball screws 33 that mesh with each of the plurality of nuts 32. The plurality of nuts 32 are supported by long nut support parts 34 attached to the upper base 21, and their relative positions in the Y direction with respect to the upper base 21 are fixed. A guide member 35 that guides the nuts 32 and the nut support parts 34 in the Y direction is attached to the lower base 22. The vertical movement device 31 has a drive part 36 that rotates the plurality of ball screws 33. The drive part 36 is attached to the lower base 22.

[0023] The drive unit 36 ​​has a rotatable rod 37, a plurality of bevel gears 38A attached to the rod 37, and a handle 39 provided at one end of the rod 37. Each ball screw 33 has a bevel gear 38B that meshes with the bevel gear 38A. Turning the rod 37 with the handle 39 rotates the bevel gear 38A, which in turn rotates the bevel gear 38B that meshes with the bevel gear 38A, thereby rotating the ball screw 33. The rotation of the ball screw 33 moves the nut 32, the nut support 34, and the upper base 21 in the Y direction, which in turn moves the injection cylinder 11 in the Y direction.

[0024] (Horizontal movement device 41) The horizontal movement device 41 has a nut 42, a ball screw 43 that meshes with the nut 42, and a motor 44 that rotates the ball screw 43. The nut 42 is fixed to a plate 45 that is connected to the injection cylinder 11 via the material supply unit 17, and its position in the X direction relative to the injection cylinder 11 is fixed. A linear guide block 47 connected to the plate 45 runs on a guide rail 46. The movement mechanism of the injection cylinder 11 is not limited to a linear guide mechanism using the guide rail 46 and the linear guide block 47, and may be a mechanism using a slide shoe, a tire, a roller, or the like.

[0025] The +X end of the ball screw 43 is rotatably supported by a bearing 48 fixed to the upper base 21, and the −X end is connected via a coupling 49 to a motor 44 fixed to the upper base 21. When the motor 44 is driven, the ball screw 43 rotates, and the nut 42 moves in the X direction along the ball screw 43, thereby moving the injection cylinder 11 in the X direction.

[0026] (Manufacturing method of injection device 2) Next, a manufacturing method of the injection device 2 will be described. The manufacturing method of the injection device 2 is generally similar to that of a general horizontal injection device, so here, a method of attaching the injection unit 51 that is unique to this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 5. First, the injection unit 51 and the sleeve 81 are assembled. The injection nozzle 52, the support unit 53, the flange member 54, and the sleeve 81 are prepared (step S1), and the injection nozzle 52 is screwed to the support unit 53. The sleeve 81 is fitted into the support unit 53, and then the flange member 54 is screwed to the support unit 53 (step S2). The sleeve 81 is sandwiched between the support unit 53 and the flange member 54, but is slidable in the X direction relative to the support unit 53. The step of screwing the injection nozzle 52 to the support unit 53 may be performed at any time between steps S2 to S4.

[0027] Next, the injection part 51 is inserted into the recess 13 of the injection cylinder 11 (step S3). Because the outer diameter of the flange 70 is slightly smaller than the inner diameter of the recess 13, the injection part 51 can be inserted into the recess 13 in a stable position. At this time, the injection nozzle 52 is adjusted to a direction different from the X direction (in this embodiment, the -Y direction). The subsequent steps can be performed while maintaining the direction of the injection nozzle 52 in the -Y direction. The direction of the injection nozzle 52 can be easily maintained by pressing the two flat surfaces 67 of the sleeve holding surface 65 with your hands or a tool (such as a wrench or adjustable wrench).

[0028] Once the injection unit 51 has been inserted into the recess 13 to a certain extent, the sleeve 81 is moved in the -X direction along the sleeve holding surface 65. Once the male thread 82 of the sleeve 81 abuts against the female thread 14 of the recess 13 of the injection cylinder 11, the sleeve 81 is rotated to mate the male thread 82 of the sleeve 81 with the female thread 14 (step S4). The sleeve 81 is rotated to move further in the -X direction. Once the sleeve 81 abuts against the sleeve-facing surface 73 of the flange 70, the injection unit 51 is also pushed by the sleeve 81 and moves in the -Y direction.

[0029] The sleeve 81 is further rotated and tightened until both surfaces 72, 73 of the flange 70 in the Y direction abut against the bottom surface 16 of the recess 13 of the injection cylinder 11 and the sleeve 81 (step S5). Through the above steps, the injection unit 51 can be attached to the injection cylinder 11 with the injection nozzle 52 facing in the -Y direction. The timing at which the sleeve 81 abuts against the flange 70 is not limited to the example described above, and may be any timing between steps S2 and S3 (i.e., the initial position of the sleeve 81 is not limited).

[0030] 6 shows an injection part 151 of a comparative example. The flange member 54 and sleeve 81 are not included, and the support part 153 is directly screwed to the injection cylinder 11 by the male thread 114. As in this embodiment, the injection nozzle 152 is fixed to the support part 153 before the injection part 151 is screwed to the injection cylinder 11.

[0031] When the support part 153 is screwed into the injection cylinder 11, the support part 153 rotates, causing the injection nozzle 152 to rotate as well. Therefore, when the support part 153 is screwed completely into the injection cylinder 11, or when the support part 153 is screwed into the injection cylinder 11 until the specified tightening torque is applied, the direction of the injection nozzle 152 is uncertain. If the support part 153 is screwed into the injection cylinder 11 and then rotated in the opposite direction to orient the injection nozzle 152 in the -Y direction, the support part 153 cannot be securely fixed to the injection cylinder 11, or cannot be screwed in with the specified torque. As a result, the surface pressure between the bottom 16 of the recess 13 of the injection cylinder 11 and the end face of the support part 153 in the -X direction is not ensured, which could result in material leakage.

[0032] In this embodiment, the injection unit 51 is fixed to the injection cylinder 11 via the sleeve 81 and flange 70, so the orientation of the injection nozzle 52 can be freely adjusted, and the injection nozzle 52 can be reliably pointed in the desired direction with a simple procedure. The injection unit 51 can also be easily replaced by reversing the procedure shown in Figure 5. Furthermore, because the injection unit 51 can be freely rotated simply by loosening the sleeve 81, it is easy to adjust or change the orientation of the injection nozzle 52 depending on the molding process.

[0033] (Schematic configuration of mold clamping device 3) Referring to FIG. 1, the mold clamping unit 3 is a vertical mold clamping unit and includes a lower platen 101 to which a lower mold M1 can be attached, an upper platen 102 to which an upper mold M2 can be attached and which is movable in the Y direction, a platen drive unit 103 that drives the upper platen 102 in the Y direction, and a guide rod 104 that guides the lower platen 101 and the upper platen 102. The platen drive unit 103 can be configured with a toggle mechanism (not shown), a hydraulic mechanism, or the like. Since the lower platen 101 is fixed and the upper platen 102 is movable in the Y direction, the molding method described below can be easily performed. Note that the platen drive unit 103 may be configured to drive at least one of the lower platen 101 and the upper platen 102 in the vertical direction.

[0034] (Motion of molding machine 1) The operation of the molding machine 1 will be described with reference to Figure 7. The operations of the injection unit 2 and the mold clamping unit 3 described below are mainly controlled by the control device 4. First, the lower mold M1 is fixed to the lower platen 101, and the upper mold M2 is fixed to the upper platen 102. The control device 4 controls the mold clamping unit 3 so that the upper mold M2 is maintained apart from the lower mold M1 (step P1). Next, the control device 4 controls the injection unit 2 so that the injection nozzle 52 enters between the upper platen 102 and the lower platen 101 (step P2). Next, the control device 4 controls the injection unit 2 so that the injection nozzle 52 injects the material P from the injection nozzle 52 into the recess M3 of the lower mold M1 (steps P3 and P4).

[0035] After the material P is injected from the injection nozzle 52, the control device 4 controls the injection device 2 so that the injection nozzle 52 retreats above the lower platen 101, i.e., from between the upper platen 102 and the lower platen 101, in the -X direction (Step P5). Next, the control device 4 lowers the upper platen 102 and controls the mold clamping device 3 so that the upper mold M2 comes into close contact with the lower mold M1 (Step P6). A cavity M4 is formed between the upper mold M2 and the lower mold M1, and the material P is pressed between the upper mold M2 and the lower mold M1 to be molded into the shape of the cavity M4. Next, the control device 4 lifts the upper platen 102 and controls the mold clamping device 3 so that the upper mold M2 moves away from the lower mold M1 (Step P7). Finally, the control device 4 controls the mold clamping device 3 so that the molded product R is removed from the recess M3 of the lower mold M1 (Step P8).

[0036] The above molding method can also be performed using an injection nozzle parallel to the X direction. However, the material P must land accurately at a predetermined landing point (for example, the center of the recess M3) in the recess M3 of the lower mold M1. Since the material P flies parabolically with velocity components in the X and Y directions from when it is injected until it lands, it is necessary to accurately control the injection nozzle position (the distances in the X and Y directions between the injection nozzle and the landing point) and the injection speed. Therefore, when an injection nozzle parallel to the X direction is used, repeated trial and error is required. In this embodiment, the injection nozzle 52 is positioned directly above the landing point, making it easy for the material P to land at the landing point.

[0037] (Second embodiment) Next, a molding machine 1 according to a second embodiment of the present disclosure will be described. Configurations and effects that will not be described are the same as those of the first embodiment. FIG. 8 shows a schematic configuration of an injection unit 2 of a molding machine 1 according to the second embodiment. A drive unit 36 ​​has a plurality of pulleys 91 attached to each of a plurality of ball screws 33, a belt 92 wound around the plurality of pulleys 91, and a motor 93 that drives the belt 92. By driving the motor 93, the belt 92 rotates along the plurality of pulleys 91, thereby rotating the ball screw 33. Subsequent operations are the same as those of the first embodiment.

[0038] Although not shown in the drawings, the pulley 91 may be rotated by a manual mechanism such as the handle 39 in the first embodiment, or in the first embodiment, a motor may be used instead of the handle 39. In other words, the means for rotating the handle 39 or the pulley 91 may be manual or may be powered. [Explanation of symbols]

[0039] 1 Molding machine 2 Injection device 3 Mold clamping device 4. Control device 11 Injection cylinder 13 Recess 31 Vertical movement device 32 Nut 33 Ball screw 36 Drive unit 37 Rod 38A, 38B bevel gears 39 Handle 41 Horizontal movement device 51 Injection part 52 Injection nozzle 53 Support part 54 Flange member 70 flange 81 Sleeve 91 Pulley 92 Belt 93 Motor 101 Lower board 102 Upper Hand Type 103 disc drive device CL central axis M1 Lower Gold Type M2 Gold Type

Claims

1. an injection device including an injection cylinder extending in a horizontal direction and an injection unit attached to the injection cylinder; a mold clamping device including a lower platen on which a lower mold can be attached, an upper platen on which an upper mold can be attached, and a platen drive device that drives at least one of the lower platen and the upper platen in a vertical direction; The injection section has an injection nozzle, and the angle of the injection nozzle around the central axis of the injection cylinder is variable.

2. 2. The molding machine of claim 1, wherein the angle of the injection nozzle is variable within a range of 360 degrees around the central axis.

3. The molding machine according to claim 1 , wherein the injection section enters between the upper mold and the lower mold and injects the material into the lower mold while the upper mold and the lower mold are separated from each other.

4. 4. The molding machine according to claim 3, further comprising a control unit that controls the mold clamping device and the injection unit so that, when the upper mold and the lower mold are separated from each other, the injection unit enters between the upper mold and the lower mold and injects material into the lower mold.

5. 5. The molding machine according to claim 4, wherein the control unit controls the mold clamping device and the injection unit so that after the injection unit injects the material, the injection unit retracts from above the lower platen, the upper mold and the lower mold come into close contact with each other after the injection unit has retracted, and then the upper mold and the lower mold are separated in the vertical direction.

6. The molding machine according to claim 1 , wherein the mold clamping device drives the upper platen in the vertical direction.

7. the injection cylinder has a recess at its tip in the horizontal direction, the recess having an internal thread extending in the horizontal direction; the injection nozzle faces a direction different from the horizontal direction, the injection device has a sleeve that fixes the injection part to the injection cylinder, 7. The molding machine according to claim 1, wherein the sleeve has a male thread that meshes with the female thread, and the injection section has a flange whose both surfaces in the horizontal direction abut against a bottom surface of the recess of the injection cylinder and the sleeve.

8. The injection unit includes: the injection nozzle; a support portion that supports the injection nozzle and that includes a flow path that communicates with the injection nozzle; The molding machine according to claim 7 , further comprising: a flange member attached to the support portion, the flange including a through hole communicating with the flow path and an internal space of the injection cylinder.

9. The molding machine according to claim 8 , wherein the flange member is fixed to the support portion by screws.

10. 8. The molding machine according to claim 7, wherein the injection nozzle faces vertically downward.

11. a vertical movement device that moves the injection cylinder in the vertical direction, The vertical movement device is a plurality of nuts whose relative positions in the vertical direction are fixed with respect to the injection cylinder; a plurality of ball screws extending in the vertical direction and meshing with the plurality of nuts, respectively; The molding machine according to claim 1 , further comprising: a ball screw drive unit that rotates the plurality of ball screws.

12. the ball screw drive unit includes a rotatable rod, a plurality of bevel gears attached to the rod and meshing with the plurality of ball screws, respectively, and a means for rotating the rod, the means being provided at one end of the rod; The molding machine of claim 11 , wherein the plurality of ball screws have a plurality of bevel gears that mesh with the plurality of bevel gears.

13. 12. The molding machine according to claim 11, wherein the ball screw drive unit comprises a plurality of pulleys attached to each of the plurality of ball screws, a belt wound around the plurality of pulleys, and a means for driving the belt.

14. a horizontal movement device that moves the injection cylinder in the horizontal direction; 2. The molding machine according to claim 1, wherein the horizontal movement device comprises a nut whose position in the horizontal direction relative to the injection cylinder is fixed, a ball screw that meshes with the nut, and a rotation drive unit for the ball screw.

15. an injection device including an injection cylinder extending in a horizontal direction and an injection unit attached to the injection cylinder; a mold clamping device including a lower platen on which a lower mold can be attached, an upper platen on which an upper mold can be attached, and a platen drive device that drives at least one of the upper platen and the lower platen in a vertical direction; A molding machine in which, while the upper mold and the lower mold are separated, the injection section enters between the upper mold and the lower mold and injects material into the lower mold.

16. an injection cylinder having a recess at a tip end in an axial direction, the recess having a female screw extending in the axial direction; an injection unit having an injection nozzle facing in a direction different from the axial direction; a sleeve that fixes the injection portion to the injection cylinder, the sleeve has a male thread that meshes with the female thread, and the injection portion has a flange on both sides in the axial direction that abuts against the bottom surface of the recess of the injection cylinder and the sleeve.

17. an injection cylinder having a recess at a tip end in an axial direction, the recess having a female screw extending in the axial direction; an injection unit including an injection nozzle facing a direction different from the axial direction and a flange positioned between the sleeve and a bottom surface of the recess of the injection cylinder in the axial direction; a sleeve having a male thread that meshes with the female thread and that fixes the injection unit to the injection cylinder, adjusting the injection nozzle to a direction different from the axial direction; While maintaining the orientation, tightening the male screw until two surfaces of the flange in the axial direction abut against a bottom surface of the recess of the injection cylinder and the sleeve; A manufacturing method comprising the steps of:

18. Injecting material from an injection nozzle of an injection device into a lower mold attached to a lower platen; After the injection nozzle has injected the material, the injection nozzle is retracted from above the lower platen, and an upper mold attached to the upper platen and the lower mold are brought into close contact with each other. After the upper mold and the lower mold are brought into close contact with each other, the upper mold and the lower mold are separated in the vertical direction; A molding method comprising the steps of:

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