Molding machine

Abstract

The present invention provides a molding machine that can suppress errors when referring to change information corresponding to molding conditions. [Solution] The injection molding machine has a storage device 73 that stores change information related to changes in the setting values ​​of setting items, and a control device 78 that displays the change information on a display device 71. The change information is stored in the storage device 73 in correspondence with molding condition information that indicates the molding conditions taken into the control device 78 for molding the molded product at the time the setting value of the setting item is changed. When a selection operation to select molding condition information is input to the input device 72, the control device 78 extracts the change information corresponding to the molding condition information selected by the selection operation from among the multiple change information stored in the storage device 73 and displays it on the display device 71.

Description

Technical Field

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[0001] The present invention relates to a molding machine.

Background Art

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses an example of a management system for a conventional molding machine. The management system has a screen for displaying the change history (change information) of molding conditions. On this screen, the molding condition name and the change information related to the change of the set value included in the molding conditions are displayed in correspondence.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] However, the management system of Patent Document 1 stores the change information on a daily basis, and although the display of the change information can be specified on a daily basis, the change information cannot be displayed for each molding condition name. Therefore, the change information corresponding to a plurality of molding condition names may be displayed in a mixed manner, and when an operator tries to refer to the change information corresponding to a certain molding condition name, there is a risk of accidentally referring to the change information corresponding to a different molding condition name.

[0005] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a molding machine that can suppress errors when referring to change information corresponding to molding conditions.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] To achieve the above objective, the molding machine according to the present invention is a molding machine having a storage device that stores change information relating to a change in the setting value of a setting item, and a control device that displays the change information on a display device, wherein the change information is stored in the storage device in correspondence with molding condition information indicating molding conditions that have been taken into the control device for molding a molded product at the time the setting value of the setting item is changed, and the control device, when a selection operation for selecting the molding condition information is input to an input device, extracts the change information corresponding to the molding condition information selected by the selection operation from the change information stored in the storage device and displays it on the display device. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to the present invention, the system extracts and displays change information corresponding to the selected molding condition information (molding conditions) from the change information stored in the storage device. This allows the user to select one molding condition from among multiple molding conditions and display only the change information corresponding to that condition. Therefore, it avoids the display of mixed change information corresponding to multiple molding conditions, thereby reducing errors when referring to change information corresponding to molding conditions. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0008] [Figure 1] This figure shows a schematic configuration of an injection molding machine according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] This is a functional block diagram of an injection molding machine. [Figure 3] This figure shows an example of an item identification information table stored in the memory of an injection molding machine. [Figure 4] This figure shows an example of a change information table stored in the memory of an injection molding machine. [Figure 5] This figure shows an example of a settings screen displayed on the display device of an injection molding machine. [Figure 6] This figure shows the first example of the setting history screen displayed on the display device of an injection molding machine. [Figure 7]This figure shows a second example of the setting history screen displayed on the display device of an injection molding machine. [Figure 8] This figure shows a third example of the setting history screen displayed on the display device of an injection molding machine. [Figure 9] This figure shows a fourth example of the setting history screen displayed on the display device of an injection molding machine. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0009] Hereinafter, an injection molding machine according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Figures 1 to 9. The injection molding machine plasticizes the resin that will be used as the material for the molded product and injects it into the cavity of the mold to form the molded product.

[0010] As shown in Figure 1, the injection molding machine 1 according to this embodiment has a molding machine body 10 which includes a mold clamping device 2, an injection device 3, and a removal device 4. The molding machine body 10 is placed on a base 5. The injection molding machine 1 also has a control unit 7 which controls the molding machine body 10.

[0011] The mold clamping device 2 opens and closes and clamps the fixed mold 81 and the movable mold 82. The fixed mold 81 and the movable mold 82 form a cavity 83.

[0012] The mold clamping device 2 includes a fixed die plate 21, a movable die plate 22, and a mold clamping drive mechanism 23. A fixed mold 81 is attached to the fixed die plate 21. A movable mold 82 is attached to the movable die plate 22. The mold clamping drive mechanism 23 includes, for example, an electric motor, a ball screw mechanism, and a toggle link mechanism. The mold clamping drive mechanism 23 generates a mold clamping force by clamping the fixed mold 81 and the movable mold 82 in the front-rear direction (left-right direction in Figure 1) using the fixed die plate 21 and the movable die plate 22.

[0013] The injection device 3 includes a cylinder 31, a nozzle 32, a resin supply unit 33, a heater 34, a screw 35, and a screw drive mechanism 36.

[0014] The cylinder 31 has a cylindrical shape. The cylinder 31 is arranged along the front-rear direction. The nozzle 32 is arranged at the tip of the cylinder 31. The resin supply unit 33 is arranged at the rear end of the cylinder 31. The resin supply unit 33 has a hopper in which powdery or granular resin that becomes the material of the molded product is accommodated. The resin supply unit 33 supplies resin to the cylinder 31. The heater �4 is, for example, a band heater and is arranged on the outer peripheral surface of the cylinder 31. The screw 35 is rotatably and axially movable accommodated in the cylinder 31. The screw drive mechanism 36 has, for example, an electric motor and a ball screw mechanism. The screw drive mechanism 36 rotates and axially moves the screw 35.

[0015] The take-out device 4 has an ejector pin (not shown) and a protruding mechanism 41. The protruding mechanism 41 has, for example, an air cylinder. The protruding mechanism 41 drives the ejector pin to remove the molded product from the movable mold 82.

[0016] The control unit 7 controls the operation of the entire injection molding machine 1. As shown in FIG. 2, the control unit 7 has a display device 71, an input device 72, a storage device 73, and a control device 78.

[0017] The display device 71 is, for example, a flat panel display such as a liquid crystal display.

[0018] The input device 72 is, for example, an operation key or a touch panel. The operation key is, for example, a key of a hardware keyboard. The touch panel is arranged over the display surface of the display device 71 and constitutes a software key in combination with a button image, a toggle switch image, etc. displayed on the display surface. Touching (such as tapping an image) a location corresponding to the button image or toggle switch image on the touch panel corresponds to operating the software key, that is, inputting an operation to the input device 72.

[0019] The storage device 73 is, for example, a magnetic disk device or a non-volatile memory.

[0020] The storage device 73 stores multiple molding conditions used for molding a molded product. The molding conditions are stored in a file format that can be read and written by the control device 78. In this embodiment, the name of the molding condition stored in the storage device 73 is the name of the molded product (product name) that is molded using that molding condition. The names of the multiple molding conditions consist of different strings from each other. The control device 78 identifies the molding conditions by their names. The control device 78 may also identify the molding conditions by their file names. The control device 78 reads (i.e., retrieves) one of the multiple molding conditions from the storage device 73 and uses it to mold the molded product.

[0021] The molding conditions include items related to the driving of the mold clamping device 2, injection device 3, and removal device 4 of the injection molding machine 1. The set values ​​for the items included in the molding conditions (molding condition items) are, for example, speed, pressure, temperature, time, and travel distance.

[0022] The storage device 73 stores the item identification information table Ti, as illustrated in Figure 3. The item identification information table Ti includes an item identification information set Ks which contains information (item identification information) for identifying molding condition items and control items not included in the molding conditions, as well as related information. Examples of molding condition items include "initial discharge VP switching" and "back pressure 3". Examples of control items not included in the molding conditions include "language selection setting" and "system volume". In the following description, molding condition items and control items not included in the molding conditions are collectively referred to simply as "setting items S".

[0023] The item identification information set Ks includes item identification information K1, item name K2, and unit K3. Item identification information K1 is information for identifying the setting item S. Item identification information K1 contains a unique number (identification number) assigned to the setting item S. Item name K2 contains the name of the setting item S identified by item identification information K1, and unit K3 contains the unit of the setting value of setting item S. When setting item S has no unit, unit K3 is left blank.

[0024] The storage device 73 stores the change information table Th, as illustrated in Figure 4. The change information table Th includes the change information set Js related to the setting item S.

[0025] The change information set Js includes the number J1, item identification information J2, the setting value before change J3, the setting value after change J4, the change time J5, the user name J6, and the molding condition information J7.

[0026] Number J1 is set to a number indicating the order in which the change information set Js was added to the change information table Th. Item identification information J2 is set to an identification number assigned to the setting item S related to the change information set Js. Pre-change setting value J3 is set to the setting value of setting item S before the change. Post-change setting value J4 is set to the setting value of setting item S after the change (the new setting value). Change time J5 is set to the date and time when the setting value of setting item S was changed, that is, the date and time when a new setting value was set for setting item S. User name J6 is set to the logged-in user name at the time of change time J5. Molding condition information J7 is set to information (molding condition information) indicating the molding conditions that have been taken into the control device 78 for molding the molded product at the time of change time J5. In this embodiment, molding condition information J7 is set to the name of the molding conditions (product name). Molding condition information J7 may also be set to the file name of the molding conditions.

[0027] The control device 78 has a computer. The control device 78 is communicatively connected to the display device 71, the input device 72, and the storage device 73.

[0028] The control device 78 displays various information on the display device 71 and performs operations in response to the input device 72. The display device 71 and the input device 72 may be, for example, a tablet device or a laptop computer connected to the control device 78 via wireless communication.

[0029] The control device 78 is communicatively connected to the mold clamping drive mechanism 23, heater 34, screw drive mechanism 36, and ejection mechanism 41. Based on the molding conditions read from the storage device 73, the control device 78 controls the mold clamping drive mechanism 23, heater 34, screw drive mechanism 36, and ejection mechanism 41, etc., and performs a molding operation to mold a molded product together with the molding machine body 10.

[0030] Next, we will describe the settings screen and settings history screen displayed on the display device 71.

[0031] <Settings screen> The control unit 7 has multiple setting screens for setting values ​​for setting item S. When a predetermined setting screen display operation is input to the input device 72 by the operator, the control device 78 displays the setting screen corresponding to that setting screen display operation on the display device 71.

[0032] Figure 5 shows an example of a settings screen Gs for setting values ​​for molding condition items related to injection and plasticization. The settings screen Gs displays the current settings for the molding condition items related to injection and plasticization.

[0033] When the setting screen Gs is displayed on the display device 71, and the operator inputs an operation to select one molding condition item from among the multiple molding condition items displayed on the setting screen Gs into the input device 72, the control device 78 displays an input screen (not shown) overlaid on the setting screen Gs for inputting the setting value to be set for the selected molding condition item. The input screen may be, for example, a numeric keypad screen or a screen containing a list of configurable values. The operator then uses the input screen to set a new setting value for the molding condition item. When a new setting value is set for a molding condition item, the control device 78 overwrites and updates the molding condition file stored in the storage device 73 that has been acquired at that time. Similar setting screens are also provided for control items that are not included in the molding conditions.

[0034] Then, when a new setting value is set for setting item S, the control device 78 generates a change information set Js related to that setting item S and adds it to the beginning of the change information table Th (the top in Figure 4). In the change information table Th shown in Figure 4, the change information sets Js are arranged from top to bottom in order from the newest change time J5. The change information table Th can contain, for example, 1000 change information sets Js. When the change information table Th is full and the control device 78 generates a new change information set Js, it deletes the oldest change information set Js at the end of the change information table Th and adds the newly generated change information set Js to the beginning of the change information table Th.

[0035] <Settings History Screen> The control unit 7 has a setting history screen Gh for displaying change information related to changes in the setting value of setting item S. When a predetermined setting history display operation is input to the input device 72 by the operator, the control device 78 displays the setting history screen Gh on the display device 71. Figures 6 to 9 show examples of the setting history screen Gh. The setting history screen Gh displays a list of change information related to changes in the setting value of setting item S. The setting history screen Gh is displayed, for example, overlaid on the setting screen Gs.

[0036] The settings history screen Gh includes a molding condition selection button Gh1, a molding condition display unit Gh2, a change information name unit Gh3, and a change information display unit Gh4.

[0037] The molding condition selection button Gh1 and the molding condition display unit Gh2 are arranged horizontally at the top of the setting history screen Gh.

[0038] The molding condition selection button Gh1 is a button for displaying the input screen Gi. The operator uses the input screen Gi to select molding conditions corresponding to the change information to be displayed on the setting history screen Gh. When the control device 78 receives an input from the input device 72 to tap the molding condition selection button Gh1 while the input screen Gi is not displayed, it displays the input screen Gi overlaid on the setting history screen Gh, as shown in Figure 7. The molding condition display unit Gh2 displays the selected molding conditions. When all molding conditions are selected, "All" is displayed on the molding condition display unit Gh2. In the initial state immediately after startup, the control device 78 has all molding conditions selected.

[0039] The input screen Gi has a list section Gi1, a confirmation button Gi2, and a delete button Gi3.

[0040] The list section Gi1 contains multiple selection buttons. The control device 78 displays the multiple selection buttons on the list section Gi1. The last selection button (the bottom selection button) in the list section Gi1 always displays "All," and the other selection buttons display the names of the molding conditions. For example, if the molding condition information J7 of the multiple change information sets Js included in the change information table Th is one of "Molded Product 1," "Molded Product 2," "Part 1," or "Part 2," the control device 78 displays selection buttons Gi11 to Gi15 on the list section Gi1 corresponding to "Molded Product 1," "Molded Product 2," "Part 1," "Part 2," and "All," as shown in Figure 7. "All" refers to all molding conditions. Similarly, if the molding condition information J7 of the multiple change information sets Js included in the change information table Th is one of "Molded Product 1" or "Molded Product 2," the control device 78 displays selection buttons Gi11 to Gi13 on the list section Gi1 corresponding to "Molded Product 1," "Molded Product 2," and "All."

[0041] When the control device 78 receives an input from the input device 72 to tap one of the multiple selection buttons (selection operation 1), it highlights the selected selection button (shown as a dotted area in Figure 7). Subsequently, when the control device 78 receives an input from the input device 72 to tap the confirmation button Gi2 (selection operation 2), it considers the molding condition corresponding to the highlighted selection button to be selected, displays the selected molding condition on the molding condition display unit Gh2, and clears the input screen Gi. The control device 78 also updates the display on the change information display unit Gh4, which will be described later, according to the selected molding condition. When the control device 78 receives an input from the input device 72 to tap the clear button Gi3, it clears the input screen Gi without changing the currently selected molding condition. Selection operation 1 and selection operation 2 are selection operations for selecting molding conditions (molding condition information). Note that the input screen Gi may not be a selection screen for molding conditions, but rather a direct input of molding condition names.

[0042] The change information name section Gh3 is located below the molding condition selection button Gh1 and the molding condition display section Gh2. The control device 78 displays "No.", "Date and Time", "Name", "Old", "New", "Unit", and "User Name" in the change information name section Gh3 from left to right.

[0043] The change information display unit Gh4 is located below the change information name unit Gh3. The control device 78 displays the change information related to the change in the setting value of setting item S in chronological order on the change information display unit Gh4.

[0044] Specifically, the control device 78 extracts the change information set Js from among the multiple change information sets Js contained in the change information table Th that have the currently selected molding conditions (displayed in the molding condition display unit Gh2) set in the molding condition information J7. If all molding conditions are selected, all change information sets Js are extracted. The control device 78 generates a display information set Ls by arranging the change time J5, the name and unit of the setting item S identified by the item identification information J2 (identification number) (item name K2 and unit K3 in the item identification information table Ti), the setting value before change J3, the setting value after change J4, and the user name J6 of the extracted change information set Js from left to right, and displays it on the change information display unit Gh4. In Figure 6, for the sake of explanation, the display information set Ls is enclosed in a dashed-dotted ellipse, but this ellipse is not actually displayed. In the change information display unit Gh4, the change time J5, item name K2, unit K3, pre-change setting value J3, post-change setting value J4, and user name J6 are arranged to correspond to the "date and time," "name," "unit," "old," "new," and "user name" in the change information name unit Gh3. The control device 78 also displays each display information set Ls in order from the newest change time J5, from top to bottom. The multiple display information sets Ls displayed in the change information display unit Gh4 are scrollable vertically.

[0045] For example, if all molding conditions are selected, the control device 78 extracts all of the multiple change information sets Js contained in the change information table Th and displays the display information set Ls generated using the extracted change information sets Js on the change information display unit Gh4 (Figure 6).

[0046] Furthermore, if a molding condition named "Molded Product 1" is selected, the control device 78 extracts the change information set Js in which "Molded Product 1" is set in the molding condition information J7 from among the multiple change information sets Js included in the change information table Th, and displays the display information set Ls generated using the extracted change information set Js on the change information display unit Gh4 (Figure 8).

[0047] Furthermore, if a molding condition named "Molded Product 2" is selected, the control device 78 extracts the change information set Js in which "Molded Product 2" is set in the molding condition information J7 from among the multiple change information sets Js included in the change information table Th, and displays the display information set Ls generated using the extracted change information set Js on the change information display unit Gh4 (Figure 9).

[0048] The information included in the display information set Ls (for example, the setting value before change J3, the setting value after change J4, and the change time J5) is change information related to the change in the setting value of setting item S.

[0049] As described above, the injection molding machine 1 has a storage device 73 that stores change information related to changes in the setting value of setting item S, and a control device 78 that displays the change information on a display device 71. The change information is stored in the storage device 73 in correspondence with the molding conditions (molding condition information) that have been taken into the control device 78 for molding the molded product at the time the setting value of setting item S is changed. When a selection operation to select molding conditions is input to the input device 72, the control device 78 extracts the change information corresponding to the molding conditions selected by the selection operation from the change information set Js stored in the storage device 73 and displays it on the display device 71. In this way, it is possible to select one molding condition from among multiple molding conditions and display only the change information corresponding to the selected molding condition. Therefore, it is possible to avoid the display of mixed change information corresponding to multiple molding conditions and to suppress errors when referring to change information corresponding to molding conditions.

[0050] Furthermore, the control device 78 displays a list of molding conditions (molding condition information) stored in the storage device 73 in correspondence with the change information on the display device 71. The selection operation is the operation of selecting one of the molding conditions included in the list. In this way, the desired molding conditions can be easily selected from the molding conditions displayed in the list.

[0051] Furthermore, the change information includes at least the pre-change setting value J3, the post-change setting value J4, and the change time J5. The change information may also include item identification information J2, and / or information related to item identification information J2 (item name K2, unit K3). In this way, by displaying the change information, it is possible to understand the changes made to the setting value of setting item S and the time of the change.

[0052] Although this specification describes an injection molding machine according to one embodiment of the present invention, the present invention is not limited to injection molding machines. The present invention is also applicable to other types of molding machines, such as die-casting machines.

[0053] Although embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to these examples. Additions, deletions, and design modifications of components, or combinations of features of the embodiments as appropriate by those skilled in the art, are also included within the scope of the present invention, as long as they do not depart from the spirit of the invention. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0054] 1...Injection molding machine, 10...Molding machine main body, 2... Clamping device, 21... Fixed die plate, 22... Movable die plate, 23... Clamping drive mechanism, 3...Injection device, 31...Cylinder, 35...Screw, 36...Screw drive mechanism, 4...Ejecting device, 41...Ejection mechanism, 7...Control unit, 71...Display device, 72...Input device, 73...Storage device, 78...Control device, 81... Fixed mold, 82... Movable mold, 83... Cavity Gh...Setting history screen, Gh1...Molding condition selection button, Gh2...Molding condition display section, Gh3...Change information name section, Gh4...Change information display section, Gi...Input screen, Gi1...List section, Gi2...Confirm button, Gi3...Delete button Gs... Settings screen, Ks...Item identification information set, Js...Change information set, Ls...Display information set S: Setting item, Th: Change information table, Ti: Item identification information table

Claims

1. A storage device that stores change information related to changes in the setting values ​​of setting items, A molding machine having a control device that displays the aforementioned change information on a display device, The aforementioned change information is stored in the storage device in correspondence with molding condition information indicating the molding conditions that are taken into the control device for molding the molded product at the time the setting value of the setting item is changed. A molding machine characterized in that, when a selection operation for selecting molding condition information is input to the input device, the control device extracts the change information corresponding to the molding condition information selected by the selection operation from the change information stored in the storage device and displays it on the display device.

2. The control device displays on the display device a list of molding condition information stored in the storage device in correspondence with the change information. The molding machine according to claim 1, wherein the selection operation is an operation to select one of the molding condition information included in the list.

3. The molding machine according to claim 1, wherein the change information includes at least a pre-change setting value, a post-change setting value, and a change time.

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