Molded product removal device

Abstract

To provide a molded product take-out device configured to prevent a human error by enabling further efficient control while having a simple configuration with reduced equipment costs, which includes a configuration in which a controller that controls a molded product take-out robot compares a mold and a chuck unit.SOLUTION: There is provided a molded product take-out device 1 that comprises a controller 2 and a molded product take-out robot 3, in which a chuck portion 32 has a unique number corresponding to an identification number of a mold, the controller is configured to be able to access a database storing setting condition data corresponding to the identification number and the unique number, and the controller is configured to recognize an identification portion 32a in the chuck portion 32, to compare a recognized specific number with the unique number in the setting condition data set in a peripheral device, and to perform control according to a comparison result.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a molded product removal device. [Background technology]

[0002] An injection molding machine (hereafter referred to as a molding machine) is a device that produces molded products by repeating a molding cycle in which heated and molten resin material is injected into a mold and then cooled and solidified, and is capable of mass-producing molded products with complex shapes in a short period of time. The operator attaches a chuck part that matches the mold attached to the molding machine to the molded product removal robot, performs settings related to the mold, and produces molded products. The chuck plate of the chuck part is equipped with a robot hand and suction pads for removing the molded product.

[0003] Conventionally, a method has been proposed in which a molding machine automatically replaces a mold and a chuck chuck plate as a set (Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 3-136823). Also, an operation pendant capable of wirelessly communicating adjustment signals with a control device has been proposed so that an operator can easily visually check the position of the chuck plate (Patent Document 2: Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2007-062023). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 3-136823 [Patent Document 2] JP 2007-062023 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] Patent Document 1 is not practical due to the high equipment costs. Patent Document 2 does not take into consideration the possibility that the operator may misidentify the combination of the mold and the chuck unit. Conventionally, when switching production of molded products, the operator attaches the chuck unit corresponding to the mold that molds the desired molded product, and then sets up the peripheral devices associated with the mold. This series of operations places a heavy burden on the operator and is prone to confirmation errors, which can lead to problems such as defective molded products and damage to equipment due to operator confirmation errors. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above circumstances, and aims to provide a molded product removal device that has a configuration in which a controller that controls a molded product removal robot checks the mold and chuck portion, thereby enabling more efficient control while having a simple configuration that reduces equipment costs and prevents human error.

[0007] The solution disclosed below as one embodiment solves the above problem.

[0008] The molded product removal device according to the present invention is a device for removing a molded product from a mold of a molding machine and releasing it. R A molding removal robot; The molding machine. The above-mentioned molding removal robot Signals connected to both A controller is provided. the molded product removal robot has a chuck portion detachably attached to a lower position of an arm body, and a connector detachably attached to the arm body at a position above a chuck plate of the chuck portion, The chuck portion has a unique number corresponding to the identification number of the mold. Wait , the controller teeth The identification number and The unique number Both Setting condition data corresponding to but Store Be Database It has , The connector is the unique number One-on-one I responded with Wiring is done and the controller The connector attached to the arm body By recognizing the above Arm body and recognizing a specific number among the unique numbers of the chuck portion attached to the alreadyMatching the unique number with the set condition data, The controller controls the molded product removal robot while maintaining the set condition data that has already been set when the specific number and the unique number match, and the controller controls the molded product removal robot while maintaining the set condition data that has already been set when the specific number and the unique number do not match. the setting condition data set in the database is changed to specific condition data having the unique number that matches the specific number of the setting condition data in the database. and controls the molding removal robot. It is characterized by:

[0009] According to this configuration, the controller recognizes the specific number of the chuck unit, and the multiple peripheral devices can be controlled to correspond to the specific condition data having a unique number that matches the specific number among the set condition data in the database. In other words, the controller that controls the molded product removal robot checks the mold and the chuck unit, making it possible to achieve a simple configuration that reduces equipment costs, while enabling more efficient control and preventing human error.

[0010] The controller is preferably configured to control peripheral devices based on the set condition data, and is preferably configured to be able to change the set condition data set in the peripheral devices to the specific condition data having the unique number that matches the specific number of the set condition data in the database according to the collation result. With this configuration, not only the molded product removal robot but also a plurality of peripheral devices can be rationally controlled by the controller.

[0011] As an example, the controller is configured to maintain the set condition data already set when the recognized specific number matches the unique number in the set condition data already set, and to change the set condition data already set to the specific condition data having the unique number that matches the specific number in the set condition data in the database when the recognized specific number does not match. This allows the controller to more efficiently and centrally manage the control systems of the peripheral devices independently of the molding machine.

[0012] The controller is preferably configured to display a confirmation message for changing the specific condition data, and after the operator inputs approval, change the set condition data to the specific condition data and control the peripheral device. With this configuration, after the operator approves that the combination of the mold and chuck unit for molding the desired molded product is correct, the set condition data of the peripheral device is changed to the specific condition data and controlled, thereby preventing human error. From the viewpoint of preventing human error, it is more preferable that the controller recognizes the specific number of the unique numbers in the chuck unit attached to the molded product removal robot, and confirms that the recognized specific number corresponds to the identification number of the mold attached to the molding machine, and then controls the peripheral device.

[0013] The identification unit may be a shape of a chuck plate, a one-dimensional code provided on the chuck plate, a two-dimensional code, an RF-ID, an IC chip, a connector, or other known identification means. As an example, the identification unit is connected to the molded product removal robot at a position above the chuck plate of the chuck unit when the chuck unit is attached to the molded product removal robot. As an example, the identification unit is connected to a tube for supplying compressed air connected to the chuck unit. This makes it easy to provide the identification unit and connect it to the molded product removal robot without modifying the existing chuck unit.

[0014] As an example, the identification unit is a connector having wiring corresponding to the unique number. With this configuration, it is possible to easily set a required number of unique numbers by the wiring configuration of each connector terminal. Effect of the Invention

[0015] According to the present invention, a molded product removal device can be realized in a configuration in which a controller that controls a molded product removal robot checks the mold and the chuck portion, thereby enabling a simple configuration that reduces equipment costs while enabling more efficient control of the molded product removal robot and peripheral equipment and preventing human error. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0016] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of a molded product removing device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing the network of the molded product removing device according to this embodiment. [Diagram 3] 3A to 3D are external views showing examples of the chuck plate according to this embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a flow chart showing an example of an operation procedure of the controller according to the present embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0017] An embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. As shown in Fig. 1 and Fig. 4, a molded product removal device 1 is configured not to control a molding machine 80, but includes a controller 2 configured to control each device independently of the molding machine 80. The devices are, for example, a molded product removal robot 3, a material dryer 5, a material conveyor 6, and a mold temperature regulator 7, and these devices and the controller 2 are connected via a network. Note that the configuration is not limited to the above, and may include a granulator, mixer, gate cutter, quality judger, packaging machine, and other known devices for producing molded products.

[0018] The controller 2 is, for example, a terminal that can be held by an operator, and is provided with a display device having buttons, a jog dial, and a touch panel as an input / output unit 24. The controller 2 has a built-in CPU 21 and a database 22, which is a secondary storage device, and has a function of performing computer control by an installed control program 4. The database 22 can also be stored in an external storage device (tertiary storage device) such as a flash memory. The firmware of the control program 4 is, for example, written in a language such as C language or assembler, runs on an OS such as Microsoft Windows (registered trademark), and can be updated from a web browser or command line. Note that the configuration is not limited to the above, and commercially available firmware or known firmware can be applied.

[0019] The database 22 is configured such that the operation pattern, teaching points, operation speed, timer data, and other known operation data for each mold required for controlling the molded product removal robot 3 are stored in the mold memory, the mold temperature, mold preheating time, and other known operation data required for controlling the mold temperature regulator 7 are stored, the resin material drying temperature, predrying time, and other known operation data required for controlling the material dryer 5 are stored, and the conveying time and other known operation data required for controlling the material conveyer 6 are stored. As an example, the database 22 is provided in the controller 2. The database 22 can achieve the necessary control operation as long as the controller 2 is in an accessible connected state. Therefore, the database 22 belongs to the controller 2 regardless of the physical location.

[0020] The molded product removal robot 3 is, for example, configured to have an arm unit 31 capable of seven-axis operation by a digital servo motor, and a chuck unit 32 such as a robot hand disposed at a lower position of an arm body 31b of the arm unit 31 to grip, remove, and release a molded product. Area E surrounded by a dashed line shows the positional relationship between the attachment unit 31a disposed on the arm body 31b and the identification unit 32a in the chuck unit 32. Here, the attachment unit 31a is a connector A, and the identification unit 32a is a connector B, and the controller 2 recognizes the identification unit 32a by connecting the connector A and the connector B. The identification unit 32a is tied to a tube for supplying compressed air to the chuck unit 32 by a string unit 32c, and the identification unit 32a is attached at a position above the chuck plate 32b. When the unique number of the chuck unit 32 is 1,000, the connector B can be configured to have 16 terminals or sockets.

[0021] In the example of FIG. 2, the control unit 25 built in the controller 2 and the control unit 35 built in the molded product removal robot 3 are signal-connected. The control unit 25 is also signal-connected to the control unit 55 built in the material dryer 5, the control unit 25 is signal-connected to the control unit 65 built in the material conveyor 6, and the control unit 25 is signal-connected to the control unit 75 built in the mold temperature regulator 7. That is, the molded product removal robot 3, the material dryer 5, the material conveyor 6, the mold temperature regulator 7, and the controller 2 are connected through a network. When the mold 81 is replaced, the molding machine 80 transmits an identification signal indicating the identification number of the mold 81 to the controller 2. The controller 2 receives a cycle signal transmitted from the control unit 85 built in the molding machine 80 for each molding cycle and controls each device. Here, the molding machine 80 is excluded from the control target of the controller 2. Note that there are cases where a configuration is made in which molded product management data and other known data can be exchanged using the signal connection between the control unit 25 built in the controller 2 and the control unit 85 built in the molding machine 80.

[0022] The controller 2 sets the conditions of each peripheral device collectively by simple operations of selecting the mold number or mold name on the setting screen of the input / output unit 24 and inputting the production start time as desired. The molded product removal robot 3, material dryer 5, material conveyor 6 and mold temperature regulator 7 are put into automatic operation by commands from the controller 2 and are centrally managed by the controller 2.

[0023] The material dryer 5 is configured to dry the resin material in granular or pellet form by air heated by a heater, for example. The material conveyor 6 is configured to supply the resin material dried by the material dryer 5 to the molding machine 80. The mold temperature regulator 7 is configured to heat or cool the mold 81 by using the liquid in the pipe connected to the mold side of the molding machine 80 as a heat medium. In addition to the above configuration, a stock machine for stocking molded products, a packaging machine for bagging molded products, and a granulator for granulating sprues and runners into granular or pellet form may be connected to the controller 2 via a network. According to this configuration, the controller 2 transfers the operating condition data required for each peripheral device, and each peripheral device related to molding can be easily controlled in real time. The signal connection method may be, for example, a wired LAN, a wireless LAN, a USB connection, or other known network connection.

[0024] Fig. 3A is an example of a configuration in which an air suction unit that suctions the molded product and a robot hand that grips the main spool are arranged on the chuck plate 32b. Fig. 3B is an example of a configuration in which a plurality of robot hands that grip the molded product are arranged on the chuck plate 32b. Fig. 3C is an example of a configuration in which a chuck machine that grips the molded product from above and below is arranged on the chuck plate 32b. Fig. 3D is an example of a configuration in which a chuck machine that grips the molded product from the left and right direction or the front and rear direction is arranged on the chuck plate 32b. Note that known chuck units other than those described above can be used.

[0025] 4 is a flow chart showing the operation procedure of the controller 2 according to this embodiment. The operation procedure of the controller 2 will now be described.

[0026] In step S1, the operator attaches the chuck portion 32 to the arm body 31b. When the identification portion 32a (connector B) is attached to the attachment portion 31a (connector A), a signal connection is established via a jumper wire disposed in the connector B, and the process proceeds to step S2. In step S2, the controller 2 recognizes the specific number of the chuck portion 32 by the chuck portion identification signal. The timing at which the controller 2 recognizes the chuck portion identification signal is, for example, one or more of the following: when the connector B is attached, when the external switch is turned ON, when the attachment confirmation sensor of the chuck plate 32b transmits an attachment confirmation signal, and when the input / output unit 24 transitions to a mold memory switching screen.

[0027] Following step S2, in step S3, the controller 2 compares the recognized specific number with the unique number in the setting condition data set in the peripheral device. Then, the process proceeds to step S4. If the specific number and the unique number match, the process proceeds to step S5, where a number match message is displayed on the display of the input / output unit 24 to inform the operator. On the other hand, if the specific number and the unique number do not match, the process proceeds to step S6, where specific condition data having the unique number that matches the specific number in the setting condition data is retrieved from the database 22. Then, the process proceeds to step S7, where a change confirmation message to the specific condition data is displayed on the display of the input / output unit 24 to inform the operator. Then, the process proceeds to step S8, where the operator is asked to approve the change. If the operator inputs approval by using the touch panel or button of the input / output unit 24, the process proceeds to step S9, where the setting condition data is changed to the specific condition data. On the other hand, if the operator does not input approval, the process proceeds to step S10, where the setting condition data set in the peripheral device is maintained.

[0028] In step S9, items for which the set condition data is changed to the specific condition data include the operation patterns, teaching points, operation speed, timer data, and other known operation data for each mold stored in the mold memory of the molded product removal robot 3, drying condition data such as temperature setting data stored in the memory of the material dryer 5, transport condition data such as transport time setting data stored in the memory of the material conveyor 6, temperature condition data such as temperature setting data stored in the memory of the mold temperature regulator 7, and setting condition data of other known peripheral devices.

[0029] According to this embodiment, the controller 2 that controls the molded product removal robot 3 actually checks the mold 81 and the chuck portion 32, and also controls the peripheral devices after receiving approval input from the operator, thereby preventing human error. The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications are possible without departing from the scope of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0030] 1 Molded product removal device 2. Controller 3. Molded product removal robot 4 Control Program 5 Material dryer 6 Material conveying machine 7 Mold temperature controller 22 Database 24 Input / output section 25 Control Unit 31 arm portion, 31a attachment portion (connector A), 31b arm body 32 zipper part, 32a identification part (connector B), 32b zipper plate, 32c string part 80 Molding machine 81 Mold

Claims

1. The present invention relates to a molding machine and a molding method, comprising: a molding machine and a molding product removal robot which removes a molded product from a mold of a molding machine and releases it; and a controller which is signal-connected to both the molding machine and the molding product removal robot, the molding product removal robot having a chuck portion which is detachably attached to a lower position of an arm body, and a connector which is detachably attached to the arm body at a position above a chuck plate of the chuck portion, the chuck portion having a unique number which corresponds to an identification number of the mold, the controller having a database in which setting condition data corresponding to both the identification number and the unique number is stored, the connector is wired in one-to-one correspondence with the unique number, and the controller is connected to the arm body. by recognizing the attached connector, a specific number among the unique numbers of the chuck portion attached to the arm body is recognized, and the recognized specific number is compared with the unique number in the set condition data that has already been set, and when the specific number and the unique number match, the controller maintains the set condition data that has already been set and controls the molded product removal robot, and when the specific number and the unique number do not match, the controller changes the set condition data that has already been set to specific condition data having the unique number that matches the specific number among the set condition data in the database and controls the molded product removal robot. A molding removal device characterized by the above.

2. A system comprising: a material dryer for drying a resin material; a material conveying machine for conveying the resin material dried by the material dryer to the molding machine; and a temperature regulator for controlling the temperature of the mold for molding the resin material conveyed by the material conveying machine, wherein the material dryer, the material conveying machine, the temperature regulator, and the molded product removal robot are connected to the controller through a network, and when the specific number and the unique number match, the controller maintains the set condition data that has already been set and controls the material dryer, the material conveying machine, the temperature regulator, and the molded product removal robot, and when the specific number and the unique number do not match, the controller changes the set condition data that has already been set to the specific condition data and controls the material dryer, the material conveying machine, the temperature regulator, and the molded product removal robot.

2. The molded product removing device according to claim 1 .

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