Mold fixing mechanism and foamed molding member

Abstract

To provide a novel fixing mechanism that can fix a first mold and a second mold of a mold, and a foam molding member produced by the mold.SOLUTION: A mold fixing mechanism is a mold fixing mechanism in which a space is formed between a first mold and a second mold. The mold fixing mechanism has a lever and a receiving part. The lever rotates around a first axis provided in the first mold. The receiving part is provided on the second mold. The lever has a second axis, a piece, and a pressure part. The second axis is positioned apart from the first axis and extends in an axial direction of the first axis. The piece is attached to the second axis and movable along a shape of the receiving part. The pressure part presses the piece toward the receiving part at least in a fixed position of the mold.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a mold fixing mechanism and a foam molding member.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, a mold is known that foams a foam material inside a cavity formed between a first mold and a second mold to form a foam molding member.

[0003] In such a mold, a fixing mechanism for fixing the first mold and the second mold without a gap at the mating surface is used (see, for example, Patent Document 1). The fixing mechanism of Patent Document 1 fixes the ends of the first mold and the second mold by a clamping mechanism.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] According to such a fixing mechanism, depending on the magnitude of the fixing force for fixing the first mold and the second mold, a gap may occur between the mating surfaces of the first mold and the second mold. As a result, the foamed foam material inside the space formed between the first mold and the second mold may enter the gap. As a result, there is a risk that burrs may occur on the foam molding member.

[0006] An object of the present disclosure is to provide a novel fixing mechanism capable of satisfactorily fixing a first mold and a second mold of a mold, and a foam molding member manufactured by a mold including this fixing mechanism.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0007] The mold fixing mechanism according to the present disclosure is a mold fixing mechanism in which a space is formed between a first mold and a second mold. The mold fixing mechanism includes a lever and a receiving portion. The lever rotates about a first shaft provided on the first mold. The receiving portion is provided on the second mold. The lever has a second shaft, a piece, and a pressing portion. The second shaft is spaced apart from the first shaft and extends in the axial direction of the first shaft. The piece is attached to the second shaft and is movable along the shape of the receiving portion. The pressing portion presses the piece toward the receiving portion at least at the mold fixing position.

[0008] According to this fixing mechanism, the piece moves along the shape of the receiving portion while being pressed by the pressing portion. The piece that has moved to the mold fixing position for fixing the first mold and the second mold is stably held in a state of being pressed toward the receiving portion. If the piece can be stably held, even if the mold clamping force for fixing the first mold and the second mold is increased, the piece is less likely to come off. As a result, at the mold fixing position for fixing the first mold and the second mold, the first mold and the second mold can be well fixed.

[0009] Further, the foamed molded member according to the present disclosure is manufactured by a mold including the above fixing mechanism.

[0010] This foamed molded member is manufactured in a state where the first mold and the second mold are well fixed. Therefore, there is little burr and the shape accuracy is also good.

Effect of the Invention

[0011] According to the present disclosure, it is possible to provide a novel fixing mechanism capable of well fixing the first mold and the second mold of a mold, and a foamed molded member manufactured by a mold including this fixing mechanism.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0012]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0013] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0014] FIG. 1 is a view showing a fixed state in which the mold 1 is in a closed state and fixed by the fixing mechanism 2. As shown in FIG. 1, the mold 1 of the present embodiment is a metal mold used for molding the foamed molding member I. A space (cavity) S is formed between the first mold 4 and the second mold 6 in the mold 1. The mating surface M is formed around the space S. In the present embodiment, a lower cavity 4a is provided in the first mold 4, and an upper cavity 6a is provided in the second mold 6. When the first mold 4 and the second mold 6 are closed, the lower cavity 4a and the upper cavity 6a form the space S. The mating surface M is formed around this space S and functions as a sealing surface when the foaming material injected into the space S foams. The foamed molding member I is molded by heating and foaming the foaming material inside the space S of the mold 1.

[0015] In the present embodiment, the mold 1 is divided into the first mold 4 and the second mold 6 in the vertical direction G, and the first mold 4 and the second mold 6 overlap and are closed at the mating surface M. The first mold 4 is connected to the second mold 6 via a hinge H so as to be openable and closable. With such a configuration, the first mold 4 and the second mold 6 are displaced between a closed state in which the mating surface M is closed and an open state in which the mating surface M is open. The mating surface M extends in the width direction W of the mold 1 in a direction orthogonal to the vertical direction G. Note that the first mold 4 and the second mold 6 do not necessarily have to be divided in the vertical direction G, and the dividing direction may be set arbitrarily.

[0016] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the fixing mechanism 2 fixes the first mold 4 and the second mold 6 in the closed state of the mold 1. The fixing mechanism 2 includes a lever 8 and a receiving portion 10. The fixing mechanism 2 closely adheres and fixes the first mold 4 and the second mold 6 with a predetermined mold clamping force (the force for clamping the first mold 4 and the second mold 6) so that the closed state in which the space S of the mold 1 is closed is maintained. The predetermined mold clamping force is preferably a mold clamping force that can fix the mating surface M of the first mold 4 and the second mold 6 without gaps. If a gap occurs in the gap of the mating surface M, the foaming material may enter the mating surface M while foaming, and burrs may occur on the foam-molded member I.

[0017] The lever 8 has an arm portion 9, a fixing portion 11, a second shaft C2, a piece 12, a plunger (an example of a pressing portion) 14, and an adjusting portion 16. In the present embodiment, the lever 8 is a generally L-shaped component swingably attached to the side surface of the first mold 4.

[0018] The lever 8 swings about a first shaft C1 provided on the side surface of the first mold 4. In the present embodiment, the first shaft C1 is a support shaft extending in the depth direction in the plane of FIGS. 1 and 2. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 2, the lever 8 rotates about the first shaft C1, with the direction approaching the mold 1 as the closing direction I and the direction away as the opening direction II.

[0019] When the arm portion 9 rotates in the closing direction I, it extends in the width direction W from the side of the first mold 4, and the fixing portion 11 extends from the end of the arm portion 9 on the first mold 4 side in the vertical direction G toward the second mold 6 side. The first shaft C1 is disposed near the connection position of the fixing portion 11 with the arm portion 9. In the present embodiment, the arm portion 9 has a support member 9a fixed to the lower end of the fixing portion 11 and a roller 9b rotatably supported by the support member 9a. The roller 9b has a cylindrical shape extending in the width direction W. The arm portion 9 rolls while the roller 9b abuts against a rail provided on the production line. The rail is provided so that the arm portion 9 moves in the vertical direction G. Thereby, the lever 8 rotates about the first shaft C1.

[0020] The second axis C2 is arranged in the fixed part 11 so as to be separated from the first axis C1 in the vertical direction G and extends in the axial direction of the first axis C1. The second axis C2 is arranged near the end on the side opposite to the connection position with the arm part 9 of the fixed part 11. That is, the second axis C2 is arranged parallel to the first axis C1.

[0021] The piece 12 is a cylindrical rotating part attached to the second axis C2 and rotating. The piece 12 is attached to the second axis C2 and is provided so as to be movable along the shape of the receiving part 10. In the present embodiment, by attaching the piece 12 to the second axis C2 with a predetermined gap, the piece 12 moves along the shape of the receiving part 10. As shown in FIG. 3, in the present embodiment, the piece 12 is attached with a gap m of about several millimeters between the second axis C2 and the contact surface of the piece 12. That is, the inner diameter of the piece 12 is formed to be about several millimeters larger than the outer diameter of the second axis C2. Thereby, the piece 12 is displaced with respect to the second axis C2 by the biasing force from the plunger 14 described later and the reaction force from the receiving part 10. The piece 12 uses this displacement to move along the shape of the receiving part 10.

[0022] Note that, for example, by attaching the second axis C2 to the arm part 9 with a predetermined gap, the piece 12 may be provided so as to be movable along the shape of the receiving part 10. More specifically, the second axis C2 may be attached to the arm part 9 with a gap m. In this case, the second axis C2 and the piece 12 may be integrated and the piece 12 may move along the shape of the receiving part 10.

[0023] The plunger 14 presses the piece 12 toward the receiving part 10 at least at the fixed position of the mold 1 where the fixing mechanism 2 fixes the first type 4 and the second type 6 in the closed state. The plunger 14 is arranged at the end on the side opposite to the connection position with the arm part 9 of the fixed part 11. The plunger 14 includes a spring 141 and a ball 142. The spring 141 is built in the plunger 14 and generates a biasing force in the vertical direction G. The ball 142 is arranged at the tip of the plunger 14 on the first type 4 side and is biased downward by the spring 141. The plunger 14 presses the piece 12 toward the receiving part 10 via the ball 142 by the biasing force of the spring 141.

[0024] In this embodiment, the plunger 14 biases the piece 12 via the spring 141 and the ball 142. In the released state where the fixing mechanism 2 does not fix the first type 4 and the second type 6, the plunger 14 biases the piece 12 along the virtual line L connecting the plunger 14 and the second axis C2. As a result, the piece 12 is displaced toward the first axis C1 with respect to the second axis C2.

[0025] On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 3, in the fixed state of the fixing mechanism 2, the plunger 14 presses the piece 12 toward the curved surface 18 of the receiving portion 10 described later. At this time, the piece 12 is displaced toward the inner side of the second type 6 side with respect to the virtual line L, that is, the inner side in the width direction W, with respect to the second axis C2 due to the reaction force from the curved surface 18. As a result, the ball 142 of the plunger 14 is also displaced in the same manner with respect to the virtual line L. Therefore, in the fixed state of the fixing mechanism 2, the plunger 14 can press the piece 12 toward the inner side in the width direction W. As a result, the fixing mechanism 2 can fix the piece 12 without detaching it from the receiving portion 10 in the fixed state.

[0026] The adjusting portion 16 changes the pressing force P with which the plunger 14 presses the piece 12 at the fixed position. In this embodiment, the adjusting portion 16 is a screw-type fastening component capable of changing the attachment position of the plunger 14 with respect to the fixing portion 11. The adjusting portion 16 is fixed to the end surface of the fixing portion 11, and a screw groove (not shown) is formed on the inner circumference. The adjusting portion 16 is fastened to a thread (not shown) formed on the outer peripheral surface of the plunger 14, and fixes the plunger 14 at an arbitrary position with respect to the fixing portion 11 in the vertical direction G. Thereby, the adjusting portion 16 can arbitrarily change the distance between the ball 142 of the plunger 14 and the piece 12.

[0027] Therefore, when the plunger 14 is adjusted to the lower side in the vertical direction G, that is, so that the distance between the plunger 14 and the piece 12 becomes smaller, the adjusting part 16 can increase the biasing force of the plunger 14 against the piece 12. As a result, the adjusting part 16 can increase the pressing force P received by the piece 12. On the other hand, when the plunger 14 is adjusted to the upper side in the vertical direction G, that is, so that the distance between the plunger 14 and the piece 12 becomes larger, the adjusting part 16 can decrease the biasing force of the plunger 14 against the piece 12. As a result, the adjusting part 16 can decrease the pressing force P received by the piece 12.

[0028] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the receiving part 10 is provided on the side surface of the second mold 6. The receiving part 10 is provided on the same side surface of the second mold 6 as the side surface of the first mold 4 where the lever 8 is provided. In the present embodiment, the receiving part 10 is provided on the opposite side of the lever 8 across the mating surface M in the vertical direction G at a fixed position. That is, across the mating surface M, the lever 8 may be provided on one mold and the receiving part 10 of the other mold may be provided.

[0029] As shown in FIG. 3, the receiving part 10 has a curved surface 18 and a changing part 20. The curved surface 18 contacts the piece 12 at a fixed position and is concave in the pressing direction of the plunger 14. In the present embodiment, the curved surface 18 is a curved surface that is recessed inward in the width direction W at a fixed position. In particular, the curved surface 18 is formed to be inclined downward in the vertical direction G as it goes inward in the width direction W from the virtual line L. Thereby, at the fixed position, the piece 12 of the lever 8 fits into the curved surface 18 and is held in a stable state.

[0030] At the fixed position, the piece 12 is displaced inward in the width direction W from the virtual line L with respect to the second axis C2. As a result, the piece 12 receives the biasing force from the plunger 14 and the reaction force from the curved surface 18 obliquely inclined with respect to the virtual line L. That is, in the present embodiment, the pressing direction of the piece 12 at the fixed position is a direction inclined inward in the width direction W with respect to the virtual line L. Thereby, the piece 12 is held by the receiving portion 10 in a stable state at the fixed position. For this reason, the fixing mechanism 2 can fix the first mold 4 and the second mold 6 with a larger clamping force without the piece 12 coming off from the fixed position. As a result, the first mold 4 and the second mold 6 can be well fixed at the fixed position.

[0031] Further, by increasing the degree of inclination of the curved surface 18 downward from the virtual line L toward the inside in the width direction W, it is possible to prevent the piece 12 from coming off to the outside in the width direction W from the fixed position. That is, when the piece 12 is about to be displaced to the outside in the width direction W from the fixed position, it is necessary to further compress the spring 141 of the plunger 14 to overcome the inclination of the curved surface 18. Therefore, when attempting to displace to the outside in the width W from the fixed position, a force larger than the pressing force P received from the receiving portion 10 and the plunger 14 is required. Thereby, the fixing mechanism 2 can prevent the piece 12 from unintentionally coming off from the fixed position. As a result, the fixing mechanism 2 can fix the first mold 4 and the second mold 6 with a larger clamping force.

[0032] The changing portion 20 changes the distance from the first axis C1 at the fixed position. In the present embodiment, the changing portion 20 is a long hole provided on the fixing surface of the receiving portion 10 with the second mold 6. The changing portion 20 fixes the receiving portion 10 at an arbitrary position with respect to the second mold 6 in the vertical direction G by a fastening component such as a bolt (not shown). Thereby, the changing portion 20 can change the distance between the receiving portion 10 and the first axis C1 at the fixed position.

[0033] When the distance from the first axis C1 at the fixed position is shortened by the changing portion 20, the reaction force received by the piece 12 of the lever 8 from the receiving portion 10 becomes smaller. On the other hand, when the distance from the first axis at the fixed position is lengthened by the changing portion 20, the reaction force received by the piece 12 of the lever 8 from the receiving portion 10 becomes larger. That is, the changing portion 20 can change the reaction force received by the piece 12 from the receiving portion 10.

[0034] As described above, the fixing mechanism 2 can arbitrarily change the pressing force P received by the piece 12 at the fixed position by the adjusting portion 16 of the lever 8 and the changing portion 20 of the receiving portion 10. Further, the fixing mechanism 2 can also change the pressing force P received by the piece 12 by changing the spring 141 of the plunger 14. Also, the fixing mechanism 2 can arbitrarily change the pressing force P depending on the size of the gap provided between the second axis C2 and the piece 12 and the shape of the curved surface 18. As a result, the fixing mechanism 2 can fix the first mold 4 and the second mold 6 with an arbitrary clamping force depending on the shape and size of the foam molding member to be formed.

[0035] Next, with reference to FIG. 4, a method for fixing the first mold 4 and the second mold 6 by the fixing mechanism 2 of the present embodiment will be described. FIG. 4(a) is a schematic view showing a state where the first mold 4 and the second mold 6 are in an open state and the fixing mechanism 2 is also in a released state. FIG. 4(b) is a schematic view showing a state where the first mold 4 and the second mold 6 are closed at the mating surface M and are in a closed state. FIG. 4(c) is a schematic view showing a state in the middle of the fixing mechanism 2 transitioning from the released state to the fixed state. FIG. 4(d) is a schematic view showing a state where the fixing mechanism 2 is in the fixed state.

[0036] As shown in FIG. 4(a), when the first mold 4 and the second mold 6 are in an open state, the lever 8 of the fixing mechanism 2 is in a state of rotating outward in the width direction W about the first axis C1. Here, a foam material (not shown) is introduced between the first mold 4 and the second mold 6.

[0037] As shown in Fig. 4(b), the first mold 4 and the second mold 6 are closed at the mating surface M, and the space S is closed. In this case, the mating surface M is closed by the self-weights of the first mold 4 and the second mold 6, and there is a gap. The piece 12 of the lever 8 is biased by the biasing force of the spring 141 of the plunger 14 and is displaced toward the first axis C1.

[0038] As shown in Fig. 4(c), the arm portion 9 of the lever 8 is pulled upward in the upper direction G, and the lever 8 is rotated about the first axis C1 and moved to a fixed position. The piece 12 of the lever 8 contacts the receiving portion 10 and receives a reaction force from the receiving portion 10 in addition to the biasing force of the spring 141 of the plunger 14. As the lever 8 rotates and moves in the closing direction I, the piece 12 receives a reaction force from the curved surface 18 of the receiving portion 10. The piece 12 receives the sum of the biasing force of the plunger 14 and the reaction force of the receiving portion 10 as a pressing force P. The pressing force P becomes maximum immediately before the curved surface 18 of the piece 12 inclines downward, and then decreases until it reaches the fixed position.

[0039] As shown in Fig. 4(d), at the fixed position, the piece 12 is fixed in a state of being inclined with respect to the virtual line L with the sum of the biasing force of the plunger 14 and the reaction force of the curved surface 18 as the pressing force P. The first mold 4 and the second mold 6 are fixed in a state of receiving the mold clamping force of the fixing mechanism 2. In this state, the foaming material introduced into the space S (not shown) is foamed to form the foam molding member I.

[0040] The foam molding member I is manufactured by the mold 1 provided with the fixing mechanism 2. In the present embodiment, the foam molding member I is an energy absorption member formed by heating and foaming a foaming material inside the space S of the mold 1. The shape of the foam molding member I can be variously changed by changing the shape of the space S of the mold 1. Since the foam molding member I manufactured by the mold 1 provided with the fixing mechanism 2 is molded in a state where the gap between the first mold and the second mold is extremely small, there is little burr and the shape accuracy is also good.

[0041] As described above, according to the present disclosure, a novel fixing mechanism 2 capable of favorably fixing the first mold 4 and the second mold 6 of the mold 1, and a foam-molded member I manufactured by the mold 1 can be provided.

[0042] <Other Embodiments> As described above, the embodiments of the present disclosure have been described. However, the present disclosure is not limited to the above embodiments, and various modifications are possible without departing from the gist of the invention.

[0043] (a) In the above embodiment, the mold 1 is divided into the first mold 4 and the second mold 6 in the vertical direction G with the mating surface M interposed therebetween. However, the present disclosure is not limited thereto. That is, the mating surface M can be set in any direction in the vertical, horizontal, and left-right directions, and the lever 8 and the receiving portion 10 may be provided on one mold and the other mold with the mating surface M interposed therebetween.

[0044] (b) In the above embodiment, the plunger 14 biases the piece 12 via the ball 142 by the biasing force of the spring 141. However, the present disclosure is not limited thereto. That is, the plunger 14 may bias the piece 12 by any method such as pneumatic pressure, hydraulic pressure, electromagnetic force, or other various methods.

[0045] (c) In the above embodiment, the piece 12 is attached with a gap m provided between the inner diameter of the piece 12 and the outer diameter of the second axis C2. However, the present disclosure is not limited thereto. For example, a movable portion may be provided on the arm portion 9 to move the piece 12. In any case, the piece 12 may have any structure as long as it can move along the shape of the receiving portion 10.

[0046] (d) In the above embodiment, the piece 12 is a cylindrical rotating part. However, the present disclosure is not limited thereto. That is, the piece 12 may be a rotating part such as a cam that rotates about the second axis C2. Further, the curved surface 18 of the receiving portion 10 may be arbitrarily changed corresponding to the shape of the piece 12.

[0047] (e) In the above embodiment, the adjustment part 16 is a fastening part with a screw groove formed inside, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto. That is, the adjustment part 16 may be any mechanism capable of changing the attachment position of the plunger 14 to the fixing part 11.

[0048] (f) In the above embodiment, the changing part 20 is an elongated hole provided on the fixing surface of the receiving part 10, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto. That is, the changing part 20 may be any mechanism capable of changing the fixing position of the receiving part 10 with respect to the second mold 6.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0049] 1: Mold 2: Fixing mechanism 4: First mold 6: Second mold 8: Lever 10: Receiving part 12: Piece 14: Plunger (pressing part) 16: Adjustment part 18: Curved surface 20: Changing part 141: Spring C1: First axis C2: Second axis I: Foamed molding member P: Pressing force S: Space

Claims

1. A mold fixing mechanism in which a space is formed between a first mold and a second mold, comprising: a lever that rotates about a first shaft provided on the first mold; a receiving portion provided on the second mold; and wherein the lever has a second shaft that is spaced apart from the first shaft and extends in the axial direction of the first shaft, a piece that is attached to the second shaft and is movable along the shape of the receiving portion, and a pressing portion that presses the piece toward the receiving portion at least at the fixed position of the mold; the piece is disposed between the receiving portion and the pressing portion at the fixed position of the mold that fixes the first mold and the second mold in a closed state; a mold fixing mechanism.

2. A mold fixing mechanism in which a space is formed between a first mold and a second mold, comprising: a lever that rotates about a first shaft provided on the first mold; a receiving portion provided on the second mold; and wherein the lever has a second shaft that is spaced apart from the first shaft and extends in the axial direction of the first shaft, a piece that is attached to the second shaft and is movable along the shape of the receiving portion, and a pressing portion that presses the piece toward the receiving portion at least at the fixed position of the mold; the pressing portion is in contact with the piece; a mold fixing mechanism.

3. A mold fixing mechanism in which a space is formed between a first mold and a second mold, comprising: a lever that rotates about a first shaft provided on the first mold; a receiving portion provided on the second mold; and wherein the lever has a second shaft that is spaced apart from the first shaft and extends in the axial direction of the first shaft, a piece that is attached to the second shaft and is movable along the shape of the receiving portion, a pressing portion that presses the piece toward the receiving portion at least at the fixed position of the mold, and an adjusting portion that changes the pressing force with which the pressing portion presses the piece at the fixed position; a mold fixing mechanism.

4. A mold fixing mechanism in which a space is formed between a first mold and a second mold, comprising: a lever that rotates about a first shaft provided on the first mold; a receiving portion provided on the second mold; and wherein the lever has a second shaft that is spaced apart from the first shaft and extends in the axial direction of the first shaft, a piece that is attached to the second shaft and is movable along the shape of the receiving portion, and a pressing portion that presses the piece toward the receiving portion at least at the fixed position of the mold; the receiving portion has a changing portion that changes the distance from the first shaft; a mold fixing mechanism.

5. A method for manufacturing a foamed molded member, which is manufactured using a mold provided with the mold fixing mechanism according to any one of claims 1 to 4. The manufacturing method of a foamed molded member.

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