Injection molding machines and injection molding machine systems

Abstract

To provide an injection molding machine that can easily identify the molding condition file and make the controller read the molding conditions.SOLUTION: A number of molding condition files (41) are stored in the controller (4) for each mold (15, 16) or for each type of mold (15, 16) and resin. The file names of the molding condition files (41) should contain numbers to avoid duplication. When a number is input to the controller (4) from an external device, the identified molding condition file (41) is read and set in the controller (4). Furthermore, the molding condition file (41) should store mold information (44) to identify the mold, or even resin information (45).SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an injection molding machine and an injection molding machine system that read and set molding conditions from a corresponding molding condition file when replacing a mold, etc. [Background technology]

[0002] An injection molding machine is equipped with a clamping device that clamps the mold, an injection device that melts the injection material and injects it into the mold, and a controller that controls these. The controller contains the setting data, or molding conditions, required to control each device when carrying out the molding cycle. The molding conditions need to be reviewed when the mold is replaced or the resin to be injected is changed.

[0003] In many injection molding machines, as described in Patent Document 1, for example, multiple molding conditions are saved in the controller as molding condition files. Molding condition files are saved, for example, for each mold or for each combination of mold and injected resin. When changing molds or resins, the corresponding molding condition file is searched for and loaded, and the appropriate molding conditions are set in the controller. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2005-189989

[0005] When changing molds in an injection molding machine, the molds are transported to the injection molding machine using a mold change setup cart or similar device and replaced there. The mold change setup cart is equipped with a controller such as a PLC. Therefore, if information about the molding condition file is sent to the injection molding machine controller, the appropriate molding condition file can be selected in the injection molding machine controller. To identify the molding condition file during transmission, one method is to prepare a dedicated protocol and directly notify the molding condition file name. Alternatively, the molding condition file can be identified by I / O transfer. If the latter method is used, multiple molding condition files are listed in advance in a table within the injection molding machine controller, and the order of the molding condition files is determined. The mold change setup cart's controller notifies the number using I / O. The injection molding machine controller reads the molding condition file in the appropriate order from the list. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] As explained above, there are two ways for the mold change setup cart controller to notify the injection molding machine controller of the molding condition file to be loaded. However, both methods have problems. The former method, which involves preparing a dedicated protocol, requires the installation of a dedicated communications program. It also requires the preparation of a dedicated communications cable, which is costly. The latter method, which involves notifying a number via I / O and then identifying the molding condition file in the corresponding order from a table listing multiple molding condition files, requires table maintenance. Every time the number of molding condition files increases or decreases, the molding condition files must be listed and the table created and updated, which is a cumbersome process, and there is also the risk of confusion if the order changes.

[0007] The present disclosure provides an injection molding machine that can easily identify a molding condition file and have a controller read the molding conditions.

[0008] Other objects and novel features will become apparent from the description of this specification and the accompanying drawings. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] This disclosure applies to an injection molding machine in which molding conditions set for each mold or for each type of mold and resin are stored as multiple molding condition files in the controller. The file names of these molding condition files are configured to include numbers to avoid duplication. By transmission from the mold change setup cart When a number is input to the controller, the molding condition file specified by the number is read and the molding conditions are set in the controller. Furthermore, the molding condition file stores mold information for identifying the mold, or the mold information and resin information. [Effects of the Invention]

[0010] The present disclosure can easily be implemented by specifying a molding condition file and having the controller of the injection molding machine read the molding conditions. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0011] [Figure 1] 1 is a front view showing an injection molding machine and a mold change setup cart according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a molding condition file stored in a controller of the injection molding machine according to the present embodiment. [Figure 3] 10 is a molding condition list screen according to the present embodiment. [Figure 4] 1 illustrates an injection molding machine system according to an embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0012] Specific embodiments will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to the following embodiments. For clarity of explanation, the following description and drawings have been simplified as appropriate. In each drawing, the same elements are given the same reference numerals, and duplicate explanations are omitted as necessary. Furthermore, hatching has been omitted in some areas to avoid cluttering the drawings.

[0013] <Injection molding machine> 1, an injection molding machine 1 according to this embodiment includes a mold clamping unit 2, an injection unit 3, etc. The injection molding machine 1 includes a control device, that is, a controller 4, and the mold clamping unit 2, injection unit 3, etc. are controlled by the controller 4. The controller 4 is provided with a monitor 4a, which displays various screens.

[0014] <Mold clamping device> The mold clamping unit 2 includes a fixed platen 7 fixed to a bed B, a movable platen 8 slidably provided on the bed B, and a mold clamping housing 9. The fixed platen 7 and the mold clamping housing 9 are connected by a plurality of tie bars 11, 11, ..., and the movable platen 8 is slidably provided between the fixed platen 7 and the mold clamping housing 9. A mold clamping mechanism, that is, a toggle mechanism 13 in this embodiment, is provided between the mold clamping housing 9 and the movable platen 8. A fixed-side mold 15 and a movable-side mold 16 are provided on the fixed platen 7 and the movable platen 8, respectively. Therefore, when the toggle mechanism 13 is driven, the molds 15, 16 are opened and closed.

[0015] <Injection device> The injection device 3 includes a heating cylinder 19, a screw 20 provided in the heating cylinder 19, and a screw drive device 22. The heating cylinder 19 is supported by the screw drive device 22, and the screw 20 is driven in the rotational direction and the axial direction by the screw drive device 22. The heating cylinder 19 is provided with a hopper 23 and an injection nozzle 24.

[0016] ​Although not shown in FIG. 1, a control panel constituting part of the controller 4 is placed inside the bed B of the injection molding machine 1. An I / O board 26 is provided inside the control panel. The I / O board 26 is a board that transfers I / O between limit switches, external devices, etc., and is connected to the controller 4. In this embodiment, a number for identifying a molding condition file is received from a mold change setup cart 30, which will be described next.

[0017] <Mold change setup cart> The mold change setup cart 30 according to this embodiment is composed of a cart 31 and a controller 32 provided on the cart 31. In this embodiment, the controller 32 is made up of a PLC and is equipped with an I / O unit 34. This I / O unit 34 is connected to the I / O board 26 of the injection molding machine 1 and is capable of transmitting any number in binary notation. As will be explained later, the molding condition file can be identified by the transmitted number, and the desired molding conditions can be read into the controller 4 of the injection molding machine 1.

[0018] In this embodiment, the controller 32 of the mold changing setup cart 30 is provided with a barcode reader 35. The molds 15a, 16a to be changed are placed on the mold changing setup cart 30, and the barcode 39a affixed to the mold 15a is read by the barcode reader 35. The barcode 39a stores a number for identifying a molding condition file that stores molding conditions suitable for the molds 15a, 16a. Therefore, by transmitting the number read from the barcode 39a to the controller 4 of the injection molding machine 1, molding conditions suitable for the molds 15a, 16a are set.

[0019] <Molding condition file> The molding condition file will now be described. As shown in FIG. 2, multiple molding condition files 41a, 41b, ..., 41c, ... are stored in the controller 4. These molding condition files 41a, 41b, ..., 41c, ... have distinctive file names. The file names contain unique numbers, i.e., numbers that prevent duplication. In this embodiment, the file names of the molding condition files 41a, 41b, ..., 41c, ... are "1.dat", "2.dat", ..., "k.dat", .... In other words, "1", "2", ..., "k", ... are unique numbers that prevent duplication of file names. The molding condition files 41a, 41b, ..., 41c, ... are identified by notifying these numbers.

[0020] Each of the molding condition files 41a, 41b, ..., 41c, ... stores a plurality of setting data 43 that constitutes the molding conditions, and also stores information that is characteristic of this embodiment: specifically, mold information 44, which is information for identifying the mold, and resin information 45, which is information about the resin to be injected.

[0021] <Mold replacement> The procedure for replacing the molds 15, 16 attached to the mold clamping unit 2 with new molds 15a, 16a in the injection molding machine 1 (see FIG. 1) according to this embodiment will be described. The mold change setup cart 30 is moved near the mold clamping unit 2. For example, the hooks of a hoist crane are connected to the molds 15, 16, and the molds 15, 16 are unclamped from the mold clamping unit 2. The molds 15, 16 are placed on the mold change setup cart 30. The barcode 39a of the new molds 15a, 16a is read by the barcode reader 35 on the mold change setup cart 30. The numbers identifying the molds 15a, 16a are read. The new molds 15a, 16a are suspended by the hoist crane, moved to the mold clamping unit 2, and clamped. The hoist crane is then removed.

[0022] Next, the controller 32 is operated in the mold change setup cart 30. When the controller 32 is operated, the number read from the barcode 39a is converted to binary, output from the I / O unit 34, and input to the I / O board 26 of the injection molding machine 1. The controller 4 identifies the molding condition file 41a, 41b, ..., 41c, ... (see Figure 2) using the input number. The controller 4 reads the setting data 43 that constitutes the molding conditions from the identified molding condition file 41a, 41b, ..., 41c, .... This sets the molding conditions in the controller 4. The exchange of the molds 15a, 16a is completed.

[0023] <Molding condition list screen> The injection molding machine 1 (see FIG. 1) according to this embodiment can display a list of multiple molding condition files 41a, 41b, ..., 41c, ... (see FIG. 2) stored in the controller 4. FIG. 3 shows a molding condition list screen according to this embodiment that displays such a list. The molding condition list screen displays the file names "1.dat," "2.dat," ..., "k.dat," ... of the molding condition files 41a, 41b, ..., 41c, ... (see FIG. 2), as well as the mold information 44 (see FIG. 2) and resin information 45 stored in these files. The operator can use this screen to check the molding condition files 41a, 41b, ..., 41c, ... stored in the controller 4.

[0024] <Injection molding machine system> Figure 4 shows an injection molding machine system 50 according to this embodiment. The injection molding machine system 50 is made up of four injection molding machines, first to fourth, 1A, 1B, 1C, and 1D, which are equivalent to the injection molding machine 1 (see Figure 1) described above. These first to fourth injection molding machines 1A, 1B, 1C, and 1D are connected to a LAN 51, and the respective controllers 4A, 4B, 4C, and 4D are capable of communicating with each other.

[0025] In the injection molding machine system 50 according to this embodiment, the molding condition files 41a, 41b, ..., 41c, ... (see FIG. 2) are managed by the controller 4A of the first injection molding machine 1A as a master. The controllers 4B, 4C, and 4D of the second to fourth injection molding machines 1B, 1C, and 1D download the molding condition files 41a, 41b, ..., 41c, ... from the controller 4A of the first injection molding machine 1A. This allows the molding condition files 41a, 41b, ..., 41c, ... to be managed centrally in the first injection molding machine 1A.

[0026] <Modification of this embodiment> This embodiment can be modified in various ways. For example, the file names of the molding condition files 41a, 41b, ..., 41c, ... (see FIG. 2) can be modified. Although the file names have been described as "1.dat", "2.dat", ..., "k.dat", ..., prefixes such as "CND01.dat", "CND02.dat", "CND03.dat", ... may be added. Even if the file names are defined in this way, the molding condition files 41a, 41b, 41c, ... can be identified by notifying the numbers.

[0027] The information stored in the molding condition files 41a, 41b, ..., 41c, ... (see FIG. 2) can also be modified. In the embodiment described above, it has been explained that mold information 44 and resin information 45 are stored. However, only mold information 44 may be stored. Alternatively, information other than these may be stored. Also, in the above explanation, the mold changing setup cart 30 (see FIG. 1) is provided with a barcode reader 35, and the numbers identifying the molding condition files 41a, 41b, ..., 41c, ... are read from the barcode 39a. However, the barcode reader 35 and the barcode 39a are not essential. It is sufficient for the operator to know the numbers identifying the molds 15a, 16a to be replaced, and for the operator to directly input the numbers into the controller 32.

[0028] The injection molding machine system 50 (see FIG. 4) can also be modified. In the injection molding machine system 50 according to this embodiment, the controller 4A of the first injection molding machine 1A is described as the master and manages the molding condition files 41a, 41b, ..., 41c, ... (see FIG. 2). However, for example, a host computer may be connected to the LAN 51, and this host computer may be the master.

[0029] The invention made by the inventor has been specifically described above based on the embodiments, but it goes without saying that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments and various modifications are possible without departing from the spirit of the invention. The multiple examples described above can also be implemented in appropriate combinations. [Explanation of symbols]

[0030] 1 Injection molding machine 2 Mold clamping device 3 Injection unit 4 Controller 7 Fixed plate 8 Movable plate 9. Clamping housing 11. Tie bar 13 Toggle mechanism 15 Fixed side mold 16 Movable mold 19 Heating cylinder 20 Screw 22 Screw drive device 23 Hopper 24 Injection nozzle 26 I / O board 30 Mold change setup cart 31 Cart 32 Controller 34 I / O unit 35 Barcode reader 39 Barcode 41 Molding condition file 43 Setting data 44 Mold information 45 Resin Information 50 Injection molding machine system 51 LAN

Claims

1. Equipped with a controller, In the controller, molding conditions set for each mold or for each type of mold and resin are stored as a plurality of molding condition files, The file name of the molding condition file includes a number to avoid duplication, When the number is input to the controller by transmission from the mold change setup cart, the molding condition file specified by the number is read, and molding conditions are set in the controller, In the injection molding machine, the molding condition file stores mold information for identifying a mold, or the mold information and resin information.

2. 2. The injection molding machine according to claim 1, wherein the molding condition file is composed of the number and an extension.

3. 3. The injection molding machine according to claim 1, wherein the controller extracts the mold information stored in each of the plurality of molding condition files, or the mold information and the resin information, and displays them on a screen of the controller.

4. It consists of a host computer and multiple injection molding machines. The host computer stores a plurality of molding condition files, each of which is set for each mold or each type of mold and resin, The file name of the molding condition file includes a number to avoid duplication, When the number is input into the controller of any of the injection molding machines by transmission from the mold change setup cart, the molding condition file identified by the number is transferred from the host computer to the controller of the injection molding machine, and the molding conditions are set in the controller, In the molding condition file, mold information for identifying a mold or the mold information and resin information are stored.

5. 5. The injection molding machine system according to claim 4, wherein the host computer is a controller for a specific one of the plurality of injection molding machines.

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