Die changer and die changing method for extrusion press machine

Abstract

To provide a die changer and a die changing method for an extrusion press device that allows for changing, at a die changing position, a die ring including a die, and a bolster.SOLUTION: There is provided a die changer for an extrusion press device configured to, after completion of extrusion, shear an extruded product by moving, using a die slide device, a die cassette which houses a die block, from the extrusion position to the die exchange position. The die changer comprises: a bolster presser cylinder that presses a bolster constituting a die assembly from above on the die cassette at the die changing position; a die ring presser cylinder that presses, from above on the die cassette, a die ring constituting the die assembly; and a die ring shear cylinder that presses the die ring on the die cassette from below.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a die changer for replacing a die of an extrusion press device used for metal extrusion molding of aluminum alloys and the like, and a die changing method using the die changer.

Background Art

[0002] A general extrusion press device 100 for extruding an extruded material (hereinafter: billet) made of a metal material, for example, aluminum or its alloy material, is shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 1 is a schematic side view of the extrusion press device 100 including a partial cross-section. An extrusion stem 24 is attached to the tip of a main ram 12B whose one end side is housed in a main cylinder 12A and is driven forward hydraulically via a main crosshead 22.

[0003] When extruding a billet 20 with the extrusion press device 100, a die 16 (die assembly) composed of a plurality of members arranged on the end platen 10 side via a ring-shaped pressure ring 10B embedded in a recess 10D of the end platen 10 is pressed (container seal) by a container cylinder 28 against a container 18 (container holder 19). Actually, a plurality of members are combined in the extrusion direction, and the die 16 configured as a die assembly is housed in a holding means (for example, a die cassette) not shown. Then, the main ram 12B is advanced, and the billet 20 housed in the container 18 is pressed against the die 16 by the extrusion stem 24 (upset process). The pressed billet 20 is plastically deformed so as to expand in the radial direction and adheres to the inner peripheral surface of the container 18.

[0004] By further advancing the main ram 12B, the billet 20 is pressed against the die 16 by the extrusion stem 24 (pressing force), and extruded products 21 with a predetermined cross-sectional shape are continuously extruded from the die 16 to the extrusion opening 10A (extrusion process). In Figure 1, the movement of the main ram 12B in the extrusion process is considered forward, and the left side of the extrusion press device 100 in Figure 1 is the front, and the right side is the rear. Also, the rearward movement of the illustrated configuration is considered backward.

[0005] On the other hand, the main cylinder 12A is positioned approximately in the center of the main cylinder housing 12, which is arranged to face the end platen 10, and multiple side cylinders 26 are arranged around the main cylinder 12A in the main cylinder housing 12. The cylinder rods of the side cylinders 26 are fixed to the rear end face of the main crosshead 22 and are driven when the main ram 12B, which does not have a retraction mechanism, is retracted. In addition, the side cylinders 26 advance the main crosshead 22 together with the main ram 12B during the extrusion process.

[0006] The end platen 10 is connected to the main cylinder housing 12 by tie rod nuts 13 and tie rods 14. The reaction force of the pressing force acts on the end platen 10 via the die 16 (pressure ring 10B) during the extrusion process, and also acts on the main cylinder housing 12 via the main cylinder 12A, acting in a direction that separates them from each other. Against this reaction force of the pressing force, the tie rods 14, which pass through the four corners of the end platen 10 and the corresponding four corners of the main cylinder housing 12, and the tie rod nuts 13, which are positioned at both ends of the tie rods 14 and constitute the large-diameter portion of the tie rods 14, restrain movement in the direction that separates them from each other, and the extension of the tie rods 14 (within the elastic region) is configured to resist the reaction force of the pressing force.

[0007] Here, we will describe the die 16, which is configured as a die assembly. As shown in Figure 2, the die ring 31 is housed on the container 18 side of a die cassette (not shown), and the bolster 32 is housed on the end platen 10 side of the die cassette. On the container 18 side of the die ring 31, the die 16 is housed concentrically with the die ring 31, followed by the backer 33. Reference numeral 21 denotes the extruded product.

[0008] Next, we will explain the conventional die replacement process with reference to Figure 3. Figure 3 is a plan view of the end platen 10 and the vicinity of the die slide device 40. Figure 3(a) shows the state when extrusion is complete, Figure 3(b) shows the state in which the die set containing the used die assembly has been moved from the extrusion position to the die replacement position by the die slide device 40, Figure 3(c) shows the state in which the die changer is driven at the die replacement position to connect the die slide device 40 with the die set containing the new die assembly, and Figure 3(d) shows the state in which the die set containing the new die assembly has been moved from the die replacement position to the extrusion position by the die slide device 40.

[0009] Figure 3(a) shows the state after extrusion is complete. Die cassette A, containing the used die assembly, is positioned at the extrusion location, with the extruded product 21 remaining inside the die assembly. Die changer 50 contains die cassette B, containing a new die assembly. For simplicity, only the die ring 31 and bolster 32, which are housed in the die cassette, are shown in the figure.

[0010] After extrusion is complete, as shown in Figure 3(b), the die slide device 40 moves the die set A, which contains the used die assembly, from the extrusion position to the die replacement position. At this time, the extruded product 21 is sheared between the end platen 10 and the die set A, and the die set A is moved from the extrusion position to the die replacement position while the extruded product 21 remains inside the die assembly contained within the die set A. At this stage, the extruded product 21, which has been separated from the die set A, is recovered outside the extrusion press device 100 by the rear equipment.

[0011] Next, as shown in Figure 3(c), the die changer 50 is driven toward the container 18 side (not shown) by a drive mechanism (not shown) of the die changer 50, connecting the die slide device 40 with the die cassette B containing the new die assembly.

[0012] Then, as shown in Figure 3(d), the die cassette B containing the new die assembly is moved from the die exchange position to the extrusion position by the die slide device 40.

[0013] As explained earlier, after the extrusion process is complete, the extruded product remains inside the die assembly. Therefore, in order to replace the die assembly, it is necessary to cut and remove the extruded product inside the die assembly. In conventional extrusion presses, methods have been used to cut the die assembly at the extrusion position of the machine, or to take the die assembly outside the extrusion press and cut it using a separately installed device (see Patent Document 1). [Prior art documents] [Patent Documents]

[0014] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 03-254314 [Overview of the project] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0015] In the former method, in the extrusion position, i.e., the state shown in Figure 3(a), one of the die ring and bolster is pressed from above by a hydraulic cylinder or the like, while the other die ring and bolster is pressed from below by a hydraulic cylinder or the like, thereby shearing the extruded product within the die assembly.

[0016] However, shearing devices positioned at the extrusion location are constrained by the placement of shearing devices that cut the billet residue (discard) at the extrusion location. Therefore, there was a problem in that it was difficult to position such shearing devices at the extrusion location.

[0017] Furthermore, the latter method requires moving the used die assembly, which has been moved to the die exchange position, i.e., to the state shown in Figure 3(d), to the location where the shearing device described in the former method is installed. Therefore, there are problems with the effort involved in this move and the need to secure space for the new shearing device.

[0018] The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and aims to provide a die changer and die changing method for an extrusion press that allows the die, including the die, to be replaced at the die changing position by shearing the extruded product remaining in the die assembly between the die ring and the bolster. [Means for solving the problem]

[0019] The object of the present invention is a die changer for an extrusion press apparatus that, after the completion of extrusion, moves a die cassette containing a die assembly including a die from the extrusion position to the die exchange position using a die slide device to shear the extruded product, and moves the die assembly to the die exchange position while leaving the extruded product inside the die assembly. At the dice exchange position, A bolster retaining cylinder presses the bolster constituting the die assembly from above on the die set, A die retainer cylinder that presses a die ring constituting the die assembly from above on the die cassette, A die ring chassis cylinder that presses the die ring on the die cassette from below, It is achieved by a die changer of an extrusion press device, characterized by comprising:

[0020] Also, the above object of the present invention is achieved at the die exchange position by, Pressing the bolster from above on the die cassette by the bolster retainer cylinder, Pressing the die ring from above on the die cassette by the die retainer cylinder, Pressing the die ring on the die cassette from below by the die ring chassis cylinder, Shearing the extruded product remaining in the die assembly between the bolster and the die ring, Removing the extruded product in the bolster, removing the die ring from the die cassette, and storing a new die ring including a new die in the die cassette, which is achieved by a die exchange method using the die changer of the extrusion press device according to claim 1.

Advantages of the Invention

[0021] The die changer of the extrusion press device according to the present invention shears an extruded product by moving a die cassette storing a die assembly including a die from an extrusion position to a die exchange position by a die slide device after the extrusion is completed, and moves the die assembly to the die exchange position while leaving the extruded product in the die assembly. The die changer is, At the die exchange position, A bolster retainer cylinder that presses the bolster constituting the die assembly from above on the die cassette, A die ring presser cylinder for pressing the die ring constituting the die assembly from above on the die cassette, A die ring chassis cylinder for pressing the die ring on the die cassette from below, is provided. Therefore, at the die change position, the extruded product remaining in the die assembly is sheared between the die ring and the bolster, and at the die change position, a die changer and a die change method of an extrusion press device capable of exchanging the die ring and the bolster including the die can be provided.

[0022] In addition, a die change method using a die changer of an extrusion press device according to the present invention is as follows: at the die change position, the bolster is pressed from above on the die cassette by the bolster presser cylinder, the die ring is pressed from above on the die cassette by the die ring presser cylinder, the die ring on the die cassette is pressed from below by the die ring chassis cylinder, the extruded product remaining in the die assembly is sheared between the bolster and the die ring, the extruded product in the bolster is removed, the die ring is taken out from the die cassette, and a new die ring including a new die is stored in the die cassette. Therefore, at the die change position, the extruded product remaining in the die assembly is sheared between the die ring and the bolster, and at the die change position, a die changer and a die change method of an extrusion press device capable of exchanging the die ring and the bolster including the die can be provided.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0023] [Figure 1] It is a schematic side view of an extrusion press device including a partial cross section. [Figure 2] It is a cross-sectional view of a die configured as a die assembly. [Figure 3] This is a plan view of the vicinity of the end platen 10 and the die slide device 40. [Figure 4] This is a front view of the die changer 50 according to the present invention. [Figure 5] This is a view from the direction of arrow AA in Figure 4. [Figure 6] This is a cross-sectional view showing the state in which the extruded product is sheared between the die ring and bolster of the die assembly. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0024] Hereinafter, embodiments for carrying out the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Note that the following embodiments are not intended to limit the invention as described in each claim, and not all combinations of features described in the embodiments are necessarily essential to the solution of the invention.

[0025] [First Embodiment] First, the die changer 50 of the extrusion press apparatus according to the first embodiment will be described with reference to Figures 4 and 5. Figure 4 is a front view of the die changer 50 according to the present invention. Figure 5 is a view taken along arrow AA in Figure 4. Figure 5(a) shows the state in which the die cassette is in the standby position, and Figure 5(b) shows the state in which the die cassette is moved from the standby position to the shearing position and the die ring is pressed upward.

[0026] A die changer 50 is positioned at the die exchange position. A cylinder frame 60 is positioned on the machine side of the die changer 50. A bolster retaining cylinder 61 and a die ring retaining cylinder 62 are positioned above the cylinder frame 60. The bolster retaining cylinder 61 and the die ring retaining cylinder 62 are positioned on the cylinder frame 60 such that when the die cassette is in the shear position at the die exchange position, they press against the bolster 32 and the die ring 31 from above on the die cassette.

[0027] Furthermore, a die shear cylinder 63 is positioned below the die changer 50. The die shear cylinder 63 is positioned on the die changer 50 so as to press the die ring 31 on the die cassette from below when the die cassette is in the shear position for die replacement.

[0028] Referring to Figures 5 and 6, the shearing of the extruded product 20 between the die ring 31 and the bolster 32 on the die cassette in the die changer 50 will be described. Figure 5 is a view along arrow AA in Figure 4, and Figure 5(a) shows the state in which the die cassette is in the standby position. Specifically, Figure 5(a) is the state shown in Figure 3(d). Therefore, die cassette A shown in Figure 5(a) will be referred to as die cassette 41.

[0029] From the state shown in Figure 5(a), the die changer 50 moves the die cassette 41 to the shear position on the end platen 10 side by a drive mechanism (not shown) as shown in Figure 5(b). At the shear position, the bolster 32 is first pressed from above on the die cassette 41 by the bolster pressing cylinder 61. The die ring 31 is also pressed from above on the die cassette 41 by the die ring pressing cylinder 62. Then, the die ring 31 on the die cassette 41 is pressed from below by the die ring shear cylinder 63.

[0030] The upward pressure applied to the die ring 31 by the die ring holding cylinder 62 suppresses the upward movement of the die ring 31 caused by the downward pressure applied to the die ring 31 by the die ring shear cylinder 53, which is performed simultaneously. Therefore, a large pressing force is not required.

[0031] At this die exchange position, the pressing force applied to the die ring 31 and bolster 32 housed in the die cassette causes the extruded product 21 within the die assembly to be sheared between the die ring 31 and bolster 32, as shown in Figure 6, that is, a die shear can be performed on the die changer 50. Therefore, the die ring and bolster, including the die, can be replaced at the die exchange position.

[0032] Specifically, first, the extruded product 21 inside the bolster 32 is removed and, if necessary, replaced with a new bolster 32. Next, the used die ring 31, including the die 16 in which the extruded product 21 remains, is replaced with a new die ring 31, including a new die 16. The used die ring 31, including the die 16 in which the extruded product 21 remains, is then immersed in a caustic soda solution or the like in a separate process to remove the remaining extruded product 21, dissolve the extruded product 21, and then reused.

[0033] Furthermore, since the die shear can be performed on the die changer 50, a shearing device (cutting device) for the die shear outside the extrusion press machine is not required, as described in Patent Document 1. Moreover, it is easier to add a shearing device (cutting device) to the die changer than to add a shearing device (cutting device) for performing a die shear at the extrusion position to an extrusion press machine that does not have a configuration for performing a die shear at the extrusion position.

[0034] Furthermore, by employing a general-purpose bolster, only the die ring 31, including the die, needs to be replaced on the die changer 50, thus simplifying the die replacement process.

[0035] Although the first embodiment has been described above as a way to carry out the invention, it goes without saying that the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment and can be implemented in various ways without departing from the scope of the claims. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0036] 10 End platen, 10A Extrusion opening, 10B Pressure ring, 10D Recess, 12 Main cylinder housing, 12A Main cylinder, 12B Main ram, 13 Tie rod nut, 14 Tie rod, 16 Die, 18 Container, 19 Container holder, 20 Billet, 21 Extruded product, 22 Main crosshead, 24 Extrusion stem, 26 Side cylinder, 28 Container cylinder, 31 Die ring, 32 Bolster, 33 Backer, 40 Die slide device, 41 Die cassette B, 50 Die changer, 60 Cylinder frame, 61 Bolster retaining cylinder, 62 Die ring retaining cylinder, 63 Die ring shear cylinder

Claims

1. A die changer for an extrusion press, which, after the extrusion is complete, moves the die set containing the die assembly, including the die, from the extrusion position to the die exchange position using a die slide device to shear the extruded product, and moves the die assembly to the die exchange position while leaving the extruded product inside the die assembly, At the dice exchange position, A bolster retaining cylinder presses the bolster constituting the die assembly from above on the die set, A die ring pressing cylinder presses the die rings constituting the die assembly from above on the die set, A die shear cylinder that presses the die on the die set from below, A die changer for an extrusion press, characterized by comprising the following features.

2. At the die exchange position, The bolster is pressed from above on the die set by the bolster retaining cylinder. The die ring is pressed from above on the die cassette by the die ring pressing cylinder. By pressing the die on the die set from below with the die shear cylinder, The extruded product remaining in the die assembly is sheared between the bolster and the die ring. A die changing method using a die changer of an extrusion press apparatus according to claim 1, comprising removing the extruded product from the bolster, removing the die ring from the die set, and storing a new die ring including a new die in the die set.

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