Die casting machine

Abstract

A die casting machine including: a shot sleeve; a molten metal supply inlet provided in the shot sleeve; and a ladle configured to supply molten metal from a spout to the molten metal supply inlet by tilting, in which a guide member of the molten metal is provided around the molten metal supply inlet, the guide member extends upward from the molten metal supply inlet and is provided by cutting out a portion of the molten metal supply inlet on the ladle side, and when a vertical height of a lower end of the spout of the ladle during pouring operation is defined as Lh and a vertical height of an upper end of the guide member is defined as H, with an upper end of the shot sleeve in a vertical direction as a reference, a relationship in which H is equal to or greater than Lh is established.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a die casting machine.BACKGROUND ART

[0002] Patent Literature 1 discloses a pouring hopper. The pouring hopper disclosed in Patent Literature 1 is disposed over a pouring port of a shot sleeve and used so that molten metal can be reliably and easily supplied into the shot sleeve when the molten metal is fed into the shot sleeve by hand drawing or by a ladle or the like by an automatic molten metal supplying device in die casting. Patent Literature 1 provides the pouring hopper that can gently pour molten metal into the shot sleeve without meandering in an inner circumferential direction and a length direction of the shot sleeve and can promptly pour the molten metal into the shot sleeve. The pouring hopper disclosed in Patent Literature 1 includes a pouring portion into which the molten metal is poured, a molten metal outlet that guides the molten metal poured into the pouring portion to the pouring port of the shot sleeve, and a flow straightening member for molten metal.

[0003] Normally, no accessory such as a pouring hopper as disclosed in Patent Literature 1 or a cover for preventing molten metal from scattering is provided around the pouring port of a conventionally known shot sleeve. Therefore, when the molten metal is poured from the ladle into the shot sleeve through the pouring port, pouring operation is performed by adjusting and setting a speed (rotation speed) at which the ladle is operated to an appropriate value so that so-called spillage of the molten metal does not occur during falling of the molten metal. Examples of the so-called spillage of the molten metal include spillage of the molten metal out of an opening of the pouring port, overflow of the molten metal in the shot sleeve through the pouring port, and jumping up and splashing out of the molten metal in the shot sleeve through the pouring port.CITATION LISTPatent LiteraturePatent Literature 1: Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2001-287011SUMMARY OF INVENTIONTechnical Problem

[0005] In order to shorten a cycle time of the die casting machine, it is conceivable to shorten a pouring time by increasing the rotation speed of the ladle and rotating the ladle at a high speed. However, when nothing is provided around the pouring port of the shot sleeve as in the above-described conventionally known technique, it is necessary to adjust and set the rotation speed of the ladle to the appropriate value so that the spillage of the molten metal does not occur when the pouring operation by the ladle is performed. As a result, there is a limit to an increase in the rotation speed of the ladle, and there are many cases where pouring needs to be performed while keeping the rotation speed of the ladle low. As described above, there is a problem that the pouring time cannot be sufficiently shortened by the ladle.

[0006] For example, in a die casting product using an ultra-large die casting machine having a clamping force of 65,000 kN (6,500 ton) or more, an amount of molten metal supplied per one time is as much as 50 to 100 kg or more. Due to a large amount of the molten metal supplied, the pouring time by the ladle tends to be very long. Therefore, particularly in the ultra-large die casting machine, it may be necessary to shorten the pouring time by tilting the ladle at a high speed.

[0007] In the technique disclosed in Patent Literature 1, the flow straightening member for molten metal is provided at the molten metal outlet formed in the pouring hopper, and an area (hereinafter, referred to as a “molten metal passage area”) that the molten metal passes through the flow straightening member is set to be smaller than an opening area of the pouring port. In the case of using such a pouring hopper, when the amount of the molten metal supplied is large, flow of the molten metal is narrowed by the flow straightening member having a molten metal passage area narrower than the opening area of the pouring port, to occur resistance to the flow of the molten metal. Therefore, the molten metal cannot smoothly pass through the flow straightening member, and tends to be clogged or overflows from an inside to an outside of the pouring hopper, resulting in a very long pouring time. In addition, the opening area of the pouring port of the shot sleeve needs to be determined based on a dimension value of a plunger tip diameter, and it is not possible to freely provide the pouring port having an opening area corresponding to the amount of the molten metal supplied without considering the dimension value of the plunger tip diameter. More specifically, the opening area of the pouring port of the shot sleeve is not proportional to the amount of the molten metal supplied, and cannot be set so wide for an increase in the amount of the molten metal supplied. Therefore, the molten metal passage area smaller than the opening area of the pouring port cannot be set either so wide for the increase in the amount of the molten metal supplied, and thus the pouring time will be longer as the amount of the molten metal supplied is larger. Therefore, there is a problem that the pouring time cannot be shortened by the ladle.

[0008] The present disclosure provides a die casting machine capable of shortening the pouring time by increasing the rotation speed of the ladle and rotating the ladle at a high speed in order to shorten the cycle time of the die casting machine without causing the spillage of the molten metal even when the amount of the molten metal supplied is large.Solution to Problem

[0009] [1] A die casting machine including: a shot sleeve; a molten metal supply inlet provided in the shot sleeve; and a ladle configured to supply molten metal from a spout to the molten metal supply inlet by tilting, in which a guide member of the molten metal is provided around the molten metal supply inlet, the guide member extends upward from the molten metal supply inlet and is provided by cutting out a portion of the molten metal supply inlet positioned on the ladle side, and when a vertical height of a lower end of the spout of the ladle during pouring operation is Lh and a vertical height of an upper end of the guide member is H, with an upper end of the shot sleeve in a vertical direction as a reference, a relationship of Formula (1) is established.[Formula⁢ 1]H≥L⁢h(1)

[0010] The die casting machine according to the above [1], in which when a depth of the spout of the ladle is d, a relationship of Formula (2) is established.[Formula⁢ 2]H≥L⁢h+d(2)

[0011] The die casting machine according to the above [1] or [2], in which at least a part of the guide member is inclined to the ladle side and overlaps the molten metal supply inlet of the shot sleeve when viewed from the vertical direction.

[0012] The die casting machine according to any one of the above [1] to [3], in which the guide member extends upward over an entire circumference of the molten metal supply inlet of the shot sleeve, and includes a ladle-opposing-side hood positioned on a side opposite to the ladle and a ladle-side hood positioned on the ladle side, and a height of the ladle-opposing-side hood is higher than a height of the ladle-side hood.

[0013] The die casting machine according to any one of the above [1] to [4], in which the guide member includes: a first guide element having a first guide surface; a second guide element having a second guide surface; and a molten metal passage provided adjacent to the first guide element and the second guide element, and the first guide surface is provided to face a first imaginary line passing through a center of the molten metal passage, and the second guide surface is provided to face a second imaginary line passing through the center of the molten metal passage and orthogonal to the first imaginary line.Advantageous Effects of Invention

[0014] The present disclosure provides the die casting machine capable of shortening the pouring time by increasing the rotation speed of the ladle and rotating the ladle at a high speed in order to shorten the cycle time of the die casting machine without causing the spillage of the molten metal even when the amount of the molten metal supplied is large.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0015] FIG. 1 is a schematic view illustrating an example of a die casting machine.

[0016] FIG. 2 is a view illustrating an example of a shot sleeve in a state in which a guide member is attached.

[0017] FIG. 3(a) is a plan view exemplifying a positional relationship between a ladle and the shot sleeve during pouring operation. FIG. 3(b) is a schematic view exemplifying a spout of the ladle.

[0018] FIG. 4(a) is a plan view exemplifying a main part near a molten metal supply inlet of the shot sleeve. FIG. 4(b) is a side view exemplifying a main part near the molten metal supply inlet of the shot sleeve. FIG. 4(c) is a front view exemplifying a main part near the molten metal supply inlet of the shot sleeve.

[0019] FIG. 5(a) is a plan view exemplifying the guide member. FIG. 5(b) is a sectional view taken along line A-A of FIG. 5(a). FIGS. 5(c) and 5(d) are side views exemplifying the guide member.

[0020] FIGS. 6(a) and 6(b) are sectional views exemplifying a positional relationship between the ladle and the guide member during pouring operation.

[0021] FIG. 7(a) is a plan view exemplifying an attachment for attaching the guide member to a shot sleeve. FIG. 7(b) is a side view exemplifying the attachment. FIG. 5(c) is a front view exemplifying the attachment.

[0022] FIG. 8 is a view illustrating an example of the shot sleeve in the state in which the guide member is attached.

[0023] FIG. 9(a) is a plan view exemplifying a main part near the molten metal supply inlet of the shot sleeve. FIG. 9(b) is a side view exemplifying a main part near the molten metal supply inlet of the shot sleeve. FIG. 9(c) is a side view exemplifying a main part near the molten metal supply inlet of the shot sleeve.

[0024] FIGS. 10(a) and 10(b) are plan views schematically exemplifying a main part near the molten metal supply inlet of the shot sleeve.DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

[0025] Hereinafter, embodiments will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the description, the same elements or elements having the same function are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant description will be omitted.[Die Casting Machine]

[0026] A die casting machine 100 illustrated in FIG. 1 is a device that manufactures a metal product (cast product) by filling a molten metal MM in a die. The die casting machine 100 includes a pair of dies, a clamping portion 110, and an injection filling portion 130. The die casting machine 100 includes a fixed die 101 and a movable die 102 as the pair of dies. The clamping portion 110 opens and closes the pair of dies and clamps the dies. The injection filling portion 130 injects and fills a cavity of the pair of dies with the molten metal MM (metal melt) through a flow path leading to the pair of dies. Hereinafter, for convenience of description, a direction from the injection filling portion 130 toward the clamping portion 110 is defined as “front” and “forward”, and a direction from the clamping portion 110 toward the injection filling portion 130 is defined as “rear” and “rearward”. In FIG. 1 and the like, the front (forward) is represented by an arrow marked with an “F”, and the rear (rearward) is represented by an arrow marked with an “R”. In FIG. 1 and the like, a double-headed arrow marked with “V” indicates a vertical direction, and hereinafter, the vertical direction (up-down direction) is referred to as “vertical direction V”.(Clamping Portion 110)

[0027] The clamping portion 110 includes a fixed platen 113 and a movable platen 114. The fixed platen 113 supports the fixed die 101. The movable platen 114 supports the movable die 102. When the movable platen 114 is driven by a drive unit connected to the movable platen 114, opening / closing and clamping of the fixed die 101 and the movable die 102 are performed. When the fixed die 101 and the movable die 102 are in contact with each other and a die division surface is closed, a cavity 106 that is a closed space is formed between the fixed die 101 and the movable die 102. The cavity 106 is filled with the molten metal MM by injection to mold the cast product. The molten metal MM is made of, for example, an aluminum alloy.(Injection Filling Portion 130)

[0028] The injection filling portion 130 includes a piston 131, a cylinder 141, and a shot sleeve 3. The piston 131 is provided so as to be capable of reciprocating in a front-rear direction. The cylinder 141 drives the piston 131. The shot sleeve 3 forms a space in which the molten metal MM before being filled in the cavity 106 is stored. The space formed by the shot sleeve 3 is also a flow path through which the molten metal MM flows. The shot sleeve 3 is also referred to as an injection sleeve. The piston 131 includes a piston rod 133 and a plunger rod 137, and the piston rod 133 and the plunger rod 137 are connected to each other by a joint 134. A piston head 135 is provided at a rear end of the piston rod 133, and a plunger tip 138 is provided at a front end of the plunger rod 137.

[0029] The shot sleeve 3 is provided through the fixed platen 113, and the flow path inside the shot sleeve 3 further passes through the fixed die 101 and communicates with the cavity 106. A molten metal supply inlet 35 to which the molten metal MM is supplied is formed in the shot sleeve 3. Inside the shot sleeve 3, the plunger tip 138 provided on the plunger rod 137 is disposed in a reciprocating state. When the plunger tip 138 advances to pump the molten metal MM in the shot sleeve 3, the cavity 106 is filled with the molten metal MM by injection. Although not illustrated in FIG. 1, a guide member 1 to be described later is provided corresponding to the molten metal supply inlet 35.

[0030] In a state where the plunger tip 138 is retracted inside the shot sleeve 3, the molten metal MM is supplied into the shot sleeve 3 through the molten metal supply inlet 35. After a predetermined amount of the molten metal MM is supplied, when hydraulic oil is supplied behind the piston head 135, the piston head 135 and the plunger rod 137 move forward. Thus, the molten metal MM stored in the shot sleeve 3 is pushed by the plunger tip 138 and injected at high pressure into the cavity 106 between the fixed die 101 and the movable die 102.(Guide Member 1)

[0031] Next, the guide member 1 and some members related to a function of the guide member 1 will be described with reference to FIGS. 2 to 7. As illustrated in FIG. 2, the guide member 1 is a guide member (hood) of the molten metal MM and is provided around the molten metal supply inlet 35. The guide member 1 has a function of guiding the molten metal MM to be introduced into the shot sleeve 3 when the molten metal MM is supplied into the shot sleeve 3 through the molten metal supply inlet 35. The die casting machine 100 may include an attachment 5, and the guide member 1 may be detachably attached to the shot sleeve 3 by the attachment 5.

[0032] As described above, the shot sleeve 3 to which the guide member 1 is attached is a component of the injection filling portion 130 in the die casting machine 100. The shot sleeve 3 includes a sleeve body 31 and the molten metal supply inlet 35.

[0033] The sleeve body 31 extends in the front-rear direction and is formed, for example, in a cylindrical shape. An inside of the sleeve body 31 forms a void (space) from a front end to a rear end of the sleeve body 31. When the shot sleeve 3 is incorporated into the die casting machine 100, the molten metal MM is injected into the cavity 106 of the die through the void in the sleeve body 31. That is, the void inside the sleeve body 31 forms a runner 33. A front portion of the sleeve body 31 penetrates the fixed platen 113 and is connected to the fixed die 101.

[0034] The molten metal supply inlet 35 is provided on a rear side (close to a rear are) in the sleeve body 31, and is an opening that communicates the inside of the sleeve body 31 and an outside space. The molten metal supply inlet 35 is a void formed through the sleeve body 31 in a rear portion of the sleeve body 31. The molten metal MM such as the aluminum alloy to be used for die casting is poured into the runner 33 through the molten metal supply inlet 35. In the present disclosure, pouring the molten metal MM into the runner 33 (inside the shot sleeve 3) may be referred to as “pouring operation”.

[0035] The die casting machine 100 includes a ladle 9. The ladle 9 is a container for pouring the molten metal MM into the shot sleeve 3 and includes a spout 9a. The ladle 9 tilts to supply the molten metal MM from the spout 9a to the molten metal supply inlet 35. The ladle 9 may rotate (tilt) about a horizontal rotation axis when supplying the molten metal MM. The rotation axis may be set near the spout 9a. The ladle 9 is operated by a machine (for example, a robot) to supply the molten metal MM to the molten metal supply inlet 35. The molten metal MM supplied from the spout 9a of the ladle 9 to the molten metal supply inlet 35 is introduced into the sleeve body 31 of the shot sleeve 3.

[0036] Here, with reference to FIG. 3(a), a positional relationship between the ladle 9 and the shot sleeve 3 in a plan view when pouring the molten metal MM will be described. Since another member is provided behind the shot sleeve 3, there is a restriction that the ladle 9 needs to be disposed on a side of the shot sleeve 3 (a radial side of the shot sleeve 3) during pouring operation. Therefore, as illustrated in FIG. 3(a), the ladle 9 pours the molten metal into the shot sleeve 3 in a state where a central axis C9 thereof is inclined to a central axis C3 of the shot sleeve 3 in a plan view. Therefore, a direction in which the molten metal MM is poured from the spout 9a of the ladle 9 is also inclined with respect to the central axis C3 in the plan view. FIG. 3(b) schematically illustrates an end surface forming the spout 9a of the ladle 9.

[0037] Returning to FIG. 2, the guide member 1 extends upward from the molten metal supply inlet 35, and is provided by cutting out a portion of the molten metal supply inlet 35 positioned on the ladle 9 side. Extending upward from the molten metal supply inlet 35 includes not only extending vertically upward but also extending upward in a state of being inclined with respect to the vertical direction V. The guide member 1 extends upward, for example, over an entire circumference of the molten metal supply inlet 35 (an opening edge forming the molten metal supply inlet 35). Since the guide member 1 extends upward along the entire circumference of the molten metal supply inlet 35, an annular peripheral wall forming a space communicating with the molten metal supply inlet 35 is formed by the guide member 1. It can also be said that the guide member 1 protrudes upward from the molten metal supply inlet 35.

[0038] Being provided by cutting out means that a protruding amount of a part (cut out part) of the annular peripheral wall formed by the guide member 1 from the molten metal supply inlet 35 is smaller than a protruding amount of the other part (non-cut out part) from the molten metal supply inlet 35. Cutting out of the portion positioned on the ladle 9 side of the molten metal supply inlet 35 also includes that the protruding amount of the part (cut out part) from the molten metal supply inlet 35 is zero, that is, that the part of the peripheral wall of the guide member 1 is not present. The guide member 1 illustrated in FIG. 2 and the like extends upward over the entire circumference of the molten metal supply inlet 35.

[0039] The portion positioned on the ladle 9 side of the molten metal supply inlet 35 means a region closer to the ladle 9 during pouring operation out of two regions when the entire circumference of the molten metal supply inlet 35 is divided into two continuous regions. In the present disclosure, a region far from the ladle 9 during pouring operation out of the two regions is defined as a “portion positioned on a side opposite to the ladle 9”. The guide member 1 is not cut out in a region on the side opposite to the ladle 9. A boundary between the region on the ladle 9 side and the region on the side opposite to the ladle 9 may be set in any manner as long as it is set so that a difference between the two regions in relative positional relationship with the ladle 9 during pouring operation occurs. The boundary between the region on the ladle 9 side and the region on the side opposite to the ladle 9 is set such that, for example, a region overlapping the ladle 9 during pouring operation out of the opening edge of the molten metal supply inlet 35 is included in the region on the ladle 9 side in a plan view.

[0040] The guide member 1 may include a ladle-opposing-side hood 80 and a ladle-side hood 90 (see also FIGS. 4 and 5). The ladle-opposing-side hood 80 is a portion of the guide member 1 located on a side opposite to the ladle 9. The ladle-side hood 90 is a portion of the guide member 1 located on the ladle 9 side. The ladle-side hood 90 can also be said to be a portion remaining by being cut out at the portion of the guide member 1 on the ladle 9 side. The ladle-opposing-side hood 80 and the ladle-side hood 90 are integrally formed. A height of the ladle-opposing-side hood 80 is higher than that of the ladle-side hood 90. The height of the ladle-opposing-side hood 80 is defined by a height position in the vertical direction V of an uppermost portion of the ladle-opposing-side hood 80. The height of the ladle-side hood 90 is defined by a height position in the vertical direction V of an uppermost portion of the ladle-side hood 90. A height of an upper end portion (upper surface) of the ladle-side hood 90 may be substantially constant.

[0041] Next, a positional relationship between the ladle 9 and the guide member 1 during pouring operation will be described. A position of the ladle 9 during pouring operation is a position of the ladle 9 when the molten metal MM is supplied from the spout 9a of the ladle 9 to the molten metal supply inlet 35 by tilting (rotating) the ladle 9. In a plan view, at least a part of the spout 9a of the ladle 9 during pouring operation overlaps the molten metal supply inlet 35 (see FIG. 3(a)).

[0042] Here, as illustrated in FIG. 6(a), with an upper end of the shot sleeve 3 in the vertical direction as a reference, a vertical height of a lower end of the spout 9a of the ladle 9 during pouring operation is defined as “Lh”, and a vertical height of an upper end of the guide member 1 is defined as “H”. The following relational expression of Formula (3) is established between the vertical height Lh and the vertical height H.[Formula⁢ 3]H≥L⁢h(3)

[0043] As shown in the above Formula (3), in a state where the ladle 9 is pouring the molten metal, the vertical height H is equal to or higher than the vertical height Lh. The vertical height H of the upper end of the guide member 1 corresponds to a vertical height of the uppermost portion of the ladle-opposing-side hood 80 of the guide member 1. Note that, also in FIG. 6(b), although the ladle 9 is omitted, the vertical height Lh and the vertical height H are illustrated.

[0044] A depth of the spout 9a of the ladle 9 is defined as “d” (see FIG. 3(b)). The depth d is defined as a shortest distance in the vertical direction between the lower end and an upper end of the spout 9a in a state where the ladle 9 is not tilted. The following relational expression of Formula (4) may be established between the vertical height Lh and the vertical height H. As shown in Formula (4), the vertical height H may be equal to or higher than a total value of the vertical height Lh and the depth d (see also FIG. 6(b)).[Formula⁢ 4]H≥L⁢h+d(4)

[0045] At least a part of the guide member 1 may be inclined to the ladle 9 side and may overlap the molten metal supply inlet 35 provided in the shot sleeve 3 when viewed from the vertical direction (see FIGS. 2, 3(a), and 4(a)). In one example, at least a part of the ladle-opposing-side hood 80 is inclined to the ladle 9 side and overlaps the molten metal supply inlet 35 in a plan view. The ladle-opposing-side hood 80 may be formed such that a lower portion of the ladle-opposing-side hood 80 extends vertically upward and an upper portion of the ladle-opposing-side hood 80 extends obliquely inward of the molten metal supply inlet 35. The ladle-side hood 90 may be formed to extend vertically upward without being inclined.<Guide Element>

[0046] Next, a point that the guide member 1 includes two guide elements will be described. With the two guide elements, for example, it is possible to prevent leaking out and spillage of the molten metal MM during pouring from the ladle 9 into the molten metal supply inlet 35, and also possible to prevent spillage of molten metal caused by the splashing of molten metal MM, which occurs when the molten metal MM flowing back through the sleeve 3 collides with the newly poured molten metal MM. In addition, since the guide member 1 including the two guide elements requires a short contact time with the molten metal MM, it is possible to prevent a casting defect due to a drop in molten metal temperature. The guide member 1 is provided aligned with the molten metal supply inlet 35, and guides the molten metal MM to be poured to the runner 33 so as not to leak out. As an example, the guide member 1 is retrofitted to the sleeve body 31 manufactured as a separate body.

[0047] As illustrated in FIGS. 4(a), 4(b), and 4(c), the guide member 1 includes a support portion 10 and a guide portion 20A. The support portion 10 and the guide portion 20A are elements (portions) when the guide member 1 is observed from a viewpoint different from the ladle-opposing-side hood 80 and the ladle-side hood 90. The support portion 10 is a portion that is supported by the sleeve body 31 by being fitted to the molten metal supply inlet 35. The support portion 10 includes, for example, the ladle-side hood 90 and a portion of the ladle-opposing-side hood 80 extending vertically upward. The guide portion 20A is a portion that rises from the support portion 10 and guides the molten metal MM to be poured to the molten metal supply inlet 35 so that the spillage of the molten metal does not occur. The guide portion 20A is, for example, a portion of the ladle-opposing-side hood 80 that is inclined to the ladle 9 side (inward of the molten metal supply inlet 35). The support portion 10 and the guide portion 20A may be integrally manufactured by casting, or may be separately manufactured and then joined. Hereinafter, for convenience of description, a direction along the central axis C3 of the shot sleeve 3 is defined as a “longitudinal direction L”, and a direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction L and the vertical direction Vis defined as a “lateral direction W”.

[0048] As illustrated in FIGS. 5(a), 5(b), 5(c), and 5(d), the support portion 10 includes a frame 11 having a substantially rectangular shape in a plan view, and a flange 17 provided at an upper end of the frame 11 in the vertical direction V. The frame 11 includes an outer peripheral edge 13 and an inner peripheral edge 15 in a plan view, and an inside of the inner peripheral edge 15 is a void, and the void serves as a molten metal passage 19. The outer peripheral edge 13 and the inner peripheral edge 15 are parallel from the upper end to the lower end in the vertical direction V, but are inclined such that the outer peripheral edge 13 approaches the inner peripheral edge 15 as approaching the lower end, and a lower end portion of the frame 11 has a tapered shape. This is to facilitate insertion of the frame 11 into the attachment 5.

[0049] The frame 11 includes a right side surface 11A and a left side surface 11B facing each other in the lateral direction W, and a front surface 11C and a rear surface 11D facing each other in the longitudinal direction L. When the guide member 1 is attached to the shot sleeve 3, the right side surface 11A and the left side surface 11B are arranged at an interval in the lateral direction W. When the guide member 1 is attached to the shot sleeve 3, the front surface 11C and the rear surface 11D are arranged at an interval in the longitudinal direction L.

[0050] In the support portion of the guide member 1, the outer peripheral edge 13 of the frame 11 has dimensions in the longitudinal direction L, the lateral direction W, and the vertical direction V so as to be fitted into an insertion opening 53A of the attachment 5 described later. Further, when the frame 11 is fitted into the insertion opening 53A, since the flange 17 is placed on a support base 53 of the attachment 5, the guide member 1 is supported by the attachment 5.

[0051] As illustrated in FIGS. 5(a), 5(b), 5(c), and 5(d), the guide portion 20A includes two elements of a first guide element 21A and a second guide element 25A which are integrally formed. These two guide elements, the first guide element 21A and the second guide element 25A are provided based on the fact that a direction of the molten metal MM poured from the ladle 9 is inclined with respect to the central axis C3. The first guide element 21A is provided for the purpose of guiding the molten metal MM to be poured from the ladle 9 through the molten metal supply inlet 35 toward the runner 33 of the shot sleeve 3. The second guide element 25A is provided for the purpose of returning the molten metal MM, which jumps up when the molten metal MM having flowed backward through the runner 33 of the shot sleeve 3 collides with the poured molten metal MM, to the runner 33. The first guide element 21A and the second guide element 25A serve their respective purposes, so that the molten metal MM to be poured from the ladle 9 can be prevented from the spillage.

[0052] The first guide element 21A extends from the left side surface 11B toward the right side surface 11A. The first guide element 21A rises from the left side surface 11B, and covers a part of the molten metal passage 19 in the vertical direction V from above by being inclined in the lateral direction W. The second guide element 25A extends from the front surface 11C toward the rear surface 11D. The second guide element 25A rises from the front surface 11C, and covers a part of the molten metal passage 19 in the vertical direction V from above by being inclined in the longitudinal direction L.

[0053] The first guide element 21A and the second guide element 25A are connected by a connecting portion 23, and constitute an integral guide portion as a whole. The guide portion of the guide member 1 includes an inner peripheral surface 201 and an outer peripheral surface 200, and the inner peripheral surface 201 serves as a guide surface for guiding the molten metal MM. The inner peripheral surface 201 and the outer peripheral surface 200 are constituted by curved surfaces in the present embodiment, but may be constituted by flat surfaces. In addition, the inner peripheral surface 201 is constituted by a plurality of tapered surfaces S1, S2, S3, . . . tapered from above to below. Since the plurality of tapered surfaces S1, S2, S3, . . . are configured to be continuous in this manner, the molten metal MM in contact with the tapered surfaces S1, S2, and S3 appropriately flows from above to below along the tapered surfaces S1, S2, and S3 due to the Coanda effect. A curved surface (radius R) or a corner may be formed between the adjacent tapered surfaces S1 and S2.(Attachment 5)

[0054] The guide member 1 is detachable to the shot sleeve 3 by the attachment 5. Therefore, the guide member 1 can be retrofitted to the shot sleeve 3 of the existing die casting machine 100. The attachment 5 will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 and 7. Note that the attachment 5 illustrated in FIG. 7 and the like is merely an example, and other attachments capable of detachably attaching the guide member 1 to the shot sleeve 3 can also be used.

[0055] The attachment 5 attaches the guide member 1 to the sleeve body 31 by being fitted onto the sleeve body 31 of the shot sleeve 3 in a state where the guide member 1 is fixed. As illustrated in FIGS. 7(a), 7(b), and 7(c), the attachment 5 includes a first fastening portion 51 having a function of fixing the guide member 1, and a second fastening portion 55 fitted onto the shot sleeve 3 by fastening the sleeve body 31 together with the first fastening portion 51. The first fastening portion 51 and the second fastening portion 55 are fastened by bolts (not illustrated).

[0056] The first fastening portion 51 includes a first fastening half ring 52 having a semicircular arc shape, the support base 53 of the guide member 1 provided integrally with the first fastening half ring 52, and first fixing pieces 54A and 54B provided at both ends of the first fastening half ring 52. The first fastening half ring 52 has a dimension in the longitudinal direction L larger than that of the guide member 1, and has a radius r capable of fastening an outer peripheral surface of the shot sleeve 3.

[0057] The support base 53 is provided at a top of the first fastening half ring 52, and includes the insertion opening 53A into which the frame 11 of the guide member 1 is inserted, and a support frame 53B provided around the insertion opening 53A. The insertion opening 53A has a rectangular shape in a plan view and is a through-hole penetrating the first fastening half ring 52. The support frame 53B rises from the first fastening half ring 52 and has a rectangular shape in a plan view surrounding the insertion opening 53A. The support frame 53B is provided with a bolt hole 53D for bolting the frame 11 of the guide member 1 to be attached.

[0058] The second fastening portion 55 includes a second fastening half ring 56 having a semicircular arc shape and second fixing pieces 57A and 57B provided at both ends of the second fastening half ring 56.

[0059] The attachment 5 attaches the guide member 1 to the shot sleeve 3 as follows. The first fastening half ring 52 of the first fastening portion 51 and the second fastening half ring 56 of the second fastening portion 55 surround the sleeve body 31. At this time, the insertion opening 53A of the first fastening half ring 52 is aligned with the molten metal supply inlet 35 of the shot sleeve 3, and the first fixing pieces 54A and 54B of the first fastening half ring 52 and the second fixing pieces 57A and 57B of the second fastening half ring 56 are aligned. In this state, the first fastening portion 51 and the second fastening portion 55 fasten the shot sleeve 3 by screwing bolts so as to pass through bolt holes 53C and 53C of the first fixing pieces 54A and 54B and bolt holes 58C and 58C of the second fixing pieces 57A and 57B.

[0060] The frame 11 of the guide member 1 is inserted into the insertion opening 53A so that the flange 17 is in contact with an upper edge of the support base 53 to be in a preliminary state of attachment. By screwing a bolt into the bolt hole 53D of the support frame 53B, the guide member 1 is fixed to the attachment 5 via the support base 53. Thus, the guide member 1 is attached at a fixed position of the shot sleeve 3.<Form of Spillage of Molten Metal>

[0061] In the shot sleeve 3, there are two forms of the spillage of the molten metal. A first form is a form in which the molten metal MM to be poured from the ladle 9 deviates from the molten metal supply inlet 35 and spills out of the shot sleeve 3. This first form of the spillage of the molten metal can occur directly by tilting the ladle 9 at a high speed. Here, the ladle 9 moves to a pouring position while maintaining an upright state in which the central axis C9 is in the vertical direction V, and when reaching the pouring position, as illustrated in FIG. 2, the ladle 9 is tilted to a predetermined angle toward the shot sleeve 3 for pouring operation. When a speed at which the ladle 9 is tilted, that is, a tilting speed is high, since a part of the molten metal MM reaches a position further away from the ladle 9, the spillage of the molten metal MM over the molten metal supply inlet 35 can occur. This is the first form of the spillage of the molten metal, which is the spillage of the molten metal occurring on a side opposite to a side on which the ladle 9 is disposed across the central axis C3 of the shot sleeve 3 in relation to a position at which the ladle 9 is disposed. The first guide element 21A addresses the first form of the spillage of the molten metal.

[0062] A second form is a form in which a splash of the molten metal MM caused by the collision between the molten metal MM flowing backward through the shot sleeve 3 and the newly poured molten metal MM flows through the molten metal supply inlet 35 to spill out of the shot sleeve 3. The molten metal MM to be poured from the molten metal supply inlet 35 flows forward (F) in a forward flow FF as illustrated in FIG. 2, and the fixed die 101 is provided in front (F) of the shot sleeve 3 as illustrated in FIG. 1. The molten metal MM poured into the shot sleeve 3 hits the fixed die 101 and flows rearward (R) in a reverse flow RF. The reverse flow RF of the molten metal MM collides with a molten metal flow FO poured from the ladle 9 and having passed through the molten metal supply inlet 35, and the collision causes the molten metal MM to splash indicated by “JU” in FIG. 2. This upward splash JU can pass through the molten metal supply inlet 35 to be the spillage of the molten metal. This second form of the spillage of the molten metal may occur forward (F) due to an orientation relationship between the reverse flow RF of the molten metal MM and the molten metal flow FO from the ladle 9. The second guide element 25A addresses the second form of the spillage of the molten metal.

[0063] Hereinafter, effects of the two guide elements will be described.<First Effect: Effect on Spillage of Molten Metal>

[0064] The guide member 1 includes the first guide element 21A and the second guide element 25A along two directions different from each other in order to address the two forms of the spillage of the molten metal. The first guide element 21A extending in a direction parallel to the central axis C3 of the shot sleeve 3 is provided to address the first form of the spillage of the molten metal, and the second guide element 25A extending in a direction orthogonal to the central axis C3 addresses the second form of the spillage of the molten metal. That is, as illustrated in FIG. 6(a), the molten metal MM to be poured from the ladle 9 hits the inner peripheral surface 201 forming a first guide surface 22A of the first guide element 21A, and passes through the molten metal supply inlet 35 of the shot sleeve 3 along the inner peripheral surface 201 to reach the runner 33, so that it is possible to prevent the first spillage of the molten metal.

[0065] In addition, as illustrated in FIG. 6(b), the jump up JU of the molten metal MM caused by the collision between the molten metal MM flowing as the reverse flow RF through the runner 33 of the shot sleeve 3 and the newly poured molten metal flow FO may occur mainly forward (F) and upward. Even when the jump up JU of the molten metal MM passes over the molten metal supply inlet 35, since the second guide element 25A is provided there, the jump up JU hits a second guide surface 26A and is prevented from the spillage.

[0066] A first effect described above is particularly effective when the amount of the molten metal supplied is as much as 50 to 100 kg or more in mass production of ultra-large die casting products by the ultra-large die casting machine 100 having a clamping force of 65,000 kN (6,500 ton) or more. The same applies to the following second effect. Note that dimensions of the first guide element 21A and the second guide element 25A in the vertical direction V can be determined in advance by experimentally pouring the molten metal from the ladle 9. In addition, the dimensions of the first guide element 21A and the second guide element 25A in the longitudinal direction L and the lateral direction W are specified according to dimensions of the molten metal supply inlet 35.<Second Effect: Suppressing Effect on Decrease in Molten Metal Temperature>

[0067] In the technique disclosed in Patent Literature 1, the molten metal supplied from the ladle or the like is poured into a pouring portion of the pouring hopper, and the molten metal flows to a molten metal outlet in a state of being in contact with the pouring hopper. Then, the molten metal passes through the molten metal flow straightening member and is poured into the shot sleeve through the pouring port. In this case, the molten metal temperature drastically drops as compared with a case where the molten metal supplied from the ladle or the like is directly poured into the shot sleeve through the pouring port without using anything. Due to such a drop in the molten metal temperature, flow of the molten metal is deteriorated, and there is a problem that a casting defect such as a misrun, a cold shut, or a flow line is caused.

[0068] The guide member 1 guides a direction in which the molten metal MM flows, and is only in instantaneous contact with the molten metal MM poured every moment. Therefore, with the guide member 1, since a molten metal pool that leads to a temperature decrease of the molten metal MM is not formed unlike the hopper, the drop in the molten metal temperature can be suppressed to a minimum, and thus it is possible to prevent occurrence of the casting defect such as the misrun, the cold shut, or the flow line, which occur when the molten metal temperature drops.<Third Effect: Straightening Effect of Molten Metal due to Inclination>

[0069] The first guide element 21A and the second guide element 25A of the guide portion 20A are inclined toward the molten metal passage 19 so as to cover the molten metal passage 19. As a first guide element 21A is inclined, an angle between the molten metal MM to be poured and the first guide element 21A can be reduced as illustrated in FIG. 6(a), and thus, by suppressing a degree of collision of the molten metal MM, the molten metal MM to be guided tends to be straightened, and entrainment of air into the molten metal MM can be suppressed. The same applies to the second guide element 25A.<Fourth effect: Effect by being Detachable>

[0070] The guide member 1 is detachably attached to the shot sleeve 3 by the attachment 5. Therefore, as compared with a case where the shot sleeve 3 and the guide member 1 are integrally manufactured, it is easy to manufacture the shot sleeve 3 and the guide member 1, and in addition, it is easy to perform maintenance work such as removing solidified pieces of the molten metal MM adhering to the guide member 1.[Modification]

[0071] As illustrated in FIG. 8, an entire guide member 1 may extend (protrude) vertically upward. Also in the guide member 1 illustrated in FIG. 8, a portion on the ladle side is cut out. Both the ladle-opposing-side hood 80 and the ladle-side hood 90 included in the guide member 1 illustrated in FIG. 8 extend vertically upward in the vertical direction V.

[0072] The height of the ladle-side hood 90 may be substantially constant. When the ladle-opposing-side hood 80 is observed along the opening edge of the molten metal supply inlet 35, at least one of both end portions of the ladle-opposing-side hood 80 may be inclined or curved with respect to the vertical direction V (a vertical axis). A height of an upper end (upper surface) of most of the ladle-opposing-side hood 80 other than the inclined or curved portion may be substantially constant.

[0073] In the guide member 1 illustrated in FIG. 2, as a particularly preferable form, the first guide element 21A and the second guide element 25A are inclined toward the molten metal passage 19 so as to cover the molten metal passage 19. However, in order to obtain the first effect and the second effect described above, inclination of the first guide element and the second guide element is not necessarily required. That is, even with a first guide element 21B and a second guide element 25B that are upright as illustrated in FIGS. 9(a), 9(b), and 9(c), the first effect and the second effect can be obtained. The first guide element 21B and the second guide element 25B respectively include a first guide surface 22B and a second guide surface 26B. The term “upright” as used herein means parallel to the vertical direction V.

[0074] The guide member 1 has a rectangular shape in a plan view, which corresponds to a rectangular opening shape of the molten metal supply inlet 35 of the shot sleeve 3. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 10(a), when the molten metal supply inlet 35 has a circular shape (an elliptical shape) other than the rectangular shape, the shape of the guide member 1 in a plan view may be a shape corresponding to the circular shape. The guide member 1 may not include the ladle-side hood 90 but may include the ladle-opposing-side hood 80. That is, the guide member 1 may protrude upward from the molten metal supply inlet 35 only in a part of the entire circumference of the molten metal supply inlet 35.

[0075] As illustrated by a thick line in FIG. 10(a), a first guide element 21C and a second guide element 25C corresponding to the circular molten metal supply inlet 35 may be provided. The first guide element 21C corresponds to the first guide element 21A, and the second guide element 25C corresponds to the second guide element 25A.

[0076] When the first guide element 21C and the second guide element 25C are provided, as an example, in a plan view, the first guide element 21C and the second guide element 25C form an arc shape having a central angle of 90°, and each of the first guide element 21C and the second guide element 25C forms an arc shape having a central angle of 45°. The first guide element 21C is provided with a first guide surface 22C so as to face a first imaginary line LV1 passing through a center C of the molten metal supply inlet 35 of the shot sleeve 3, and the second guide element 25C has a second guide surface 26C facing a second imaginary line LV2 passing through the center C of the molten metal supply inlet 35 and orthogonal to the first imaginary line LV1.

[0077] FIG. 10(b) likewise illustrates the first guide element 21A and the second guide element 25A for comparison with an example illustrated in FIG. 10(a). The first guide element 21A has the first guide surface 22A facing the first imaginary line LV1, and the second guide element 25A has the second guide surface 26A facing the second imaginary line LV2, which is in common with the first guide element 21C and the second guide element 25C.

[0078] An example was described that the first guide element 21A and the second guide element 25A are integrally formed, and the first guide surface 22A and the second guide surface 26A are continuous with each other. A minute gap may be formed between the first guide element 21A and the second guide element 25A. Even when the molten metal MM hits the gap, if the gap is minute, there is little possibility that the molten metal MM leaks to the outside. However, when the first guide surface 22A and the second guide surface 26A are continuous with each other, the function of guiding the molten metal MM is easily secured.

[0079] Although preferred embodiments of the present disclosure have been described above, it is possible to pick and choose configurations described in the above embodiments or to change them to other configurations as appropriate without departing from the gist of the present disclosure. In one example of the various examples described above, at least some of matters described in the other examples may be combined.SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT DISCLOSURE

[0080] The die casting machine 100 described above includes the shot sleeve 3, the molten metal supply inlet 35 provided in the shot sleeve 3, and the ladle 9 configured to supply the molten metal MM from the spout 9a to the molten metal supply inlet 35 by tilting. In the die casting machine 100, the guide member 1 of the molten metal MM is provided around the molten metal supply inlet 35. The guide member 1 extends upward from the molten metal supply inlet 35, and is provided by cutting out a portion of the molten metal supply inlet 35 on the ladle 9 side. When the vertical height of the lower end of the spout 9a of the ladle 9 during pouring operation is defined as Lh, and the vertical height of the upper end of the guide member 1 is defined as H, with the upper end of the shot sleeve 3 in the vertical direction as a reference, a relationship in which H is equal to or greater than Lh is established.

[0081] In the die casting machine 100, since a portion of the guide member 1 on the ladle 9 side is cut out, a time for moving the ladle 9 so that the spout 9a of the ladle 9 is disposed above the molten metal supply inlet 35 is shortened as compared with a case where the portion of the guide member 1 on the ladle 9 side is not cut out. In addition, since the height of the upper end of the guide member 1 is equal to or higher than the height of the lower end of the spout 9a, the guide member 1 can suppress swelling of a parabola generated in the molten metal MM supplied from the spout 9a even when the speed at which the ladle 9 is tilted is increased, and a possibility that the molten metal MM misses the molten metal supply inlet 35 is reduced. As described above, the spillage of the molten metal does not occur even when the amount of the molten metal supplied is large, and it is possible to reduce the pouring time by increasing the rotation speed of the ladle 9 and rotating the ladle at a high speed in order to shorten the cycle time of the die casting machine.

[0082] In addition, in the die casting machine 100, since the guide member 1 is provided instead of using the hopper disclosed in Patent Literature 1, the drop in the molten metal temperature can be suppressed. Thus, the flow of the molten metal is deteriorated, and possibility of causing the casting defect such as the misrun, the cold shut, or the flow line can be reduced. Furthermore, by providing the guide member 1 without processing the shot sleeve 3, it is possible to achieve both shortening of the pouring time and low cost.

[0083] In the die casting machine 100 described above, when the depth of the spout 9a of the ladle 9 is defined as d, a relationship in which His equal to or greater than (Lh+d) may be established. In general, when the molten metal MM is poured beyond the depth d of the spout 9a of the ladle 9, since the molten metal MM overflows from the spout 9a, the molten metal MM is poured within a range not exceeding the depth d of the spout 9a. Therefore, by setting the height (H) of the guide member 1 in consideration of the depth d of the spout 9a, the spillage of the molten metal from the molten metal supply inlet 35 of the shot sleeve 3 can be efficiently suppressed.

[0084] In the die casting machine 100 described above, at least a part of the guide member 1 may be inclined to the ladle 9 side and may overlap the molten metal supply inlet 35 of the shot sleeve 3 when viewed from the vertical direction V. In this case, an upper surface of the molten metal MM supplied from the spout 9a can be suppressed by the portion of the guide member 1 inclined to the ladle 9 side. Thus, the collision of the molten metal MM can be avoided, and the flow of the molten metal MM can be straightened.

[0085] In the die casting machine 100 described above, the guide member 1 may include the ladle-opposing-side hood 80 extending upward over the entire circumference of the molten metal supply inlet 35 of the shot sleeve 3 and positioned on the side opposite to the ladle 9, and the ladle-side hood 90 positioned on the ladle 9 side. The height of the ladle-opposing-side hood 80 may be higher than that of the ladle-side hood 90. After reaching a front end of the shot sleeve 3, the molten metal MM flowing backward to the rear side and the newly supplied molten metal MM collide with each other, and there is a possibility that the molten metal MM may jump to the ladle 9 side through the molten metal supply inlet 35. In the above configuration, the hood (guide member) is provided not only on a rear side directly hit by the molten metal MM but also on a front side, when viewed from the ladle 9. Thus, it is possible to suppress the spillage of the molten metal due to jumping of the molten metal MM to the ladle 9 side.

[0086] In the die casting machine 100 described above, the guide member 1 may include the first guide elements 21A, 21B, and 21C having the first guide surfaces 22A, 22B, and 22C, the second guide elements 25A, 25B, and 25C having the second guide surfaces 26A, 26B, and 26C, and the molten metal passage 19 provided adjacent to the first guide elements 21A, 21B, and 21C and the second guide elements 25A, 25B, and 25C. The first guide surfaces 22A, 22B, and 22C may be provided to face the first imaginary line LV1 passing through a center of the molten metal passage 19, and the second guide surfaces 26A, 26B, and 26C may be provided to face the second imaginary line LV2 passing through the center of the molten metal passage 19 and orthogonal to the first imaginary line LV1. In this case, the first effect and the second effect described above are obtained.REFERENCE SIGNS LIST1 guide member

[0088] 80 ladle-opposing-side hood

[0089] 90 ladle-side hood

[0090] 3 shot sleeve

[0091] 5 attachment

[0092] 9 ladle

[0093] 9a spout

[0094] d depth

[0095] 19 molten metal passage

[0096] 21A, 21B, 21C first guide element

[0097] 22A, 22B, 22C first guide surface

[0098] 25A, 25B, 25C second guide element

[0099] 26A, 26B, 26C second guide surface

[0100] 31 sleeve body

[0101] 33 runner

[0102] 35 molten metal supply inlet

[0103] V vertical direction

[0104] Lh, H vertical height

[0105] LV1 first imaginary line

[0106] LV2 second imaginary line

Claims

1. A die casting machine comprising:a shot sleeve;a molten metal supply inlet provided in the shot sleeve;a ladle configured to supply molten metal from a spout to the molten metal supply inlet by tilting; anda guide member of the molten metal provided around the molten metal supply inlet, whereinthe guide member extends upward from the molten metal supply inlet and is provided by cutting out a portion of the molten metal supply inlet positioned on the ladle side, andwhen a vertical height of a lower end of the spout of the ladle during pouring operation is Lh and a vertical height of an upper end of the guide member is H, with an upper end of the shot sleeve in a vertical direction as a reference, a relationship of Formula (1):H≥L⁢h(1)is established.

2. The die casting machine according to claim 1, whereinwhen a depth of the spout of the ladle is d, a relationship of Formula (2):H≥L⁢h+d(2)is established.

3. The die casting machine according to claim 1, whereinat least a part of the guide member is inclined to the ladle side and overlaps the molten metal supply inlet of the shot sleeve when viewed from the vertical direction.

4. The die casting machine according to claim 1, whereinthe guide member extends upward over an entire circumference of the molten metal supply inlet of the shot sleeve, and includes a ladle-opposing-side hood positioned on a side opposite to the ladle and a ladle-side hood positioned on the ladle side, anda height of the ladle-opposing-side hood is higher than a height of the ladle-side hood.

5. The die casting machine according to claim 1, whereinthe guide member includes:a first guide element having a first guide surface;a second guide element having a second guide surface; anda molten metal passage provided adjacent to the first guide element and the second guide element, andthe first guide surface is provided to face a first imaginary line passing through a center of the molten metal passage, and the second guide surface is provided to face a second imaginary line passing through the center of the molten metal passage and orthogonal to the first imaginary line.

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