Cassette type mold device and cassette type carrier truck used for the same

Abstract

A cassette-type mold device (10) molds a molded article by providing a replaceable cassette mold (20) between a fixed-side mold (18) and a movable-side mold (19) according to a molded article. A space part (14) is provided between a first support part (12) that supports a fixed-side platen (15) and a second support part (13) that supports a movable-side platen (16). The space part (14) is provided with a cassette-type exchange device (30) allowing for the replacement of the cassette mold (20). The cassette-type exchange device (30) includes: a shifter (32) that is moved in the same direction as the movement direction of the movable-side mold (19); a lifter (36) on which the cassette mold (20) can be mounted and that is lifted and lowered relative to the shifter (32); and a control device (17) that controls the operation of the shifter (32) and the lifter (36).

Description

Cassette-type mold device and cassette-type transport vehicle used therefor

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a cassette-type mold device and a cassette-type transport vehicle used therefor.

[0002] Some cassette-type mold apparatuses, which mold molded products by placing interchangeable cassette molds between a fixed mold and a movable mold depending on the molded product, are equipped with a cassette mold exchange device that allows the cassette mold to be exchanged. An example of a cassette mold exchange device is the cassette mold exchange aid described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 9-150420. This cassette mold exchange aid includes a mounting base fixed to the movable platen and a support table attached to the mounting base via an articulated arm so that it can be rotated and displaced horizontally. A cassette mold (corresponding to the "cassette mold" in this specification) is temporarily placed and held on the support table.

[0003] The cassette mold change aid is provided so as to protrude laterally from the cassette-type mold device, which increases the installation space for the cassette mold change aid relative to the cassette-type mold device, resulting in an increase in the size of the cassette-type mold device.

[0004] The problem to be solved by the technology disclosed in this specification is to reduce the size of a cassette-type mold device.

[0005] One aspect of the present disclosure is a cassette-type mold apparatus that molds a molded product by providing a cassette mold that can be replaced depending on the molded product between a fixed mold and a movable mold. The cassette-type mold apparatus has a space between a first support part that supports a member on the fixed mold side and a second support part that supports a member on the movable mold side. A cassette-type exchange device that can exchange the cassette mold is provided in the space.

[0006] FIG. 1 is a front view showing a cassette-type mold device according to one embodiment; FIG. 2 is a right side view showing a cassette-type exchange device; FIG. 3 is a plan view showing a lifter; FIG. 4 is a right side view showing a cassette-type transporting platform; FIG. 5 is a plan view showing an extended state of an expandable member of the cassette-type transporting platform; FIG. 6 is a right side view showing a cassette-type transporting platform used for carrying a cassette mold into and out of the cassette-type exchange device; FIG. 7 is a view showing a process of removing a cassette mold from a cassette-type mold device; and FIG. 8 is a view showing a process of attaching a cassette mold to a cassette-type mold device.

[0007] An embodiment for carrying out the technology disclosed in this specification will be described below with reference to the drawings. Fig. 1 is a front view showing a cassette-type mold device. For convenience of explanation, the up, down, left, and right directions are determined based on the front view of Fig. 1. Each figure is a schematic diagram.

[0008] <Cassette-type mold device> As shown in Fig. 1, the cassette-type mold device 10 is installed on a base 11 extending in the left-right direction. A first support portion 12 on the right side and a second support portion 13 on the left side are arranged on the base 11 at a predetermined distance. A space 14 that is open upward is formed between the first support portion 12 on the right side and the second support portion 13 on the left side. A cassette-type exchange device 30 that can exchange the cassette mold 20 is provided in the space 14. The cassette-type exchange device 30 will be described later.

[0009] A fixed platen 15 is installed on the first support part 12. A movable platen 16 is installed on the second support part 13 so as to be movable back and forth in the left and right direction. Note that an injection molding machine including the cassette type mold device 10 is equipped with a mold clamping device including the fixed platen 15 and the movable platen 16, as well as a control device 17 that controls the injection device and each device. The control device 17 is also used to control each device of the cassette type exchange device 30.

[0010] A fixed mold 18 is attached to the fixed platen 15 on the side (left side) of the movable platen 16. A movable mold 19 is attached to the movable platen 16 on the side (right side) of the fixed platen 15. A cassette mold 20 is provided between the fixed mold 18 and the movable mold 19.

[0011] The cassette mold 20 has a fixed cassette mold 21 and a movable cassette mold 22 that is removably held by the fixed cassette mold 21. Fig. 1 shows a state in which the cassette mold 20 is positioned at an intermediate position (loading / unloading position) between the fixed mold 18, which is at the maximum separation position, and the movable mold 19. Furthermore, a molding space 26 having a shape corresponding to the desired molded product is formed between the fixed cassette mold 21 and the movable cassette mold 22.

[0012] When forming a molded product, the fixed cassette mold 21 and the movable cassette mold 22 of the cassette mold 20 are separable. The fixed cassette mold 21 is removably held in a state where it is fitted into a fitting recess 18a formed in the fixed mold 18. The movable cassette mold 22 is removably held in a state where it is fitted into a fitting recess 19a formed in the movable mold 19. In this state, the fixed cassette mold 21 and the fixed mold 18 function as a fixed mold 24, and the movable cassette mold 22 and the movable mold 19 function as a movable mold 25.

[0013] The movable platen 16 advances (moves to the right) relative to the fixed platen 15, thereby clamping the movable mold 25 to the fixed mold 24. In this state, molten resin is filled at high pressure into the molding space 26 of the cassette mold 20 by the injection device. The molten resin in the molding space 26 is then cooled and solidified, resulting in a molded product. Thereafter, the movable platen 16 retreats (moves to the left) relative to the fixed platen 15, thereby opening the movable mold 25 and removing the molded product. The mold opening position of the movable platen 16 is set to the right of its maximum retreat position. When the movable platen 16 is in its maximum retreat position, the fixed mold 18 and the movable mold 19 are at their maximum separation position.

[0014] The cassette mold 20 is exchanged for the fixed-side mold 18 and the movable-side mold 19 depending on the molded product to be formed. When exchanging the cassette mold 20, the fixed-side cassette mold 21 and the movable-side cassette mold 22 are held integrally.

[0015] In the cassette-type mold device 10, the first support portion 12 supports the members on the fixed-side mold 18 side. The second support portion 13 supports the members on the movable-side mold 19 side. In this embodiment, the fixed-side platen 15 corresponds to the "members on the fixed-side mold side," and the movable-side platen 16 corresponds to the "members on the movable-side mold side."

[0016] <Cassette-Type Exchanger 30> As shown in FIG. 1 , the cassette-type exchanger 30 is provided in the space 14 between the first support portion 12 on the right side and the second support portion 13 on the left side. The cassette-type exchanger 30 includes a machine base 31 mounted on a pedestal 11. The machine base 31 is formed in a rectangular box shape using a bar-shaped material such as steel. A shifter cylinder 33 is supported horizontally at the upper left end of the machine base 31 with its axial direction aligned left-right. A roughly rectangular plate-shaped shifter 32 is horizontally connected to the tip of a rod 33a protruding to the right from the shifter cylinder 33. The shifter 32 moves back and forth left and right by the operation of the shifter cylinder 33. In FIG. 1 , the state in which the shifter 32 has moved to the right is indicated by the two-dot chain line 32. The left-right direction corresponds to the same direction as the movement of the movable mold 19. A support device (not shown) is provided between the machine base 31 and the shifter 32 to guide and support the shifter 32 so that it can move left and right in a horizontal position.

[0017] A lifter cylinder 35 is supported below the center of the shifter 32 in a suspended state with its axis oriented vertically. A rod 35a projects from the lifter cylinder 35 above the shifter 32, and the center of a substantially rectangular plate-shaped lifter 36 is connected in a horizontal position to the tip of the rod 35a. The lifter 36 is configured to be able to hold a cassette mold 20. The lifter 36 is raised and lowered by operation of the lifter cylinder 35. In FIG. 1, the state in which the lifter 36 is lowered with the shifter 32 moved to the right is shown by the two-dot chain line 36, and the state in which the rod 35a is raised is shown by the two-dot chain line 35a. A guide device (not shown) is provided between the shifter 32 and the lifter 36 to guide the lifter 36 so that it can be raised and lowered in a horizontal position.

[0018] The drive means for the shifter cylinder 33 and the lifter cylinder 35 can be an electric, hydraulic, or pneumatic drive source. The operation of both cylinders 33, 35 (specifically, the drive source) is controlled by the control device 17 of the injection molding machine. Figure 2 is a right side view showing the cassette type changer 30, and Figure 3 is a plan view showing the lifter 36.

[0019] 3, two lifter-side roller conveyors 38 are provided on the left and right sides of the lifter 36. Each lifter-side roller conveyor 38 includes a machine frame 38a extending in the front-to-rear direction and a number of rollers 38c arranged in series on the machine frame 38a at predetermined intervals in the longitudinal direction and rotatably supported via a number of shafts 38b.

[0020] Both lifter-side roller conveyors 38 support the cassette mold 20 placed on the lifter 36 so that it can move in the front-to-rear direction. The front-to-rear direction corresponds to a direction perpendicular to the movement direction of the movable mold 19. When exchanging the cassette mold 20, a cassette mold transport cart 40 is used to carry the cassette mold 20 into and out of the cassette mold exchange device 30 (see FIG. 6). FIG. 4 is a right side view showing the cassette mold transport cart 40.

[0021] <Cassette-type transport vehicle 40> As shown in Fig. 4, the cassette-type transport vehicle 40 has a wheeled, hand-pushed vehicle body 41 provided with a lifting member 43 that is raised and lowered via a lifting device 42 including X-shaped legs 42a. The lifting member 43 is raised and lowered by manually rotating a handle 42b of the lifting device 42. This allows the height position of the lifting member 43 to be adjusted.

[0022] An expandable member 45 is provided on the lifting member 43 so as to be expandable, i.e., slidable, in the front-to-rear direction (left-to-right direction in FIG. 4 ) of the carriage body 41. The expandable member 45 is manually extended and retracted. A slide device (not shown) is provided between the lifting member 43 and the expandable member 45 to guide and support the expandable member 45 so that it can move in the front-to-rear direction in a horizontal state. FIG. 5 is a plan view showing the expanded state of the expandable member 45 of the cassette-type transport carriage 40.

[0023] 5, the expandable member 45 has two transfer-side roller conveyors 46, one on each side, which support the cassette molds 20 being carried in and out of the cassette mold exchange device 30 so as to be movable in the front-rear direction of the carriage body 41. Each transfer-side roller conveyor 46 (see FIG. 4) has a machine frame 46a extending in the front-rear direction, and a number of rollers 46c arranged in series on the machine frame 46a at predetermined intervals in the longitudinal direction and rotatably supported via a number of shafts 46b.

[0024] The lifting member 43 is provided with two left and right car body side roller conveyors 48 which support the cassette molds 20 being carried in and out relative to the expandable member 45 so as to be movable in the fore-and-aft direction of the carriage body 41. Both car body side roller conveyors 48 are disposed at the same height near the outside of each transfer side roller conveyor 46. Each car body side roller conveyor 48 (see FIG. 4) comprises a machine frame 48a extending in the fore-and-aft direction, and a number of rollers 48c which are arranged in series on the machine frame 48a at predetermined intervals in the longitudinal direction and which are rotatably supported via a number of shafts 48b.

[0025] <Cassette mold 20 replacement procedure using cassette type exchange device 30 and cassette type transport vehicle 40> The cassette mold 20 replacement procedure is broadly divided into the following steps: i) a process of removing the cassette mold 20 from the cassette type mold device 10 using the cassette type exchange device 30, ii) a process of carrying the cassette mold 20 out of the cassette type exchange device 30 using the cassette type transport vehicle 40, iii) a process of carrying the cassette mold 20 into the cassette type exchange device 30 using the cassette type transport vehicle 40, and iv) a process of attaching the cassette mold 20 to the cassette type mold device 10 using the cassette type exchange device 30. Note that unless otherwise specified, it is assumed that the control device 17 (see FIG. 1) performs each control of the cassette type exchange device 30.

[0026] 7A, the cassette-type mold device 10 is now in a mold-open state. In this state, in the fixed mold 24, the fixed-side cassette mold 21 is removably held by the fixed-side mold 18 with the fixed-mold-side clamping device 51. In the movable mold 25, the movable-side cassette mold 22 is removably held by the movable-side mold 19 with the movable-mold-side clamping device 52.

[0027] The fixed mold side clamping device 51 and the movable mold side clamping device 52 are of well-known structure and are controlled by the control device 17 (see FIG. 1), so detailed description thereof will be omitted. The fixed mold 18 is provided with an ejection cylinder 55 for ejecting the fixed side cassette mold 21 of the cassette mold 20 from the fixed side mold 18. In addition, the locking device 53 that removably holds the fixed side cassette mold 21 and the movable side cassette mold 22 is released.

[0028] Next, as shown in Figure 7(b), the movable mold 25 is closed onto the fixed mold 24. Thereafter, the fixed cassette mold 21 and the movable cassette mold 22 are held by the locking device 53. As a result, both cassette molds 21, 22 are integrated into the cassette mold 20. The locking device 53 is controlled by the control device 17 (see Figure 1). Thereafter, the movable mold clamping device 52 of the movable mold 25 is released, thereby releasing the movable cassette mold 22 from its hold on the movable mold 19.

[0029] Next, as shown in Figure 7(c), the movable-side mold 19 is opened to the mold-open position. As a result, the movable-side cassette mold 22 is extracted from the fitting recess 19a of the movable-side mold 19. In this state, of the cassette mold 20, the fixed-side cassette mold 21 corresponds to the fitting portion with respect to the fixed-side mold 18, and the movable-side cassette mold 22 corresponds to the non-fitting portion with respect to the fixed-side mold 18. The fixed-side mold 18 corresponds to "one mold" as referred to in this specification. The movable-side mold 19 corresponds to "the other mold" as referred to in this specification.

[0030] 7(d), the lifter 36 is raised from a position directly below the movable cassette mold 22 to abut against the movable cassette mold 22. As a result, the cassette mold 20 is placed on the lifter 36. At this time, the cassette mold 20 is supported by both lifter-side roller conveyors 38 of the lifter 36 (see FIG. 2). Next, the fixed mold-side clamp device 51 of the fixed mold 24 is released, and the fixed cassette mold 21 is released from its hold on the fixed mold 18.

[0031] Next, as shown in FIG. 7( e), the rod 55 a is protruded by actuation of the ejection cylinder 55, and the lifter 36 is moved leftward as the shifter 32 (see FIG. 4 ) moves leftward. This causes the fixed-side cassette mold 21 to be extracted from the fitting recess 18 a of the fixed-side mold 18. Also, the movable-side mold 19 is moved to the maximum retraction position (full stroke position). This positions the cassette mold 20 at an intermediate position between the fixed-side mold 18 and the movable-side mold 19, which are positioned at the maximum separation position (see FIG. 1 ). Thereafter, the rod 55 a of the ejection cylinder 55 is retracted to a standby position within the fixed-side mold 18.

[0032] In this way, removal of the cassette mold 20 is completed. The position of the lifter 36 in this state is referred to as the cassette mold 20 loading / unloading position.

[0033] <ii) Process of removing the cassette mold 20 from the cassette mold exchange device 30 using the cassette mold transporting vehicle 40> The cassette mold transporting vehicle 40 (see FIG. 4) is moved by an operator to the front of the cassette mold exchange device 30 (see FIG. 6). At this time, the expandable member 45 of the cassette mold transporting vehicle 40 is in a contracted state (see the two-dot chain line 45 in FIG. 6). Also, in the cassette mold exchange device 30, the cassette mold 20 is placed on the lifter 36 which is in the loading / unloading position.

[0034] 6, the worker extends the expandable member 45 to connect it to the lifter 36. When connecting the expandable member 45 to the lifter 36, the heights of the expandable member 45 and the lifting member 43 are adjusted by the lifting device 42 so that they match the height of the lifter 36.

[0035] Next, the operator moves the cassette mold 20 on the lifter 36 forward (to the left in Figure 6) using the lifter side roller conveyor 38 and the transfer side roller conveyor 46, and moves it onto the car body side roller conveyor 48 (see the dotted line 20 in Figure 6).

[0036] Next, the worker shortens the expandable member 45 (see the two-dot chain line 45 in FIG. 6). In this state, the cassette mold 20 is supported by the cooperation of the transfer-side roller conveyor 46 and the vehicle-side roller conveyor 48 (see FIG. 4). In this state, the cassette mold transport cart 40 is moved, and the cassette mold 20 is stored in a predetermined storage location. In this way, the removal of the cassette mold 20 from the cassette mold exchange device 30 is completed.

[0037] <iii) Process of Loading the Cassette Mold 20 into the Cassette Mold Exchange Device 30 Using the Cassette Mold Transporting Carriage 40> The cassette mold transporting cart 40 (see FIG. 4), which has been transported by an operator from a storage location with the cassette mold 20 to be used next, is moved in front of the cassette mold exchange device 30 (see FIG. 6). At this time, the expandable member 45 of the cassette mold transporting cart 40 is in a contracted state (see the two-dot chain line 45 in FIG. 6). In addition, in the cassette mold exchange device 30, the lifter 36 is positioned at the loading / unloading position (see FIG. 2).

[0038] 6, the worker extends the expandable member 45 to connect it to the lifter 36. When connecting the expandable member 45 to the lifter 36, the heights of the expandable member 45 and the lifting member 43 are adjusted by the lifting device 42 so that they match the height of the lifter 36.

[0039] Next, the operator moves the cassette mold 20 (see the two-dot chain line 20 in Figure 6) on the vehicle body side roller conveyor 48 onto the lifter side roller conveyor 38 of the lifter 36 using the vehicle body side roller conveyor 48 and the delivery side roller conveyor 46.

[0040] Next, the operator shortens the expandable member 45 (see FIG. 4). In this state, the cassette-type transport vehicle 40 is moved to a predetermined vehicle storage area. In this way, the cassette type 20 is completely carried into the cassette type exchange device 30.

[0041] <iv) Process of attaching the cassette mold 20 to the cassette mold device 10 by the cassette mold exchange device 30> As shown in Figure 8 (a), the cassette mold 20 currently loaded into the lifter 36, which is in the loading / unloading position, is positioned at an intermediate position between the fixed side mold 18 and the movable side mold 19, which are in the maximum separation position.

[0042] Next, as shown in Figure 8(b), as the shifter 32 (see Figure 4) moves rightward, the lifter 36 moves in the same direction. As a result, the fixed-side cassette mold 21 of the cassette mold 20 is fitted into the fitting recess 18a (see Figure 8(a)) of the fixed-side mold 18. In response to this, the movable-side mold 19 is moved to the mold open position.

[0043] 8(c), the fixed-side cassette mold 21 is held on the fixed-side mold 18 by the fixed-side clamp device 51. Thereafter, the lifter 36 is lowered to the standby position.

[0044] 8(d), the movable-side cassette mold 22 of the cassette mold 20 is fitted into the fitting recess 19a by closing the movable-side mold 19. Subsequently, the movable-side cassette mold 22 is held to the movable-side mold 19 by the movable-side clamp device 52. Furthermore, the fixed-side cassette mold 21 and the movable-side cassette mold 22 can be separated by releasing the locking device 53. As a result, the fixed-side cassette mold 21 and the fixed-side mold 18 function as the fixed mold 24, and the movable-side cassette mold 22 and the movable-side mold 19 function as the movable mold 25.

[0045] 8(e), it becomes possible to open the movable mold 25 relative to the fixed mold 24. In this way, the attachment of the cassette mold 20 to the cassette-type mold device 10 is completed. After that, the process proceeds to the molding process of the molded product.

[0046] <Operations and Effects of the Embodiment> According to the cassette-type mold device 10 described above, the cassette-type exchange device 30 capable of exchanging the cassette mold 20 is provided in the space 14 between the first support portion 12 on the fixed-side mold 18 side and the second support portion 13 on the movable-side mold 19 side. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the cassette-type exchange device 30 from protruding laterally from the cassette-type mold device 10. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the size of the cassette-type mold device 10.

[0047] Furthermore, when removing the cassette mold 20 from between the fixed mold 18 and the movable mold 19, the control device 17 separates the fixed mold 18 and the movable mold 19 and places the cassette mold 20 on the lifter 36 while the cassette mold 20 is fitted into the fixed mold 18. Then, the shifter 32 is moved to extract the cassette mold 20 from the fixed mold 18, thereby enabling the cassette mold 20 to be removed efficiently.

[0048] Furthermore, when the cassette mold 20 is to be attached between the fixed mold 18 and the movable mold 19, the cassette mold 20 is positioned between the separated fixed mold 18 and the movable mold 19, and then the shifter 32 is moved to fit the cassette mold 20 into the fixed mold 18, and the lifter 36 is then lowered. This allows the cassette mold 20 to be attached efficiently.

[0049] Furthermore, by using the cassette type transport vehicle 40, the cassette type 20 can be carried in and out of the cassette type exchange device 30. This allows the cassette type exchange device 30 to be made more compact by the amount corresponding to the cassette type transport vehicle 40. This in turn allows for reductions in production space and capital investment.

[0050] Furthermore, when the expandable member 45 is extended relative to the lifting member 43, the cassette molds 20 can be transported into and out of the cassette mold exchange device 30 via the delivery-side roller conveyor 46. Therefore, by extending the expandable member 45 relative to the lifting member 43, the transfer length of the cassette molds 20 can be extended. Furthermore, by shortening the expandable member 45 relative to the lifting member 43, the length of the cassette mold 20 in the front-to-rear direction can be made compact. This improves the operability of the cassette mold transfer vehicle 40. Furthermore, the height position of the lifting member 43 can be adjusted. This makes it possible to accommodate cassette mold exchange devices 30 in which the height position of the lifter 36 differs when loading and unloading the cassette molds 20. Therefore, it is not necessary to prepare a dedicated cassette mold transfer vehicle 40 for each cassette mold exchange device 30 in which the height of the lifter 36 differs when loading and unloading the cassette molds 20.

[0051] Furthermore, the expandable member 45 can be easily expanded and contracted while the cassette mold 20 is supported on the vehicle body side roller conveyor 48 provided on the lifting member 43. Furthermore, the cassette mold 20 can be transferred between the delivery side roller conveyor 46 and the vehicle body side roller conveyor 48.

[0052] Other Embodiments The technology disclosed in this specification is not limited to the embodiments and can be implemented in various other forms. For example, in the embodiments, the fixed mold 18 is one mold and the movable mold 19 is the other mold. However, the movable mold 19 may be one mold and the fixed mold 18 may be the other mold. Furthermore, when replacing the cassette mold 20, the movable mold 19 is moved in conjunction with the movement of the shifter 32. However, the movable mold 19 may be moved to its maximum retracted position in advance. Furthermore, the movement of the shifter 32 and / or the raising and lowering of the lifter 36 may be performed manually. Furthermore, the cassette-type mold apparatus 10 is not limited to the resin injection molding machine illustrated in the embodiments, and may also be applied to an injection molding machine for a meltable metal material such as aluminum.

[0053] The cassette type transporting vehicle 40 may also run on a pair of rails. The vehicle-side roller conveyor 48 of the cassette type transporting vehicle 40 may also be omitted. The raising and lowering of the lifting member 43 of the cassette type transporting vehicle 40 and / or the extension and contraction of the extension member 45 may not only be done manually but also automated. The cassette molds 20 may also be carried in and out of the cassette type transporting vehicle 40 by a robot, a transfer device, etc. When the cassette type transporting vehicle 40 is not used, the cassette molds 20 may also be carried in and out of the cassette type exchange device 30 by a robot, an operator, etc.

[0054] The present disclosure can also take the following forms. A first form is a cassette-type mold apparatus that molds a molded product by providing a cassette mold that can be replaced depending on the molded product between a fixed mold and a movable mold. The cassette-type mold apparatus has a space between a first support part that supports a member on the fixed mold side and a second support part that supports a member on the movable mold side. A cassette-type exchange device that can exchange the cassette mold is provided in the space.

[0055] According to the first embodiment, a cassette mold exchange device capable of exchanging cassette molds is provided in the space between the first support part on the fixed mold side and the second support part on the movable mold side. This prevents the cassette mold exchange device from protruding laterally from the cassette mold device, thereby enabling the cassette mold device to be made smaller.

[0056] According to a second aspect of the present disclosure, the cassette mold exchange device includes a shifter, a lifter, and a control device. The shifter moves in the same direction as the moving direction of the movable mold. The lifter is capable of placing the cassette mold thereon and moves up and down relative to the shifter. The control device controls the operation of the shifter and the lifter. When removing the cassette mold from between the fixed mold and the movable mold, the control device separates the fixed mold and the movable mold. Furthermore, when the cassette mold is fitted into either the fixed mold or the movable mold, the control device raises the lifter to place the cassette mold on the lifter. The control device removes the cassette mold from one of the molds by moving the shifter.

[0057] Therefore, the cassette mold can be removed efficiently by extracting the cassette mold from one of the molds by moving the shifter.

[0058] According to a third aspect of the present disclosure, when the cassette mold is attached between the fixed mold and the movable mold, the control device moves the shifter while the cassette mold placed on the lifter is positioned between the separated fixed mold and the movable mold, and then lowers the lifter after fitting the cassette mold into either the fixed mold or the movable mold.

[0059] Therefore, the cassette type can be efficiently attached.

[0060] According to a third aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a cassette-type transport vehicle for use in the cassette-type mold device of the present disclosure, which transports the cassette mold into and out of the cassette mold exchange device.

[0061] Therefore, by using the cassette-type transport vehicle, cassettes can be loaded and unloaded from the cassette-type exchange device, and the cassette-type exchange device can be made more compact by the size of the cassette-type transport vehicle, which in turn reduces production space and capital investment.

[0062] According to a fourth aspect of the present disclosure, a cassette-type transport vehicle includes a vehicle body, a lifting member, and an extendable member. The lifting member is capable of moving up and down relative to the vehicle body. The extendable member is extendable and retractable in the front-rear direction of the vehicle body relative to the lifting member. The extendable member has a transfer-side roller conveyor that supports the cassette type so as to be movable in the front-rear direction of the vehicle body.

[0063] Therefore, by extending the extendable member relative to the lifting member, the transport length of the cassette type can be extended. Also, by shortening the extendable member relative to the lifting member, the length of the cassette type transport vehicle in the front-to-rear direction can be made compact. This improves the operability of the cassette type transport vehicle. Also, the height position of the lifting member can be adjusted. This makes it possible to accommodate cassette type exchange devices with different lifter height positions when loading and unloading cassette types. Therefore, it is not necessary to prepare a dedicated cassette type transport vehicle for each cassette type exchange device with different lifter heights when loading and unloading cassette types.

[0064] According to a fifth aspect of the present disclosure, the lifting member is provided with a vehicle body side roller conveyor that supports the cassette mold, which is carried in and out of the expandable member, so that the cassette mold can move in the front-rear direction of the carriage body.

[0065] Therefore, the expandable member can be easily extended and contracted while the cassette mold is supported on the vehicle-side roller conveyor. Also, the cassette mold can be transferred between the transfer-side roller conveyor and the vehicle-side roller conveyor.

Claims

1. A cassette type mold device comprising: a fixed side mold; a movable side mold; a cassette mold provided between the fixed side mold and the movable side mold and replaceable depending on the molded product; a first support part that supports a member on the fixed side mold side; and a second support part that supports a member on the movable side mold side, wherein a space is provided between the first support part and the second support part, and a cassette mold exchange device that can replace the cassette mold is provided in the space.

2. A cassette type mold device as described in claim 1, wherein the cassette type exchange device has a shifter that moves in the same direction as the movement direction of the movable side mold, a lifter on which the cassette type can be placed and which is raised and lowered relative to the shifter, and a control device that controls the operation of the shifter and the lifter, and when removing the cassette type from between the fixed side mold and the movable side mold, the control device separates the fixed side mold and the movable side mold and, with the cassette type fitted into either one of the fixed side mold or the movable side mold, raises the lifter to place the cassette type on the lifter and moves the shifter to extract the cassette type from the one of the molds.

3. A cassette type mold device as described in claim 1, wherein the cassette type exchange device has a shifter that moves in the same direction as the movement direction of the movable side mold, a lifter on which the cassette type can be placed and which is raised and lowered relative to the shifter, and a control device that controls the operation of the shifter and the lifter, and when the cassette type is attached between the fixed side mold and the movable side mold, the control device moves the shifter to fit the cassette type into either one of the fixed side mold or the movable side mold with the cassette type placed on the lifter positioned between the separated fixed side mold and the movable side mold, and then lowers the lifter.

4. A cassette type transport cart for use with a cassette type mold device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, which transports the cassette mold into and out of the cassette mold exchange device.

5. A cassette type transport cart as described in claim 4, comprising: a cart body; a lifting member arranged so as to be able to rise and fall relative to the cart body; and an expandable member arranged so as to be able to expand and contract in the fore-and-aft direction of the cart body relative to the lifting member, wherein the expandable member has a transfer side roller conveyor which supports the cassette type so as to be able to move in the fore-and-aft direction of the cart body.

6. A cassette type transport cart as described in claim 5, wherein the lifting member is provided with a vehicle side roller conveyor which supports the cassette type which is loaded and unloaded relative to the expandable member so that the cassette type can be moved in the fore-and-aft direction of the cart body.

Images