Molding machine, supply device, and program

Abstract

A die casting machine (1) has an injection device (9) and a controller (5). The injection device 9 pushes out a molding material (molten metal) inside a sleeve 21 into the interior of a mold (mold 101) by means of a plunger 23. The controller 5 conveys a vessel (ladle 43) containing the molten metal from a furnace 107, and supplies a necessary amount Qn of the molten metal from the ladle 43 to the sleeve 21. Furthermore, the controller 5 controls a molten metal supply device 41 in a manner such that a first amount (conveyance amount Q1), which is larger than the necessary amount Qn, of the molten metal is introduced into the ladle 43 from the furnace 107, the necessary amount Qn of the molten metal is supplied to the sleeve 21 from the ladle 43 storing the conveyance amount Q1 of the molten metal, and the remaining molten metal, which is a difference Q2 obtained by subtracting the necessary amount Qn from the conveyance amount Q1, is returned to the furnace 107.

Description

Molding Machine, Feeding Device, and Program

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a molding machine that injects a molding material in a sleeve into a mold to produce a molded product, a feeding device that supplies the molding material into the sleeve, and a program that can be used for the molding machine and the feeding device. The molding machine is, for example, a die-casting machine that molds a metal material as a molding material. Generally, when the molding material is a metal material, the molten metal material in a molten state (liquid state) may be referred to as molten metal, and the feeding device may be referred to as a molten metal feeding device.

[0002] As various feeding devices for supplying a molding material into a sleeve as described above are known (for example, Patent Documents 1 to 4 below). The molten metal feeding devices of Patent Documents 1 to 3 pump out a necessary amount of molten metal from a furnace holding the molten metal by a ladle, and pour the molten metal from the ladle into the sleeve. The necessary amount of molten metal is measured, for example, by inclining the ladle at an inclination angle corresponding to the necessary amount and causing an excess amount of molten metal to overflow from the ladle into the furnace.

[0003] The molten metal feeding device of Patent Document 1 immerses the ladle in the molten metal in the furnace at an inclination angle larger than the inclination angle when pumping out a necessary amount of molten metal, sets the inclination angle of the ladle in a state of being immersed in the molten metal in the furnace to a size corresponding to the necessary amount, and pulls up the ladle from the furnace. The molten metal feeding device of Patent Document 2 supplies an excess amount of molten metal to the sleeve by an amount corresponding to the volume of the padding at the time of discard casting compared to the necessary amount at the time of main casting. The molten metal feeding device of Patent Document 3 supplies an amount of molten metal larger than the necessary amount to the sleeve and causes the excess molten metal to overflow from the sleeve.

[0004] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2002-254156 Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2003-117648 Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 10-5973 Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 10-146667

[0005] There is a need for a molding machine, a feeding device, and a program that can contribute to at least one of various problems such as improvement in the accuracy of the amount of the molding material supplied to the sleeve, improvement in the quality of the molding material supplied to the sleeve, and shortening of the time for supplying the molding material to the sleeve.

[0006] A molding machine according to one aspect of the present disclosure includes an injection device and a controller. The injection device pushes molding material in a sleeve into a mold by a plunger. The controller controls a supply device. The supply device transports a container that has taken in molding material from a furnace and supplies a required amount of molding material from the container to the sleeve. The controller takes in a first amount of molding material, which is greater than the required amount, from the furnace into the container, supplies the required amount of molding material from the container containing the first amount of molding material to the sleeve, and controls the supply device to return the remaining molding material, which is a second amount obtained by subtracting the required amount from the first amount, to the furnace.

[0007] A supply device according to one aspect of the present disclosure comprises a device body and a controller for controlling the device body. The device body transports a container that has taken in molding material from a furnace and supplies a required amount of molding material from the container to the sleeve of an injection device. The controller takes in a first amount of molding material, which is greater than the required amount, from the furnace into the container, supplies the required amount of molding material from the container containing the first amount of molding material to the sleeve, and controls the device body to return the remaining molding material, which is a second amount obtained by subtracting the required amount from the first amount, to the furnace.

[0008] A program according to one aspect of the present disclosure causes a computer to function as a control unit and a first quantity identification unit. The control unit controls a supply device. The supply device transports a container that has taken in molding material from a furnace and supplies a required amount of molding material from the container to the sleeve of an injection device. The first quantity identification unit identifies a first quantity that is greater than the required amount. The control unit controls the supply device to take in the first quantity of molding material from the furnace into the container, supply the required amount of molding material from the container containing the first quantity of molding material to the sleeve, and return the remaining molding material, which is a second quantity obtained by subtracting the required amount from the first quantity, to the furnace.

[0009] According to the above configuration, at least one effect is achieved, for example, improved accuracy in the amount of molding material supplied to the sleeve, improved quality of the molding material supplied to the sleeve, and reduced time when supplying the molding material to the sleeve.

[0010] A side view showing the configuration of the main parts of the die-casting machine according to the embodiment. A side view showing the configuration of the molten metal supply device of the die-casting machine in Figure 1. A schematic diagram showing an overview of the operation of the molten metal supply device in Figure 2. Figures 4(a), 4(b), and 4(c) are schematic diagrams showing specific examples of the operation of immersing the ladle in the molten metal in the furnace. Figures 5(a) and 5(b) are schematic diagrams showing specific examples of the operation of lifting the ladle out of the molten metal in the furnace. Figures 6(a), 6(b), and 6(c) are schematic diagrams showing specific examples of the operation of returning the molten metal remaining in the ladle to the furnace. Figures 7(a) and 7(b) are schematic diagrams showing specific examples of the timing of returning the molten metal remaining in the ladle to the furnace. A block diagram showing a first configuration example related to the signal processing system of the die-casting machine in Figure 1. A block diagram showing a second configuration example related to the signal processing system of the die-casting machine in Figure 1. A block diagram showing a third configuration example related to the signal processing system of the die-casting machine in Figure 1. A block diagram showing a fourth configuration example related to the signal processing system of the die-casting machine shown in Figure 1. A schematic diagram illustrating the method for calculating the tilt angle of the rudder.

[0011] (Outline of Embodiment) Figure 1 is a schematic side view (including a partial cross-sectional view) showing the configuration of a die-casting machine 1 (an example of a molding machine) according to an embodiment. The vertical direction along the plane of the paper in this figure is the vertical direction.

[0012] The die-casting machine 1 produces die-cast products (molded products in a broader sense) by filling the mold 101 (space Ca) with molten metal ML (Figure 2). The molten metal is filled into space Ca by being pushed out by a plunger 23 from within a sleeve 21 that leads to space Ca.

[0013] Figure 2 is a schematic side view (including a partial cross-sectional view) of a molten metal supply device 41 (an example of a supply device) that supplies molten metal into the sleeve 21. The vertical direction along the plane of the paper in this figure is the vertical direction. In Figure 2, the cross-sectional view on the left and the view of the molten metal supply device 41 are actually views from two intersecting horizontal directions, but are shown together for convenience. A similar drawing method may be used in other figures as well.

[0014] The molten metal supply device 41 draws out the molten metal ML held in the furnace 107 using a ladle 43 (an example of a container), and pours the drawn-out molten metal ML into the sleeve 21 from the molten metal inlet 21a on the upper surface of the sleeve 21. In this configuration, when drawing out the molten metal ML from the furnace 107, the amount of molten metal ML corresponding to the inclination angle θ can be drawn out by tilting the ladle 43 at a predetermined inclination angle θ (the angle from the state drawn with a solid line to the state drawn with a dotted line).

[0015] In conventional technology, the inclination angle θ when scooping out the molten metal is set to a value corresponding to the amount necessary and sufficient for one shot molding (hereinafter referred to as "required amount Qn"). The entire amount of molten metal ML scooped out by the ladle 43 is then poured into the sleeve 21. In other words, the ladle 43 is tilted so that it becomes empty on the sleeve 21.

[0016] The amount of molten metal (required amount, etc.) may be interpreted as either volume or mass (or weight), unless otherwise specified and unless there is a contradiction. This is because, disregarding strict accuracy (e.g., the effect of temperature), volume and mass are mutually convertible using the density determined by the type of metal. However, in the description of the embodiments, the amount of molten metal may be expressed as if it were volume. In this case, unless otherwise specified and unless a contradiction arises, volume may actually be used in the processing, or a quantity that is mutually convertible to volume (e.g., mass or an internal variable of a computer) may be used in the processing.

[0017] Furthermore, although the inclination of the ladle 43 on the furnace 107 and the inclination of the ladle 43 on the sleeve 21 are in opposite directions, the same symbol (θ) is used for convenience. The state drawn with a solid line is considered an example of a state with no inclination (θ = 0°). This state is, for example, a state where the upper edge of the ladle 43 is approximately horizontal, and / or a state in which the amount of molten metal that can be contained in the ladle 43 is maximized. The term inclination angle θ is sometimes used as an angle of a specific size, and sometimes as a variable that can take on various sizes.

[0018] Figure 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating the hot water supply method according to the embodiment.

[0019] The upper diagram of Figure 3 shows the state just before the ladle 43, which has pumped molten metal ML from the furnace 107, begins to move toward the sleeve 21. At this time, the ladle 43 contains a transport volume Q1 (an example of the first volume) of molten metal ML that is greater than the required volume Qn by a difference Q2 (an example of the second volume). The ladle 43 is then transported toward the sleeve 21 and tilted on the sleeve 21 to pour the molten metal into the sleeve 21.

[0020] The middle diagram in Figure 3 shows the state immediately after the molten metal ML has been poured from the ladle 43 into the sleeve 21. At this time, the required amount Qn of molten metal ML has been supplied into the sleeve 21, and a difference of Q2 of molten metal ML remains in the ladle 43. In other words, the ladle 43 is not tilted to the tilt angle θ at which it becomes empty on the sleeve 21, and its tilting (rotation) operation stops at the tilt angle θ corresponding to the difference Q2. After that, the ladle 43, still containing the difference Q2 of molten metal, is transported toward the furnace 107.

[0021] The lower diagram in Figure 3 shows the state immediately after the ladle 43 returns to the furnace 107. As described above, the ladle 43 contains the difference Q2 of molten metal ML. After this state, the difference Q2 of molten metal ML is returned to the furnace 107 by tilting the ladle 43, etc. The ladle 43 then pumps molten metal ML from the furnace 107 again for the next shot (or the next cycle).

[0022] As described above, the molten metal supply device 41 according to this embodiment uses the ladle 43 to pump out a transport amount Q1 from the furnace 107 that is greater than the required amount Qn, and supplies the required amount Qn of molten metal into the sleeve 21. The remaining molten metal, which is the difference Q2, is returned to the furnace 107. Note that the effect of errors is ignored when determining whether Q1 - Qn = Q2 holds true.

[0023] The effects of such a hot water supply system 41 are, for example, as follows:

[0024] If the entire amount of molten metal drawn up by the ladle 43 is supplied into the sleeve 21, as in conventional technology, the temperature of the ladle 43 tends to decrease as it becomes empty (by losing the high-temperature molten metal). When the temperature of the ladle 43 decreases, when drawing up for the next shot, the heat of the molten metal is more easily absorbed by the ladle 43, and consequently, the temperature of the molten metal inside the ladle 43 tends to decrease. As a result, the molten metal near the surface of the ladle 43 solidifies. The solidified material remains in the ladle 43 when supplying molten metal from the ladle 43 into the sleeve 21, for example, leading to a decrease in the accuracy of the amount of molten metal supplied into the sleeve 21. Alternatively, the solidified material may mix with the molten metal as solidified fragments and be supplied into the sleeve 21, contaminating the product and degrading the quality of the product.

[0025] However, in this embodiment, the ladle 43 is not emptied. In other words, molten metal remains in the ladle 43 with an intended difference Q2 (a sufficiently large amount compared to the material remaining in the ladle 43 as an error as described above). Consequently, the temperature drop of the ladle 43 is mitigated. As a result, various problems like those described above are reduced. For example, the accuracy of the molten metal supply and the quality of the molded product are improved.

[0026] Furthermore, in conventional technology, just before the ladle 43 has poured the entire amount (or, from another perspective, the required amount Qn) of molten metal into the sleeve 21, it becomes nearly empty, which causes the temperature of the ladle 43 to drop easily, and consequently, the small amount of molten metal remaining in the ladle 43 to solidify easily. This solidified small amount of material remains in the ladle 43, for example, leading to a decrease in the accuracy of the molten metal supply. In addition, the small amount of molten metal remaining in the ladle 43 is prone to oxidation, for example, forming an oxide film. As a result, the oxide film remaining in the ladle 43 returns to the furnace 107, leading to a decrease in the quality of the molten metal. Consequently, the quality of the product deteriorates.

[0027] However, in this embodiment, at least the intended difference Q2 of molten metal remains in the ladle 43 just before the required amount Qn is poured, thus reducing the various inconveniences described above. For example, this improves the accuracy of the molten metal supply and the quality of the product.

[0028] Furthermore, in conventional technology, just before the ladle 43 has poured the entire amount of molten metal into the sleeve 21, the molten metal drips from the ladle 43 in droplet form. Therefore, in order to pour the entire amount, it is necessary to wait for multiple droplets to fall sequentially, which increases the cycle time. Also, because the droplets have a larger surface area relative to their volume than the molten metal accumulated in the ladle 43, oxidation progresses more easily. As a result, the quality of the product deteriorates.

[0029] However, in this embodiment, since the entire contents of the ladle 43 are not poured out, the phenomenon of molten metal dripping in droplets is less likely to occur. And / or, even if the droplets are not completely dropped, the inclination angle θ can be set so that the amount of molten metal supplied to the sleeve 21 is the required amount Qn. As a result, the above-mentioned inconveniences can be reduced. In other words, the cycle time can be shortened and the quality of the product can be improved.

[0030] Furthermore, in the conventional technology, the inclination angle θ of the ladle 43 on the sleeve 21 is set to a relatively large first angle (e.g., 90°) in order to pour out the entire amount of molten metal. Subsequently, the inclination angle θ may be reduced to a second angle (e.g., 0°) before the ladle 43 begins to move into the furnace 107. This is to avoid contact between the ladle 43 and other components of the die-casting machine 1. In the conventional technology, the first angle is relatively large, and consequently, the difference between the first angle and the second angle is relatively large, which tends to result in a longer time between the completion of molten metal supply and the start of movement into the furnace 107.

[0031] However, in this embodiment, since the entire amount of molten metal is not poured, the inclination angle θ (first angle) when the molten metal supply is completed is smaller than the first angle in the prior art. Consequently, the difference between the first angle and the second angle is reduced, and the time from when the molten metal supply is completed until the transfer to the furnace 107 begins can be shortened.

[0032] Furthermore, in this embodiment, after the molten metal is supplied, the remaining molten metal is returned to the furnace 107. Therefore, the system configuration is simplified compared to, for example, a configuration in which the remaining molten metal is discharged to a predetermined processing facility. As mentioned above, the remaining molten metal does not oxidize easily. Therefore, even if the remaining molten metal is returned to the furnace 107, the likelihood of a deterioration in the quality of the molten metal in the furnace 107 is reduced.

[0033] The above is an overview of the embodiments. Below, the embodiments will be described in general order. 1. Die-casting machine (Figure 1) 2. Molten metal supply device (Figure 2) 2.1. General overview of the molten metal supply device 2.2. Ladle 2.3. Sensor related to molten metal metering 3. Specific examples of molten metal supply operation 3.1. Example of operation of immersing the ladle in molten metal (Figures 4(a) to 4(c)) 3.2. Molten metal metering operation (Figures 5(a) and 5(b)) 3.3. Operation of returning molten metal to the furnace (Figures 6(a) to 6(c)) 3.4. Timing of returning molten metal to the furnace (Figures 7(a) and 7(b)) 4. Examples of signal processing system configuration 4.1. First configuration example (Figure 8) 4.2. Second configuration example (Figure 9) 4.3. Third configuration example (Figure 10) 4.4. Fourth Configuration Example (Figure 11) 5. Procedure for Setting the Controlled Amount (Incline Angle) (Figure 12) 6. Summary of Embodiments

[0034] (1. Die Casting Machine) As previously described, the die casting machine 1 (Figure 1) injects molten metal into a mold 101. The mold 101 includes, for example, a fixed mold 103 that is basically immobile and a movable mold 105 that can move in the mold opening and closing direction (horizontal direction in the illustrated example). The die casting machine 1 includes, for example, a machine body 3 that performs mechanical operations for molding, a controller 5 that controls the operation of the machine body 3, and an interface 13 that mediates between the controller 5 and the user (e.g., operator).

[0035] The die-casting machine 1 or the machine body 3 may or may not include a hot water supply device 41. In the description of the embodiments, unless otherwise specified, and unless there is a contradiction, the configuration of the die-casting machine 1 or the machine body 3 may be interpreted as either of the above.

[0036] The configuration and operation of the machine body 3 may vary, except for the operation of the hot water supply device 41, and may be, for example, known configurations and operations. Note that explanations of known configurations and operations will be omitted as appropriate. The machine body 3 includes, for example, a clamping device 7 that opens and closes the mold 101 and clamps it, an injection device 9 that injects molten metal into the mold 101, and an extrusion device 11 that pushes the die-cast product out from the fixed mold 103 or the movable mold 105 (movable mold 105 in Figure 1).

[0037] In the molding cycle, the clamping device 7 moves the movable mold 105 toward the fixed mold 103 to close the mold. Furthermore, the clamping device 7 applies a clamping force to the mold 101 according to the extension of the tie bars (not shown) to clamp the mold. A space Ca is formed inside the clamped mold 101. The injection device 9 injects and fills this space Ca. The molten metal in space Ca is cooled by heat loss from the mold 101 and solidifies. That is, the molten metal becomes a molded product. After that, the clamping device 7 moves the movable mold 105 toward the fixed mold 103 to open the mold. At this time, or afterward, the extruder 11 pushes the molded product out of the movable mold 105.

[0038] The injection device 9 includes the previously described sleeve 21 and plunger 23, and a drive unit 27 that drives the plunger 23. The plunger 23 has a tip 23a that slides inside the sleeve 21 and a rod 23b fixed to the tip 23a. The rod 23b is connected to the drive unit 27 via a coupling 25. Since the sleeve 21 and plunger 23 are consumables, the drive unit 27 alone may be considered as the injection device 9.

[0039] The term "fixed" may be interpreted broadly, as long as it does not create contradictions or other issues. For example, fixing two parts together may be achieved by forming them integrally from the same material, or by manufacturing them separately and connecting them with screws or the like. Furthermore, other parts may be interposed between them.

[0040] The controller 5 may include a computer. The computer may include, for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit), ROM (Read Only Memory), RAM (Random Access Memory), and auxiliary storage (e.g., an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) or SSD (Solid State Drive)), although these are not specifically shown in the diagram. Various functional units that perform various calculations (including control) are constructed by the CPU executing programs stored in the ROM and / or auxiliary storage. The controller 5 may also include logic circuits and / or analog circuits that perform certain operations, a power supply circuit, or drivers.

[0041] The controller 5 may be located in, for example, a control panel (not shown). Furthermore, a part of the controller 5 may be comprised of a part of the interface 13. The controller 5 may be hardware-integrated into one location or distributed across multiple locations. The controller 5 may include, or may not include, lower-level controllers for each of the clamping device 7, injection device 9, extrusion device 11, and hot water supply device 41, as well as a higher-level controller that performs control such as synchronization between these lower-level controllers.

[0042] Furthermore, when considering each device included in the die-casting machine 1, the controller 5 may be considered as the controller of that device (or, from another perspective, as a component of that device). For example, the controller 5 may be considered as the controller of the hot water supply device 41. The same applies to the interface 13; for example, the interface 13 may be considered as a component of the hot water supply device 41.

[0043] The operation of the die-casting machine 1 and the hot water supply system 41 is basically controlled by the controller 5. However, for convenience, the fact that the operation is controlled by the controller 5 may be omitted when describing the operation. Unless otherwise specified, and unless there is a particular inconsistency, the described operation may be interpreted as being controlled by the controller 5.

[0044] Interface 13 may be provided at an appropriate position. In the illustrated example, it is provided on the fixed die plate (reference numeral omitted) of the molding device 7. Interface 13 has, for example, an operation unit 15 that receives a user's input operation and a display device 17 that displays an image. The display device 17 is constituted by, for example, a liquid crystal display or an organic EL display, and also constitutes a display unit of a touch panel. The operation unit 15 is constituted by, for example, a mechanical switch and the above touch panel.

[0045] The operation unit 15 can be said to be an example or a part of an input unit 45 (FIG. 8) for inputting information from the outside. Examples of other devices constituting at least a part of the input unit 45 include, for example, a reading unit for detaching and attaching a recording medium and a communication unit for receiving a signal from the outside. In the description of the embodiment, the terms "input unit 45" and "operation unit 15" may be mutually replaced as long as there is no contradiction.

[0046] The furnace 107 is usually regarded as a device separate from the cold chamber type die casting machine 1. However, it may be regarded as a part of the die casting machine 1. The furnace 107 may have various configurations, for example, a known configuration. The furnace 107 has, for example, a function as a holding furnace for holding a molten molding material. The furnace 107 may also serve as a melting furnace for melting the molding material, or may not.

[0047] (2. Hot water supply device) (2.1. General hot water supply device) As understood from the description of the outline of the embodiment, one of the features of the hot water supply device 41 according to the embodiment is that in a configuration in which a container (ladle 43) that has taken in molten metal from the furnace 107 is transported and the molten metal is supplied from the container to the sleeve 21, a container that has taken in a transport amount Q1 of molten metal that is more than the required amount Qn is transported, and only the required amount Qn of that is supplied to the sleeve 21. The mechanical part of the hot water supply device 41 may have various configurations as long as such features can be realized, for example, a known configuration.

[0048] For example, the container may be the ladle 43 or something other than the ladle 43. Examples of containers other than the ladle 43 include, for example, a spoon-shaped (tubular) one that sucks the molten metal in the furnace 107 and supplies the sucked molten metal to the sleeve 21. Also, the drive mechanism for moving the container or tilting (rotating) it as necessary may include a link-type drive mechanism (example in FIG. 2) or may be an articulated robot. However, in the description of the embodiment, mainly, a configuration including the ladle 43 and a link-type drive mechanism will be taken as an example, and in some cases, an explanation may be made on the premise of this configuration without particular notice.

[0049] As described above, when focusing on the water supply device 41, the controller 5 may be regarded as the controller of the water supply device 41. In accordance with this view, the water supply device 41 has a device main body 47 that performs mechanical operations and a controller 5 that controls the device main body 47. Note that the part other than the water supply device 41 of the die-casting machine 1 and the device main body 47 of the water supply device 41 may be sold separately or together. In any case, among the controller 5, the part that realizes the water supply operation according to the embodiment and the device main body 47 may be sold together or separately. For example, a die-casting machine 1 that does not have the device main body 47 but has a controller 5 that realizes the water supply operation according to the embodiment may be sold.

[0050] The device main body 47 illustrated in FIG. 2 has, for example, an arm 49 that holds the ladle 43 at its tip and a support portion 50 that supports the base of the arm 49. Since the ladle 43 is a consumable, the device main body 47 may be regarded as including the ladle 43 or not including the ladle 43.

[0051] The arm 49 is composed of, for example, multiple links (not shown in the reference numerals) (including a linkage mechanism). When torque is applied by a rotary motor 51 (Figure 8) located on the support 50 to a link in the linkage mechanism that rotates around the rotation axis A1, the tip of the arm 49 moves along the path Lm. The line traced by the path Lm is defined by the structure and dimensions of the linkage mechanism. Movement from the furnace 107 to the sleeve 21 and movement in the opposite direction are achieved by forward and reverse rotation of the motor 51.

[0052] The ladder 43 is rotatably mounted on the tip of the arm 49 around a rotation axis A3. The rotation axis A3 is, for example, parallel to the axis of rotation of the relative rotation of the multiple links of the arm 49. The rotation of a rotary motor 53 (Figure 8) located on the support 50 is transmitted to the ladder 43 via a transmission mechanism 55 located on the arm 49, causing the ladder 43 to rotate. This allows any tilt angle θ to be achieved. The transmission mechanism 55 is, for example, composed of a wrap-around transmission mechanism provided on each of two of the multiple links. The wrap-around transmission mechanism may include, for example, a pulley and timing belt, or a sprocket and chain.

[0053] As is well known, in the above configuration, even if the rotary motor 53 is stopped and the mobile motor 51 is driven to move the ladder 43, the tilt angle θ of the ladder 43 does not fundamentally change. Therefore, regardless of the position and / or movement of the ladder 43 on the path Lm, the tilt angle θ is controlled solely by the rotary motor 53.

[0054] (2.2. Ladle) The ladle 43 may have various configurations, for example, a known configuration. The ladle 43 is, for example, a container with an open top. The specific shape of the ladle 43 is arbitrary. For example, the bottom and sides of the ladle 43 are generally curved and bulge outwards. The ladle 43 has, for example, a spout 43a directed downward to allow molten metal to flow out when pouring molten metal into the sleeve 21, and a measuring spout 43b (drain spout) directed downward to allow molten metal to flow out when drawing molten metal from the furnace 107.

[0055] The spout 43a and the measuring spout 43b are located on opposite sides of each other when viewed parallel to the axis of rotation A3. The spout 43a and the measuring spout 43b are located above the bottom surface of the ladle 43 (or the deepest point in another view), and in the illustrated example, they are located on the edge of the ladle 43. The shape of these parts is arbitrary. For example, the spout 43a is a roughly semi-cylindrical shape with an open top, and protrudes outward from the edge of the main body portion (most of it) of the ladle 43. The measuring spout 43b has no special shape and is formed by the edge of the main body portion of the ladle 43.

[0056] Unlike the illustrated example, the measuring spout 43b may have a special shape. For example, the measuring spout 43b may be formed by a notch formed on the edge of the main body. Also, the ladle 43 may have a lid (not open at the top). In this case, the pouring spout 43a and the measuring spout 43b may be formed by holes formed on the side of the ladle 43.

[0057] (2.3. Sensors related to measuring molten metal) As previously described and as is well known, when molten metal is drawn out of the furnace 107 by the ladle 43, an amount of molten metal corresponding to the inclination angle θ is drawn out by the ladle 43. That is, the amount of molten metal conveyed Q1 is measured according to the inclination angle θ. As can be understood from the above, when molten metal is poured from the ladle 43 into the sleeve 21, an amount of molten metal corresponding to the inclination angle θ at the end of pouring remains in the ladle 43. That is, a difference of Q2 of molten metal (or, from another perspective, the required amount Qn of molten metal) is measured according to the inclination angle θ. Therefore, the sensor for measuring the molten metal may be a sensor that measures the inclination angle θ.

[0058] The sensor used to measure the tilt angle θ can be any type of sensor, for example, a sensor used in conventional water heaters. For example, a rotation sensor 53a (Figure 8) that detects the rotation of the rotary motor 53 that rotates the ladle 43 may be used. The rotation sensor 53a outputs a signal to the controller 5 that can identify the rotation position of the rotary motor 53. The controller 5 stores information relating to the correspondence between the rotation position of the rotary motor 53 and the tilt angle θ of the ladle 43. The controller 5 then determines the tilt angle θ based on the value detected by the rotation sensor 53a and the information relating to the correspondence.

[0059] The specific form of the rotation sensor 53a is arbitrary. For example, the rotation sensor 53a may be a resolver or a rotary encoder. Also, the rotation sensor 53a may be provided as a component of the rotary motor 53, or it may be retrofitted to the rotary motor 53.

[0060] Other sensors for measuring the inclination angle θ include, for example, a rotation sensor that detects the rotation of any position in the transmission mechanism 55, rather than the rotation of the rotating motor 53, or a rotation sensor that directly detects the rotation of the ladle 43. Including the rotation sensor 53a, all of these can be considered rotation sensors that measure the inclination angle θ. Theoretically, it is also possible to measure the inclination angle θ using a position sensor that measures the position of a specific part of the belt or chain of the winding transmission mechanism 55 relative to the links, or a sensor that measures the distance between a specific part of the link constituting the tip of the arm 49 and the ladle 43. In embodiments where it is sufficient to detect only when the inclination angle θ reaches a specific value, a limit switch that is turned ON when any part from the rotating motor 53 to the ladle 43 comes into contact may be used.

[0061] The molten metal may be measured by measuring physical quantities other than the inclination angle θ. For example, the weight of a portion of the molten metal supply device 41, including the ladle 43, may be measured. Then, the amount of molten metal to be transported Q1 may be measured based on the change in weight before and after pumping, or the required amount Qn of molten metal may be measured based on the change in weight while the molten metal is being supplied to the sleeve 21. A load cell may be provided at an appropriate position on the molten metal supply device 41 as a sensor for measuring weight. Possible locations for the load cell include, for example, between the ladle 43 and the arm 49, between the links connecting the arms 49, or between the two members if one link is divided into two members. Furthermore, a load cell may be provided to measure the total weight of the molten metal supply device 41, rather than just the weight of a portion of it.

[0062] Furthermore, sensors for measuring the molten metal do not necessarily have to be provided. For example, the rotation sensor 53a that detects the rotation of the rotary motor 53 does not have to be provided. The controller 5 may control the rotary motor 53 by open-loop control, in which information regarding the rotational position of the rotary motor 53 is not fed back. That is, the inclination angle θ may be controlled by open control. In this case, the accuracy of measurement will normally decrease compared to the configuration in which feedback control based on the rotation sensor 53a is performed. However, at least some of the effects described in the outline of the embodiment (for example, reduction of quality deterioration due to the inclusion of solidified fragments) will be achieved.

[0063] In describing the embodiments, we will primarily use as examples the mode in which the tilt angle θ is detected. Furthermore, unless otherwise specified, the description may be based on the premise that the tilt angle θ is detected.

[0064] (3. Specific Examples of Hot Water Supply Operation) The operation described in the embodiment may be realized by various specific operations. Several examples are shown below. It is clear that the various movements of the ladle 43 can be realized by the moving motor 51 and the rotating motor 53, etc. Therefore, for convenience, the following explanation will focus only on the movement of the ladle 43.

[0065] (3.1. Operation of immersing the ladle in the molten metal) Figures 4(a) to 4(c) are schematic diagrams showing examples of the operation when the ladle 43 is immersed in the molten metal ML of the furnace 107 in order to pump out the molten metal ML from the furnace 107 using the ladle 43. In each figure, the operation proceeds from the left diagram to the right diagram (the same applies to Figures 5(a) to 6(b) described later).

[0066] In the example shown in Figure 4(a), as shown in the left-hand diagram, the ladle 43 is positioned above the molten metal ML in the furnace 107, tilted at an angle θ corresponding to the conveying amount Q1. Subsequently, as shown in the right-hand diagram, the ladle 43 is immersed in the molten metal ML while maintaining the above-mentioned angle θ.

[0067] In the example shown in Figure 4(b), as shown in the left-hand diagram, the ladle 43 is positioned above the molten metal ML in the furnace 107 at an inclination angle θ corresponding to the upper limit of the pumping volume or an amount close to that upper limit. Subsequently, as shown in the right-hand diagram, the ladle 43 is immersed in the molten metal ML while maintaining the inclination angle θ.

[0068] The inclination angle corresponding to the upper limit of the amount of molten metal dispensed is, for example, 0°. However, this is the upper limit when focusing only on the ladle 43. In reality, depending on the shape of the ladle 43, for example, it may be necessary to make the inclination angle θ greater than 0° so that the tip of the arm 49 is not immersed in the molten metal. For example, since Figure 4(b) is a schematic diagram, the rotation axis of the ladle 43 is immersed in the molten metal in this figure, but in reality, the inclination angle θ is made greater than 0° so that the rotation axis is not immersed in the molten metal. In such cases, the inclination angle θ specified so that the tip of the arm 49 does not touch the molten metal can be considered as the inclination angle θ corresponding to the upper limit of the amount of molten metal dispensed. Also, the inclination angle θ corresponding to an amount close to the upper limit of the amount of molten metal dispensed is, for example, the inclination angle θ ± 10° corresponding to the upper limit.

[0069] In the example shown in Figure 4(c), as shown in the left-hand diagram, the ladle 43 is positioned above the molten metal ML of the furnace 107 at an inclination angle θ (for example, θ = 90 ± 10°; the same applies hereafter) that prevents the molten metal from being pumped out. Subsequently, as shown in the right-hand diagram, the ladle 43 is immersed in the molten metal ML while maintaining the above inclination angle θ.

[0070] Of course, operations other than those described above are permitted. For example, the inclination angle θ may be between the inclination angle θ in Figure 4(a) and the inclination angle θ in Figure 4(b), or between the inclination angle θ in Figure 4(a) and the inclination angle θ in Figure 4(c). The ladle 43 may be immersed in the molten metal ML of the furnace 107 at a constant inclination angle θ, or it may be immersed in the molten metal ML while changing (increasing and / or decreasing) the inclination angle θ.

[0071] (3.2. Molten Metal Measuring Operation) Figures 5(a) and 5(b) are schematic diagrams showing examples of operations for measuring molten metal in a transport volume Q1, respectively.

[0072] In the example shown in Figure 5(a), as shown in the left-hand diagram, the ladle 43 is positioned at an inclination angle θ corresponding to the conveying amount Q1, with most of it (or, from another perspective, most of it excluding the connection to the arm 49) immersed in the molten metal ML of the furnace 107, including the metering port 43b. Subsequently, as shown in the right-hand diagram, the ladle 43 is lifted out of the molten metal ML while maintaining the inclination angle θ. At this time, any excess molten metal flows out from the metering port 43b, leaving only the molten metal of the conveying amount Q1 in the ladle 43.

[0073] The ladder 43 may transition from any of the operations shown in the examples of Figures 4(a) to 4(c) or other examples to the state shown in the left-hand diagram of Figure 5(a). For example, limiting ourselves to the examples of Figures 4(a) to 4(c), there are three possible transition modes, and any of these may be adopted. However, generally, the operation in Figure 4(a) often follows the operation in Figure 5(a).

[0074] In the example shown in Figure 5(b), as shown in the left-hand diagram, the ladle 43 is positioned at an inclination angle θ (as described above) corresponding to the upper limit of the pumping amount or an amount close to that upper limit, with most of it (not necessarily including the measuring port 43b) immersed in the molten metal ML of the furnace 107. Next, as shown in the center-hand diagram, the ladle 43 is lifted out of the molten metal ML while maintaining the inclination angle θ. After that, as shown in the right-hand diagram, the ladle 43 is tilted to an inclination angle θ corresponding to the conveying amount Q1. As a result, the excess molten metal flows out from the measuring port 43b, and only the conveying amount Q1 of molten metal remains in the ladle 43.

[0075] The ladle 43 may transition from any of the operations shown in the examples of Figures 4(a) to 4(c) or other examples to the state shown in the left-hand diagram of Figure 5(b). For example, limiting ourselves to the examples of Figures 4(a) to 4(c), there are three possible transition modes, and any of these may be adopted. For example, the operation in Figure 4(b) may follow the operation in Figure 5(b), in which the position of the ladle 43 inside the furnace 107 remains the same.

[0076] Of course, operations other than those described above are also permitted. For example, the ladle 43, which is immersed in the molten metal of the furnace 107 at the inclination angle θ shown in Figure 5(b), may be moved upward while the inclination angle θ is reduced, until the inclination angle θ is set to a size corresponding to the conveyed amount Q1.

[0077] Furthermore, although not specifically shown in the diagram, before the operation to measure the amount of molten metal to be transported Q1, the ladle 43 immersed in the molten metal of the furnace 107 may be rotated and / or moved as appropriate. Such operation contributes, for example, to the removal of oxides from the ladle 43. This operation may include increasing and / or decreasing the inclination angle θ.

[0078] Once the metering of the molten metal in the conveyed quantity Q1 is complete, the tilt angle θ of the ladle 43 is reduced. For example, the ladle 43 is positioned at θ = 0° ± 10°. Subsequently, the ladle 43 is conveyed toward the sleeve 21 while maintaining the above tilt angle θ. Reducing the tilt angle θ before conveying reduces the likelihood of molten metal spilling from the ladle 43. It is also acceptable to control the ladle 43 so that the tilt angle θ changes by a relatively small amount while it is being conveyed toward the sleeve 21.

[0079] (3.3. Operation to return molten metal to the furnace) When supplying molten metal to the sleeve 21, the ladle 43 is tilted downwards as described above, and stops at an inclination angle θ where a difference Q2 of molten metal remains. After that, the inclination angle θ of the ladle 43 is reduced. For example, the ladle 43 is positioned at θ = 0° ± 10°. After that, the ladle 43 is transported toward the furnace 107 while maintaining the above inclination angle θ. By reducing the inclination angle θ before transport, the probability of molten metal spilling from the ladle 43 is reduced.

[0080] Furthermore, when the ladle 43 is being transported to the furnace 107, the control may be performed so that the inclination angle θ changes by a relatively small amount of fluctuation. The inclination angle θ when transporting molten metal of transport amount Q1 and the inclination angle θ when transporting molten metal of difference Q2 may be the same or different. For example, when transporting molten metal of difference Q2, the probability of molten metal spilling from the ladle 43 is lower compared to when transporting molten metal of transport amount Q1, so the inclination angle θ may be made larger.

[0081] Figures 6(a) to 6(c) are schematic diagrams illustrating examples of the operation when the ladle 43 is moved above the molten metal ML in the furnace 107 as described above, and the remaining molten metal Q2 in the ladle 43 is returned to the furnace 107.

[0082] In the example shown in Figure 6(a), as shown in the left-hand diagram, the ladle 43 transported from the sleeve 21 stops moving above the molten metal ML in the furnace 107. Then, as shown in the right-hand diagram, the ladle 43 is tilted so that the spout 43a is facing downwards. The tilt angle θ at this time is greater than the tilt angle θ corresponding to the difference Q2 of molten metal, for example, large enough to empty the ladle 43 (e.g., 90°). As a result, the difference Q2 of molten metal remaining in the ladle 43 is returned to the furnace 107 through the spout 43a.

[0083] In the example shown in Figure 6(b), as shown in the left-hand diagram, the ladle 43 transported from the sleeve 21 stops moving above the molten metal ML in the furnace 107. Then, as shown in the right-hand diagram, the ladle 43 is tilted so that the metering port 43b is facing downwards. The tilt angle θ at this time is greater than the tilt angle θ corresponding to the difference Q2 of molten metal, and is, for example, large enough to empty the ladle 43 (e.g., 90°). As a result, the difference Q2 of molten metal remaining in the ladle 43 is returned to the furnace 107 through the metering port 43b.

[0084] In the example shown in Figure 6(c), the ladle 43, transported from the sleeve 21, is immersed in the molten metal ML of the furnace 107 while still containing the molten metal difference Q2. Then, for example, the molten metal from the furnace 107 flows into the ladle 43, causing the molten metal difference Q2 and the molten metal from the furnace 107 to mix with each other. At this time, since the ladle 43 is immersed in the molten metal from the furnace 107, it can be considered that the molten metal in the ladle 43 has been returned to the furnace 107. The same applies when the ladle 43, still containing the molten metal difference Q2, is used to pump up molten metal for the next molding cycle, as will be described later.

[0085] In the examples of Figures 6(a) and 6(b), the inclination angle θ when the ladle 43 stops moving may be larger than in the illustrated example, as long as the molten metal difference Q2 does not flow out. Also, the inclination angle θ when returning the molten metal difference Q2 to the furnace 107 may be smaller than in the illustrated example, as long as the entire amount of molten metal difference Q2 can be discharged. It is also possible to discharge only a portion of the molten metal difference Q2 and return it to the furnace 107.

[0086] In the examples of Figures 6(a) and 6(b), the tilting motion of the ladle 43 may be initiated before the ladle 43 stops moving, thereby initiating the outflow of molten metal from the ladle 43. In this case, either the stopping of movement or the stopping of the tilting motion (or the completion of the outflow of molten metal) may be completed first.

[0087] In the example of Figure 6(c), the ladle 43 may stop moving above the molten metal in the furnace 107 and then be immersed in the molten metal in the furnace 107, as in the examples of Figures 6(b) and 6(c), or it may move into the furnace 107 from the sleeve 21 without such a stop. Also, in the example of Figure 6(c), the inclination angle θ when the ladle 43 is immersed in the molten metal in the furnace 107 is arbitrary. However, from the viewpoint of immersing the ladle 43 in the molten metal in the furnace 107 while containing a difference Q2 of molten metal in the ladle 43, the inclination angle θ may be set to a size less than or equal to the difference Q2. In the illustrated example, the inclination angle θ is set to a size corresponding to the upper limit of the pumping amount or an amount close to that upper limit.

[0088] The example in Figure 6(a) or Figure 6(b) may be combined with the example in Figure 6(c). For example, the difference Q2 of molten metal may be dropped from the pouring spout 43a or measuring spout 43b above the molten metal in the furnace 107, and the ladle 43 may be immersed in the molten metal in the furnace 107 before the ladle 43 is empty. In this case, the stopping of movement in Figure 6(a) or Figure 6(b) may or may not be performed.

[0089] From another perspective, for example, the ladle 43 may be tilted and immersed in the furnace 107. In this case, if the ladle 43 becomes empty before being immersed in the molten metal in the furnace 107, it may be considered as the example in Figure 6(a) or Figure 6(b). If no molten metal falls from the ladle 43 before immersion, it may be considered as the example in Figure 6(c). If some of the molten metal falls from the ladle 43 before immersion, it may be considered a combination of the example in Figure 6(a) or Figure 6(b) and the example in Figure 6(c).

[0090] The ladder 43 may transition from any of the operations shown in Figures 6(a) to 6(c) or any other example to any of the operations shown in Figures 4(a) to 4(c) or any other example. For example, if we limit ourselves to the examples shown in Figures 6(a) to 6(c) and Figures 4(a) to 4(c), there are 9 (= 3 x 3) possible transitions, and any of these transitions may be adopted.

[0091] For example, the tilt angle θ of the ladle 43 when the molten metal has finished being returned from the ladle 43 to the furnace 107 in Figure 6(b) is the same as or close to the tilt angle θ of the ladle 43 in Figure 4(c). Therefore, the operation in Figure 6(b) may proceed to the operation in Figure 4(c).

[0092] The operation in Figure 6(c) may transition to any of the operations in Figures 4(a) to 4(c) by lifting the ladle 43, which is immersed in the molten metal of the furnace 107, out of the molten metal at an inclination angle θ (for example, 90°) that does not draw up the molten metal, or it may transition to the operation in Figure 5(a) or Figure 5(b) without performing the operations in Figures 4(a) to 4(c). In other words, the operation of returning the molten metal from the ladle 43 to the furnace 107 in Figure 6(c) may also serve as the operation of immersing the ladle 43 in the molten metal of the furnace 107 in order to draw out the molten metal from the furnace 107.

[0093] In the embodiment where the action of returning the molten metal in Figure 6(c) also serves as the action of immersing the ladle in the molten metal for pumping, the inclination angle θ when immersing the ladle 43 in the molten metal of the furnace 107 in Figure 6(c) and the inclination angle θ when lifting the ladle 43 out of the molten metal of the furnace 107 in Figure 5(a) or Figure 5(b) may be the same or different. For the sake of clarity, it should be noted that, as already stated, even in the above embodiment, the magnitude of the inclination angle θ in Figure 6(c) is arbitrary, and the action in Figure 6(a) or Figure 6(b) may be combined with the action in Figure 6(c).

[0094] (3.4. Timing of returning molten metal to the furnace) As can be understood from the above explanation, the ladle 43, which has finished supplying molten metal to the sleeve 21 and is being transported toward the furnace 107, may stop moving above the molten metal in the furnace 107, and then descend and be immersed in the molten metal in the furnace 107 to draw up the molten metal, or it may be immersed in the molten metal in the furnace 107 without stopping its movement to draw up the molten metal from the furnace 107. In other words, the ladle 43 may wait in the standby position for a predetermined standby time, or it may not wait. In the former embodiment, at any point within the standby time, the difference Q2 of molten metal may be returned from the ladle 43 to the furnace 107. An example is shown below.

[0095] Figures 7(a) and 7(b) are schematic diagrams illustrating examples of the timing for returning molten metal to the furnace, respectively. In these figures, the horizontal axis represents time t.

[0096] Time t0 is when the molten metal in the furnace 107 reaches the waiting position above it. Time t1 is when the difference Q2 of molten metal is returned from the ladle 43 to the furnace 107. Here, the operation of returning the molten metal from the spout 43a, as shown in Figure 6(a), is illustrated. Of course, the operation shown in Figure 6(b) or Figure 6(c) may also be performed. Time t2 is when the ladle 43 is lowered for pumping. Here, the operation of immersing the ladle 43 in the molten metal at an inclination angle θ corresponding to the transport amount Q1, as shown in Figure 4(a), is illustrated. Of course, the operation shown in Figure 4(b) or Figure 4(c) may also be performed.

[0097] The waiting time is (t2-t0) from time t0 to time t2. In the example in Figure 7(a), the time from time t0 to time t1 (t1-t0) is longer than the time from time t1 to time t2 (t2-t1). Conversely, in the example in Figure 7(b), time (t1-t0) is shorter than time (t2-t1). Although not specifically shown, time (t1-t0) and time (t2-t1) may be equal.

[0098] Furthermore, if, as shown in Figure 6(c), the ladle 43 is immersed in the molten metal of the furnace 107 to return the difference Q2 of molten metal to the furnace 107, and then, without the operations shown in Figures 4(a) to 4(c), the pumping operation shown in Figure 5(a) or Figure 5(b) is performed, then time points t1 and t2 can be considered equal. That is, time (t2-t1) is 0. This embodiment, like Figure 7(a), can be considered an example of an embodiment where time (t1-t0) is longer than time (t2-t1).

[0099] The molten metal of difference Q2 is not instantly returned from the ladle 43 to the furnace 107. Nor is the descent of the ladle 43 instantaneous. Therefore, in the embodiment in which the operation of Figure 6(a) or Figure 6(b) (or a similar operation) is performed, when precision is required when determining which of time (t1-t0) and time (t2-t1) is longer (for example, when the lengths of the two are close), each time may be defined as follows.

[0100] The end of time (t1-t0) may be defined as the point at which the operation to return the difference Q2 of molten metal to the furnace 107 begins. For example, in the example of Figure 6(a) or Figure 6(b), this may be defined as the point at which the ladle 43 begins to be tilted so that the tilt angle θ increases. The start of time (t2-t1) may be defined as the point at which the operation to return the difference Q2 of molten metal to the furnace 107 ends. For example, in the example of Figure 6(a) or Figure 6(b), this may be defined as the point at which the tilt angle θ reaches its final size (for example, 90° in the example of Figure 6(a) or Figure 6(b)). The end of time (t2-t1) may be defined as the point at which the ladle 43 begins to descend.

[0101] (4. Signal Processing System Configuration) The operation described in the embodiment can be realized by various signal processing system configurations. Examples are shown below. The following examples differ in their configurations related to the identification of the transport amount Q1. For examples described relatively later, only the differences from the examples described earlier will be described. Matters not specifically mentioned for the examples described later may be treated the same as those described earlier, or inferred from the examples described earlier.

[0102] (4.1. First Configuration Example) Figure 8 is a block diagram showing a first configuration example of the signal processing system of the die-casting machine 1.

[0103] As described above, the die-casting machine 1 includes an input unit 45, a mobile motor 51, a rotary motor 53, and a controller 5. The controller 5 controls the mobile motor 51 and the rotary motor 53 based on information obtained from the input unit 45. The controller 5 includes a plurality of functional units (57, 59, 61, 63, and 65) and a storage unit 5a. The storage unit 5a may be understood as, for example, a higher-level concept of ROM, RAM, and auxiliary storage device, or as referring to any of the above.

[0104] Each functional unit may be constructed by the CPU executing program D1, as described above, or it may be realized by logic circuits and / or analog circuits. Different functional units may be distinguishable from each other from a hardware and / or program perspective, or they may not be clearly distinguishable from a hardware and / or program perspective, but simply be conceptually understood by working backward from the operation of the injection device 9 (processing of the controller 5). The operation of each functional unit is, for example, as follows.

[0105] The required quantity identification unit 57 identifies the required quantity Qn based on the information from the input unit 45. For example, the required quantity identification unit 57 acquires information about the required quantity Qn itself via the operation unit 15. Alternatively, the required quantity identification unit 57 acquires information about the mold 101, etc., via communication and calculates the required quantity Qn based on the acquired information. The configuration of the required quantity identification unit 57 may be the same as in the conventional system.

[0106] The transport quantity identification unit 59 identifies (in other words, calculates) the transport quantity Q1 based on the required quantity Qn identified by the required quantity identification unit 57. Since Q1 = Qn + Q2, the identification of the difference Q2 and the identification of the transport quantity Q1 can be considered synonymous. In the actual processing within the controller 5, either the difference Q2 or the transport quantity Q1 may be identified. In the following explanation, in the explanation of the identification of the transport quantity Q1 and the difference Q2, unless otherwise specified and unless contradictions arise, the terms transport quantity Q1 and difference Q2 may be substituted for each other.

[0107] In the example shown in Figure 8, the transport amount determination unit 59 calculates the transport amount Q1 by multiplying the required amount Qn by the coefficient D5 stored in the storage unit 5a. More specifically, in the illustrated example, the transport amount determination unit 59 calculates the transport amount Q1 by substituting the required amount Qn into a predetermined formula. The formula may be modified as appropriate. For example, the transport amount Q1 may be calculated by adding a constant to the value obtained by multiplying the required amount Qn by the coefficient D5, or the transport amount Q1 may be calculated by adding a constant without multiplying the required amount Qn by the coefficient D5.

[0108] From a different perspective, in the illustrated example, the transport amount identification unit 59 calculates the transport amount Q1 based on the required amount Qn and information pre-stored in the storage unit 5a. From this perspective, instead of substituting the required amount Qn into the formula, a map associating the required amount Qn with the transport amount Q1 may be stored in the storage unit 5a, and the transport amount Q1 may be identified by referring to this map.

[0109] The information stored in the memory unit 5a for specifying the transport amount Q1 (e.g., the value of coefficient D5) may be pre-set by the manufacturer of the controller 5, or it may be set and / or changed by the user via the input unit 45. The specific value of coefficient D5 is arbitrary. For example, coefficient D5 may be 1.1 or more, 1.2 or more, or 1.3 or more, or 2 or less, 1.5 or less, or 1.4 or less. The above lower and upper limits may be combined in any way.

[0110] From another perspective, the transported quantity Q1 may be 1.1 times or more, 1.2 times or more, or 1.3 times or more than the required quantity Qn, and may also be 2 times or less, 1.5 times or less, or 1.4 times or less. The above lower and upper limits may be combined in any way. This relationship of magnitude may be realized not only by multiplying by the coefficient D5, but also by other methods (including the second to fourth configuration examples described later).

[0111] Furthermore, if the calculated transport amount Q1 exceeds a predetermined upper limit (hereinafter referred to as the "transport limit"), the transport amount Q1 may be set to the transport limit. The transport limit may be set to an amount such that the molten metal does not spill from the ladle 43 during transport, for example, when the container is a ladle 43. Such a transport limit is less than the upper limit of the amount that can be drawn out when focusing only on the ladle 43 (for example, the amount corresponding to θ = 0°). For example, the inclination angle θ corresponding to the transport limit may be 10° or more or 20° or more. The transport limit (or, from another perspective, the inclination angle θ corresponding to the transport limit) may be set in advance by the manufacturer of the controller 5, or it may be set and / or changed by the user via the input unit 45. For the sake of clarity, the explanations in this paragraph and the next paragraph may be applied to other embodiments (including the second to fourth configuration examples described later).

[0112] Regarding the transport limit, another example is described. The hot water supply device 41 may have a sensor (for example, a detection rod that conducts electricity when it touches the surface of the molten metal) that detects the position of the arm 49 relative to the molten metal surface. In this case, the controller 5 controls the hot water supply device 41 so that, for example, the tip of the arm 49 does not move below a predetermined position (for example, the position where the detection rod touches the surface of the molten metal). When the molten metal is pumped out by the tip of the arm 49 descending and rising to the predetermined position, the amount pumped out when the inclination angle θ is set to maximize the amount that can be pumped out may be considered the transport limit. The specific operation when pumping out may be the actual operation of the hot water supply device 41 from among the various operations described above (Figures 4(a) to 5(b)). The inclination angle θ at the transport limit is close to 0°, but it is not necessarily 0° and depends on the manner of the pumping operation and the shape of the ladle 43.

[0113] The tilt angle determination unit 61 calculates the tilt angle θ of the ladle 43 when drawing molten metal from the furnace 107 and measuring the amount of molten metal to be transported (Q1), and the tilt angle θ of the ladle 43 when the required amount of molten metal (Qn) has been poured into the sleeve 21. At this time, the required amount Qn and the amount of molten metal to be transported (Q1) are the values ​​determined by the required amount determination unit 57 and the amount of molten metal to be transported (Q1). In addition, the ladle characteristic information D3 stored in the memory unit 5a is referenced. This calculation process will be described later. The tilt angle θ is a control variable in a higher-level concept. The tilt angle determination unit may be conceptually referred to as the control variable determination unit.

[0114] The rotation control unit 63 controls the rotary motor 53 in a predetermined procedure defined by program D1, for example. Similarly, the movement control unit 65 controls the movement motor 51 in a predetermined procedure defined by program D1, for example. At this time, the rotation control unit 63 may perform feedback control based on the detected value of the rotation sensor 53a that detects the rotation of the rotary motor 53. Similarly, the movement control unit 65 may perform feedback control based on the detected value of the rotation sensor 51a that detects the rotation of the movement motor 51. The tilt angle θ of the ladle 43 when pumping molten metal from the furnace 107 and measuring the amount of molten metal to be transported Q1, and the tilt angle θ of the ladle 43 when the required amount Qn of molten metal has been poured into the sleeve 21, are values ​​calculated by the tilt angle determination unit 61.

[0115] The rotation control unit 63 and the movement control unit 65 may be considered as a single unit 67. As previously described, the hot water supply device 41 may include, for example, a multi-joint robot, or a container that is pipette-shaped. Depending on these various configurations, the specific control units (63, 65, etc.) included in the control unit 67 may be changed.

[0116] The program D1 shown in Figure 8 may be considered to represent, for example, a part of the program of the die-casting machine 1, or it may be considered to represent the entire program. An example of the part is the program related to the functional unit shown in Figure 8 (the program related to the operation of the hot water supply device 41). An example of a part other than the part is the program related to the operation of the injection device 9. The program D1 may be stored in the storage unit 5a in advance by the manufacturer of the die-casting machine 1, or it may be distributed via a recording medium or a public network and stored in the storage unit 5a by a user.

[0117] (4.2. Second Configuration Example) Figure 9 is a block diagram showing a second configuration example of the signal processing system of the die-casting machine 1.

[0118] In this example, the transport amount Q1 is not set according to the required amount Qn, but is a fixed amount. For example, the transport amount specification unit 59 is not constructed, and the information D7 related to the transport amount Q1 stored in the storage unit 5a is referenced by the inclination angle specification unit 61.

[0119] Information D7 may be pre-set by the manufacturer of the controller 5, or it may be set and / or changed by the user via the input unit 45. The specific value of the transport amount Q1 defined by information D7 is arbitrary. For example, the transport amount Q1 may be about the same as the transport limit described in the first configuration example, or it may be less. In the latter case, the transport amount Q1 may be 90% or less, 80% or less, or 70% or less of the transport limit. There is no particular limit for the lower limit, but for example it may be 30% or more, 50% or more, 60% or more, or 70% or more of the transport limit. The above upper and lower limits may be combined in any way so as not to cause any contradiction. If the transport amount Q1 in information D7 is less than or equal to the required amount Qn, for example, the controller 5 may warn the operator via the notification unit (e.g., display device 17).

[0120] (4.3. Third Configuration Example) Figure 10 is a block diagram showing a third configuration example of the signal processing system of the die-casting machine 1.

[0121] In this example, the transport amount determination unit 59 determines the transport amount Q1 based on the required amount Qn and the value detected by the temperature sensor 69. The temperature sensor 69 detects the temperature of the ladle 43 or a temperature correlated with the temperature of the ladle 43. An example of a temperature correlated with the temperature of the ladle 43 is the temperature of the sleeve 21 (the temperature of the sleeve 21 itself or the temperature of the gas or molten metal inside the sleeve 21). The transport amount Q1 is set such that the lower the detected temperature, the larger the transport amount Q1 (or difference Q2 from another perspective). This effectively reduces the probability of the ladle 43 temperature decreasing.

[0122] The specific configuration of the temperature sensor 69 can vary. For example, the temperature sensor 69 may be non-contact or contact-type. An example of the former is a radiation thermometer that detects temperature based on infrared radiation from the ladle 43 (or sleeve 21). An example of the latter is a thermocouple, thermistor, or resistance thermometer provided on the ladle 43 (or sleeve 21).

[0123] The specific procedures for determining the transport amount Q1 based on temperature can vary. For example, the transport amount determination unit 59 acquires information on the detected temperature from the temperature sensor 69 in each cycle. The transport amount determination unit 59 then increases the difference Q2 in the next cycle if the detected temperature is lower than a predetermined target temperature stored in the memory unit 5a, and decreases the difference Q2 in the next cycle if the detected temperature is higher than the predetermined target temperature. In other words, the transport amount determination unit 59 feedback controls the transport amount Q1 so that the detected temperature approaches the target temperature as the molding cycle is repeated. More detailed procedures (e.g., whether or not differential control and / or integral control are used) are arbitrary. Parameters such as the ratio (gain) of the change in the transport amount Q1 with respect to the temperature deviation and / or the target temperature can be appropriately set by, for example, the manufacturer or user of the controller 5, or the controller 5 may set them using AI (Artificial Intelligence) technology, etc.

[0124] In addition, unlike the embodiments described in the previous paragraph, the first, second, and fourth configuration examples only require that the transport amount Q1 be specified before starting the repetition of the molding cycle. From another perspective, it is sufficient for one transport amount Q1 to be specified for one required amount Qn. Furthermore, the third configuration example may be combined with the other configuration examples as appropriate. For example, the transport amount Q1 specified by the first or second configuration example may be used as an initial value, and the transport amount Q1 may be changed according to the temperature. Alternatively, an appropriate initial value may be set, and then, when the transport amount Q1 is changed according to the temperature, the transport amount Q1 of the first and / or second configuration example may be used as the upper and / or lower limits of the transport amount Q1, instead of the transport upper limit described above.

[0125] In the embodiment where feedback control is performed for each cycle as described above, the timing of temperature detection may be any time during the cycle. The average value of detection values ​​from multiple times may be used. For example, when detecting the temperature of the ladle 43, the detection timing may be any time from when the supply of the required amount Qn of molten metal to the sleeve 21 by the ladle 43 is completed until before the ladle 43 is immersed in the molten metal of the furnace 107 for the next molding cycle. When detecting the temperature of the sleeve 21, for example, the detection timing may be any time from when the supply of the required amount Qn of molten metal to the sleeve 21 by the ladle 43 is completed until before the plunger 23 starts to move forward.

[0126] Furthermore, instead of specifying the transport amount Q1 every cycle, the transport amount Q1 may be specified once every predetermined number of cycles. In this case, the average temperature of a predetermined number of molding cycles may be used, or the temperature of the molding cycle immediately preceding the specification of the transport amount Q1 may be used. Feedback control for each cycle may be performed only during test runs until the operation of the die-casting machine 1 stabilizes, or the transport amount Q1 may be specified only once based on a representative value (e.g., the average value) of the temperature of one or more cycles during the test runs. Without using the concept of a target temperature, the detected temperature may be substituted into an equation that calculates the transport amount Q1 from the required amount Qn and temperature, or an equation that calculates the difference Q2 from temperature alone.

[0127] (4.4. Fourth Configuration Example) Figure 11 is a block diagram showing a fourth configuration example of the signal processing system of the die-casting machine 1.

[0128] In this example, the transport amount identification unit 59 identifies the transport amount Q1 based on the required amount Qn and the waiting time information D9 stored in the storage unit 5a. The waiting time is, as described in the explanation of Figure 7, for example, the time during which the ladle 43 is stopped above the molten metal in the furnace 107. The transport amount Q1 is set such that the longer the waiting time, the larger the transport amount Q1 (or difference Q2 from another perspective). This effectively reduces, for example, the probability of the temperature of the ladle 43 decreasing. Note that when the waiting time is short, it also includes the case where the waiting time is 0.

[0129] Information D9 relating to the waiting time may, for example, be information about the waiting time itself. Alternatively, information D9 may be other information that can identify the waiting time. For example, consider a configuration in which the operation of moving the ladle 43, which has finished supplying molten metal to the sleeve 21, to the waiting position is constant regardless of the operation of the injection device 9, etc., and the lowering of the waiting ladle 43 is triggered when the injection device 9, etc. completes a predetermined operation. In other words, consider a configuration in which the waiting time is determined as a result of defining the operation of the injection device 9, etc. In such a configuration, at least one of the various pieces of information that define the operation of the injection device 9, etc. may be used as information D9.

[0130] The control unit 67 controls the moving motor 51 so that the rudder 43 remains in standby mode for the standby time specified by information D9. However, as can be understood from the above explanation, more specifically, the information that the transport amount specification unit 59 directly references and the information that the control unit 67 directly references may be different. For example, the control unit 67 may refer to a signal indicating that a predetermined operation of the injection device 9 or the like has been completed, while the transport amount specification unit 59 may refer to information about the standby time itself stored in the storage unit 5a. However, the information that forms the basis for the operation of the control unit 67 and the calculations of the transport amount specification unit 59 is common. Therefore, it can be said that both the control unit 67 and the transport amount specification unit 59 operate based on information D9.

[0131] Information D9 related to the waiting time may be input by the user via the input unit 45, for example. As can be understood from the above explanation, this input may be the length of the waiting time itself, or it may be other information that defines the length of the waiting time (for example, information that defines the timing of the operation of the injection device 9, etc.). In the case where other information that defines the length of the waiting time is input, the controller 5 may or may not calculate the length of the waiting time itself for reference of the transport amount specification unit 59.

[0132] The specific procedure for determining the transport amount Q1 based on the waiting time can vary. For example, the transport amount Q1 or difference Q2, set in the same manner as in the first and second configuration examples, can be used as the base amount. Then, the transport amount Q1 or difference Q2 can be calculated by multiplying this base amount by the ratio obtained by dividing the waiting time by a predetermined base time. Alternatively, the difference Q2 can be calculated by substituting the waiting time into a predetermined formula. This predetermined formula may or may not include the required amount Qn as a parameter.

[0133] (5. Procedure for setting the control amount (tilt angle)) Figure 12 is a schematic diagram illustrating the procedure for the tilt angle identification unit 61 to identify the tilt angle θ based on the required amount Qn and the transport amount Q1. From another perspective, Figure 12 shows the contents of the information held by the ladle characteristic information D3 shown in Figure 8.

[0134] In this figure, the horizontal axis represents the inclination angle θ. The inclination angle θ increases as the right side of the figure moves downwards towards the measuring spout 43b. Conversely, the inclination angle θ increases as the left side of the figure moves downwards towards the pouring spout 43a. The vertical axis represents the amount of molten metal Q. Line L1 (including lines La and Lb) shows the relationship between the inclination angle θ and the amount of molten metal Q that can be contained in the ladle 43.

[0135] As shown in this figure, when θ = 0, the amount of molten metal Q that can be contained in the ladle 43 is maximized (conversely, θ = 0 is defined in this way). Then, as shown by line Lb, as the inclination angle θ is to the right of the figure, the amount of molten metal Q decreases, and when θ = θb (for example, 90° or a slightly smaller value), the amount Q becomes 0. Similarly, as shown by line La, as the inclination angle θ is to the left of the figure, the amount Q decreases, and when θ = θa (for example, 90° or a slightly smaller value), the amount Q becomes 0. Lines La and Lb may be approximately symmetrical with respect to the vertical axis (as shown in the example), or they may not be symmetrical. In the former case, information D3 may hold only the information relating to one of lines La and Lb.

[0136] As indicated by arrow a1, the inclination angle determination unit 61 refers to information D3 (or line Lb in another view) related to the ladle characteristics to determine the inclination angle θ1 at which the transport amount Q1 determined by the transport amount determination unit 59 can accommodate the transport amount Q. This determines the inclination angle θ at which the ladle 43 draws molten metal from the furnace 107 and measures the transport amount Q1 of molten metal.

[0137] Furthermore, as indicated by arrow a3, the tilt angle determination unit 61 refers to information D3 (or line La in another view) related to the ladle characteristics to determine the tilt angle θ3 at which the difference Q2 determined by the transport amount determination unit 59 becomes a storable amount Q. This determines the tilt angle θ at which the operation of tilting the ladle 43 to supply molten metal to the sleeve 21 is stopped (the tilt angle θ at which the supply of the required amount Qn of molten metal is completed).

[0138] In the specific processing, the division of roles between the transport amount specification unit 59 and the inclination angle specification unit 61 is arbitrary. For example, in an embodiment where the amount directly calculated by the transport amount specification unit 59 based on the required amount Qn is the transport amount Q1 and not the difference Q2, the process of calculating the difference Q2 based on the required amount Qn and the transport amount Q1 may be performed by either the transport amount specification unit 59 or the inclination angle specification unit 61.

[0139] The tilt angle determination unit 61 may use the tilt angle θ1 or θ3 determined as described above as is, or it may apply some correction to the tilt angle θ1 or θ3 determined as described above. For example, a correction may be made to take into account the effect of molten metal dripping from the ladle 43 between the time the tilt angle θ of the ladle 43 becomes θ3 and the time the tilt angle θ is reduced in order to move the ladle 43 away from the sleeve 21. A map (information D3) that takes such a correction into account may be used.

[0140] Although not directly related to the operation example of the inclination angle determination unit 61 described above, as shown by arrow a2, it is also possible to determine the inclination angle θ2 that allows the transport amount Q1 to be accommodated, based on line La. This inclination angle θ2 is the inclination angle θ when the molten metal begins to be poured from the ladle 43 into the sleeve 21. The difference between θ2 and θ3 corresponds to the required amount Qn.

[0141] (6. Summary of Embodiments) As described above, the die-casting machine 1 according to the embodiment includes an injection device 9 and a controller 5. The injection device 9 pushes the molding material (molten metal) in the sleeve 21 into the mold (mold 101) by a plunger 23. The controller 5 transports a container (ladle 43) that takes in molten metal from the furnace 107 and supplies the required amount Qn of molten metal from the ladle 43 to the sleeve 21. The controller 5 also takes in a first amount (transport amount Q1) of molten metal that is greater than the required amount Qn from the furnace 107 into the ladle 43, supplies the required amount Qn of molten metal from the ladle 43 which contains the transport amount Q1 to the sleeve 21, and controls the molten metal supply device 41 so as to return the remaining molten metal, which is the difference Q2 obtained by subtracting the required amount Qn from the transport amount Q1, to the furnace 107.

[0142] From another perspective, the supply device (molten metal supply device 41) according to the embodiment comprises a device body 47 and a controller 5. The device body 47 transports a container (ladle 43) that has taken in the molding material (molten metal) from the furnace 107 and supplies the required amount Qn of molten metal from the ladle 43 to the sleeve 21 of the injection device 9. The controller 5 takes in a first amount (transport amount Q1) of molten metal that is greater than the required amount Qn from the furnace 107 to the ladle 43, supplies the required amount Qn of molten metal from the ladle 43 containing the transport amount Q1 to the sleeve 21, and controls the device body 47 so as to return the remaining molten metal, which is the difference Q2 obtained by subtracting the required amount Qn from the transport amount Q1, to the furnace 107.

[0143] From another perspective, program D1 causes the computer to function as a control unit 67 and a first quantity identification unit (transport quantity identification unit 59). The control unit 67 controls the supply device (molten metal supply device 41). The molten metal supply device 41 transports a container (ladle 43) that has taken in the molding material (molten metal) from the furnace 107 and supplies the required amount Qn of molten metal from the ladle 43 to the sleeve 21 of the injection device 9. The transport quantity identification unit 59 identifies a first quantity (transport quantity Q1) that is greater than the required amount Qn. The control unit 67 controls the molten metal supply device 41 so as to take in the first quantity (transport quantity Q1), which is greater than the required amount Qn, from the furnace 107 to the ladle 43, supply the required amount Qn of molten metal from the ladle 43 containing the transport quantity Q1 to the sleeve 21, and return the remaining molten metal, which is the difference Q2 obtained by subtracting the required amount Qn from the transport quantity Q1, to the furnace 107.

[0144] Therefore, for example, the effects described in the overview of the embodiment are achieved. For example, the accuracy of the hot water supply is improved, product quality is improved, the quality of the molten metal in the furnace 107 is maintained, and / or the cycle time is reduced.

[0145] The first quantity (transport quantity Q1) may be 1.2 times or more the required quantity Qn.

[0146] In this case, for example, based on the applicant's experience, a sufficient effect is obtained in reducing the temperature drop of the ladle 43 compared to the conventional technology that pumps and transports only the required amount Qn. In the case of the preceding paragraph, the coefficient D5 may be 1.2 or more, as in the first configuration example (Figure 8), or the above requirements may be met in other configuration examples. Furthermore, if the transported amount Q1 is 1.2 times or more of the required amount Qn, then the difference Q2 is 20% or more of the required amount Qn. This is clearly more than the amount of molten metal that remains in the ladle 43 as an error. From this viewpoint as well, a sufficient effect is obtained.

[0147] The controller 5 (or, from another perspective, the required quantity identification unit 57) may be able to change the required quantity Qn. The first quantity (transported quantity Q1) may remain constant even if the required quantity Qn is changed (Figure 9).

[0148] In this case, for example, the configuration of the hot water supply device 41 and / or controller 5 can be simplified. For example, as can be seen from the comparison between Figure 8 and Figure 9, the conveying amount specification unit 59 does not need to be constructed. Also, if the inclination angle θ during metering is different, the flow of molten metal when it flows out of the metering port 43b will also be different. As a result, the metering error may differ depending on the inclination angle θ during metering. However, by keeping the inclination angle θ constant, such errors can be reduced. The inclination angle θ of the ladle 43 was used as an example, but the same applies to embodiments in which the container is other than the ladle 43.

[0149] The die-casting machine 1 (or hot water supply device 41 in another view) may have a sensor (temperature sensor 69) that detects the temperature of the container (ladle 43) or a temperature correlated with the temperature of the ladle 43 (for example, the temperature of the sleeve 21). The controller 5 may set the transport amount Q1 such that the lower the temperature detected by the temperature sensor 69, the larger the first amount (transport amount Q1) becomes (Figure 10).

[0150] In this case, for example, an effective effect of reducing the temperature drop of the ladle 43 can be obtained. For example, the probability of a situation occurring where the difference Q2 is too small and the effect of reducing the temperature drop is not sufficiently obtained can be reduced. Conversely, the probability of the conveying amount Q1 being too large and the burden on the drive unit (51, 53) of the hot water supply device 41 becoming too great can be reduced. Also, if the conveying amount Q1 is too large, there is a possibility that the molten metal will spill from the ladle 43 while it is being conveyed. It becomes easier to ensure the effect of reducing the temperature drop while reducing the probability of such inconveniences occurring.

[0151] The controller 5 may set the transport amount Q1 such that the longer the time (waiting time) the container (ladle 43) containing the remaining molding material (molten metal difference Q2) is stopped (moving) at a waiting position above the molten metal in the furnace 107, the larger the first amount (transport amount Q1) becomes (Figure 11).

[0152] In this case, the longer the waiting time and the higher the probability that the temperature of the ladle 43 will decrease, the larger the difference Q2 will be. As a result, for example, an effect of reducing the temperature drop of the ladle 43 can be effectively obtained.

[0153] The container may be a ladle 43. The ladle 43 may have a spout 43a that is directed downwards to allow the molten metal to flow out when the required amount Qn of molding material (molten metal) is poured into the sleeve 21. The controller 5 may control the supply device (molten metal supply device 41) above the molten metal in the furnace 107, directing the spout 43a downwards, so that the remaining molten metal (molten metal difference Q2) is returned to the furnace 107 through the spout 43a (Figure 6(a)).

[0154] In this case, for example, when the molten metal is drawn out of the furnace 107, the heat of the molten metal can be transferred by a difference Q2 to the spout 43a, which is not immersed in the molten metal. As a result, the probability of the temperature of the spout 43a decreasing can be reduced. Consequently, the probability of the molten metal solidifying at the spout 43a and solidified fragments being mixed into the product when the amount of molten metal Q1 is being transported for the next molding cycle is reduced, and the quality of the product is improved.

[0155] The container may be a ladle 43. The ladle 43 may have a metering port 43b that is directed downwards to allow the molten metal to flow out when measuring a first amount (convection amount Q1) of molding material (molten metal). The controller 5 may control the supply device (molten metal supply device 41) above the molten metal in the furnace 107, directing the metering port 43b downwards, so that the remaining molten metal (molten metal difference Q2) is returned to the furnace 107 through the metering port 43b (Figure 6(b)).

[0156] In this case, for example, compared to the method of returning the molten metal to the furnace 107 from the spout 43a, the inclination angle θ when returning the molten metal is often close to the inclination angle θ when immersing the ladle 43 in the molten metal of the furnace 107. As a result, for example, the amount of rotation of the ladle 43 when transitioning from returning the molten metal to the furnace 107 to the next operation is reduced. Consequently, the load on the drive unit (51, 53, etc.) of the molten metal supply device 41 is reduced. In addition, the cycle time can be shortened when a waiting time cannot be secured.

[0157] The container may be a ladle 43. The controller 5 may control the supply device (molten metal supply device 41) to return the remaining molten metal to the furnace 107 by immersing the ladle 43 containing the remaining molding material (molten metal difference Q2) in the molten metal of the furnace 107 (Figure 6(c)).

[0158] In this case, for example, the phenomenon of molten metal flowing off the ladle 43 can be avoided. As a result, oxidation caused by increasing the surface area when the molten metal flows off the ladle 43 can be reduced. Also, for example, the temperature of the ladle 43 can be increased by the molten metal in the furnace 107 while returning the molten metal from the furnace 107. The cycle time can be shortened by making the operation of immersing the ladle 43 to return the molten metal to the furnace 107 also the operation of immersing the ladle 43 to draw the molten metal from the furnace 107.

[0159] The controller 5 may control the supply device (molten metal supply device 41) to lower the ladle 43 so that the container (ladle 43) holding the remaining molding material (molten metal difference Q2) is placed in a waiting position above the molten metal in the furnace 107, and then the ladle 43 is lowered to take in the molten metal from the furnace 107. The time from when the ladle 43 reaches the waiting position until the remaining molten metal is returned to the furnace 107 (t1-t0) may be longer than the time from when the remaining molten metal is returned to the furnace 107 until the ladle 43 is lowered (t2-t1) (Figure 7(a)).

[0160] In this case, for example, compared to the opposite configuration described above where time (t2-t1) is longer than time (t1-t0), the effect of reducing the temperature drop of the ladle 43 due to the difference Q2 in the molten metal can be greatly increased. As a result, for example, when the ladle 43 is immersed in the molten metal of the furnace 107 for the next molding cycle, the probability of the molten metal solidifying is reduced.

[0161] Conversely, time (t2-t1) may be longer than time (t1-t0) (Figure 7(b)).

[0162] In this case, for example, compared to the configuration where time (t1-t0) is longer than time (t2-t1), the probability of oxidation of the molten metal remaining in the ladle 43 progressing is reduced. As a result, for example, the probability of the quality of the molten metal in the furnace 107 deteriorating due to the molten metal being returned to the furnace 107 is reduced.

[0163] The container may be a ladle 43 that pours molding material (molten metal) into the sleeve 21 by tilting. The controller 5 may refer to a map (ladle characteristic information D3) that holds the amount of molten metal that can be contained in the ladle 43 according to the tilt angle θ of the ladle 43, and identify the tilt angle θ2 (Figure 12) at which the second amount (difference Q2) becomes the amount that can be contained as the tilt angle θ at which the tilting motion is stopped.

[0164] This allows for the accurate determination of the inclination angle θ2 corresponding to the difference Q2, according to various shapes of the ladle 43, compared to, for example, a method of calculating the inclination angle θ2 based on a calculation formula into which the difference Q2 is substituted (this method is also included in the disclosure). As a result, the accuracy of the molten metal supply amount is improved. Normally, the ladle characteristic information D3 is used to determine the inclination angle θ when measuring the molten metal drawn from the furnace 107, but it is not used to determine the inclination angle θ when pouring the molten metal into the sleeve 21.

[0165] In the above embodiments, die-casting machine 1 is an example of a molding machine. Hot water supply device 41 is an example of a supply device. Ladle 43 is an example of a container. Molten metal is an example of a molding material. Mold 101 is an example of a mold. Conveying amount Q1 is an example of a first amount. Difference Q2 is an example of a second amount. Temperature sensor 69 is an example of a sensor.

[0166] The present invention is not limited to the embodiments exemplified above, and may be implemented in various forms.

[0167] The molding machine is not limited to a die-casting machine. For example, the molding machine may be any other metal forming machine. Also, the molding machine is not limited to horizontal clamping and horizontal injection; for example, it may be vertical clamping and horizontal injection, or the sleeve may be inclined with respect to the horizontal direction. The first quantity may be set considering the heat capacity of the ladle, etc.

[0168] 1…Die-casting machine (molding machine), 5…Controller, 9…Injection device, 21…Sleeve, 23…Plunger, 41…Molten metal supply device (supply device), 43…Laddle (container), 101…Mold (mold), 107…Furnace, ML…Molten metal (molding material).

Claims

1. A molding machine comprising: an injection device that pushes molding material in a sleeve into a mold using a plunger; and a controller that controls a supply device that transports a container containing molding material from a furnace and supplies a required amount of molding material from the container to the sleeve, wherein the controller controls the supply device to take in a first amount of molding material greater than the required amount from the furnace into the container, supply the required amount of molding material from the container containing the first amount of molding material to the sleeve, and return the remaining molding material, which is a second amount obtained by subtracting the required amount from the first amount, to the furnace.

2. The molding machine according to claim 1, wherein the first amount is 1.2 times or more the required amount.

3. The molding machine according to claim 1, wherein the controller can change the required amount, and the first amount remains constant even when the required amount is changed.

4. The molding machine according to claim 1, which has a sensor for detecting the temperature of the container or a temperature correlated with the temperature of the container, wherein the controller changes the first amount such that the lower the temperature detected by the sensor, the greater the first amount.

5. The molding machine according to claim 1, wherein the controller sets the first amount such that the longer the time the container containing the remaining molding material is stopped in a standby position above the molding material in the furnace, the larger the first amount becomes.

6. The molding machine according to claim 1, wherein the container is a ladle, the ladle has a spout that is directed downward to allow the molding material to flow out when the required amount of molding material is poured into the sleeve, and the controller controls the supply device above the molding material in the furnace, directing the spout downward to return the remaining molding material from the spout back into the furnace.

7. The molding machine according to claim 1, wherein the container is a ladle, the ladle has a metering port that is directed downward to allow the molding material to flow out when measuring a first amount of molding material, and the controller controls the supply device above the molding material in the furnace, directing the metering port downward to return the remaining molding material from the metering port back to the furnace.

8. The molding machine according to claim 1, wherein the container is a ladle, and the controller controls the supply device to immerse the ladle containing the remaining molding material in the molding material of the furnace to return the remaining molding material to the furnace.

9. The molding machine according to claim 1, wherein the controller controls the supply device to lower the container containing the remaining molding material so that it is placed in a waiting position above the molding material in the furnace, and then lowers the container to take in the molding material from the furnace, and the time from when the container reaches the waiting position until the remaining molding material is returned to the furnace is longer than the time from when the remaining molding material is returned to the furnace until the container is lowered.

10. The molding machine according to claim 1, wherein the controller controls the supply device to lower the container containing the remaining molding material to take in the molding material from the furnace, after the container has been in a standby position above the molding material in the furnace, and the time from when the container reaches the standby position until the remaining molding material is returned to the furnace is shorter than the time from when the remaining molding material is returned to the furnace until the container is lowered.

11. The molding machine according to claim 1, wherein the container is a ladle for pouring molding material into the sleeve by tilting, and the controller refers to a map that holds the amount of molding material that can be contained in the ladle according to the tilt angle of the ladle, and identifies the tilt angle at which the second amount becomes the amount that can be contained as the tilt angle at which the tilting motion is stopped.

12. A supply device comprising: a main body of an apparatus that transports a container containing molding material from a furnace and supplies a required amount of molding material from the container to the sleeve of an injection device; and a controller that controls the main body of the apparatus, wherein the controller controls the main body of the apparatus to take in a first amount of molding material greater than the required amount from the furnace into the container, supply the required amount of molding material from the container containing the first amount of molding material to the sleeve, and return the remaining molding material, which is a second amount obtained by subtracting the required amount from the first amount, to the furnace.

13. A computer functions as a control unit that controls a supply device that transports a container containing molding material from a furnace and supplies the required amount of molding material from the container to the sleeve of an injection device, and a first amount identification unit that identifies a first amount greater than the required amount, wherein the control unit controls the supply device to take the first amount of molding material from the furnace into the container, supply the required amount of molding material from the container containing the first amount of molding material to the sleeve, and return the remaining molding material, which is a second amount obtained by subtracting the required amount from the first amount, to the furnace.

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