JP2002011772A - Mold monitoring device and method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a mold monitoring device, with which a time requiring for timing treatment is shortened and, simultaneously, within which a monitoring timing can be treated. SOLUTION: This mold monitoring device has a camera 9, which is provided on the traveling course of a movable mold, a standard figure memorizing means for memorizing the standard figure of an inspection timing extracted from an image picked up by the camera 9, a first image memorizing means 35 for memorizing an image of a state of the movable mold, from which a molding is removed, a first judging means 42 for judging whether the one and same figure as the figure is present at a predetermined position or not from the image obtained by photographing the movable mold under traveling on the traveling course, a comparing means 45 for comparing the picked-up image with the image memorized in the first image memorizing means 35 by the inspecting timing based on the judgment done with the first judging means 42 and a second judging means 46 for judging whether the molding is removed from the mold or not based on the comparing result of the comparing means 45.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention detects a molded article remaining in a mold in a resin or metal molding machine and prevents the mold from being clamped while the molded article remains. TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a mold monitoring device and a mold monitoring method capable of performing the same.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, for example, Japanese Patent Publication No. 60-5057
As described in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 3 (1999), a plurality of signal lines required for timing processing of a mold monitoring device from a molding machine such as an injection molding machine are connected to the mold monitoring device, and the timing is controlled by the plurality of signal lines. The signal is taken into the mold monitoring device, and the mold monitoring device monitors the mold according to the timing signal, and a command signal is output to the injection molding machine based on the monitoring result.

This will be described along the steps of an injection molding machine according to a timing chart shown in FIG. First, the resin is injected into the mold with the movable mold and the fixed mold of the injection molding machine closed, and when the injection is completed, the movable mold is moved by the mold opening signal a to perform mold opening b. Here, when the movable mold reaches the release position, the mold opening completion signal c is output to the mold monitoring device, and the mold monitoring device performs primary monitoring d and monitors whether or not all the molded products remain in the fixed mold. For this purpose, a movable video signal is captured from the camera of the mold monitoring device. Next, the video signal is converted into luminance information, and the converted luminance information is compared with reference luminance information. If there is no problem in the comparison result, a molded product adhered to the movable mold is sent from the mold monitoring device. Is output to the injection molding machine. The injection molding machine that has received the ejection command signal operates the ejection pin once or a plurality of times to separate the molded product provided on the movable mold from the movable mold, and pushes the molded product from the movable mold.

When the ejection operation is completed, an ejection completion signal g is output from the injection molding machine to the mold monitoring device,
The die monitoring device that has received the protrusion completion signal performs secondary monitoring h of the movable die, and monitors whether or not a molded product remains in the movable die. For this purpose, as in the case of the primary monitoring, a movable video signal is fetched, converted into luminance information, and compared with a reference value. If there is no problem in the comparison result, the mold monitoring apparatus outputs a mold closing command signal j to the injection molding machine, and the injection molding machine moves the movable mold and starts mold closing k. This is the one-step operation of the injection molding machine and the mold monitoring device that has been conventionally performed.

[0005]

However, in the conventional case, the monitoring device starts monitoring after receiving a monitoring timing signal from the injection molding machine, makes a comparison judgment, and based on the result, causes the injection molding machine to perform the next operation. In order to proceed, it is necessary to synchronize the operation of the injection molding machine with the mold monitoring device, and the processing time of capturing the video signal of the mold monitoring device, converting it to luminance information, and comparing and judging is added. There was a problem of being late. Particularly in an injection molding machine, from the viewpoint of cost reduction of molded products, it is desired to produce many molded products in a short time. In addition, since there are a plurality of signal lines for signal control between the injection molding machine and the mold monitoring device, there are problems that the man-hour is required at the time of on-site installation and that a special technique is required.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and at the same time, shortens the time required for the timing processing, reduces the number of signal lines for the timing processing, and replaces the signal lines with the die monitoring. The object of the present invention is to solve the above problem by processing the monitoring timing of the apparatus in the mold monitoring apparatus.

[0007]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a movable mold having a movable mold, a fixed mold, and a cavity. A mold monitoring apparatus provided in a mold for molding a molded product by filling the cavity with a molten material in a state in which the molded product is clamped, and monitoring whether the molded product is discharged from the mold when the mold is opened. In the apparatus, a camera that is provided in the middle of a moving path along which the movable mold moves, and that captures an image of the inner surface of the movable mold, and is extracted from an image captured by the camera,
Reference figure storage means for storing a figure serving as a reference for inspection timing, first image storage means for storing an image in a state where the molded article has been removed from the movable mold, and moving on the movement path. First determining means for determining whether the same graphic as the graphic is located at a predetermined position from an image of the movable mold, and an inspection timing based on the determination by the first determining means. In the comparison means for comparing the captured image and the image stored in the first image storage means, based on a comparison result of this comparison means,
Second determining means for determining whether the molded article has been removed from the mold.

[0008] According to this configuration, the figure selected and stored in advance from the inner surface of the movable mold comes to a predetermined position on the screen photographed by the camera of the mold monitoring apparatus, so that the inspection timing is improved. It is planned. Further, by comparing the image at the time of this inspection with the first image for inspection set in advance, it is determined whether the operation state of the injection molding machine is normal. Therefore, the mold monitoring device of the present invention can be made independent of the injection molding machine and the mold. Further, since the operation state is monitored by comparing the photographed images, it is possible to monitor not only defective discharge of the molded product but also defective molded products such as defective casting.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in addition to the first image storage means, a second image storage means for storing an image of a state in which a molded article is held in the movable mold is provided. Moving direction determining means for determining whether the movable mold is moving in the mold opening direction or moving in the mold closing direction, and the movable direction moving means moves in the mold closing direction by the moving direction determining means. When it is determined that
The comparing means compares the captured image with the image of the first image storage means, and when it is determined by the moving direction determining means that the movable mold is moving in the mold opening direction, The comparing means is configured to compare the photographed image with an image in the second image storage means.

According to this configuration, it is possible to monitor the mold both when the mold is opened and when the mold is closed. Therefore, not only is the monitoring of whether the molded product has been reliably removed from the movable mold at the time of mold clamping, but also the monitoring of whether the transfer of the molded product from the fixed mold to the movable mold has been reliably performed at the time of opening the mold. Can also be done.

The moving direction determining means may determine the moving direction based on a command signal to a driver for opening and closing the movable mold. May be configured. Also,
For example, as described in claim 4, a first image photographed at a predetermined position on the movement route is compared with a second image photographed after a lapse of a predetermined time from the predetermined position. The moving direction of the movable mold may be determined based on the result.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, the reference figure is a marking provided in advance on the movable mold. The reference figure may be a ridgeline or an uneven portion of a mold, but by forming a marking at a predetermined position, setting of the reference figure becomes easy.

The invention according to claim 6 has a movable mold, a fixed mold, and a cavity, and fills the cavity with a molten material in a state where the movable mold and the fixed mold are clamped. In a mold monitoring method for monitoring whether or not the molded article has been discharged from the mold when the mold for molding the molded article is opened, an inner surface of the movable mold is provided in the middle of a moving path of the movable mold. Prepare a camera for photographing, store a reference figure extracted from an image photographed by the camera in a reference figure memory, and display an image in a state where the molded article is discharged from the movable mold. The first determining means determines whether or not the same graphic as the reference graphic is located at a predetermined position from among the captured images stored in the first image storing means. At the timing based on the judgment of The shaded image and the image stored in the first image storage unit are compared by a comparison unit, and the second determination unit discharges the molded article from the mold based on the comparison result of the comparison unit. It is a method to determine whether or not it is. According to this method, the figure selected and stored in advance from the inner surface of the movable mold comes to a predetermined position in the screen photographed by the camera of the mold monitoring device, so that the timing of the inspection can be improved. it can. In addition, by comparing the image at the time of this inspection with the first image for inspection set in advance, it is possible to determine whether the operating state of the injection molding machine is normal.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, an image in a state where the molded article is discharged from the mold is stored in a first image storage means, and the molded article is held in the mold. Is stored in the second image storage means, and the moving direction determining means determines whether the movable mold is moving in the mold opening direction or the mold closing direction, and the moving direction determining means When it is determined that the movable mold is moving in the mold closing direction, the photographed image is compared with the image in the first image storage means, and the movable mold is determined by the movement direction determination means. When it is determined that the image is moving in the mold opening direction, the captured image is compared with the image in the second image storage unit. According to this method, it is possible to monitor the mold both when the mold is opened and when the mold is closed. Therefore, not only is the monitoring of whether the molded product has been reliably removed from the movable mold at the time of mold clamping, but also the monitoring of whether the transfer of the molded product from the fixed mold to the movable mold has been reliably performed at the time of opening the mold. Can also be done.

[0015]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a plan view showing a state in which a cavity of a movable mold is formed by a camera according to an embodiment of the mold monitoring apparatus of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a camera and a photograph taken by the camera. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a surface of a movable mold in which a cavity is formed, and FIG. 3 shows an image taken by a camera.

As shown in FIG. 1, the mold of the injection molding machine 1 has a fixed mold 2 and a movable mold 3. The movable mold 3 moves forward and backward while being guided by the tie bar 4, and the fixed mold 2 is clamped and opened. A cavity formed between the fixed mold 2 and the movable mold 3 is filled with a molten material from a nozzle 5 provided in the fixed mold 2 in a clamped state. After the material filled in the cavity is solidified and cooled, the movable mold 3 moves along the tie bar 4 in the mold opening direction. When the movable mold 3 moves rearward (to the left in FIG. 1) and comes into contact with the projecting portion 7, the projecting pin 8 provided on the movable mold 3 is advanced by the projecting portion 7,
The molded product is protruded from the movable mold 3. After the protrusion of the molded product, the movable mold 3 is moved forward (to the right in FIG. 1) to perform mold clamping.

A camera 9 for photographing the inner surface of the movable mold 3 includes:
The movable mold 3 is provided in the middle of a moving path on which the movable mold 3 moves. In this camera 9, the movable mold 3 is separated from the fixed mold 2,
The photographing of the inner surface is continued until the protruding pin 8 comes into contact with the protruding portion 7.

As shown in FIG. 2, the mold of this embodiment has six molds, and the inner surface of the movable mold 3 has six cores according to the six molded products 13 to 18 to be molded. A part is formed. The camera 9 is positioned and fixed at a predetermined position so that at least all of the six core portions and the molded products 13 to 18 fit within the photographing screen. The camera 9 is a camera having a CCD type or MOS type image sensor capable of outputting captured image data as binary data. The camera 9 may be either color or monochrome, but monochrome is advantageous in that the image processing speed is faster. Also, CCD type or MOS
The camera is not limited to a camera using an image sensor, and a camera that outputs a captured image as an analog signal can also be used. In this case, an A / D converter for converting an analog signal into a digital signal may be provided.

FIGS. 3A and 3B show a mold monitoring apparatus according to the present invention, wherein FIG. 3A is a block diagram of the apparatus, and FIG. 3B is a timing chart of image data output from the working image memory (upper) and from the secondary working image memory. 4 and FIG. 5 are plan views showing an example of a screen shot by the camera 9. The image captured by the camera 9 is input to the image processing unit 30. The image data processed by the image processing unit 30 is appropriately distributed to a working image memory 33, a reference graphic memory 34, a first image memory 35, a second image memory 36, and a secondary working memory 37. Stored.

The working image memory 33 stores, for example, at predetermined time intervals, among images captured by the camera 9, for example,
A plurality of pieces of data relating to images at intervals of 50 ms are stored. Then, as shown in the upper timing chart of FIG. 3B, image data is sequentially read from the working image memory 33 and compared with reference graphic data, first image data, and second image data described later. The monitoring of the mold is performed.

The reference graphic memory 34 stores graphic data (reference graphic data) serving as a reference for determining a timing for performing an inspection such as whether or not a molded article is surely removed from the movable mold 3. The reference graphic (hereinafter, referred to as reference graphic 25) may be a part of the ridge line of the movable mold 3, unevenness, or the like, or may be a marking formed on a part of the movable mold 3. Good. The reference figure 25 is selected in advance and stored in the reference figure memory 34 before the operation of the injection molding machine or when exchanging the molds 2 and 3.

The storage of the reference graphic 25 in the reference graphic memory 34 is performed as follows. An input device 3 such as a keyboard is selected from an image 24 obtained by photographing the inner surface of the movable mold 3 at a predetermined position on the movement route (for example, a position as shown in FIG. 1).
By manipulating No. 2, an area A for extracting the reference graphic 25 is selected as shown in FIG. As a result, the position of the area A in the image 24 and the reference pattern 2 included in the area A
5 is stored in the reference graphic memory 34.

The second image memory 36 stores image data serving as a reference for inspection at the time of mold clamping. At the time of mold clamping, the molded product must be reliably removed from the inner surface of the movable mold 3. Therefore, the input device 32 such as a keyboard is operated to extract the first image from the “normal state” image in which the molded products 13 to 18 are securely removed from the inner surface of the movable mold 3. Area B is selected. This region B is a core portion on the inner surface of the movable mold 3 (not shown in the figure).
And all the molded products 13 to 18 are selected.
Thus, the position of the region B in the image 24 and the data of the image included in the region B are stored in the second image memory 36. The region B is preferably as small as possible within a range including the molded products 13 to 18 in order to increase the processing speed of image data.

The first image memory 35 stores image data serving as a reference for inspection when the movable mold 3 moves in the mold opening direction. At the time of opening the mold, six molded parts 13 to
18 must be securely held. Therefore,
A region C for extracting an image by operating the input device 32 such as a keyboard from an image in a “normal state” in which the molded products 13 to 18 are securely held in the core portion of the movable mold 3. Select It is preferable that the position and the size of the region C are the same as those of the region B. Thereby, the data on the position of the region C and the image included in the region C is
It is stored in the first image memory 35.

The secondary work image memory 37 stores a plurality of pieces of data related to an image a predetermined time later than the image 24 related to the image data stored in the work image memory 33. The image data stored in the secondary work image memory 37 is sequentially read out at the same timing as the work image memory 33, as shown in the lower part of FIG. It is used to judge whether it is moving in the mold clamping direction.

The image data stored in the working image memory 33 and the reference graphic memory 34 is read by a first reading unit 38.
And input to the reference graphic comparing unit 41. In the reference graphic comparing unit 41, the working image memory 3
The reference figure 25 stored in the reference figure memory 34 is compared with a predetermined position of the image stored in 3, that is, a figure existing in the area A. Information on the coincidence / non-coincidence of the two figures is transmitted to the first judging unit 42, and the first judging unit 42 judges whether it is the inspection timing. If the two figures match, it is determined that it is the inspection timing, and the result is transmitted to the comparison unit 45.

At the time of opening the mold, the image data stored in the first image memory 35 is read by the second reading unit 39 and transmitted to the comparing unit 45. At the time of mold closing, the image data stored in the second image memory 36 is read by the second reading unit 39,
5 is sent.

The image data stored in the secondary work image memory 37 is read by the third reading unit 40 and transmitted to the search unit 43. As described above, the third reading unit 40 reads out the image data at the same timing as the first reading unit 38, but the image data is read out of the working image memory 33 by the first reading unit 38. After a predetermined time (two images in the example of FIG. 3B). In addition, the third reading unit 40
The reference graphic data and data relating to the area A are read from the reference graphic memory 34. Then, the reference graphic data is transmitted to the search unit 43, and the data relating to the area A is transmitted to the moving direction determination unit 44.

When the first judging unit 42 judges that it is the inspection timing, the searching unit 43 judges that the secondary work image memory 3
7, a pattern matching the reference pattern 25 is searched from the image data transmitted to the search unit 43. And
When a figure matching the reference figure 25 is found, the position data of the figure is transmitted to the movement direction judging section 44. The moving direction determination unit 44 determines whether the movable mold 3 is moving in the mold opening direction based on the position data of the found reference figure 25 and the position data of the area A read from the reference figure memory 34. Judge whether it is moving in the mold clamping direction.

[0030] In FIG. 5 (a) Screen 24 ₁ at the time of examination timing, shows (b) the screen 24 ₂ read out from the secondary working image memory 37 corresponding to the screen 24 _1. As shown in FIG. 5B, when the position of the reference graphic 25 found by the search unit 43 is on the left side of the area A,
It is determined that the movable mold 3 is moving in the mold opening direction, and the result is transmitted to the second reading unit 39 and the second determination unit 4. Similarly, when the position of the reference graphic 25 is on the right side of the area A, it is determined that the movable mold 3 is moving in the mold clamping direction, and the result is transmitted to the second reading unit 39 and the second reading unit 39. It is transmitted to the judgment unit 4.

The second reading section 39 reads the stored image data from either the second image memory 36 or the first image memory 35 based on the judgment result of the moving direction judging section 44, It is transmitted to the comparison unit 45. The comparison unit 45 receives the image data at the inspection timing transmitted from the first determination unit 42 from the first reading unit 38, and outputs the image data corresponding to this image to the second reading unit 39. Receive from Further, based on the data transmitted from the reading units 38 and 39, an inspection area B (or C) is set in the imaging screen, and an image is extracted from the area B (or C). Then, it is compared whether or not the data of the extracted image matches the image data of the second image memory 36 (or the first image memory 35). This comparison result is transmitted to the second determination unit 46.

The second judging section 46 reliably transfers the molded article to the movable mold 3 at the time of opening the mold, based on whether or not the comparison result at the comparing section 45 is the same. It is determined whether the movable mold 3 has been removed from the movable mold 3 without fail. That is, if the comparison results in the comparison unit 45 match,
It is determined that the injection molding machine is operating normally, and the subsequent operation of the injection molding machine is permitted. If the comparison results in the comparison unit 45 do not match, it is determined that an abnormality has occurred in the injection molding machine, the operation of the injection molding machine is stopped, and a command to display the fact on a display or the like is output.

Next, the mold monitoring method of the present invention will be described together with the operation of the mold monitoring apparatus having the above-described configuration. 6 and 7
FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an embodiment of a mold monitoring method according to the present invention. FIG. 6 illustrates a procedure in a setting stage before operating the injection molding machine, and FIG. 7 illustrates a process during operation of the injection molding machine. Is shown. First, a procedure for setting the timing area A, the reference graphic, the inspection area B, the first image, the inspection area C, and the second image will be described with reference to FIGS.

After the mold is clamped and the injection molding is performed on a trial basis, the movable mold 3 is manually stopped at an intermediate position on the moving path of the movable mold 3 (step S101). And
The inner surface of the movable mold 3 is photographed by the camera 9 arranged in the middle of the moving path (step S102). The image taken by the camera 9 is stored in the working image memory 33 as image data. When a predetermined image is selected from the images read from the working image memory 33 with the movable mold 3 stopped, the image is displayed on the display of the input device 32 as a still image (step S1).
03). Subsequent setting work is performed based on this screen 24 (see FIG. 4) displayed on the display.

An appropriate reference figure (marking) 25 is selected from the screen 24 (step S104), and a timing area A is selected so as to surround the reference figure 25 (step S105). It is preferable that the timing area A is as small as possible so that the image processing is performed in the shortest possible time.

When the timing area A is selected in the screen 24, the position data of the timing area A on the screen 24 and the data relating to the reference graphic 25 extracted from the area A are stored in the reference graphic memory 34 (step). S106). Next, the inspection area B at the time of opening the mold is selected (Step S107), and the position of the area B on the screen 24 and data related to the image included in the area B are stored in the first image memory 35 (Step S107). S108).

Thereafter, the molded article is completely removed from the movable mold 3 (step S109), the mold is photographed, the screen is selected and displayed again (step S110), and the mold is closed from the displayed screen. The inspection area C at the time is selected (step 111). As the inspection area C, the inspection area B stored in the first image memory 35 may be used as it is. Then, the position data of the area C on the screen and the data related to the image included in the area C are stored in the second image memory 36 (step S112). This completes the setting.

Next, processing during operation of the injection molding machine will be described. As shown in FIG. 7, the camera 9 starts photographing simultaneously with the start of the injection molding machine (step S201).
Although the camera 9 continuously shoots the movable mold 3, data on an image every 50 ms, for example, is taken out of the images shot by the camera 9 in consideration of the processing time of the circuit shown in FIG. 3. Are sequentially taken out by the image processing unit 30 and stored in the working image memory 33 (step S20).
2).

The image data stored in the working image memory 33 is sequentially read by the first reading unit 38. In the read image, the reference area comparing section 41 sets the timing area A at a predetermined position, and extracts the figure in the area A (step S203). At the same time, the reference graphic 25 is read from the reference graphic memory 34 (step S204) and compared with the graphic extracted from the area A (step S205).

Matching of both figures by the reference figure comparing unit 41
Based on the result of the disagreement, the first determination unit 42 determines whether it is the inspection timing (step S206),
If it is determined that there is no match, that is, it is determined that the inspection timing has not arrived, the process returns to step S202 and the processes of steps S203 to S206 are repeated for the next image. If the first determination unit 42 determines that it is the inspection timing, the search unit 43 searches the image of the secondary work image memory 37 read from the work image memory 33 at the same timing for the reference pattern 25. Is searched for a graphic that matches (step S207). Then, from the position data of the reference figure 25 found as a result of the search,
It is determined whether the movable mold 3 is moving in the mold opening direction or the mold clamping direction (step S21).
0).

When the moving direction judging section 44 judges that the moving direction of the movable mold 3 is the mold opening direction, the second reading section 39 reads the image data for inspection from the second image memory 35. Then, it is transmitted to the comparison unit 45 (step S211). The comparison unit 45 sets an area B on the screen and extracts image data in the area B (step S212).

When it is determined that the moving direction of the movable mold 3 is the mold clamping direction, the image data for inspection is read from the first image memory 36 by the second reading section 39 and transmitted to the comparing section 45. Is performed (step S213). The comparing unit 45 sets an area C on the screen and extracts image data in the area C (step S21).
4).

The comparing section 45 compares these image data (step S215). If the comparison results do not match, the second determination unit 46 determines that an abnormality has occurred, and outputs a command signal to stop the injection molding machine (step S218). If the comparison results match,
The second determination unit 46 determines that molding is normally performed, and continues injection molding (step S217).

Another embodiment of the die monitoring apparatus and the monitoring method of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 8 is a circuit block diagram of a mold monitoring device according to another embodiment of the present invention. 8, the same parts as those in the circuit block diagram of FIG. 3 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

In this embodiment, the moving direction judging section 44
Then, a drive signal for driving a cylinder that moves the movable mold 3 in the opening and closing direction is input. Moving direction judgment unit 4
4 determines the moving direction of the movable mold 3 based on the drive signal, and transmits the result to the second reading unit 39 and the comparing unit 45 as in the previous embodiment. In the mold monitoring device of this embodiment, a signal line connecting the injection molding machine and the mold monitoring device is required in order to input a drive signal for driving the cylinder to the movement direction determination unit 44.
Although the independence of the mold monitoring device cannot be maintained, the secondary work image memory 37, the third readout unit 40, and the search unit 43 as described in the above embodiment become unnecessary, and the processing is performed. There is an advantage that the time can be reduced.

Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments. For example, in the description of the above-described embodiment and FIGS. 3 and 8, for convenience of description, there are a plurality of memories, a reading unit, a determining unit, a comparing unit, and the like. Etc., and
One processing device may include these functions. Further, the setting and processing procedures are not limited to those described above and those shown in FIGS. 6 and 7.

[0047]

According to the present invention, the mold monitoring device can be made independent of the injection molding machine and the mold. That is, since the mold monitoring device independently determines the inspection timing, a signal line for transmitting the inspection timing signal from the injection molding machine to the mold monitoring device is not required. Further, since the operation state is monitored by comparing the photographed images, it is possible to monitor not only defective discharge of the molded product but also defective molded products such as defective casting. Furthermore, it is possible to monitor the mold in both the mold opening direction and the mold clamping direction, and in this way, whether the molded product is reliably removed from the movable mold at the time of mold clamping. In addition to the monitoring, it is also possible to monitor whether the transfer of the molded article from the fixed mold to the movable mold at the time of opening the mold is surely performed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of a mold monitoring device according to the present invention,
It is a top view which shows a mode that the surface in which the cavity of the movable metal mold was formed is imaged with a camera.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a camera and a surface on which a cavity of a movable mold photographed by the camera is formed.

FIG. 3 is a circuit block diagram of the mold monitoring device of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a plan view showing one of the shooting screens shot by the camera.

FIG. 5 is a plan view showing one of photographing screens photographed by a camera, wherein (a) shows a photographing screen at an inspection timing;
(B) shows a photographing screen after a lapse of a predetermined time from the inspection timing.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a procedure in a setting stage before operating the injection molding machine.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a process during operation of the injection molding machine.

FIG. 8 is a circuit block diagram of a mold monitoring apparatus according to another embodiment of the mold monitoring apparatus and the monitoring method of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a timing chart of steps of an injection molding machine according to a conventional example of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Injection molding machine 2 Fixed mold 3 Movable mold 4 Tie bar 5 Nozzle 7 Projection part 8 Projection pin 9 Camera 13-18 Molded product 24 Photographing screen 25 Reference figure A Inspection timing area B Area for extracting first image C Area for extracting the second image

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page F term (reference) 4F202 AM04 AP19 CA11 CB01 CL50 4F206 AM04 AP19 JA07 JN31 JP14 5C054 AA01 CA04 CC02 CE00 CH02 EA01 EA05 FC00 FC01 GA00 HA00 HA03

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. An injection molding machine having a movable mold, a fixed mold, and a cavity, wherein the cavity is filled with a molten material in a state where the movable mold and the fixed mold are clamped. A mold monitoring device that is provided in a mold of a molding machine and monitors whether or not the molded product has been discharged from the mold when the mold is opened.The mold monitoring device is provided in the middle of a movement path along which the movable mold moves. A camera for photographing the inner surface of the movable mold; reference graphic storage means for storing a figure which is extracted from an image photographed by the camera and which is a reference for inspection timing; First image storage means for storing an image in a removed state, and, among images obtained by photographing the movable mold moving on the movement path, a figure identical to the figure is located at a predetermined position. To determine if And one judgment means, the inspection timing based on the judgment of the first judgment means,
Comparing means for comparing the photographed image with the image stored in the first image storage means; and, based on a comparison result of the comparing means, determining whether the molded article has been removed from the mold. And a second judging means for judging. 2. In addition to the first image storage means, a second image storage means for storing an image of a state in which a molded article is held in the movable mold is provided, and the movable mold is provided with a mold. Moving direction determining means for determining whether the movable mold is moving in the opening direction or the mold clamping direction is provided, and the moving direction determining means determines that the movable mold is moving in the mold clamping direction. Sometimes, the comparing unit compares the captured image with the image in the first image storage unit, and the moving direction determining unit determines that the movable mold is moving in the mold opening direction. Sometimes
2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the comparing unit compares the captured image with an image in the second image storage unit.
The mold monitoring device according to item 1. 3. The mold monitoring apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the moving direction judging means judges the moving direction based on a command signal to a driver for opening and closing the movable mold. . 4. The moving direction determining means compares a first image photographed at a predetermined position on the moving route with a second image photographed after a lapse of a predetermined time from the predetermined position. The mold monitoring apparatus according to claim 2, wherein a moving direction of the movable mold is determined based on a comparison result. 5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the reference graphic is a marking provided on the movable mold in advance.
5. The die monitoring device according to any one of 4. 6. An injection molding machine having a movable mold, a fixed mold, and a cavity, wherein the cavity is filled with a molten material in a state where the movable mold and the fixed mold are clamped. In a mold monitoring method for monitoring whether or not the molded product has been discharged from the mold when the mold of the molding machine is opened, an inner surface of the movable mold is photographed in the middle of a moving path of the movable mold. A reference graphic extracted from an image photographed by the camera is stored in a reference graphic memory, and an image in a state where the molded article is discharged from the movable mold is a first image. It is stored in a storage means, and it is determined by the first determination means whether or not the same graphic as the reference graphic is located at a predetermined position from among the photographed images. Based on the timing Compared with comparison means and the image stored in the image with the first image storing means and the second determining means based on the comparison result of the comparing means,
Judging whether or not the molded article is discharged from the mold, a mold monitoring method, 7. An image in a state where the molded article is discharged from the mold is stored in a first image storage means, and an image in a state where the molded article is held in the mold is a second image. The moving direction determining means determines whether the movable mold is moving in the mold opening direction or the mold clamping direction. The moving direction determining means determines whether the movable mold is in the mold. When it is determined that the movable mold is moving in the tightening direction, the photographed image is compared with the image in the first image storage unit, and the movable mold is moved in the mold opening direction by the movement direction determining unit. The method according to claim 6, wherein when it is determined that the image has been read, the photographed image is compared with an image in the second image storage unit.