JP2010069869A - Mold clamping control device and mold clamping control method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To shorten a time required until the optimum mold clamping force is computed, and thereby to simplify the operation. <P>SOLUTION: A mold clamping control device has a driving section, a movable die, a fixed die, a mold clamping force detecting means for detecting mold clamping force, and a control device for determining mold clamping force real characteristics based on the detected mold clamping force and computing the minimum required mold clamping force K based on the mold clamping force real characteristics. Since the minimum required mold clamping force K is computed based on the mold clamping force real characteristics in a molding preparation process, the optimum mold clamping force R is computed based on the minimum required mold clamping force K. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a mold clamping control device and a mold clamping control method.

  Conventionally, in a molding machine, for example, an injection molding machine, a mold clamping device, a mold device, an injection device, a plasticizing movement device, and a control device are provided, and the resin melted in the heating cylinder is a cavity of the mold device. The space is filled and then cooled and solidified to form a molded product (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

  For this purpose, the mold clamping device includes a fixed platen and a movable platen, drives the mold clamping motor, and advances and retracts the movable platen to perform mold closing, mold clamping, and mold opening.

  Further, the injection device is a heating cylinder for heating and melting the resin, a screw that can be moved forward and backward in the heating cylinder and rotatably, and attached to the front end of the heating cylinder to be melted. When the screw is advanced in a state where the mold is clamped with a predetermined clamping force by the mold clamping device, the molten resin is injected from the injection nozzle and is injected into the cavity space. Filled.

  In order to prolong the lifetime of the mold clamping device, the mold device, etc., it is preferable to set the mold clamping force at the time of molding to the minimum necessary value.

WO 2006/98321

  However, in the conventional injection molding machine, if the clamping force is generated by generating a mold clamping force larger than necessary, the escape of air, gas, etc. in the cavity space of the mold apparatus will be worsened, and the resin filling pressure will be reduced. Therefore, the resin (molded product) may be burned or the molded product may have residual stress. When residual stress occurs in the molded product, the dimensions change with time after the molded product is taken out from the mold apparatus, so that the accuracy of the molded product is lowered and the quality is deteriorated. In particular, when an optical component (for example, an optical disk or the like) is molded, the optical characteristics (birefringence index) are lowered.

  Usually, the mold clamping force is calculated based on the projected area of the molded product and the average resin pressure assumed based on the experience of the operator (operator), but the calculated mold clamping force varies. Therefore, it is necessary to repeatedly perform molding in the molding preparation process, and not only the time until the optimum mold clamping force is calculated is lengthened, but the work for that is troublesome.

  The present invention solves the problems of the conventional injection molding machine, can extend the life of the mold clamping device, mold device, etc., can improve (secure) the quality of the molded product, An object of the present invention is to provide a mold clamping control device and a mold clamping control method capable of shortening the time until the optimum mold clamping force is calculated and simplifying the work for that.

  For this purpose, in the mold clamping control device of the present invention, a drive unit, a movable mold that is advanced and retracted by the driving force of the drive unit, a fixed mold disposed to face the movable mold, Clamping force detection means for detecting the clamping force generated between the fixed mold and the movable mold, and the actual clamping force characteristics are determined based on the clamping force detected by the clamping force detection means. And a control device that calculates the minimum necessary clamping force based on the actual characteristics of the clamping force.

  According to the present invention, in the mold clamping control device, the drive unit, the movable mold that is advanced and retracted by the driving force of the drive unit, the fixed mold disposed to face the movable mold, Clamping force detection means for detecting the clamping force generated between the fixed mold and the movable mold, and the actual clamping force characteristics are determined based on the clamping force detected by the clamping force detection means. And a control device that calculates the minimum necessary clamping force based on the actual characteristics of the clamping force.

  In this case, since the minimum required mold clamping force is calculated based on the actual characteristics of the mold clamping force in the molding preparation step, the optimum mold clamping force can be calculated based on the minimum necessary mold clamping force. Therefore, the time until the optimum mold clamping force is calculated can be shortened, and the work for that can be simplified.

  In addition, by performing molding based on the optimum mold clamping force, it is not necessary to generate a mold clamping force that is larger than necessary, so that the service life of the mold clamping device, the mold device, and the like can be extended.

  And since escape of air, gas, etc. in the cavity space of the mold apparatus does not deteriorate, it is not necessary to increase the filling pressure of the molding material. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the molding material from being burned and the residual stress from being generated in the molded product, so that the accuracy of the molded product can be increased and the quality of the molded product can be improved.

It is a figure which shows the example of a display of the screen of the control panel in the 1st Embodiment of this invention. 1 is a schematic view of a mold clamping device and a mold device according to a first embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure which shows the actual mold clamping force characteristic in the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows operation | movement of the metal mold | die apparatus for determining the optimal clamping force in the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the mold clamping force actual characteristic in the 2nd Embodiment of this invention.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In this case, an electric injection molding machine as a molding machine will be described.

  FIG. 2 is a schematic view of a mold clamping device and a mold device according to the first embodiment of the present invention. In this case, the configuration of the mold clamping device, mold thickness adjustment and mold clamping force setting in the molding preparation process will be described.

  In the figure, 10 is a mold clamping device and 11 is a mold device. The mold clamping device 10 is arranged to be movable (movable) with respect to the frame 17 with a predetermined distance between the frame 17, the fixed platen 12 fixed to the frame 17, and the fixed platen 12. Toggle support 15, a plurality (four) of tie bars 16 installed between the fixed platen 12 and the toggle support 15, and extended so as to be movable back and forth (movable back and forth). And a movable platen 13 disposed so as to face the fixed platen 12, and a toggle mechanism 20 disposed between the movable platen 13 and the toggle support 15 so as to be extendable (extendable / flexible). A mold clamping motor 26 and the like are provided at the rear end of the toggle support 15 and serve as a mold clamping drive for operating the toggle mechanism 20. An ejector device (not shown) is disposed on the back surface (rear end) of the movable platen 13 in order to project the molded product.

  The mold apparatus 11 includes a fixed mold 11 a as a first mold and a movable mold 11 b as a second mold, and the fixed mold 11 a includes a movable platen 13 in the fixed platen 12. The movable mold 11b is mounted on the mold mounting surface facing the fixed platen 12 in the movable platen 13, respectively.

  Between the toggle mechanism 20 and the mold clamping motor 26, a ball screw mechanism m1 as a movement direction changing mechanism is disposed. The ball screw mechanism m1 includes a drive shaft 25 including a ball screw shaft and the drive shaft 25. A ball nut (not shown) to be screwed is provided.

  When the mold clamping motor 26 is driven, the ball screw mechanism m1 receives the generated rotation, converts the rotational motion into a reciprocating motion (straight forward motion), and moves the drive shaft 25 back and forth (moves in the left-right direction in the figure). And the toggle mechanism 20 is operated. As a result, the movable platen 13 and the movable mold 11 b are advanced and retracted by the driving force of the mold clamping motor 26.

  In the present embodiment, a servo motor is used as the mold clamping motor 26, and an encoder 27 serving as a rotational speed detection unit for detecting the rotational speed of the mold clamping motor 26 is provided. The encoder 27 also functions as a mold opening / closing position sensor as a mold opening / closing position detection unit, and detects a platen position (a mold opening / closing position) representing the position of the movable platen 13. The platen position represents the distance from the mold open limit position to the position of the front end of the movable mold 11b.

  The toggle mechanism 20 includes a first toggle lever 21 attached to the toggle support 15 so as to be swingable (swingable), a cross head 24 attached to the drive shaft 25, and swingable with respect to the cross head 24. A second toggle lever 23 (movable) and a toggle arm 22 swingably (movable) attached to the movable platen 13 are provided. The toggle lever 23 is linked to the first toggle lever 21 and the toggle arm 22 by the illustrated pins as connecting elements.

  Accordingly, when the mold clamping motor 26 is driven and the cross head 24 is moved forward (moved in the right direction in the drawing), the movable platen 13 is moved forward and the mold is closed. The position of the movable platen 13 at that time Is detected by the encoder 27 and controlled by the control device 19.

  A mold thickness adjusting device 35 for adjusting the position of the toggle support 15 relative to the fixed platen 12 is disposed at the rear end (left end in the figure) of the toggle support 15.

  The fixed platen 12 and the toggle support 15 are formed with a tie bar insertion hole (not shown) for allowing the tie bar 16 to pass therethrough. The tie bar 16 is fixed to the fixed platen 12 at one end (right end in the drawing) by the fixing nut 16a, and is toggled by screwing the adjustment nut 37 and the screw portion 36 at the other end (left end in the drawing). Attached to the support 15.

  The adjustment nut 37 is attached to the rear end of the toggle support 15 so as to be rotatable (rotatable) and movable (movable) in the axial direction of the tie bar 16. A driven gear 37a as a body is attached. A mold thickness adjustment motor 31 as a mold thickness adjustment drive unit is disposed above the rear end of the toggle support 15, and a drive as a drive rotating body is provided on the rotation shaft of the mold thickness adjustment motor 31. A gear 33 is attached.

  A conductive member 34 such as a chain or a toothed belt is stretched (attached) between the driven gear 37 a of the adjustment nut 37 and the driving gear 33.

  Therefore, when the mold thickness adjusting motor 31 is driven and the driving gear 33 is rotated, the adjusting nut 37 screwed into the threaded portion 36 of each tie bar 16 is rotated in synchronization with the mold thickness adjusting motor 31 and the mold is adjusted. By rotating the thickness adjusting motor 31 in a predetermined direction by a predetermined number of rotations, the toggle support 15 is advanced and retracted by a predetermined distance with respect to the tie bar 16.

  In the present embodiment, a servo motor is used as the mold thickness adjusting motor 31, and an encoder 32 as a rotation speed detecting unit that detects the rotation speed of the mold thickness adjusting motor 31 is provided. The encoder 32 also functions as a mold clamping position sensor as a mold clamping position detection unit, and detects a mold clamping position representing the position of the toggle support 15.

  In this embodiment, one of the tie bars 16 is provided with a mold clamping force sensor 18 as a mold clamping force detecting means (a mold clamping force detecting unit). By detecting the extension amount of the tie bar 16, the mold clamping force that is applied to the mold apparatus 11 and is generated between the fixed mold 11a and the movable mold 11b is detected.

  The mold clamping force sensor 18, encoders 27 and 32, mold clamping motor 26 and mold thickness adjusting motor 31 are connected to a control device 19, which controls the mold based on detection signals output from the encoders 27 and 32. The operations of the clamping motor 26 and the mold thickness adjusting motor 31 are controlled. The control device 19 includes a setting unit, a calculation unit, a storage unit, a display unit, a control unit, an operation unit, and the like. A mold clamping control device is constituted by the mold clamping device 10, the mold device 11, the mold clamping force sensor 18, the control device 19, and the like.

  Incidentally, the optimum mold clamping force in the molding process, that is, the optimum mold clamping force is determined in the molding preparation process.

  Here, a method for determining the optimum mold clamping force in the conventional mold clamping apparatus will be described.

  First, in the molding preparation step, the average resin pressure assumed based on the projected area of the molded product and the experience of the operator (operator), that is, the average resin pressure is calculated, and the average resin pressure is calculated on the projected area. The necessary clamping force is calculated by multiplication.

  Subsequently, after the mold apparatus 11 is attached to the mold clamping apparatus 10, the operation mode of the mold clamping apparatus 10 is set to the mold thickness adjustment mode, the mold clamping motor 26 is driven, the drive shaft 25, the cross head 24, and the toggle mechanism 20. By moving the movable platen 13 back to the mold opening limit, the mold opening is performed.

  Next, the mold thickness adjusting motor 31 is driven, and the toggle support 15 is moved back by a predetermined distance by the driving gear 33, the conductive member 34 and the adjusting nut 37 to move the mold thickness, and the toggle mechanism 20 is completely extended. Let

  Then, the calculated required mold clamping force is input to a predetermined mold clamping force setting location displayed on a setting screen of a control panel (display unit) (not shown). Thereafter, with the toggle mechanism 20 fully extended (fully extended), the mold thickness adjusting motor 31 is driven to advance the toggle support 15 and the movable platen 13 to move the fixed mold 11a and the movable mold 11b. Adhere closely.

  After the position of the movable platen 13 at this time is stored in the control device 19 as a zero (0) point of the mold thickness, the mold is opened until the mold opening limit, and the distance corresponding to the set required mold clamping force. Only the toggle support 15 is moved and the clamping force is adjusted.

  After the adjustment of the mold clamping force is completed, the operation mode is switched to the filling mode to check whether burrs, sink marks, etc. have occurred in the molded product.

  If the molded product has burrs, increase the mold clamping force or lower the resin filling pressure. If the molded product has sink marks, reduce the mold clamping force. Alternatively, the resin filling pressure is increased, and the adjustment of the clamping force is repeated until a good molded product is formed.

  When a good molded product is molded, the mold clamping force at that time (with the set value) is set as the optimum mold clamping force, and then the molding process is started to produce the molded product.

  However, in the conventional method for determining the optimum clamping force, there is a variation in the value of the clamping force calculated based on the projected area and the average resin pressure. Therefore, it is necessary to repeat molding in the molding preparation process. Not only does it take a long time to calculate the clamping force, but the work for that is troublesome.

  Therefore, in the present embodiment, a trial of mold clamping is performed in the molding preparation process, and the optimum mold clamping force is calculated and determined based on the trial result.

  FIG. 1 is a view showing a display example of a screen of a control panel in the first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 3 is a view showing actual characteristics of mold clamping force in the first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. It is a flowchart which shows operation | movement of the metal mold | die apparatus for determining the optimal mold clamping force in the 1st Embodiment of invention.

  In this case, the mold apparatus 11 is attached (mounted) to the mold clamping apparatus 10, and the trial mode is set in the molding preparation process by the operation of the operation unit of the control apparatus 19 by the operator.

  When the trial mode is set, a pre-processing unit (pre-processing unit) (not shown) of the control device 19 performs pre-processing, drives the mold clamping motor 26, and is driven by the drive shaft 25, the cross head 24 and the toggle mechanism 20. The movable platen 13 is retracted to the mold opening limit position to perform mold opening.

  Next, the pre-processing means drives the mold thickness adjusting motor 31 and retracts the toggle support 15 by the driving gear 33, the conductive member 34, and the adjusting nut 37, so that the toggle mechanism 20 is fully extended. At this time, a gap is formed between the fixed mold 11a and the movable mold 11b.

  Subsequently, when a trial condition value representing a condition for performing a mold clamping trial and a filling condition value representing a condition for performing filling are input by an operation of the operation unit of the operator, the pre-processing unit performs a toggle mechanism. The mold thickness adjusting motor 31 is driven in a state in which 20 is extended, the toggle support 15 and the movable platen 13 are advanced, and the fixed mold 11a and the movable mold 11b are brought into close contact with each other.

  When the preprocessing means stores the position of the movable platen 13 where the fixed mold 11a and the movable mold 11b are in close contact as the zero point of the mold thickness, the mold clamping motor 26 is driven and the movable platen 13 is moved. After retracting to the mold opening limit position and opening the mold, the mold clamping force set in advance for trial use, that is, the toggle support 15 is moved by a distance corresponding to the trial mold clamping force, and the mold clamping force is adjusted. To do.

  Next, a trial processing means (trial processing unit) (not shown) of the control device 19 performs trial processing, operates the mold clamping device 10 and drives the mold clamping motor 26 to perform mold clamping trial.

  For this purpose, the trial processing means generates a trial mold clamping force by moving the movable platen 13 forward from the mold opening limit position to perform mold closing and clamping.

  At this time, a trial information acquisition processing unit (trial information acquisition processing unit) (not shown) of the control device 19 performs a trial information acquisition process, and the platen position detected by the encoder 27 as the first trial information is actually measured. Obtained by reading, and obtained as second trial information by reading the mold clamping force that changes corresponding to the platen position and is detected by the mold clamping force sensor 18.

  In generating the mold clamping force, when the mold clamping motor 26 is driven, the drive shaft 25 and the cross head 24 are moved forward, the toggle mechanism 20 is operated, and the movable platen 13 and the movable mold 11b are moved forward. It is done. Further, the tie bar 16 is extended as the movable platen 13 and the movable mold 11b advance. Accordingly, the mold clamping motor 26, the drive shaft 25, the cross head 24, the toggle mechanism 20, the movable platen 13, the movable mold 11b, the tie bar 16, and the like are all elements for generating a mold clamping force, that is, mold clamping. Functions as a force generation element. Further, when the mold clamping motor 26 is driven, the current supplied to the mold clamping motor 26, the rotation speed (rotational speed) of the mold clamping motor 26, the position of the drive shaft 25, the position of the cross head 24, the toggle arm 22 Extended state, position of movable platen 13 (platen position), position of movable mold 11b, distance between platens between fixed platen 12 and movable platen 13, mold between fixed mold 11a and movable mold 11b The inter-distance, the extension amount of the tie bar 16 and the like are variables of the mold clamping force generating element, and are acquired as the first trial information.

  Then, a trial result display screen formation processing unit (trial result display screen formation processing unit) (not shown) of the control device 19 performs a trial result display screen formation process and forms a trial result display screen (display screen) D1 on the control panel. Then, the trial result of mold clamping in the trial mode is displayed on the trial result display screen D1.

  For this purpose, display processing means (display processing unit) (not shown) of the control device 19 performs display processing, sets display areas Ar1 and Ar2 on the trial result display screen D1, and shows actual clamping force characteristics on the display area Ar1. Ch1 is displayed on the display area Ar2 as a trial condition value / actual value table Ch2 of the mold apparatus 11. In the mold clamping force actual characteristic chart Ch1, the horizontal axis represents the platen position, and the vertical axis represents the mold clamping force. In the present embodiment, the value of the platen position is defined so as to increase with increasing distance from the mold opening limit position, but can be defined to decrease with increasing distance from the mold opening limit position.

  Then, the display processing means calculates (determines) a characteristic curve representing the actual mold clamping force characteristic based on the platen position and the mold clamping force acquired in the trial information acquisition process, and the actual mold clamping force actual characteristic diagram A characteristic curve is displayed in Ch1. In this case, the characteristic curve is composed of calculated value straight lines A, B, and C. The calculated value straight lines A, B, and C are the trial mold clamping force P, the minimum required mold clamping force K, the mold opening limit position, the mold. It is represented by a contact start point L1, a mold contact point L2, and a mold clamping completion point L3. Note that the slope of the calculated value line B (the rate of change of the clamping force with respect to the platen position) is larger than the slope of the calculated value line C, and the intersection of the calculated value lines B and C becomes the inflection point.

  Here, the mold contact start point L1 is a position where the contact between the fixed mold 11a and the movable mold 11b is started when the movable platen 13 is advanced from the mold open limit position, and the mold contact point L2 is a position where the fixed mold 11a and the movable mold 11b are in close contact, and a mold clamping completion point L3 is a position where the trial mold clamping force P is applied (acts) to the mold apparatus 11.

  A section from the mold opening limit position to the contact start point L1 is a non-contact zone Z1 as a first zone, and the fixed mold 11a and the movable mold 11b are not in contact with each other in the non-contact zone Z1. Therefore, even if the platen position increases (away from the mold opening limit position), the mold clamping force does not increase and is zero.

  In the present embodiment, the toggle type mold clamping device 10 is mounted, and the fixed mold 11a and the movable mold 11b when the mold clamping force is not applied are the movable mold 11b and the movable mold 11b. The tilting occurs due to the fall caused by the weight of the movable platen 13, the backlash of the sliding portion of the toggle mechanism 20, the bending caused by the weight of the tie bar 16, and the like, and they are not parallel to each other in the vertical direction. That is, the interval between the fixed mold 11a and the movable mold 11b in the non-contact zone Z1 is narrow at the top and wide at the bottom.

  The section from the mold contact start point L1 to the mold contact point L2 is a correction zone Z2 as a second zone, and in the correction zone Z2, the fixed mold 11a and the movable mold 11b that have started contact. Is compressed, the inclination of the movable mold 11b and the movable platen 13 is gradually corrected. In this case, as the platen position increases, the mold clamping force increases in proportion to the amount of change in the platen position.

  That is, since the fixed mold 11a and the movable mold 11b are both formed by stacking a plurality of members, there is a minute gap between the members when the mold clamping force is not applied. Therefore, in the correction zone Z2, as the mold clamping force gradually increases, the gap disappears and the inclination of the movable mold 11b and the movable platen 13 is corrected. However, the fixed mold 11a and the movable mold 11b are vertically moved. They are not parallel to each other in the direction.

  In the correction zone Z2, the fixed mold 11a and the movable mold 11b are not brought into close contact with each other at the mold contact surface which is a contact surface. Uniform clamping force is not applied.

  The section from the mold contact point L2 to the mold clamping completion point L3 is a mold compression zone Z3 as a third zone. In the mold compression zone Z3, the fixed mold 11a and the movable mold 11b Are brought into close contact with each other at the mold contact surface, and a uniform clamping force is applied to the mold apparatus 11 in the vertical and horizontal directions. In this case, as the platen position increases, the mold clamping force increases in proportion to the amount of change in the platen position.

  Then, the fixed mold 11a and the movable mold 11b are compressed in proportion to the mold clamping force, the tie bar 16 is extended, and the toggle mechanism 20 is compressed and deformed. At the mold clamping completion point L3, a trial mold clamping force P is applied to the mold apparatus 11.

  The calculation value straight line A is a characteristic diagram of the non-contact zone Z1, the calculation value straight line B is a correction zone Z2, and the calculation value straight line C is a characteristic diagram of the mold compression zone Z3.

  Actually, the clamping force is expressed by a curve in the section of the calculated value straight line B and the calculated value straight line C, but is converted into a straight line by calculation in the control device 19, and on the actual mold clamping force characteristic chart Ch1. Displayed as a straight line. For this purpose, a straight line calculation processing means (straight line calculation processing unit) (not shown) of the control device 19 performs straight line calculation processing and differentiates the detected mold clamping force twice at the platen position. The amount of change in the tightening force change rate is calculated. Then, the platen position where the amount of change greatly changes is calculated, and the mold clamping force at the platen position is calculated as the minimum required mold clamping force K.

  Subsequently, the point where the minimum required mold clamping force K is generated is q1, the point where the mold clamping force is generated at the mold contact start point L1 is q2, and the point where the trial mold clamping force P is generated is q3. Then, the straight line calculation processing means sets the line connecting the points q1 and q2 as the calculation value straight line B, and sets the line connecting the points q1 and q3 as the calculation value straight line C. In this case, the minimum required clamping force K is represented by the Y coordinate of the intersection (point q1) of the calculation value straight lines B and C.

  In addition, the display processing means includes, as trial condition values, a mold number a1, a trial mold clamping force P, and a mold closing speed a2 that is a mold clamping condition value (for example, a mold) in the trial condition value / actual value table Ch2. 30% of the maximum speed of the device-mounted mold clamping device 10), the opening / closing stroke a3, the metering stroke a4, which is the filling condition value, the filling pressure a5 and the filling speed a6 are displayed numerically, The mold contact start point L1, the mold contact point L2, the mold clamping completion point L3, the minimum necessary mold clamping force K, and the optimum mold clamping force R are displayed as numerical values.

  The mold number a1 is a number for specifying the mold apparatus 11, the mold closing speed a2 is the moving speed of the movable platen 13 when the mold is closed, and the opening / closing stroke a3 is when the mold is opened / closed The moving stroke of the movable platen 13 is measured, the measuring stroke a4 is the moving distance of the screw during the measuring process, the filling pressure a5 is the pressure of the resin when filling the cavity space with the resin, and the filling speed a6 is the cavity space. It is the screw speed when filling the resin.

  The minimum required mold clamping force K is a mold clamping force when the fixed mold 11a and the movable mold 11b are in close contact with each other, and the optimum mold clamping force R is a mold apparatus 11 that uses molten resin. This is the minimum clamping force required to prevent burrs from being generated in the molded product, that is, to mold a good molded product.

  The items in the trial condition value / actual value table Ch2 can be increased or decreased as necessary, but at least the minimum required clamping force K is displayed as a numerical value in the trial condition value / actual value table Ch2. It is an indispensable item.

  The image of the mold clamping force actual characteristic chart Ch1 and the value of each item in the trial condition value / actual value table Ch2 are recorded in a storage unit (not shown) of the control device 19 and are important maintenance information. Next time, when the mold apparatus 11 is attached to the mold clamping apparatus 10, the operator compares the newly detected value with the value of each item recorded in the storage unit, so that the operator can toggle the toggle mechanism 20. It is possible to recognize whether or not the mold apparatus 11 is worn.

  By the way, normally, in the mold clamping device 10, when the mold clamping is performed with a predetermined mold clamping force, the extended toggle mechanism 20 is extended even when the pressure of the resin filled in the cavity space is applied to the movable mold 11b. However, it is not bent by the sliding frictional force of each pin between the toggle arm 22, the first and second toggle levers 21, 23 and the crosshead 24. Therefore, the minimum mold clamping force required when filling the cavity space with resin at the lowest filling pressure can be set as the minimum necessary mold clamping force K.

  Therefore, in the present embodiment, the minimum required mold clamping force calculation processing means (minimum required mold clamping force calculation processing unit) (not shown) of the control device 19 performs the minimum required mold clamping force calculation processing, with the lowest filling pressure. The minimum mold clamping force required when filling the cavity space with resin is calculated as the minimum required mold clamping force K. The column of the minimum required mold clamping force K in the trial condition value / actual value table Ch2 and the optimum mold The minimum required mold clamping force K is displayed (input) in the column of the clamping force R.

  Subsequently, a molding processing means (molding processing unit) (not shown) of the control device 19 performs a molding process, starts molding, and clamps the mold with the optimum mold clamping force R determined based on the minimum necessary mold clamping force K. To perform molding.

  Then, the operator determines whether or not the molded product is a non-defective product by confirming the state of occurrence of burrs, sink marks and the like in the molded product. In this case, since the optimum mold clamping force R is sufficiently low, escape of air, gas, etc. in the cavity space does not deteriorate, and sink marks do not occur in the molded product.

  When the molded product is a non-defective product, an optimal mold clamping force calculation processing unit (optimal mold clamping force calculation processing unit) (not shown) of the control device 19 performs an optimal mold clamping force calculation process and obtains the minimum required mold clamping force K. The optimum mold clamping force R is determined.

  When the molded product is not a non-defective product, that is, a defective product, the optimum mold clamping force calculation processing means adds a minute increase as a correction value to the minimum necessary mold clamping force K, thereby obtaining the minimum necessary mold clamping force. K is corrected, and the minimum required clamping force K is corrected until a good molded product is formed.

  Thereafter, when the trial mode is switched to the normal mode by the operation of the operation unit of the operator, the production processing means (production processing unit) (not shown) of the control device 19 performs the production processing, shifts to the molding process, and the molded product. To produce.

  In this case, since it is not necessary to generate a mold clamping force that is larger than necessary, the lifetimes of the mold clamping device 10 and the mold device 11 can be extended. Further, since escape of air, gas, etc. in the cavity space of the mold apparatus 11 does not deteriorate, it is not necessary to increase the resin filling pressure. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent the resin from being burned and the residual stress from being generated in the molded product, so that the accuracy of the molded product can be increased and the quality of the molded product can be improved. In particular, when an optical component is molded, the optical characteristics can be improved.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, the mold clamping trial is performed, and the minimum necessary mold clamping force K is calculated based on the platen position and the mold clamping force acquired along with the trial, and the minimum necessary mold clamping force is calculated. Since the optimum mold clamping force R is determined based on K, it is not necessary to repeat the molding in the molding preparation process. Therefore, it is possible not only to shorten the time until the optimum mold clamping force R is determined, but also to simplify the work for it.

Next, a flowchart will be described.
Step S1 A gap is formed in the mold apparatus 11 with the toggle mechanism 20 extended.
Step S2: A trial condition value and a filling condition value are input.
Step S3: The mold clamping force is adjusted.
Step S4 A trial of mold clamping is performed, and the minimum necessary mold clamping force K is calculated.
Step S5 The minimum required mold clamping force K is displayed in the minimum required mold clamping force K column and the optimum mold clamping force R column.
Step S6: The mold is clamped with the optimum mold clamping force R and molded.
Step S7: Determine whether the molded product is a non-defective product. If the molded product is a good product, the process proceeds to step S8. If the molded product is not a good product, the process proceeds to step S9.
Step S8: The optimum mold clamping force K is determined, and the process is terminated.
Step S9: Add the minute increase to the minimum required clamping force K, and return to Step S6.

  In the present embodiment, the straight line calculation processing means calculates a change amount of the change rate of the mold clamping force with respect to the platen position, and uses the mold clamping force at the platen position where the change amount greatly changes as the minimum required mold clamping force K. However, the tangent to the characteristic curve of the mold clamping force at the point q2 where the mold clamping force is generated at the mold contact start point L1 and the mold clamping at the point q3 where the trial mold clamping force P is generated. The mold clamping force at the platen position at the intersection with the tangent line of the force characteristic curve can be set to the minimum necessary mold clamping force K.

  Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. In addition, about the thing which has the same structure as 1st Embodiment, the same code | symbol is provided and the effect of the same embodiment is used about the effect of the invention by having the same structure.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating actual characteristics of the clamping force in the second embodiment of the present invention.

  In this case, the characteristic curve representing the actual mold clamping force characteristic consists of the actual value straight line D and the actual value curve E, and the actual value straight line D and the actual value curve E are the trial mold clamping force P, the mold opening limit position, the mold It is represented by a mold contact start point L1, a mold contact point L2, and a mold clamping completion point L3.

  A section from the mold opening limit position to the contact start point L1 is a non-contact zone Z1 as a first zone. In the non-contact zone Z1, a fixed mold 11a as a first mold and a second mold Is not in contact with the movable mold 11b. Therefore, even if the platen position is increased, the mold clamping force is not increased and is zero.

  The section from the mold contact start point L1 to the mold contact point L2 is a correction zone Z2 as a second zone, and in the correction zone Z2, the fixed mold 11a and the movable mold 11b that have started contact. Is compressed, the inclination of the movable mold 11b and the movable platen 13 is gradually corrected. In this case, as the platen position increases, the mold clamping force increases in a curved line.

  The section from the mold contact point L2 to the mold clamping completion point L3 is a mold compression zone Z3 as a third zone. In the mold compression zone Z3, the fixed mold 11a and the movable mold 11b Are brought into close contact with each other at the mold contact surface, and a uniform clamping force is applied to the mold apparatus 11 in the vertical and horizontal directions. In this case, when the platen position is increased, the mold clamping force is increased with a slope larger than the correction zone Z2 in a curved line.

  In this case, since the inflection point does not appear even when the correction zone Z2 is shifted to the mold compression zone Z3, the minimum required mold can be obtained by using the theoretical straight line G as the mold clamping force theoretical characteristic (mold clamping theoretical characteristic). The tightening force K is calculated.

  For this purpose, a theoretical straight line calculation processing means (theoretical straight line calculation processing unit) (not shown) of the control device 19 performs a theoretical straight line calculation process, and the mold clamping device 10 and the mold device 11 are assumed to be rigid, and the movable platen 13 is moved. A theoretical straight line G representing the theoretical relationship between the platen position and the mold clamping force when moving from the mold contact point L2 to the mold clamping completion position L3 is calculated.

In this case, when the compression amount of the mold apparatus 11 is Md, the extension amount of the tie bar 16 is Tb, and the deformation amount of the toggle mechanism 20 is Tg, the theoretical push amount ε, which is the theoretical value of the push amount, is
ε = Md + Tb + Tg
It is represented by

  Therefore, the theoretical straight line calculation processing means calculates, as the theoretical straight line G, a straight line that passes through the point q3 where the trial mold clamping force P is generated and represents the theoretical pushing amount ε.

  Then, the display processing means of the control device 19 displays the theoretical straight line G on the mold clamping force actual characteristic chart Ch1 of the trial result display screen D1 (FIG. 1). The theoretical straight line G is displayed with the point q3 as the starting point and the point q4 intersecting the X axis as the ending point.

  Subsequently, the optimum mold clamping force calculation processing means of the control device 19 uses the mold clamping force detected at the platen position at the point q4, that is, the mold clamping force at the point q5 on the actual value curve E as the minimum required mold. Calculated as tightening force K.

  In each of the above embodiments, the toggle type mold clamping device has been described. However, the present invention can also be applied to a direct pressure type mold clamping device.

  The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and various modifications can be made based on the spirit of the present invention, and these are not excluded from the scope of the present invention.

10 Mold clamping device 11a Fixed mold 11b Movable mold 18 Mold clamping force sensor 19 Control device 26 Mold clamping motor K Minimum required clamping force

Claims (9)

(A) a drive unit;
(B) a movable mold that is advanced and retracted by the driving force of the driving unit;
(C) a fixed mold disposed to face the movable mold;
(D) a mold clamping force detecting means for detecting a mold clamping force generated between the fixed mold and the movable mold;
(E) a control device that determines the actual mold clamping force characteristic based on the mold clamping force detected by the mold clamping force detection means and calculates the minimum required mold clamping force based on the actual mold clamping force characteristic. A mold clamping control device characterized by that.   The mold according to claim 1, wherein the control device detects a mold contact point and calculates the minimum required mold clamping force based on a mold clamping force corresponding to the mold contact point in the actual mold clamping force characteristic. Tightening control device.   The mold clamping control device according to claim 1, wherein the control device calculates an optimum mold clamping force by correcting the minimum necessary clamping force.   The mold clamping control apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the actual mold clamping force characteristic is displayed on a display screen.   The mold clamping control device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the minimum required mold clamping force is displayed numerically on a display screen.   The mold clamping control device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the control device calculates the minimum required clamping force based on the actual clamping force actual characteristic and theoretical clamping characteristic.   The mold clamping control device according to claim 1, wherein the control device calculates the minimum necessary mold clamping force based on an inflection point of the actual mold clamping force characteristic.   The mold clamping control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the mold clamping control apparatus is a toggle type mold clamping control apparatus. Drive part, movable mold moved forward and backward by driving force of the drive part, fixed mold disposed opposite to the movable mold, and mold generated between the fixed mold and the movable mold In a mold clamping control method of a mold clamping control device provided with a mold clamping force detecting means for detecting a clamping force,
A mold clamping control characterized in that an actual mold clamping force actual characteristic is determined based on the mold clamping force detected by the mold clamping force detecting means, and a minimum required mold clamping force is calculated based on the actual mold clamping force actual characteristic. Method.

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