JP2011178083A - Injection molding machine, injection cylinder with material feed function, and material feed device for injection molding machine - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent an injection material remaining in a hopper from dropping due to a change of a position of the hopper during removing the hopper and from being bitten. <P>SOLUTION: The injection molding machine includes: a passage formation member forming a feed passage communicating with the inside of the injection cylinder; a hopper attachment part mounted in the passage formation member and having an introduction passage introducing the injection material from the hopper to the feed passage; a sending-out means sending the injection material introduced in the feed passage into the injection cylinder; and a support part which is mounted in the injection cylinder, to which the tip end of the passage formation member is connected, and which supports the passage formation member. The support part rotatably supports the passage formation member between the first position where the injection material can be fed into the feed passage and the second position where the injection material can not be fed into the feed passage. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an injection molding machine, an injection cylinder with a material supply function, and a material supply apparatus for an injection molding machine.

  In an injection molding machine in which an injection cylinder is provided with a material supply unit for delivering an injection material typified by a resin material, a hopper for storing the resin material is detachably attached to the material supply unit. The injection material in the hopper is introduced by its own weight into the supply passage in the material supply unit, and the material supply unit sends out the injection material introduced in the supply passage to the injection cylinder. When changing the injection material in accordance with the change of the molded product, if the hopper is removed, the injection material remaining in the hopper may be spilled and the injection material may be wasted. Therefore, Patent Document 1 discloses a hopper mounting member configured to be rotatable along the outer surface of the material supply unit. According to this configuration, when removing the hopper, the position of the hopper can be changed so that the discharge port faces upward, so that the injection material remaining in the hopper can be prevented from spilling down.

JP 2007-245629 A

  In the configuration of Patent Document 1, since the hopper mounting member rotates along the outer surface of the material supply unit, a gap is generated between the outer surface of the material supply unit and the inner surface of the hopper mounting member. For this reason, when changing the position of the hopper, the resin material located at the boundary between the material supply unit and the hopper mounting member may be caught in the gap by rotating the hopper mounting member. In some cases, the hopper mounting member cannot be rotated.

  An object of the present invention is to prevent the injection material remaining in the hopper from being spilled down by changing the position of the hopper when the hopper is removed, and to avoid biting the injection material.

  According to the present invention, a passage forming member that forms a supply passage that communicates with the inside of the injection cylinder, and a hopper that is provided in the passage forming member and that stores the injection material is attached and the injection material is introduced from the hopper into the supply passage. A hopper mounting portion in which a passage is formed, and a delivery means that is provided in the passage forming member and feeds the injection material introduced into the supply passage into the injection cylinder from the open end of the supply passage that opens at the front end surface of the passage forming member. A support portion that is provided in the injection cylinder and is connected to the passage formation member so that the supply passage communicates with the injection cylinder, and supports the passage formation member. The support portion is provided from a hopper attached to the hopper attachment portion. A passage is formed between a first position where the injection material can be supplied into the supply passage and a second position where the injection material is not supplied from the hopper attached to the hopper mounting portion. Injection molding machine is provided, characterized in that rotatably supports the timber.

  Moreover, according to this invention, the material supply apparatus for injection cylinders and injection molding machines with a material supply function is provided.

  According to the present invention, when removing the hopper, it is possible to prevent the injection material remaining in the hopper from spilling down due to a change in the position of the hopper, and to avoid biting the injection material.

Explanatory drawing of the injection mechanism of the injection molding machine which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention, and the block diagram of a control system. The exploded view and partial enlarged view of an injection mechanism. (A) is an external view of the support part along line II of FIG. 2, (B) is an external view of the channel | path formation member along line II-II of FIG. (A) thru | or (C) is a figure which shows the example of the position change of a hopper. Explanatory drawing of the injection mechanism when a hopper is turned upward.

  FIG. 1 is an explanatory view (partially sectional view) of an injection mechanism of an injection molding machine (injection molding apparatus) according to an embodiment of the present invention and a block diagram of a control system, and FIG. 2 is an exploded view (partially) of the injection mechanism. (Cross-sectional view) and a partially enlarged view, FIG. 3 (A) is an outline view of the support portion 15 along the line II in FIG. 2, and (B) is an outline view of the passage forming member 30 along the line II-II in FIG. It is. The injection molding machine of the present embodiment includes an injection mechanism shown in these drawings, a mold (not shown) having a structure in which a molding part is defined inside and a material can be injected into the molding part, and a molded product is taken out. For example, a mold clamping mechanism (including a drive unit) (not shown) that opens and closes the mold and clamps the mold, etc. is formed in the molding part by supplying molten material from the injection mechanism into the mold. This is an apparatus for injection molding of products.

  The injection mechanism is constituted by an injection cylinder 10 having a material supply function. The injection cylinder 10 includes a cylindrical heating cylinder 11 having a passage 11a for an injection material (molding raw material; in the present embodiment, a resin material) inside. The passage 11a is formed concentrically with the heating cylinder 11 (the line L2 in FIG. 1 indicates the center line), and penetrates from the upper end to the lower end of the heating cylinder 11. A band heater 13 for heating the heating cylinder 11 is provided around the lower portion of the heating cylinder 11, and the resin material passing through the passage 11a is melted by the heat.

  A nozzle (injection part) 12 is provided at the lower end of the heating cylinder 11, and a band heater 14 as a heating means is also provided around the nozzle 12. An electric actuator 20 is attached to the upper end of the heating cylinder 11 as a driving means. In the case of this embodiment, the actuator 20 moves the plunger 21 inserted into the passage 11a forward and backward. 1 and 2 show a state in which the plunger 21 is retracted, and the molten resin in the passage 11a is moved from the nozzle 12 into a mold (not shown) by moving the plunger 21 downward from the position shown in FIG. It will be injected into the molding part. In the present embodiment, the plunger 21 is advanced and retracted. However, a screw conveyor type configuration in which a screw provided in the passage 11a is rotated to inject molten resin may be used.

  A support portion 15 is integrally formed on the upper portion of the heating cylinder 11. In the present embodiment, the heating cylinder 11 and the support portion 15 are integrally formed, but a configuration may be adopted in which both are fixed separately. The support portion 15 has a rectangular parallelepiped shape as a whole, and has a circular cross-section mounting hole 15a to which the tip end portion of the cylindrical portion 31 of the passage forming member 30 is inserted and connected, and a cross section that connects the mounting hole 15a and the passage 11a. And a circular communication hole 15b.

  The mounting hole 15a and the communication hole 15b are concentric (the line L1 in FIG. 1 indicates the center line). In the present embodiment, the line L1 and the line L2 are orthogonal to each other, but the line L1 (that is, the center line of the attachment hole 15a and the communication hole 15b) may be inclined from the direction orthogonal to the line L2. The attachment hole 15 a is open on the end surface of the support portion 15. The support portion 15 also includes a screw hole 15c opened on the upper surface thereof. The screw portion 16a of the L-shaped fixture 16 is screwed into the screw hole 15c.

  The passage forming member 30 includes a cylindrical portion 31 and a hopper mounting portion 33. In the present embodiment, the cylindrical portion 31 and the hopper mounting portion 33 are integrally formed, but a configuration may be adopted in which both are fixed separately. A supply passage 32 having a circular cross section is formed in the passage forming member 30 so as to pass through the passage forming member 30 concentrically with the cylindrical portion 31.

  The outer diameter of the cylindrical portion 31 is substantially the same as or slightly smaller than that of the mounting hole 15 a, the distal end portion of the cylindrical portion 31 is inserted into the mounting hole 15 a, and the passage forming member 30 is supported by the support portion 15. As shown in FIG. 1, the cylindrical portion 31 and the supply passage 32 are located concentrically with the line L <b> 1 in a state where the tip portion of the cylindrical portion 31 is inserted into the mounting hole 15 a. For this reason, the passage forming member 30 can be rotated around the line L1. During this rotation, a stable rotation can be obtained by the sliding contact of the peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion 31 with the inner peripheral surface of the mounting hole 15a. In the present embodiment, the passage forming member 30 is manually rotated. However, a driving mechanism for automatically rotating the passage forming member 30 may be provided. In the present embodiment, the passage forming member 30 can be rotated 360 degrees around the line L1, but the rotation range may be limited, for example, up to 180 degrees.

  By screwing and tightening the screw portion 16a of the fixing portion 16 into the screw hole 15c, the tip of the screw portion 16a comes into contact with the peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion 31 and presses the cylindrical portion 31 in the radial direction. As a result, the passage forming member 30 can be fixed around the line L1 in a non-rotatable manner. Moreover, since the movement of the cylindrical portion 31 in the insertion / removal direction with respect to the mounting hole 15a is also subjected to resistance from the tip of the screw portion 16a, the passage forming member 30 cannot be removed from the mounting hole 15a. Although the screw structure is used in the present embodiment, it goes without saying that other types of fixing structures may be used.

  Further, in the state where the distal end portion of the cylindrical portion 31 shown in FIG. 1 is inserted into the mounting hole 15a, the open end 32a of the supply passage 32 opened to the distal end surface of the cylindrical portion 31 is inserted into the injection cylinder via the communication hole 15b. 10, the supply passage 32 and the passage 11a are in communication with each other.

  The hopper 50 forms a bottle-shaped container for storing a resin material therein, and has a resin material discharge port (material introduction port) 51 a at the tip of the throat 51. Of course, the structure for supplying the injection material is not limited to this. For example, the container for injection material and the passage forming member may be connected by a material supply pipe. A screw part is formed around the throat part 51. For example, the resin material has a pellet shape as shown as a resin material P in the partially enlarged view of FIG. The hopper mounting portion 33 is formed with an introduction passage 34 that is open on an end surface thereof (upper surface in FIGS. 1 and 2). The introduction passage 34 extends in a direction orthogonal to the supply passage 32 and communicates with the supply passage 32. In the present embodiment, the introduction passage 34 and the supply passage 32 are orthogonal to each other, but the introduction passage 34 may be inclined and extended from the orthogonal direction of the supply passage 32.

  A screw part (female screw part) that is screwed with a screw part (male screw part) formed around the throat part 51 of the hopper 50 is formed on the inner peripheral surface of the opening end side of the introduction passage 34. The hopper 50 is detachably attached to the hopper attachment portion 33 by screwing these screw portions. Although the screw structure is used in the present embodiment, it goes without saying that other types of attachment / detachment structures may be used.

  The resin material is supplied from the hopper 50 into the supply passage by its own weight. That is, as shown in FIG. 1, in the state where the discharge port 51a of the hopper 50 faces downward (downward in the vertical direction (downward in FIG. 2)))), the resin material in the hopper 50 It falls into the introduction passage 34 by its own weight and is introduced into the supply passage 32. That is, in the state shown in FIG. 1, the resin material in the hopper 50 can be supplied into the supply passage 32 (material supply attitude). The partially enlarged view of FIG. 2 shows a state where the pellet-shaped resin material P is introduced into the introduction passage 34 and the supply passage 32. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the position of the hopper 50 is such that the discharge port 51a faces downward and the resin material falls to the outside of the hopper 50 by its own weight. The hopper 50 faces downward (the first position of the passage forming member 30). ). On the other hand, the discharge port 51a of the hopper 50 faces upward (vertically upward) (for example, the mode shown in FIGS. 4B and 5 described later), and the resin material stays in the hopper 50 and does not fall outside. The posture of the hopper 50 in which the resin material is not supplied from the hopper 50 into the supply passage 32 (material non-supply posture) is referred to as upward (second position of the passage forming member 30).

  As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, “hopper 50 is downward” refers not only to the case where the discharge port 51 a is directly downward, but also to the diagonally downward direction (for example, the mode shown in FIG. 4C described later). It is also included. Similarly, “the hopper 50 is upward” includes the case where the discharge port 51a is inclined upward.

  The passage forming member 30 is provided with a delivery mechanism 40 that feeds the resin material introduced into the supply passage 32 from the open end 32a of the supply passage 32 to the passage 11a in the injection cylinder 10. The delivery mechanism 40 includes a screw 41 that is a supply unit provided in the supply passage 32 and a motor 42 that rotates the screw 41. The motor 42 is, for example, a stepping motor. In the present embodiment, when the screw 41 is rotated forward, the resin material in the supply passage 32 is sent out toward the passage 11a, and the resin material is supplied into the passage 11a. On the other hand, when the screw 41 is reversed, the resin material is sent in the reverse direction (to the motor 42 side). In this embodiment, the screw conveyor type configuration is used as described above. However, other types of delivery mechanisms such as a mechanism for sending and receiving the resin material by moving the plunger back and forth may be adopted.

  Next, the configuration of the control system will be described with reference to FIG. The control unit 100 includes a CPU 101, a storage unit 102, and an I / F (interface) 103. The CPU 101 controls the driving of the band heaters 13 and 14, the actuator 20, and the motor 42 according to the program stored in the storage unit 102. Note that the CPU 101 controls these via a drive circuit (not shown). The storage unit 102 includes, for example, a ROM, a RAM, a hard disk, and the like. The I / F 103 is an interface between the CPU 101 and an external device. The input unit 110 is, for example, a keyboard or a mouse. An operator can issue an operation command to the control unit 100 via the input unit 110. The display unit 120 is a display such as an LCD, for example, and displays the status of the injection molding machine.

  In the present embodiment, the passage forming member 30 can rotate as described above. Therefore, a sensor for detecting the rotational position of the passage forming member 30 is provided. Any sensor may be used, but in the present embodiment, an optical sensor including the light emitting unit 17 and the light receiving unit 35 is employed.

  As shown in FIGS. 1, 2, and 3 (A), the light emitting unit 17 is provided at the lower end surface of the support unit 15. As shown in FIGS. 1, 2, and 3 (B), the light receiving portion 35 is provided on the side surface of the hopper mounting portion 33 that faces the support portion 15. The arrangement relationship between them is set so that the light receiving unit 35 receives light from the light emitting unit 17 when the hopper 50 is facing upward. FIG. 5 is an explanatory view (partially sectional view) of the injection mechanism when the hopper 50 faces upward. When the rotational position of the passage forming member 30 is a position where the hopper 50 faces upward, the light emitting unit 17 and the light receiving unit 35 face each other as shown in FIG. 5, and the light from the light emitting unit 17 indicated by the broken line L4 is received by the light receiving unit. 35 receives light. For example, the CPU 101 can always determine whether the rotational position of the passage forming member 30 is the position where the hopper 50 faces upward by causing the light emitting unit 17 to emit light and monitoring the light reception result of the light receiving unit 17.

  Next, in this embodiment, a sensor that detects whether or not a resin material is present in the introduction passage 34 is provided. Any sensor may be used, but in the present embodiment, an optical sensor including a light emitting unit 37a and a light receiving unit 37b is employed. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3B, a sensor mounting hole 36a communicating with the introduction passage 34 is formed on one side surface of the hopper mounting portion 33, and the light emitting portion 37a is arranged in the sensor mounting hole 36a. It is installed. Further, a sensor mounting hole 36b communicating with the introduction passage 34 is formed on the other side opposite to the one side surface of the hopper mounting portion 33, and the light receiving portion 37b is disposed in the sensor mounting hole 36b. .

  The light emitting unit 37a and the light receiving unit 37b are arranged so as to face each other, and the light emitting unit 37a emits light toward the light receiving unit 37b as indicated by a broken line L3 in the partial enlarged view of FIG. When the resin material does not exist in the introduction passage 34, the light from the light emitting portion 37a is received by the light receiving portion 37b. However, as shown in the partially enlarged view of FIG. If the light is present in the light, the light from the light emitting part 37a does not reach the light receiving part 37b, and the light receiving part 37b does not receive the light (or the light receiving intensity decreases). For example, the CPU 101 can determine whether or not the resin material is present in the introduction passage 34 by causing the light emitting unit 37a to emit light and monitoring the light reception result of the light receiving unit 37b.

  Next, the operation of the above-described injection mechanism will be described. First, the operator attaches the hopper 50 in which the resin material is stored to the hopper attachment portion 33. At that time, the fixture 16 is loosened in advance, the passage forming member 30 is rotated, and the hopper 50 is rotated to a position facing upward. 4 (B) and 5 show a mode in which the hopper 50 is mounted on the hopper mounting portion 33 with the hopper 50 facing upward. Since the hopper 50 faces upward and is attached to the hopper attachment portion 33, the resin material in the hopper 50 does not spill out.

  Subsequently, as shown in FIG. 1, FIG. 4A, or FIG. 4C, the operator rotates the passage forming member 30 to a position where the hopper 50 is directed downward. And the fixing | fixed part 16 is tightened and the channel | path formation member 30 is fixed. The resin material in the hopper 50 is introduced into the introduction passage 34 and the supply passage 32 by its own weight.

  When the operator gives an instruction to start operation from the input unit 110 through a trial operation or the like, the CPU 101 performs an injection operation. Specifically, the light reception result of the light receiving portion 37b is monitored, and on the condition that the resin material is present in the introduction passage 34, the screw 41 is rotated forward to send the resin material in the supply passage 32 to the passage 11a. To do. The actuator 20 is driven to perform an injection operation. If it is determined from the light reception result of the light receiving unit 37b that the resin material is not present in the introduction passage 34, the operation is stopped and a notification that the resin material is not present on the display unit 120 is performed.

  Next, the case where the hopper 50 is replaced (when removed) will be described. In a state where the operation is stopped, the worker loosens the fixture 16 and rotates the passage forming member 30 to rotate the hopper 50 to a position where the hopper 50 faces upward as shown in FIGS. At the time of this rotation, in the configuration of the present embodiment, there is no component that crosses the passage of the resin material when the passage forming member 30 rotates, so that the resin material is not bitten. And since the hopper 50 faces upward and can be detached from the hopper mounting portion 33, the resin material remaining in the hopper 50 is not spilled off.

  When the resin material is also changed with the replacement of the hopper 50, it is necessary to remove all the resin material remaining in the supply passage 32. In the present embodiment, the resin material can be removed from the introduction passage 34 by reversing the screw 41. The operator instructs reverse rotation of the screw 41 from the input unit 110. In the case of the present embodiment, the CPU 101 determines whether or not the rotational position of the passage forming member 30 is a position where the hopper 50 is upward from the light reception result of the light receiving unit 17, and on the condition that the screw 41 is an upward position. Start reversing. Due to the reverse rotation of the screw 41, the resin material in the supply passage 34 is conveyed to the motor 42 side and falls out of the passage formation member 30 from the introduction passage 34. If these operations are performed before removing the hopper 50, the resin material remaining in the supply passage 34 returns to the hopper 50 and can be collected by the hopper 50.

  Furthermore, in this embodiment, since the passage forming member 30 is detachable from the support portion 15, the passage forming member 30 is removed from the support portion 15 with the fixture 16 loosened, so that the supply passage 32 can be removed. The resin material remaining in the vicinity of the open end 32a and the resin material remaining in the vicinity of the communication hole 15b can also be removed.

  In the present embodiment, the injection cylinder 10 with a material supply function has been described as an example of an injection mechanism in an injection molding machine. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the injection with such a material supply function is performed. The present invention is also widely applicable to an injection molding machine equipped with a cylinder, or a material supply device for an injection molding machine that supplies a molding material such as a molten resin to a mold or the like via an injection cylinder.

Claims (12)

A passage forming member for forming a supply passage communicating with the inside of the injection cylinder;
A hopper mounting portion provided in the passage forming member, to which a hopper for storing the injection material is attached, and an introduction passage for introducing the injection material from the hopper into the supply passage is formed;
Sending means that is provided in the passage forming member and feeds the injection material introduced into the supply passage into the injection cylinder from the open end of the supply passage that is open at the front end surface of the passage forming member;
A support portion that is provided in the injection cylinder and is connected to the passage formation member so that the supply passage communicates with the injection cylinder;
With
The support portion includes a first position where an injection material can be supplied into the supply passage from a hopper attached to the hopper attachment portion, and a second position where the injection material is not supplied from a hopper attached to the hopper attachment portion. An injection molding machine, wherein the passage forming member is rotatably supported between positions.   The first position is a position where a material introduction port to the supply passage of the hopper attached to the hopper attachment portion is directed downward, and the second position is a position where the material introduction port is directed upward. The injection molding machine according to claim 1, wherein   The injection molding machine according to claim 1, further comprising a fixing unit that is provided in the support portion and fixes the passage forming member so as not to rotate.   The injection molding machine according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising detection means for detecting that the passage forming member is in the second position.   The injection molding machine according to any one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising detection means for detecting the presence of an injection material in the introduction passage. The delivery means includes
A screw conveyor that includes a screw provided in the supply passage and that feeds an injection material into the injection cylinder by forward rotation of the screw, wherein the detection means is in the second position. 5. The injection molding machine according to claim 4, wherein the screw is reversely rotated on condition that the above is detected.   6. The injection molding machine according to claim 5, wherein the delivery means performs a delivery operation of the injection material on condition that the detection means detects the presence of the injection material.   The injection molding machine according to claim 1, wherein the support portion rotatably supports the passage forming member around a center line of the supply passage. The tip of the passage forming member is cylindrical,
The injection molding machine according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the support part has a hole having a circular cross section into which the tip part is inserted.   The injection molding machine according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the passage forming member is detachably attached to the support portion. An injection cylinder mounted on an injection molding machine;
A passage forming member that forms a supply passage communicating with the inside of the injection cylinder;
A hopper mounting portion provided in the passage forming member, to which a hopper for storing the injection material is attached, and an introduction passage for introducing the injection material from the hopper into the supply passage is formed;
Sending means that is provided in the passage forming member and feeds the injection material introduced into the supply passage into the injection cylinder from the open end of the supply passage that is open at the front end surface of the passage forming member;
A support portion that is provided in the injection cylinder and is connected to the passage formation member so that the supply passage communicates with the injection cylinder;
With
The support portion includes a first position where an injection material can be supplied into the supply passage from a hopper attached to the hopper attachment portion, and a second position where the injection material is not supplied from a hopper attached to the hopper attachment portion. An injection cylinder with a material supply function, wherein the passage forming member is rotatably supported between positions. A passage forming member that forms a supply passage communicating with the inside of an injection cylinder mounted on the injection molding machine;
A hopper mounting portion provided in the passage forming member, to which a hopper for storing the injection material is attached, and an introduction passage for introducing the injection material from the hopper into the supply passage is formed;
Sending means that is provided in the passage forming member and feeds the injection material introduced into the supply passage into the injection cylinder from the open end of the supply passage that is open at the front end surface of the passage forming member;
A support portion that is provided in the injection cylinder and is connected to the passage formation member so that the supply passage communicates with the injection cylinder;
With
The support portion includes a first position where an injection material can be supplied into the supply passage from a hopper attached to the hopper attachment portion, and a second position where the injection material is not supplied from a hopper attached to the hopper attachment portion. A material supply device for an injection molding machine, wherein the passage forming member is rotatably supported between positions.

Images