JP2013035030A - Pellet supply device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a pellet supply device which can supply measured pellets to a part to be supplied.SOLUTION: The pellet supply device comprises a pellet measurement part 31. The pellet measurement part 31 includes a pellet accommodation part 41 having a hopper 40, a cylinder 42, an ascending/descending unit 43 which can vertically move in the cylinder 42 and an actuator 44. The ascending/descending unit 43 has a lid member 50, a bottom plate member 51 composed of a mesh and an adjusting mechanism 70 which can adjust a relative distance L of the bottom plate member 51 with respect to the lid member 50. A measurement chamber 55 is formed between the lid member 50 and the bottom plate member 51. When the lid member 50 and the bottom plate member 51 move to an ascending position, a prescribed amount of the pellets P are filled into the measurement chamber 55 by an effect that the pellets P in the pellet accommodation part 41 fall into the measurement chamber 55. In a state that the lid member 50 and the bottom plate member 51 have moved to a descending position, the pellets P in the measurement chamber 55 are transferred to the part to be supplied via a pellet transfer tube 32 by air introduced into an air introduction chamber 80.

Description

  The present invention relates to a pellet supply apparatus for supplying various pellets in a molding machine such as a die-cast molding machine or an injection molding machine.

  A cold-chamber die-cast molding machine, which is an example of a molding machine, supplies a molten metal pumped up by a ladle to a sleeve (also called a shot sleeve), and then the molten metal in the sleeve is moved to a plunger (a shot piston or a piston). (Also referred to as a chip) is injected at high speed and high pressure into a cavity in the mold.

  In such a molding machine, an oil-based liquid lubricant is used for lubricating the sleeve and the plunger. The liquid lubricant is supplied into the sleeve from the molten metal supply port of the sleeve via a supply pump and a piping system. However, since oily liquid lubricants easily contaminate the surroundings of the molding machine and are not preferable in the working environment, the use of pellet-like solid lubricants has recently been studied. In order to supply a certain amount of the pellet-shaped solid lubricant into the sleeve of the molding machine, an appropriate supply device is required. For example, as disclosed in Patent Document 1 or Patent Document 2 below, a material supply device that supplies a predetermined amount of material (for example, pellets) by opening and closing a shutter mechanism including a shutter plate is known. .

JP 2002-240041 A JP 2005-263394 A

  In the material supply device of Patent Document 1, since the shutter plate reciprocates several times according to the supply amount, it is difficult to finely adjust the supply amount. Further, when the reciprocating motion of the shutter plate is repeated in order to obtain a predetermined supply amount, there is a problem that it takes a longer time. In the material supply device of Patent Document 2, since the supply amount is determined according to the volume of the measuring hole formed in the shutter member, it is necessary to replace the shutter member in order to change the supply amount, and the fine adjustment of the supply amount is simple. There is a problem that it is difficult to do. For this reason, there has been a demand for a pellet supply apparatus having a simple configuration suitable for a molding machine and capable of adjusting the supply amount of pellets as required.

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a pellet supply apparatus that can adjust the supply amount as required.

The pellet supply apparatus according to the present invention includes a pellet storage unit that stores pellets, a cylinder unit that is disposed below the pellet storage unit and has an upper end opening that communicates with the pellet storage unit, and a descending position and a rising position in the cylinder unit The upper end opening of the cylinder part is closed in a state where the upper end opening of the cylinder part is closed by being inserted into the cylinder part when in the lowered position and moved to the raised position. A lid member that opens the lid, a breathable bottom plate member that is disposed below the lid member and forms a measurement chamber between the lid member, and a relative distance between the bottom plate member and the lid member is adjustable. An adjustment mechanism that changes the volume of the weighing chamber according to the relative distance, an actuator, and a pellet transfer mechanism are provided.
The actuator is capable of reciprocating the lid member and the bottom plate member between the lowered position and the raised position, and when the lid member is moved to the raised position, the pellets in the pellet storage portion are It is dropped into the measuring chamber from the upper end opening of the tube portion. The pellet transfer mechanism transfers the measured pellets in the measurement chamber to the supply portion by supplying compressed air into the measurement chamber when the lid member and the bottom plate member are in the lowered position. It is.

  In one embodiment of the present invention, the adjustment mechanism has an adjustment shaft extending in the vertical direction, and a screw portion provided at an upper end portion of the adjustment shaft is screwed into a screw hole formed in the lid member, The bottom plate member is attached to an intermediate portion in the axial direction of the adjustment shaft, and the relative distance of the bottom plate member to the lid member is changed by rotating the adjustment shaft.

  In another embodiment of the present invention, the adjustment mechanism has an adjustment shaft extending in the vertical direction, the lid member is connected to an upper end portion of the adjustment shaft, and provided at an intermediate portion in the axial direction of the adjustment shaft. The bottom plate member is supported via a nut member screwed into the screw portion, and the relative distance of the bottom plate member to the lid member is changed by rotating the adjustment shaft. In these embodiments, a display unit corresponding to the volume of the measuring chamber may be provided on the adjustment shaft.

  According to the present invention, when the lid member and the bottom plate member are moved up and down, the pellets can be measured by the measuring chamber between the lid member and the bottom plate member, and a predetermined amount of the measured pellets is compressed air. Can be supplied to the supplied part. Further, by changing the relative distance of the bottom plate member with respect to the lid member, that is, the volume of the measuring chamber, by the adjusting mechanism, it is possible to change the amount of pellets that can be measured by one lifting operation steplessly. It is possible to supply an optimum amount of pellets according to the capacity, specifications, etc., to the supply portion.

The front view which shows typically the molding machine provided with the pellet supply apparatus which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. The longitudinal cross-sectional view of the pellet measurement part of the pellet supply apparatus shown by FIG. The perspective view of the cover member of the pellet measurement part shown by FIG. The top view of the baseplate member of the pellet measurement part shown by FIG. The front view of the scale part of the pellet measurement part shown by FIG. The longitudinal cross-sectional view of the state which the said cover member and bottom plate member of the pellet measurement part shown by FIG. 2 raised. The longitudinal cross-sectional view of the pellet measurement part which concerns on the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. The longitudinal cross-sectional view of the state which the cover member and bottom plate member of the pellet measurement part shown by FIG. 7 rose.

Hereinafter, a pellet supply apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
FIG. 1 schematically illustrates a cold chamber die-cast molding machine 10 (hereinafter simply referred to as a molding machine), which is an example of a molding machine. The molding machine 10 includes a fixed die plate 11, a movable die plate 12, four tie bars 13 and 14 (only two are shown) extending in parallel to each other, a die plate driving mechanism 15, and the like. The die plate driving mechanism 15 has a function of moving the movable die plate 12 along the tie bars 13 and 14 in the horizontal direction.

  The molding machine 10 is operated by a controller 17 having an operation panel 16. The controller 17 incorporates a computer program and a memory for controlling the molding operation and the mold clamping operation. The operation panel 16 functions as a human machine interface used when an operator operates the molding machine 10.

  A fixed mold 20 is attached to the fixed die plate 11. A moving die 21 is attached to the moving die plate 12. A cavity 22 for a molded product is formed between the molds 20 and 21. The cavity 22 communicates with the molten metal supply mechanism 24 via the molten metal passage 23. The molten metal supply mechanism 24 includes a sleeve 25, a plunger 26, a drive source 27 for driving the plunger 26, and the like. When the molten metal is supplied to the cavity 22 from the molten metal supply mechanism 24, a die-cast product is formed.

  The molding machine 10 includes a pellet supply device 30. The pellet supply device 30 has a function of supplying solid lubricant pellets to the supply portion 25 a of the sleeve 25. An example of a solid lubricant pellet is a particle having a particle diameter of about 1 mm made of wax and graphite, and can lubricate the sleeve 25 and the plunger 26.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the pellet supply device 30 includes a pellet weighing unit 31, a pellet transfer pipe 32, a pellet discharge unit 33, and a sequencer 34 (controller 17 in FIG. 1) that is a control unit that controls the operation of the pellet supply device 30. And an input unit 35 and a display unit 36 functioning as a human machine interface. The input unit 35 and the display unit 36 may be disposed on the operation panel 16 of the molding machine 10. The pellet discharge part 33 is disposed above the supplied part 25a of the sleeve 25, and the pellet discharged from the pellet discharge part 33 is supplied to the supplied part 25a.

  FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view showing the pellet weighing unit 31. The pellet weighing unit 31 includes a pellet container 41 having a hopper 40, a cylinder part 42 disposed below the pellet container 41, a lifting unit 43 movable in the axis X direction of the cylinder part 42, an actuator 44, and the like. It has. A large number of granular pellets P are accommodated in the pellet accommodating portion 41.

  An example of the actuator 44 for moving the lifting / lowering unit 43 in the vertical direction includes a cylinder body 44a to which a fluid such as compressed air is supplied, and a rod 44b that moves in the axial direction of the cylinder body 44a by fluid pressure. Yes. In addition to the cylinder mechanism, a mechanism that reciprocates with electric power, such as a solenoid or a linear motor, may be employed as the actuator 44.

  The cylinder part 42 is a cylindrical member that constitutes the body of the pellet weighing part 31, and its axis X extends in the vertical direction. An upper end opening 42 a formed at the upper end of the cylindrical portion 42 is located at a position indicated by H <b> 1 in FIG. 2 and communicates with the pellet accommodating portion 41 through the lower end opening of the hopper 40. The cylinder part 42 has a bottom 42b. A pellet outlet 45 is formed on the side surface of the cylindrical portion 42.

  The elevating unit 43 includes a lid member 50, a bottom plate member 51 disposed below the lid member 50, and an adjustment shaft 52. The adjustment shaft 52 extends in the vertical direction along the axis X of the cylindrical portion 42. The lower end side of the adjustment shaft 52 extends downward through a guide ring 53 provided on the bottom 42 b of the cylindrical portion 42. At the lower end of the adjustment shaft 52, an operation unit 54 that can be manually rotated is provided.

  A measuring chamber 55 is formed between the lid member 50 and the bottom plate member 51. The measuring chamber 55 has a volume corresponding to a space surrounded by the inner surface of the cylindrical portion 42, the lower surface of the lid member 50, and the upper surface of the bottom plate member 51. The measuring chamber 55 has a volume proportional to the relative distance L from the lid member 50 to the bottom plate member 51, and can accommodate pellets P corresponding to the volume.

  FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the lid member 50. The lid member 50 has a circular shape when viewed from above. A connecting portion 60 is provided on the upper surface of the lid member 50. The lid member 50 is connected to the lower end of the rod 44b of the actuator 44 (shown in FIG. 2) via the connecting portion 60. A screw hole 65 is formed on the lower surface side of the lid member 50. A screw portion 66 formed at the upper end portion of the adjustment shaft 52 is screwed into the screw hole 65. The outer peripheral surface of the lid member 50 may be subjected to a surface treatment such as coating with a material having a low friction coefficient in order to improve sliding with the inner surface of the cylindrical portion 42.

  By screwing the threaded portion 66 of the adjustment shaft 52 into the screw hole 65 formed in the lid member 50, the lid member 50 and the bottom plate member 51 are connected to each other via the adjustment shaft 52. The relative distance L from the lid member 50 to the bottom plate member 51 can be changed by changing the screwing amount of the screw portion 66 with respect to the screw hole 65.

  FIG. 4 is a plan view of the bottom plate member 51. The bottom plate member 51 is made of a breathable material (mesh) having a large number of mesh-like ventilation holes such as a wire mesh that does not allow the pellets P to leak, and has a circular shape when viewed from above. The bottom plate member 51 is held at a predetermined position in an intermediate portion of the adjustment shaft 52 in the axis X direction by a holding member 68 provided on the adjustment shaft 52. Therefore, the bottom plate member 51 can move in the direction of the axis X together with the adjustment shaft 52. A sliding member 69 having a low friction coefficient may be provided on the outer periphery of the bottom plate member 51 in order to improve the sliding with the inner surface of the cylindrical portion 42.

  Since the adjustment shaft 52 can be rotated by the operation portion 54 of the adjustment shaft 52, the bottom plate member 51 relatively moves in the vertical direction according to the rotation direction and the rotation amount of the adjustment shaft 52. That is, the volume of the measuring chamber 55 can be continuously changed. In the present embodiment, the screw hole 65 of the lid member 50 and the screw portion 66 of the adjustment shaft 52 function as an adjustment mechanism 70 for adjusting the relative distance L of the bottom plate member 51 with respect to the lid member 50.

  The operation unit 54 may be a manual type that can be manually rotated by an operator, or an electric type that can be rotated by a predetermined amount by an electric actuator. The vertical position of the bottom plate member 51 relative to the lid member 50 can be read by, for example, a scale portion 71 provided on the adjustment shaft 52.

  FIG. 5 is a front view showing an example of the scale portion 71. The scale portion 71 includes a scale line 71a and a numerical value 71b. The numerical value 71b is displayed in units of 0.1 grams, for example, according to the unit of measurement in the measuring chamber 55, but other units of measurement may be used. The numerical value 71b is drawn on the lower side of each scale line 71a so that the numerical value 71b for each scale line 71a is not hidden by the guide ring 53. When the adjustment shaft 52 moves in the vertical direction, the scale portion 71 also moves in the vertical direction. Therefore, by adjusting the desired scale line 71a to the lower surface of the guide ring 53, it is possible to measure only the amount (gram) to be measured.

  When the adjustment shaft 52 is configured to be rotated by the electric actuator, the rotation position of the adjustment shaft 52, that is, the upper and lower positions of the bottom plate member 51 with respect to the lid member 50 can be obtained by using a rotation angle sensor such as an encoder. It is possible to detect the relative position in the direction (volume of the measuring chamber 55).

  As shown in FIG. 2, when the elevating unit 43 is in the lowered position, the position H <b> 2 where the upper end of the lid member 50 stops is above the upper end of the pellet outlet 45. This is to prevent the pellet P existing above the lid member 50 from leaking to the pellet outlet 45 when the elevating unit 43 is in the lowered position. Since the position H1 of the upper end opening 42a of the cylindrical portion 42 is constant, the upper end opening 42a is closed by inserting the lid member 50 into the upper end opening 42a. When the elevating unit 43 is in the lowered position as described above, the position H3 on the lower surface of the lid member 50 is lower than the upper end of the pellet outlet 45 and higher than the lower end of the pellet outlet 45. Moreover, the position H4 of the bottom plate member 51 is below the lower end of the pellet outlet 45. This is to prevent the pellet P in the measuring chamber 55 from leaking to the lower side of the bottom plate member 51.

  As shown in FIG. 6, when the elevating unit 43 is in the raised position, the position H5 at which the lower end of the lid member 50 stops is above the position H1 of the upper end opening 42a of the cylindrical portion 42. This is for dropping the pellet P in the pellet container 41 into the measuring chamber 55 when the elevating unit 43 is in the raised position. Further, when the elevating unit 43 is in the raised position, the position H6 of the bottom plate member 51 is above the upper end of the pellet outlet 45. This is to prevent the pellet P in the measuring chamber 55 from leaking to the pellet outlet 45.

  An air introduction chamber 80 is formed below the measuring chamber 55, that is, below the bottom plate member 51. A compressed air supply pipe 81 is connected to the air introduction chamber 80. The compressed air supply pipe 81 is connected to a compressed air supply source 82 (shown in FIG. 1).

  One end of the pellet transfer pipe 32 is connected to the pellet outlet 45 formed on the side surface of the measuring chamber 55. The other end of the pellet transfer pipe 32 is connected to a pellet discharge unit 33 (shown in FIG. 1). Since the pellet P in the measuring chamber 55 is sent out to the pellet transfer pipe 32 by the air introduced from the compressed air supply source 82 into the air introduction chamber 80, the weighed pellet P can be supplied to the pellet discharge unit 33. it can. A pellet transfer mechanism 90 is constituted by the air introduction chamber 80, the compressed air supply source 82, the pellet transfer pipe 32, and the like.

The operation of the pellet feeder 30 having the above-described configuration will be described below.
Prior to the measurement of the pellets P, the volume of the measurement chamber 55 is adjusted by adjusting the height of the bottom plate member 51 of the pellet measurement unit 31 in advance so that the pellet supply amount according to the capacity and specifications of the molding machine 10 is obtained. Adjust. The volume of the measuring chamber 55 can be read by the scale unit 71.

  FIG. 6 shows a state where the lid member 50 and the bottom plate member 51 of the elevating unit 43 are moved to the raised position by the actuator 44. The actuator 44 can be operated by a command from the controller 17. When the lid member 50 and the bottom plate member 51 are moved to the raised position, the lid member 50 is located above the position H1 of the upper end opening 42a of the cylindrical portion 42, and thus the upper end opening 42a is opened. For this reason, when the pellet P in the pellet accommodating part 41 passes between the lid member 50 and the hopper 40 and falls into the measuring chamber 55, a predetermined amount of the pellet P corresponding to the volume of the measuring chamber 55 is stored in the measuring chamber 55. Filled.

  FIG. 2 shows a state in which the lid member 50 and the bottom plate member 51 of the elevating unit 43 are moved to the lowered position by the actuator 44. When the lid member 50 and the bottom plate member 51 are moved to the lowered position, the lid member 50 is inserted into the cylindrical portion 42 from the upper end opening 42a of the cylindrical portion 42. Therefore, the upper end opening 42a of the cylindrical portion 42 is closed by the lid member 50. The

  When a pellet supply signal instructing supply of the solid lubricant (pellet) is output from the controller 17, compressed air is supplied from the compressed air supply source 82 to the air introduction chamber 80. The compressed air supplied to the air introduction chamber 80 enters the measuring chamber 55 from the lower side of the bottom plate member 51 made of a mesh such as a metal mesh, passes through the bottom plate member 51, and moves toward the pellet transfer pipe 32 through the pellet outlet 45. It flows in. With this air (pellet transfer air), a predetermined amount of pellets in the measuring chamber 55 is sent to the pellet discharge part 33 through the pellet transfer pipe 32 and supplied from the pellet discharge part 33 to the supplied part 25a of the sleeve 25. The

  In this way, after a predetermined amount of pellets is supplied to the supplied portion 25a, the molten metal is supplied to the molten metal supply port (supplied portion 25a) of the sleeve 25, and the plunger 26 is pressurized by the driving source 27. The molten metal inside is supplied to the cavity 22.

  According to the pellet supply device 30 of the present embodiment, the lid member 50 and the bottom plate member 51 constituting the weighing chamber 55 reciprocate once between the lowered position (FIG. 2) and the raised position (FIG. 6). By the operation, a predetermined amount of the measured pellet P is filled in the measurement chamber 55, and then the pellet P in the measurement chamber 55 is supplied to the supply portion 25a by compressed air. Thus, the sleeve 25 and the plunger 26 can be lubricated by the predetermined amount of pellets P supplied to the supplied portion 25a.

  The pellet measuring unit 31 of the present embodiment continuously changes the volume of the measuring chamber 55 by changing the relative distance L of the bottom plate member 51 with respect to the lid member 50 by the adjusting mechanism 70 having the adjusting shaft 52. Can do. For this reason, it is possible to change steplessly the amount of pellets that can be weighed by one raising / lowering operation of the raising / lowering unit 43, and an optimum amount of pellets according to the capacity, specifications, etc. of the molding machine 10 is supplied. It can be supplied to.

  7 and 8 show a pellet weighing unit 31 'according to the second embodiment of the present invention. The upper end portion of the adjustment shaft 52 of the lifting unit 43 of the pellet weighing unit 31 ′ is connected to the lid member 50 so as to be rotatable about the axis X with respect to the lid member 50 and the relative positional relationship in the vertical direction does not change. ing. A threaded portion 100 is formed at an intermediate portion of the adjusting shaft 52 in the axis X direction. A nut member 101 is screwed into the threaded portion 100, and the bottom plate member 51 is supported by the nut member 101. The bottom plate member 51 is prevented from rotating with respect to the cylindrical portion 42 by an elevating guide 102 provided in the cylindrical portion 42 extending in the direction of the axis X and a slider 103 fitted to the elevating guide 102 so as to be movable up and down. ing.

  In the case of the pellet weighing unit 31 ′ of this embodiment, when the adjustment shaft 52 is rotated, the nut member 101 and the bottom plate member 51 move in the vertical direction via the screw portion 100, so that the bottom plate member 51 is relative to the lid member 50. The distance L can be changed, and the volume of the measuring chamber 55 can be changed. Since the pellet weighing unit 31 'is the same as the pellet weighing unit 31 of the first embodiment, the same reference numerals are assigned to the portions corresponding to each other, and the description thereof is omitted.

  In carrying out the present invention, it is needless to say that specific modes of various elements constituting the pellet supply apparatus including the specific configuration of the molding machine can be changed as necessary. For example, the specific shape and arrangement of the pellet container, the lid member, the bottom plate member, the adjustment mechanism, the pellet transfer mechanism, and the like can be changed as appropriate. The present invention can be similarly applied to any molding machine using pellets other than a die-cast molding machine using a solid lubricant.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Molding machine (die-cast molding machine), 25a ... Supply part, 30 ... Pellet feeder, 31, 31 '... Pellet metering part, 41 ... Pellet accommodating part, 42 ... Cylindrical part, 42a ... Upper end opening, 43 ... Lifting unit, 44 ... actuator, 50 ... lid member, 51 ... bottom plate member, 52 ... adjustment shaft, 55 ... weighing chamber, 90 ... pellet transfer mechanism.

Claims (4)

A pellet container for containing pellets;
A cylindrical portion having an upper end opening disposed below the pellet accommodating portion and communicating with the pellet accommodating portion;
The cylinder portion is disposed so as to be movable between a lowered position and an elevated position, and is inserted into the cylinder portion when in the lowered position, thereby closing the upper end opening of the cylinder portion and moving to the elevated position. A lid member that opens the upper end opening of the cylindrical portion in a state;
A breathable bottom plate member that is disposed below the lid member and forms a weighing chamber with the lid member;
An adjustment mechanism capable of adjusting the relative distance of the bottom plate member with respect to the lid member and changing the volume of the measuring chamber according to the relative distance;
The lid member and the bottom plate member can be reciprocated between the lowered position and the raised position, and when the lid member is moved to the raised position, the pellets in the pellet accommodating portion are moved to the tube portion. An actuator for dropping from the upper end opening into the weighing chamber;
A pellet transfer mechanism for transferring the measured pellets in the measurement chamber to the supplied portion by supplying compressed air into the measurement chamber when the lid member and the bottom plate member are in the lowered position;
A pellet supply apparatus comprising:   The adjustment mechanism has an adjustment shaft extending in the vertical direction, and a screw portion provided at an upper end portion of the adjustment shaft is screwed into a screw hole formed in the lid member, and an intermediate portion in the axial direction of the adjustment shaft The pellet supply apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the bottom plate member is attached to the base plate member, and the relative distance of the bottom plate member to the lid member is changed by rotating the adjustment shaft.   The adjustment mechanism has an adjustment shaft extending in the vertical direction, the lid member is connected to an upper end portion of the adjustment shaft, and a nut member screwed into a screw portion provided at an intermediate portion in the axial direction of the adjustment shaft The pellet supply apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the bottom plate member is supported via the rotation axis, and the relative distance of the bottom plate member to the lid member is changed by rotating the adjustment shaft.   The pellet supply apparatus according to claim 2 or 3, wherein a display unit corresponding to a volume of the measuring chamber is provided on the adjustment shaft.

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