JP2015107596A - Injection machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an injection machine which can improve the way to use a coolant gas in the case of cooling a cooling block with the coolant gas.SOLUTION: An injection machine has a cylinder that heats molding material to fill a die device, and a cooling block that cools a molding material supply port of the cylinder, a coolant gas supply part that jets a coolant gas for cooling the cooling block, and a variable mechanism that varies a route of the coolant gas around the cooling block.

Description

  The present invention relates to an injection molding machine.

  The injection molding machine includes a cylinder that heats a molding material filled in a mold apparatus, and a cooling block that cools a molding material supply port of the cylinder (for example, see Patent Document 1). A flow path for flowing a cooling liquid (for example, cooling water) is formed inside the cooling block, and the temperature of the molding material supply port of the cylinder is maintained at a temperature at which the molding material (for example, resin pellets) does not melt. Clogging of the molding material supply port can be prevented.

JP 2005-103875 A

  When cooling the cooling block with the cooling gas, there is room for improvement in the way of using the cooling gas.

  This invention is made | formed in view of the said subject, Comprising: When cooling a cooling block with cooling gas, it aims at provision of the injection molding machine which can improve the way of utilization of cooling gas.

In order to solve the above problems, according to one aspect of the present invention,
A cylinder for heating the molding material filled in the mold apparatus;
A cooling block for cooling the molding material supply port of the cylinder;
A cooling gas supply unit for ejecting a cooling gas for cooling the cooling block;
An injection molding machine is provided that includes a variable mechanism that varies a path of the cooling gas around the cooling block.

  According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided an injection molding machine that can improve the manner in which the cooling gas is used when the cooling block is cooled with the cooling gas.

It is sectional drawing which shows the injection apparatus of the injection molding machine by one Embodiment of this invention. It is a side view which shows the principal part of the injection device of FIG. It is a side view which shows the modification of a windshield part. It is a top view which shows the variable mechanism by one Embodiment of this invention. It is the figure which looked at the change of the direction of the cooling fan with respect to a cooling block from the back in the case where the rotational axis of the hinge shown in FIG. It is a figure which shows the change of the distance of the cooling fan with respect to a cooling block from the state of FIG. It is the figure which looked at the change of the direction of the cooling fan with respect to a cooling block from the upper direction in case the rotation axis | shaft of the hinge shown in FIG. It is a figure which shows the change of the distance of the cooling fan with respect to a cooling block from the state of FIG. It is a top view which shows the variable mechanism by a modification. FIG. 10 is a top view showing the operation of the variable mechanism of FIG. 9.

  DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, embodiments for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In each of the drawings, the same or corresponding components are denoted by the same or corresponding reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted. Further, the screw moving direction (left direction in FIGS. 1 and 2) in the filling step will be described as the front, and the screw moving direction (right direction in FIGS. 1 and 2) in the weighing step will be described as the rear.

  FIG. 1 is a view showing an injection molding machine according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a side view showing a main part of the injection apparatus of FIG.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the injection molding machine includes an injection device 40 that fills a molding material with a molding material. The injection device 40 includes a cylinder 41, a screw 43, a cooling block 44, a cooling fan 45 as a cooling gas supply unit, a hopper 46 as a molding material supply unit, and the like.

  The cylinder 41 heats the molding material with heat supplied from heating sources H <b> 1 to H <b> 4 such as a heater provided on the outer periphery of the cylinder 41. A molding material supply port 41a is formed at the rear portion of the cylinder 41, and the molding material is supplied from the hopper 46 into the cylinder 41 through the molding material supply port 41a.

  In this embodiment, the hopper 46 is used as the molding material supply unit. However, a feed screw or the like that can control the supply speed of the molding material may be used.

  The screw 43 is disposed in the cylinder 41 so as to be rotatable and movable back and forth. In the measuring step, the screw 43 is rotated so that the molding material supplied into the cylinder 41 is fed forward along the spiral groove 43a formed in the screw 43 and gradually melted. As the molten molding material is fed to the front of the screw 43 and accumulated in the front portion of the cylinder 41, the screw 43 is retracted. When a predetermined amount of molding material is accumulated in front of the screw 43, the rotation of the screw 43 is stopped and the measuring process is completed. Thereafter, in the filling step, the screw 43 is advanced, and the molding material accumulated in front of the screw 43 is injected from the nozzle 42 provided at the front end of the cylinder 41 and filled into the mold apparatus. A heating source H5 such as a heater may be provided on the outer periphery of the nozzle 42.

  The depth of the spiral groove 43a formed in the screw 43 may be constant or may vary depending on the location.

  The cooling block 44 has an insertion hole for inserting the rear portion of the cylinder 41, and cools the molding material supply port 41 a formed at the rear portion of the cylinder 41. The temperature of the molding material supply port 41a is maintained at a temperature at which the molding material (for example, resin pellets) does not melt. Clogging of the molding material supply port 41a can be prevented.

  The cooling fan 45 ejects a cooling gas that cools the cooling block 44. The cooling gas exiting from the cooling fan 45 strikes the cooling block 44, thereby changing the flow direction of the cooling gas. The cooling gas ejected from the cooling fan 45 flows along the surface of the cooling block 44 and takes the heat of the cooling block 44. Although the kind of cooling gas is not specifically limited, For example, it may be air.

  At the time of start-up to raise the temperature of the cylinder 41 or at the time of injection molding, the cooling gas ejection direction from the cooling fan 45 (the direction perpendicular to the paper surface in FIG. 2) is the flow direction of the cooling gas flowing along the surface of the cooling block 44 (FIG. 2 in the vertical direction). By increasing the diameter of the outlet of the cooling fan 45, a large amount of cooling gas can be supplied from the cooling fan 45 toward the cooling block 44, and the cooling block 44 is easily cooled. Therefore, the amount of the cooling liquid used in the cooling block 44 is reduced and can be reduced to zero.

  Note that the direction in which the cooling gas is ejected from the cooling fan 45 may be inclined with respect to the flow direction of the cooling gas flowing along the surface of the cooling block 44 during startup or injection molding. Also in this case, the supply amount of the cooling gas to the cooling block 44 is increased by increasing the diameter of the outlet of the cooling fan 45.

  The cooling fan 45 includes, for example, a plurality of blades 45a and a rotating shaft 45b that rotates together with the plurality of blades 45a. The cooling fan 45 sucks cooling gas from the axial direction of the rotating shaft 45b and ejects cooling gas in the axial direction of the rotating shaft 45b. You can do it. The cooling fan 45 can be thinned, and an increase in the size of the injection device 40 can be suppressed.

  The cooling fan 45 may be various, and the suction direction and the ejection direction may be different. For example, a sirocco fan may be used.

  The cooling fans 45 may be provided on both the left and right sides with the cooling block 44 interposed therebetween, for example. The cooling block 44 is cooled from both the left and right sides, and the cooling block 44 is easily cooled. The number of cooling fans 45 may be three or more, and may be attached to the left and right side surfaces and the lower surface of the cooling block, for example. Further, the number of cooling fans 45 may be one.

  The cooling block 44 may be formed with a cooling gas passage 47 through which a cooling gas flows. The cooling gas channel 47 is formed in a groove shape on the surface of the cooling block 44, for example. The wall portion forming the cooling gas flow path 47 serves as a fin. Since the cooling gas flows along the cooling gas flow path 47, the flow is stabilized.

  From one end of the cooling gas channel 47 to the other end, the groove depth and groove width of the cooling gas channel 47 may be constant, and the cross-sectional area of the cooling gas channel 47 may be constant. In the present specification, the “cross-sectional area of the cooling gas passage” means an area of a cross section perpendicular to the flow direction of the cooling gas passage.

  At the time of start-up or injection molding, a part of the cylinder 41 (a part in front of the cooling block 44) is heated. Therefore, the flow direction of the cooling gas flowing along the cooling gas flow path 47 at the time of start-up or injection molding may be perpendicular to the axis of the cylinder 41. It is difficult to form a flow of cooling gas from the cooling block 44 toward the front (heating sources H1 to H5). Cooling of the heating sources H1 to H5 by the cooling gas can be suppressed, and heating efficiency is hardly hindered.

  Note that the flow direction of the cooling gas flowing along the cooling gas flow path 47 may be parallel to the axis of the cylinder 41 at the time of start-up or injection molding. It is only necessary to form a flow from the cooling block 44 toward the rear.

  The cooling block 44 may be provided with a wind shield 48 that blocks the flow of cooling gas from the cooling block 44 toward the front. The wind shield 48 is attached to the front surface of the cooling block 44, for example. A plurality of (for example, three) wind shields 48 protrude from the left and right side surfaces and the bottom surface of the cooling block 44 and block the flow of cooling gas from the cooling block 44 toward the heating sources H1 to H5.

  FIG. 3 is a side view showing a modification of the wind shield. As shown in FIG. 3, the cooling block 44 may be provided with a wind shield 49 that blocks the flow of the cooling gas from the cooling block 44 upward. The wind shield 49 is attached to, for example, the upper surface of the cooling block 44 and protrudes outward in the left-right direction from the left and right side surfaces of the cooling block 44. The influence of the cooling gas on the equipment such as a molding material dryer disposed above the cooling block 44 can be reduced.

  FIG. 4 is a top view showing a variable mechanism according to an embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 4, in addition to the variable mechanism, a drive device that operates the variable mechanism and a control unit that controls the drive device are also shown. FIG. 5 is a view of a change in the direction of the cooling fan with respect to the cooling block when viewed from the rear when the pivot axis of the hinge shown in FIG. 4 is parallel to the front-rear direction. In FIG. 5, a state where the cooling fan outlets are parallel to the side surface of the cooling block is indicated by a solid line, an oblique state is indicated by a one-dot chain line, and a vertical state is indicated by a two-dot chain line. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a change in the distance of the cooling fan to the cooling block from the state of FIG. FIG. 7 is a view of a change in the direction of the cooling fan relative to the cooling block when viewed from above when the pivot axis of the hinge shown in FIG. 4 is parallel to the vertical direction. In FIG. 7, the state where the cooling fan outlets are parallel to the side surface of the cooling block is indicated by a solid line, the oblique state is indicated by a one-dot chain line, and the perpendicular state is indicated by a two-dot chain line. FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a change in the distance of the cooling fan to the cooling block from the state of FIG. 4 to 8, the illustration of the heating source for heating the cylinder is omitted.

  The injection molding machine has a variable mechanism 50 that changes the path of the cooling gas around the cooling block 44. The variable mechanism 50 may be a mechanism that makes the arrangement of the cooling fan 45 relative to the cooling block 44 variable. “Arrangement” may include at least one of orientation and distance. The variable mechanism 50 includes, for example, a rotation shaft 53, a drive shaft 55, and a hinge 57.

  The rotating shaft 53 is rotatably attached to the cooling block 44. The cooling block 44 may hold a bearing that rotatably supports the rotating shaft 53.

  The drive shaft 55 rotates together with the rotation shaft 53. The drive shaft 55 is spline-coupled to the rotary shaft 53 and is linearly movable in the axial direction of the drive shaft 55. The rotary shaft 53 and the drive shaft 55 constitute a telescopic rod that can expand and contract.

  The hinge 57 includes a first mounting portion 57a and a second mounting portion 57b. The drive shaft 55 is fixed to the first mounting portion 57a, and the cooling fan 45 is fixed to the second mounting portion 57b. The second attachment portion 57b is rotatable about the rotation shaft 57c with respect to the first attachment portion 57a.

  The hinge 57 makes the direction of the cooling fan 45 relative to the cooling block 44 variable. Thereby, the direction of the cooling gas around the cooling block 44 and the cooling efficiency of the cooling block 44 can be adjusted.

  For example, the outlet of the cooling fan 45 can be switched between a state parallel to the side surface of the cooling block 44 (θ = 0 °), an oblique state, and a vertical state (θ = 90 °). In the parallel state, the cooling gas easily hits the side surface of the cooling block 44, and the cooling efficiency of the cooling block 44 is high.

  The angle θ of the outlet of the cooling fan 45 with respect to the side surface of the cooling block 44 can be stopped at an arbitrary angle within the range of 0 to 90 °.

  According to the variable mechanism 50, the rotation shaft 57c of the hinge 57 is rotatable around the rotation shaft 53, and the direction of the rotation shaft 57c is variable.

  When the temperature of the cylinder 41 is lowered, the rotation shaft 57c of the hinge 57 may be parallel to the vertical direction as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, and the cooling fan 45 rotates about the rotation shaft 57c. It may be free.

  For example, when the cooling fan 45 is in a state perpendicular to the cooling block 44 (θ = 90 °) as indicated by a two-dot chain line in FIGS. 7 and 8, the jet direction of the cooling gas from the cooling fan 45 is forward. Thus, the cylinder 41 can be efficiently cooled.

  Further, when the cooling fan 45 is in an inclined state with respect to the cooling block 44 as shown by, for example, a one-dot chain line in FIG. 7 or FIG. 8, a flow of cooling gas that approaches the cylinder 41 as it goes forward can be formed. Cooling gas is likely to hit the cylinder 41.

  On the other hand, at the time of start-up or injection molding, the rotation shaft 57c of the hinge 57 may be parallel to the front-rear direction as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, and the cooling fan 45 rotates about the rotation shaft 57c. It may be free.

  For example, when the cooling fan 45 is in a state perpendicular to the cooling block 44 (θ = 90 °) as indicated by a two-dot chain line in FIGS. 5 and 6, the cooling gas ejection direction from the cooling fan 45 is downward. Therefore, the flow of the forward cooling gas can be suppressed, and the heating efficiency of the cylinder 41 is good. Further, the influence of the cooling gas on the equipment disposed above the cooling block 44 can be reduced.

  The cooling fan 45 may be inclined with respect to the cooling block 44 as shown by a one-dot chain line in FIGS. 5 and 6, for example, or the cooling block 45 as shown by a solid line in FIGS. 44 may be in a parallel state. When the angle θ changes, the cooling efficiency of the cooling block 44 changes.

  By the way, when the direction of the rotation shaft 57c of the hinge 57 is changed, the direction of the cooling gas passage 47 may be changed according to the change. In this case, for example, the cooling block 44 includes a cooling block main body and a heat radiating portion, the cooling block main body has an insertion hole into which the cylinder 41 is inserted, and a cooling gas flow path is formed in the heat radiating portion. By making the direction of the heat radiating portion relative to the cooling block main body variable, the direction of the cooling gas flow path 47 is variable. In addition, the distance of the heat radiating part with respect to the cooling block main body may be variable. The arrangement of the heat radiating unit with respect to the cooling block main body may be changed according to the change in the arrangement of the cooling fan with respect to the cooling block.

  The cooling fan 45 of the present embodiment is rotatable in one direction around the rotation shaft 57c from a state parallel to the cooling block 44 (for example, a state indicated by a solid line in FIGS. 5 to 8). However, it may be rotatable in both directions. The cooling fan 45 can be inclined to both sides from a state parallel to the cooling block 44. In this case, the rotation shaft 57c may be disposed so as to pass near the center of the cooling fan 45.

  According to the variable mechanism 50, the cooling fan 45 is linearly movable with respect to the cooling block 44. As a result, the distance of the cooling fan 45 to the cooling block 44 is variable.

  The cooling fan 45 is linearly moved between a state close to the cooling block 44 and a state far from the cooling block 44 by expansion and contraction of the expansion and contraction rod constituted by the rotation shaft 53 and the drive shaft 55.

  For example, when the distance of the cooling fan 45 to the cooling block 44 is long during start-up or injection molding, the cooling gas easily hits a wide range of the cooling block 44, and the cooling block 44 can be cooled uniformly. In addition, the cooling efficiency of the cooling block 44 changes as the distance of the cooling fan 45 to the cooling block 44 changes.

  Further, when the distance of the cooling fan 45 to the cooling block 44 is long when the cooling block 44 is lowered, the flow of the cooling gas directed forward to cool the cylinder 41 is not easily blocked by the peripheral members of the cooling block 44, and the cooling efficiency of the cylinder 41 is reduced. Is good.

  Further, by changing the distance between the cooling block 44 and the cooling fan 45 at the time of lowering, the location where the cooling gas hits in the cylinder 41 can be changed. The location may continue to change or reciprocate. Note that the direction of the cooling fan 45 relative to the cooling block 44 may change in order to change the location.

  The variable mechanism 50 may be driven by a driving device such as a motor. As the drive device, for example, a rotary motor 54, a drive motor 56, and a hinge drive motor 58 are used.

  When the rotary motor 54 is driven, the rotary shaft 53 is rotated. “Rotation” may be any rotation of less than one rotation and one or more rotations. The direction of rotation may or may not be reversed. As the rotation shaft 53 rotates, the drive shaft 55 and the hinge 57 are rotated, and the direction of the rotation shaft 57c of the hinge 57 changes.

  When the drive motor 56 is driven, the rotary motion by the drive motor 56 is converted into linear motion in the ball screw mechanism, and the drive shaft 55 and the hinge 57 are linearly moved. As a result, the cooling fan 45 is linearly moved with respect to the cooling block 44.

  When the hinge drive motor 58 is driven, the second mounting portion 57b rotates with respect to the first mounting portion 57a, and the direction of the cooling fan 45 with respect to the cooling block 44 changes.

  The control unit 60 controls drive devices such as the rotation motor 54, the drive motor 56, and the hinge drive motor 58. The control unit 60 includes a storage unit such as a memory and a CPU, and controls the driving device of the variable mechanism 50 by causing the CPU to execute a program stored in the storage unit.

  The control unit 60 may monitor the temperature of the cooling block 44 with a temperature sensor and control the driving device of the variable mechanism 50 based on the monitoring result. For example, the driving device of the variable mechanism 50 may be controlled so that the temperature of the cooling block 44 becomes the set temperature. When the arrangement of the cooling fan 45 with respect to the cooling block 44 is changed, the cooling efficiency of the cooling block 44 by the cooling fan 45 is changed. Therefore, the cooling efficiency of the cooling block 44 by the cooling fan 45 can be controlled. For example, the controller 60 may change the direction of the cooling fan 45 relative to the cooling block 44 when the difference between the temperature measured by the temperature sensor and the set temperature is large. Further, the controller 60 may change the distance of the cooling fan 45 to the cooling block 44 when the difference between the temperature measured by the temperature sensor and the set temperature is small.

  The control unit 60 may monitor the temperature of the cylinder 41 with a temperature sensor and control the driving device of the variable mechanism 50 based on the monitoring result. For example, the drive device of the variable mechanism 50 may be controlled so that the temperature of the cylinder 41 becomes the set temperature. When the arrangement of the cooling fan 45 with respect to the cooling block 44 changes, the cooling efficiency of the cylinder 41 by the cooling fan 45 changes. Therefore, the cooling efficiency of the cylinder 41 by the cooling fan 45 can be controlled. For example, the controller 60 may change the direction of the cooling fan 45 relative to the cooling block 44 when the difference between the temperature measured by the temperature sensor and the set temperature is large. Further, the controller 60 may change the distance of the cooling fan 45 to the cooling block 44 when the difference between the temperature measured by the temperature sensor and the set temperature is small.

  The control unit 60 may control the drive device of the variable mechanism 50 based on the monitoring results of both the temperature of the cooling block 44 and the temperature of the cylinder 41.

  In addition, the component of the variable mechanism 50 may be various. For example, the rotation shaft 53, the drive shaft 55, and the hinge 57 may be used alone or in any two combinations. A link mechanism may be used instead of the hinge 57. Further, a hydraulic cylinder or the like may be used as a driving device for the variable mechanism 50. The variable mechanism 50 may be driven manually.

  FIG. 9 is a top view showing a variable mechanism according to a modification. FIG. 10 is a top view showing the operation of the variable mechanism of FIG. The variable mechanism 50A shown in FIGS. 9 and 10 includes an adjustment unit that makes the direction of the cooling gas variable between the cooling block 44 and the cooling fan 45.

  The adjustment unit includes, for example, a plurality of blades 52A that are parallel to each other. The direction of the plurality of blades 52A relative to the cooling fan 45 is variable, and the direction of the cooling gas passing between the plurality of blades 52A is variable. Thereby, the direction of the cooling gas around the cooling block 44 and the cooling efficiency of the cooling block 44 can be adjusted.

  The plurality of slats 52A are changed in direction by an appropriate driving device or manually while being in parallel with each other.

  As the variable mechanism, a combination of the variable mechanism 50 shown in FIG. 4 and the variable mechanism 50A shown in FIG. 9 may be used.

  As mentioned above, although embodiment of the injection molding machine was described, this invention is not limited to the said embodiment, In the range of the summary of this invention described in the claim, various deformation | transformation and improvement are possible. Is possible.

  For example, the injection device of the above embodiment is an inline screw system, but may be a pre-plastic system. A pre-plastic injection device supplies a molding material melted in a plasticizing cylinder to the injection cylinder, and injects the molding material from the injection cylinder into a mold device. In the screw / prepa system, a screw is disposed in the plasticizing cylinder, and in the plunger / prepa system, a plunger is disposed in the plasticizing cylinder. In the case of the pre-plastic method, the cooling block cools the plasticizing cylinder.

  Moreover, although the cooling gas flow path of the said embodiment is linear, it is not limited to the shape, For example, a spiral shape and radial shape may be sufficient. A spiral flow or a radial flow can be formed along the cooling gas flow path. Moreover, the cross-sectional shape of the cooling gas channel is not limited to a rectangular shape, and may be, for example, a triangular shape or a trapezoidal shape.

  In the above embodiment, the groove depth and the groove width of the cooling gas channel are constant and the cross-sectional area of the cooling gas channel is constant from one end to the other end of the cooling gas channel. May be. For example, the cross-sectional area of the cooling gas channel may increase continuously or intermittently from one end to the other end of the cooling gas channel. The larger the cross-sectional area of the cooling gas flow path, the smaller the flow resistance of the cooling gas, and the cooling gas tends to face in the direction of increasing the cross-sectional area of the cooling gas flow path. The change in the cross-sectional area of the cooling gas channel is accompanied by at least one of the change in the groove depth of the cooling gas channel and the change in the groove width of the cooling gas channel. Further, the place where the cross-sectional area of the cooling gas flow path changes may not be the entire area from one end to the other end of the cooling gas flow path, but may be at least a part of the cooling gas flow path. For example, the cross-sectional area of the cooling gas flow path changes from the center to the lower end of the cooling gas flow path so that the cooling gas that hits the central part of the cooling block from the cooling fan can easily flow downward during injection molding or startup. You can do it. In addition, the cross-sectional area of the cooling gas flow path changes from the center to the upper end of the cooling gas flow path so that the cooling gas that hits the central part of the cooling block from the cooling fan does not flow upward during injection molding or startup. You can do it. In order to increase the heat radiation area of the cooling block, the groove depth may increase or decrease from one end to the other end of the cooling gas flow path.

  Further, in the above embodiment, the cooling gas ejected from the cooling fan 45 cools a part of the cylinder 41 (a part ahead of the cooling block 44), but cools the equipment behind the cooling block 44. Also good.

40 Injection Device 41 Cylinder 41a Molding Material Supply Port 43 Screw 44 Cooling Block 45 Cooling Fan (Cooling Gas Supply Unit)
46 hopper
47 Cooling gas passage 48 Wind shield 50 Variable mechanism 53 Rotating shaft 54 Rotating motor 55 Driving shaft 56 Driving motor 57 Hinge 58 Hinge driving motor 50A Variable mechanism 52A Blades H1 to H5 Heating source

Claims (5)

A cylinder for heating the molding material filled in the mold apparatus;
A cooling block for cooling the molding material supply port of the cylinder;
A cooling gas supply unit for ejecting a cooling gas for cooling the cooling block;
An injection molding machine comprising: a variable mechanism that varies a path of the cooling gas around the cooling block.   The injection molding machine according to claim 1, wherein the variable mechanism makes the arrangement of the cooling gas supply unit with respect to the cooling block variable.   The injection molding machine according to claim 2, wherein the variable mechanism changes a direction of the cooling gas supply unit with respect to the cooling block.   The injection molding machine according to claim 2, wherein the variable mechanism is configured to change a distance between the cooling block and the cooling gas supply unit.   The injection molding machine according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the variable mechanism includes an adjustment unit that changes a direction of the cooling gas between the cooling block and the cooling gas supply unit.

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