JP2023107012A - Device and method for testing shut-off nozzle - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a shut-off nozzle testing device which does not require an injection molder for testing.SOLUTION: A test device (1) provided herein comprises a cylinder (7) for receiving a test fluid therein, and a plunger (11) provided in the cylinder (7) to apply pressure to the test fluid. A shut-off nozzle (2) to be tested is attached to the cylinder (7). When pressured by the plunger (11), the test fluid is supplied to the shut-off nozzle (2) under test. The shut-off nozzle (2) can thus be tested.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

The present invention relates to a test apparatus for inspecting whether or not a shut-off nozzle has the required performance, and a test method for inspecting the quality of the shut-off nozzle.

The shut-off nozzle provided in the injection device of the injection molding machine has a valve structure, and the valve structure can be used to open and close the flow path of the injection material of the injection nozzle to prevent so-called dripping. . There are various types of shut-off nozzles. For example, the shut-off nozzle described in Patent Document 1 is constructed as follows. That is, this type of shut-off nozzle consists of a nozzle portion and a needle valve provided obliquely with respect to the nozzle portion. The nozzle portion has an oblique hole, that is, a needle hole, extending from the outer peripheral surface of the nozzle portion to the injection flow path in the nozzle portion. A needle valve is inserted into the needle hole so as to be movable back and forth. When the needle valve is advanced, the injection channel is closed, and when it is retracted, the injection channel is opened. The valve structure thus consists of a needle valve.

JP-A-3-274125

There are various types of shut-off nozzles other than those described above, but all of them have a valve structure to open and close the injection flow path. By the way, when the manufactured shut-off nozzle is shipped, it is necessary to test whether or not it has the required performance. First, it is necessary to test whether the sealing by the valve structure is normal. That is, it is tested whether or not the injection material leaks from the injection port of the shut-off nozzle when the injection channel is closed by the valve structure. Next, in the case of the shut-off nozzle of the type described in Patent Document 1, it is necessary to test whether or not the injection material leaks from the needle hole. There is a slight gap between the needle hole and the needle valve so that the needle valve can be advanced and retracted smoothly, but if this gap is too large, the injection material will leak.

Testing of shut-off nozzles is performed on a test injection molding machine. That is, the shut-off nozzle to be tested is attached to the test injection molding machine. Then, an injection operation or the like is actually performed to evaluate the performance. However, in order to carry out the test, an injection molding machine for the test must be prepared, which increases the cost and takes up space.

In the present disclosure, a shut-off nozzle test apparatus and a shut-off nozzle test method that do not require an injection molding machine for inspection are provided.

Other problems and novel features will become apparent from the description of the specification and the accompanying drawings.

The present disclosure is directed to a shut-off nozzle having a nozzle body in which an injection channel is formed and a valve structure for opening and closing the injection channel, and configured as a test apparatus for testing the shut-off nozzle. The test apparatus comprises a cylinder into which a test fluid is placed and a plunger adapted to be placed in the cylinder and pressurize the test fluid. The shut-off nozzle to be tested is adapted to be attached to the cylinder. Pressurization of the test fluid by the plunger is delivered to the shut-off nozzle to be tested. A test of shut-off nozzles can be performed.

The present disclosure allows testing of shut-off nozzles without the use of an injection molding machine for inspection.

1 is a front cross-sectional view of a shut-off nozzle test apparatus and a shut-off nozzle according to the first embodiment; FIG. 4 is a flow chart showing a test method for a shut-off nozzle according to the present embodiment; 4 is a flow chart showing a test method for a shut-off nozzle according to the present embodiment; It is a front cross-sectional view of a shut-off nozzle test apparatus and a shut-off nozzle according to the second embodiment. FIG. 7 is a side cross-sectional view showing a flow path resistor provided in a shut-off nozzle testing device according to a second embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 4B is a front cross-sectional view showing the flow path resistor provided in the shut-off nozzle testing device according to the second embodiment, taken along the cross section XX in FIG. 4A. FIG. 11 is a front cross-sectional view showing a resin supply device provided in a shut-off nozzle testing device according to the third embodiment; 1 is a front cross-sectional view showing a part of a shut-off nozzle test apparatus according to the present embodiment and a shut-off nozzle provided with a rotary valve; FIG. FIG. 2 is a front cross-sectional view showing a portion of the shut-off nozzle testing apparatus according to the present embodiment and a shut-off nozzle provided with a needle valve.

Specific embodiments will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. However, it is not limited to the following embodiments. For clarity of explanation, the following description and drawings have been simplified where appropriate. In each drawing, the same elements are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant description is omitted as necessary. In addition, there are portions where hatching is omitted so as not to complicate the drawing.

This embodiment will be described.
<First Embodiment>
<Test equipment>
As shown in FIG. 1, the shut-off nozzle test apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment is designed to be installed in a state in which the shut-off nozzle 2 to be tested is upright, and the installation space is relatively small. is small and compact. As will be described in detail later, there are various types of shut-off nozzles 2, and the test apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment can test a plurality of types of shut-off nozzles 2. there is

The test apparatus 1 is adapted to supply a test fluid to a shut-off nozzle 2 for testing, and is covered at its lower portion by a housing 4 to prevent the test fluid from splashing around. A pan, that is, a liquid reservoir 6 is provided on the bottom surface of the housing 4 to receive and store the test fluid.

A cylindrical support 5 is fixedly provided inside such a housing 4 . Inside the support 5 is a cylinder 7 into which the test fluid is placed. A nozzle mounting member 9 fixed by bolts 8, 8, . . . A shut-off nozzle 2 to be tested, the structure of which will be described later, is fixed to the support 5 and the cylinder 7 by the nozzle mounting member 9 . When the shut-off nozzle 2 to be tested is fixed, the rear end surface is brought into liquid-tight contact with the lower end surface of the cylinder 7 . As will be explained later, the test fluid put into the cylinder 7 is supplied to the shut-off nozzle 2 without leaking to the outside even if it is pressurized.

Such a cylinder 7 contains a plunger 11 for pressurizing and pushing out the test fluid. A drive cylinder unit 13 for driving the plunger 11 is provided above the cylinder 7 . The driving cylinder unit 13 may be hydraulically driven, but in this embodiment, it is driven by compressed air from an air supply source 14 . The driving cylinder unit 13 is provided with limit switches 15, 15 for detecting the piston 16, so that the position of the plunger 11 is indirectly detected.

The support 5 and the cylinder 7 are provided with a fluid supply hole 17 reaching the bore of the cylinder 7 from the side thereof. A plug 18 is attached to the outlet of the fluid supply hole 17 . This plug 18 is removed, and a fluid supply pipe 20 is connected to the fluid supply hole 17 as indicated by the dotted line in FIG. When the test fluid is supplied from the funnel 21, the cylinder 7 can be filled with the test fluid. After filling, the fluid supply tube 20 is removed and the plug 18 is stopped. As a result, when the test fluid is pressurized by the plunger 11, it is possible to prevent the test fluid from being ejected from the fluid supply hole 17 to the outside. Alternatively, the fluid supply pipe 20 may be connected to the fluid supply hole 17 at all times. In this case, when the test fluid is pressurized by the plunger 11, it is necessary to advance the plunger 11 slowly so that the tip of the plunger 11 passes the fluid supply hole 17 before pressurization.

A bracket 23 is provided on the side of the housing 4 , and a needle valve driving piston cylinder unit 24 is provided on the bracket 23 . The needle valve driving piston cylinder unit 24 is driven by a valve driving air supply source 25 . The needle valve driving piston cylinder unit 24 may be hydraulically driven, or may be driven by the air supply source 14 for driving the driving cylinder unit 13 described above. However, in this embodiment, the valve drive air supply source 25 is provided separately. An opening 26 is formed in a part of the housing 4 corresponding to such a needle valve driving piston cylinder unit 24 .

<Shut-off nozzle to be tested>
The shut-off nozzle 2 to be tested will be described. The shutoff nozzle 2 is composed of a nozzle body 28 and a needle valve 29 . The nozzle main body 28 has an injection passage 31 formed in its axial center through which the injection material flows. A needle hole 33 is formed in the nozzle body 28 from its outer peripheral surface obliquely to the axial direction and reaches the injection flow path 31 . The needle valve 29 is inserted in the needle hole 33 so as to be movable back and forth. That is, in the shut-off nozzle 2 to be tested, the needle valve 29 is obliquely provided with respect to the nozzle body 28 . Advancement of needle valve 29 closes injection channel 31 . Then, when it is retracted, the injection passage 31 is opened. That is, the needle valve 29 has a valve structure for opening and closing the injection passage of the shut-off nozzle 2 .

The rear end of the needle valve 29 projects outward from the opening 26 of the housing 4 and is connected to the needle valve driving piston cylinder unit 24 . The needle valve driving piston cylinder unit 24 serves as valve driving means for driving the needle valve 29 of the shut-off nozzle 2, that is, the valve structure.

<Preparation stage for the test>
A method of testing the shut-off nozzle 2 using the shut-off nozzle testing apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment will be described. First, the preparation stage is described. First, a test fluid is selected. The test fluid is selected from fluids with viscosities comparable to the resin in its molten state. For example, grease, lubricating oil, or mustard paste for food can be selected. Such a test fluid can be tested at room temperature, so there is no danger, and there is no need for heating with a heater, so there is an advantage that the test can be performed at a reduced cost. Fill the cylinder 7 with the selected test fluid. That is, the plug 18 is removed as described above, and the test fluid is filled into the cylinder 7 through the funnel 21 and the fluid supply pipe 20 . The fluid supply pipe 20 is removed from the fluid supply hole 17 and the plug 18 is closed. The preparatory stage is completed.

<Test of sealing action>
It is tested whether or not the injection channel 31 can be normally closed by the valve structure. As shown in FIG. 2A, a closing step (step S01) is performed. The needle valve driving piston cylinder unit 24 (see FIG. 1) is driven to advance the needle valve 29 and close the injection passage 31 . Next, a fluid supply step (step S02) is performed. The driving cylinder unit 13 drives the plunger 11 to apply pressure to the test fluid.

Step S<b>03 is performed to check whether the test fluid leaks from the injection port 32 . This confirmation may be determined visually by an engineer, or may be determined automatically by providing a camera or the like. If the test fluid does not leak from the injection port 32, it is determined that the sealing action of the needle valve 29 is normal (step S04). However, if leakage is detected, it is determined that there is a seal abnormality (step S05). Testing of sealing action is completed.

<Leak test from sliding part>
The presence or absence of leakage from the sliding portion in the valve structure of the shut-off nozzle 2 is tested. In the shut-off nozzle 2 to be tested, the needle valve 29 slides against the needle hole 33 . Therefore, the presence or absence of leakage from the needle hole 33 is tested. An opening step (step S11) is performed as shown in FIG. 2B. The needle valve driving piston cylinder unit 24 (see FIG. 1) is driven to retract the needle valve 29 and open the injection passage 31 . Next, a fluid supply step (step S12) is performed. The driving cylinder unit 13 drives the plunger 11 to inject the test fluid from the injection port 32 . When the plunger 11 reaches the forward position by the limiter switch 15, the driving of the plunger 11 is stopped.

Step S<b>13 is performed to check whether the test fluid is leaking from the needle hole 33 . This confirmation may be determined visually by an engineer, or may be determined automatically by providing a camera or the like. If the test fluid does not leak from the needle hole 33, it is determined that the gap between the needle valve 29 and the needle hole 33 is within an appropriate range (step S14). On the other hand, if leakage is detected, the clearance between the needle valve 29 and the needle hole 33 is large, and it is determined that there is an abnormality (step S15). Complete the leak test from the sliding point.

<Second Embodiment>
The shut-off nozzle testing apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment can be modified in various ways, and FIG. 3 shows a shut-off nozzle testing apparatus 1A according to a second embodiment. The same members and parts as those of the test apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and descriptions thereof are omitted.

<Resin supply device>
A test apparatus 1A according to the second embodiment is characterized in that a molten resin is used as the test fluid. In order to use molten resin, the testing apparatus 1A is equipped with a resin supply device 35. As shown in FIG. The resin supply device 35 includes a heating cylinder 36 and a melting plunger 38 slidably provided in the heating cylinder 36 . A hopper 39 is provided in the heating cylinder 36, and a heater 40 is provided on the outer peripheral surface thereof. Therefore, when the heating cylinder 36 is heated by the heater 40 and the material resin pellets are supplied from the hopper 39 and the melting plunger 38 is driven, the resin pellets are fed forward while being melted.

<Fluid resistance increasing means>
The resin supply device 35 according to this embodiment is provided with a means for efficiently melting the resin, that is, means for increasing flow resistance. The flow path resistance increasing means is adapted to increase the resistance of the flow path within the heating cylinder 36, and consists of a flow path resistor 42 in this embodiment. The flow path resistor 42, whose side cross-section is shown in FIG. 4A, has a plurality of small-diameter through holes 43, 43, . . . Furthermore, although the front cross section is shown in FIG. 4B, these through holes 43, 43, . . . decrease in diameter toward the downstream direction.

Therefore, when the resin pellet is melted and extruded by the melting plunger 38 (see FIG. 3), the cross-sectional area of the bore of the heating cylinder 36, that is, the cross-sectional area of the flow path, is reduced in the flow path resistor 42, and the resin is pressure increases. This pressure increase further raises the temperature of the molten resin. Further, since the flow path resistor 42 is made of a metal having a high thermal conductivity, the resin is heated more efficiently when the resin passes through the through holes 43, 43, . . . Therefore, the resin pellets are melted efficiently.

A resin supply path 45 through which melted resin is supplied is opened in the support 5 and the cylinder 7 . A heating cylinder 36 of a resin supply device 35 is coupled to the support 5, and the bore of the heating cylinder 36 and the resin supply path 45 are in communication. Therefore, the resin melted in the resin supply device 35 is supplied into the cylinder 7 . In the test apparatus 1A according to the second embodiment, the support 5 is provided with a cylinder heater 47 on its outer peripheral surface. This ensures that the test fluid, ie the molten resin, supplied into the cylinder 7 is maintained at the proper temperature.

A test apparatus 1A according to the second embodiment uses a molten resin as a test fluid, and the test method is the same as in the first embodiment. Since the molten resin is used, the test of the shut-off nozzle 2 can be conducted in a more realistic condition.

<Third Embodiment>
The test apparatus 1A according to the second embodiment can be further modified. Specifically, the resin supply device 35 can be modified to form a third embodiment. FIG. 4C shows a resin supply device 35B provided in the third embodiment. The resin supply device 35B has a modified passage resistance increasing means. In this embodiment, the flow path resistance increasing means comprises a torpedo-shaped torpedo 49 . The torpedo 49 can also substantially reduce the cross-sectional area of the flow path, increasing the resin pressure and increasing the temperature of the molten resin. Furthermore, the resin is efficiently heated and melted as it passes through the narrow channel.

<Second type shut-off nozzle>
The test apparatus 1 according to this embodiment can test various types of shut-off nozzles 2 . FIG. 5 shows how the second type shut-off nozzle 2X is attached to the test apparatus 1. As shown in FIG. A second type shut-off nozzle 2X is composed of a nozzle body 50, a cylindrical rotary valve 51, and a rotary lever 52 for rotating the rotary valve 51. As shown in FIG. The nozzle body 50 has an injection passage 54 and an injection port 55 at its tip. A cylindrical bore 56 is formed in the nozzle body 50 so as to traverse the injection flow path 54 . A rotary valve 51 is inserted in this bore 56 .

A through hole 58 is formed through the rotary valve 51 in its diametrical direction. A rotary lever 52 is provided on the rotary valve 51 . The rotary lever 52 is connected to a connecting bar 59 , and the connecting bar 59 is connected to the needle valve driving piston cylinder unit 24 . Therefore, when the needle valve driving piston cylinder unit 24 is driven, the rotary valve can be rotated to the first and second rotational positions. Since the needle valve driving piston-cylinder unit 24 drives the rotating lever 52, it can also be called a rotating lever-driving piston-cylinder unit.

Rotating the rotary valve 51 to the first rotational position aligns the injection passage 54 with the through hole 58 and opens the injection passage 54 . On the other hand, when the rotary valve 51 rotates to the second rotational position, the injection passage 54 is closed by the land portion of the rotary valve 51 . That is, the rotary valve 51 has a valve structure. The shut-off nozzle 2X according to the second type has a sliding portion between the bore 56 and the rotary valve 51 . Therefore, the leak test from the sliding point detects the presence or absence of leakage of the test fluid from the bore 56 .

<Third type shut-off nozzle>
FIG. 5 shows how a third type shut-off nozzle 2Y is attached to the test apparatus 1. As shown in FIG. A shut-off nozzle 2Y according to the third type is composed of a nozzle body 61, a needle valve 62, and an operating lever 63 for driving the needle valve 62 in the axial direction. An injection passage 64 is formed in the nozzle body 61 , and the tip thereof serves as an injection port 65 . However, the injection flow path 64 branches and curves on the way, and then merges to reach the injection port 65 . A support portion 67 is formed in this curved portion.

The needle valve 62 is placed coaxially with the injection flow path 64 and opens and closes the injection port 65 with its tip. A rear end of the needle valve 62 is placed in a support portion 67 . The end of the operating lever 63 is inserted into the support portion 67 and connected to the rear end of the needle valve 62 . The operating lever 63 is connected to the needle valve driving piston cylinder unit 24 via a connecting bar 69 . Therefore, when the needle valve driving piston cylinder unit 24 is driven, the needle valve 62 is driven in the axial direction and the injection port 65 is opened and closed. In the shut-off nozzle 2Y according to the third type, the supporting portion 67 is a sliding portion. The leak test of the sliding portion detects the presence or absence of leakage of the test fluid at this portion.

The invention made by the present inventor has been specifically described above based on the embodiments, but the present invention is not limited to the embodiments already described, and various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. It goes without saying that this is possible. A plurality of examples described above can also be implemented in combination as appropriate.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 testing device 2 shut-off nozzle 4 housing 5 support 6 liquid lump 7 cylinder 9 nozzle mounting member 11 plunger 13 drive cylinder unit 14 air supply source 15 limiter switch 16 piston 17 fluid supply hole 18 stopper 20 fluid supply pipe 21 funnel 23 Bracket
24 Needle valve driving piston cylinder unit 25 Valve driving air supply source 26 Opening 28 Nozzle body 29 Needle valve 31 Injection passage 32 Injection port 33 Needle hole 35 Resin supply device 36 Heating cylinder 38 Melting plunger 39 Hopper 40 Heater 42 Flow path resistor 43 Through hole 45 Resin supply path 47 Cylinder heater 49 Torpedo 50 Nozzle main body 51 Rotary valve 52 Rotating lever 54 Injection flow path 55 Injection port 56 Bore 58 Through hole 59 Connecting bar 61 Nozzle main body 62 Needle valve 63 Operation lever 64 Injection channel 65 Injection port 67 Support part 69 Connection bar

Claims (12)

a cylinder into which the test fluid is placed;
a plunger adapted to be received within the cylinder and pressurize the test fluid;
A shut-off nozzle to be tested having a nozzle body in which an injection passage is formed and a valve structure for opening and closing the injection passage is attached to the tip of the cylinder,
A shut-off nozzle testing apparatus, wherein said test fluid pressurized by said plunger is supplied to said shut-off nozzle. 2. A shut-off nozzle testing device according to claim 1, wherein said testing device comprises a driving cylinder unit operated by hydraulic pressure or air, and said plunger is driven by said driving cylinder unit. 3. The shut-off nozzle testing device according to claim 1, wherein said testing device comprises a limit switch for detecting the position of said plunger. A shut-off nozzle testing device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein said testing device comprises valve driving means for driving said valve structure. 5. The shut-off nozzle testing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said valve structure comprises a needle valve for opening and closing said injection passage. 6. A needle hole is formed in said nozzle body so as to extend from an outer peripheral surface of said nozzle body obliquely to the axial direction and reach said injection passage, and said needle valve is inserted in said needle hole so as to be able to move back and forth. A test device for the shut-off nozzle described in . The needle valve is provided coaxially with the injection passage of the nozzle body, and the nozzle body includes an operation lever inserted from the outer peripheral surface thereof and connected to the rear end portion of the needle valve. 6. A shut-off nozzle testing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein when said needle valve advances by driving an operating lever, said injection port at the tip of said nozzle body is closed, and when said needle valve moves backward, said injection port opens. . The valve structure comprises a cylindrical rotary valve diametrically perforated, and the rotary valve is rotatably received in a bore that is provided in the nozzle body so as to traverse the injection passage. , is rotated by a rotary lever, the injection passage is aligned with the through hole at a first rotation position to open the injection passage, and at a second rotation position the injection passage is opened by the land portion of the rotary valve. A shut-off nozzle testing device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, adapted to be closed. the test fluid is a molten resin,
9. The test device according to any one of claims 1 to 8, comprising: a resin supply device that melts resin and supplies the molten resin to the cylinder; and a cylinder heater that heats the cylinder. Test equipment for shut-off nozzles. The resin supply device is formed with a resin flow path through which the resin flows while being melted,
10. A shut-off nozzle testing apparatus according to claim 9, wherein fluid resistance increasing means for reducing the cross-sectional area of the flow path is provided in the resin flow path. The shut-off nozzle to be tested is attached to the test apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 10,
a closing step of closing the injection channel by the valve structure;
a fluid supply step of driving the plunger to supply the test fluid to the shut-off nozzle, and testing for the presence or absence of leakage of the test fluid from the injection port at the tip of the nozzle body. Nozzle test method. The shut-off nozzle to be tested is attached to the test apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 10,
an opening step of opening the injection channel by the valve structure;
a fluid supply step of driving the plunger to supply the test fluid to the shut-off nozzle, wherein the test fluid flows from a sliding portion formed between the nozzle body and the valve structure. Test method for shut-off nozzles to test for leaks.

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