JP3626955B2 - Isotropic pressure forming equipment - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an apparatus that performs heating and isotropic pressurization through a high-temperature liquid to form an object to be pressed.
[0002]
[Prior art]
2. Description of the Related Art An apparatus is known in which an object to be pressurized is accommodated in a pressure vessel, a liquid is supplied in a state where the pressure vessel is sealed, and pressure is applied to the object to be pressurized via the liquid. In this case, isotropic pressurization can be realized by pressurizing via a liquid. Furthermore, if the liquid is a high-temperature liquid, it is possible to pressurize while heating. An apparatus for performing isotropic pressure while heating is described in, for example, Patent Document 1.
[0003]
A multilayer electronic component such as a multilayer capacitor is molded using such an apparatus. A multilayer capacitor is manufactured by alternately laminating a sheet of a conductor having a predetermined shape and a ceramic green sheet, pressurizing them, heating them simultaneously to cure the binder between the layers, and firing the ceramic. A conductor having a predetermined shape serves as an electrode, and the fired ceramic layer serves as an insulator. In practice, this is cut into a predetermined shape and used as a circuit element. In a state where the conductor sheet and the ceramic green sheet are laminated, the green sheet is soft and the shape is not constant. Therefore, the laminate of the conductor sheet and the green sheet is placed on the plate-like member, and heating and pressing are performed in this state.
[0004]
A workpiece having an indeterminate shape before processing, such as the green sheet described above, requires holding means for holding it in a predetermined shape until the end of processing. In the case of the laminated body, a plate-like member on which the laminated sheet is placed is used in order to hold the laminated sheet before processing in a plate shape. If the workpiece and the holding means are raised to a predetermined temperature during processing in the pressure vessel, the time for occupying the pressure vessel becomes long, and the productivity cannot be increased. Patent Document 2 discloses a technique for preheating the workpiece and the holding means before press molding to shorten the occupation time of the pressure vessel.
[0005]
[Patent Document 1]
Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 4-44358 [Patent Document 2]
JP 2002-35995 A [0006]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
The apparatus disclosed in Patent Document 2 includes a path for feeding a workpiece to a pressure vessel after preheating, and a path for collecting the workpiece after completion of pressure molding from the container. While recovering a subsequent workpiece or the like from the pressure vessel, there was a time during which the workpiece to be processed next could not be sent to the pressure vessel. For this reason, there was a problem that the tact time could not be shortened and productivity was not improved.
[0007]
An object of the present invention is to provide an isotropic pressure molding apparatus in which productivity is improved.
[0008]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The present invention relates to a loading station that is a position for loading a workpiece, a preheating station that is a position for preheating the loaded workpiece, and a position for isotropic pressure molding while heating the workpiece after preheating. A pressure forming station, a carry-out station that is a position for taking out the workpiece after pressure molding, and the workpiece from the carry-in station to the carry-out station via the preheating station and the pressure molding station, Transport means for transporting so that the trajectory between the stations is in one direction without overlapping,
have.
[0009]
The pressure molding station can be provided with a pressure container that holds the workpiece and pressurizes the liquid through a liquid, and further stores a liquid for keeping the pressure container warm, and the heating container is stored in the liquid. A constant temperature bath to be immersed can be arranged. On the other hand, the preheating station can be provided with a preheating bath that shares the liquid with the thermostatic bath and preheats the workpiece by immersing the workpiece in the liquid.
[0010]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention (hereinafter referred to as embodiments) will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a plan view showing a schematic arrangement of each work position of the isotropic pressure molding apparatus 10. The swivel arm 12 has a trifurcated shape as shown, and a swivel table 14 on which a basket for holding a workpiece is placed is supported at the tip of each arm. The position of the lower right turning table 14 shown in the figure is a loading / unloading station 16 for loading a workpiece before machining and for unloading the workpiece after machining. Further, the position of the left table shown in the figure is a preheating station 18 for preheating the workpiece. A preheating tank 20 in which a preheating liquid is stored is disposed below the turntable 14. Although details will be described later, the work piece is placed in the preheating tank 20 and preheated in a state of being placed on the basket. Further, the position of the upper right turning table 14 shown in the drawing is a pressure forming station 22 where pressure forming is performed. A pressure vessel 24 is disposed below the swivel table 14, and a liquid serving as a pressure medium is stored in the pressure vessel 24. Further, the pressure vessel 24 is immersed in the liquid in the thermostatic chamber 26.
[0011]
FIG. 2 is a right side view of the isotropic pressure forming apparatus 10, particularly a view showing a part of the loading / unloading station 16. The other parts are outlined. A lifting table 28 is disposed below the turning table 14. The basket 30 on which the workpiece is placed is loaded from the side of the lifting / lowering table 28 shown in the figure, that is, at a position lower than the turning table 14, and placed thereon. Laminates with alternating conductors and ceramic green sheets, which are workpieces, are soft and deformed before processing, so they are placed on a metal plate such as stainless steel with good thermal conductivity and excellent corrosion resistance. Yes. Further, the laminate and the metal plate are sealed in a bag formed of a water-resistant film in an integrated state. The laminate as a workpiece is sealed with the metal plate as described above and placed on the basket 30 before being carried in. When the workpiece is carried into the carry-in / carry-out station 16, the turning table 14 is actually in a position retracted from the position above the lifting table 28. When the basket 30 is placed, the elevating table 28 is raised by an elevating cylinder 32 constituted by a hydraulic cylinder. At the same time, the suspension hook 34 disposed above is lowered by the suspension cylinder 36 formed of a hydraulic cylinder and engages with the hook on the upper portion of the basket 30. Thereafter, the basket 30 is raised to a position higher than the turning table 14 by the suspension cylinder 36. Then, the turning table 14 turns and moves to a position directly below the basket 30, and the basket 30 is placed thereon.
[0012]
At the time of unloading the workpiece after processing, an operation opposite to that at the time of loading is performed. That is, the basket 30 on the turning table 14 is first suspended and raised by the hanging hook 34, and then the turning table 14 is turned and retracted and then lowered. The lift table 28 greets this. In the state where the basket 30 is placed, the lifting table 28 is tilted by the extension of the tilting cylinder 38 constituted by a hydraulic cylinder, and the liquid accumulated on the shelf board or the workpiece is poured and discarded. Then, it is carried out to the side.
[0013]
FIG. 3 is a front view of the isotropic pressure molding apparatus 10, in particular, a view showing the preheating station 18 and the pressure molding station 22. The other parts are outlined. The basket 30 is sent from the loading / unloading station 16 to the preheating station 18 by the turning of the turning table 14. In the turning of the turning table 14, the reciprocating motion of the table turning cylinder 40 constituted by a hydraulic cylinder is converted into the turning motion by the rack and pinion mechanism 42, which turns the turning column 44, the turning arm 12 and the turning table 14. . When the basket 30 is sent to the preheating station 18, it engages with a suspension hook 48 that is lowered by a suspension cylinder 46 constituted by a hydraulic cylinder, and is further lifted by the suspension cylinder 46. The turning table 14 is turned and retracts from directly below the basket 30. The hanging hook 48 descends while the basket 30 is suspended, and places the basket 30 on the lifting table 50. The lifting table 50 is lowered by a lifting cylinder 52 constituted by a hydraulic cylinder, whereby the basket 30 is put into the preheating tank 20. A liquid heated to a predetermined temperature, for example, water, is stored in the preheating tank 20, and the workpiece and the basket 30 are heated in advance by this liquid. After heating for a predetermined time, the elevating table 50 is raised, and the basket 30 is suspended by the hanging hook 48. Below this, the revolving table 14 that has been retracted is sent, and the basket 30 is placed thereon as the hanging hook 48 descends. Then, as the turning table 14 turns, the basket 30 holding the workpiece is sent to the pressure forming station 22.
[0014]
At the thermoforming station 22, the basket 30 is engaged with a hanging hook 56 fixed to the bottom of the pressure vessel top lid 54. The upper lid 54 is suspended by the chain 50 and is lifted and lowered by a lifting motor in the upper lid support column 58. The upper lid 54 raises the basket 30 slightly, and the revolving table 14 revolves and retreats from just below the basket 30. When the turning table 14 is retracted, the upper lid is lowered, and the basket 30 holding the workpiece is put into the pressure vessel 24.
[0015]
FIG. 4 is a diagram schematically showing the configuration of the pressure forming station 22, particularly the pressure vessel 24 and the surroundings thereof. The basket 30 suspended from the upper lid 54 is lowered together with the upper lid 54 and put into the pressure vessel 24. When the upper lid 54 closes the opening of the vessel, the pin 62 penetrates the upper lid 54 and is shown in FIG. Thus, the pressure vessel 24 is sealed. On the other hand, the liquid in the thermostatic chamber 26 is sent into the pressure vessel 24 through the pipes 66 and 68 by the circulation pump 64 when the pressure vessel 24 is open.
[0016]
Since the charged workpiece, metal plate, and basket 30 have already been preheated and the temperature has been increased, pressurization can be started early after the workpiece is immersed in the liquid. The valve 70 is closed, the booster pump 72 is driven, and the liquid in the thermostatic chamber 26 is sent to the pressure vessel 24 through the pipes 66 and 68 to increase the pressure in the vessel. When a predetermined pressure is reached, this pressure is maintained for a predetermined time. During this time, the object to be pressed is pressure-molded and cured by heating and pressurization with a liquid. When a predetermined time elapses, the valves 70 and 74 are opened, the pressure in the pressure vessel 24 is released, and excess liquid is returned to the thermostatic chamber 26 via the pipe 76.
[0017]
After releasing the pressure, the pin 62 is removed, the basket 30 is raised together with the upper lid 54, and the turning table 14 is turned and placed thereon. Then, the turning table 14 is turned to send the basket 30 holding the workpiece to the loading / unloading station 16. At the station 16, as described above, the basket 30 is tilted, and the liquid is poured and discarded, and then it is carried out.
[0018]
FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the relationship between the preheating tank 20 and the thermostatic chamber 26. The liquid stored in the preheating tank 20 is sent from the thermostatic tank 26 by the preheating tank liquid feed pump 78, and the overflowed liquid flows out from the communication opening 80 of the preheating tank 20 and returns to the thermostatic tank 26.
[0019]
In the present embodiment, the swivel table 14 can swivel within a range of 120 °, and when the basket 30 is sent to the next station, it returns to the previous station and receives the next basket 30. Further, the position where the turning table 14 is rotated by 60 ° from the position in FIG. 1 is the retreat position. When pressure molding is performed at the pressure molding station 22, preheating is performed at the preheating station 18 in parallel with this, and at the loading / unloading station 16, the object to be pressurized is unloaded. The workpiece to be processed next is carried in. And when the turning table 14 turns, the three turning tables 14 each convey the basket 30 to the next station. Focusing on one basket 30, the movement between the stations draws a circular arc, and the movement direction is one direction clockwise in FIG.
[0020]
As described above, the isotropic pressure forming apparatus 10 of the present embodiment conveys the basket 30 with the turning table 14 that rotates in both forward and reverse directions within a range of about 120 °, but the table continuously rotates in only one direction. You can also It is also possible to arrange the loading and unloading stations independently.
[0021]
Further, as in the device described in Patent Document 2, the basket is not moved by sliding on the guide rail, but in this device, the table is moved while being placed on the turntable 14, The apparatus can be stably operated without worrying about the slipping state. Further, since the basket moves in one direction, the movement paths between the baskets do not overlap or cross each other and can be efficiently conveyed.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a plan view showing a schematic configuration of an isotropic pressure molding apparatus according to an embodiment.
FIG. 2 is a right side view showing a schematic configuration of the isotropic pressure forming apparatus of the present embodiment.
FIG. 3 is a front view showing a schematic configuration of the isotropic pressure molding apparatus of the present embodiment.
FIG. 4 is a schematic configuration diagram of a pressure vessel of a pressure forming station, particularly showing a state in which the vessel is opened.
FIG. 5 is a schematic configuration diagram of a pressure vessel of a pressure forming station, particularly showing a state in which the vessel is closed.
FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a relationship between a preheating bath and a thermostatic bath.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Isotropic pressure forming apparatus, 12 turning arm, 14 turning table, 16 carrying in / out station, 18 preheating station, 20 preheating tank, 22 pressure forming station, 24 pressure vessel, 26 thermostatic bath, 30 basket.

Claims (1)

A loading station which is a position for loading a workpiece;
A preheating station which is a position for preheating the workpiece that has been brought in;
A pressure forming station which is a position for isotropic pressure forming while heating the workpiece after preheating;
An unloading station which is a position for taking out the workpiece after pressure molding;
Conveying means for conveying the work piece from the carry-in station to the carry-out station via the preheating station and the pressure forming station so that the trajectory between the stations is not overlapped, and
Have a,
The pressure molding station is provided with a pressure container that holds the workpiece and pressurizes the liquid through a liquid, and further stores a liquid for keeping the pressure container warm, and the pressure container is immersed in the liquid. A tank is placed,
In the preheating station, the constant temperature bath and a preheating bath sharing the liquid are arranged,
The workpiece is immersed in a liquid in a preheating tank and preheated.
Isotropic pressure forming equipment.

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