JP4489657B2 - Dental technician casting equipment - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a casting apparatus for dental technology for producing a dental prosthesis such as an inlay, a crown (metal crown), a metal floor, an implant, and an implant superstructure with a noble metal or a non-noble metal.

  Loss of some or all of the teeth due to caries, periodontal disease, etc. not only causes mastication, decreased pronunciation function, and changes in appearance, but also adversely affects health. Therefore, it is important to treat early and repair missing teeth. As a method for this repair, a method of replacing a missing portion with a metal casting is widely used. The shape of the teeth varies from person to person, and the size and shape of the missing part is not uniform. Therefore, in dental treatment, it is not possible to mass-produce a prosthesis that compensates for a missing part, and it is necessary to produce a prosthesis having a different shape depending on the case of each individual. Moreover, in order to obtain an exact occlusion, it is necessary to produce a prosthesis with high accuracy. Conventionally, a casting apparatus for dental technicians has been used to obtain an appropriate casting satisfying these requirements.

  In such a casting apparatus for dental technicians, a precious metal or non-noble metal material is melted by heating, and the molten metal is poured into a mold having a shape corresponding to a prosthesis. There are methods such as arc heating (see, for example, Patent Document 1), high-frequency induction heating (see, for example, Patent Document 2), and heater heating (see, for example, Patent Document 3).

  Arc heating and high frequency induction heating have the advantages that the metal temperature rises faster and the heating time is shorter than heater heating. On the other hand, since accurate temperature control is difficult, an operator (generally a dental technician) visually observes the melting state of the metal in the crucible and determines that the metal is sufficiently melted. Need to do. For this reason, a difference is likely to occur in the casting depending on the experience and skill of the operator. In addition, if casting is performed with insufficient melting, casting defects and insufficient casting occur, resulting in a defective product. Therefore, it takes time for subsequent processes such as polishing, and the work efficiency deteriorates.

  On the other hand, since accurate temperature control is possible for the heater heating, the preset temperature can be maintained for a predetermined time, the metal can be appropriately melted, and casting can be performed in that state. Therefore, a good casting can be produced with a high yield without depending on the experience and skill of the operator. On the other hand, compared to arc heating or high-frequency heating, it takes time from the start of heating until casting becomes possible, and usually it is necessary to wait for several minutes to about several tens of minutes.

  As described above, in the case of a casting apparatus using arc heating or high-frequency induction heating, the heating time is short and the operator needs to check the melting state. Follow the work. On the other hand, in the case of a casting apparatus using heater heating, although it is not necessary for the operator to check the melting state of the metal, the heating time is long. Therefore, after the heating start instruction, other operations such as mold production and polishing are performed. There are many cases.

  In the field of dental technicians, there are operations such as polishing, so that dust generated by such operations tends to float in the room, but if dust is mixed during casting, it will cause defective products. For this reason, the casting apparatus as described above is installed in a clean room different from the room where other work is performed, or installed in a partitioned place so that dust does not enter even in the same room. It is often done. For this reason, the operator may perform another work such as polishing in another place after instructing the start of heating with the casting apparatus, and in that case, the casting apparatus may not notice even if a buzzer sound is given to notify the end of melting. There are many. Therefore, the operator tends to care about whether or not the melting is completed, and cannot always concentrate on the work such as polishing, which is one of the causes of reducing the work efficiency.

  In addition, as described above, since accurate temperature control is possible with heater heating, there is no possibility that the temperature of the molten metal will become too high even after a lapse of the specified melting time, but the melting time of the metal If it is too long, the trace component in the metal volatilizes and the component ratio changes, which may result in a defective casting. Therefore, in order to improve the quality of the casting, it is desirable to perform the casting operation promptly after the specified melting time has elapsed. However, conventionally, for the reasons as described above, the operator often forgets that the specified melting time has passed, and there have been cases where good casting is hindered.

JP 2002-96155 A Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-285811 JP 2000-176629 A

  The present invention has been made to solve these problems, and the purpose of the present invention is to provide an environment in which an operator can easily concentrate on the production of a prosthesis and improve workability. An object of the present invention is to provide a dental technician casting apparatus capable of suppressing the occurrence of defective products such as casting defects by enabling casting when metal is appropriately melted.

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention is such that a crucible containing a metal as a casting material is heated by a heating means, and the metal is melted in the crucible, and then set in a predetermined position by an operator. A casting apparatus for dental technician that performs casting by pouring the molten metal in the crucible into a mold,
In addition to the main body device for casting, a portable alarm device that is detachable from the main body device is provided.
The main unit is
When the metal is melted by heating the crucible, the time required from the start of melting to the time when the metal is melted and casting becomes possible is calculated, and the remaining time is sequentially updated from the required time as time elapses. 1 timing means,
Information output means for sending out time information by the first time measuring means;
On the other hand, the portable notification device comprises:
In a state where the notification device is connected to the main body device, the time information is received by the information output means, and the remaining time synchronized with the time measurement is updated, and in a state where the notification device is detached from the main body device, A second timing means for measuring the time by self-running from the remaining time immediately before desorption;
An informing means for informing at least sound when the time measured by the second time measuring means reaches a predetermined value;
It is characterized by having.

  The casting apparatus for dental technician according to the present invention is useful for an apparatus in which an operator can leave the casting apparatus when melting metal, that is, it is not necessary to visually monitor the melting state. Therefore, as one aspect of the dental technician casting apparatus according to the present invention, the heating means is heater heating, and temperature detection means for monitoring the temperature of the crucible, and supply to the heating means based on the detected temperature. This is particularly useful for a configuration further comprising heating control means for controlling the heating power to be generated.

  In the casting apparatus for dental technicians according to the present invention, the portable alarm device is normally mounted on the main body device, and the worker stores the metal as the casting material in the crucible and gives an instruction to start melting and heating. The portable alarm device is detached from the main body device and carried when the worker leaves the casting apparatus to perform another work, typically at an appropriate time thereafter. Before the removal, the timing of the second timing means of the portable alarm device is synchronized with the timing of the first timing means by the timing information obtained from the information output means of the main unit. The time required from the start to the end of melt heating varies depending on the casting conditions such as the type of metal (liquidus temperature), the amount of metal, or the preheating temperature at the start of melt heating, but the first timekeeping means is the execution of melt heating Since the required time is calculated from the casting conditions at that time, the accurate required time is calculated.

  Then, when the portable alarm device is removed from the main body by the operator, the second timing means executes self-propelled timing (counting down the remaining time) from the timing immediately before the removal, and the notification means When a preset value is reached, for example, a buzzer sound is notified. Therefore, the worker carrying the portable notification device can, for example, know the remaining time until the end of melting and the melting by the reliable notification by the notification means of the portable notification device at hand regardless of the location. You can know that it has finished. Therefore, as in the past, after giving instructions to start melting and heating, the operator can concentrate on other work such as polishing without worrying about time, and the portable alarm device gives notification. When it is broken, it is possible to rest the hand of the other work and return to the side of the casting apparatus, and immediately after the melting is finished, the mold can be set and cast.

  Thus, according to the casting apparatus for dental technicians according to the present invention, the operator can concentrate on the work at the time, so that workability is improved and mistakes are reduced. In addition, if the worker does not forget to remove the portable alarm device, the worker is surely notified of the end of melting or the end of melting, so that the molten metal is not cast yet. It is possible to prevent leaving for a long time from the end of melting. As a result, the molten metal is in good condition, and casting is easily performed at an appropriate timing, which contributes to the improvement of the quality of the casting. Furthermore, in the dental technician casting apparatus according to the present invention, the portable alarm device has nothing to do with the main body device after being detached from the main body device, and specifically measures time without receiving information by radio waves or the like. As a result, it is not necessary to restrict the place where the worker moves.

  In the dental technician casting apparatus according to the present invention, preferably, the notification means performs a notification at least twice or more when a predetermined time before the time measurement based on the time measurement time becomes zero and zero. It is good to do. Of course, it is preferable that the plurality of notifications are distinguishable by the operator.

  According to this configuration, for example, when the first notification is triggered, the worker rests another work and starts moving to the place where the casting apparatus is installed, and when the predetermined time becomes zero after the second time, Therefore, even if the installation place of the casting apparatus is separated from the place of another work, a problem hardly occurs.

Hereinafter, an inversion type vacuum pressure casting apparatus which is an embodiment of a casting apparatus for dental technicians according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a main part inside a pressure casting apparatus (inside a main body apparatus 1 described later) according to the present embodiment, and the inside of a chamber 10 is shown in a longitudinal sectional view.

  The chamber 10 is made of metal and includes a container portion 10a and a lid portion 10b, and both are connected by a hinge (not shown). An O-ring 11 is provided as a sealing material on the close contact surface between the container portion 10a and the lid portion 10b, and the inside of the chamber 10 is kept airtight in a state where both are brought into close contact and locked by a lock mechanism (not shown). A support base 12 made of a heat insulating material is disposed inside the container portion 10a, and a heater 14 is provided around the inner peripheral surface of a recess 13 formed in a substantially cylindrical shape at the center thereof. . The heater 14 is, for example, a heating wire heater made of platinum alloy or the like, or a ceramic heater made of silicon carbide or the like.

  A ceramic crucible retort 15 having a bottomed cylindrical shape is fitted into the recess 13, and a crucible 16 is detachably fitted inside thereof. A flange is formed at the upper edge of the crucible retort 15, and an upper support 17 made of a refractory material is provided so as to press the flange. A stopper piece 18 is provided on the upper support 17 so as to protrude and retract on the inner peripheral side. When the chamber 10 is inverted, the stopper piece 18 protrudes inward, and the position of the crucible 16 is regulated by abutting the open end edge portion (upper edge portion in FIG. 1) of the stopper piece 18. A temperature detection thermocouple 19 is provided in the space between the bottom surface of the recess 13 and the bottom surface of the crucible retort 15 so as to penetrate the support base 12, and thereby the temperature of the crucible 16 can be detected.

  A coil spring 20 is provided inside the top surface of the lid 10 b of the chamber 10, and the upper support 17 is pressed by pressing the upper surface of the mold 30 mounted with the conical crucible 31 facing downward with the coil spring 20. And the lower surface of the mold 30 are in close contact with each other. Although not shown in FIG. 1, the upper support 17 is not in contact with the casting mold 30 all around, and a flow path that connects the crucible 31 and the internal space of the chamber 10 is formed by being interrupted at a plurality of locations. . The entire periphery of the mold 30 is covered with a cylindrical metal ring 32, and a runner 33 and a cavity 34 communicating with a gate opening at the top of the crucible 31 are formed therein.

  A rotating shaft 21 extending horizontally is fixed to the container portion 10 a of the chamber 10, and the rotational driving force of the motor 22 is transmitted to the rotating shaft 21 via the motor pulley 23, the timing belt 24, and the pulley 25. Thereby, when the motor 22 is operated, the chamber 10 can be rotated around the rotation shaft 21. Moreover, the inside of the rotating shaft 21 is formed hollow, and serves as an air supply / exhaust passage 26 that communicates the inside of the chamber 10 with a vacuum pump and a gas introduction valve not shown in FIG.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an electric system of the pressure casting apparatus according to the present embodiment, and FIG. 3 is a circuit diagram of the portable timer apparatus 2. This casting apparatus includes a main body device 1 and a portable timer device (portable alarm device in the present invention) 2 that can be attached to and detached from the main body device 1 via a connector having an electrical contact point, for example. For example, a slot for inserting the portable timer device 2 is formed on the exterior of the main body device 1, and the portable timer device 2 is inserted into this slot, so that both are electrically connected via the contact portion 8.

  In the main device 1, the control unit 40 is mainly configured by a microcomputer including a CPU, a RAM, a ROM, and the like, and includes a main timer 41 (corresponding to the first time measuring means in the present invention). An operation unit 42 including a plurality of operation keys and a display unit 43 including a numerical value display are connected to the control unit 40, and the operator confirms the numerical values input by the operator with the display unit 43 while operating the operation unit 42. Input can be performed using the operation keys. Further, the control unit 40 includes a lid opening / closing switch 45 that detects the opening / closing of the lid 10 b of the chamber 10, a pressure sensor 46 that detects the pressure in the chamber 10, and a temperature sensor 47 that detects the temperature in the vicinity of the crucible 16 using the thermocouple 19. A predetermined detection signal is input from each of the rotational position sensors 48 that detect the rotational position of the chamber 10 when it rotates. Further, the control unit 40 controls the operations of the vacuum pump 49, the gas introduction valve 50, the motor 22, and the heater 14 via the load driving unit 41 in order to perform casting. Here, the vacuum pump 49 is for exhausting the air inside the chamber 10 to the outside through the air supply / exhaust passage 26, and the gas introduction valve 50 conversely passes the air or air into the chamber 10 through the air supply / exhaust passage 26. It is provided for introducing an inert gas such as argon.

  On the other hand, the portable timer device 2 is configured around a microprocessor (MPU) and includes a control unit 3 including a sub-timer (corresponding to the second time measuring means in the present invention) 9 as a function, a diode bridge circuit D1, and a charging unit. The power supply unit 4 including the capacitor C1 and charged by the power supplied from the main unit 1 and capable of supplying drive power to the control unit 3 for about 1 hour in the fully charged state, and the control unit 3 Contact unit for connecting the display device 5 and the piezoelectric buzzer (corresponding to the notification means in the present invention) 6 that are driven LEDs, the switch 7 of, for example, a push button operated by an operator, and the main body device 1 8.

  In a state where the portable timer device 2 is mounted on the main device 1, the time information of the remaining time based on the time measured by the main timer 41 is periodically transmitted from the control unit 40 of the main device 1 via the contact portion 8. (That is, here, the control unit 40 includes the function of the information output means in the present invention). However, here, in order to reduce the number of contacts, as described later, this time information is sent in time division with the power supply voltage (Vcc) for charging. Since the sub timer 9 of the control unit 3 updates the time every time the time information is received, the latter is synchronized with the former because the main timer 41 is the master and the sub timer 9 is the slave. Therefore, for example, when the main timer 41 performs an operation of being sequentially down-counted from a certain initial value t1, the sub timer 9 is also sequentially down-counted from the initial value t1 in the same way. When the value is changed (for example, when the count time is extended for some reason), the value of the sub timer 9 is changed in the same way accordingly.

  If the portable timer device 2 is removed from the main unit 1 while the sub-timer 9 is counting (down-counting or up-counting) as described above, the control unit 3 detects the removal, and the sub-timer 9 is detected accordingly. The timer 9 sets the time immediately before it as a preset value, and starts down-counting by self-running from there. Then, the control unit 3 sounds the buzzer 6 when the time measured by the sub timer 9 reaches a predetermined value set in advance. Specifically, in this embodiment, as will be described later, the portable timer device 2 is used for melting and heating to melt the metal in the crucible 16, and 5 minutes before the end of the specified melting and heating time, 1 minute before, In addition, the buzzer 6 is sounded in different patterns at the end (zero remaining time). When the portable timer device 2 is removed from the main device 1 when the power supply unit 4 is incompletely charged or when the sub timer 9 is not receiving any time information from the main device 1. The controller 3 that has detected the removal issues a warning to the operator by sounding the buzzer 6 in a different pattern.

  The display 5 has a function of notifying the operator whether or not preparation for removal is ready when the portable timer device 2 is mounted on the main body device 1. That is, when the portable timer device 2 is attached to the main body device 1, the control unit 3 is in a state where charging of the power source unit 4 is incomplete and in a state where valid time information is not received from the main body device 1. In this case, the display 5 is blinked, and when charging is completed and time information is received from the main unit 1, the display 5 is turned on. This is the state ready for removal. Further, when the portable timer device 2 is detached from the main device 1, the control unit 3 turns off the display 5 in order to reduce power consumption.

  If the switch 7 is pressed for a short time while the buzzer 6 is ringing, the control unit 3 that has received the switch 7 stops the buzzer 6. When the switch 7 is further pressed for, for example, 2 seconds or longer, the control unit 3 receiving the switch 7 ends the time notification function itself. That is, the updating of the time count of the sub timer 9 based on the time information from the main device 1 and the time count by the down count of the sub timer 9 itself are stopped.

  FIG. 5 is a timing diagram showing signals sent from the main unit 1 to the portable timer device 2. The DC voltage Vcc for charging is applied between the two signal lines via the contact portion 8 in almost all periods, but a time information transmission period is set every time t. Here, t = 1 ± 0.1 seconds. In this time information transmission period, 16-bit data is transmitted in which the voltage Vcc is intermittent and the binary value of “0” or “1” is expressed by the length of the off time. Of the 16 bits, 12 bits are data representing the remaining time in seconds, and the remaining 4 bits are error detection codes. Of course, these rules are only examples, and it is natural that they can be changed as appropriate to achieve the same purpose.

  In the power supply unit 4, the polarity of the DC voltage applied to the contact unit 8 is made uniform by the diode bridge circuit D <b> 1 and applied to the subsequent stage, so that the potential between the two contacts of the contact unit 8 is either It may be high (that is, either Vcc or GND may be used), thereby enabling reverse insertion when the portable timer device 2 is mounted in the slot of the main device 1.

  FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing an example of an operation program executed in this casting apparatus as a temperature change (temperature program) and execution operation over time during the casting operation. FIG. 6 shows casting using the casting apparatus of this embodiment. It is sectional drawing of the principal part for demonstrating an operation | work. With reference to these FIG. 4 and FIG. 6, the casting operation by this casting apparatus will be described. As an initial state, it is assumed that the portable timer device 2 is attached to the main device 1 and charging of the power supply unit 4 is completed.

  The operator sets various parameters related to casting conditions such as a start (preheating) temperature Ts, a metal melting temperature Tm, and a melting time tm by operating an operation key provided on the operation unit 42. In response to this, the control unit 40 creates an operation program as shown in FIG. When the operation program is determined, the control unit 40 activates the heater 14 via the load driving unit 44, raises the temperature detected by the temperature sensor 47 to the start temperature Ts, and maintains the state.

  With the chamber 10 opened as shown in FIG. 6A, the operator stores the metal ingot M1 in the crucible 16 and instructs the operation unit 42 to start melting. Then, a large heating current starts to be supplied to the heater 14 according to an instruction from the control unit 40, the temperature is increased until the temperature detected by the temperature sensor 47 reaches the melting temperature Tm, and then maintained near the melting temperature Tm.

  Here, the rate of temperature increase from the start temperature Ts to the melting temperature Tm is controlled to be constant, for example, 100 ° C./min. Therefore, the temperature raising time from the start temperature Ts to the melting temperature Tm can be easily calculated, and the holding time after reaching the melting temperature Tm is also determined as the melting time tm. The required time ta until the time point (that is, when the preparation for casting is completed) t1 can be easily obtained. The controller 40 calculates the required time ta, sets it in the main timer 41 at the start of melting, and starts down-counting. As an example, if the start temperature Ts = 1100 ° C., Tm = 1400 ° C., and tm = 10 minutes, the temperature rise time from the start temperature Ts to the melting temperature Tm can be calculated as 3 minutes. The required time ta until melting end time t1 is 13 minutes. Accordingly, effective time information starts to be transmitted from the main device 1 to the portable timer device 2 as described above, and the sub timer 9 of the control unit 3 indicates the same time in synchronization with the main timer 41.

  Since the effective time information is not transmitted to the portable timer device 2 until the melting start time t0, the control unit 3 causes the display 5 to blink and display the melting start instruction as described above. When the effective time information starts to be transmitted, the control unit 3 changes the display 5 to the lighting display. Thereby, the operator determines that the preparation for removing the portable timer device 2 is completed, and removes the portable timer device 2 from the main body device 1 and puts it in, for example, a pocket of clothes. Then, in order to carry out another work with the portable timer device 2, the worker leaves the casting apparatus and goes to, for example, a separate chamber to perform work such as polishing.

  In the portable timer device 2, when the control unit 3 detects the removal from the main unit 1 because the signal is not received via the contact unit 2, the control unit 3 turns off the display 5 and counts down the self-run by the sub timer 9. To start. The driving power of the control unit 3 at this time is supplied by the power supply unit 4. For example, if the portable timer device 2 is detached from the main unit 1 when the time of the sub timer 9 synchronized with the main timer 41 is 12 minutes, the sub timer 9 starts to count down from 12 minutes by itself.

  In the main body device 1, when the temperature of the crucible 16 rises as time elapses from the instruction to start melting and is maintained near the melting temperature Tm, the metal ingot M1 in the crucible 16 is gradually dissolved and liquefied. On the other hand, in the portable timer device 2, the time count of the sub timer 9 indicating the remaining time until the melting end time t2 is decreased, and when the time count becomes 5 minutes, the control unit 3 drives the buzzer 6 to the predetermined time. The buzzer 6 sounds with a pattern. Thereby, since the operator can recognize that the remaining time until the casting preparation completion time is 5 minutes, for example, the work performed at that time can be adjusted.

  When the time count of the sub timer 9 is further reduced and the time count becomes 1 minute, the control unit 3 drives the buzzer 6 to sound the buzzer 6 in a predetermined pattern different from the previous one. As a result, the operator can recognize that the remaining time until the casting preparation completion time is 1 minute, so that, for example, the work being performed at that time is temporarily interrupted and returned to the place where the casting apparatus is installed. When the sub-timer 9 counts, that is, when the remaining time becomes zero, the control unit 3 drives the buzzer 6 to ring the buzzer 6 in a predetermined pattern for notifying completion of casting preparation. The operator presses the switch 7 to stop the buzzer 6 from ringing, and the mold 30 that has been heated to a temperature of, for example, about 600 to 900 ° C. in an electric furnace different from the present casting apparatus is shown in FIG. As shown, it is set upside down above the crucible 16, and the lid 10b is closed to bring the chamber 10 into a sealed state.

  The closure of the lid 10b is notified to the controller 40 by the lid opening / closing switch 45. The mold 30 is strongly biased downward by the coil spring 20, and as shown in FIG. 6 (b), the gate of the mold 30 and the opening surface of the crucible 16 are vertically opposed to each other. The metal is a melted molten metal M2.

  When the operator instructs the start of casting through the operation unit 42, the gas introduction valve 50 is closed and the vacuum pump 49 is operated according to the instruction from the control unit 40. Thereby, the air inside the chamber 10 is discharged to the outside through the air supply / exhaust passage 26, and the degree of vacuum in the chamber 10 is increased. Even during this vacuum suction period, the temperature of the crucible 16 is maintained at the previous melting temperature Tm. The pressure in the chamber 10 is monitored by the pressure sensor 46. When the pressure reaches a predetermined value, the motor 22 is driven by an instruction from the control unit 40, and the chamber 10 is rotated in the forward rotation direction from the upright position. When the fluidity of the molten metal in the crucible 16 is high, the molten metal flowing out from the inclined crucible 16 before the chamber 10 is completely inverted starts to be poured into the crucible 31 of the mold 30. For example, at a predetermined time slightly before the inverted position, the control unit 40 stops the operation of the vacuum pump 49 and opens the gas introduction valve 50. Then, the compressed air rapidly flows into the chamber 10 through the air supply / exhaust passage 26, and the air flows into the crucible 31 through the gap between the open end of the crucible 16 and the mold 30. As a result, immediately after the molten metal flowing out of the crucible 16 flows into the crucible 31 and completely closes the gate, pressure by air is applied to the upper surface, and the molten metal flows smoothly into the cavity 34.

  Since the inside of the chamber 10 is maintained in a vacuum atmosphere until just before the introduction of the gas, the inside of the cavity 34 closed with the molten metal is in a vacuum state, and the molten metal is brought into the runner 33 due to the pressure difference from the air pressure on the upper surface side. Through and into the cavity 34. During this time, the inversion of the chamber 10 proceeds. When the chamber 10 reaches the inverted position, the control unit 40 that has received the detection signal from the rotation position sensor 48 stops the motor 22. Then, after a predetermined time has elapsed, the control unit 40 stops energizing the heater 14. When the energization of the heater 14 is stopped, the inside of the chamber 10 is naturally cooled, and the molten metal filled in the cavity 34 of the mold 30 starts to solidify.

  Then, when a predetermined cooling time (usually about 1 minute) elapses and the metal is solidified, the motor 22 is driven again by an instruction from the control unit 40, and the chamber 10 is moved from the inverted position in the direction opposite to the forward rotation direction. Rotate to an upright position. When the rotational position sensor 48 detects that the chamber 10 has reached the upright position, the motor 22 is stopped and the casting operation is completed. Thereafter, the operator opens the lid portion 10b of the chamber 10 and takes out the mold 30, waits for the mold 30 to cool down, pulls out the mold 30 from the metal ring 32, pulverizes the investment material, and takes out the cast metal. .

  As described above, in the casting apparatus according to the present embodiment, the portable timer apparatus 2 that is detachable from the main body apparatus 1 is removed and carried by the operator after the start of melting instruction, so that the installation location of the casting apparatus (main body apparatus 1) can be obtained. Even when moving to a place away from the work, the buzzer sound of the portable timer device 2 gives an appropriate notification according to the remaining time until the completion of casting preparation, so the optimal timing for casting is lost. There is no. In addition, since the operator does not have to worry about the remaining time until the end of melting with a watch or the like, it is possible to concentrate on another work during the melting and heating.

  It should be noted that the above embodiment is an example of the present invention, and it is obvious that modifications, changes, and additions as appropriate within the scope of the present invention are included in the scope of the claims of the present application.

The schematic block diagram of the principal part inside the casting apparatus which is one Example of this invention. The electric system block block diagram of the pressure casting apparatus of a present Example. The circuit diagram of the portable timer apparatus in FIG. The schematic diagram which shows an example of the operation program performed in the casting apparatus of a present Example as the temperature change (temperature program) with time progress at the time of casting operation, and execution operation. The timing diagram which shows the signal sent to a portable timer apparatus from a main body apparatus in the casting apparatus of a present Example. Sectional drawing of the principal part for demonstrating the casting operation using the casting apparatus of a present Example.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Main body apparatus 10 ... Chamber 10a ... Container part 10b ... Cover part 11 ... O-ring 12 ... Support base 13 ... Recess 14 ... Heater 15 ... Crucible retort 16 ... Crucible 17 ... Upper support 18 ... Stopper piece 19 ... Thermocouple 21 ... Rotary shaft 22 ... Motor 23 ... Motor pulley 24 ... Timing belt 25 ... Pulley 26 ... Air supply / exhaust passage 30 ... Mold 40 ... Control part 41 ... Main timer 42 ... Operating part 43 ... Display part 44 ... Load drive part 45 ... Cover opening / closing switch 46 ... pressure sensor 47 ... temperature sensor 48 ... rotational position sensor 49 ... vacuum pump 50 ... gas introduction valve 2 ... portable timer device 3 ... control unit 4 ... power supply unit 5 ... display 6 ... piezoelectric buzzer 7 ... switch 8 ... contact part 9 ... Deputy timer

Claims (3)

A crucible containing a metal as a casting material is heated by a heating means, and after the metal is melted in the crucible, the molten metal in the crucible is poured into a mold set in a predetermined position by an operator and cast. A casting apparatus for dental technicians,
In addition to the main body device for casting, a portable alarm device that is detachable from the main body device is provided.
The main unit is
When the metal is melted by heating the crucible, the time required from the start of melting to the time when the metal is melted and casting becomes possible is calculated, and the remaining time is sequentially updated from the required time as time elapses. 1 timing means,
Information output means for sending out time information by the first time measuring means;
On the other hand, the portable notification device comprises:
In a state where the notification device is connected to the main body device, the time information is received by the information output means, and the remaining time synchronized with the time measurement is updated, and in a state where the notification device is detached from the main body device, A second timing means for measuring the time by self-running from the remaining time immediately before desorption;
An informing means for informing at least sound when the time measured by the second time measuring means reaches a predetermined value;
A casting apparatus for dental technician, comprising:   The heating means is heater heating, and further comprises temperature detection means for monitoring the temperature of the crucible and heating control means for controlling heating power supplied to the heating means based on the detected temperature. The casting apparatus for dental technician according to claim 1. 2. The dental technician according to claim 1, wherein the notification unit performs notification at least twice when a predetermined time before the time measured by the second time measurement becomes zero and when the time becomes zero. Casting equipment.

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