JPH08207048A - Resin supply apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To supply a preheated resin to a heating cylinder while efficiently removing moisture from the resin in an oxygen shutout state in a plastic injection molding machine. CONSTITUTION: First, second and third shutters 5, 6, 7 are provided to a hopper 2 in a freely openable and closable manner so that a hopper space 20, a first chamber 21 and a second chamber 22 are formed in series in a mutually communicable or airtightly freely separable manner within the hopper 2 between a charging port 2a and an emitting port 2b and a vacuum pump 9 and an inert gas generator 10 are connected to the first hose port 2c provided to the lower part of the first chamber 21 through valves 91, 101. When pellets 40 are charged in the first chamber 21 until they become a definite amt., the shutters 5, 6, 7 are closed to perform the degassing of the pellets and, when the pellets in the second chamber become a non-definite amt., the first chamber 21 is filled with inert gas to charge pellets 40 in a dried and degassed state.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a resin supply device for supplying preheated resin to a heating cylinder in a plastic injection molding machine.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, when a molten resin material contains water or air during injection molding of a thermoplastic resin, the water or air causes discoloration or deterioration of the resin.
The quality of the molded product deteriorates. Therefore, a vacuum dryer is known for the purpose of drying the feed material resin. In addition, in Japanese Patent Laid-Open Nos. 1-154713, 4-40892, and 5-20511, etc., a method of introducing an inert gas into the resin in the apparatus for the purpose of shutting out oxygen is also proposed. Has been done.

[0003]

However, even if the raw material resin is dried by using a vacuum dryer, the resin is exposed to the outside air in the steps of transportation and melting, and as a result, water and oxygen are taken in again. Therefore, the efficiency of the drying process was not so good. Further, in the method of introducing an inert gas, since the specific gravity of the inert gas is lighter than that of air, unless a large amount of the gas is used, the gas stays in the upper part of the device or leaks from the device. However, it is difficult to supply and melt the resin in an inert gas atmosphere. Therefore, if an attempt is made to completely dry the resin by utilizing the characteristics of the inert gas, a large amount of the inert gas is required, and the gas supply device becomes very large.

In view of the above circumstances, an object of the present invention is to provide a resin supply device capable of efficiently and continuously removing water and oxygen with a small amount of inert gas.

[0005]

The invention according to claim 1 of the present invention comprises a hopper (2) having an inlet (2a) and an outlet (2b), and a plurality of hoppers (2) are provided in the hopper (2). The shutters (5, 6, 7) of the discharge port (2a) and the discharge port (2)
Between the b), the resin receiving space (2
0) and the first chamber (21) and the second chamber (22)
Are openably and closably connected to each other so as to be connected in series or airtightly separable from each other, and the discharge opening (2b) of the second chamber (22) supplies the resin (40) to the second chamber (22). When connected to the supply means (3a), it is arranged so as to communicate with the inside of the supplied means (3a) in an airtight manner, and a gas inlet / outlet (2c) is provided at a location corresponding to the first chamber (21) of the hopper (2). To form the gas inlet / outlet (2
In (c), an inert gas supply means (10) capable of supplying an inert gas to the first chamber (21) and a vacuum pump (9) capable of degassing from the first chamber are connected to each other. , Composed.

According to a second aspect of the invention, in the resin supply device (1) according to the first aspect, the second chamber (22) is provided.
Is connected to a second inert gas supply means (27) capable of supplying an inert gas.

According to a third aspect of the invention, in the resin supply device (1) according to the first aspect, the gas inlet / outlet port (2c) is provided.
Is arranged so as to be located under the first chamber (21).

According to a fourth aspect of the invention, in the resin supply device (1) according to the first aspect, the second chamber (22) is provided.
Inert gas exhaust means (2d, 2
5) is provided.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the resin supply device (1) according to the first aspect, a sensor (for detecting a storage state of the resin (40) in the first and second chambers (21, 22) ( 11, 12) and whether or not the resin (40) in the first and second chambers (21, 22) is quantitative based on the detection signals (P1, P2) of the sensor (11, 12). A determination means (36, 37) is provided, and the plurality of shutters (5, 6, 7) are provided with the determination means (36, 37).
The plurality of shutters (5, 6, 7) based on the determination by
Shutter drive control means (32, 33,
34) is connected.

According to a sixth aspect of the invention, in the resin supply device (1) according to the first aspect, the first chamber (21) is provided.
Is airtightly separated from the resin receiving space (20) and the second chamber (22) through the plurality of shutters (5, 6, 7), and the inert gas supply means (1
0) and the first chamber (2) by the vacuum pump (9).
Valve control means (31, 3) for controlling the inert gas supply means (10) and the valves (101, 91) of the vacuum pump (9) so as to supply and degas the inert gas of 1).
It is characterized by comprising 5).

The numbers in parentheses are for convenience of showing corresponding elements in the drawings, and accordingly,
This description is not limited to the description in the drawings.
The same applies to the following sections of action and effect of the invention.

[0012]

With the above-mentioned structure, in the invention according to claim 1 of the present invention, the first chamber (21) is connected to the resin receiving space (20) through a plurality of shutters (5, 6, 7). The inert gas supply means (1) is provided in the first chamber (21) in a state where the second chamber (22) is airtightly separated.
0) to supply an inert gas, and a vacuum pump (9)
The first chamber (21) is degassed by.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the inert gas that has been diluted when the first chamber (21) and the second chamber (22) are communicated with each other is supplied to the second inert gas supply means (27). ) To the second chamber (22).

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the inert gas rises in the first chamber (21) due to the characteristic that the specific gravity is smaller than that of air, so that the inert gas reaches every corner of the first chamber (21). Is filled.

In the fourth aspect of the invention, the inert gas exhausting means (2d, 25) exhausts the surplus inert gas from the upper part of the second chamber (22) to the outside of the hopper (2).

According to the fifth aspect of the invention, when the first chamber (21) reaches a fixed amount, the shutter drive control means (3
2, 33, 34) drive and control the plurality of shutters (5, 6, 7) so as to airtightly separate the resin receiving space (20) and the first chamber (21), and the second chamber (22). Is no longer quantitative, the first chamber (2
The plurality of shutters (5, 6, 7) are driven and controlled so that 1) and the second chamber (22) communicate with each other.

According to the sixth aspect of the invention, the first chamber (21) is hermetically separated from the resin receiving space (20) and the second chamber (22) by the valve control means (31, 35). The operation of degassing the first chamber (21) and supplying the inert gas is automatically executed.

[0018]

EXAMPLE As shown in FIG. 1, a resin supply apparatus 1 has a vertical hopper 2 formed in a funnel shape.
An input port 2a is formed at the upper end of the. At the lower end of the hopper 2, a heating cylinder 3a which is a means to be supplied to which the resin supply device 1 supplies the resin, and a hopper port 2b which is a discharge port.
It is connected to the hopper 2 in such a manner as to be in communication with the hopper 2 via a screw, and the screw 3 is inserted into the heating cylinder 3a in a rotationally driveable manner by a drive unit 3b. .

As shown in FIG. 1, the hopper 2 has three shutters, that is, a first shutter 5, a second shutter 6 and a third shutter 7, each of which is a drive cylinder 51, 61, 71.
Are arranged side by side in the upper, lower and middle directions such that the inside of the hopper 2 can be opened and closed so as to vertically partition the inside of the hopper 2 between the input port 2a and the hopper port 2b. 5, the second shutter 6 and the third shutter 7 allow the four spaces, that is, the hopper space 20, the preliminary chamber 23, the first chamber 21, and the second chamber 22 to be communicated and separated from each other from the top of FIG. Is formed in a shape. The hopper space 20 is a resin receiving space,
Further, the second chamber 22 is configured to communicate with the inside of the heating cylinder 3a in an airtight manner in a state where the hopper port 2b is connected to the heating cylinder 3a.

In addition, as shown in FIG.
The first hose port 2c is formed as a gas inlet / outlet port located below the first chamber 21, and the first hose port 2c is connected to the vacuum pump 9 via a hose and an inert gas such as nitrogen. Inert gas generator 10 that can supply air
Are connected via a D1 valve 91 and a D2 valve 101, respectively. In addition, the hopper 2 has a second hose port 2
d is formed so as to be located above the second chamber 22, and the downward hose 25 is provided at the second hose port 2d.
Is attached and attached, and the second hose port 2d and the downward hose 25 serve as an inert gas exhausting means. further,
The base 26 shown in the lower part of the hopper 2 is provided with a gas constant supply passage 27 fixed downward to the lower part of the second chamber 22. The inert gas generator 10 is connected through the variable pressure valve 103. Therefore, the constant gas supply path 27 serves as a second inert gas supply means for supplying the inert gas generated by the inert gas generator 10 to the second chamber 22. A pressure indicator 102 is connected to the second inert gas supply means.

In addition, as shown in FIG.
A first sensor 11 capable of detecting the storage state of the pellets 40 in the first chamber 21 and a second sensor 12 capable of detecting the storage state of the pellets 40 in the second chamber 22 are mounted. That is, the first and second sensors 11 and 12 are mounted on the hopper 2 so as to be arranged at the predetermined height positions of the first and second chambers 21 and 22, and the first and second sensors 11 and 12 are mounted at the predetermined height positions. When the second sensors 11 and 12 detect the pellet 40 and output the pellet detection signals P1 and P2, the first and second chambers 21 and 22 are in a quantitative state. Then, in the resin supply device 1, according to the quantitative state of the first and second chambers 21 and 22 by these sensors 11 and 12,
The three shutters 5, 6, 7 and the valves 91, 101,
A resin supply control device 30 for driving and controlling the screw 102 and the drive portion 3b of the screw 3 is provided.

As shown in FIG. 2, the resin supply control device 30 has a main control section 31, and the main control section 31 has a first shutter drive control section 32 and a first shutter drive control section 32 via a bus line or the like. 2 shutter drive control section 33, 3rd shutter drive control section 34,
Valve control unit 35, first chamber quantitative determination unit 36, second
The chamber quantitative determination unit 37, the screw drive control unit 38, etc. are connected. The first shutter drive control unit 32 includes the drive cylinder 51 of the first shutter 5, and the second shutter drive control unit 33 includes the drive cylinder 61 of the second shutter 6.
The drive cylinders 71 of the third shutter 7 are connected to the third shutter drive control unit 34, and the D1 valve 91 and the D2 valve 10 are connected to the valve control unit 35.
1, D3 valve 102 is connected. Furthermore, the first
The first sensor 11 is connected to the chamber quantitative determination unit 36, the second sensor 12 is connected to the second chamber quantitative determination unit 37, and the driving unit 3b of the screw 3 is connected to the screw drive control unit 38.

In the present embodiment, the first and second chamber quantitative determination units 36 and 37 of the resin supply controller 30.
Are detection signals P1 and P of the first and second sensors 11 and 12, respectively.
It is a determining means for determining whether or not the amount of the resin in the first and second chambers 21 and 22 is constant based on 2, and the first, second and third shutter drive control units 32 and 33. ,
Reference numeral 34 is a shutter drive control means for driving each of the first, second and third shutters 5, 6, 7 based on the determination by the determination means. Further, the main control unit 31 and the valve control unit 35 allow the first chamber 21 to move through the first, second and third shutters 5, 6, 7 to the hopper space 2
0 and the second chamber 22 are airtightly separated,
The inert gas generator 10 and the vacuum pump 9 supply and degas the inert gas in the first chamber 21.
It serves as valve control means for controlling the inert gas generator 10 and the valves 101 and 91 of the vacuum pump 9.

Since the resin supply device 1 has the above-mentioned structure, the heating cylinder 3 is operated by the resin supply device 1.
When performing the resin supply operation to a, first, preheated resin (hereinafter referred to as pellets) 40 is charged into the hopper space 20 from the charging port 2a. When the resin supply control device 30 is operated in this state, the resin supply program P shown in FIG.
In accordance with RO, the dry supply of the pellets 40 is started.

That is, first, when a dry supply command S1 is sent to the resin supply control device 30, the main control section 31 which receives the dry supply command S1 transmits a primary drop command signal S2. Then, first, in step ST1 of FIG. 3, the second shutter drive control unit 33 drives the drive cylinder 61, whereby the second shutter 6 is opened. Next, the first shutter drive controller 32 drives the drive cylinder 62, which causes the first shutter 5 to open. At this time, the third shutter 7 is closed (that is, the first chamber 21 and the second chamber 22 are separated).
It has become. Then, by opening the first and second shutters 5 and 6, the hopper space 20 and the first chamber 21 communicate with each other, whereby the pellets 40 in the hopper space 20 fall into the first chamber 21 and the first hopper space 20 drops. It is stored in the chamber 21.

When the first chamber 21 reaches a fixed quantity, the first sensor 11 outputs a pellet detection signal P1. Therefore, the main control unit 31 of the resin supply control device 30 causes the first chamber quantitative determination unit 36 to perform the first operation in step ST3 of FIG.
It is sequentially determined whether or not the pellets 40 in the chamber 21 are quantitative, and the first shutter 5 is opened until the quantitative is determined. Then, the pellets 40 are placed in the first chamber 21.
When a predetermined amount is stored, the first sensor 11 outputs a pellet detection signal P1, and the first chamber quantitative determination unit 36 determines that the first chamber 21 is in the quantitative state based on the signal P1, 1 Output a quantitative signal S3.

In response to this, the main control section 31 causes the first shutter drive control section 32 to drive the drive cylinder 51 in step ST4 of FIG. 3 to close the first shutter 5. Further, the second shutter drive controller 33 drives the drive cylinder 61 to close the second shutter 6. Then, the first chamber 21 in the pellet quantitative state is hermetically shielded from the hopper space 20 by the first and second shutters 5 and 6,
The third shutter 7 also hermetically closes the second chamber 22 (state shown in FIG. 1). Therefore, the main controller 3
1 transmits a vacuum suction start signal S5. Receiving this, the valve control unit 35 performs D1 in step ST6 of FIG.
The valve 91 is driven in the opening direction, which opens the D1 valve 91. Then, the air in the first chamber 21 is deaerated while being sucked by the vacuum pump 9,
The inside of the chamber 21 is in a predetermined vacuum state. At this time, the air contained in the pellets 40 stored in the first chamber 21 is discharged and removed from the pellets 40 by the deaeration operation, and at the same time, the moisture contained in the air is also removed. The pellets 40 are dried while being discharged and removed.

By the way, even if the first chamber 21 is degassed as described above, if the second chamber 22 is in a quantitative state, the pellets 40 in the first chamber 21 are removed from the second chamber 22.
It cannot be dropped to the side. Therefore, the main control unit 31 performs the second chamber quantitative determination unit 3 in step ST7 of FIG.
7 sequentially determines whether or not the pellet 40 in the second chamber 22 is quantitative, and when the quantitative is determined, that is, while the second sensor 12 is outputting the pellet detection signal P2, the D1 valve 91. Open (valve control unit 35
Hold the vacuum state of the first chamber 21). Then, when the pellet 40 in the second chamber 22 decreases below a predetermined amount, the second sensor 12 does not output the pellet detection signal P2. At this time, the second chamber quantitative determination unit 37 causes the second chamber 22 to determine the non-quantitative amount. It is determined to be in the state, and the second non-quantitative signal S4 is output.

In response to this, the main control section 31 outputs a secondary drop command signal S6. Then, in step ST8 in FIG. 3, the valve control unit 35 first drives the D1 valve 91 in the closing direction, and in step ST9 in FIG.
1 is driven in the opening direction. Then, in the first chamber 22 in which the vacuum state is maintained until this time, the D state in the open state is
The inert gas is properly filled through the two valves 101 promptly and without the need for degassing. Further, at this time, since the hose port 2c is located in the lower portion of the first chamber 21, the inert gas does not stay in the upper portion of the first chamber 21 and spreads to every corner. As a result, the pellets 40 in the first chamber 21 are removed of water and shut out of oxygen, and are kept in a deaerated and dried state.

Therefore, when the first chamber 21 is filled with the inert gas to a predetermined pressure, the main controller 31
In step ST10 of FIG. 3, the third shutter drive controller 34 drives the drive cylinder 71 in the opening direction to open the third shutter 7. Then, as the third shutter 7 is opened, a fixed amount of the pellets 40 that have been subjected to the moisture removal and oxygen shut-out processing in the first chamber 21 are dropped into the second chamber 22. Therefore, the main controller 31 performs the third shutter drive controller 34 in step ST11 of FIG.
The drive cylinder 71 is driven in the closing direction to close the third shutter 7, and in this state, the screw drive control unit 38 drives the drive unit 3b in step ST12. Then, the screw 3 is rotationally driven in the pellet conveying direction, whereby the pure pellets 40 in the second chamber 22 in which the water removal and the oxygen shutout processing are completed are supplied into the heating cylinder 3a.

The opening of the third shutter 7 in step ST10 of FIG. 3 allows the first chamber 21 to communicate with the second chamber 22, and as a result, the inert gas filled in the first chamber 21. Second chamber 22
The second chamber 22 is provided with a gas constant supply path 27 which faces downward toward the second chamber 22 in the lower part of the second chamber 22. It is possible to constantly supply gas. Therefore, the main controller 31 of the resin supply controller 30
Controls the second valve 102 for pressure adjustment by the valve control unit 35 so that the inside of the second chamber 22 can always maintain a predetermined inert gas pressure in all the steps of the operation of the resin supply program PRO described above. To do. Then, the pellet 40
There is no concern that the inert gas that surrounds the gas will be diluted, and the pellet 40 can pass through the second chamber 22 in the atmosphere of the inert gas having a predetermined pressure (deoxidized state) at all times.

Further, the surplus inert gas in the second chamber 22 rises in the second chamber 22 and is discharged to the outside from the hose port 2d provided at the upper portion of the second chamber 22 through the downward hose 25. Then, the excess inert gas also contains the impure gas remaining in the pellets 40, so that the impure gas is also discharged to the outside of the hopper 2. Since the hose port 2d is formed in the upper portion of the second chamber 22 and the downward hose 25 is connected to the hose port 2d, the inert gas in the second chamber 22 may be discharged more than necessary. There is no.

When the resin is plasticized in the heating cylinder 3a, a gas (vent) containing volatile components in the resin material.
May occur and the portion of the popper 2b of the popper 2 may become the gas atmosphere. However, the vent gas that has entered the second chamber 22 is discharged from the hose 25 together with the above-mentioned inert gas. Further, when the vent gas enters the first chamber 21 when the pellets 40 are supplied, the chamber 2
The vent gas in 1 is vacuum pump 9 together with moisture and air.
Is discharged to the outside. As a result, the heating cylinder 3
In a, the atmosphere of the vent gas is diluted.

On the other hand, step S in FIG. 3 described above is used.
By opening the third shutter 7 by T10, the pellet 4
The first chamber 21 which has been emptied by dropping 0 is closed by closing the third shutter 7 in step ST11 of FIG.
Again, the state of being airtightly separated from the second chamber 22 is restored (START in the program PRO in FIG. 3).
Same state as stage). Therefore, the resin supply device 3 can always supply the pure dry deaerated pellets 40 to the heating cylinder 3a by repeating the resin supply operation process by the resin supply program PRO described above again.

Although the hopper of the resin supply device is the vertical hopper 2 formed in the funnel shape in the above-mentioned embodiment, the shape and configuration of the hopper 2 are not limited to this. is not. Further, the shutters 5, 6, 7 and the drive cylinders 51, 61, 71 for driving the shutters 5, 6 and 71 selectively communicate or airtightly separate the resin receiving space such as the hopper space 20 and the first chamber 21 and the second chamber 22. Other configurations may be used as long as they are capable of doing so.

Further, in the embodiment, the first and second sensors 11 and 12 provided at the predetermined height positions of the first and second chambers 21 and 22 so as to detect the pellet 40 are used to detect the pellet 40. , The filling state of the second chambers 21 and 22 is detected, and the detection signals P1 and P of the sensors 11 and 12 are detected.
Based on 2, it is determined whether the first and second chambers 21 and 22 are in the quantitative state by the first and second chamber quantitative determination units 36,
Although the example in which the determination is made by 37 is described, detection of whether or not the first and second chambers 21 and 22 are in a quantitative state,
The determination may be made by other means. Furthermore, the shutters 5, 6, 7 by the resin supply control device 30
The method of controlling the opening and closing of the valve and the opening and closing of the valves 91, 101 and the like are not limited to those described in the embodiments, and are arbitrary.

[0037]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, the first, second, and third shutters (5, 6, 7) and the like are used to connect the plurality of shutters. With one chamber (21) airtightly separated from the resin receiving space such as the hopper space (20) and the second chamber (22), the inert gas supply means (1) is supplied to the first chamber (21).
0) to supply an inert gas, and a vacuum pump (9)
Thus, deaeration in the first chamber (21) can be performed. Therefore, when a resin such as the preheated pellet (40) is charged into the resin receiving space from the charging port (2a), the resin is hermetically sealed to the resin receiving space and the second chamber (22) through a plurality of shutters. In the first chamber (21) separated into the first chamber (21), first, the vacuum pump (9) is degassed and dried through the degassing operation, and in this state (that is, in the vacuum atmosphere), the inert gas generator (10) is discharged. ) Is maintained in a deoxidized state by an inert gas supplied by
Water removal and oxygen shut-out processing are achieved. Therefore, since the inert gas is filled after the first chamber is degassed, the resin dried by the degassing can be efficiently and thoroughly maintained in the inert gas atmosphere. Further, the deaeration and drying treatment of the resin can be performed in the airtight first chamber, and the treated resin is
The resin is transferred from the chamber to the second chamber through the shutter in the open state, and the second chamber is in air-tight communication with the supply means such as the heating cylinder (3a), so that the degassed and dried state of the resin may be impaired. Therefore, it is possible to avoid leakage of inert gas and ingress of oxygen during the resin transportation.
Therefore, water and oxygen can be efficiently and continuously removed with a small amount of inert gas. As a result, when melting the resin in the injection molding process, it is possible to suitably prevent the damage of hydrolysis due to water and carbonization due to oxygen, to stabilize the physical properties of the molded product and prevent the occurrence of burning due to carbonization. It is possible to contribute to quality improvement in injection molding.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the resin supply device (1) according to the first aspect, the second inert gas supply means such as the gas constant supply path (27) is used to supply the second chamber (22) to the second chamber (22). Since the inert gas can be supplied freely, the inert gas that has become diluted when the first chamber (21) and the second chamber (22) are communicated with each other is supplied to the second chamber (2).
Can be replenished in 2). That is, since the inert gas has a lower specific gravity than air, when the resin is moved from the first chamber to the second chamber closer to the discharge port, the inert gas surrounding the resin may be lost. is there. But,
In the present invention, since the lost amount of the resin can be compensated for, the resin can be conveyed to the discharge port while always being in an inert gas atmosphere of a predetermined pressure. As a result, the dried and degassed state of the resin can be maintained more reliably.

According to a third aspect of the invention, in the resin supply device (1) according to the first aspect, the first hose port (2c) is provided.
Since the gas inlet / outlet of the inert gas is arranged in the lower part of the first chamber (21), the inert gas has the first specific gravity due to its smaller specific gravity than air.
It is possible to fill every corner of the first chamber (21) in an ascending manner in the chamber (21). Therefore, there is no concern that the inert gas stays only in the upper part of the first chamber (21) and the air remains in the resin.
The resin in the chamber (21) can be surely surrounded by the inert gas atmosphere. Inert gas is the first
Since the gas is efficiently distributed to the chamber (21), no gas is wasted.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the resin supply device (1) according to the first aspect, as described above, the excess inert gas and melting that have been used for degassing and drying the resin have become excess. Vent gas released from the resin inside is discharged from the upper part of the second chamber (22) to the outside of the hopper (2) by an inert gas exhaust means such as a second hose port (2d) and a downward hose (25). Can be done. Therefore, the resin receiving space such as the hopper space (20) or the first chamber (2
Since 1) is arranged in series with the second chamber 22,
Although it is located above the second chamber (22), it does not open the resin receiving space or the first chamber (21) to discharge excess inert gas or the like (that is, the plurality of shutters are The excess gas can be suitably discharged by the inert gas exhausting means in a state where these spaces are hermetically separated via the above). Therefore, there is no concern that the inert gas or the degassed state of the first chamber (21) will leak out or enter the air when the surplus inert gas is discharged, and the gas or vacuum pressure is not wasted. In addition, while performing the surplus gas discharging operation in the second chamber (22), the second chamber (2
In the first chamber (21) that is airtightly separated from 2),
It is possible to continue the degassing and drying of the resin described above.
The lead time required for the resin supply operation is short.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the resin supply device (1) according to the first aspect, the first and second detection means for detecting the storage state of the resin in the first and second chambers (21, 22). Sensor detection signals (P1,
P2) based on the first and second chamber quantitative determination unit (3
6, 37) and the like, the first and second chambers (21,
22) to determine whether or not the amount of resin in the resin is quantitative, and based on the determination, the first, second, and third shutter drive control units (3
2, 33, 34) to the shutter drive control means,
Since each of the plurality of shutters such as the second and third shutters (5, 6, 7) is driven, the first chamber (2
When 1) becomes quantitative, the shutter drive control means drives the plurality of shutters (that is, shutters are closed) so as to airtightly separate the resin receiving space and the first chamber, and the second chamber (22) is quantitative. A plurality of shutters can be driven (that is, the shutters can be opened) so that the first chamber and the second chamber communicate with each other when they disappear. Therefore,
Automatic transfer of resin from the resin receiving space to the first chamber and transfer of resin from the first chamber to the second chamber depending on the resin storage state of the first chamber (21) and the second chamber (22) Can be controlled dynamically. Therefore, it becomes possible to more efficiently supply the resin in the resin supply device.

According to a sixth aspect of the invention, in the resin supply apparatus (1) according to the first aspect, the first chamber (21) is provided.
Through a plurality of shutters such as the first, second and third shutters (5, 6, 7) and airtight to the resin receiving space such as the hopper space (20) and the second chamber (22). In the separated state, the inert gas supply means such as the inert gas generator (10) and the first by the vacuum pump (9).
The inert gas supply means and the vacuum pump (9) are provided to the valve control means such as the main control part (31) and the valve control part (35) so that the inert gas is supplied and deaerated in the chamber (21). Since the valves (101, 91) are controlled, the operation of degassing the first chamber and supplying the inert gas in a state where the first chamber is airtightly separated from the resin receiving space and the second chamber. Can be automatically executed. Therefore, the resin can be dried more efficiently and surely.
It becomes possible to perform degassing and to supply to the supply target means such as the heating cylinder (3a) while maintaining the dried and degassed state.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an embodiment of a resin supply device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a resin supply control device in the resin supply device shown in FIG.

3 is a flowchart showing a flow of resin supply control operation by the resin supply control device shown in FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Resin supply device 2 Hopper 2a Input port 2b Discharge port (hopper port) 2c Gas inlet / outlet port (first hose port) 20 Resin receiving space (hopper space) 21 First chamber 22 Second chamber 2d, 25 Inert gas exhaust means ( Second hose mouth, downward hose) 27 Second inert gas supply means (gas constant supply path) 5 First shutter 6 Second shutter 7 Third shutter 9 Vacuum pump 91 Valve (D1 valve) 10 Inert gas supply means ( Inert gas generator) 101 valve (D2 valve) 11 sensor (first sensor) 12 sensor (second sensor) 32 shutter drive control means (first shutter drive section) 33 shutter drive control means (second shutter drive section) 34 Shutter Drive Control Means (Third Shutter Drive Section) 36 Judgment Means (First Chamber Quantitative Judgment Section) 37 Judgment Means The second chamber quantitative determination section) 31, 35 valve control means (main control unit, the valve control unit) 3a to be supply means (heating cylinder) 40 resin (pellets)

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A hopper having a charging port and a discharging port, wherein the hopper has a plurality of shutters, and a resin receiving space, a first chamber and a second chamber are provided in the hopper between the charging port and the discharging port. Provided so as to be openable and closable so as to be formed in series in a form of communicating with each other or airtightly separable, and the second chamber is provided with the supply means when the discharge port is connected to the supply means for supplying the resin. An inert gas supply which is arranged in air-tight communication with the inside, forms a gas inlet / outlet at a position corresponding to the first chamber of the hopper, and can supply an inert gas to the first chamber at the gas inlet / outlet. And a vacuum pump capable of being deaerated freely from the first chamber.
Resin supply device. 2. The resin supply device according to claim 1, wherein a second inert gas supply means capable of supplying an inert gas is connected to the second chamber. 3. The resin supply device according to claim 1, wherein the gas inlet / outlet is arranged at a lower portion of the first chamber. 4. The resin supply device according to claim 1, wherein an inert gas exhausting means is provided at a position corresponding to an upper portion of the second chamber. 5. A sensor for detecting a resin storage state in the first and second chambers, and whether or not the resin in the first and second chambers is quantitative based on a detection signal of the sensor. 2. A determination means for making a determination is provided, and shutter drive control means for driving each of the plurality of shutters based on the determination made by the determination means is connected to the plurality of shutters. Resin supply device. 6. The resin supply device according to claim 1, wherein the first chamber is hermetically separated from the resin receiving space and the second chamber through the plurality of shutters. A resin supply device comprising a supply means and a valve control means for controlling the valves of the inert gas supply means and the vacuum pump so that the inert gas is supplied and degassed from the first chamber by the supply means and the vacuum pump.