JPH09187835A - Automatic molding equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To realize the shortening of a cycle time by a method wherein the time required of aligning cycle for aligning a matter to be molded is shortened. SOLUTION: In a frame aligning and conveying device 20, when a first lead frame 1 is aligned on a turn table 22, the turn table 22 is turned so as to change the position of a lead frame installation part 22a for that of a lead frame installation part 22b. When two lead frames 1 are aligned on the turn table 22, the two lead frames 1 are transferred to a fixed table 23 by the hand of a hand unit. The frame aligning and conveying device 20 starts a frame pusher 25 simultaneously with the starting of the turning of the turn table 22 and, at the same time, moves the hand above the turn table 22. Further, before the charging of tablets with a tablet pusher in the hand, the tablet pusher is already raised to a predetermined position.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an automatic molding apparatus for molding a molding object such as a lead frame with a molding material such as a thermosetting resin.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 3-37442 is known.
As disclosed in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 5-285977 and Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 5-285977, an automatic molding apparatus for automatically molding lead frames is known. There is an automatic molding apparatus in which lead frames are aligned in a lead frame supply section, and a transfer robot is used to set the lead frames in a aligned state in a mold. In such an automatic molding device, the lead frame is supplied in parallel with the main cycle through a series of processes such as mold clamping after the lead frame is set in the mold, transfer of molding material, curing, mold opening, and cleaning. In the part, a lead frame alignment cycle for aligning a lead frame to be molded next is performed.

FIG. 9 shows an example of the contents and required time of two cycles which are performed in parallel in such a conventional automatic molding apparatus. The main cycle shown in FIG. 9 (a) includes the mold clamping operation, transfer, cure,
The process includes mold opening operation, cleaning, tablet (molding material such as thermosetting resin), and handset operation. The time required for each step is, for example, 4.5 seconds, 1
It is 0 seconds, 35 seconds, 6.5 seconds, 13 seconds, 4 seconds and 7.5 seconds. The tablet loading is a step of loading the tablet into the hand with the tablet pusher after the lead frame is chucked by the hand of the transfer robot in the lead frame alignment cycle described later. Further, the hand setting operation is a step of setting the lead frame and the tablet in the mold by the hand of the transfer robot.

On the other hand, in the lead frame alignment cycle shown in FIG. 9B, a brief description will be given of the case where the lead frames housed in the magazine are replaced by frame pushers,
By using a rotary table, a hand, etc., two frames are aligned on the fixed table and two frames are aligned on the rotary table, for a total of four frames. The time required for this lead frame alignment cycle is, for example, 77 seconds.

[0005]

By the way, in the conventional automatic molding apparatus shown in FIG.
In one cycle, the tablet loading is performed after the four lead frames are aligned on the fixed table and the rotary table in the lead frame alignment cycle.
Since the second) is longer than the time required from the mold clamping operation to the cleaning in the main cycle (69 seconds), a waiting time (7.5 seconds) occurred between the cleaning and the tablet loading in the main cycle. Therefore, the total cycle time was 88 seconds.

As described above, in the conventional automatic molding apparatus which executes the lead frame alignment cycle in parallel with the main cycle, there is a problem that the facility capacity is low due to the waiting time generated during the main cycle. .
In particular, it is expected that the curing time will be further shortened by rapid curing of the tablet in the future, but even in that case, there is a problem that the cycle time cannot be shortened if the lead frame alignment cycle remains unchanged.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and its object is to reduce the time required for the alignment cycle in an automatic molding apparatus that executes an alignment cycle for aligning objects to be molded in parallel with the main cycle. It is an object of the present invention to provide an automatic molding device that can be shortened to shorten the cycle time.

[0008]

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an automatic molding apparatus, wherein a mold for accommodating a molding target and a molding material, and transfer molding the molding target with the molding material, and opening and closing the mold. Align the press and the molded object,
It is provided with a molded product aligning and conveying device for setting the aligned molded products in a mold, and a cleaning device for cleaning the mold, and clamping, transfer of the molding material, cure,
The main cycle including the steps of opening the mold, cleaning, and setting the molding object and the molding material in the mold is executed, and the molding object is aligned by the molding object aligning and conveying device in parallel with the main cycle. An automatic molding device that executes an alignment cycle, in which a molding object aligning and conveying device supplies a turntable and a fixed table on which a plurality of molding objects are respectively mounted, and a molding object that supplies the molding objects to the turntable. While conveying the object supply means and the molded objects aligned on the turntable to the fixed table,
Transporting means for setting the molded products aligned on each table in a mold, and at least two operations of the turntable, the molded product supplying means and the transporting means are overlapped in time in the alignment cycle. It is configured to do so.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided an automatic molding apparatus according to the first aspect, wherein the molding object aligning / conveying device is configured to move the molding objects until all the mounting positions on the turntable are aligned. After the molded product is supplied to the turntable by the molded product supplying means, the turntable is rotated, and in the step of supplying the next molded product to the turntable by the molded product supplying means, the rotation of the turntable is terminated. It is configured so as to start the operation of the molding target supply means before.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided the automatic molding apparatus according to the first aspect, wherein the molded article aligning / conveying device covers all the mounting positions on the turntable by the turntable and the molded article supply means. In the process of aligning the molded products and transporting the molded products from the turntable to the fixed table by the transport means, before the molded products are aligned on all the mounting positions on the turntable, the transport means is placed on the turntable. It is configured to perform a preliminary operation of moving to.

According to another aspect of the present invention, in an automatic molding apparatus, a mold for accommodating an object to be molded and a molding material, transfer molding the molding object with the molding material, a press for opening and closing the mold, and a molding object. It is provided with a molded object aligning and conveying device for aligning objects and setting the aligned molded objects and molding materials in a mold, and a cleaning device for cleaning the mold, and clamping, transfer of the molding material, cure, The main cycle including the steps of opening the mold, cleaning, and setting the molding object and molding material in the mold is executed, and the molding object is aligned by the molding object aligning and conveying device in parallel with the main cycle. An automatic molding apparatus for executing an alignment cycle for holding a molding object and a molding material for setting in a mold, wherein the molding object aligning and conveying apparatus includes a plurality of A table which the molded product is aligned,
A molding object supply means for supplying the molding object on the table,
It has a conveying means for setting the molding object and the molding material aligned on the table in the mold, and a molding material charging means for charging the molding material to the conveying means, and the molding object and the molding material are kept in the alignment cycle. Preliminary movement of the molding material feeding means from the standby position to a predetermined position before the molding material feeding completion position before starting the operation of holding the molding target and the molding material by the conveying means for setting in the mold. It is configured to perform an operation.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an automatic molding apparatus according to the fourth aspect, wherein when the object aligning and conveying device stops the operation of the automatic molding device,
The molding material charging means is configured to return to the standby position.

In the automatic molding apparatus according to the first aspect of the present invention, at least two operations of the turntable, the object-to-be-molded supplying means, and the conveying means are performed in an overlapping manner in time so that the aligning cycle is completed. Time is reduced, latency in the main cycle is reduced or eliminated, and cycle time is reduced.

According to another aspect of the present invention, in the automatic molding apparatus, after the molding object is supplied to the turntable by the molding object supply means until the molding object is aligned with all the mounting positions on the turntable, the turntable is turned. In the process of rotating the table and supplying the next molding target onto the turntable by the molding target supply means, the operation of the molding target supply means is started before the end of the rotation of the turntable, thereby The time for aligning the molding objects is shortened.

In the automatic molding apparatus according to the third aspect of the present invention, the turntable and the object-to-be-molded supplying means align the object to be placed on all places on the turntable, and the conveying means fixes the object to be molded from the turntable. In the process of transferring to the table, by performing a preliminary operation of moving the transfer means onto the turntable before the objects to be molded are aligned on all the mounting positions on the turntable, the objects to be molded on each table are moved. The alignment time is reduced.

In the automatic molding apparatus according to claim 4, during the alignment cycle, before starting the operation of holding the molding target and the molding material by the conveying means for setting the molding target and the molding material in the mold, By performing the preliminary operation of moving the molding material charging means to a predetermined position before the molding material charging completion position, the time for charging the molding material into the conveying means is shortened.

In the automatic molding apparatus according to the fifth aspect, the molding material is prevented from being hardened by returning the molding material feeding means to the standby position when the operation of the automatic molding apparatus is stopped.

[0018]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a side view showing an automatic molding apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention with a part cut away, FIG. 2 is a plan view of the automatic molding apparatus shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is shown in FIG. FIG. 4 is a side view showing a part of the automatic molding device on the left side of the transport rail by cutting away, and FIG. 4 is a plan view of the automatic molding device shown in FIG. As shown in these figures, the automatic molding apparatus according to the present embodiment includes a lower mold 11 and an upper mold for transfer molding the lead frame 1 as a molding target with a thermosetting resin as a molding material. A frame for aligning the die 12, the press 13 for opening and closing the dies 11, 12 and the lead frame 1, and setting the aligned lead frame 1 and the molding material into a tablet in the lower die 11. An aligning and conveying device 20, a cleaning device (not shown) for cleaning the molds 11 and 12, and a controller (not shown) for controlling the operation of the entire automatic molding device are provided.

The frame aligning and conveying device 20 includes a magazine 21 for accommodating a plurality of lead frames 1, a turntable 22 and a fixed table 23 on which two leadframes 1 are placed, respectively, and a turntable from the outlet of the magazine 21. 22, a transport rail 24 extending to 22, a frame pusher 25 for pushing the lead frame 1 from the magazine 21 onto the transport rail 24, and a lead frame 1
A transport claw 26 for moving the sheet on the transport rail 24 and an image processing camera 40 disposed on the transport rail 24 are provided. Two lead frame mounting portions 22a, 22b, 23a, 23b are provided on the tables 22, 23, respectively.
Is provided. A heater 3 for preheating the lead frame 1 is provided in each of the tables 22 and 23.
0 is provided. The turntable 22 is rotated by being driven by a driving device (not shown). The transport claw 26 is driven by another drive device (not shown) to move in the longitudinal direction of the transport rail 24.

The frame aligning / conveying device 20 further includes a tablet chute 27, 27 arranged below each table 22, 23, and a tablet holder 28 arranged below the tablet chute 27, 27. 28, a tablet pusher 29 disposed below the tablet holders 28, 28, and a lower end sensor 31, an intermediate sensor 32, and an upper end sensor 33 that detect the position of the tablet pusher 29. Tablet holder 28
Has a holding portion 28a that holds a plurality of tablets 2 supplied by a tablet supply portion (not shown). The tablet supply unit chucks the ball feeder that aligns the tablets 2 and the tablet 2 that is aligned by the ball feeders to hold the tablet holder 2
8 and a transfer device which is housed inside. The tablet chute 27 has a cylindrical body 27a through which the tablet 2 passes at a position corresponding to the holding portion 28a of the tablet holder 28. Each of the tables 22 and 23 is located at a position corresponding to the cylindrical body 27a of the tablet chute 27.
Has passage holes 22c and 23c through which

The tablet pusher 29 has a plunger 29a at a position corresponding to the holding portion 28a of the tablet holder 28. The tablet pusher 29 is driven by a driving device (not shown) to move in the vertical direction, and by moving in the upward direction, the tablet 2 held by the holding portion 28a of the tablet holder 28 by the plunger 29a. Through the cylinder body 27a of the tablet chute 27 and the passage holes 22c and 23c of the tables 22 and 23, respectively. The lower end sensor 31 detects that the tablet pusher 29 reaches the lower end of the movement range, that is, the standby position, the upper end sensor 33 detects that the tablet pusher 29 reaches the upper end of the movement range, and the intermediate sensor 32 detects the tablet pusher 29. Is detected to reach a predetermined position between the upper end and the lower end of the moving range. A photo interrupter is used for each of the sensors 31 to 33.

The frame aligning and conveying device 20 is further arranged above the tables 22 and 23, and the turntable 2 is provided.
The lead frame 1 aligned on the 2 is fixed to the fixed table 23
It is provided with a hand unit 35 which is a transfer robot for transferring the lead frame 1 and the tablet 2 aligned on the respective tables 22 and 23 to the lower mold 12 while being transferred to the table 22 and 23. This hand unit 35 includes two hands 3
6A and 36B, each hand 36A and 36B has two chuck portions 37, respectively. Chuck part 3
No. 7 is designed to be chucked by mechanically sandwiching the lead frame. Further, each of the hands 36A and 36B has a storage portion for storing the tablet 2 inserted from below, a stopper for holding the tablet 2 stored in the storage portion, and the tablet 2 from the storage portion. A pusher for pushing out is provided.

The magazine 21, the carrier rail 24, the frame pusher 25 and the carrier claw 26 correspond to the molded product supplying means of the present invention, the hand unit 35 corresponds to the conveying means of the present invention, and the tablet pusher 29 of the present invention. Corresponds to molding material charging means.

Here, an example of the operation of the conventional automatic molding apparatus will be described for comparison with the operation of the automatic molding apparatus according to the present embodiment. The configuration of the conventional automatic molding apparatus mentioned here is the same as that of the automatic molding apparatus according to the present embodiment, except that the intermediate sensor 32 is not provided.

The operation of the conventional automatic molding apparatus comprises the following steps. Lead frame 1 stored in magazine 21
Is pushed out onto the transport rail 24 by the frame pusher 25 and is arranged at a position below the image processing camera 40. The image of the lead frame 1 is taken in by the image processing camera 40, the type of the lead frame 1 is confirmed by the control device from this image, and the object judged to be normal is
The transfer claws 26 transfer the turntable 22 to the lead frame mounting portion 22a. The control device rotates the turntable 22 by 180 ° when a signal indicating that the lead frame 1 is completely conveyed to the lead frame mounting portion 22a is output, and then the control unit rotates the turntable 22 by 180 °. Swap the positions. The control device includes a lead frame mounting portion 22a,
When the signal of the completion of the replacement, which is generated internally when the replacement of the position of 22b is completed, is output, the frame pusher 25
The start signal is output to. This allows the magazine 2
The next lead frame 1 housed in 1 is pushed out onto the transport rail 24 by the frame pusher 25 and is arranged at a position below the image processing camera 40. The image of the lead frame 1 is taken in by the image processing camera 40, the type of the lead frame 1 is confirmed by the control device from this image, and the object judged to be normal is
The transfer claw 26 transfers the turntable 22 to the lead frame mounting portion 22b.

When the lead frame 1 is aligned with both the lead frame mounting portions 22a and 22b of the turntable 22, the hand 36A of the hand unit 35 moves from the standby position to above the turntable 22 and then descends. Then, the chuck portions 37, 37 chuck the two lead frames 1 aligned on the lead frame mounting portions 22a, 22b and ascend, and the fixed table 2
3 and then descends to move the two lead frames 1 to the lead frame mounting portion 23 of the fixed table 23.
a, 23b. Here, it takes 2 seconds for the hand 36A to move from the standby position to above the turntable 22.

Similarly, when the steps 1 to 3 are performed and the lead frame 1 of 4 frames in total, that is, 2 frames on the turntable 22 and 2 frames on the fixed table 23, is aligned, the hands 36A and 36B of the hand unit 35 are aligned.
Moves down to chuck the lead frame 1 of 4 frames. Simultaneously with the above process, the tablet 2 stored in the tablet holder 28 is raised by the tablet pusher 29, and the hand 3 is passed through the tablet chute 27.
Put into 6A and 36B. The tablet 2 is previously stored in the tablet holder 28 by the tablet supply unit. Here, it takes 4 seconds for the tablet pusher 29 to rise from the lower end position to the upper end position. After the tablet 2 is loaded into the hands 36A and 36B, the hands 36A and 36B are raised, and then the press 1
3, the lead frame 1 and the tablet 2 are set in the lower mold 11. The hand unit 35 returns to the standby position, the lower mold 11 and the upper mold 12 are clamped, and the molding material transfer, curing, mold opening, and cleaning steps are sequentially performed to mold the lead frame 1. Be seen. At the same time when the hand unit 35 starts returning to the standby position, an activation signal is output to the frame pusher 25, and the subsequent steps are executed.

Of the above steps, the steps from step to step in which the lead frames 1 of total 4 frames are aligned on the tables 22 and 23 correspond to the lead frame alignment cycle shown in FIG. 9B. Table 2 with the steps performed in parallel with the leadframe alignment cycle
After the lead frames 1 of 4 frames in total are arranged on the substrates 2 and 23 and the subsequent steps, the operation of FIG.
Corresponds to the main cycle shown in.

Next, the operation of the automatic molding apparatus according to this embodiment will be described. The operation of the automatic molding apparatus according to this embodiment includes the following steps (1) to (9). (1) The lead frame 1 housed in the magazine 21 is pushed out onto the transport rail 24 by the frame pusher 25 and is arranged at a position below the image processing camera 40. (2) Lead frame 1 by the image processing camera 40
Of the lead frame 1 is confirmed by the control device based on this image, and the object judged to be normal is conveyed to the lead frame mounting portion 22a of the turntable 22 by the conveying claw 26. (3) When the signal indicating the completion of conveyance is output, the control device rotates the turntable 22 by 180 ° and replaces the positions of the lead frame mounting portions 22a and 22b. Here, unlike the process in the operation of the conventional automatic molding apparatus, the control device immediately outputs a start signal to the frame pusher 25 and outputs the hand 36A of the hand unit 35 when the signal indicating the completion of conveyance is output. A preliminary operation of moving from the standby position to above the turntable 22 is performed. In response to the activation signal to the frame pusher 25,
Next lead frame 1 stored in magazine 21
Is pushed onto the transport rail 24 by the frame pusher 25 and is arranged at a position below the image processing camera 40. (4) Lead frame 1 by the image processing camera 40
Of the lead frame 1 is confirmed by the control device based on this image, and the object judged to be normal is conveyed by the conveying claw 26 to the lead frame mounting portion 22b of the turntable 22. (5) Lead frame mounting portion 22 of turntable 22
When the lead frames 1 are aligned on both a and 22b, the hand 36A of the hand unit 35 that has already moved to the top of the turntable 22 descends, and the chuck portions 37, 37 place the lead frames on each lead frame. Part 22a,
The two lead frames 1 aligned on 22b are chucked and lifted to move to the position of the fixed table 23,
After that, the two lead frames 1 are lowered and placed on the lead frame mounting portions 23a and 23b of the fixed table 23.

Now, with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6, it will be described that the steps (3) and (5) reduce the time required for aligning the lead frame 1. 5, (a) to (c) relate to the operation of the conventional automatic molding apparatus, and (d) to (f) relate to the operation of the automatic molding apparatus according to the present embodiment. In (a) and (d),
Reference numeral 51 indicates a period of the aligning operation of the first frame lead frame 1 with respect to the lead frame mounting portion 22a of the turntable 22, and reference numeral 52 shows the second frame lead frame 1 with respect to the lead frame mounting portion 22b of the turntable 22. Shows the period of the aligning operation. (B),
In (e), reference numeral 53 indicates an operation period in which the hand 36A moves from the standby position to above the turntable 22. In (c) and (f), reference numeral 54 is the hand 3
6A shows a period during which the two-frame lead frame 1 is transferred from the turntable 22 to the fixed table 23. As can be seen from FIG. 5, conventionally,
In the process, after the lead frame 1 is aligned on both the lead frame mounting portions 22a and 22b of the turntable 22, the hand 36A is moved from the standby position to the turntable 2
2, the hand 36A is moved from the standby position when the lead frame 1 of the first frame is aligned on the lead frame mounting portion 22a in the step (3) in the present embodiment. Since it is moved to the top of the turntable 22, the second lead frame 1 is moved to the lead frame mounting portion 2 in the step (5).
The transfer operation can be performed immediately when the cells are aligned on 2b. As a result, the time required for aligning the lead frames 1 can be shortened by the time (2 seconds) required for the hand 36A to move from the standby position to above the turntable 22.

Further, in FIG. 6, (a) and (b) relate to the operation of the conventional automatic molding apparatus, and (c) and (d) relate to the operation of the automatic molding apparatus according to the present embodiment.
In (a) and (c), reference numerals 61 to 64 indicate operation timings of the frame pusher 25 with respect to the lead frame 1 of the first to fourth frames, respectively. (B),
In (d), reference numeral 65 indicates the timing of completion of alignment of the lead frame 1 with respect to the turntable 22 and the fixed table 23. As can be seen from FIG. 6, the lead frame mounting portion 22 is conventionally used in the process.
While the frame pusher 25 was activated after completion of the exchange of the positions of a and 22b, in the present embodiment,
In the step (3), the lead frame mounting portions 22a, 22
Since the frame pusher 25 is activated at the same time when the position changing operation of b is started, the time interval between the sending of the lead frame 1 of the first frame and the sending of the lead frame 1 of the second frame and the third frame It is possible to shorten the time interval between the sending out of the lead frame 1 and the sending out of the lead frame 1 of the fourth frame. As a result, the time required for aligning the lead frames 1 can be reduced by, for example, 10 seconds. Further, as described with reference to FIG. 5, the time interval T ′ between the sending out of the lead frame 1 of the second frame and the sending out of the lead frame 1 of the third frame in the present embodiment is the same as in the conventional case. Since the time interval T is reduced by 2 seconds, the total time required for aligning the lead frames 1 can be reduced by 12 seconds.

(6) Similarly, when the steps (1) to (4) are performed, two frames are arranged on the turntable 22 and two frames on the fixed table 23, a total of four lead frames 1 are aligned. , Hand 3 of the hand unit 35
6A and 36B descend and lead frame 1 of 4 frames
To chuck. (7) Simultaneously with the steps (6), the tablet 2 stored in the tablet holder 28 is moved to the tablet pusher 2
It is raised by 9 and is inserted into the storage portion of the hands 36A and 36B through the tablet chute 27. The tablet 2 is previously stored in the tablet holder 28 by the tablet supply unit. Each hand 36A, 36B
Holds the tablet 2 by operating the stopper when the tablet 2 is loaded into the storage part. Here, in the present embodiment, as soon as the tablet 2 is stored in the tablet holder 28, the tablet pusher 29 is moved to the lower end sensor 3
Position detected by 1 (hereinafter, referred to as lower end position)
To a position detected by the intermediate sensor 32 (hereinafter, referred to as an intermediate position) in advance, a preliminary operation is performed. When the tablet pusher 29 is moved to the intermediate position, the tablet 2 is placed inside the tablet chute 27. Therefore, in the step (7), the time required to load the tablet 2 into the hands 36A and 36B by the tablet pusher 29 becomes shorter than in the conventional case. The heater 30 for the tablet 2
In order to minimize the influence of heat from the tablet presser 29, the tablet pusher 29 may be moved from the lower end position to the intermediate position after the molding completion signal generated in the control device is output.

Here, with reference to FIG. 7, it will be described that the step (7) shortens the time required to load the tablet 2 into the hands 36A and 36B. 7, (a) and (b) relate to the operation of the conventional automatic molding apparatus, and (c) to (e) relate to the operation of the automatic molding apparatus according to the present embodiment. In (a) and (c), reference numeral 61 indicates the timing of the loading request of the tablet 2 to the hands 36A and 36B. In (b),
Reference numeral 72 indicates an operation period of the tablet pusher 29,
In (d), reference numeral 73 indicates a period in which the tablet pusher 29 moves from the lower end position to the intermediate position, and reference numeral 7
Reference numeral 4 denotes a period during which the tablet pusher 29 moves from the intermediate position to a position (hereinafter, referred to as an upper end position) detected by the upper end sensor 33 which is a loading completion position of the tablet 2. In (e), reference numeral 75 indicates the timing of completion of molding. As shown in (d) and (e), in this example, the control device moves the tablet pusher 29 from the lower end position to the intermediate position when the molding completion signal is output. The time required for this movement is, for example, 2 seconds. Therefore,
As shown in (c) and (d), the operation time of the tablet pusher 29 after the tablet insertion request is, for example, 2 seconds, and as a result, the tablet 2 is moved to the hand 3 compared to the conventional case.
It is possible to shorten the time required for charging 6A and 36B by 2 seconds.

(8) The tablet 2 has the hands 36A, 36
After being put into B, the hands 36A and 36B ascend, then move to the inside of the press 13, and set the lead frame 1 and the tablet 2 in the lower mold 11. On this occasion,
The hands 36A and 36B open the chuck portion 37 to set the lead frame 1, open the stopper holding the tablet 2, and push the tablet 2 with the pusher to set the tablet 2. (9) The hand unit 35 returns to the standby position, and the lower die 1
1 and the upper die 12 are clamped, and the steps of transfer of the molding material, curing, mold opening, and cleaning are sequentially performed to mold the lead frame 1. At the same time when the hand unit 35 starts returning to the standby position, an activation signal is output to the frame pusher 25, and the steps from (1) are executed again.

Of the above-described steps, the lead frame alignment cycle in this embodiment is the process from the step (1) to the step (6) until the lead frames 1 of a total of four frames are aligned on the tables 22 and 23. The steps (6) and (7) executed after this lead frame alignment cycle are combined to form an alignment cycle. The step (9) executed in parallel with this alignment cycle and the step (8) thereafter are the main cycle in the present embodiment.

FIG. 8 shows an example of the contents and required time of the main cycle and the alignment cycle in the automatic molding apparatus according to the present embodiment. The main cycle shown in FIG. 8A is for the mold clamping operation, transfer, cure,
The process includes mold opening operation, cleaning operation, and handset operation, and the time required for each operation is, for example, 4.5.
Seconds are 10 seconds, 35 seconds, 6.5 seconds, 13 seconds and 7.5 seconds. The handset operation is the operation of the above step (8). On the other hand, the alignment cycle shown in FIG. 8B includes a lead frame alignment cycle and a tablet loading process. The tablet loading process is performed after the lead frames 1 of a total of 4 frames are aligned on the tables 22 and 23 in the process (6) and the process (7).
Is supported.

As shown in FIG. 8B, the time required for the lead frame alignment cycle in this embodiment is shortened by 12 seconds compared with the conventional case to 65 seconds. Further, the time required for the step of inserting the tablet is reduced to 2 seconds from the conventional one, for example, to 2 seconds. Therefore, even if the time required for the lead frame alignment cycle (65 seconds) and the time required for the tablet loading process (2 seconds) are combined, it will be shorter than the time required from the mold clamping operation to cleaning (69 seconds) in the main cycle. , The tablet loading process can be performed during the cleaning process, and the waiting time does not occur in the main cycle. As a result, the total cycle time is reduced by 11.5 seconds from the conventional one to 76.5 seconds.

As described above, according to the automatic molding apparatus according to the present embodiment, the cycle time can be significantly shortened as compared with the conventional one, so that the production capacity is improved and the production category, the molding conditions, etc. Although different, productivity is improved by 20%, for example. In addition, since the time required for the alignment cycle is shorter than the time required from the mold clamping operation to cleaning in the main cycle, it is necessary to perform the mold clamping operation to cleaning in the main cycle due to changes in categories and mold conditions and rapid hardening of tablets. If the time is reduced, the overall cycle time is also reduced until the required time matches the required time of the alignment cycle.

In the present embodiment, the hands 36A,
The tablet pusher 29 is moved from the lower end position to the intermediate position (preliminary operation) in advance before a request to insert the tablet 2 to the 36B is made.
Although it approaches 0, the tablet 2 can be prevented from hardening by appropriately setting the intermediate position. Further, the timing of this preliminary operation is preferably delayed from the viewpoint of preventing the hardening of the tablet 2, but as shown in FIG. 7, when the preliminary operation is performed after the signal of completion of molding is output. Does not affect the material of the tablet 2, and the quality can be maintained as it is.

Further, in order to prevent the tablet 2 from hardening, it is preferable to return the tablet pusher 29 to the lower end position when the stop button is pressed or when the automatic molding apparatus stops its operation at the time of abnormality. .
Specifically, for example, when the control device changes the state of the flag indicating whether the device is operating or stopped from the state of operating to the state of stopping, the tablet pusher 29 is moved to the lower end position. It can be realized by returning it.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and, for example, in the above embodiment, the hand unit 35.
The aligned lead frame 1 and the tablet 2 are set on the lower mold 11 by the above, but the hand unit 35 sets only the aligned lead frame 1 on the lower mold 11, and the tablet 2 is You may make it set to the lower metal mold 11 by this means.

[0043]

As described above, according to the automatic molding apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, at least two operations of the turntable, the object-to-be-molded supplying means and the conveying means are performed in the alignment cycle. Therefore, the time required for the alignment cycle can be shortened and the cycle time can be shortened.

Further, according to the automatic molding apparatus of the fourth aspect, during the alignment cycle, the operation of holding the molding target and the molding material by the conveying means for setting the molding target and the molding material in the mold is started. Before this, the preliminary operation of moving the molding material feeding means to a predetermined position before the molding material feeding completion position is performed, so that the time for feeding the molding material to the conveying means is shortened, and as a result, the alignment is performed. This has the effect of shortening the cycle time and the cycle time.

According to the automatic molding apparatus of the fifth aspect, the molding material feeding means is returned to the standby position when the operation of the automatic molding apparatus is stopped. In addition to the effect of the apparatus, it is possible to prevent hardening of the molding material.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side view showing a partially cutaway view of an automatic molding apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the automatic molding apparatus shown in FIG.

3 is a side view showing a part of a portion on the left side of a transport rail in the automatic molding apparatus shown in FIG.

4 is a plan view of the automatic molding apparatus shown in FIG.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing operations of a conventional automatic molding device and an automatic molding device according to an embodiment of the present invention in comparison.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory view showing operations of a conventional automatic molding device and an automatic molding device according to an embodiment of the present invention in comparison.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory view showing operations of a conventional automatic molding device and an automatic molding device according to an embodiment of the present invention in comparison.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of contents and required times of a main cycle and an alignment cycle in the automatic molding apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of contents and required times of two cycles performed in parallel in a conventional automatic molding apparatus.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Lead Frame 2 Tablet 20 Frame Aligning and Conveying Device 21 Magazine 22 Turntable 23 Fixed Table 24 Conveying Rail 25 Frame Pusher 26 Conveying Claw 27 Tablet Chute 28 Tablet Holder 29 Tablet Pusher 31 Lower Sensor 32 Intermediate Sensor 33 Upper Sensor 35 Hand Unit 36A, 36B hand

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A mold for accommodating an object to be molded and a molding material, and transfer molding the molding object with the molding material, a press for opening and closing the mold, and aligning the molding object. Equipped with a molding object aligning and conveying device that sets the molding object in the mold, and a cleaning device that cleans the mold. Mold clamping, transfer of molding material, cure, mold opening, cleaning, molding object and molding material An automatic molding apparatus that executes a main cycle including each step of setting in a mold, and executes an alignment cycle in which the molding objects are aligned by a molding object aligning and conveying device in parallel with the main cycle. The device for aligning and conveying molded products supplies a turntable and a fixed table on which a plurality of molded products are respectively placed, and the molded products on the turntable. Aligning the molded objects arranged on the turntable to the fixed table and setting the molded objects aligned on each table in the mold, An automatic molding apparatus characterized in that at least two operations of a turntable, a molding material supplying means, and a conveying means are performed in a cycle in a timely overlapping manner. 2. The molding object aligning and conveying device supplies the molding object onto the turntable by the molding object supply means until the molding object is aligned on all the mounting positions on the turntable, In the step of rotating the turntable and supplying the next object to be molded onto the turntable by the object supplying means, the operation of the object supplying means is started before the end of rotation of the turntable. The automatic molding apparatus according to claim 1. 3. The molding object aligning / conveying device arranges the molding objects on all the mounting positions on the turntable by the turntable and the molding object supply means, and conveys the molding objects from the turntable by the conveying means. 2. The step of carrying to a fixed table, a preliminary operation of moving the carrying means to the turntable is performed before the molded objects are aligned on all the mounting positions on the turntable. Automatic molding machine. 4. A mold for accommodating an object to be molded and a molding material, and transfer molding the object to be molded with the molding material, a press for opening and closing the mold, and aligning the object to be molded. Equipped with a molding object aligning / conveying device for setting the molding object and the molding material in the mold, and a cleaning device for cleaning the mold, and clamping, transfer of the molding material, cure, mold opening, cleaning, molding object. And a main cycle including each step of setting the molding material in the mold, and in parallel with the main cycle, the molding object is aligned by the molding object aligning and conveying device, and the molding object and the molding material are aligned. Is an automatic molding apparatus for executing an alignment cycle for holding a mold in a mold, wherein the molding object aligning and conveying device is a table in which a plurality of molding objects are aligned. A molding material supply means for supplying the molding material to the table, a conveying means for setting the molding material and the molding material aligned on the table in a mold, and a molding material for feeding the molding material to the conveying means. Charging means, and before starting the operation of holding the molding material and the molding material by the conveying means for setting the molding material and the molding material in the mold during the alignment cycle, An automatic molding apparatus, which performs a preliminary operation of moving from a standby position to a predetermined position before a molding material charging completion position. 5. The automatic molding apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the molding object aligning and conveying apparatus returns the molding material feeding means to the standby position when the operation of the automatic molding apparatus is stopped.