JPH10305363A - Semi-molten metal molding device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To inject and mold a cylindrical semi-molten metal in a holding container, of which in the liquid phase a fine primary crystal suitable for semi- molten molding are dispersed, being automatically and smoothly accommodated to an injection sleeve with a horizontal axis. SOLUTION: An injection sleeve 8 holds an opening 8b, into which the cylindrical semi-molten metal is supplied, with a rectangular side view, on at least upper or both upper and lower side faces in the middle of an axial direction. A cylindrical feeding container 20 moves downwards from the top to the opening with the cylindrical material received from a holding container V and stops at the position where the axis of the cylindrical material becomes almost in line with that of the injection sleeve 8. The cylindrical feeding container 20 is provided with a transportation means therein comprising a base moving up and down freely in an axial direction, and a fluid pressure cylinder being connected to the base and making it move inside.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an apparatus for forming a semi-molten metal, and more particularly to a semi-molten metal column in which fine primary crystals formed in a holding vessel and suitable for semi-solid molding are dispersed in a liquid phase. To
The shaft core is automatically and smoothly stored in the horizontal injection sleeve,
The present invention relates to an apparatus for molding a semi-molten metal to be injected and molded.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Thixocasting has attracted attention recently because it has fewer casting defects and segregation than conventional casting methods, has a uniform metal structure, has a long mold life, and has a short molding cycle. Technology. The billet used in this molding method is characterized by a spheroidized structure obtained by a method such as performing mechanical stirring or electromagnetic stirring in a semi-melting temperature region or utilizing recrystallization after processing. There is a method in which a material obtained by these methods is heated to a semi-melting temperature range to form a primary crystal into a spheroid, and then housed in an injection sleeve of a die casting machine or the like for injection molding.

On the other hand, unlike a method in which a billet is heated to a semi-melting temperature range and molded, a melt containing a spherical primary crystal is continuously generated and solidified as a billet without being injected by a die casting machine or the like. There is known a rheocast method in which the resin is housed in a sleeve and injection molded.

[0004]

However, the above-mentioned thixocasting method is complicated both in the stirring method and the method utilizing recrystallization, and in any case, the thixocasting method is carried out by semi-molten molding by the thixoforming method. In this method, it is necessary to raise the temperature of a billet once having a liquid phase to a solid phase once again to a semi-melting temperature range, the cost is higher than in the conventional casting method, and the billet as a raw material is difficult to recycle.

[0005] In addition, the rheocasting method is advantageous in terms of cost and energy as compared with the thixocasting method because a melt containing a spherical primary crystal is continuously produced and supplied. It is complicated to interlock the equipment between the machine that produces the metal raw material and the casting machine that produces the final product. For example, a failure of a casting machine may lead to difficulties in treating semi-molten metal produced before the process. For this purpose, a method has been proposed in which semi-molten metal for one casting is produced in a holding vessel each time (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. Hei 8-3256).
No. 52).

However, unlike the vertical die casting described here, in the horizontal die casting, since the injection sleeve is a horizontal type, the semi-molten metal cylindrical body manufactured in the holding container can be automatically and continuously formed. For example, if it is difficult to smoothly store it in the horizontal injection sleeve of a casting machine such as a die casting machine, etc., if it cannot be stored smoothly, it will lose its shape at the time of storage, causing air entrapment or oxidation in molded products. It causes contamination. In other words, when the semi-molten metal in the holding container is dropped into the supply port in the horizontal injection sleeve of the die casting machine by tilting the holding container, when the liquid phase ratio of the semi-molten metal becomes low and the property of the solid becomes strong, the holding is performed. Oxide is generated at the open interface where the semi-molten metal dropped from the container breaks and adheres to the supply port, so that it can be injected without securing a predetermined hot water supply amount. The mechanical properties deteriorate.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and obtains from a liquid a semi-molten metal having a uniform structure including a spheroidized primary crystal, which is suitable for molding. Automatically, continuously and quickly to a casting machine such as an injection sleeve of a die casting machine, etc.
An object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for forming a semi-molten metal that can be stored smoothly without losing its shape.

[0008]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, according to the first invention, a semi-molten metal in which fine primary crystals generated in a holding vessel are dispersed in a liquid phase is provided. Is transferred to the injection sleeve having a horizontal axis and stored, and then the semi-molten metal in the injection sleeve is injection-filled into a mold cavity by a plunger tip connected to a piston rod of the injection cylinder to form a mold. A metal molding apparatus, wherein the injection sleeve is provided with an opening in which a semi-molten metal column can be introduced and which has a rectangular shape in a side view on at least an upper side surface or upper and lower side surfaces of an axially intermediate portion, A cylinder which is moved downward from above toward the opening while the cylinder transferred from the container is placed inside, and is stopped in a state where the axis of the cylinder substantially coincides with the axis of the injection sleeve. Container shape A column transporter and a transfer means for the column transporter, wherein the column transporter is configured to be movable in the axial direction so as to be movable back and forth, and a fluid pressure cylinder coupled to the bottom to move the bottom portion forward and backward. Are disposed inside the cylindrical container.

In the second invention, the cylindrical carrier is
Ceramic or metal with low thermal conductivity, a composite member of both, or a combination thereof was used.

In the third invention, the transfer means of the cylindrical carrier is tilted while holding the cylindrical carrier to receive the cylindrical body in the holding container into the cylindrical carrier. An articulated robot that transports the cylindrical carrier to the injection sleeve with the axis of the cylinder horizontal.

[0011]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION In the first invention, in the first invention, a semi-molten metal in which fine primary crystals generated in a holding vessel are dispersed in a liquid phase is transferred to an injection sleeve having a horizontal axis. A semi-molten metal molding apparatus for injecting and filling the semi-molten metal in the injection sleeve into a mold cavity with a plunger tip connected to a piston rod of an injection cylinder, and forming the same. The sleeve is capable of introducing a cylindrical body of semi-molten metal, has a rectangular opening in a side view on at least the upper side surface or upper and lower side surfaces of the axially intermediate portion, and has the cylindrical body transferred from the holding container inside. And a cylindrical container-shaped cylindrical body transporter which moves downward from the upper part toward the opening while being placed on the cylinder, and stops at a state where the axis of the cylinder substantially coincides with the axis of the injection sleeve. Body transporter Comprising a feed means, circular cylindrical body transporter is
Since the bottom portion movable in the axial direction and the fluid pressure cylinder connected to the bottom portion for moving the bottom portion are arranged inside the cylindrical container, the liquid generated in the holding container is Transfer the uniform structure including the primary crystal spheroidized from the metal and the cylinder of semi-molten metal suitable for forming from the tilted holding container into the cylinder carrier, and set the cylinder carrier in a horizontal state in the axial direction. In this state, it is transferred from above to the opening of the injection sleeve by using the transfer means, and the axis of the cylindrical body is held at a position substantially coinciding with the axis of the injection sleeve. In this state, by operating the fluid pressure cylinder in the cylindrical carrier to advance the bottom portion, the cylindrical body inside the cylindrical carrier is placed inside the injection sleeve, and then the empty cylinder The body carrier is retracted from the position of the injection plunger, and the plunger tip in the injection sleeve is advanced to inject and fill the semi-molten metal cylinder into the mold cavity.

In the second aspect of the present invention, the cylindrical carrier is made of ceramic or metal having low thermal conductivity, or a composite member or a combination thereof, so that the cylindrical carrier is transferred from the holding container to the cylindrical carrier. Since the temperature of the cylindrical body of the semi-molten metal is small and can be injected at a desired temperature, excellent quality of the molded product is ensured.

[0013] In the third aspect of the present invention, the transfer means of the cylindrical carrier is tilted while gripping the cylindrical carrier to receive the cylindrical body in the holding container into the cylindrical carrier, and then the cylindrical body is transferred to the cylindrical body. The articulated robot transfers the carrier into the injection sleeve with the carrier axis in the horizontal state, so the posture of the cylindrical carrier can be easily and easily repeated through predetermined work procedures and routes. Control can be performed and the cylindrical carrier can be transferred to a predetermined position on the injection sleeve.

[0014]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. 1 to 4 relate to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of a semi-molten metal forming apparatus, FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view of a cylindrical carrier, and FIG. 3 is a transfer means of the cylindrical carrier. FIG. 4 is an overall manufacturing process diagram for forming a semi-molten metal by injection using a horizontal injection sleeve.

FIG. 4 shows a semi-molten metal forming apparatus 1 according to the present invention.
FIG. 3 shows an overall manufacturing process diagram in a manufacturing facility for semi-molten metal including No. 00, and the work proceeds according to the following procedure. In step [1] of FIG. 4, the metal M, which is a complete liquid, placed in the ladle 50 is brought into contact with the molten metal in the inclined cooling jig 52 in step [2]. Vibration is applied to the molten metal poured and stored in the V by the immersion-type vibrating jig 53, or the degree of superheating with respect to the liquidus temperature of the molten metal is set to 50 ° C.
The temperature is kept at less than 30 ° C., preferably less than 30 ° C., and the mixture is poured into a holding vessel to obtain an alloy immediately above and below a liquidus line containing crystal nuclei (or fine crystals), that is, semi-molten metal Ma.

Next, in step [3], the alloy is
In the step of cooling at an average cooling rate of 0.01 ° C./s to 3.0 ° C./s and maintaining the pressure just before press forming to crystallize fine primary crystals in the alloy liquid, an induction device (heating coil ) 56
The temperature of each part of the alloy in the container V is kept within a target molding temperature range (a range of −5 ° C. to + 5 ° C. with respect to the target molding temperature) which shows a predetermined liquidus rate at the latest by the time of molding. Adjust the temperature to fit. In this case, in order to allow a predetermined amount of current to flow as needed from the time immediately after pouring the representative temperature of the metal to be cooled in the holding container V to a stage at which the temperature does not decrease by 10 ° C. or more from the target molding temperature, the induction device 56 is used. The output may be small. In cooling, when cooling rapidly, air is injected from the outside of the holding container V toward the holding container V. If necessary, the upper and lower portions are held in a semi-molten state in a holding vessel V that is kept warm or heated with a heat insulating material, and fine spherical (non-dendritic) primary crystals are generated from the introduced crystal nuclei (step [3]). ] -A, [3] -b).

The alloy Mb having a predetermined liquid phase ratio obtained in this manner is transferred to the holding vessel V as in step [3] -c.
And the molding apparatus 100 (for example,
After a cylindrical semi-solid metal Mb having a predetermined liquid phase ratio is inserted into a horizontal injection sleeve 8 of a die casting machine), a molded product is obtained by pressure molding in a mold cavity 5 of a molding apparatus 100. Here, the semi-molten metal Mb which has been inverted from the holding container V and discharged into the horizontal injection sleeve 8 has its upper surface located inside the holding container V in the plunger tip 8a in order to prevent entry of oxide. Put on the side.

When the holding container V is inverted and the semi-molten metal (columnar body) Mb in the holding container V is transferred from the supply port 8b of the horizontal injection sleeve 8 to the inside of the injection sleeve 8 by natural fall, the semi-molten metal is used. Since the metal Mb is not completely solid in a semi-molten state, the rigidity is weak, and the metal Mb may be deformed due to an impact at the time of breaking or dropping, and impurities such as oxides may be mixed, thereby deteriorating the quality of molded products. Therefore, in the present invention, in consideration of this point, as shown in FIG.
In order to prevent breakage and deformation of the cylindrical body, the inventor devised the storage of the cylindrical body Mb in the horizontal injection sleeve 8. Less than,
This will be described in detail.

FIG. 1 shows the entire configuration of a semi-molten metal forming apparatus 100. The forming apparatus 100 of FIG. 1 is a vertical casting horizontal casting die-casting machine. It comprises a device 100a, a mold device 100b, and a mold clamping device (not shown) (provided on the left side of the mold device 100b). The injection device 100a includes a horizontal injection sleeve 8 having a horizontal axis and an injection cylinder 9 connected thereto. A plunger tip 8a connected to a piston rod 9a of the injection cylinder 9 by a coupling 9b inside the injection sleeve 8 is provided. It is arranged to move forward and backward freely. Mold device 100b
Consists of a fixed mold 3 joined to a fixed plate 1 and a movable mold 4 joined to a movable plate 2 which can be moved forward and backward by a mold clamping device. The fixed mold 3 and the movable mold 4 are divided. A mold cavity 5 is provided on the surface.

The above configuration is conventionally known,
The feature of the present invention lies in the configuration of the horizontal injection sleeve 8, which will be described below. In the horizontal injection sleeve 8 according to the present invention, the supply port (opening) 8b for receiving the semi-molten metal (cylindrical body) Mb is provided on the upper side instead of the upper side in the middle of the horizontal injection sleeve 8 as in the related art. Alternatively, it is an opening provided to penetrate vertically. This opening 8b
Is slightly larger than the diameter of the cylindrical body Mb, the cross section is semicircular, and the opening is rectangular when viewed from the side.

On the other hand, as means for accommodating the cylindrical body Mb from the supply port 8b of the horizontal injection sleeve 8, a cylindrical body transporter 20 is used as shown in FIG. The cylindrical body transporter 20 includes a cylindrical block-shaped main body 20a having an axial through hole therein and a cylindrical portion 20b formed on one side thereof. The cylindrical portion 20b has a bottom plate 20d having a diameter smaller than the cylindrical inner diameter. The cylinder 20c is arranged so as to be able to move forward and backward in the axial direction, and is connected to the piston rod of the cylinder 20c housed in the main body through-hole, so that it can move forward and backward. Be combined.

As shown in FIG. 1, a body 30a is provided on the side surface of the cylindrical body transporter 20 via two arms which are connected at the intermediate portion so as to be tiltable around a horizontal rotation axis 30b.
The body 30a is moved horizontally and vertically and vertically by a combination of, for example, an overhead traveling crane (not shown) and a vertically erected cylinder (either an air cylinder, a hydraulic cylinder, or an electric cylinder). Is connected to a moving means that enables the moving in the horizontal direction and the vertical direction.

As shown in FIG. 1, the cylindrical carrier 20 is first moved at the position of the holding container V by using the cylindrical carrier 20 and the transfer means of the cylindrical carrier 20 constructed as described above. Tilts to receive the semi-molten metal cylinder Mb in the holding container V, and then controls the attitude so that the axial direction is horizontal, and then transports the cylinder carrier 20 to the position of the supply port 8b of the horizontal injection sleeve 8. I do.

Then, with the cylindrical body Mb incorporated therein, the cylindrical body transporter 20 is inserted into the horizontal injection sleeve 8 from the supply port 8b such that the axis of the horizontal injection sleeve 8 and the axis of the cylindrical body Mb substantially match. Next, the bottom plate 20d is advanced by advancing the piston rod of the cylinder 20c into the cylindrical carrier 20, and the cylindrical body Mb is placed in the horizontal injection sleeve 8, and the empty cylindrical carrier is emptied. After retreating from the horizontal injection sleeve 8, the cylindrical body Mb is injected and filled into the mold cavity 5 by the advance of the plunger tip 8a.

FIG. 3 shows an embodiment corresponding to the third invention of the present invention, in which an articulated robot 30 A is used as a transfer means of the cylindrical carrier 20. FIG. 3 shows an articulated robot 3 having at least four-dimensional degrees of freedom as a transfer means for transferring and tilting the cylindrical carrier 20.
An example employing 0A is shown. In practice, the articulated robot 30 has four degrees of freedom (x, y, z-axis directions of freedom and y-axis rotation degrees of freedom) to six-dimensional degrees of freedom (x, y, z).
An articulated robot 30 having axial degrees of freedom and x-axis rotation, y-axis rotation, and z-axis rotation degrees of freedom) was employed. here,
The x axis is the axis direction of the horizontal injection sleeve, the y axis is the horizontal direction perpendicular to the horizontal axis, and the z axis is the vertical direction.

That is, the first arm 32 that rotates about the horizontal rotation axis 30e extends from the side of the rotation seat 30d that rotates about the vertical axis at the top of the upright column base 30c,
A second arm 34, which is rotatable about a horizontal rotation axis 32a, is connected to the distal end of the first arm 32, and extends downward at the distal end of the second arm 34 via the horizontal rotary shaft 34a. A motor 36 having an output shaft 36a is mounted, and a small attitude control mechanism (having x-axis rotation, y-axis rotation, and z-axis rotation degrees of freedom) 38 is provided at the lower end of the output shaft 36a to enable a minute direction change. A pair of left and right magic hands 40 for holding the cylindrical carrier 20 from both sides are attached, so that the posture control and movement of the cylindrical carrier 20 can be arbitrarily performed. In this case, a personal computer, a sequencer, or a programmable controller capable of inputting a program is used as the robot automation device.

As the material of the cylindrical transporter 20, for example, the following material which has a small temperature drop and is free from contamination is adopted in consideration of the direct contact with the semi-molten metal Mb. Ceramic having low thermal conductivity, for example, silicon nitride (Si ₃ N ₄ ) fired body having low thermal conductivity of about 0.05 cal / cmsec ° C. Ceramic mixed composite material having low thermal conductivity, for example, about 0.03 cal / cmsec ° Metal-ceramic composite material with low thermal conductivity (composite material composed of titanium alloy and ceramic particles) Combination material of metal-ceramic composite material and steel For example, the outer periphery of a ceramic composite material is wrapped in steel.

As described above, instead of using ordinary transportation equipment (an overhead traveling crane, a cylinder, etc.) as the transfer means of the first invention (the molding apparatus 100 of the first embodiment of FIG. 1), In the third embodiment, the columnar body Mb can be stored in the horizontal injection sleeve 8 directly from the holding container V by employing the articulated robot 30A capable of at least four-dimensional operation.

After the cylindrical body Mb is stored in the horizontal injection sleeve 8 as described above, the injection process is started. The plunger tip 8a is advanced to crush the semi-molten metal Mb and inject it into the mold cavity 5. Fill. After the injection filling is completed, the molded product is cooled and solidified through a pressure-holding step, the mold is opened, and the molded product is taken out as a product.

[0030]

As is apparent from the above description,
The metal molding apparatus for semi-solid molding according to the present invention is a horizontal injection sleeve for forming a cylinder of semi-molten metal at low cost, easily and easily, and without causing shape loss or mixing of impurities such as oxides. Since it can be automatically stored in the inside, good molded product quality is ensured, so that an excellent molded body having a fine and granular structure can be mass-produced.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of an apparatus for forming a semi-molten metal according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of a cylindrical carrier according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a side view of an articulated robot according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an overall manufacturing process diagram for forming a semi-molten metal by injection using a horizontal injection sleeve according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Fixed board 2 Movable board 3 Fixed mold 4 Movable mold 5 Mold cavity 6 Runner 8 Horizontal injection sleeve 8a Plunger tip 8b Supply port (opening) 8A Small plunger tip 8B Small cylinder 9 Injection cylinder 9a Piston rod 9b Coupling Reference Signs List 20 cylindrical transporter 20a main body 20b cylindrical portion 20c cylinder 20d bottom plate 20e holding plate 30 transfer means 30A articulated robot 30a body 30b rotation axis 30c column base 30d rotation seat 30e rotation axis 50 ladle 52 tilt cooling jig 53 dipping type Vibration jig 55 Lid 54 Bottom plate 56 Induction device (heating coil) 57 Cooling device 100 Molding device 100a Injection device 100b Mold device M Metal melt Ma Metal melt (including crystal nucleus) Mb Semi-molten metal V Holding container

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A semi-molten metal, in which fine primary crystals generated in a holding vessel are dispersed in a liquid phase, are transferred to an injection sleeve having a horizontal axis and stored therein, and then connected to a piston rod of an injection cylinder. A semi-molten metal molding apparatus for injecting and filling the semi-molten metal in the injection sleeve into a mold cavity with a plunger tip, and forming the semi-molten metal into a cylindrical body. A rectangular opening is provided on at least the upper side surface or the upper and lower side surfaces of the intermediate portion in the axial direction, and the cylindrical body transferred from the holding container is placed from the top toward the opening while the cylindrical body is placed inside. A cylindrical container-shaped cylindrical body transporter that moves downward and stops at a state where the axis of the cylindrical body substantially coincides with the axis of the injection sleeve; and a transfer means for the cylindrical body transporter. Vessel is axial An apparatus for forming semi-molten metal, comprising: a bottom portion movable movably forward and backward; and a fluid pressure cylinder connected to the bottom portion and moving the bottom portion forward and backward within the cylindrical container. 2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the cylindrical carrier is a ceramic or a metal having a low thermal conductivity, a composite member of the both, or a combination thereof. 3. The cylindrical transporter is tilted while holding the cylindrical transporter to receive the cylindrical body in the holding container into the cylindrical transporter, and then the shaft of the cylindrical transporter is rotated. 2. The apparatus for forming a semi-molten metal according to claim 1, wherein the robot is a multi-joint robot that transfers the core into a horizontal position in an injection sleeve.