JPH10314917A - Device for forming half-melting metal - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain a forming device for an injection-forming half-melting metal by automatically and smoothly incorporating a columnar body of the half-melting metal which disperses fine primary crystals produced in a holding vessel and being suitable to the half-melting formation in liquid phase, into an injection sleeve with the horizontal axis. SOLUTION: In the forming device 100 of the half-melting metal, a columnar body incorporating vessel 20 which is formed as a cylindrical body possible to introduce the columnar body of the half-melting metal at the time of tilting and as arc-state projected outward in the side surface view at both end edge parts and is freely tilted and returned back from the horizontal state to the tilting state around a horizontal rotating shaft crossed at the right angle to the axial direction of the injection sleeve 8 arranged at the center part, is arranged at the center part of the injection sleeve 8. The opening hole part which becomes the integrated cylinder state between the injection sleeve 8 and the columnar body incorporating vessel 20 when the axial direction thereof coincides with the horizontal axial direction of the injection sleeve 8 by returning back from the tilting state, are arranged to the injection sleeve 8 and a columnar body receiving member which becomes the bottom surface when the columnar body incorporating vessel 20 receives the columnar body in the tilting state, is arranged at the end part of the columnar body incorporating vessel 20.

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 device, wherein a central portion of the injection sleeve is formed of a cylindrical body into which a semi-molten metal cylinder can be introduced when tilted, and both edges are outwardly convex in a side view. In addition, a cylindrical storage container is provided which can be tilted and returned from a horizontal state to a tilted state around a horizontal rotation axis orthogonal to the axial direction of the injection sleeve provided at the center portion, and the cylindrical storage device is tilted and returned. The cylindrical container When the axial direction coincides with the horizontal axis direction of the injection sleeve, the injection sleeve is provided with an opening in which the injection sleeve and the cylindrical container are integrated into a cylindrical state, and the cylindrical container is tilted. When receiving the cylindrical body, the cylindrical body receiving member serving as the bottom face was disposed at the end of the cylindrical body container.

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

In the third aspect of the present invention, the cylinder housing unit stops tilting at a position where the axis direction of the cylinder housing unit coincides with the axial direction of the injection sleeve when the cylinder housing unit tilts and returns. A stopper is provided on the cylinder housing side or the injection sleeve side.

[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. In the center of the sleeve,
It is formed of a cylindrical body into which a cylindrical body of semi-molten metal can be introduced at the time of tilting, and both edges are arc-shaped projecting outward in side view.
A cylindrical storage device is provided that can be tilted and returned from a horizontal state to a tilted state around a horizontal rotation axis orthogonal to the axial direction of the injection sleeve provided at the center, and the cylindrical storage device is tilted and returned. When the axial direction of the cylindrical body container coincides with the horizontal axis direction of the injection sleeve, an opening is provided in the injection sleeve so that the injection sleeve and the cylindrical body container are integrated into a cylindrical state. When receiving the cylindrical body in the tilted state, the cylindrical body receiving member serving as the bottom surface is arranged at the end of the cylindrical body housing, so that the uniform containing the primary crystal spheroidized from the liquid metal generated in the holding container. Transfer the cylinder of semi-molten metal suitable for structure and forming from the tilted holding container to the tilted cylinder housing, and return the cylinder housing to a horizontal state so that the axial direction matches the axial walking of the injection sleeve. , Stored as it is When the cylindrical body receiving member that formed the bottom surface of the container is rotated and taken out, the container and the injection sleeve become a unitary cylindrical state, so that the plunger tip in the injection sleeve is advanced and the semi-molten metal is Inject the cylinder into the mold cavity.

In the second aspect of the present invention, the cylindrical container is made of ceramic or metal having a low thermal conductivity, or a composite member or a combination thereof, so that the cylindrical container is transferred from the holding container to the cylindrical container. 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.

In the third invention, the positioning operation for each shot is performed by returning the cylindrical container from the tilted state to the horizontal state so that the axial direction of the cylindrical container coincides with the axial direction of the injection sleeve. Is easily and easily implemented, so that the driving operation is easy.

[0014]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. 1 to 6 relate to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of a molding apparatus for semi-molten metal, FIG. 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view of a cylindrical transporter when tilted, and FIG. FIG. 4 is a vertical cross-sectional view of a columnar transporter showing another embodiment, FIG. 5 is a side view of an articulated robot according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. It is a whole manufacturing process figure which shape | molds a semi-molten metal by injection by a sleeve.

FIG. 6 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. 6, 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], or the holding container (ceramic-coated metal) is used. Vibration is applied to the molten metal poured and stored in the V by the immersion-type vibrating jig 53, or the degree of superheat 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 a molded product. 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 not an opening provided in the middle of the horizontal injection sleeve 8 as in the prior art, but a horizontal injection sleeve. 8
The horizontal injection sleeve 8 is separated on the way to form a cylindrical body (cylindrical body 20a) into which a cylindrical body Mb of semi-molten metal can be introduced during tilting, as shown in FIGS. A cylindrical column whose end is an arc that protrudes outward in a side view and that can be tilted and returned from a horizontal state to a tilted state around a horizontal rotation axis 20b that is orthogonal to the axial direction of the horizontal injection sleeve 8 provided at the center. A body container 20 was provided. When the cylindrical container 20 is tilted and returned from the inclined state to the horizontal state and the axial direction of the cylindrical container 20 coincides with the horizontal axis direction of the horizontal injection sleeve 8, the horizontal injection sleeve 8 and the cylindrical container 20 are returned. The opening 8b is formed in the horizontal injection sleeve 8 so as to form an integral cylindrical state. Therefore, this opening 8b
Both ends of the cylindrical body storage device 2 in side view
The same arc as the arc at the end of 0 is formed in a concave state.

FIG. 2 shows the columnar container 20 in a tilted state. In this tilted state, the columnar body Mb put in the holding container V is transferred to the columnar container 20 as shown in FIG.
On the other hand, FIG. 3 shows a state in which the cylinder housing unit 20 in which the cylinder Mb is housed in the tilted state is rotated around the rotation axis 20b and then returned to the original horizontal state. A through hole 20c is formed at the lower end of the cylindrical body container 20 at the injection cylinder side end,
At the time of receiving the cylindrical body Mb at the time of tilting, the cylindrical body receiving member 22 serving as the bottom surface is rotatably disposed around a horizontal rotation shaft 22a via a bracket 22b provided upright on the lower outside of the cylindrical body storage device 20. The through hole 20c is provided so as to be able to enter and exit the inside of the cylindrical container.

In the above embodiment, if the length of the cylindrical receiving member 22 that enters and exits through the through-hole 20c is increased to be close to the inner diameter of the injection sleeve 8, the cylindrical receiving member 22
In this case, there is no problem in rotating and turning the cylinder in and out. Therefore, in this case, the through hole 20c is not provided, and the cylindrical body receiving member 22 is formed along the end face of the cylindrical pair 20a of the cylindrical body storage 20 on the plunger tip side. May be rotated. In this case, it is a matter of course that a gap is provided between the end face of the injection sleeve and the end face of the injection sleeve opposite to the end face so that the cylindrical body receiving member 22 can enter and exit.

The tilting means around the rotation axis 20b of the cylindrical container 20 and the rotation means about the rotation axis 22a of the cylindrical receiving member 22 are either a reversible motor (not shown) or a fluid pressure. Use a cylinder.

FIG. 4 shows a cylindrical container 2 showing another embodiment.
0A, a guide plate 26 made of a curved plate formed by an arc centered on the rotating shaft 20b is fixed to the lower portion of the horizontal injection sleeve 8 on the injection cylinder side, instead of the cylindrical body receiving member 22 which protrudes and disappears from the through hole 20c. Set up. With such a configuration, the guide plate 26 forms the bottom surface of the cylindrical container 20 when the cylindrical container 20 is tilted at the time of receiving the cylindrical member Mb. When the container 20 is tilted and returned to the horizontal state, the bottom surface of the cylindrical body Mb slides on the inner surface of the guide plate 26 so that the cylindrical body Mb is integrated with the horizontal injection sleeve 8 in a cylindrical shape. The plunger tip 8a is stored inside,
It is injected and filled into the mold cavity 5. The holding container V that transfers the cylindrical body Mb to the tilted cylindrical body storage device 20 includes, for example, an overhead traveling crane (not shown) and a vertically erected cylinder (either an air cylinder, a hydraulic cylinder, or an electric cylinder). Good) is connected to a moving means capable of moving in the horizontal and vertical directions and the vertical direction by a combination of the above, so that the horizontal and vertical directions can be moved.

As shown in FIG. 1, the cylindrical container 20 or the cylindrical container 20 is first placed at the position of the holding container V by using the cylindrical container 20 or the column transporter 20A thus configured. The container 20A is tilted to receive the semi-molten metal cylindrical body Mb in the holding container V, and thereafter, the axial direction is adjusted to the position of the supply port 8b of the mold injection sleeve 8 in the axial direction.
Transfer into 0, 20A.

Next, the cylindrical body Mb in the cylindrical body transporters 20 and 20A is injected and filled into the mold cavity 5 by advancing the plunger tip 8a. In order to control the attitude of the axis of the cylindrical container 20 in the horizontal state so as to match the axis of the horizontal injection sleeve 8, stoppers 24, 24 are provided at the opening end of the horizontal injection sleeve 8. I do.

FIG. 5 shows an embodiment in which an articulated robot 30 having at least four-dimensional degrees of freedom is employed as a means for transferring the holding container V. In practice, the articulated robot 30 has four-dimensional degrees of freedom (x, y, z-axis degrees of freedom and y-axis rotation degrees of freedom) to six-dimensional degrees of freedom (x, y,
An articulated robot 30 having a z-axis direction of freedom and x-axis rotation, y-axis rotation, and z-axis rotation degrees of freedom) was employed. Here, the x-axis is the axial direction of the horizontal injection sleeve, the y-axis is the horizontal direction perpendicular to the horizontal injection sleeve, 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 holding container V from both sides are attached, so that the posture control and movement of the holding container V can be arbitrarily performed. In this case, as a robot automation device,
A personal computer, sequencer, and programmable controller that can input programs are also used.

As the material of the cylindrical container 20, in consideration of direct contact with the semi-molten metal Mb, for example, the following material having a small temperature drop and no contamination is adopted. 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 a means for transferring the holding container V, at least four-dimensional operation is possible in the other embodiment of FIG. By using the articulated robot 30, the cylindrical body Mb can be stored in the horizontal injection sleeve 8 directly from the holding container V via the cylindrical body storage device 20.

After the cylindrical body Mb is housed 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.

[0032]

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 vertical cross-sectional view of the columnar transporter at the time of tilting according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the columnar transporter at the time of horizontal return according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view of a cylindrical carrier according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a side view of the articulated robot according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is an overall manufacturing process diagram for molding 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 body storage device 20A cylindrical body storage device 20a cylindrical body 20b rotating shaft 20c through hole 22 cylindrical body receiving member 22a rotating shaft 22b bracket 24 stopper 26 guide plate 30 articulated robot 30b rotating shaft 30c column base 30d rotating seat 30e rotating shaft 32 First arm 32a Rotating shaft 34 Second arm 34a Rotating shaft 36 Motor 36a Output shaft 38 Small posture control mechanism 40 Magic hand 50 Laddle 52 Inclined cooling jig 53 Immersion type vibration jig 55 Cover 54 Bottom plate 56 Guidance device ( Heating coil) 7 cooling device (including the crystal nuclei) 100 forming apparatus 100a injection device 100b mold apparatus M molten metal Ma molten metal Mb semi molten metal V-holding vessel

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 molding apparatus for injecting and filling the semi-molten metal in the injection sleeve into a mold cavity with a plunger tip, and molding the semi-molten metal in a central portion of the injection sleeve when tilted. It is formed of a cylindrical body into which a cylindrical body can be introduced, and is formed in an arc shape in which both edges are outwardly convex in a side view, and is horizontally arranged around a horizontal rotation axis orthogonal to the axial direction of the injection sleeve provided at the center. A cylindrical storage device capable of tilting and returning from a state to an inclined state is provided, and when the cylindrical storage device is tilted and returned and the axial direction of the cylindrical storage device coincides with the horizontal axis direction of the injection sleeve, Injection sleeve and the An opening is formed in the injection sleeve so that the cylindrical housing is integrated with the cylindrical housing. When the cylindrical housing is received in a tilted state, the cylindrical receiving member serving as the bottom surface is connected to the end of the cylindrical housing. An apparatus for forming a semi-molten metal, wherein the apparatus is disposed in a section. 2. The apparatus for molding a semi-molten metal according to claim 1, wherein the cylindrical container is made of ceramic or metal having a low thermal conductivity, a composite member of both, or a combination thereof. 3. A stopper for stopping the tilting of the cylindrical container at a position where the axial direction of the cylindrical container coincides with the axial direction of the injection sleeve when the cylindrical container returns to the tilted state. 2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the device is provided on the container side or the injection sleeve side.
Or the semi-solid metal forming apparatus according to claim 2.