JPH11114971A - Method and apparatus for cleaning mold for molding polyurethane - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To easily obtain a uniform polyurethane molding by bringing a plurality of rotary brushes into contact with an upper surface of a mold for molding a polyurethane placed on a predetermined position with a cleaning surface disposed upside while rotating them, and reciprocating it in a long axis direction of the mold to cleaning the surface of the mold. SOLUTION: The mold 1 is placed on a working base 11. Rotary brushes 2 are moved down by an elevation cylinder 7 while rotating them by a rotary motor 3. The brushes 2 are slid in a lengthwise direction of the mold via a slide base 4 by a base moving means 6 to clean the overall surface of the mold 1. Ends of the brushes 2 are brought into contact with the upper surface of the mold 1 while rotating the brushes 2, thereby removing residue or the like. Simultaneously, a mold stopper 9 is raised, and the mold in which its cleaning is finished is sent to a next step. The overall width of the mold can be mechanically, automatically uniformly cleaned without necessity of a manual work, and hence a residue removing work can be performed with safety without unevenness.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for cleaning a molding die in a process of manufacturing a blade for an electrophotographic apparatus. For example, when manufacturing a polyurethane blade used in an electrophotographic apparatus, a polyurethane material is cast into a mold and cured, and after the casting mold is divided into two, the cured polyurethane blade is taken out. It is necessary to remove unreacted polyurethane, release agent, decomposed product, blow-off, and the like (residue) attached to the casting surface of the mold. Also, a step such as applying a new release agent may be required to cast the next product. This step includes a rough finishing step, a polishing step, a finishing step, and the like. The cleaning method or the cleaning device of the present invention is effectively used in the rough finishing step. The rough finishing step aims at removing relatively easily removed residues adhered to the mold, and the partially adhered residue is used to remove abrasives by another polishing step. Sharp off by rubbing strongly. Further, fine dust, polishing liquid and the like generated by the polishing are completely removed by the finish wiping means.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In the production of polyurethane blades, for example, in order to clean a molding die, it is difficult to take measures such as the complexity of the shape of the die and the prevention of abrasion. The residue was manually removed with a brush, a clean cloth, etc., and wiped.

[0003]

However, the manual wiping operation as described above requires a large number of man-hours, and requires a worker to manually handle a heavy metal mold. In addition, since the degree of wiping finish varies due to the procedure and attention of the operator, there is a problem that the next product becomes dirty or adheres to a mold, making it difficult to take out. The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and an object of the present invention is to provide a cleaning method and an apparatus therefor that can easily obtain an automated and uniform polyurethane molded product.

[0004]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, a cleaning method according to the present invention comprises the steps of: rotating a plurality of rotating molds on an upper surface of a polyurethane molding die placed at a predetermined position with a cleaning surface facing upward; While rotating and lowering the brush, the polyurethane molding die is reciprocated in the long axis direction to clean the mold surface, and then the rotating brush is raised to send the polyurethane molding die to the next step. .

[0005] By mounting the polyurethane molding die at a predetermined position with the cleaning surface facing upward, it becomes easy to raise and lower a rotating brush described later to operate the rotating brush. A plurality of rotating brushes can be operated at the same time to efficiently clean the surface of a plurality of molds. Especially when the molds are divided into two and prepared side by side, two molds are processed simultaneously. it can. By reciprocating in the long axis direction of the polyurethane molding die and repeatedly brushing, uniform cleaning from one end to the other end is possible. Since the residue is forcibly removed by brushing, the residue can be removed without using a solvent, for example, by using only water. The cleaned polyurethane molding die can be easily sent to the next step by raising and avoiding the rotating brush.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a cleaning device, wherein a rotating means is attached to a central portion and rotating brushes are attached to both ends, and the shaft is rotatable at two points sandwiching the attaching position of the rotating means. A brush support frame that supports the brush support frame at a lower portion, and an elevating means that supports the brush support frame at a lower portion and an upper portion is hung on a sliding base, and the sliding base can be reciprocated in the longitudinal direction of the polyurethane molding die. It has a guide rail for supporting and a base moving means for moving the sliding base.

[0007] Since rotating brushes are attached to both ends of the shaft to form a pair, a pair of dies (a die to be cleaned is usually divided into two and handled as a pair. Can be brushed at the same time. Since the rotating means is attached to the central portion, the rotating brushes at both ends can be stably rotated by one driving source. or,
Since the brush support frame rotatably supports the shaft at two points with the rotation means being interposed therebetween, the brush support frame is stably rotated even if the load of the rotating brushes at both ends is unbalanced. When performing rough finishing work, the rotating brush is lowered by the lifting means suspended from the upper part to the sliding base while supporting the brush support frame at the lower part, and the rotating brush is brought into contact with the upper surface of the mold to complete the cleaning work. When this is done, it is raised and the mold below it is easily moved to the next process,
New mold can be installed. Since the sliding base is reciprocally supported by the guide rail parallel to the longitudinal direction of the polyurethane molding die, the rotating brush can be cleaned from the end of the die to the other end without unevenness. The movement is based on the base moving means.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the cleaning device, synthetic fibers are radially implanted on an outer peripheral surface of a cylindrical body in which the rotating brush can be fitted to an end of the shaft. Since the brush is detachable from the end of the shaft, it can be easily replaced with a new one when the brush is worn. In addition, since a synthetic fiber is used, an appropriate hardness can be selected, a brush having a strength for removing a residue and not damaging a mold can be designed.

[0009]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, an embodiment of a method and an apparatus for cleaning a polyurethane mold according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a front view showing the entire apparatus according to this embodiment, and FIG. 2 is a left side view of the apparatus shown in FIG. FIG. 3 shows a side view, partially in section, of the device of FIG.

In this embodiment, after the polyurethane blade is cast and cured, the mold is divided into two parts, the molded polyurethane blade is taken out, and the mold is removed from the mold with the inner surface (cavity surface) opened upward. Is conveyed onto the workbench of the cleaning device according to (1). The polyurethane blade is a strip-shaped sheet formed by curing a thermosetting polyurethane, and is used for scraping off toner remaining on a photosensitive drum for an electrophotographic apparatus while being supported by metal fittings. Although the configuration of the mold is not shown, a flat box-shaped cavity (a shape corresponding to the blade shape) is formed inside, and uncured urethane is cast into the cavity and cured, and then molded into two parts. It is designed so that the blade can be removed. Further, there is a case in which a gap for setting a metal fitting to be attached to a polyurethane blade as a product in advance is formed. In the process of dividing the mold, insert a wedge into the mold joint, divide the mold, take out the molded blade, and use the used mold as a pair with the inner surface facing up and down on the worktable for cleaning Conveyed. After the residue adhering to the mold is removed by the cleaning method of the present invention, hard deposits are further removed by polishing using an inner surface polishing device (not shown), and finishing is performed using a soft textile product and a wiping liquid using a finish wiping device. Is preferred.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the cleaning device of the present invention rotates a brush on the upper surface of a mold 1 to be cleaned, which is placed horizontally on a work table 11 placed horizontally. A plurality of rotating brushes 2 rotated by a motor 3 are in contact. In this embodiment, two shafts are rotated by one brush rotation motor 3, and a pair of rotation brushes 2 are attached to each shaft as shown in FIG. 2, and eight rotations are performed by two motors. The brush 2 is rotated. The positional relationship between the brush rotating motor 3 and the rotating brush 2 is shown in a partial cross section in FIG. 3, in which the rotating brush 2 is supported by fitting both ends of a shaft 12 supported at two points by a brush supporting frame 16. A belt 14 (see FIG. 1) is suspended between a pulley 13 ′ attached to the center of the shaft 12 and the pulley 13 of the brush rotating motor 3.

Although not shown in detail, the rotary brush 2 is formed by embedding synthetic fibers radially in a tubular body fitted to the end of the shaft 12 and cutting the synthetic fibers into a predetermined length to finish it into a roll. Then, the residue adhering to the mold 1 is removed by contacting the inside of the mold while rotating.
Due to the stiffness of the brush material and the flexibility of the fibers, the brush can be well fitted to the inner surface of a mold having a complicated shape and the cleaning effect can be improved. Therefore, the synthetic fiber is, for example, a polyester fiber (trade name: Conex) and has a wire diameter of 0.5 mm.
A finished brush having an outer diameter of 70 mm using 2 mm is used.

As shown in FIG. 1, the brush support frame 16
Is supported by a lifting cylinder 7 suspended at its upper end from the sliding base 3 via a connector 8 so as to be able to move up and down. The rotary brush 2 is moved up and down together with the brush support frame 16 by the elevating cylinder 7, and is raised when the mold 2 is attached and detached. The same effect can be obtained by replacing the lifting cylinder 7 with a screw screw or the like. The sliding base 4 is supported by a guide rail 5 provided parallel to the longitudinal direction of the mold 2 and provided horizontally so as to be capable of reciprocating sliding. The sliding base 4 is moved by the base moving means 6 in the direction of the arrow x such that the rotating brush 2 reciprocates between the rotating brush 2 ′ and the imaginary line.
An air cylinder, a rack and pinion, a screw screw, or the like can be used as the base moving means 6 indicated by a hidden line.

The mold 2 is usually conveyed to the position of the worktable 11 by conveying means (a conveyor belt or the like, not shown). In order to accurately set the moving range of the rotary brush 2, the mold 2 is used. Needs to be fixed. Therefore, this cleaning device is provided with a mold stopper 9 as shown in FIG. The mold stopper 9 is supported by a lower part of a stopper elevating cylinder 10 supported integrally with the guide rail 5, and moves up and down at the timing of attaching and detaching the mold 1. The guide rail 5 is supported by the worktable 11 by a support frame (not shown).

In the cleaning method according to the present invention using the cleaning device exemplified above, the plurality of rotating brushes 2 are rotated on the upper surface of the mold 1 placed at a predetermined position with the cleaning surface facing upward. After descending and reciprocating in the major axis direction of the mold 1 to clean the surface of the mold 1, the rotating brush 2 is moved up and the mold 1 is sent to the next step.

The mold 1 is transported by a transport means (not shown) and placed on a work table 11. The mold 1 is divided into two parts in a previous step (not shown), and is conveyed onto the worktable 11 by a conveying means with its cavity surface (cleaning surface) facing upward. The transfer means and the work table can be used in common. The positioning of the mold 1 is performed by the mold stopper 9 which has been lowered after sending out the previously cleaned mold. That is, at the end of the mold 1 on the worktable 11, the mold stopper 9 having the taper 15 formed at the tip is lowered, and the position of the mold 1 projecting within the range of the taper 15 is corrected. The mold stopper 9 is performed at the same time when the rotary brush 2 is moved up and down.

The rotating brush 2 is raised and lowered by a lifting cylinder 7 while being rotated by a brush rotating motor 3.
When the mold 2 is lowered, it is slid in the length direction of the mold via the sliding base 4 by the base moving means 6 to clean the entire surface of the mold 2. The rotating brush 2 removes residues and the like by bringing the brush tip into contact with the upper surface of the mold 1 while rotating.
When cleaning is completed, the rotating brush 2 stops rotating and rises, and simultaneously raises the mold stopper 9 to send the cleaned mold 1 to the next step.

By supplying water to the cleaning surface of the mold 1 when polishing and cleaning with the rotating brush 2, it becomes easy to remove dirt that is easily adjusted to water.

[0019]

As is apparent from the above description,
The cleaning method and the cleaning device of the present invention have the following excellent effects. In the cleaning method according to the first aspect, it is possible to mechanically and automatically clean the entire width uniformly without requiring manual operation of an operator to clean the sent mold. It is safe because the mold is not manually transported, and the residue can be removed manually without any variation.

In the cleaning device according to the second aspect, the first aspect is provided.
Cleaning method can be effectively realized. Since the rotating brush can move up and down and reciprocate in the length direction of the mold, the mold can be easily attached and detached and the entire surface can be uniformly cleaned.

In the cleaning device according to the third aspect, since the rotating brush is made of synthetic fiber, it is possible to remove the deposit without damaging the mold, and to replace only the rotating brush. You can use a range of performance brushes, constantly.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view of a cleaning device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 shows a left side view of the device of FIG.

FIG. 3 shows a side view, partially in section, of the device of FIG. 1;

[Explanation of symbols]

 1: Mold 2: Rotary brush 3: Brush rotating motor 4: Sliding base 5: Guide rail 6: Base moving means 7: Elevating cylinder 8: Connector 9: Mold stopper 12: Shaft

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A plurality of rotating brushes are rotated down to contact the upper surface of a polyurethane molding die placed at a predetermined position with the cleaning surface facing upward, and the length of the polyurethane molding die is reduced. A method of cleaning a polyurethane molding die, comprising: reciprocating in an axial direction to clean the surface of the die, and then raising the rotating brush to send the polyurethane molding die to the next step. 2. A cleaning device for a polyurethane molding die, comprising: a shaft having a rotating means attached to a central portion thereof and rotating brushes attached to both ends thereof; A brush supporting frame rotatably supported by the above, a lifting / lowering means supporting the brush supporting frame at a lower portion and hanging an upper portion from a sliding base, and reciprocating the sliding base in a longitudinal direction of the polyurethane molding die. A cleaning device for a polyurethane molding die, comprising: a guide rail movably supported; and a base moving means for moving a sliding base thereof. 3. The cleaning device for a polyurethane mold according to claim 2, wherein the rotating brush is made by radially implanting synthetic fibers around the outer periphery of a cylindrical body that can be fitted to an end of a shaft.