JPH1119965A - Mold protecting apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a mold protecting apparatus for preventing damage of a mold by previously detecting and treating a fault in a lead frame. SOLUTION: The mold protecting apparatus comprises a regulating guide 8 for guiding a lead frame 7 mounted with forming elements 7a, 7b, a vertically movable positioning block 9 for positioning the frame 7 mounted at one end of the guide 8, upper detector 1 and lower detector 2 having holes 1a, 2b for inserting the elements 7a, 7b having a profile similar to a recess of a cavity of the mold, proximity sensors 12, 13 mounted at side ends and vertically movable by air hydraulic cylinders 5, 6 telescopic by compression springs 3, 3a, 4, 4a, thereby conveying the frame 7 and controlling to drive the mold according to output signals of the sensors 12, 13. Before molding in the mold, faults of the elements 7a, 7b formed at the frame 7 can be detected.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a die protection device for forming an electronic component or the like by using a lead frame or the like on which a forming element is mounted.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a conventional mold protection device, an abnormality is detected and controlled by a clamping operation of a lead frame or the like by an upper die and a lower die of a molding die to protect the die.

That is, when a strip-shaped lead frame made of a metal material or the like for forming an electronic component or the like and mounted with a forming element is molded from a resin material or the like with an upper mold and a lower mold of a molding die, the upper mold and the lower mold are used. The lead frame is conveyed between the molds, and first, the upper mold or the lower mold is moved by driving the cylinder by driving the low-pressure hydraulic circuit to hold the lead frame.

When there is no abnormality in the lead frame or the mold, and when it is determined that the upper mold and the lower mold have a regular interval or a mold clamping force by various detection sensors attached to the mold, the operation is continued. Molding is performed by clamping with a hydraulic circuit driven at a regular pressure.

If the upper die and the lower die do not have a regular interval or a mold clamping force due to adhesion of foreign matter on the lead frame, displacement of forming elements, etc., or an abnormality in the die, a signal from a detection sensor or the like is used. The cylinder is stopped to protect the mold.

When a servomotor and a ball screw are used instead of a cylinder as a mold clamping mechanism,
Mold protection is performed by low-pressure mold clamping by controlling the torque of the servomotor or by a method of detecting and controlling abnormalities in the torque.

[0007]

However, the low-pressure mold clamping force in the conventional mold protection device is at least one to one.
When a concentrated load is applied locally due to a displacement of a forming element mounted on a lead frame or the like with respect to a cavity of a molding die or adhesion of a foreign substance to the cavity of the molding die, May lead to damage or destruction.

In addition, since the lead frame is actually sandwiched between the upper mold and the lower mold of the molding die, there is a problem that damage to the lead frame and the mounted forming element is inevitable.

An object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned conventional problems, and it is possible to detect a displacement of a forming element in a lead frame or an adhesion of a foreign substance, etc., immediately before molding, and to perform processing in advance, thereby forming a molding metal. It is an object of the present invention to provide a mold protection device for preventing a mold from being damaged.

[0010]

According to the present invention, there is provided a mold protection apparatus comprising: a regulating guide for guiding a lead frame on which a forming element is mounted; and a lead frame attached to one end of the regulating guide. A pair of vertically movable detectors having holes similar to the recesses of the cavity of the molding die and having a hole for inserting a forming element, and a proximity mounted on the detector. It is designed to control the transport of the lead frame and the driving of the molding die by the output signal of the sensor, so that the abnormality in the lead frame can be detected beforehand outside the molding die, appropriate processing can be performed, and the return work can be performed. It is possible to prevent the breakage of the molding die with good efficiency.

[0011]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
A regulating guide for guiding a lead frame on which a forming element is mounted, a vertically movable positioning block attached to one end of the regulating guide and positioning the lead frame, and a recess and an outer shape of the cavity of the molding die are formed to be similar. A pair of vertically movable detectors with holes for inserting elements, and a die protection device that controls the transport of the lead frame and the driving of the molding die by the output signal of a proximity sensor attached to the detector. This has the effect that an abnormality in the lead frame can be detected in advance outside the molding die.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the invention, an air-hydro cylinder is used for driving the pair of detectors to move up and down, and the moving speed of the pair of detectors is adjusted appropriately. In addition, it is possible to stop the forming element accurately at a predetermined position without damaging the forming element.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, a proximity sensor for detecting a position from a lead frame is attached to a side end portion, and a pair of expandable and contractible detectors is provided by a spring. This has the effect of not damaging the lead frame and the mounted forming element upon detection.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, a detection sensor for detecting a forming element is attached adjacent to one end of the regulating guide, and the detection sensor is mounted on a lead frame. It has the effect of detecting missing or missing mounting elements.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. 1A is a configuration diagram of a mold protection device according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 1B is a perspective view of a main part of the lead frame, and FIG. 2 is a main view showing a relationship between the detector and the lead frame. FIG. 3 is a sectional view of a main part for explaining the detecting operation, and FIG. 4 is a schematic front view of a configuration in which the mold protecting device is mounted on a molding machine.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 7 denotes a strip-shaped lead frame made of a metal material or the like. And the lower surface, and the same space as the cavity of each molding die for molding is attached by gluing, caulking, welding, fitting, press-fitting, etc. Stored and supplied in.

Reference numeral 1 denotes a plate-shaped upper detector made of a metal material, a resin material, or a ceramic material. The concave portion and the outer shape of the cavity in which the forming elements 7a mounted on the lead frame 7 at regular intervals can be inserted are slightly larger. A similar hole 1a is provided.

Reference numeral 2 denotes a lower detector which also faces the upper detector 1. The lower detector 2 has a similar hole 2b having a slightly larger outer shape than the concave portion of the cavity into which the forming elements 7b mounted at regular intervals on the lead frame 7 can be inserted. Provided.

The upper detecting member 1 and the lower detecting member 2 include compression springs 3, 3a, compression springs 4, 4a each having a guide shaft (not shown).
The upper and lower detectors 1 and 2 are attached to the mounting plates 14 and 15 made of a metal material so as to be extendable and contractible via the through holes. I try not to damage it.

The mounting plates 14 and 15 can be moved up and down by inserting slide shafts 10 and 11 fixed to the main body angle 17, and the mounting plate 14 is provided with the tip of the air-hydro cylinder 5 mounted on the main body frame. , Mounting plate 1
Numeral 5 similarly has the tips of air-hydro cylinders 6 fixedly attached, respectively, and is moved up and down or stopped and held at a predetermined position by driving them.

Reference numeral 8 denotes a pair of regulating guides each having a U-shaped cross section made of a metal material or a ceramic material, and the lead frame 7 is regulated and guided in the U-shape.

Reference numeral 9 denotes a positioning block attached to a side end of the regulating guide 8, which has a built-in pilot pin for positioning and is fixed to the tip of an air cylinder 16 attached to the main body frame 17, and drives the same. Lead frame 7 that moves up and down through the guide 8
Perform positioning.

Reference numerals 12 and 13 denote proximity sensors of a mechanical type, an electric type or an optical type, which are mounted so as to face the side surfaces of the ends of the upper detection body 1 and the lower detection body 2, respectively. The position from the upper surface and the lower surface of the lead frame 7 corresponding to the body 1 and the lower detection body 2 is detected, and an output signal is controlled by a supply mechanism (not shown) of the lead frame 7 and a driving mechanism of a molding die described later. To send out.

Reference numerals 32 and 33 denote recognition mechanisms and optical detection sensors provided adjacent to the regulation guide 8 on the side to which the lead frame 7 is supplied.
An abnormality such as a missing or detached mounting of the lead frame 7b is detected, and an output signal is sent out to control a supply mechanism (not shown) of the lead frame 7 and a driving mechanism of a molding die described later.

In FIG. 4, reference numeral 18 denotes an upper die of a molding die, which is fixed to the lower surface of an upper die plate 25 fixed or movably attached to the shafts 23, 24.

Numeral 19 denotes a lower mold which is also opposed to the upper mold 18 and has a mold-clamping hydraulic cylinder 20 attached to the main body 22.
And is fixed to the upper surface of a lower mold plate 26 which is movable up and down.

Reference numerals 21 and 21a denote guide rollers for regulating and guiding the lead frame 7. The guide rollers shown in FIG.
It is installed on the upper surface of the main body 22.

Next, the operation will be described. The lead frame 7 on which the hoop-shaped forming elements 7a and 7b are mounted is conveyed in the direction of the arrow by a supply mechanism (not shown), and is passed through the die protection device mounted on the main body 22 and the upper roller via the guide roller 21. It is transferred and placed between the lower mold 18 and the lower mold 19 to perform predetermined molding.

At that time, the mold protection device of the lead frame 7 at the next molded portion is operated. First, the detection elements 32 and 33 form the forming elements 7a and 7b.
Is detected, and if there is no abnormality, the positioning block 9 is operated by driving the air cylinder 16 to position the lead frame 7 in the transport direction, and at the same time, the positioning in the vertical direction is performed by the regulating guide 8. .

Next, the upper detector 1 and the lower detector 2 are moved up and down by driving the air-hydro cylinders 5 and 6 at the set appropriate speed, and the forming elements 7a and 7 when approaching each other.
b is stopped at a predetermined distance or position at which the lead frame 7 approaches or contacts the lead frame 7 without being damaged.

As shown in FIG. 2, the upper detector 1, the lower detector 2 and the lead frame 7 have the dimensions A and B of the holes 1a of the upper detector 1 and the dimensions C and C of the holes 2b of the lower detector 2 as shown in FIG. D is the upper mold 1
8 and the cavity of the lower mold 19 (not shown) are similar in outer shape to the concave portion, and can insert the forming elements 7a and 7b.

Accordingly, if the forming elements 7a and 7b on which the lead frame 7 is mounted are displaced or foreign matter is attached, the upper detector 1 is moved to a predetermined position as shown in FIG. However, when a gap of the distance E occurs and the abnormality of the lead frame 7 is detected by the proximity sensors 12 and 13 and the output signal is transferred to the molding die, the supply mechanism and the hydraulic cylinder This is transmitted to the drive mechanism 20 (not shown) to stop the molding operation.

That is, an abnormality in the lead frame 7 is detected and controlled by driving the upper and lower detectors 1 and 2 of the air-hydro cylinders 5 and 6 at low cost and simpler.

Even if the lead frame 7 has a rectangular shape with a predetermined size, an abnormality can be detected immediately before clamping, that is, before molding.

[0035]

As described above, according to the mold protection apparatus of the present invention, an abnormality in the lead frame can be detected in advance outside the molding die, and damage to the lead frame and the forming element can be prevented. This has the effect that damage or destruction of the mold can be prevented.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1A is a configuration diagram of a mold protection device according to an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 1B is a perspective view of a main part of the lead frame;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a main part showing a relationship between the detector and a lead frame.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of a main part for explaining the detection operation;

FIG. 4 is a schematic front view of a configuration in which the mold protection device is mounted on a molding machine.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Upper detection body 1a hole 2 Lower detection body 2b hole 3, 3a Compression spring 4, 4a Compression spring 5, 6 Air-hydro cylinder 7 Lead frame 7a, 7b Forming element 8 Regulation guide 9 Positioning block 10, 11 Slide shaft 12, 13 Proximity sensor 14,15 Mounting plate 16 Air cylinder 17 Body frame 18 Upper mold 19 Lower mold 20 Hydraulic cylinder for mold clamping 21,21a Guide roller 32,33 Detection sensor

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁶ Identification code FI // B29L 31:34

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A regulation guide for guiding a lead frame on which a forming element is mounted, a positioning block attached to one end of the regulation guide and capable of moving the lead frame up and down, and a concave portion of a cavity of a molding die. A pair of detectors that are similar in outer shape and have a hole that allows the formation element to be inserted and that can move up and down, and a die that controls the transport of the lead frame and the driving of the molding die by the output signal of the proximity sensor attached to the detector Protective equipment. 2. The mold protection device according to claim 1, wherein an air-hydro cylinder is used to drive the pair of detectors to move up and down. 3. The mold protection device according to claim 1, wherein a proximity sensor for detecting a position from the lead frame is attached to a side end portion of the pair of detection bodies to form a pair of detection bodies that can be expanded and contracted by a spring. 4. The mold protection device according to claim 1, wherein a detection sensor for detecting a forming element is attached adjacent to one end of the regulation guide.