JPH1136019A - Method and device for judging heated condition of metallic billet - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To surely judge whether a metallic billet is in a prescribed semi- solidified state or not and to improve the quality of a formed product by measuring the hardness of the metallic billet on its way to the heated metallic billet to a forming machine with a carrying means. SOLUTION: After heating the metallic billet 14 of an aluminum-made billet, etc., by using induction current with an induction coil 24 in a heating line 12, this heated billet is carried to the forming device with a carrying robot 16. The hardness of the metallic billet 14 is measured with a hardness measuring means 30 in a heating state discriminating device 10 on the way of carrying and the semi-solidified state of the metallic billet is discriminated from this measured result. Feedback of this discriminated result of the semi-solidified state of the metallic billet is executed to a controller 28 in the induction heating line 12, and the induction current fed to a metallic billet heating coil 24 is adjusted so that the metallic billet 14 becomes the optimum hardness to the formation, and the yield of the formed product to the metallic billet is improved.

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 judging a heating state of a metal billet for detecting a heating state of the metal billet while conveying the heated metal billet to a molding machine.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, a metal preform (hereinafter referred to as a metal billet) is heated to a semi-solid state through a heating device, and the metal billet is maintained in the semi-solid state to form a molding device. There is known a method of obtaining a predetermined metal molded product by performing a molding operation according to the following.

[0003] A heating apparatus used in this type of method is, for example, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 2-7748, a mounting apparatus provided with a series of insulated stands around a rotatable table. Above the placing device, a plurality of induction heaters are arranged corresponding to the billet, and when the billet is guided to the position of the induction heater by the rotation of the table, the side surface has It is configured to gradually increase the enthalpy of the billet in an unsupported standing state to a level at which the billet becomes partially semi-solid.

[0004] By the way, a predetermined molding operation is performed on the billet taken out of the heating device by a molding device. For this reason, in order to obtain a high quality molded product via the molding device, the billet is heated in a predetermined heating state, that is,
It is necessary to maintain a predetermined solid fraction (semi-solid state). In order to detect whether or not the billet after heating is maintained at a predetermined solid fraction, various operations have been conventionally performed.

[0005] For example, a billet after heating is completed is arbitrarily extracted, and the billet is cut with a knife or the like to judge the quality of the heating state (hereinafter referred to as a first method). Is inserted, and the heating condition is determined based on the temperature measurement result obtained from the thermocouple (hereinafter, referred to as a second method). (Hereinafter, referred to as a third method) is adopted.

[0006]

However, in the above-mentioned first method, since the billet is sampled and inspected, it is impossible to provide online feedback on external factors such as air temperature and water temperature, thereby stabilizing the product quality. Is difficult to maintain. Further, in the above-described second method, since conditions are determined in advance before mass production, it is impossible to perform quantitative condition management during mass production. Furthermore, in the above third method, in order to check the billet's falling or deformation,
It has been pointed out that the production process may be stopped, and productivity is significantly impaired.

The present invention solves this kind of problem, and can easily and reliably detect the heating state of a billet, stably maintain product quality, and improve productivity. An object of the present invention is to provide a method and an apparatus for determining a heating state of a metal billet.

[0008]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, in a method and an apparatus for judging a heated state of a metal billet according to the present invention, the heated metal billet is held by a conveying means and is transferred to a molding machine. While being conveyed, the hardness of the metal billet is detected by hardness measuring means provided in the conveying means. Next, it is determined whether or not the metal billet has been heated to a predetermined semi-solid state based on the detected hardness.

For this reason, it is possible to easily and reliably detect in real time whether or not each of the heated metal billets has been heated to a predetermined semi-solid state. Further, when the metal billet is not heated to a predetermined semi-solid state, the heating conditions of the metal billet, for example, the output voltage and the heating time are corrected. Therefore, the heated state of the metal billet can be maintained more stably, and the occurrence of a defective rate can be effectively reduced.

[0010] Further, the hardness measuring means is mounted on a grip member holding the metal billet. Therefore, the hardness of the metal billet can be efficiently and reliably detected with a simple configuration. On the other hand, when the hardness measuring means is disposed within the moving range of the transporting means, the transporting means is transferred to the hardness measuring means while holding the metal billet, whereby the hardness of the metal billet is increased. Is detected.

Further, the present invention includes a hardness measuring means mounted on a grip constituting the conveying means, and a hardness measuring means disposed within a moving range of the conveying means. Thereby, the work of detecting the hardness of the metal billet can be performed with higher accuracy and reliability.

According to the present invention, the transporting means includes weight detecting means for detecting the weight of the metal billet held by the grip member. Therefore, the burn-through amount of the metal billet is calculated from the weight difference between before and after the heating of the metal billet, and the quality of the semi-solid state of the metal billet can be determined from the burn-through amount.

[0013] Further, the conveying means includes a temperature detecting means for detecting a heated temperature of the metal billet held by the grip member. Therefore, it is possible to quickly determine the quality of the semi-solid state of each metal billet from the temperature of the heated metal billet.

[0014] Further, the carrying means includes a weight detecting means and a temperature detecting means. Therefore, it is possible to detect with higher accuracy whether or not the metal billet has been heated to a predetermined semi-solid state from the weight difference between before and after the heating of the metal billet together with the temperature after the heating of the metal billet. become.

[0015]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 is a schematic structural explanatory view of a heating line 12 incorporating a metal billet heating state judging device 10 according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

The heating line 12 includes a transport robot (transport means) 16 for transporting a billet 14 made of metal, for example, aluminum, which is held by a pair of heat insulating materials (for example, ceramics) 15 as grip members, and this transport robot. 1
The apparatus includes an induction heating device (heating means) 18 for induction heating the billet 14 carried in and out via the robot 6, and a CPU 20 for driving and controlling the transfer robot 16 and the induction heating device 18.

The induction heating device 18 includes a pedestal 22 on which the billet 14 is placed in an upright position, an induction heating coil 24 that surrounds the billet 14 mounted on the pedestal 22 and that can be raised and lowered. And a holding member 26 capable of holding the upper end of the coil 14 by pressing.
It is connected to a controller 28 containing a power supply. Controller 2
Numeral 8 is capable of supplying a low-frequency to high-frequency current to the coil 24.

The heating state judging device 10 includes the transfer robot 1
6, the transfer robot 1
6. A hardness measuring means 30 for online detecting the hardness of the billet 14 being conveyed at 6, and a determination as to whether or not the billet 14 has been heated to a predetermined solid state based on the hardness detected by the hardness measuring means 30. And a determination unit 32 for performing the determination.

As shown in FIG. 2, the hardness measuring means 30 comprises:
A cleaning cylinder 33 held by one heat insulator 15, a detector 34 movably disposed in the cylinder 33, and a direction in which the detector 34 is separated from the billet 14 (direction of arrow A). And a spring 36 biasing the spring 36.

The hardness measuring means 30 measures the hardness of the billet 14 based on the load and the approach speed when the detector 34 is inserted into the billet 14, and the hardness data is sent to the CPU 20. In this CPU 20,
The hardness at the time of optimal heating set in advance and the detected hardness data are compared via the determination means 32 as the function, and the quality of the solid phase ratio of the billet 14 is determined.

The operation of the heating state determination apparatus 10 according to the first embodiment having the above-described configuration will be described with reference to the heating line 1.
2 will be described below based on the flowchart shown in FIG.

First, the CPU 20 sets the billet 14 in advance.
The reference hardness range for determining the quality of the solid phase ratio of the billet 14 is stored based on the hardness at the time of optimal heating measured and calculated using (step S1). Then, the transfer robot 16 is driven via the CPU 20,
The transfer robot 16 places the billet 14 on a pedestal 22 constituting the induction heating device 18.

In the induction heating device 18, the coil 24 and the holding member 26 are lowered, and the billet 14 on the pedestal 22 is moved.
Is surrounded by the coil 24, and the pressing member 26 presses and holds the billet 14 toward the pedestal 22.
In this state, the controller 28 is driven to cause a current to flow through the coil 24, so that the billet 14 is induction-heated (step S2).

After the induction heating process of the billet 14 by the induction heating device 18 is completed, the coil 24 and the holding member 26 are raised, and the transfer robot 16 holds the heated billet 14 and forms a molding device (not shown). Transport to During the conveyance, the detector 34 is urged in the direction of arrow B by an external pressing means (not shown) as shown in FIG. For this reason, the detector 34 moves in the direction of arrow B against the elastic force of the spring 36, and its tip is inserted into the heated billet 14 by a predetermined length to act on the detector 34. The hardness of the billet 14 is detected from a load or the like. The hardness data of the billet 14 detected by the hardness measuring means 30 is sent to the CPU 20 (step S3).

The determining means 32 of the CPU 20 determines in step S4 whether the hardness of the billet 14 detected by the hardness measuring means 30 is within a reference hardness range stored in advance. When it is determined that the detected hardness is within the reference hardness range (YE in step S4).
S), it is determined that the billet 14 has been heated to a predetermined solid fraction, and the billet 14 is sent to a molding device (not shown).

On the other hand, if it is determined that the detected hardness is outside the reference hardness range (NO in step S4), step S5
NG processing is performed. Specifically, billet 1
The billet 14 is discarded, or the billet 14 is transferred to the heating process by the induction heating device 18 again. Further, the process proceeds to step S6, and the heating condition by the controller 28 is changed. Specifically, control conditions such as the output voltage of the controller 28 and the heating time are corrected.

In this case, in the first embodiment, the hardness measuring means 3 is attached to one of the heat insulating materials 15 constituting the transfer robot 16.
0 is attached. Then, when the billet 14 after the induction heating process is held and transferred to a molding device (not shown) via the transfer robot 16, the hardness of the billet 14 is directly detected online via the hardness measuring means 30. Next, the hardness of the billet 14 detected by the hardness measuring means 30 is compared with a reference hardness range to determine whether the solid phase ratio of the billet 14 is good.

Therefore, the quality of each solid phase ratio can be accurately and easily detected in real time for each billet 14, and the molding operation performed using the billet 14 can be performed with high quality. The effect is obtained that it is possible to effectively prevent variations in product quality. Moreover, there is no need to stop the operation of the heating line 12,
The billet 14 having a desired solid fraction can be efficiently sent out, and productivity can be greatly improved.

Further, if the billet 14 after heating does not have a predetermined solid fraction, the CPU 20
Heating conditions can be changed online, and product quality can be stabilized. At this time, when the hardness of the billet 14 sequentially detected by the hardness measuring means 30 tends to decrease or when the hardness of the billet 14 tends to increase, the output voltage and the heating time of the controller 28 are controlled by the CPU 20. And so on. Thus, the hardness of the billet 14 can be made close to the hardness at the time of optimal heating, and the billet 14 having a predetermined solid fraction can be efficiently and stably obtained.

FIG. 4 is a schematic structural explanatory view of a metal billet heating state judging device 40 according to a second embodiment of the present invention. Note that the heating state determination device 1 according to the first embodiment
The same components as those of 0 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

The heating state determination device 40 includes the transfer robot 1
6 is provided with a hardness measuring means 42 disposed within the movement range. The hardness measuring means 42 includes a detector 46 urged by a spring (not shown), and a measuring device 48 for measuring a load acting on the detector 46.
Is sent to the CPU 20 as hardness data.

The heating state judging device 4 constructed as described above
In the case of 0, the billet 14 is transferred to the hardness measuring means 42 while the heated billet 14 is gripped by the pair of heat insulating materials 15 constituting the transfer robot 16 and is transferred to a molding device (not shown). Then, with the transfer robot 16 holding the billet 14, the upper surface or the bottom surface of the billet 14 is moved to the detector 46 constituting the hardness measuring means 42.

For this reason, the detector 46 is inserted into the heated billet 14, and the load generated during the insertion is detected by the measuring instrument 48 via the detector 46 and sent to the CPU 20 as the hardness data of the billet 14. Can be The CPU 20 compares the detected hardness data with a reference hardness range recorded in advance, and determines whether or not the heated billet 14 is in a predetermined solid state.

Next, the transfer robot 16 moves in a direction away from the hardness measuring means 42, and the detector 46 separates from the billet 14. Then, the billet 14 is selectively conveyed to a molding device (not shown), an NG processing station, or the like via the conveyance robot 16.

FIG. 5 is a schematic structural explanatory view of a metal billet heating state judging device 50 according to a third embodiment of the present invention. Note that the same components as those of the heating state determination devices 10 and 40 according to the first and second embodiments are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

The heating state determination device 50 includes the transfer robot 1
6 is provided with a hardness measuring means 30, and a hardness measuring means 42 is provided within a moving range of the transfer robot 16. Therefore, in the heating state determination device 50, the hardness is measured from the side surface of the billet 14 by the hardness measurement unit 30 provided in the transfer robot 16, while the hardness measurement unit 4 is used.
The hardness is measured from the upper surface or the lower surface of the billet 14 through the second wire 2.

As a result, in the third embodiment, the hardness of the billet 14 after heating can be detected more accurately, and the quality of the solid state of the billet can be accurately determined. Is obtained.

FIG. 6 is a schematic structural explanatory view of a device 60 for judging a heating state of a metal billet according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. Note that the same components as those of the heating state determination device 10 according to the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

The heating state judging device 60 includes the hardness measuring means 3
0, a weight measuring device (weight detecting means) 62 for detecting the weight of the billet 14 held by the heat insulating material 15 of the transport robot 16 before and after induction heating.

The heating state judging device 6 constructed as described above
0, first, the billet 14 before heating is transferred to the transfer robot 1
6 and an induction heating device (not shown) gripped by the heat insulating material 15
When the billet 14 is transferred to the side, the weight measuring device 62 mounted on the transfer robot 16 detects the weight of the billet 14 before the heating. Next, after the billet 14 is induction-heated, the transfer robot 16 grasps the heated billet 14 and transfers it to a molding device (not shown). Billet 1
4 is weighed.

The CPU 20 determines whether or not the billet 14 has been heated to a predetermined solid state based on the hardness data of the heated billet 14 inputted from the hardness measuring means 30, and determines whether or not the billet 14 has been heated. Based on the input weight data, the quality of the solid state of the billet 14 after the heating is determined again.

That is, in the CPU 20, the billet 14
Of this billet 14 based on the weight difference before and after heating
Is calculated, and this burn-through amount is compared with a previously measured and calculated optimum reference weight range at the time of optimal heating. Then, when it is determined that the detected weight difference (the amount of burn-through) is within the reference weight range, it is determined that the billet 14 has been heated to a predetermined solid phase ratio.

As described above, in the fourth embodiment, the detected hardness of the billet 14 after heating is compared with a reference hardness range stored at the time of optimal heating stored in advance, and the weight difference of the billet 14 before and after heating is calculated. Is compared with a reference weight range stored at the time of optimal heating stored in advance. Accordingly, an effect is obtained that the determination as to whether or not the billet 14 has been heated to the predetermined solid phase ratio is performed with higher accuracy and reliability.

FIG. 7 is a schematic structural explanatory view of a device for judging a heating state of a metal billet according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention. Note that the same components as those of the heating state determination device 10 according to the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

The heating state judging device 80 is a thermocouple for detecting the temperature of the billet 14 attached to the transfer robot 16 and held by the heat insulating material 15 after induction heating, in addition to the hardness measuring means (not shown). (Temperature detecting means) 82.

The heating state judging device 8 thus configured
In the case of 0, the CPU 20 stores a reference temperature range for judging the quality of the solid phase ratio of the billet 14 from the temperature at the time of optimal heating previously measured using the billet 14. Then, after the billet 14 is induction-heated by an induction heating device (not shown), the transport robot 16 holds the billet 14 and transports it to a molding device (not shown).

At this time, when a pair of heat insulators 15 constituting the transfer robot 16 hold the heated billet 14, the tip of a thermocouple 82 provided on one of the heat insulators 15 is located in the billet 14. Only a fixed amount is inserted. Therefore, the temperature of the heated billet 14 is detected via the thermocouple 82, and the temperature data is sent to the CPU 20.
The determination means 32 of the CPU 20 determines whether or not the detected temperature of the billet 14 is within the reference temperature range, and determines whether or not the billet 14 has been heated to a predetermined solid fraction.

On the other hand, the heated billet 14 is measured by a hardness measuring means (not shown) provided on the transfer robot 16.
Is detected, and the quality of the solid state of the billet 14 is determined. As a result, the work of determining whether or not the billet 14 has been heated to a predetermined solid state is performed with higher accuracy.

[0049]

As described above, according to the method and the apparatus for judging the heated state of the metal billet according to the present invention, while the heated metal billet is held by the transfer means and transferred to the molding machine, the transfer means The hardness of the billet after the above-mentioned heating is detected through a hardness measuring means provided for the billet. Then, based on the detected hardness, it is determined whether or not the metal billet has been heated to a predetermined semi-solid state. For this reason, it is possible to easily and reliably determine whether or not each metal billet is in a predetermined semi-solidified state online, without causing variations in product quality, efficiently and efficiently producing high-quality products. It can be easily obtained. In addition, when the semi-solid state of the metal billet is determined, the line is not stopped, and the productivity can be further improved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration explanatory view of a heating line incorporating a device for determining a heating state of a metal billet according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic plan view of the heating state determination device according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a method for determining a heating state of a metal billet according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a schematic configuration explanatory view of a device for determining a heating state of a metal billet according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a schematic configuration explanatory view of a device for determining a heating state of a metal billet according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a schematic configuration explanatory view of a device for determining a heating state of a metal billet according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a schematic configuration explanatory view of a device for determining a heating state of a metal billet according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

10, 40, 50, 60, 80 ... heating state determination device 12 ... heating line 15 ... heat insulating material 16 ... transport robot 18 ... induction heating device 20 ... CPU 30, 42 ... hardness measuring means 34, 46 ... detector 82 ... thermoelectric versus

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuation of the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁶ Identification symbol FI C21D 1/42 C21D 1/42 V 11/00 102 11/00 102 (72) Inventor Kenji Owada 1-Shinsayama, Sayama-shi, Saitama 10-1 Inside Honda Engineering Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Kiyonobu Mizogami 1-1-1 Shin-Sayama, Sayama City, Saitama Prefecture Inside Honda Engineering Co., Ltd.

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A step of heating a metal billet, a step of holding the heated metal billet by a transfer means and transferring it to a molding machine, and detecting a hardness of the metal billet during the transfer. Determining whether or not the metal billet has been heated to a predetermined semi-solidified state based on the detected hardness; and a method of determining a heated state of the metal billet. 2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of changing a heating condition of the metal billet when it is determined that the metal billet is not heated to a predetermined semi-solid state. A method for judging a heated state of a metal billet, characterized in that: 3. A metal billet is carried into and out of a heating means via a conveyance means, and after the metal billet is heated by the heating means, the metal billet is heated to a predetermined semi-solid state. A metal billet heating state determination device for determining whether or not the metal billet is heated by the transporting means while the metal billet is being transported, wherein the hardness measuring means detects the hardness of the metal billet; Determining means for determining whether or not the metal billet has been heated to a predetermined semi-solid state based on the determined hardness. A device for determining a heated state of a metal billet, comprising: 4. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said hardness measuring means is mounted on a grip member which constitutes said transport means and holds said metal billet. Heating state determination device. 5. The heating state judging device according to claim 3, wherein the hardness measuring means detects a hardness of the metal billet held by the transporting means, so that the hardness of the metal billet is within a moving range of the transporting means. An apparatus for determining a heating state of a metal billet, which is provided. 6. A heating state judging device according to claim 3, wherein said transport means includes weight detecting means for detecting a weight of said metal billet held by said grip member before and after heating. For determining the heating state of a metal billet to be heated. 7. The heating state judging device according to claim 3, wherein the transporting means includes a temperature detecting means for detecting a heated temperature of the metal billet held by the grip member. Characteristic device for determining the heating state of metal billets.