JPH1147907A - Method for deciding solid phase ratio in metal-made billet and device therefor - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To simply and surely detect heating-state and to safely keep the quality by detecting the wts. before and after induction-heating a metal-made billet and judging what the billet is heated into a prescribed solid phase ratio when this wt. difference is within the reference range of melt-down quantity at the prescribed solid phase. SOLUTION: An induction-heating device 18 is provided with a base seat 22 for laying the billet 14, a coil 24 for induction-heating surrounding the billet 14 laid on this base seat 22 so as to be freely elevated/lowered and a holding member 26 freely press-holding the upper end part of the billet 14, and the coil 24 is connected with a controller 28 including an electric source. The controller 28 supplies the high frequency current from the low frequency current to the coil 24. A solid phase judging device 10 is provided with a wt. measuring instrument 30 for detecting the wts. before and after induction-heating the billet 14, an arithmetic means 32 obtaining the wts. difference before and after induction-heating detected with this wt. measuring instument 30 as the measured value of the melt-down quantity of the billet 14, and a judging means 34 for judging whether the measured value is within the reference range of the melt-down quantity in a prescribed solid phase ratio or not.

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 the solid phase ratio of a metal billet, which judges whether or not a metal billet heated via an induction heating device has been heated to a predetermined solid phase ratio. .

[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 forming a predetermined metal molded product by performing a forming 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.

By the way, the billet taken out of the heating device is subjected to a predetermined molding operation by a molding device. For this reason, in order to obtain a high-quality molded product via the molding device, it is necessary to maintain the billet in a predetermined heated state, that is, a predetermined solid phase ratio. 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. It will be difficult to maintain it. Further, in the second method, since the conditions are determined in advance before mass production, it becomes impossible to perform quantitative condition management during mass production.
Furthermore, in the above-mentioned third method, the production process may be stopped in order to confirm the billet falling or deforming, and it is pointed out that the 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 solid phase ratio of a metal billet.

[0008]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a method and an apparatus for judging the solid phase ratio of a metal billet according to the present invention detect the weight of the metal billet before and after induction heating and determine the weight. The difference is obtained as a measure of the burn through of the metal billet. Next, when it is determined that the measured value is within the reference range of the burn-through amount at the predetermined solid phase ratio, it is determined that the metal billet has been heated to the predetermined solid phase ratio. For this reason, it can be simply and reliably detected in real time whether or not the metal billet after the induction heating is heated to a predetermined solid fraction.

[0009] In addition, the conveying means for carrying the billet in and out of the induction heating device is provided with a weight detecting means for detecting the weight of the metal billet before and after the induction heating. Therefore, the quality of the heated state of the metal billet is determined while the metal billet is being conveyed, and the efficiency and simplification of the entire operation can be achieved. At this time, the transporting means holds the metal billet via the heat insulating material. As a result, it is possible to effectively prevent the temperature of the metal billet from lowering, and to convey the metal billet having a predetermined solid phase ratio to a molding device, which is the next step, thereby further improving product quality. become.

Further, when it is determined that the measured value of the heated metal billet is out of the reference range, the driving condition of the induction heating device is changed. For this reason, the defect occurrence rate of the molded product can be reduced, and the heating state of the metal billet can be further stabilized.

[0011]

FIG. 1 is a schematic structural explanatory view of a heating line 12 incorporating a metal billet solid-phase ratio judging device 10 according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

The heating line 12 is a transfer robot (transfer means) that transfers a metal billet 14 made of, for example, aluminum, by holding it with a heat insulating material (for example, ceramics) 15.
16, an induction heating device 18 for induction heating the billet 14 carried in and out via the transfer robot 16, and a CPU (control means) 20 for controlling the drive of the transfer robot 16 and the induction heating device 18 And

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 which surrounds the billet 14 mounted on the pedestal 22 and can move up and down. A pressing member 26 capable of pressing and holding the upper end of the billet 14;
Are connected to a controller 28 containing a power supply. The controller 28 is capable of supplying a low-frequency to high-frequency current to the coil 24.

The solid-phase-ratio judging device 10 comprises a weight measuring device (weight detecting means) 30 for detecting the weight of the billet 14 before and after induction heating, and a weight difference between before and after induction heating detected by the weight measuring device 30. An arithmetic unit 32 for obtaining a measured value of the burn-through amount of the billet 14 and a determining unit 34 for determining whether or not the measured value is within a reference range of the burn-through amount at a predetermined solid fraction.

The calculating means 32 and the judging means 34
The determination means 34 is included in the function of U20, and when the billet 14 of 3 inches x 155 mm is actually used, the reference range of the burn-through amount at a predetermined solid fraction is set to 100 g to 200 g. Yes, measured value is 100g
If it is equal to or less than 200 g, it is determined to be defective. The solid phase ratio is in the range of 32% to 49%.

The operation of the solid-phase-ratio determining apparatus 10 according to the first embodiment having the above-described configuration will be described with reference to the heating line 12.
This will be described below with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

First, the transfer robot 16 holds the billet 14 via the heat insulating material 15, and transfers the billet 14 to the weighing device 30. The weight measuring device 30 measures the weight W1 of the billet 14 before heating, and sends the measured data to the CPU 20 (step S1).

Next, the transfer robot 16 moves the billet 1
4 is transferred from the weighing device 30 to the induction heating device 18, and the billet 14 is placed on the pedestal 22. In the induction heating device 18, the coil 24 and the holding member 26 are lowered to surround the billet 14 on the pedestal 22 with the coil 24, and the holding member 26
To the pedestal 22 side. In this state, the controller 28
Is driven and a current flows 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 pressing member 26 are raised, and the transport robot 16 holds the heated billet 14 and Transport to The weight measuring device 30 measures the weight W2 of the billet 14 after the heating, and sends the measured data to the CPU 20 (step S3).

In the CPU 20, the arithmetic means 32 obtains the weight difference between the weight W1 before heating and the weight W2 after heating as a measured value S of the burn-through amount of the billet 14 (step S).
4) It is determined whether or not the measured value S is within a reference range of the burn-through amount at a predetermined solid phase ratio via the determination means 34 (step S5). Here, when it is determined that the measured value S is within the reference range, that is, within the range of 100 g to 200 g (YES in step S5), the billet 14 is set.
Is heated to a predetermined solid phase ratio, and this billet 14 is sent to a molding device (not shown).

On the other hand, if it is determined that the measured value S is out of the reference range (NO in step S5), the process proceeds to step S6, where an NG process is performed. Specifically, the billet 14 is discarded, or the billet 14 is shifted to the heating process by the induction heating device 18 again. Further, the process proceeds to step S7, and the heating condition (driving condition) by the controller 28 is changed. Specifically, control conditions such as the output voltage of the controller 28 and the heating time are changed.

In this case, in the first embodiment, the weights W1 and W2 of the billet 14 before and after heating are detected, and the measured value S of the burn-through amount of the billet 14 is calculated from the weight difference, and the measured value S Is compared with a preset reference range for the amount of burn-through to determine whether or not the solid phase ratio of the billet 14 is good.

For this reason, 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 is performed with high quality. The effect is obtained that it is possible to effectively suppress 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,
Product quality is stabilized. At this time, when the measured values S sequentially detected by the calculating means 32 tend to decrease, while it is determined that the heating temperature of the billet 14 is low,
If the measured value S is increasing, it is determined that the heating temperature of the billet 14 is high. Therefore, the CPU 20
By correcting the output voltage of the controller 28, the heating time, and the like, the billet 14 having a predetermined solid fraction can be efficiently and stably obtained.

FIG. 3 is a schematic structural explanatory view of a heating line 12 incorporating a metal billet solid-phase-ratio judging device 50 according to a second embodiment of the present invention. Note that the same components as those of the solid-phase-ratio determination device 10 according to the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

The solid-phase-ratio determining device 50 includes a transfer robot (transfer means) 52, and the transfer robot 52 includes a billet 1 held by the transfer robot 52.
In order to detect the weight before and after the induction heating of No. 4, a weight measuring device (weight detecting means) 54 is attached. Transfer robot 52
Is provided with a heat insulating material 56 such as ceramics for gripping the billet 14.

The solid-phase-ratio judging device 50 thus constructed
First, the billet 14 before heating is transferred to the transfer robot 5
When the billet 14 is transferred to the induction heating device 18 while being held by the second heat insulator 56, the weight measuring device 54 attached to the transfer robot 52 detects the weight of the billet 14 before the heating. Next, when the billet 14 is placed on the pedestal 22 constituting the induction heating device 18 via the transfer robot 52, the transfer robot 52 is separated from the pedestal 22, and the coil 24 and the holding member 26 are lowered. Then, current is supplied to the coil 24 via the controller 28. Thereby, the billet 14 is induction-heated.

Then, the heated billet 14 placed on the pedestal 22 is gripped by the transfer robot 52 and transferred to the molding device (not shown). Billet 1 after heating
4 is weighed.

The calculating means 32 of the CPU 20 calculates the billet 1 based on the weight of the billet 14 before and after heating.
The measured value S of the burn-through amount of No. 4 is calculated, and the determination means 34 determines whether or not the measured value S is within the reference range of the burn-through amount at a predetermined solid phase ratio. When it is determined that the measured value S is within the reference range of the burn-through amount at the predetermined solid phase ratio, it is determined that the billet 14 has been heated to the predetermined solid phase ratio.

As described above, in the second embodiment, the weight of each billet 14 before and after heating is measured to determine the billet 1.
Since the solid phase ratio of 4 is determined, the same effect as in the first embodiment can be obtained. Further, in the second embodiment, a weight measuring device 54 is mounted on the transfer robot 52, and the billet 14 is heated while the transfer robot 52 carries the billet 14 into and out of the induction heating device 18. The weight before and after is measured. Therefore, the quality of the solid phase ratio of the billet 14 can be determined more quickly and easily, and labor and labor can be easily saved.

[0031]

As described above, in the method and apparatus for determining the solid phase ratio of a metal billet according to the present invention, the weight of the metal billet before and after induction heating is detected, and the difference in weight is determined at a predetermined solid phase ratio. It is determined whether or not the burn-through amount is within a reference range, and whether or not the solid phase ratio of the metal billet is good.
For this reason, it is possible to easily and surely determine whether or not each metal billet has a predetermined solid phase ratio, without causing variation in product quality, and efficiently and easily producing high-quality products. It is possible to obtain. Moreover, since it is not necessary to stop the line when determining the solid phase ratio of the metal billet, productivity can be further improved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic structural explanatory view of a heating line incorporating a metal billet solid phase ratio determination device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating a method for determining a solid phase ratio of a metal billet according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a schematic structural explanatory view of a heating line incorporating a metal billet solid phase ratio determination device according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

[Description of Signs] 10, 50: Solid phase ratio determination device for metal billet 12: Heating line 14: Billet 15, 56: Heat insulating material 16, 52: Transfer robot 18: Induction heating device 20: CPU 24: Coil 28: Controllers 30, 54 ... Weight measuring device 32 ... Calculation means 34 ... Judgment means

Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Kenji Owada 1-10-1 Shinsayama, Sayama-shi, Saitama Honda Engineering Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Kiyonobu Mizogami 1-10-1 Shin-Sayama, Sayama-shi, Saitama Honda Engineering Stock In company

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. A metal billet is carried into and out of an induction heating device via a conveying means, and when the metal billet is heated by the induction heating device, the metal billet is brought into a predetermined solid phase ratio. A method for determining a solid state ratio of a metal billet that determines whether or not the metal billet has been heated, comprising: detecting a weight of the metal billet before induction heating; and detecting a weight of the metal billet after induction heating. And a step of obtaining the detected weight difference before and after induction heating as a measured value of the burn-through amount of the metal billet, and the measured value is within a reference range of the burn-through amount at a predetermined solid phase ratio. Judging whether or not the metal billet is heated to a predetermined solid fraction when the measured value is judged to be within the reference range, metal Solid fraction determination method of the billet. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein
When the metal billet is held by the carrying means, the weight of the metal billet before and after induction heating is detected by a weight detecting means provided in the carrying means, wherein the solid phase ratio of the metal billet is detected. Judgment method. 3. A method according to claim 1, wherein said conveying means holds said metal billet through a heat insulating material. . 4. The method according to claim 1, wherein
When the measured value is determined to be outside the reference range,
A method of determining a solid phase ratio of a metal billet, comprising a step of changing a driving condition of the induction heating device. 5. A metal billet is carried into and out of an induction heating device via a conveying means, and when the metal billet is heated by the induction heating device, the metal billet is brought into a predetermined solid phase ratio. A solid-phase ratio determination device for a metal billet that determines whether or not the metal billet has been heated, comprising: a weight detection unit configured to detect a weight of the metal billet before and after induction heating; and Calculating means for obtaining a measured value of the burn through amount of the metal billet; and determining means for determining whether or not the measured value is within a reference range of the burn through amount at a predetermined solid phase ratio. An apparatus for determining a solid phase ratio of a metal billet, characterized in that: 6. The solid-phase-ratio determining apparatus according to claim 5,
Wherein the transfer means is provided with the weight detecting means for detecting a weight of the metal billet held by the transfer means before and after induction heating. apparatus. 7. The solid-phase-ratio judging device according to claim 5, wherein said conveying means includes a heat insulating material for holding said metal billet. apparatus. 8. The solid-phase-ratio determining apparatus according to claim 5,
When the measured value is determined to be outside the reference range,
An apparatus for determining a solid phase ratio of a metal billet, comprising: control means for changing a driving condition of the induction heating device.