JP3552769B2 - Apparatus and method for cutting molded articles - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
[Industrial applications]
The present invention relates to a cutting device and a cutting method for cutting and separating a work from a resin molded product integrally including a plurality of works simultaneously formed by, for example, connected by a runner.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Examples of a resin molded product integrally including a plurality of workpieces simultaneously connected by a runner include a plastic lens. In general, this plastic lens is injection-molded, and in order to increase the productivity during this molding, a plurality of lenses are integrally molded in a state where they are connected to each other via a runner. That is, they are separated at the gate portion by being cut.
In addition, cutting of this lens from the runner includes cutting using a metal saw or a grindstone, or bending and shearing, heating using a nichrome wire, and cutting using heat energy such as ultrasonic waves and laser. Used.
Furthermore, in the case of using this cutting method, it is difficult to cut between the lens and the runner unless the resin material is cooled and hardened. However, molded products that are connected by a runner immediately after molding are difficult to cut between the lens and the runner because the resin is soft, and if not cooled to a certain temperature or less, the lens will be distorted when cutting. Cooling is required because accuracy may be reduced. Also, in the production process, there is a time difference between the two, as it requires more cooling time than molding time. For this reason, from the viewpoint of the tact time, conventionally, a position where molding and cooling are performed and a position where cutting is performed after cooling are provided at different positions, and work is performed independently at different positions. I have.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
The problem with conventional resin molding that adopts the above method is that when cutting from the runner of the lens, according to the method of cutting with a metal saw or grindstone, chips are generated and scattered around. Adheres to the lens surface. For this reason, it is necessary to clean the surface of the lens after cutting, and there has been a problem that the number of man-hours increases and the cost increases.
Also, in the method of cutting using heat energy, stringing due to a molten material occurs after cutting, which adheres to the lens surface and becomes a defective product, or adversely affects the quality even if it does not adhere to the lens surface. There was a problem.
Further, there is a problem that it is difficult to completely automate the molding, and the automation technology is delayed.
[0004]
The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a cutting apparatus and a cutting method for a molded product that can be easily completely automated in molding and can dramatically improve productivity. To provide.
Further, other objects will be sequentially clarified in the contents described below.
[0005]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The object of the present invention is to position a molded product in a cutting device for cutting and separating the workpiece from a molded product integrally having a plurality of workpieces connected to each other via a runner. A plurality of holding means for positioning the molded article in the holding means, temporarily stocking the molded article, and sequentially moving the holding means from the carry-in position to the carry-out position with a leaving cooling time. A configuration comprising a stock unit and a conveying unit for clamping the molded product in the holding unit at the unloading position, and conveying the plurality of works to a cutting position where the plurality of works are cut by a gate unit and individually separated. Is achieved by doing
Further, the stock means may be formed as an index table in which the holding means are juxtaposed in the rotation direction, and the holding means may be moved from the loading position to the unloading position by rotating the index table. .
Further, a clamp portion for clamping the runner of the molded article is provided in the transfer means, the runner is clamped by the clamp portion, and the runner is held from the time when the runner is taken out from the stock means until the work is cut. It is also possible to adopt a configuration that continues.
Further, the holding means may have a groove shape for receiving and positioning the runner of the molded product.
[0006]
Furthermore, this object is achieved in the method of the present invention, in the cutting method of separating by cutting the workpiece a plurality of workpieces are connected to each other via the runner from a molded article integrally has, according The cutting device according to item 1 is used to position the molded article immediately after being molded by the injection molding machine in the holding means of the stock means and temporarily stock the molded article, and move the holding means from the carry-in position to the carry-out position. The molded product in the holding means is clamped by the transporting means via the runner of the molded article and transported to the cutting position at the unloading position, and the molded product is transported by the transporting means. By keeping the clamped state of the above, the respective workpieces of the molded article can be cut off at the gate portion and separated individually.
[0007]
[Action]
According to this, the molded articles are positioned and temporarily stocked in the holding means, and left to cool while the holding means is moved from the carry-in position to the carry-out position, and the cooled molded articles are individually cut at the cutting position. Since it can be cut and separated, a consistent operation from molding to cutting and storage can be performed on the same production line. This allows for full automation.
Further, in the case where the stock means is formed as an index table in which the holding means are juxtaposed in the rotation direction and the holding means is moved from the loading position to the unloading position by rotating the index table, the cooling means is allowed to stand until it is cooled. , Can be held at a predetermined position in a predetermined posture, and loading / unloading is simplified.
Further, in the case where the transport means is provided with a clamp portion for clamping a runner of a molded product, the runner is clamped by the clamp portion, and the runner is continuously held from being taken out from the stock means to cutting the work. In addition, the positioning accuracy is improved, and the cutting accuracy is improved.
When the holding means is provided with a groove shape for receiving and positioning the runner of the molded product, the molded product can be prevented from moving even when the index table or the like is moved.
[0008]
【Example】
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a schematic arrangement view showing an embodiment of a molded product cutting apparatus according to the present invention. In FIG. 1, this cutting apparatus is mainly composed of a stock / transport section 1, a positioning section 2, a cutting section 3, and a transport alignment section 4.
In this embodiment, a case where a plastic lens 50a (hereinafter, simply referred to as “lens 50a”) is formed as the molded product 50 is described as an example. Then, as shown in FIG. 2, the molded product 50 immediately after molding is discharged by the runner 51 in a state where four workpieces, that is, the lenses 50a are connected to each other. The part 62 clamps a part 51a of the runner 51, and conveys and supplies it to the cutting device of the present invention. On the cutting device side, a portion where the runner 51 and the lens 50a are connected, that is, a boundary portion between the gate portion 52 and the lens 50a is cut and separated into individual lenses 50a.
[0009]
More specifically, the stock / transport unit 1 has a stock unit 5 and a conveyance unit 6. Of these, the stock means 5 is also shown in FIG. Therefore, referring to FIG. 2, the stock means 5 has an index table 7 which is intermittently rotated below the carry-in position 71 and the carry-out position 72 under the control of an actuator (not shown). The holder 8 of the plurality of on index table 7 is placed is positioned the moldings 5 0 immediately after molding (six in this embodiment), along the rotating direction, at equal intervals state It is fixed and provided.
[0010]
Each holder 8 is formed with a groove 8a for receiving a substantially cylindrical rod-shaped horizontal base 51a of the runner 51 and a cutout 8b for receiving an approximately cylindrical rod-shaped arm 51b. I have. The bottom shape of the groove 8a corresponds to the outer shape of the horizontal base 51a, and the bottom shape of the notch 8b corresponds to the outer shape of the arm 51b. Therefore, when the vertical base 51c protruding upward from the substantially middle portion of the horizontal base 51a is clamped by the chuck portion 62 of the transfer mechanism 61, carried to the carry-in position 71, and placed on the holder 8. The molded product 50 is arranged on the index table 7 in a predetermined position at a predetermined position by the groove 8a and the notch 8b, and when the index table 7 is rotated, it is moved to the unloading position 72 in this state. You. It is to be noted that the time required for the molded product 50 to be moved from the carry-in position 71 to the carry-out position 72 is the time required to cool the molded product 50 immediately after molding to a temperature or lower suitable for cutting. Is set as a possible time. In order to set this time, the number of holders 8 arranged on the index table 7 and the like are adjusted in addition to the intermittent rotation speed of the index table 7.
[0011]
The transport means 6 is also shown in FIG. 3, the transporting means 6 is disposed between the unloading position 72 on the index table 7 and the positioning section 2, and includes a servomotor 9 and a feed screw rotated by the servomotor 9. 10, a carriage 11 that is sent by the rotation of the feed screw 10 and reciprocates between the unloading position 72 and the positioning unit 2, a Z-axis actuator 12 and a servomotor 13 mounted on the carriage 11. Have been.
A chuck 14 for clamping the runner 51 of the molded product 50 is attached to the lower end of the shaft 12a of the Z-axis actuator 12. The chuck 14 can reciprocate in the direction of arrow UD in FIG. 3, that is, in the vertical direction, by the operation of the Z-axis actuator 12.
A timing gear 15 is attached to an output shaft 13 a of the servomotor 13, and a timing gear 16 is attached to a shaft 12 a of the Z-axis actuator 12. In addition, a timing belt 17 is stretched between the timing gear 15 and the timing gear 16. When the servo motor 13 is rotated, the shaft 12a is rotated via the timing gear 15, the timing belt 17, and the timing gear 16, and the chuck 14 is rotated together with the shaft 12a in the direction of arrow AB in FIG. be able to.
[0012]
The positioning portion 2 is disposed below the feed screw 10 in the transport means 6 and along the same X-axis direction as the feed screw 10, and its main structure is also shown in FIG. 4. To explain this with reference to FIG. 4, the positioning unit 2 has a first clamp unit 2A and a second clamp unit 2B that are separated on the base 18 and arranged in a symmetrical manner. . Further, the first and second clamping means 2A and 2B are provided with a jig 19 for clamping the lens 50a of the molded article 50 conveyed by the conveying means 6 and a jig 19 along the X axis shown in FIG. And an actuator 20 for moving in the direction of the arrow C-D. In the positioning section 2, when the molded article 50 is conveyed by the conveying means 6 and the lens 50a is disposed between the first clamping means 2A and the second clamping means 2B, the actuator 20 causes When the jigs 19 are moved in the directions facing each other, the lens 50a can be clamped between the jigs 19. When the jigs 19 are moved in the opposite directions to each other, The structure is such that the clamp on the lens 50a can be released. In the present embodiment, the surface of the jig portion 1 for clamping the lens 50a is formed in a V-shape, but the shape of this surface depends on the shape of the work (the lens 50a in this embodiment). An easy shape is selected. A buffer spring (not shown) is interposed between the jig 19 and the actuator 20, and the operating force of the actuator 20 is transmitted to the jig 19 via the spring. .
[0013]
The cutting section 3 is provided adjacent to the positioning section 2, and has a gate section 52 between the lens 50 a clamped by the positioning section 2 and the runner 51 clamped by the chuck 14 of the transporting means 6. The structure is such that a boundary portion with the lens 50a can be cut.
The cutting portion 3 is provided with air blowing means (not shown), and air is blown from the air blowing means to the cut portion of the molded article 50 at the time of cutting. In other words, by blowing air, cutting powder and the like generated when cutting the molded product 50 from the runner 51 is prevented from scattering around and adhering to the surface of the lens 50a, and the cut portion is cooled by air. Thus, distortion of the molded product is prevented.
[0014]
The transport alignment unit 4 includes a lens take-out unit 21, an alignment preparation unit 22, and an alignment unit 23.
Of these, the lens take-out unit 21 is also shown in FIG. Therefore, referring to FIG. 5, the lens take-out unit 21 includes an actuator 25 mounted on a base 24 of the apparatus, an actuator 26 disposed on the actuator 25, an arm 27 disposed on the actuator 26, and the like. The arm 27 can be reciprocated in the Z-axis direction by the actuator 25, and the arm 27 can be reciprocated in the horizontal direction by the actuator 26, and the position of the tip of the arm 27 on the positioning unit 2 The structure is such that it can be switched to the position arranged on the alignment preparation unit 22. An air chuck 28 is provided on the lower surface of the arm 27 on the rotation tip side. The air chuck 28 has a recess 29 which can receive the lens 50a on the lower surface, as shown in FIG. A negative pressure path 30 communicating with the inside 29 is provided. The negative pressure path 30 communicates with an air pump device (not shown). When the inside of the recess 29 is made to have a negative pressure through the negative pressure path 30 in a state where the air chuck 28 is disposed above the lens 50a, the pressure is reduced. The lens 50a is sucked and held in the recess 29. When the suction is released, the lens 50a can be dropped by its own weight. When the lens 50a is released by releasing the suction, air may be blown out through the negative pressure path 30 to positively discharge the lens 50a from the recess 29.
[0015]
Although not shown, the aligning unit 23 has an arm 31 having an air chuck 28 having a structure substantially the same as the air chuck 28 in the lens take-out unit 21 at the tip, and the arm 31 extends along the X axis, the Y axis, and the Z axis. It comprises an actuator 32 that can move in a direction, and a tray positioning portion 33 on which an alignment tray 34 is placed. In the alignment section 23, the tip of the arm 31 can be moved to a position on the alignment preparation section 22 and a position on the tray positioning section 33 by the operation of the actuator 32. The lens 50a on the alignment preparation unit 22 is suction-chucked by the air chuck, carried to the alignment tray 34 of the tray positioning portion 33 and released, and can be aligned and stored in the alignment tray 34. .
[0016]
Next, the overall operation of the cutting apparatus thus configured will be described. First, when a molded product 50 immediately after being molded by an injection molding machine (not shown) is transported by the transport mechanism 61, it is positioned and transferred to the holder 8 on the index table 7 at the loading position 71. Then, the molded product 50 is left and conveyed in a positioned state to the carry-out position by the intermittent rotation of the index table 7, and the molded product 50 is cooled during this time.
[0017]
Thus, the runner 51 of the molded article 50 conveyed to the unloading position 72 is clamped by the chuck 14 of the transfer means 6 which is lowered by the operation of the Z-axis actuator 12 at the unloading position 72. When the clamping by the chuck 14 is completed, the chuck 14 is raised by the operation of the Z-axis actuator 12, and then the carriage 11 is moved toward the positioning section 2 by the operations of the servo motor 9 and the feed screw 10. Further, when the movement to the positioning section 2 is completed, the chuck 14 is lowered by the operation of the Z-axis actuator 12, and the lens 50a is moved to the jig sections 19, 19 of the first and second clamping means 2A, 2B in the positioning section 2. The lens 50a is clamped by the operation of the actuator 20. Subsequently, the cutting section 3 cuts the vicinity of the boundary between the clamped lens 50a and the gate section 52. Then, when the first cutting process is completed, the chuck 14 is once raised by the operation of the Z-axis actuator 12 while the molded product 50 is clamped.
[0018]
Subsequently, the state is switched to a state in which the arm 27 of the lens take-out part 21 of the alignment part 23 is raised by the operation of the actuator 25 and a state in which the tip of the arm 27 is moved onto the positioning part 2 by the operation of the actuator 26. Next, the actuator 25 is operated to lower the arm 27, and the air chuck 28 is disposed adjacent to the separated lens 50a. At the same time, the pressure in the recess 29 of the air chuck 28 is reduced to a negative pressure through the negative pressure path 30, and the lens 50 a is clamped by the positioning unit 2. Then, the lens 50a is suction-chucked into the recess 29. Subsequently, the arm 27 is raised by the operation of the actuator 25, and when the lifting is completed, the state is switched to a state in which the tip of the arm 27 is moved onto the alignment preparing unit 22 by the operation of the actuator 26. Next, the actuator 25 is operated to lower the arm 27. When the lowering is completed, the negative pressure of the air chuck 28 is released, and the lens 50a is transferred onto the alignment preparing unit 22.
[0019]
Subsequently, on the alignment unit 23 side, after the tip of the arm 31 is moved to a position on the alignment preparation unit 22 by the operation of the actuator 32, the arm 31 is lowered and the alignment preparation unit is moved by the air chuck provided at the tip of the arm 31. The lens 50a on the chuck 22 is suction-chucked. Subsequently, the arm 31 is raised, carried to the alignment tray 34 of the tray positioning portion 33, lowered and released, and is aligned and stored in the alignment tray 34.
[0020]
On the other hand, when the arm 27 of the transport alignment unit 4 is moved together with the lens 50a to the alignment preparation unit 22 side, the chuck 14 raised after the cutting of the first lens 50a is completed is formed by the operation of the servo motor 13. The direction of the product 50 is changed so that the lens 50a remaining without being separated corresponds to the positioning portion 2, and the lens 50a is lowered again by the operation of the actuator 12, and the lens 50a is clamped by the positioning portion 2, and the second lens Is cut and separated. Then, the separated lens 50 a is processed by the transport alignment unit 4 in the same manner as the first lens, and is stored in the alignment tray 34.
Thereafter, until the fourth lens 50a is cut and separated, the chuck 14 repeats ascending, rotating, and descending. When the separation of all the lenses 50a is completed, the chuck 14 is unloaded by the operation of the servo motor 9 and the feed screw 10. Returned to position 72. During the return, the same operation is repeated when the runner 51 without the lens 50a is discarded in a discarding unit (not shown) and returned to the discharge position 72.
[0021]
Therefore, according to the molded article cutting apparatus of the present embodiment, the molded article 50 is positioned and temporarily stocked in the holder 8 (holding means), and the holder 8 is intermittently rotated by the index table 7. The molded product 50 is moved from the carry-in position to the carry-out position and left to cool down until it is moved, and the cooled molded products 50 can be individually cut and separated by the cutting section 3 so that they can be separated on the same production line. In this case, a consistent operation from molding to cutting and storage becomes possible. Thereby, complete automation is possible, and productivity can be dramatically improved.
Since the runner 51 is clamped and held by the chuck 14 (clamp portion) from the transport of the runner 51 to the end of the cutting and until the separation of all the lenses 50a is completed, the positioning is performed. The accuracy is improved, and the accuracy at the time of cutting is improved.
Further, since the holder 8 is provided with the groove 8a for receiving and positioning the runner 51 of the molded product 50, the molded product 50 can be prevented from moving even when the index table 7 moves.
[0022]
In the above-described embodiment, the case where the plastic lens 50a is manufactured has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and can be generally applied to the case where a resin molded product is cut. Further, the case where the stock means 5 is constituted by the index table 7 has been described, but a belt conveyor or the like may be used as long as the cooling time can be obtained.
[0023]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, the molded article is positioned and temporarily stocked in the holding means, and left and cooled while the holding means is moved from the loading position to the unloading position. Can be individually cut and separated at the cutting position, so that a consistent operation from molding to cutting and storage can be performed on the same production line. Thereby, complete automation is possible, and productivity can be dramatically improved.
Further, in the case where the stock means is formed as an index table in which the holding means are juxtaposed in the rotation direction, and the holding means is moved from the carry-in position to the carry-out position by the rotation of the index table, the cooling means is allowed to stand for cooling. In the meantime, it can be held at a predetermined position and in a predetermined posture, and loading and unloading is simplified.
Further, in the case where the transport means is provided with a clamp portion for clamping a runner of a molded product, the runner is clamped by the clamp portion, and the runner is continuously held from the time when the runner is taken out from the stock means until the workpiece is cut. In addition, the positioning accuracy is improved, and the cutting accuracy is improved.
When the holding means is provided with a groove shape for receiving and positioning the runner of the molded product, the molded product can be prevented from moving even when the index table or the like is moved. The accuracy is improved.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a schematic arrangement view showing an embodiment of a molded product cutting apparatus according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating a configuration of a main part of a stock / transport unit in the apparatus according to the embodiment.
FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating a configuration of a main part of a transport unit in the apparatus according to the embodiment.
FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating a configuration of a main part of a positioning unit in the apparatus according to the embodiment.
FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a configuration of a main part of a lens take-out unit in the apparatus of the present embodiment.
FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a configuration of a main part of an air chuck in the apparatus of the present embodiment.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Stock / transport part 2 Positioning part 3 Cutting part 4 Transport alignment part 6 Transport means 7 Index table 8 Holder 8a Groove part 50 Molded product 50a Lens (work)
51 Runner 52 Gate 71 Loading position 72 Loading position

Claims (5)

In a cutting device for cutting and separating the work from a molded article integrally having a plurality of works connected to each other via a runner,
Having a plurality of holding means for positioning the molded article, positioning the molded article in the holding means and temporarily stocking the article, allowing the holding means to have a cooling time from the carry-in position to the carry-out position. A stock means for sequentially moving;
At the carry-out position, the molded product in the holding unit is clamped, and the plurality of workpieces are transported to a cutting position where the workpieces are cut at a gate portion and separated individually,
And a cutting device for a molded product. 2. The storage device according to claim 1, wherein the stock unit is formed as an index table in which the holding unit is juxtaposed in a rotation direction, and the holding unit is moved from the loading position to the unloading position by rotating the index table. 3. Cutting equipment. The said conveyance means is provided with the clamp part which clamps the runner of the said molded article, and the said runner is clamped and taken out from the said stock means, and the said runner is kept hold | maintained until it cut | disconnects the said workpiece | work. Item 6. The cutting device according to Item 1. The cutting device according to claim 1, wherein the holding unit has a groove shape for receiving and positioning the runner of the molded product. In a cutting method for cutting and separating the work from a molded article integrally having a plurality of works connected to each other via a runner,
Using the cutting device according to claim 1, a molded product immediately after being molded by an injection molding machine is positioned in the holding means of the stock means and temporarily stocked, and the holding means is unloaded from the loading position. Cooling the molded product in the holding position at the unloading position, clamping the molded product in the holding means via the runner of the molded product by the transporting means, transporting the molded product to the cutting position, and forming the molded product by the transporting means. while maintaining the clamped state of the goods, the molded article cutting method, which comprises separating the respective workpieces of the molded article individually by cutting the gate portion.

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