JP7083499B2 - Molded product take-out device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a molded product take-out device.

An injection molding machine (hereinafter abbreviated as a molding machine) continuously produces a product (molded product) by repeating a molding cycle in which a heated and melted material is injected into a mold to be cooled and solidified. This makes it possible to mass-produce products with complicated shapes in a short time. Peripheral equipment of the molding machine includes a molded product take-out device, a mold temperature controller, a material dryer, a material transfer machine, and the like. Layered management of molded products is important for further quality improvement.

Conventionally, for the purpose of reducing the operation input work of the operator, the management information of the molding machine, the material drying mechanism, the material supply mechanism, the mold temperature control mechanism, the molded product take-out machine and the stock device is exchanged with the upper management computer. A molding station management system including a terminal device for transmitting and receiving is proposed (Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2001-0888188).

Further, for the purpose of simplifying the control system, the extraction data input from the setting device provided in the control unit of the molding machine is transferred to the control unit of the molded product extraction machine by the transfer means and stored in the work memory. , A molding machine provided with a molded product take-out machine that moves and controls a chuck device based on take-out data read from a work memory to execute a take-out operation has been proposed (Patent Document 2: Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2003-053805). Gazette).

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2001-0888188 Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2003-053805

Patent Document 1 has a configuration in which a computer for managing a molding machine manages peripheral devices. Further, Patent Document 2 has a configuration in which a molding machine controls a molded product take-out machine for peripheral devices. That is, since the prior art of Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2 is a master slave method, the load on the molding machine side is large. Moreover, since the communication protocol is generally different between the molding machine and the peripheral device, it is difficult to centrally manage the control system. It takes a lot of time and cost to construct a network for centrally managing the control system. As a result, there is a problem that the network construction becomes insufficient and the stratified management of the molded product is difficult.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and the controller centrally manages the control system of each peripheral device, so that the molded product can be taken out in layers without imposing a load on the molding machine. The purpose is to provide.

As an embodiment, the problem is solved by a solution means as disclosed below.

The molded product taking-out device according to the present invention includes a controller that receives a signal from the molding machine and a molded product taking-out robot that receives a command from the controller and takes out the molded product from the mold in the molding machine and releases it. , A mold temperature controller that adjusts the temperature of the mold, a material dryer that dries the resin material to be supplied to the molding machine, and a material transfer machine that supplies the dried resin material to the molding machine. The molded product taking-out robot, the mold temperature controller, the material dryer, the material conveyor, and the controller are network-connected, and the controller detects the mold temperature controller. The configuration is such that a data request signal is transmitted, the detection data is received from the mold temperature controller, and the command is transmitted to the molded product taking-out robot, and the detection data from the mold temperature controller is used. Based on this, the operation of the molded product taking-out robot so as to make the opening place of the molded product different between the case where it is determined that the detected data is within the permissible range and the case where it is determined that the detected data is out of the permissible range. The controller is configured to control the start operation of the material carrier and the molded product taking-out robot based on the signals from the material dryer and the mold temperature controller. The molded product taking-out robot is configured to be in an automatic operation state by the command from the controller and is centrally managed by the controller, and the mold temperature controller receives the molded product. The detection data is data obtained from a medium passing through the inside of the mold, and the open place is classified according to the detection data so as to perform stratified management according to the quality required for the molded product. The controller, which has received the detection data, releases the molded product corresponding to the detection data to the location corresponding to the detection data among the locations classified into the class to the molded product extraction robot. It is characterized in that it is configured to perform control.

According to this configuration, each peripheral device is managed by the controller while the molding machine and each peripheral device are connected to the network, and the molded product taking-out robot performs a plurality of operations in response to a command from the controller to control the molded product. Determine the opening location in a timely manner. Therefore, it is possible to manage the molded product in layers according to the quality required for the molded product. In the stratified management of molded products, for example, good products and defective products may be stratified and managed, or molded products may be ranked (classified) and managed, for example.

The controller is configured to control an opening operation that makes the opening location when it is determined that the detected data is out of the allowable range different from the opening location when it is determined that the detected data is within the allowable range. Is preferable. According to this configuration, the molded product can be arranged in different places according to the quality required for the molded product.

As an example, the molding machine has a mold name, an injection condition, a mold opening condition, a mold closing condition, a molding temperature condition, and other known molding conditions. The signal from the molding machine is, for example, a mold opening signal, particularly a mold opening signal. The detection data from the mold temperature controller is, for example, the temperature of the mold, the temperature of the medium passing through the inside of the mold, and the flow rate of the medium passing through the inside of the mold.

As an example, the molding machine and the controller are connected by wire, and the molding product taking-out robot, the mold temperature controller, and the controller are connected by a wire to the network. Examples of network connections include wired LANs, wireless LANs, USB connections, and other known signal connection methods, and communication protocols are generally standardized in peripheral devices. As a configuration other than the above, the molding machine and the controller may be wirelessly connected, or the molded product taking-out robot, the mold temperature controller, and the controller may be wirelessly connected to the network.

The criterion for determining that the detected data is out of the allowable range and the criterion for determining that the detected data is within the allowable range may be set in advance by the administrator by inputting data to the controller, and the detection. In some cases, data is stored in a database and the control limit value calculated by the calculation means based on the statistical method is used as the judgment standard. As an example, the opening place where the molded product taking-out robot releases the molded product corresponding to the detection data is classified according to the temperature classification, and when the temperature of the mold is an abnormal value, it becomes a defective product discharging place. In this way, it is possible to manage the molded product in layers according to the quality required for the molded product.

The controller transmits a request signal for the detection data to the mold temperature controller, receives the detection data from the mold temperature controller, and transmits the command to the molded product taking-out robot. Is preferable. According to this configuration, since the detection data can be determined each time the molding cycle is performed, the molded products can be classified in a timely manner.

A material dryer for drying the resin material to be supplied to the molding machine and a material transfer machine for supplying the dried resin material to the molding machine are further provided, and the material dryer, the material transfer machine, and the controller are further provided. The controller is connected to the network, and the controller controls the start operation of the material carrier and the molded product take-out robot based on the signals from the material dryer and the mold temperature controller. Is preferable. According to this configuration, the molded product taking-out robot starts operation when the resin material dries and the mold temperature reaches the set temperature of the mold temperature controller, so that efficient operation can be performed in a timely manner. can. Further, since the material dryer, the material transfer machine, and the controller are connected to each other via a network, the material dryer and the material transfer machine can be used even when the material dryer and the material transfer machine are not directly connected to each other by a signal. Can be linked. That is, the operation can be started in synchronization with the material dryer and the material carrier.

As an example, the controller sets the temperature condition of the mold temperature controller, the operation condition of the molded product taking-out robot, and the drying condition of the material dryer. As an example, the molded product taking-out robot is put into an automatic operation state by a command from the controller, and is centrally managed by the controller. As an example, the operator can collectively set the conditions of each peripheral device by simply selecting the mold name from the setting screen of the controller. According to this configuration, human error can be prevented. Moreover, it is possible to control the rational operation of each peripheral device by synchronizing or interlocking each peripheral device in correspondence with the mold name.

According to the present invention, each peripheral device is managed by the controller while the molding machine and each peripheral device are connected to the network, and the molded product taking-out robot performs a plurality of operations according to a command from the controller to perform a plurality of operations of the molded product. Determine the opening location in a timely manner. Therefore, it is possible to manage the molded product in layers according to the quality required for the molded product.

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram schematically showing a configuration of a molded product take-out system according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing an operation procedure of the controller according to the present embodiment. FIG. 3 is a schematic view showing the appearance of the molded product take-out device of the present embodiment.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the molded product taking-out device 1 has a controller 2 that transmits a command based on detection data from the mold temperature controller 7, and a controller 2 that receives the command and molds the resin molded product. It is provided with a molded product take-out robot 3 that is taken out from 81 and opened in a predetermined place.

As an example, the controller 2 is a terminal that can be held by an operator, and is provided with a display 24 and an input means 23 such as a button or a jog dial. The controller 2 has a computer function, a CPU 21 and a database 22 which is a secondary storage device are built-in, and a control program 4 is installed. The database 22 can also be stored in an external storage device (tertiary storage device) such as a flash memory.

As an example, the firmware of the control program 4 is configured in a language such as C language or assembler, operates on an OS such as Windows (registered trademark) of Microsoft Corporation, and can be updated from a Web browser and a command line. As a configuration other than the above, commercially available firmware or known firmware can be applied.

As an example, the molded product taking-out robot 3 is configured such that an arm portion 31 capable of 7-axis operation is arranged by a digital servomotor, and the molded product is gripped by a robot hand on the tip side of the arm portion 31.

In the example of FIG. 1, the control unit 25 built in the controller 2 and the control unit 85 built in the molding machine 8 are signal-connected. Then, the control unit 25 built in the controller 2 and the control unit 35 built in the molded product taking-out robot 3 are signal-connected. Further, the control unit 25 and the control unit 55 built in the material dryer 5 are signal-connected, and the control unit 25 and the control unit 65 built in the material conveyor 6 are signal-connected. The control unit 25 and the control unit 75 built in the mold temperature controller 7 are signal-connected. That is, the molded product taking-out robot 3, the material dryer 5, the material conveyor 6, the mold temperature controller 7, and the controller 2 are connected to each other via a network.

As an example, the material dryer 5 is configured to dry a granular or pellet-shaped resin material by circulating air through a heat exchanger. Further, the material transfer machine 6 is configured to supply the resin material dried by the material dryer 5 to the molding machine 8. The mold temperature controller 7 is configured to heat or cool the mold 81 using the liquid in the pipe connected to the mold 81 side of the molding machine 8 as a heat medium.

In addition to the above basic configuration, a stock machine for stocking molded products, a packaging machine for packing molded products, and a grain cutting machine for cutting spurs and runners into granules or pellets are connected to the controller 3 via a network. It is possible.

According to this configuration, the operating condition data required for each peripheral device can be transferred from the controller 2 to control each peripheral device involved in molding in real time. Examples of the signal connection method include a wired LAN, a wireless LAN, a USB connection, and other known network connections.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the operation procedure of the controller 2. Subsequently, the operation procedure of the controller 2 will be described below.

In the peripheral device condition setting step S1, when the operator selects the mold name displayed on the display 24 of the controller 2, the controller 2 determines the molded product taking-out robot 3, the material dryer 5, the material transfer machine 6, and the mold. The conditions of peripheral devices including the temperature controller 7 are set collectively. As a result, it is possible to prevent an error in selecting the mold data of the mold 81 and an error in setting conditions such as the mold temperature, and it is possible to shorten the time for setting conditions for each peripheral device. After the condition setting step S1 of the peripheral device, the automatic operation start determination step S2 is performed.

In step S2 for determining the start of automatic operation, as an example, the controller 2 determines that the resin material has reached the drying time based on the signal from the dew point sensor attached to the material dryer 5, and the mold temperature controller 7 When the controller 2 determines that the mold temperature has reached the set temperature based on the signal from the temperature detecting means such as the temperature sensor attached to the above, the automatic operation start step S3 is performed. Then, in the automatic operation start step S3, an automatic operation start command is transmitted from the controller 2 to the molded product taking-out robot 3. Upon receiving the automatic operation start command from the controller 2, the molded product taking-out robot 3 enters the automatic operation mode and starts the automatic operation operation. This enables timely and efficient operation. In the automatic operation start step S3, in addition to the above configuration, the controller 2 may control the automatic operation operation of each peripheral device.

Then, the molding machine 8 to which the dried resin material is supplied from the material transfer machine 6 performs a molding operation to produce a molded product. At the completion of the molding operation or immediately before the completion of the molding operation, the molding machine 8 transmits the mold opening signal to the controller 2, and the controller 2 receives the mold opening signal from the molding machine 8. It becomes.

When the controller 2 receives the mold opening signal from the molding machine 8, the detection data request signal transmission step S5 is performed. In the detection data request signal transmission step S5, the controller 2 transmits the detection data request signal to the mold temperature controller 7. When the detection data request signal is transmitted, the mold temperature controller 7 becomes the reception step S6 of the detection data request signal for receiving the detection data request signal. Then, the mold temperature controller 7 that has received the detection data request signal becomes the detection data transmission step S7 that transmits the detection data to the controller 2.

During the molding operation in the molding machine 8, as an example, a temperature detecting means such as a temperature sensor attached to the mold temperature controller 7 detects the medium temperature in the pipe connected to the mold 81 side of the molding machine 8. And it becomes the detection data. When the detection data is transmitted to the controller 2 in the detection data transmission step S7, the controller 2 becomes the detection data reception step S8 for receiving the detection data. Then, when the detection data is received by the controller 2 in the detection data reception step S8, the controller 2 becomes the detection data determination step S9 for determining whether or not the received detection data is within the allowable range.

When the controller 2 determines that the received detection data is within the permissible range in the detection data determination step S9, the molded product taking-out robot 3 performs an operation of opening the molded product to a normal or standard time open place. .. On the other hand, if the controller 2 determines in the detection data reception step S8 that the received detection data is out of the permissible range, the controller 2 sends a command to the molded product taking-out robot 3 in a command transmission step S10. Will be.

In the command transmission step S10, the molded product taking-out robot 3 that has received the command from the controller 2 puts the molded product in an open place (open place in abnormal time or non-standard time) different from the open place in normal time or standard time. Perform an opening operation to open. The open place is classified according to the temperature classification, for example, and as an example, when the temperature of the mold 81 is an abnormal value, it becomes a defective product discharge place. According to this configuration, it is possible to manage the molded product in layers according to the quality required for the molded product.

If the received detection data is within the permissible range, after the detection data determination step S9, and if the received detection data is out of the permissible range, after the command transmission step S10, the controller 2 determines the molding stop determination step S11. Will be.

If the number of non-defective products that have been molded does not reach the set value or if there is no molding stop signal from the molding machine 8 in the molding stop determination step S11, the molding machine 8 repeats the molding cycle a predetermined number of times to continuously form the molded product. Produce. When the number of non-defective products reaches the set value in the molding stop determination step S11 or when the molding stop signal from the molding machine 8 is received, the peripheral device stop step S12 is performed.

In the peripheral device stop step S12, the controller 2 transmits a stop command for the peripheral device to the molded product taking-out robot 3, the material dryer 5, the material transfer machine 6, and the mold temperature controller 7. The molded product take-out robot 3, the material dryer 5, the material conveyor 6, and the mold temperature controller 7 that have received the stop command of the peripheral equipment perform a purging operation or an ending operation to enter a standby state or a stopped state.

According to the present embodiment, by connecting each peripheral device to the network by the controller 2 and centrally managing the control system, the molding machine 8 is not overloaded and the mold temperature controller 7 is used for detection data. The molded product taking-out robot 3 performs an operation of opening the molded product to an open place at normal time or standard time and an opening operation of opening the molded product at an open place different from the open place at normal time or standard time. That is, in response to the command from the controller 2, the molded product taking-out robot 3 performs a plurality of operations to determine the opening place of the molded product in a timely manner. Therefore, rational stratification management of molded products can be performed.

Further, according to the present embodiment, the operation of each peripheral device connected to the network can be monitored by the controller 2, data can be accumulated, and the quality of the molded product can be improved. Then, the operation information of the molding machine 8 can be monitored by the controller 2, and each peripheral device can be linked in accordance with the operation timing of the molding machine 8. As an example, the error information and the production status of the molded product taking-out robot 3 can be transmitted to a mobile information terminal such as a smartphone so that the operator can be notified of the information in a timely manner. Further, by equipping the controller 2 with a function as AI (artificial intelligence) composed of a computer program, it is possible to optimize the operating condition information of each peripheral device while updating the database 22 in a timely manner.

The present invention is not limited to the examples described above, and various modifications can be made without departing from the present invention. The specifications of the above-mentioned molded product take-out device 1 may be appropriately changed according to the specifications and the like.

1 Molded product take-out device 2 Controller 3 Molded product take-out robot 4 Control program 5 Material dryer 6 Material transfer machine 7 Mold temperature controller 8 Molding machine 25, 35, 55, 65, 75 Control unit 81 Mold

Claims (1)

A controller that receives a signal from the molding machine, a molded product taking-out robot that receives a command from the controller and takes out and releases the molded product from the mold in the molding machine, and a mold that adjusts the temperature of the mold. A mold temperature controller, a material dryer for drying a resin material to be supplied to the molding machine, and a material transfer machine for supplying the dried resin material to the molding machine are provided, and the molded product taking-out robot and the above-mentioned The mold temperature controller, the material dryer, the material conveyor, and the controller are network-connected, and the controller transmits a request signal for detection data to the mold temperature controller, and the mold is described. The detection data is received from the mold temperature controller and the command is transmitted to the molded product taking-out robot, and the detection data is within the permissible range based on the detection data from the mold temperature controller. It is a configuration in which the operation of the molded product taking-out robot is controlled to be different so that the opening place of the molded product is different depending on whether it is determined that the case is the same or the detection data is out of the permissible range. The controller is configured to control the start operation of the material conveyor and the molded product taking-out robot based on the signals from the material dryer and the mold temperature controller, and the molded product taking-out robot is configured. The detection data from the mold temperature controller received by the controller passes through the inside of the mold, which is configured to be in an automatic operation state by the command from the controller and is centrally managed by the controller. The open place is classified according to the detection data so as to perform stratified management according to the quality required for the molded product, and the open place is classified according to the detection data, and the detection data is received. The controller is characterized in that it controls the molded product taking-out robot to release the molded product corresponding to the detection data to the location corresponding to the detection data among the classified locations. Molded product take-out device.

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