JP7742285B2 - Molded product removal machine - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a molded product remover equipped with a position change mechanism.

Figure 15 of JP 2017-105189 A discloses a molded product removal machine in which a removal head is attached to the tip of an elevator frame via an inversion unit that serves as a posture control device. Figure 7 shows this conventional structure. This conventional molded product removal machine is equipped with a linear motion drive mechanism 104, in which the fixed portion of an air cylinder 103 serving as a drive source is fixed to a mounting frame 102 provided at the tip of an entry frame 101 that enters toward the molds of the molding machine; a removal head 105 located at the tip of the mounting frame 102; and a posture change mechanism 106, whose fixed portion is fixed to the mounting frame 102, that converts the movement of the linear motion drive mechanism 104 into movement to change the posture of the removal head 105.

JP 2017-105189 A

In conventional structures, a drive source (air cylinder 103) capable of generating a large torque is used to prevent the take-out head from changing its position when removing a molded product from the mold or when the take-out head is inverted to transport the molded product. Furthermore, depending on the shape of the molded product, shaking the take-out head in an inverted position during transport can cause deformation of the molded product. Therefore, a drive source that generates a large torque may be used to prevent the take-out head from changing its position when the take-out head is in an inverted position. However, a larger drive source requires a larger mold opening amount, which increases the removal time. Furthermore, if a large torque is required to pull the product from the mold during product removal, the diameter of the air cylinder used as the drive source must be increased to increase its thrust. This makes it difficult to miniaturize the take-out head. Another problem is that air cylinders that generate a large torque are expensive.

The object of the present invention is to provide a molded product removal machine that does not require the drive source to generate a large torque when removing a molded product from a mold or when the removal head is in an inverted position.

For ease of understanding, the following describes the means for solving the problem using the reference symbols in the drawings. The present invention relates to a molded product removal machine comprising a linear motion drive mechanism 4 having a fixed portion 3A of a drive source (3) fixed to a mounting frame 2 provided at the tip of an entry frame 1 that enters toward the mold of a molding machine; a take-out head 5 disposed at the tip side of the mounting frame 2; and a position change mechanism 6 having a fixed portion fixed to the mounting frame 2 and converting the movement of the linear motion drive mechanism 4 into movement for changing the position of the take-out head 5. In the present invention, the position change mechanism 6 comprises a first fixed point FP1 and a second fixed point FP2 set on the mounting frame 2 at an interval in the entry direction of the entry frame 2, a first link L1, a second link L2, and a third link L3. The first link L1 has a first arm AP1 and a second arm AP2, and the intermediate portions of the first arm AP1 and the second arm AP2 are rotatably supported at a first fixed point FP1 by a first revolving pair RO1, and the first arm AP1 is connected to the output portion 4A of the linear motion drive mechanism 4 by a second revolving pair RO2. The second link L2 is rotatably supported at the second fixed point FP2 by a third revolving pair RO3, and the extraction head 5 is attached at an attachment position away from the second fixed point FP2. The third link L3 has one end connected to the second arm AP2 of the first link L1 by a fourth revolving pair RO4, and the other end connected to the second link L2 by a fifth revolving pair RO5 at a position away from the second fixed point FP2 toward the attachment position. In the present invention, the positions of the first and second fixed points FP1, FP2 and the shapes and dimensions of the first to third links L1 to L3 are determined so that, when the extraction head 5 is in the extraction position extending along the entry direction, the third link L3 and the second arm AP2 of the first link L1 are aligned along the imaginary straight line PL.

When the third link L3 and the second arm AP2 of the first link L1 are aligned along the virtual straight line PL in the removal position, the dead point of the link mechanism is formed, and the positional relationship between the third link L3 and the first link L1 is locked without the need for a large torque from the drive source (3). This eliminates the need for a large drive source that generates a large torque to maintain the removal position. As a result, even when a large torque is required to pull the product out of the mold during product removal and an air cylinder is used as the drive source, a large-diameter air cylinder is not required, allowing for a more compact removal head.

If the drive source (3) is a cylinder 3 whose fixed portion 3A is swingably fixed to the mounting frame 2, the piston 4A of the cylinder 3 becomes the output portion 4A of the linear motion drive mechanism 4. When the piston 4A is retracted, the removal position is created, and when the piston 4A is extended, the removal head 5 extends in a direction intersecting the entry direction. This configuration simplifies the structure of the linear motion drive mechanism 4.

It is preferable that at least the first fixed point FP1 be displaceable along the virtual straight line PL through adjustment by the adjustment mechanism 7. If a large angle adjustment of the take-out head is attempted using the posture change mechanism 6, the positional relationship between the third link L3 and the first link L1 may deviate from the dead center, resulting in an incomplete locking state. Therefore, if at least the first fixed point FP1 is displaceable along the virtual straight line PL through adjustment by the adjustment mechanism 7, the fulcrum of the first link can be moved, allowing the angle of the take-out head to be adjusted while maintaining the dead center state.

The present invention can also be applied to maintaining the inverted position when the take-out head is in the inverted position. In this case, the positions of the first and second fixed points FP1, FP2 and the shapes and dimensions of the first through third links L1-L3 can be determined so that the third link L3 and the second arm AP2 of the first link L1 are aligned along the imaginary line PL when the take-out head 5 is in the inverted position, extending in a direction intersecting the entry direction. Even in this case, when the third link L3 and the second arm AP2 of the first link L1 are aligned along the imaginary line PL in the inverted position, the dead point of the link mechanism is formed, and the positional relationship between the third link L3 and the first link L1 is locked without the application of a large torque from the drive source (3). This eliminates the need for a large drive source that generates a large torque to maintain the inverted position.

In this case, if the drive source (3) is a cylinder 3 whose fixed portion 3A is swingably fixed to the mounting frame 2, the piston 4A of the cylinder 3 becomes the output portion 4A of the linear motion drive mechanism 4, and the removal position is created when the piston 4A is retracted, and when the piston 4A is extended, the removal head 5 extends in a direction intersecting the entry direction.

Even in this case, at least the first fixed point may be displaceable along a virtual straight line by adjustment using an adjustment mechanism.

1 is a perspective view of a main part of an embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a molded product removal machine having a removal head attached to a mounting frame provided at the tip of an entry frame that enters toward the mold of a molding machine. FIG. 2A and 2B are longitudinal cross-sectional views of the internal mechanism of FIG. 1 in a different state to illustrate the mechanism within the mounting frame. 10A and 10B are diagrams used to explain a mechanism for displacing a first fixed point on a virtual straight line by adjustment using an adjustment mechanism. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating the structure of an example of an adjustment mechanism. 10A and 10B are diagrams illustrating the configuration of a main part of a second embodiment. 10A and 10B are diagrams illustrating the operating state of the main parts of the second embodiment. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a conventional structure.

The following describes in detail an embodiment of the molded product removal machine of the present invention with reference to the drawings.

[First embodiment]
Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the essential parts of an embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a molded product removal machine having a removal head 5 mounted on a mounting frame 2 provided at the tip of an entry frame 1 that enters toward the molds of a molding machine. Figures 2(A) and 2(B) are longitudinal cross-sectional views of the internal mechanism of Fig. 1 in a modified state to explain the mechanism within the mounting frame 2. In Figs. 1 and 2, the removal head 5 is shown by a broken line, and the exterior of the mounting frame 2 has been removed to facilitate understanding of the structure.

The mounting frame 2 has a structure comprising an upper frame portion 2A and two vertical frame portions 2B and 2C extending downward from both ends of the upper frame 2A. A pair of fixed portions 3A of the cylinder case 3B of the dual cylinder 3, which serves as the drive source, are supported by a pair of revolving joints RO to be able to swing. The dual cylinder 3 swings around an axis SO that constitutes the revolving joint RO. The two pistons 3C of the dual cylinder 3 are equipped with extension rods 4A that serve as the output portions of the linear motion drive mechanism 4. When the pistons 3C are retracted as shown in Figure 2(A), the extraction head 5 is in an extraction position. When the pistons 3C are extended as shown in Figure 2(B), the extraction head 5 extends in a direction intersecting the entry direction. Using such a cylinder 3 simplifies the structure of the linear motion drive mechanism 4.

In this embodiment, the system is equipped with a position change mechanism 6 that converts the movement of the linear motion drive mechanism 4 into movement for changing the position of the take-out head 5. The position change mechanism 6 includes a first fixed point FP1 and a second fixed point FP2 set on the mounting frame 2 at an interval in the direction of entry of the mounting frame 2, a first link L1, a second link L2, and a third link L3. Note that the position change mechanism 6 is configured as a pair of parts for using the two vertical frame sections 2B and 2C as support structures, and therefore in the following description, two reference numerals will be used to indicate that they are a pair of parts.

The first links L1, L1 have a boomerang-shaped first arm AP1, AP1 and a second arm AP2, AP2. The first links L1, L1 are rotatably supported at a first fixed point FP1 by a first revolving pair RO1 at the intermediate portions of the first arm AP1, AP1 and the second arm AP2, AP2. The first revolving pair RO1 has a structure in which a cylinder C1 is supported via bearings on an axis S1, both ends of which are supported by vertical frame portions 2B and 2C. The first links L1, L1 are fixed integrally to the cylinder pair C1. Extension rods 4A, 4A, which serve as the output portion of the linear motion drive mechanism 4, are connected to the first arms AP1, AP1 by a second revolving pair RO2. The second turning pair RO2 is composed of the bearings between the first arm AP1, the shaft S2 supported by the cylindrical body C2 to which the tip of AP1 is fixed, and the extension rods 4A, 4A.

The second links L2, L2 are rotatably supported at the second fixed point FP2 by the third revolving pair RO3. The third revolving pair RO3 is composed of a pair of shafts S3 fixed to the vertical frame portions 2B and 2C, and bearings arranged between the pair of shafts S3 and the second links L2, L2. A mounting plate 7 to which the extraction head 5 is fixed is fixed to the second links L2, L2. In this embodiment, the position of the mounting plate 7 is the mounting position.

The third links L3, L3 have one end connected to the second arm AP2, AP2 of the first link L1 by a fourth revolving pair RO4, and the other end connected to the second link L2, L2 by a fifth revolving pair RO5 at a position away from the second fixed point FP2 towards the mounting plate 7. The fourth revolving pair RO4 is formed by a bearing between the third links L3, L3 and an axis S4 supported by a cylinder C3 to which the tips of the second arm AP2, AP2 are fixed. The fifth revolving pair RO5 is formed by a bearing between the second links L2, L2 and a pair of axes S5 attached near the tips of the third links L3, L3.

In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2(A), in the extraction position where the extraction head 5 extends along the entry direction, the positions of the first fixed point FP1 and second FP2 of the third links L3, L3 and the second arm portions AP2, AP2 of the first links L1, L1 are aligned along the imaginary line PL. When the third links L3, L3 and the second arm portions AP2, AP2 of the first links L1, L1 are aligned along the imaginary line PL in the extraction position, the dead point of the link mechanism is formed. Therefore, the positional relationship between the third links L3, L3 and the first links L1, L1 is locked without applying a large torque from the cylinder 3, which serves as the drive source. This eliminates the need for a large drive source that generates a large torque to maintain the extraction position.

Figures 3(A) and (B) show a schematic configuration in which the first fixed point FP1 can be displaced on the virtual line PL by adjustment using the adjustment mechanism 8. The position of the first fixed point FP1 can be adjusted by moving the axis S1 in the direction of the arrow through adjustment of the adjustment mechanism 8. Figure 4 shows an example of the adjustment mechanism 8. In this adjustment mechanism 8, the position of the cylinder C1 relative to the adjustment screw member 81 can be adjusted in the direction of extension of the adjustment screw member 81 by rotating the adjustment screw member 81, which is threaded into a threaded hole formed in the cylinder C1 so as to extend radially. If the posture change mechanism 6 is used to make a large angle adjustment of the extraction head 5, the positional relationship between the third links L3, L3 and the first links L1, L1 may deviate from the dead center, resulting in an incomplete locking state. Therefore, by adjusting at least the first fixed point FP1 using the adjustment mechanism 8 so that it can be displaced along the virtual line PL, the fulcrum of the first links L1, L1 can be moved, and the angle of the extraction head 5 can be adjusted while maintaining the dead center state.

Second Embodiment
The present invention can also be applied to a case where the take-out head 5 is in an inverted position and is maintained in the inverted position. Figures 5(A) and 5(B) and Figures 6(A) and 6(B) show the state of the main parts of the embodiment in this case. Members having the same functions as those in the first embodiment described with reference to Figures 1 to 4 are assigned the same reference numerals as those used in the description of the first embodiment.

In this embodiment, the first link L1 is T-shaped. In this first link L1, the portion between the first turning pair RO1 and the second turning pair RO2 corresponds to the first arm AP1, and the portion between the first turning pair RO1 and the fourth turning pair RO4 corresponds to the second arm AP2.

In this embodiment, the positions of the first fixed point FP1 and the second fixed point FP2 and the geometric dimensions of the first to third links L1 to L3 are determined so that the third link L3 and the second arm AP2 of the first link L1 are aligned along the imaginary straight line PL in the inverted posture in which the extraction head 5 extends in a direction intersecting the entry direction. As a result, when the third link L3 and the second arm AP2 of the first link L1 are aligned along the imaginary straight line PL in the inverted posture, the dead point of the link mechanism is formed, and the positional relationship between the third link L3 and the first link L1 is locked without the need for a large torque to be applied from the cylinder 3 as a drive source. This eliminates the need for a large drive source that generates a large torque to maintain the inverted posture.

In this embodiment, it is of course also possible to make at least the first fixed point FP1 displaceable along the virtual straight line PL by adjusting the adjustment mechanism.

In the above embodiment, a cylinder 3 was used as the drive source, but it goes without saying that other structures, such as an electric linear motor, may also be used as the drive source.

The present invention provides a molded product removal machine that does not require the drive source to generate a large torque when removing a molded product from a mold or when the removal head is in an inverted position.

1. Entry frame 3. Cylinder (drive source)
4 Linear motion mechanism 5 Take-out head 6 Attitude change mechanism 7 Mounting plate 8 Adjustment mechanism L1 to L3 First to third links RO1 to RO5 First to fifth revolving pairs FP1 First fixed point FP2 Second fixed point

Claims (6)

a linear motion drive mechanism in which a fixed portion of a drive source is fixed to a mounting frame provided at the tip of an entry frame that enters toward a mold of a molding machine;
a take-out head disposed at the tip side of the mounting frame;
A molded product removal machine comprising a fixed portion fixed to the mounting frame and a posture change mechanism that changes the movement of the linear motion drive mechanism into a movement for changing the posture of the removal head,
The attitude change mechanism includes:
a first fixing point and a second fixing point set on the mounting frame at an interval in the entry direction of the entry frame;
a first link comprising a first arm and a second arm, wherein an intermediate portion of the first arm and the second arm is rotatably supported at the first fixed point by a first revolving pair, and the first arm is connected to an output portion of the linear motion drive mechanism by a second revolving pair;
a second link rotatably supported by a third swivel pair at the second fixed point, the second link having the take-out head attached at a mounting position spaced apart from the second fixed point;
a third link having one end connected to the second arm portion of the first link by a fourth swivel pair and the other end connected to the second link by a fifth swivel pair at a position away from the second fixed point toward the mounting position;
a molded product removal machine characterized in that the positions of the first and second fixed points and the shape and dimensions of the first to third links are determined so that the third link and the second arm portion of the first link are aligned along an imaginary straight line when the removal head is in a removal position extending along the entry direction. the fixed portion of the drive source is swingably fixed to the mounting frame,
the driving source is a cylinder, and a piston of the cylinder is the output portion,
2. The molded product remover according to claim 1, wherein the removal posture is established when the piston is retracted, and when the piston is extended, the removal head extends in a direction intersecting the direction of advancement. The molded product remover according to claim 1 or 2, wherein at least the first fixed point can be displaced along the virtual straight line by adjustment using an adjustment mechanism. a linear motion drive mechanism in which a fixed portion of a drive source is fixed to a mounting frame provided at the tip of an entry frame that enters toward a mold of a molding machine;
a take-out head disposed at the tip side of the mounting frame;
A molded product removal machine comprising a fixed portion fixed to the mounting frame and a posture change mechanism that changes the movement of the linear motion drive mechanism into a movement for changing the posture of the removal head,
The attitude change mechanism includes:
a first fixing point and a second fixing point set on the mounting frame at an interval in the direction of entry of the mounting frame;
a first link comprising a first arm and a second arm, wherein an intermediate portion of the first arm and the second arm is rotatably supported at the first fixed point by a first revolving pair, and the first arm is connected to an output portion of the linear motion drive mechanism by a second revolving pair;
a second link rotatably supported by a third swivel pair at the second fixed point, the second link having the take-out head attached at a mounting position spaced apart from the second fixed point;
a third link having one end connected to the second arm portion of the first link by a fourth swivel pair and the other end connected to the second link by a fifth swivel pair at a position away from the second fixed point toward the mounting position;
a molded product removal machine characterized in that the positions of the first and second fixed points and the shape and dimensions of the first to third links are determined so that the third link and the second arm portion of the first link are aligned along an imaginary straight line when the removal head is in an inverted posture extending in a direction intersecting the entry direction. the fixed portion of the drive source is swingably fixed to the mounting frame,
the driving source is a cylinder, and a piston of the cylinder is the output portion,
5. The molded product remover according to claim 4, wherein the inverted posture is established when the piston is retracted, and the remover head extends in a direction intersecting the direction of advancement when the piston is extended. 6. The molded product remover according to claim 4, wherein at least the first fixed point is displaceable on the virtual straight line by adjustment using an adjustment mechanism.