Injection molding machine

Abstract

An injection molding machine according to the present invention includes a base mounted on a mounting surface with a support interposed therebetween with a distance D1 and a distance D2 to the mounting surface, a plurality of measurement units attached to the base so as to measure distances respectively to the mounting surface, and a horizontal degree calculation unit for calculating a horizontal degree of the base on a basis of the distances measured by the plurality of measurement units.

Claims

1. An injection molding machine comprising: a base mounted on a mounting surface with a support interposed therebetween with a space to the mounting surface; a plurality of measurement units attached to the base so as to measure distances respectively to the mounting surface; and a horizontal degree calculation unit for calculating a horizontal degree of the base on a basis of the distances measured by the plurality of measurement units.

2. The injection molding machine according to claim 1, wherein the base includes: a first base mounted on the mounting surface with the support interposed therebetween with a first space to the mounting surface; and a second base mounted so as to protrude sideways from the first base with a second space to the mounting surface, the second space being different from the first space, and wherein the plurality of measurement units include: one or a plurality of first measurement units attached to the first base, and one or a plurality of second measurement units attached to the second base.

3. The injection molding machine according to claim 1, wherein the base is mounted so as to be able to vibrate with respect to the mounting surface.

4. The injection molding machine according to claim 1, wherein the base has a hole for attaching each of the measurement units.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an injection molding machine according to an embodiment of the present invention.

(2) FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a functional configuration of the injection molding machine.

(3) FIG. 3A is a bar graph indicating reference values of measurement distances by respective laser displacement meters.

(4) FIG. 3B is a schematic diagram illustrating the injection molding machine in a horizontal posture when the respective laser displacement meters detect the reference values.

(5) FIG. 4A is a bar graph indicating measurement distances by the respective laser displacement meters at the time of detecting a horizontal degree.

(6) FIG. 4B is a schematic diagram illustrating the injection molding machine in an inclined posture at the time of detecting the horizontal degree.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(7) An embodiment of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an injection molding machine 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a functional configuration of the injection molding machine 1. FIG. 3A is a bar graph indicating reference values of the measurement distances by respective laser displacement meters 5a to 5d. FIG. 3B is a schematic diagram illustrating the injection molding machine 1 in a horizontal posture when the respective laser displacement meters 5a to 5d detect the reference values. FIG. 4A is a bar graph indicating measurement distances by the respective laser displacement meters 5a to 5d at the time of detecting a horizontal degree. FIG. 4B is a schematic diagram illustrating the injection molding machine 1 in an inclined posture at the time of detecting the horizontal degree.

(8) As shown in FIG. 1, the injection molding machine 1 according to the present embodiment performs molding by injecting molten resin into a mold 2 and clamping. More specifically, the injection molding machine 1 includes the mold 2, a base 3, a mount 4 (support), the plurality of laser displacement meters 5a, 5b, 5c, 5d (measurement units), and a processing unit 6 including a horizontal degree calculation unit 7 (refer to FIG. 2). The mold 2 is mounted above the base 3.

(9) The base 3 is mounted with the mount 4 interposed therebetween on a mounting surface MS such as a metal plate so as to be able to vibrate with respect to the mounting surface MS, with a space D1 and a space D2 respectively to the mounting surface MS. More specifically, the base 3 has a first base 3a and a second base 3b. The first base 3a, which serves as a lower portion of the base 3, is mounted on the mounting surface MS with the mount 4 interposed therebetween with the first space D1 to the mounting surface MS. The second base 3b, which serves as an upper portion of the base 3, is mounted so as to protrude sideways from the first base 3a, with the second space D2 (>D1) to the mounting surface MS, which is different from the first space D1. The base 3 as described above has a hole 8 for attaching each of the laser displacement meters 5a to 5d. FIG. 1 shows only of the holes 8 corresponding to the laser displacement meters 5c and 5d.

(10) The mount 4, which serves as a support interposed between the mounting surface MS and the base 3, has a shock absorbing property for absorbing shock generated when the mold 2 opens and closes at a high speed or when the mold 2 is filled with resin at a high speed.

(11) Each of the plurality of laser displacement meters 5a to 5d functions as a measurement unit for measuring a distance between the base 3 and the mounting surface MS. Laser light emitted by each of the laser displacement meters 5a to 5d is illustrated by a broken line. More specifically, a plurality of first laser displacement meters 5a and 5b attached to the first base 3a out of the plurality of laser displacement meters 5a to 5d are attached on the bottom surface of the first base 3a, so as to function each as a first measurement unit for measuring a distance between the first base 3a and the mounting surface MS. A plurality of second laser displacement meters 5c and 5d attached to the second base 3b out of the plurality of laser displacement meters 5a to 5d are attached on the bottom surface of the second base 3b, so as to function each as a second measurement unit for measuring a distance between the second base 3b and the mounting surface MS. The distance measured by each of the laser displacement meters 5a to 5d is output at ail times or at a predetermined timing, and then input to the horizontal degree calculation unit 7 (refer to FIG. 2) included as a part of the processing unit 6 (refer to FIG. 2).

(12) As shown in FIG. 2, the processing unit 6 has the horizontal degree calculation unit 7. The horizontal degree calculation unit 7 calculates a horizontal degree of the base 3 (refer to FIG. 1) on the basis of the distances measured by the plurality of laser displacement meters 5a to 5d.

(13) In the case where the injection molding machine 1 when installed or other time is kept in a horizontal posture as shown in FIG. 3B, the distances to the mounting surface MS respectively measured by the laser displacement meters 5a to 5d correspond to the reference values as shown in FIG. 3A. In the case where the injection molding machine 1 when detecting a horizontal degree is in an inclined posture as shown in FIG. 4B, the distances to the mounting surface MS respectively measured by the laser displacement meters 5a to 5d correspond to the measurement values as shown in FIG. 4A, which are different from the reference values (refer to FIG. 3A).

(14) More specifically, the reference value of the output (output 2) by the laser displacement meter 5a is defined as O.sub.2p; the reference value of the output (output 3) by the laser displacement meter 5b is defined as O.sub.3p; the reference value of the output (output 1) by the laser displacement meter 5c is defined as O.sub.1p; and the reference value of the output (output 4) by the laser displacement meter 5d is defined as O.sub.4p.

(15) The value of the output (output 2) by the laser displacement meter 5a at the time of detecting a horizontal degree is defined as O.sub.2q; the value of the output (output 3) by the laser displacement meter 5b at the time of detecting a horizontal degree is defined as O.sub.3q; the value of the output (output 1) by the laser displacement meter 5c at the time of detecting a horizontal degree is defined as O.sub.1q; and the value of the output (output 4) by the laser displacement meter 5d at the time of detecting a horizontal degree is defined as O.sub.4q.

(16) The coordinate in the horizontal direction of the attachment position of the laser displacement meter 5a is defined as X.sub.2; the coordinate in the horizontal direction of the attachment position of the laser displacement meter 5b is defined as X.sub.3; the coordinate in the horizontal direction of the attachment position of the laser displacement meter 5c is defined as X.sub.1; and the coordinate in the horizontal direction of the attachment position of the laser displacement meter 5d is defined as X.sub.4.

(17) In an example, in the case where the horizontal degree calculation unit 7 calculates a horizontal degree L.sub.12 on the basis of the outputs by the laser displacement meters 5c, 5a, the horizontal degree L.sub.12 is expressed as follows (Formula 1). The direction of the horizontal degree is determined by the coordinates X.sub.1 and X.sub.2.
L.sub.12=[(O.sub.2qO.sub.1q)(O.sub.2pO.sub.1p)]/(X.sub.2X.sub.1)(Formula 1)

(18) In an example, the horizontal degree obtained through the calculation by the horizontal degree calculation unit 7 is displayed on an indicator (not shown), thereby informing a user of the horizontal degree.

(19) In the injection molding machine 1, the mount 4 deteriorates due to aging by shock absorption of vibration generated by the injection molding machine, and the mounting surface MS itself is deformed, whereby the horizontal degree of the base 3 may change in some cases. Accordingly, in the injection molding machine 1, the horizontal degree of the base 3 needs to be detected periodically. The horizontal degree of a conventional injection molding machine is checked by a level disposed on an upper surface of a base or a mechanism portion, and the injection molding machine needs to be stopped in order that the horizontal degree is checked. In the case of a compact injection molding machine, the injection molding machine needs to be moved to a predetermined position in order that a level is attached thereto, which causes a problem that the downtime of the injection molding machine is made longer. Furthermore, a method of attaching a sensor to a support requires one sensor for each support, thus resulting in requiring plural types of sensors.

(20) The injection molding machine 1 according to the present embodiment includes the plurality of laser displacement meters 5a to 5d for measuring the distances between the base 3 and the mounting surface MS. Therefore, the horizontal degree of the base 3 is always detectable without the injection molding machine being stopped or being hindered in the operation, irrespective of the shape of the base 3 or the like. Accordingly, the horizontal degree of the base 3 is detectable by a method which is simple and low in operation cost.

(21) According to the present embodiment, since the direction of the horizontal degree is enabled to be variably measured on the basis of the positional relations among the laser displacement meters 5a to 5d, setting of the laser displacement meters 5a to 5d in more variously different positional relations enables to detect the horizontal degree in more directions.

(22) According to the present embodiment, the base 3 has the plurality of holes 8 provided in advance, thereby enabling to easily attach the laser displacement meters 5a to 5d or change the positions thereof.

(23) Although the embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the present invention is not limited to the embodiment described above. The effects described in the present embodiment are listed merely as the most preferable effects produced by the present invention, and the effects produced by the present invention are not limited to those described in the present embodiment.

(24) Although the plurality of first laser displacement meters 5a, 5b are attached to the first base 3a in the above embodiment, the present invention is not limited to this. Alternatively, only one of the first laser displacement meters may be attached to the first base 3a. Although the plurality of second laser displacement meters 5c, 5d are attached to the second base 3b, the present invention is not limited to this. Alternatively, only one of the second laser displacement meters may be attached to the second base 3b.

(25) Although the laser displacement meters 5a to 5d serve as the measurement units in the above-described embodiment, the present invention is not limited to this. Alternatively, a dial gauge may serve as the measurement unit.

EXPLANATION OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

(26) 1 INJECTION MOLDING MACHINE 2 MOLD 3 BASE 3a FIRST BASE 3b SECOND BASE 4 MOUNT (SUPPORT) 5a, 5b FIRST LASER DISPLACEMENT METER (LASER DISPLACEMENT METER, MEASUREMENT UNIT, FIRST MEASUREMENT UNIT) 5c, 5d SECOND LASER DISPLACEMENT METER (LASER DISPLACEMENT METER, MEASUREMENT UNIT, SECOND MEASUREMENT UNIT) 6 PROCESSING UNIT 7 HORIZONTAL DEGREE CALCULATION UNIT (HORIZONTAL DEGREE CALCULATION UNIT) MS MOUNTING SURFACE D1 FIRST SPACE (SPACE) D2 SECOND SPACE (SPACE)