PLASTIC INJECTION-MOULDING MACHINE HAVING AT LEAST ONE CAMERA

Abstract

A plastic injection-moulding machine includes an injection unit for processing a plastic mass to be moulded, and a closing unit having an injection-moulding tool having at least one cavity, into which the plastic mass processed by the injection unit is injected to produce a moulded part. A machine controller controls the injection unit and the closing unit, and a user interface device, which has at least one input means and at least one output means. The at least one output means is designed as a screen. At least one camera is provided to record a region of the plastic injection-moulding machine lying behind the user interface device, with the machine controller being designed to display the region recorded by the camera on the screen.

Claims

1.-10. (canceled)

11. A plastic injection-moulding machine, comprising: an injection unit for processing a plastic mass to be moulded; a closing unit including an injection-moulding tool having a cavity, into which the plastic mass processed by the injection unit is injected to produce a moulded part; a user interface device including a housing having a front side and a rear side, an input means, and an output means embodying a screen and arranged on the front side of the housing; a camera arranged on the rear side of the housing and configured to capture a region of the plastic injection-moulding machine lying behind the user interface device; and a machine controller configured to control operation of the injection unit and the closing unit, said machine controller configured to display on the screen the region captured by the camera.

12. The plastic injection-moulding machine of claim 11, further comprising an adjusting device configured to carry the user interface device and to hold the user interface device in different positions and/or locations, said camera being secured on the rear side of the housing of the user interface device such that the camera assumes a position and/or location in correspondence with a position and/or location of the user interface device, when the adjusting device is adjusted.

13. The plastic injection-moulding machine of claim 12, wherein the camera is rigidly secured on the rear side of the housing of the user interface device.

14. The plastic injection-moulding machine of claim 11, further comprising a supplementary camera arranged at a location of the plastic injection-moulding machine separate from the user interface device, and an evaluating device operably connected to the camera and configured to store image information captured by the camera, to record an instantaneous position and location of the user interface device, to alter the stored image information in accordance with the recorded instantaneous position and location of the user interface device, and to display the stored image information, such that in every position and/or location of the user interface device, the region of an environment of the plastic injection-moulding machine which lies behind the user interface device is displayed on the screen.

15. The plastic injection-moulding machine of claim 11, wherein the user interface device is operably connected to the machine controller, said input means of the user interface device configured to fade out an operating surface of the machine controller displayed on the screen, and to fade in on the screen the region of an environment of the plastic injection-moulding machine lying behind the user interface device, when the input means is manually actuated.

16. The plastic injection-moulding machine of claim 15, wherein the input means is a touch input means of the screen, or the screen has a touch surface designed for detecting gestures.

17. The plastic injection-moulding machine of claim 11, wherein the user interface device is operably connected to the machine controller, said input means of the user interface device configured to display on the screen in a superimposed presentation an operating surface of the machine controller displayed on the screen and the region of an environment of the plastic injection-moulding machine lying behind the user interface device, when the input means is manually actuated.

18. The plastic injection-moulding machine of claim 17, wherein the input means is a touch input means of the screen, or the screen has a touch surface designed for detecting gestures.

19. The plastic injection-moulding machine of claim 11, wherein the user interface device includes a touch input means, which with regard to its position and/or location is designed on the screen such as to be superimposed to a presentation of a machine part of the plastic injection-moulding machine captured by the camera and displayed on the screen.

20. The plastic injection-moulding machine of claim 19, wherein the machine controller is configured to control in a predetermined manner the machine part superimposed by the touch input means, when the touch input means is manually actuated.

21. A plastic injection-moulding machine, comprising: an injection unit for processing a plastic mass to be moulded; a closing unit including an injection-moulding tool having a cavity, into which the plastic mass processed by the injection unit is injected to produce a moulded part; a user interface device including an input means and an output means embodying a screen; a camera configured to capture a region of the plastic injection-moulding machine lying behind the user interface device, said camera being arranged at a location of the plastic injection-moulding machine separate from the user interface device; a machine controller configured to control operation of the injection unit and the closing unit, said machine controller configured to display on the screen the region captured by the camera; and an evaluating device operably connected to the camera and configured to store image information captured by the camera, to record an instantaneous position and location of the user interface device, to alter the stored image information in accordance with the recorded instantaneous position and location of the user interface device, and to display the stored image information, such that in every position and/or location of the user interface device, the region of an environment of the plastic injection-moulding machine which lies behind the user interface device is displayed on the screen.

Description

[0032] Various exemplary example embodiments of the invention are explained in further detail in the following figure description with reference to the enclosed diagrammatic figures. Concrete features of these example embodiments, irrespective of in which concrete context they are mentioned, can represent general features of the invention, if applicable also regarded individually or in other combinations.

[0033] There are shown:

[0034] FIG. 1 a diagrammatic illustration of an exemplary first embodiment variant of a plastic injection-moulding machine with a user interface device,

[0035] FIG. 2 a diagrammatic illustration of an exemplary embodiment variant of a user interface device according to the invention with a camera in a front view and in a rear view, and

[0036] FIG. 3 a diagrammatic illustration of an exemplary second embodiment variant of a plastic injection-moulding machine with an adjustable user interface device.

[0037] The exemplary plastic injection-moulding machine 1 shown in FIG. 1 has a machine frame 2, on which an injection unit 3 and a closing unit 4 are arranged.

[0038] The injection unit 3 serves for the processing of a plastic mass which is to be moulded. In the case of the present example embodiment, the injection unit 3 has an extruder 5. The extruder 5 is designed to melt, mix and homogenize, if applicable to degas, at least one plastic pre-product, such as for example a plastic granulate. For this, or respectively for the feeding of, for example, the plastic granulate, the extruder 5 has a charging hopper 6.

[0039] At a front end of the injection unit 3 or respectively at a front end of the extruder 5, an injection nozzle is arranged, which is not illustrated in further detail, which is coupled to an injection-moulding tool 7. The injection-moulding tool 7 is arranged in a closing unit 8 of the plastic injection-moulding machine 1, which is usually arranged on the machine frame 2 of the plastic injection-moulding machine 1 and has a fixed platen 8.1 and a movable platen 8.2. The injection-moulding tool 7 comprises at least two mould halves 7.1 and 7.2, of which the one mould half 7.1 is secured on the fixed platen 8.1 and the other mould half 7.2 is secured on the movable platen 8.2, such that with an opening of the closing unit 8, i.e. with a moving apart of the fixed platen 8.1 and movable platen 8.2, at least one cavity 9 of the injection-moulding tool 7 is freed.

[0040] The plastic injection-moulding machine 1 has, accordingly, a plurality of machine parts. Certain machine parts can be movably mounted and can be moved by means of a motor or a drive, in particular a hydraulic or electric motor or respectively a hydraulic or electric drive, automatically, or in a manually controlled manner in a manual driving operation. Thus, the closing unit 4 represents an exemplary machine part which, controlled by a machine controller 10 of the plastic injection-moulding machine 1, in accordance with a machine program running in the machine controller 10, can be opened or closed automatically or in a manually controlled manner in a manual driving operation for example by means of a user interface device 11 of the plastic injection-moulding machine 1. The injection unit 3 represents another exemplary machine part which, controlled by the machine controller 10 of the plastic injection-moulding machine 1, in accordance with a machine program running in the machine controller 10, can be operated automatically or in a manually controlled manner in a manual driving operation for example by means of the user interface device 11, for example by controlling or regulating the rotation speed of the extruder 5 or by controlling or regulating at least one heating device, not illustrated in further detail, of the injection unit 3.

[0041] FIG. 2 shows an exemplary embodiment of a user interface device 11 and namely illustrated on the left in a front view, and illustrated on the right in a rear view. As is illustrated in particular in FIG. 2, the user interface device 11, in the case of the present example embodiment, has a plurality of input means 13.1, 13.2, 13.3 and an output means 12 in the form of a screen 12,1. In the case of the present example embodiment, the screen 12,1 is configured as a touchscreen. Apart from a small number of safety-relevant electromechanical input means, such as for example the third input means 13.3 in the form of an emergency stop switch, the user interface device 11 can be formed substantially solely by a single screen 12.1. In the embodiment as a touchscreen, the screen 12.1 can in this respect have both screen output means 12.2 and also screen input means 13.4. The user interface device 11 has a housing 14, which comprises a front side 14.1 and a rear side 14.2, wherein the screen 12.1 is arranged on the front side 14.1. The housing 14 or respectively at least its rear side 14.2 is designed to be optically opaque, which means that at least the rear side 14.2 of the housing 14 is not embodied so as to be transparent. Usually, the housing 14 of the user interface device 11 is made from metal or plastic.

[0042] The plastic injection-moulding machine 1 has in addition, according to the invention, at least one camera 15. The at least one camera 15 is designed for monitoring an environment of the plastic injection-moulding machine 1. A monitoring of an environment of the plastic injection-moulding machine 1 can be understood to mean that the at least one camera 15 can visually record the plastic injection-moulding machine 1 from the exterior at least partially or completely. Provision can also be made that the at least one camera 15 can visually record spaces 16 within the plastic injection-moulding machine 1. Thus, provision can be made that the at least one camera 15 can visually record the region of the closing unit 8 and/or the space between the two opened mould halves 7.1, 7.2. The at least one camera 15 can, for example, also visually record the region of the injection unit 3, as indicated in FIG. 3.

[0043] The plastic injection-moulding machine 1 therefore has an injection unit 3 for processing a plastic mass which is to be moulded, a closing unit 8 with an injection-moulding tool 7, which has at least one cavity 9, into which the plastic mass processed by the injection unit 3 is injected, in order to produce a moulded part. In addition, the plastic injection-moulding machine 1 has a machine controller 10, which is designed to control at least the injection unit 3 and the closing unit 8. Furthermore, the plastic injection-moulding machine 1 has a user interface device 11, which has at least one input means 13.1-13.3 and at least one output means 12, which is configured as a screen 12.1. At least one camera 15 is designed for monitoring an environment of the plastic injection-moulding machine 1, wherein the camera 15 according to the invention is designed, in addition, to display on the screen 12.1 a region of the environment of the plastic injection-moulding machine 1 lying behind the user interface device 11.

[0044] The plastic injection-moulding machine 1 has an adjusting device 17, which carries the user interface device 11 and which is designed to hold the user interface device 11 in different positions and/or locations in the space, wherein the camera 15 is secured to the rear side of the housing 14 of the user interface device 11 such that the camera 15 also takes up a position and/or location in the space corresponding to that of the user interface device 11 on an adjusting of the adjusting device 17.

[0045] In the case of the first example embodiment of a plastic injection-moulding machine 1 according to FIG. 1, the adjusting device 17 is formed by a hinge-like pivoting device 17.1, which mounts the user interface device 11 pivotably about a vertical axis on the plastic injection-moulding machine 1, in particular on a part of its machine frame 2.

[0046] In the case of the second example embodiment of a plastic injection-moulding machine 1 according to FIG. 3, the adjusting device 17 is formed by a mobile stand 17.2, which carries the user interface device 11, in order to be able to move the user interface device 11 on a floor independently of the plastic injection-moulding machine 1.

[0047] In a further example embodiment, which is not illustrated, the user interface device 11 can, however, also be secured rigidly on the plastic injection-moulding machine 1, in particular on a part of its machine frame 2. Thus, a complex adjusting device 17 can be dispensed with, because owing to the camera 15 according to the invention it is no longer obligatorily necessary to be able to move the user interface device 11 relative to the plastic injection-moulding machine 1, in order to be able to view a region of the plastic injection-moulding machine 1 lying therebehind, because the region of the plastic injection-moulding machine 1 lying behind the user interface device 11 can be displayed on the screen 12.1 as needed.

[0048] In the illustrated embodiment variants, the camera 15 is rigidly secured on the rear side 14.2 of the housing 14 of the user interface device 11.

[0049] The camera 15 or at least one further camera 15.1, 15.2, 15.3 can, however, also be arranged at a location of the plastic injection-moulding machine 1 separate form the user interface device 11, in particular a plurality of cameras 15.1, 15.2, 15.3 can be arranged at various locations of the plastic injection-moulding machine 1 separate from the user interface device 11, as is indicated in FIG. 3.

[0050] In such an embodiment, the cameras 15.1, 15.2, 15.3 can be connected to an evaluating device 18, which is designed to store image information captured by the cameras 15.1, 15.2, 15.3, to record the instantaneous position and location of the user interface device 11, and to alter and display on the screen 12.1 the stored image information in accordance with the recorded instantaneous position and location of the user interface device 11, such that in each position and/or location of the user interface device 11, the region of the environment of the plastic injection-moulding machine 1 is displayed on the screen 12.1 which lies behind the user interface device 11 in the viewing direction of an observer onto the screen 12.1.

[0051] Both the cameras 15.1, 15.2, 15.3, the evaluating device 18, and also the user interface device 11 can, as indicated in FIG. 3, respectively optionally be connected in a wired manner or wirelessly to the machine controller 10. The at least one input means 13.1-13.4 of the user interface device 11 is designed, on its manual actuation, to fade out an operating surface 19 of the machine controller 10 displayed on the screen 12.1, and to fade in on the screen 12.1 the region of the environment of the plastic injection-moulding machine 1 lying behind the user interface device 11.

[0052] Alternatively or additionally, the user interface device 11 can be connected to the machine controller 10, and the at least one input means 13.1-13.4 or respectively another input means 13.1-13.4 of the user interface device 11 can be designed, on its manual actuation, to simultaneously display on the screen 12.1 in a superimposed presentation an operating surface 19 of the machine controller 10 displayed on the screen 12.1 and the region of the environment of the plastic injection-moulding machine 1 lying behind the user interface device 11, as is indicated in FIG. 3 by the charging hopper 6 of the injection unit 3, presented partially on the screen 12.1.

[0053] In particular, the input means 13.4 can, as illustrated in FIG. 2, respectively be a touch input means of the screen 12.1 or the screen 12.1 can have a touch surface designed for the detection of gestures.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

[0054] 1 plastic injection-moulding machine [0055] 2 machine frame [0056] 3 injection unit [0057] 4 closing unit [0058] 5 extruder [0059] 6 charging hopper [0060] 7 injection-moulding tool [0061] 7.1 one mould half [0062] 7,2 other mould half [0063] 8 closing unit [0064] 8.1 fixed platen [0065] 8.2 movable platen [0066] 9 cavity [0067] 10 machine controller [0068] 11 user interface device [0069] 12 output means [0070] 12.1 screen [0071] 12.2 screen output means [0072] 13.1-13.3 input means [0073] 13.4 screen input means [0074] 14 housing [0075] 14.1 front side [0076] 14.2 rear side [0077] 15 camera [0078] 15.1-15.3 cameras [0079] 16 spaces [0080] 17 adjusting device [0081] 17.1 pivoting device [0082] 17.2 mobile stand [0083] 18 evaluating device [0084] 19 operating surface