Patent ID: 6562100
Filing Date: 2003-05-13
Classification: B22D

Abstract:
For use with an injection mold having a maxium injection volume for said mold, a material supply and melting method for use in injection molding of metal material and for supplying granular metal material from a supply apparatus into a cylindrical melting vessel, said vessel provided with: a weighing chamber communicating with a nozzle member in an extremity thereof; a rotatable agitation means inside; and an injection means having an injection plunger, on the extremity portion thereof, inserted advanceably and retractably into a center portion of the agitation means, said injection plunger being slidably engaged with the weighing chamber, said method comprising the steps of:melting the metal material by an external heat to form melted metal; accumulating in melted state at least 6 times the maximum injection volume for said mold; weighing, then injecting and charging the metal material into a mold by said injection means to mold a metal article; wherein the supply apparatus and agitation means are controlled to be inactive until (1) a temperature of said melting vessel attains a predetermined value sufficient to melt said metal and (2) said at least 6 times the maximum injection volume is accumulated in melted state; and to start operating when the predetermined temperature is attained, allowing for supply of said melted metal material; and the supply of metal material after the predetermined temperature is attained is performed while gradually supplying and agitating, maintaining metal material of at least 6 times of a maximum injection volume for said mold accumulated in a melted state.