Source: https://insight.rpxcorp.com/pat/US20100013583A1
Timestamp: 2020-08-08 12:30:43
Document Index: 662252308

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 15', 'art 17', 'art 18', 'art 17', 'art 18', 'art 15', 'art 18', 'art 15', 'art 18', 'art 18', 'art 15', 'art 15', 'art 15', 'art 15', 'art 15', 'art 17', 'art 15', 'art 15', 'art 15', 'art 15', 'art 17', 'arts 38', 'art 40', 'art 40']

Patent US 20100013583A1
1. A magnetic fixing device comprising a clamping plate having a fixing surface for fixing a clamping object such as a mold and plural magnetic force generation mechanisms installed in the clamping plate for fixing the clamping object to the fixing surface by magnetic force, characterized in that:
each of the magnetic force generation mechanisms comprises a magnetic material member facing said fixing surface, plural permanent magnets arranged around an outer periphery of the magnetic material member, a first Alnico magnet provided on a back of the magnetic material member, and a first coil for switching a polarity of said first Alnico magnet, and can be switched between an absorption state in which the clamping object is adsorbed and a non-absorption state in which the clamping object is not adsorbed, andan operation state indication mechanism capable of presenting an indicator indicating that said plural magnetic force generation mechanisms are in the adsorption state or in the non-adsorption state is provided on the fixing surface or outer periphery of said clamping plate.
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2. The magnetic fixing device according to claim 1 wherein said operation state indication mechanism comprises a casing member installed in said clamping plate, a transparent cover member closing a front of the casing member, a first housing pit formed in said casing member, a second Alnico magnet housed in the first housing pit, a second coil wound around the second Alnico magnet, and a movable indication member consisting of a permanent magnet housed in a second housing pit formed in said casing member on a front side of the first housing pit;
andan energizing circuit that energizes the second coil only while the plural first coils of said plural magnetic force generation mechanisms are energized is provided.
31a first housing pit
34a, 36a red indication surface
34b, 36b white indication surface
39a, 40a red indication surface
39b white indication surface
The present invention is applied to an injection molding device in this embodiment. Therefore, an injection molding machine 1 will be first described. As shown in FIG. 1, the injection molding machine 1 comprises a stationary platen 2 and a movable platen 3 facing each other for fixing a metal mold M (a fixed mold M1 and a movable mold M2) as a clamping object, a platen drive mechanism 4 having a hydraulic cylinder (or drive motor) driving the platen 3 toward/away from the platen 2 for closing/opening the mold M, four guide rods 5 guiding and supporting the platen 3 movably toward/away from the platen 2, an injection mechanism 6 having an injection cylinder 6a for injecting molten synthetic resin in the cavity of the mold M in the closed state, and an eject mechanism 7 ejecting the molded article from the mold M.
For injection molding using the injection molding machine 1, the platen drive mechanism 4 drives the platen 3 toward the platen 2 so that the mold M2 is pressed against the mold M1, whereby the mold is closed. In this state, the molten synthetic resin is injected in the mold M from the tip of the injection cylinder 6a to form a molded article. Then, the platen drive mechanism 4 drives the platen 3 away from the platen 2, whereby the mold is opened. In this state, the molded article is ejected from the mold M2 by the eject mechanism 7.
The eject mechanism 7 comprises ejector pins 8, an ejector plate 8a, and a fluid-pressure cylinder 8b reciprocating the ejector pins 8 via the ejector plate 8a. The ejector pins 8 are inserted in ejector pin holes 3c.
As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the platens 2 and 3 each have a square form in the side view. The four guide rods 5 are inserted and fixed in the insert holes 2a of the platen 2 near the four corners. The four guide rods 5 are slidably inserted in the insert holes 3a of the platen 3 near the four corners, guiding the platen 3 toward/away from the platen 2.
As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the magnetic fixing device 10A comprises a clamping plate 11 having a fixing surface ha for fixing the mold M1 to the platen 2, plural magnet units 13 (magnetic force generation mechanisms) provided in the clamping plate 11 and generating adsorptive power for fixing the mold M1 to the fixing surface 11a by magnetic force, and an operation state indication mechanism 30 provided on the front end (outer periphery) of the clamping plate 11. The operation state indication mechanism 30 presents an indication that the plural magnet units 13 are in the adsorption state or in the non-adsorption state.
The magnetic fixing device 10B comprises a clamping plate 12 having a fixing surface 12a for fixing the mold M2 to the platen 3, plural magnet units 13 (magnetic force generation mechanisms) provided in the clamping plate 12 and generating adsorptive power for fixing the mold M2 to the fixing surface 12a by magnetic force, and an operation state indication mechanism 30 provided on the front end (outer periphery) of the clamping plate 12. The operation state indication mechanism 30 presents an indication that the plural magnet units 13 are in the adsorption state or in the non-adsorption state.
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the clamping plate 11 is provided with a connector 25 to which plural electric lines can be connected/disconnected on the rear end and a locating ring 11c in the center. The connector 25 is used to connect electric lines powering the plural magnet units 13. The locating ring 11c is engaged with the locating ring (not shown) of the mold M1 for centering the mold M1 on the fixing surface 11a.
As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the clamping plate 12 is provided with a connector 26 to which plural electric lines can be connected/disconnected on the rear end, a safety catcher block 27 for preventing the mold M2 from falling on the bottom end, and a pair of ejector pin holes 3c in the center. The connector 26 has the same function as the connector 25. Here, the mold M is carried in/out by a known transfer means for replacing the mold M.
The steel block 20 and first Alnico magnet 21 have a square shape. The steel block 20 has a bolt hole 20a and the first Alnico magnet 21 has a hole 21a. The first Alnico magnet 21 and first coil 22 fitted in a recess 12b are interposed between the steel block 20 and the bottom wall 12c of the clamping plate 12. Then, they are fastened to the clamping plate 12 by a hexagon socket head bolt 24 made of a nonmagnetic material (for example SUS304) inserted in the bolt hole 20a and hole 21a. The plural permanent magnets 23 are fixed to the steel block 20 or clamping plate 12 by some fixing means.
As shown in FIG. 8, the operation state indication mechanism 30 has a steel casing member 31 installed in the clamping plate 12, a cover member 35 made of a transparent acrylic resin plate closing the front of the casing member 31, a first housing pit 31a formed in the casing member 31, a second cylindrical Alnico magnet 32 housed in the first housing pit 31a, a synthetic resin coil bobbin 32a fitted on the second Alnico magnet 32, a second coil 33 wound around the coil bobbin 32a, and a disc-shaped permanent magnet 34 (movable indication member) housed in a second housing pit 31b formed in the casing member 31 on the front side of the first housing pit 31a.
A hole 12d extending in the front-back direction is formed in the clamping plate 12 on the front end near the bottom. The casing member 31 is installed in the hole 12d. The first cylindrical housing pit 31a is formed in the casing member 31 in the back. Formed in the casing member 31 on the front (entrance) side of the first housing pit 31a, is the second cylindrical housing pit 31b opened in front. The second housing pit 31b is continued from the first housing pit 31a.
The coil bobbin 32a in which the second Alnico magnet 32 is housed and around which the second coil 33 is wound is housed in the first housing pit 31a. A permanent magnet 34 is housed and can be turned around in the second housing pit 31b. The cover member 35 closing the front of the casing member 31 is fixed to the clamping plate 12 by four screws 35a.
A red-colored indication surface 34a (corresponding to the indicator) is formed on one end face of the permanent magnet 34 and a white-colored indication surface 34b (corresponding to the indicator) is formed on the other end face of the permanent magnet 34. In this embodiment, the red indication surface 34a facing forward indicates the adsorption state and the white indication surface 34b facing forward indicates the non-adsorption state.
As described later, an energizing circuit that energizes the second coil 33 only while the plural first coils 22 of the plural magnet units 13 are energized is provided to the clamping plate 12. When the plural magnet units 13 of the clamping plate 12 are in the adsorption state, the red indication surface 34a of the permanent magnet 34 faces outward in the front as shown in FIG. 8, whereby it is easily known that the magnetic fixing device 10B is in the adsorption state.
When the plural first coils 22 of the magnetic fixing device 10B are energized for several seconds to switch the plural magnet units 13 to the non-adsorption state, the second coil 33 is also energized for several seconds to reverse the polarity of the second Alnico magnet 32 and turn the permanent magnet 34 around. Then, the white indication surface 34b of the permanent magnet 34 faces outward in the front as shown in FIG. 9, whereby it is easily known that the magnetic fixing device 10B is in the non-adsorption state. Switching from the non-adsorption state to the adsorption state is done in the same way.
As shown in FIG. 10, the operation control part 15 has an operation panel 16, a control part 17, a drive circuit 17a simultaneously driving the first and second coils 22 and 33 of the clamping plate 11, a drive circuit 17b simultaneously driving the first and second coils 22 and 33 of the clamping plate 12, and a male connector part 18a of a connector 18. The control part 17 has a computer including a CPU, a ROM, and a RAM and an input/output interface. Necessary control programs are stored in the ROM.
The injection molding machine 1 is provided with a female connector part 18b (common connector) of the connector 18 and an interlock board 19 for the magnetic fixing devices 10A and 10B. The interlock board 19 is connected to the plural first coils 22 and one second coil 33 of the magnetic fixing device 10A via a connector 25 and to the plural first coils 22 and one second coil 33 of the magnetic fixing device 10B via a connector 26.
The operation control part 15 is of a transportable type with castors for shared use by plural injection molding devices 1. The plural injection molding machines 1 each have the aforementioned common female connector part 18b. For replacing the mold M, the operation control part 15 is moved to near the injection molding machine 1 and the male connector part 18a is connected to the female connector part 18b, whereby the magnetic fixing devices 10A and 10B are operable through the operation control part 15.
The molding machine control unit 9A receives plural signals from plural sensors provided to various mechanisms regarding injection molding, and determines whether or not conditions necessary for safely fixing or unfixing the mold M are satisfied based on the plural signals. When the conditions are satisfied, the molding machine control unit 9A sends operation permission signals indicating that the magnetic fixing devices 10A and 10B are operable to the operation control part 15 via the interlock board 19. The interlock board 19 has a power circuit. The alternate current supplied to the interlock board 19 from the power unit 9B is converted to a direct current by the power circuit. The direct current is supplied to the operation control part 15 via the connector 18 and to the plural first coils 22 and two second coils 33 of the magnetic fixing devices 10A and 10B via the drive circuits 17a and 17b.
Functions and advantages of the magnetic fixing devices 10A and 10B will be described hereafter.
For fixing the molds M1 and M2 to the platens 2 and 3 using the magnetic fixing devices 10A and 10B, first, the connector 18 is connected to connect the operation control part 15 to the interlock board 19 while the mold M is conveyed to between the platens 2 and 3 using a conveying means such as a crane. Here, the plural magnet units 13 of the clamping plates 11 and 12 are in the non-adsorption state as shown in FIG. 7 so that the magnetic force does not work on the mold M. Here, with the white indication surface 34b facing forward as shown in FIG. 9, the operation state indication mechanism 30 indicates the non-adsorption state.
Then, the molds M1 and M2 are positioned and placed in contact with the fixing surfaces 11a and 12a of the clamping plates 11 and 12, respectively, and the circular projection of the mold M1 is fitted in the locating ring 11c of the fixing surface Ha for centering. Then, for fixing the molds M1 and M2 to the fixing surfaces 11a and 12a, the operation panel 16 of the operation control part 15 is operated so that the control part 17 supplies the electric power to energize the plural first coils 22 for several seconds with a current in the direction leading to the adsorption state. Then, the polarity of the first Alnico magnets 21 is switched as shown in FIG. 6 and a magnetic circuit of which the magnetic path is partly formed by the mold M is established. In this way, the molds M1 and M2 are adsorbed and fixed to the fixing surfaces 11a and 12a.
Meanwhile, the second coils 33 of the clamping plates 11 and 12 are also energized for several seconds to switch the polarity of the second Alnico magnet 32 at the same time as the above operation. Then, as shown in FIG. 8, the permanent magnet 34 is turned around and the operation state indication mechanism 30 shows the red indication surface 34a. In this way, the operator can easily know that the magnet units 13 are in the adsorption state. Then, the connector 18 is disconnected and the operation control part 15 is moved to another injection molding machine 1 for use.
On the other hand, for releasing the molds M1 and M2 from the fixing surfaces 11a and 12a of the clamping plates 11 and 12, the connector 18 is connected to connect the operation control part 15 to the interlock board 19. Then, the operation control part 15 is operated to energize the plural first coils 22 for several seconds with a current in the opposite direction to that for fixing the molds M1 and M2. Then, the polarity of the Alnico magnets 21 is reversed as shown in FIG. 7 to switch to the non-adsorption state. The two second coils 33 are simultaneously energized to switch to the state shown in FIG. 9.
[2] The operation state indication mechanism 30 can be configured to present the indication on the fixing surfaces 11a and 12a of the clamping plates 11 and 12.
[4] In some cases, the operation control part 15 shown in FIG. 10 is omitted, the operation panel 16 and control part 17 are normally connected to the interlock board 19, and the drive circuits 17a and 17b are provided to the interlock board 19.
[5] As shown in FIG. 11, an operation state indication mechanism 30A has, as the movable indication member, a cylindrical permanent magnet 36 that can be turned around in the second housing pit 31b. A red-colored indication surface 36a is formed on one, N pole, end of the permanent magnet 36 and a white-colored indication surface 36b is formed on the other, S pole, end of the permanent magnet 36. The red indication surface 36a indicates the adsorption state and the white indication surface 36b indicates the non-adsorption state. The permanent magnet 36 is rotatably supported by a pin member 37 and a pair of support parts 38 at the longitudinal midpoint.
[6] As shown in FIG. 12, an operation state indication mechanism 30B has, as the movable indication member, a spherical permanent magnet 39 that can be turned around in the second housing pit 31b. A red-colored indication surface 39a is formed on one, N pole, half of the permanent magnet 39 and a white-colored indication surface 39b is formed on the other, S pole, half of the permanent magnet 39. The red indication surface 39a indicates the adsorption state and the white indication surface 39b indicates the non-adsorption state.
[7] As shown in FIGS. 13 and 14, the casing member 31 of an operation state indication mechanism 30C has a second housing pit 31b opening in the front. A thick transparent acrylic resin cover member 41 has a hole 41a opening in the back. The cover member 41 is fixed to the clamping plate 12 by four screws 41b. The second housing pit 31b is continued to the hole 41a.
A cylindrical permanent magnet 40 axially movably housed in the second housing pit 31b and hole 41a is provided as the movable indication member. A red-colored indication part 40a is formed on one, N pole, end of the permanent magnet 40 and the other, S pole, end is colored in white. The permanent magnet 40 is retracted as shown in FIG. 13 when the magnetic fixing devices 10A and 10B are in the non-absorption state. The permanent magnet 40 is advanced and the red indication part 40a is presented in the front as shown in FIG. 14 when the magnetic fixing devices 10A and 10B are in the absorption state.
[8] As shown in FIGS. 15 and 16, in an operation state indication mechanism 30D, a cover member 41 has a first hole 41c continued to the front end of the second housing pit 31b and a second hole 41d opening in the front. A cylindrical permanent magnet 40 movably housed in the second housing pit 31b and first hole 41c is provided as the movable indication member. A red indicator rod 42 as the red indication part is fixed to the front end of the permanent magnet 40. The permanent magnet 40 and indicator rod 42 are retracted as shown in FIG. 15 when the magnetic fixing devices 10A and 10B are in the absorption state. The permanent magnet 40 and indicator rod 42 are advanced and the indicator rod 42 protrudes from the second hole 41d as shown in FIG. 16 when the magnetic fixing devices 10A and 10B are in the non-absorption state.
The magnetic fixing device 10C has a clamping plate 60 having a fixing surface 60a, plural magnet units 13 provided to the clamping plate 60 and generating adsorptive power by magnetic force, and operation state indication mechanisms 30E to 30G provided on the front end (outer periphery) of the clamping plate 60 and presenting indicators indicating that the plural magnet units 13 are in the adsorption state or in the non-adsorption state.
The clamping plate 60 is a magnetic steel plate. A connector 61 for connection to the operation control part is provided at the front end of the clamping plate 60. Rail grooves 60b engaging with the guide rails on the table are formed on the right and left ends of the clamping plate 60. Three magnet unit sets 13A, 13B, and 13C each consisting of eight magnet units 13 are arranged on the clamping plate 60.
B29C 2045/1746 : using magnetic means
Current Assignee: Pascal Engineering Corporation.
Sponsoring Entity: Pascal Engineering Corporation.