JP2008229633A - Method and apparatus for supplying semi-solid metal - Google Patents

Abstract

A method and apparatus for supplying a semi-solid metal capable of preventing the semi-solid metal from jumping out.
A supply device supplies a semi-solid metal to a molding device having an injection sleeve (31) in which an opening (31A) is formed and a plunger (32) provided so as to be able to advance and retreat inside the injection sleeve (31). The supply device includes a cylindrical crucible 11 in which a semi-solid metal is accommodated, a transfer arm 13 that holds and moves the crucible 11, and a control device that controls the transfer arm 13. The control device inserts the tip 134 of the rod 131 attached to the crucible 11 into the opening 31A of the injection sleeve 31 at a predetermined angle, and inserts the semi-solid metal from the position where the opening 31A in the injection sleeve 31 is formed. Is also discharged toward the direction of travel of the plunger 32.
[Selection] Figure 5

Description

  The present invention relates to a semi-solid metal supply method and supply device.

  Conventionally, a molten metal such as aluminum, magnesium, or an alloy thereof is cooled to produce a semi-solid metal (slurry) in a solid-liquid coexistence state, and a metal molded product is produced using the semi-solid metal. There exists a method (for example, refer patent document 1).

According to the method disclosed in Patent Document 1, a molding apparatus including an injection sleeve in which an opening is formed and a plunger provided to be able to advance and retract inside the injection sleeve is used. Specifically, first, semi-solid metal is supplied from the opening to the injection sleeve. Next, the semi-solid metal supplied to the injection sleeve is pushed out by the plunger and injected into a mold connected to the injection sleeve. Next, the semi-solid metal injected into the mold is cooled to solidify the semi-solid metal. By the above, the metal molded product according to the internal shape of a metal mold | die can be manufactured.
Japanese Patent No. 3211754

  By the way, since the above-mentioned semi-solid metal has a higher viscosity than a molten metal, the force for maintaining the current shape is large. For this reason, when a pressing force is applied when the semi-solid metal is pushed out by the plunger, stress is applied to the semi-solid metal in a direction opposite to the direction of the pressing force in an attempt to maintain the current shape. Accordingly, since the semi-solid metal is sandwiched between the pressing force and the stress, the semi-solid metal may be greatly deformed and jump out to the outside from the opening of the injection sleeve. As a result, there is a problem that a process for removing the protruding semi-solid metal is necessary, and the manufacturing process cannot be made efficient.

  An object of this invention is to provide the supply method and supply apparatus of a semi-solid metal which can prevent a semi-solid metal from jumping out.

  The semi-solid metal supply method of the present invention is a semi-solid metal that supplies a semi-solid metal to a molding apparatus having an injection sleeve having an opening and a plunger provided to be able to advance and retreat inside the injection sleeve. A first step of producing the semi-solid metal from a molten metal inside a cylindrical container, and inserting the tip of the container into the opening of the injection sleeve at a predetermined angle, And a second step of supplying the semi-solid metal contained in the injection sleeve to the inside of the injection sleeve, and in the second step, the semi-solid metal is discharged from the opening in the direction of travel of the plunger. It is characterized by.

  According to this invention, the tip of the container is inserted into the opening of the injection sleeve at a predetermined angle, and the semi-solid metal is discharged from the opening toward the direction of travel of the plunger through the tip of the container. For this reason, even if the semi-solid metal is pushed out by the plunger, the semi-solid metal can be prevented from jumping out of the opening.

  In this case, it is preferable that a heel is provided on the tip side of the container, and in the second step, the tip of the heel is inserted into the opening at a predetermined angle, and the semi-solid metal is discharged from the tip of the heel. .

  According to the present invention, since the scissors are provided on the tip side of the container and the semi-solid metal is discharged from the tip of the scissors, the flow rate of the semi-solid metal can be increased and the semi-solid metal can be smoothly supplied to the inside of the injection sleeve. .

  In this case, it is more preferable that the basket is detachable from the container.

When producing a semi-solid metal from molten metal inside the container, it is necessary to put the molten metal into the container and stir it. However, if a vessel is provided with a bowl, a stirring rod is inserted from the tip of the bowl and stirred, so that it is difficult to uniformly stir the molten metal.
Therefore, according to the present invention, since the scissors can be attached to and detached from the container, the scissors do not get in the way when stirring the molten metal, and the molten metal can be uniformly stirred.

  A semi-solid metal supply device according to the present invention is a semi-solid metal that supplies a semi-solid metal to a molding device having an injection sleeve having an opening and a plunger provided to be able to advance and retreat inside the injection sleeve. A cylindrical container in which the semi-solid metal is accommodated, a transfer arm that grips and moves the container, and a control device that controls the transfer arm. The tip of the container is inserted into the opening portion of the injection sleeve at a predetermined angle, and the semi-solid metal accommodated in the container is discharged from the opening portion toward the advancing direction side of the plunger.

  According to the present invention, there are effects similar to those described above.

  In this case, the transfer arm has a hook that can be connected to the container, and the control device connects the hook to the container, inserts the tip of the hook into the opening at a predetermined angle, and It is preferable to discharge the semi-solid metal from the tip of the ridge.

  According to this invention, since the bag can be connected to the container by gripping the container with the transfer arm, the same effect as described above can be obtained.

  In this case, it is more preferable that the ridges have a groove shape.

  According to the present invention, since the ridge is formed in a groove shape, the atmosphere can easily flow into the container more smoothly than in the case where the ridge is cylindrical, and the semi-solid metal can be discharged smoothly from the container.

  According to the present invention, the tip of the container is inserted into the opening of the injection sleeve at a predetermined angle, and the semi-solid metal is discharged from the opening toward the direction of travel of the plunger through the tip of the container. For this reason, even if the semi-solid metal is pushed out by the plunger, the semi-solid metal can be prevented from jumping out of the opening.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a supply apparatus 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention and a forming apparatus 30 to which semi-solid metal is supplied by the supply apparatus 10.

The molding apparatus 30 includes a cylindrical injection sleeve 31 and a plunger 32 provided to be able to advance and retreat inside the injection sleeve 31.
The injection sleeve 31 is connected to a mold (not shown). An opening 31 </ b> A is formed on the upper surface of the injection sleeve 31.

  When the semi-solid metal is supplied from the opening, the molding apparatus 30 advances the plunger 32 to inject the semi-solid metal into the mold from the tip of the injection sleeve.

  The supply device 10 includes a cylindrical crucible 11, a transfer arm 13 that holds and moves the crucible 11, and a control device 14 that controls the transfer arm 13. In FIG. 1, the cylindrical crucible 11 is illustrated, but a rectangular tube crucible may be used. If it is cylindrical shape, manufacture is also easy and it is easy to stir the molten metal stored in the crucible 11 with the cooling metal 121 (refer FIG. 3) along the inner wall of the crucible 11. FIG.

The transfer arm 13 is a movable arm of an articulated robot (not shown), and the articulated robot includes six movable axes, and includes an arm 137 and a hand 136.
The hand 136 rotates about the rod 138 relative to the arm 137 via the rod 138, or swings relative to the base end side of the rod 138. The hand 136 is provided with a hook 131 whose upper half is opened.
In the above description, an example of a six-axis articulated robot is shown as an example. However, the moving means includes a moving unit that moves in three orthogonal axes, that is, the X-axis-Y-axis-Z-axis. A rod having a function of turning and swinging may be provided, and a hand 136 may be provided on the tip side of the rod.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the collar 131.
The ridge 131 includes a groove-shaped ridge body 132 and a groove-shaped distal end portion 134 provided at the distal end of the ridge body 132.

The inner diameter of the distal end portion 134 is smaller than the inner diameter of the heel body 132. A taper portion 133 is formed between the flange main body 132 and the tip end portion 134.
The scissors 131 are detachable from the crucible 11, and are attached to the crucible 11 when the hand 136 holds the crucible 11.

  The crucible 11 contains semi-solid metal. This semi-solid metal is produced from a molten metal made of a molten metal such as aluminum, magnesium, or an alloy of each of them using the stirrer 12. In addition, the said crucible 11 with which the manufacturing line which manufactures a semi-solidified metal is a bottomed heat insulation crucible to which the molten metal for 1 shot of the shaping | molding apparatus 30 is supplied.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the agitator 12.
The stirrer 12 cools and stirs the molten metal in the crucible 11, and includes a cooling metal (cooling member) 121 that reaches a preset temperature, a rotation drive source 122 that rotationally drives the cooling metal 121, A moving mechanism 125 that moves the cooling metal 121 and the rotational drive source 122 in the horizontal and horizontal directions, for example, in the X and Y axis directions, is provided. That is, the cooling metal 121 and the rotational drive source 122 are a support unit (not shown), specifically, a moving unit having orthogonal support rails and moving in the X and Y axis directions, or a multi-joint of about 3 to 6 axes (not shown). Move while being supported by a robot. The moving mechanism 125 is a moving mechanism that horizontally moves the cooling metal 121 and the rotation drive source 122.

  The chiller 121 has a quadrangular prism shape and has a draft angle from the proximal end toward the distal end. Further, the outer shape of the cooling metal 121 may be a polygonal shape having 3 or more corners, a chamfering polygonal shape having 3 or more corners, an elliptical shape, or a composite elliptical shape. It is easy to generate vortices, can improve the stirring ability, and can prevent generation of crystals on the inner wall of the heat-insulating crucible. The cooling metal 121 is made of a material that is not melted by the molten metal, and the temperature is controlled by a temperature control unit (not shown).

  The rotation drive source 122 is connected to the base end of the cooling metal 121 via the rotation shaft 123 and the ceramic coupler 124, and rotationally drives the cooling metal 121 around the rotation shaft 123. The ceramic coupler 124 is provided so that the cooling metal 121 can be removed from the rotational drive source 122.

  The moving mechanism 125 moves the cooling metal 121 and the rotational drive source 122 in the vertical direction, and also moves in a spiral shape in the direction of arrow B in FIG. 3 on a horizontal plane. That is, the molten metal stored in the crucible 11 is cooled via the cooling metal 121 cooled to a predetermined temperature not higher than the temperature of the molten metal, and the cooling metal 121 is rotated while the cooling metal 121 is rotated. The molten metal for one shot is agitated in the horizontal direction along the crucible 11 and spaced apart from the crucible 11. Further, the cooling metal 121 may be moved spirally in the horizontal direction. By doing so, the directivity of cooling can be prevented as much as possible, and the molten metal can be effectively stirred. If it is moved in a spiral shape in the horizontal direction, the directivity of cooling can be prevented as much as possible, and the molten metal can be rapidly stirred.

A procedure for injection-molding a semi-solid metal using the above supply device 10 will be described.
First, the molten metal is supplied to the crucible 11, and the cooling mechanism 121 having a preset temperature is rotated at a relatively low speed around the rotating shaft 123 by the rotation drive source 122 of the stirrer 12, while the moving mechanism 125 rotates the cooling metal 121. Then, the cooling gold 121 and the rotary drive source 122 are moved vertically downward to immerse the cooling gold 121 in the molten metal in the crucible 11. Next, the rotational speed of the cooling metal 121 by the rotational drive source 122 is increased, and the cooling mechanism 121 and the rotational drive source 122 are moved spirally by the moving mechanism 125. Thereby, the molten metal is cooled and rapidly stirred.

  Next, for a predetermined period, after stirring one shot away from the crucible 11 in a horizontal direction along the crucible 11, the cooling gold 121 is rotated by the rotation drive source 122. The moving mechanism 125 moves the cooling metal 121 and the rotational drive source 122 vertically upward to pull up the cooling metal 121 from the molten metal in the crucible 11. Thereby, the molten metal in the crucible 11 becomes a semi-solid metal maintained at a constant temperature as a whole.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 4, the crucible 11 containing the semi-solid metal is held by the hand 136 of the transfer arm 13 such as an articulated robot (not shown), and the distal end portion 134 of the rod 131 attached to the crucible 11 is held. The semi-solid metal is supplied into the injection sleeve 31 by being inserted into the opening 31A of the injection sleeve 31 at a predetermined angle. As a result, as shown in FIG. 5, the semi-solid metal in the crucible 11 moves from the tip end portion 134 of the rod 131 to the traveling direction side of the plunger 32 from the position where the opening 31A in the injection sleeve 31 is formed, that is, The ink is discharged in the direction of arrow A in FIG.

  Thereafter, the semi-solid metal supplied into the injection sleeve 31 is pushed out in the direction of arrow A in FIG. 5 by the plunger 32 and injected into a mold (not shown).

  The cooling metal 121 after being pulled up from the molten metal is first immersed in a cooling layer (not shown) and subjected to a cooling process. Next, air blow processing is performed, and after removing the solidified metal solidified material adhering to the surface of the cooling metal 121, the surface is coated with a ceramic material and dried by a drying means (not shown). Is done. This prevents the surface of the chilled gold 121 from reacting with the molten metal and facilitates the removal of the solidified metal semi-solid metal adhering to the surface of the chilled gold 121.

According to this embodiment, there are the following effects.
(1) The crucible 11 is gripped by the transfer arm 13 and the rod 131 is attached to the crucible 11. Then, the tip 134 of the rod 131 is inserted into the opening 31A of the injection sleeve 31 at a predetermined angle, and the semi-solid metal in the crucible 11 is transferred from the tip 134 of the rod 131 to the opening 31A in the injection sleeve 31. Discharge from the formed position toward the traveling direction of the plunger 32. For this reason, even if the semi-solid metal is pushed out by the plunger 32, the semi-solid metal can be prevented from jumping out from the opening 31A.

  (2) The rod 131 is detachable from the crucible 11, and the semi-solid metal is discharged from the tip 134 of the rod 131, so that the flow rate of the semi-solid metal is increased and the semi-solid metal is smoothly introduced into the injection sleeve 31. Can supply.

  (3) The scissors 131 are detachable from the crucible 11, and the scissors 131 are attached to the containers by gripping the containers with the transport arm. For this reason, when the molten metal in the crucible 11 is agitated by the stirrer 12, the molten metal can be uniformly agitated by removing the molten metal 131 from the crucible 11 so that the molten metal 131 does not get in the way. Further, when the molten metal is supplied to the crucible 11, the molten metal can be easily supplied by removing the basket 131 from the crucible 11 so that the basket 131 does not get in the way.

  (4) Since the flange 131 is provided in a groove shape, when the semi-solid metal in the crucible 11 is supplied to the injection sleeve 31 via the flange 131, compared to the case where the flange 131 is cylindrical, The atmosphere flows in smoothly, and the semi-solid metal can be discharged smoothly from the crucible 11.

  In addition, this invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiment, The deformation | transformation in the range which can achieve the objective of this invention, improvement, etc. are included in this invention.

  In the above-described embodiment, the cooling metal 121 and the rotation drive source 122 of the stirrer 12 are moved in a spiral shape by the moving mechanism 125 to cool and stir the molten metal in the crucible 11, but the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, as shown in FIG. 6, the crucible 11A has a rectangular parallelepiped shape, and the chillers 121A and 121B and the rotational drive sources 122A and 122B of the stirrer 12A are moved in the longitudinal direction of the crucible 11A by the moving mechanism 125A (arrow C in FIG. 6). Direction), the molten metal in the crucible 11A may be cooled and stirred.

That is, the rotation drive source 122A is connected to the base end of the cooling metal 121A via the rotation shaft 123A and the ceramic coupler 124A, and rotationally drives the cooling metal 121A around the rotation shaft 123A. The ceramic coupler 124A is provided so that the cooling metal 121A can be removed from the rotational drive source 122A.
On the other hand, the rotational drive source 122B is connected to the base end of the cooling metal 121B via the rotational shaft 123B and the ceramic coupler 124B, and rotationally drives the cooling metal 121B around the rotational shaft 123B. The ceramic coupler 124B is provided so that the cooling metal 121B can be removed from the rotational drive source 122B.

  The moving mechanism 125A moves the chillers 121A and 121B and the rotational drive sources 122A and 122B in the vertical direction and reciprocates in the direction of arrow C in FIG.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 7, the cooling metal 121C and the rotational drive source 122C of the stirrer 12B are reciprocated in the vertical direction (the direction of arrow D in FIG. 7) by the moving mechanism 125B, and the molten metal in the crucible 11B is moved. You may cool and stir.

  That is, the rotational drive source 122C is connected to the base end of the cooling metal 121C via the rotational shaft 123C and the ceramic coupler 124C, and rotationally drives the cooling metal 121C around the rotational shaft 123C. The ceramic coupler 124C is provided so that the cooling metal 121C can be removed from the rotational drive source 122C.

  The moving mechanism 125B reciprocates the cooling metal 121C and the rotational drive source 122C in the direction of arrow D in FIG.

It is a perspective view which shows the supply apparatus which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention, and the shaping | molding apparatus with which a semi-solid metal is supplied by a supply apparatus. It is a perspective view of the bag provided in the supply device. It is a perspective view of a crucible and a stirrer provided in the supply device. It is a figure for demonstrating the procedure which injection-molds a semi-solidified metal using the said supply apparatus. It is a figure for demonstrating the procedure which injection-molds a semi-solidified metal using the said supply apparatus. It is a perspective view of a crucible and a stirrer according to a modification of the present invention. It is a perspective view of a crucible and a stirrer according to a modification of the present invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Supply apparatus 11, 11A, 11B Crucible 12, 12A, 12B Stirrer 13 Transfer arm 14 Control apparatus 30 Molding apparatus 31 Injection sleeve 31A Opening part 32 Plunger 131 樋

Claims (6)

A semi-solid metal supply method for supplying a semi-solid metal to a molding apparatus having an injection sleeve having an opening formed therein and a plunger provided so as to be able to advance and retreat inside the injection sleeve,
A first step of producing the semi-solid metal from a molten metal inside a cylindrical container;
A second step of inserting the tip of the container into the opening of the injection sleeve at a predetermined angle and supplying the semi-solid metal accommodated in the container to the inside of the injection sleeve, and
In the second step, the semi-solid metal is discharged toward the direction of travel of the plunger from the opening. The method for supplying semi-solid metal according to claim 1,
Provide a heel on the tip side of the container
In the second step, the semi-solid metal supply method is characterized in that the tip of the heel is inserted into the opening at a predetermined angle and the semi-solid metal is discharged from the tip of the heel. The method for supplying semi-solid metal according to claim 2,
A semi-solid metal supply method, characterized in that the basket is detachable from the container. A semi-solid metal supply device for supplying a semi-solid metal to a molding apparatus having an injection sleeve having an opening formed therein and a plunger provided so as to be able to advance and retreat inside the injection sleeve,
A cylindrical container containing the semi-solid metal,
A transfer arm that holds and moves the container;
A control device for controlling the transfer arm,
The control device inserts the tip of the container into the opening of the injection sleeve at a predetermined angle, and causes the semi-solid metal contained in the container to be discharged from the opening toward the advancing direction of the plunger. A semi-solid metal supply device. The semi-solid metal supply device according to claim 4,
The transfer arm has a hook that can be connected to the container,
The control device connects the spear to the container, inserts the front end of the spear at a predetermined angle into the opening, and discharges the semi-solid metal from the front end of the spear. Feeding device. The semi-solid metal supply device according to claim 5,
The semi-solid metal supply device, wherein the ridge is groove-shaped.

Images