JPH10296418A - Semi-molten metal forming equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Problem] To easily and easily form a column of semi-molten metal in which fine primary crystals suitable for semi-molten molding are dispersed in a liquid phase, without causing deformation or mixing of impurities. Provided is a semi-molten metal molding apparatus for automatically and smoothly accommodating and injecting and molding a core into a horizontal injection sleeve. [Constitution] After a semi-molten metal in which fine primary crystals are dispersed in a liquid phase is stored in an injection sleeve having a horizontal axis, the semi-molten metal in the injection sleeve is injected and filled into a mold cavity by an injection cylinder. A molding device for a semi-molten metal that is formed by molding, the injection sleeve is capable of introducing a cylindrical body of the semi-molten metal, and has a rectangular opening in a side view on an obliquely upper side surface of an intermediate portion in the axial direction, A guide conduit connected to the opening and extending obliquely upward, the guide conduit receiving the cylinder dropped and discharged from the tilted holding container at the top of the guide conduit; and , A cylindrical receiving device for guiding to the vessel.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a semi-molten metal forming apparatus, and more particularly, to a semi-molten metal column in which fine primary crystals suitable for semi-molten molding are dispersed in a liquid phase. The present invention relates to a molding apparatus for semi-molten metal that is automatically and smoothly stored in a simple injection sleeve, and is injected and molded.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Thixocasting has attracted attention recently because it has fewer casting defects and segregation than conventional casting methods, has a uniform metal structure, has a long mold life, and has a short molding cycle. Technology. The billet used in this molding method is characterized by a spheroidized structure obtained by a method such as performing mechanical stirring or electromagnetic stirring in a semi-melting temperature region or utilizing recrystallization after processing. There is a method in which a material obtained by these methods is heated to a semi-melting temperature range to form a primary crystal into a spheroid, and then housed in an injection sleeve of a die casting machine or the like for injection molding.

On the other hand, unlike a method in which a billet is heated to a semi-melting temperature range and molded, a melt containing a spherical primary crystal is continuously generated and solidified as a billet without being injected by a die casting machine or the like. There is known a rheocast method in which the resin is housed in a sleeve and injection molded.

[0004]

However, the above-mentioned thixocasting method is complicated both in the stirring method and the method utilizing recrystallization, and in any case, the thixocasting method is carried out by semi-molten molding by the thixoforming method. In this method, it is necessary to raise the temperature of a billet once having a liquid phase to a solid phase once again to a semi-melting temperature range, the cost is higher than in the conventional casting method, and the billet as a raw material is difficult to recycle.

[0005] In addition, the rheocasting method is advantageous in terms of cost and energy as compared with the thixocasting method because a melt containing a spherical primary crystal is continuously produced and supplied. It is complicated to interlock the equipment between the machine that produces the metal raw material and the casting machine that produces the final product. For example, a failure of a casting machine may lead to difficulties in treating semi-molten metal produced before the process. For this purpose, a method has been proposed in which semi-molten metal for one casting is produced in a holding vessel each time (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. Hei 8-3256).
No. 52).

However, unlike the vertical die casting described here, in the horizontal die casting, since the injection sleeve is a horizontal type, the semi-molten metal cylindrical body manufactured in the holding container can be automatically and continuously formed. For example, if it is difficult to smoothly store it in the horizontal injection sleeve of a casting machine such as a die casting machine, etc., if it cannot be stored smoothly, it will lose its shape at the time of storage, causing air entrapment or oxidation in molded products. It causes contamination. In other words, when the semi-molten metal in the holding container is dropped into the supply port in the horizontal injection sleeve of the die casting machine by tilting the holding container, when the liquid phase ratio of the semi-molten metal becomes low and the property of the solid becomes strong, the holding is performed. Oxide is generated at the open interface where the semi-molten metal dropped from the container breaks and adheres to the supply port, so that it can be injected without securing a predetermined hot water supply amount. The mechanical properties deteriorate.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and obtains from a liquid a semi-molten metal having a uniform structure including a spheroidized primary crystal, which is suitable for molding. Automatically, continuously and quickly to a casting machine such as an injection sleeve of a die casting machine, etc.
An object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for forming a semi-molten metal that can be stored smoothly without losing its shape.

[0008]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, a semi-molten metal in which fine primary crystals are dispersed in a liquid phase is provided by an injection sleeve having a horizontal axis. After being housed in the injection cylinder, a semi-molten metal molding apparatus for injection-filling and molding the semi-molten metal in the injection sleeve into a mold cavity with an injection cylinder, wherein the injection sleeve is
A semi-molten metal cylindrical body can be introduced, and a rectangular opening in side view is provided at an obliquely upper side surface at an intermediate portion in the axial direction, and is connected to the opening and extends obliquely upward. And a column receiving device that receives the column dropped from the tilted holding container and guides the column to the guide conduit is provided at the top of the guide conduit.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the columnar receiving device according to the first aspect of the present invention, the substantially semi-cylindrical receiving container is rotatable around the horizontal axis at the distal end of the guide conduit. It is arranged movably.

In the third invention, at least four-dimensional degrees of freedom (x, y,
An articulated robot with z-axis and y-axis rotational degrees of freedom) was used. Here, the x-axis is the axial direction of the horizontal injection sleeve, the y-axis is the horizontal direction perpendicular to the horizontal injection sleeve, and the z-axis is the vertical direction.

[0011]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION In the first aspect of the present invention, a semi-molten metal in which fine primary crystals are dispersed in a liquid phase is housed in an injection sleeve having a horizontal axis, and is then injected by an injection cylinder. A semi-molten metal molding apparatus for injection-molding and molding the semi-molten metal in a sleeve into a mold cavity, wherein the injection sleeve is capable of introducing a semi-molten metal cylinder and has a rectangular side view. An opening is provided on the obliquely upper side surface of the intermediate portion in the axial direction, and a guide conduit of the cylindrical body connected to the opening and extending in the obliquely upward direction is provided, and at the top of the guide conduit,
Because the cylinder receiving the cylinder dropped from the tilted holding container and receiving the cylinder is arranged to receive the cylindrical body, the uniform structure including the primary crystal spheroidized from the liquid metal is obtained. A cylinder of semi-molten metal suitable for molding is held at a position where the tip of the receiving container is connected in accordance with the tilt angle of the holding container, and is transferred from the holding container to a cylindrical receiving device,
When the axis of the cylinder is horizontal and the receiving container of the cylinder receiving device is turned upside down and the cylinder on the receiving container is gently dropped into the guide conduit, the cylinder rolls in the guide conduit. Alternatively, it is slid and stored at a predetermined position via the supply port of the horizontal injection sleeve in a state where the axis of the cylindrical body and the axis of the horizontal injection sleeve match. In this case, as a means for transferring the holding container to the cylindrical receiving device, a normal transport device (an overhead traveling crane, a combination of a motor and a hydraulic cylinder, or the like) is used.
As described above, the axis of the cylinder of semi-molten metal is housed in the horizontal injection sleeve so as to match the axis of the injection sleeve, and the injection plunger tip is advanced by operating the injection cylinder to form the mold. A semi-molten metal is injected and filled into the cavity. That is, in the first aspect, the semi-molten metal cylinder in the holding container can be smoothly transferred to the horizontal injection sleeve without causing breakage or deformation.

In the second aspect of the present invention, the cylindrical receiving device has a substantially semi-cylindrical receiving container disposed at the distal end of the guide conduit so as to be rotatable in the axial direction and rotatable about the horizontal axis. The cylinder body detached from the holding container can be smoothly and automatically stored in the horizontal injection sleeve.

In the third aspect of the present invention, the means for transferring the holding container to the cylindrical receiving device is an articulated robot having at least four-dimensional degrees of freedom. Can be continuously and smoothly performed.

[0014]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. 1 to 5 relate to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of a semi-molten metal forming device, FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional side view of a columnar receiving device, and FIG. FIG. 4 shows another embodiment, and is a front view in the case where an articulated robot is used as a transfer means of the holding container, and FIG.
FIG. 3 is an overall manufacturing process diagram for molding a semi-molten metal by injection using a horizontal injection sleeve.

FIG. 5 shows a semi-molten metal forming apparatus 1 according to the present invention.
FIG. 3 shows an overall manufacturing process diagram in a manufacturing facility for semi-molten metal including No. 00, and the work proceeds according to the following procedure. In step [1] of FIG. 5, the metal M which is a complete liquid put in the ladle 50 is brought into contact with the molten metal in the inclined cooling jig 52 in step [2], or in a holding container (ceramic-coated metal). Vibration is applied to the molten metal poured and stored in the V by the immersion-type vibrating jig 53, or the degree of superheating with respect to the liquidus temperature of the molten metal is set to 50 ° C.
The temperature is kept at less than 30 ° C., preferably less than 30 ° C., and the mixture is poured into a holding vessel to obtain an alloy immediately above and below a liquidus line containing crystal nuclei (or fine crystals), that is, semi-molten metal Ma.

Next, in step [3], the alloy is
In the step of cooling at an average cooling rate of 0.01 ° C./s to 3.0 ° C./s and maintaining the pressure just before press forming to crystallize fine primary crystals in the alloy liquid, an induction device (heating coil ) 56
The temperature of each part of the alloy in the container V is kept within a target molding temperature range (a range of −5 ° C. to + 5 ° C. with respect to the target molding temperature) which shows a predetermined liquidus rate at the latest by the time of molding. Adjust the temperature to fit. In this case, in order to allow a predetermined amount of current to flow as needed from the time immediately after pouring the representative temperature of the metal to be cooled in the holding container V to a stage at which the temperature does not decrease by 10 ° C. or more from the target molding temperature, the induction device 56 is used. The output may be small. In cooling, when cooling rapidly, air is injected from the outside of the holding container V toward the holding container V. If necessary, the upper and lower portions are held in a semi-molten state in a holding vessel V that is kept warm or heated with a heat insulating material, and fine spherical (non-dendritic) primary crystals are generated from the introduced crystal nuclei (step [3]). ] -A, [3] -b).

The alloy Mb having a predetermined liquid phase ratio obtained in this manner is transferred to the holding vessel V as in step [3] -c.
And the molding apparatus 100 (for example,
After a cylindrical semi-solid metal Mb having a predetermined liquid phase ratio is inserted into a horizontal injection sleeve 8 of a die casting machine), a molded product is obtained by pressure molding in a mold cavity 5 of a molding apparatus 100. Here, the semi-molten metal Mb which has been inverted from the holding container V and discharged into the horizontal injection sleeve 8 has its upper surface located inside the holding container V in the plunger tip 8a in order to prevent entry of oxide. Put on the side.

When the holding container V is inverted and the semi-molten metal (columnar body) Mb in the holding container V is transferred from the supply port 8b of the horizontal injection sleeve 8 to the inside of the injection sleeve 8 by natural fall, the semi-molten metal is used. Since the metal Mb is not completely solid in a semi-molten state, the rigidity is weak, and the metal Mb may be deformed due to an impact at the time of breaking or dropping, and impurities such as oxides may be mixed, thereby deteriorating the quality of a molded product. Therefore, in the present invention, in consideration of this point, as shown in FIG.
In order to prevent breakage and deformation of the cylindrical body, the inventor devised the storage of the cylindrical body Mb in the horizontal injection sleeve 8. Less than,
This will be described in detail.

FIG. 1 shows the entire configuration of a semi-molten metal forming apparatus 100. The forming apparatus 100 of FIG. 1 is a vertical casting horizontal casting die-casting machine. It comprises a device 100a, a mold device 100b, and a mold clamping device (not shown) (provided on the left side of the mold device 100b). The injection device 100a includes a horizontal injection sleeve 8 having a horizontal axis and an injection cylinder 9 connected thereto. A plunger tip 8a connected to a piston rod 9a of the injection cylinder 9 by a coupling 9b inside the injection sleeve 8 is provided. It is arranged to move forward and backward freely. Mold device 100b
Consists of a fixed mold 3 joined to a fixed plate 1 and a movable mold 4 joined to a movable plate 2 which can be moved forward and backward by a mold clamping device. The fixed mold 3 and the movable mold 4 are divided. A mold cavity 5 is provided on the surface.

The above configuration is conventionally known,
The feature of the present invention lies in the procedure for storing the semi-molten metal cylindrical body Mb in the supply port, which is the opening of the horizontal injection sleeve 8,
This will be described below. In the horizontal injection sleeve 8 of the present invention, a supply port (opening) 8b for receiving a semi-molten metal (cylindrical body) Mb is provided on an obliquely upper side surface in the middle of the horizontal injection sleeve 8 unlike a conventional technique. M
The opening was slightly larger than b, had a semicircular cross section, and had a rectangular shape in side view.

FIG. 2 and FIG.
As shown in (2), a guide conduit 20 formed by a duct having a rectangular cross section and an enlarged pipe at the top is connected diagonally upward. Further, as means for accommodating the cylindrical body Mb from the supply port 8b of the horizontal injection sleeve 8 as shown in FIGS. 2 to 3, a cylindrical body receiving device 10 is provided at the top of the guide conduit 20.

The cylindrical body receiving device 10 has a function of receiving the cylindrical body Mb when the semi-molten metal cylindrical body Mb in the holding container V is taken out by holding the holding container V at an angle of 90 ° or more.
The cylindrical body Mb has a function of storing the received cylindrical body Mb in the horizontal injection sleeve 8 with its axis aligned with the axis of the horizontal injection sleeve 8, and as shown in FIGS.
0b, a receiving container 10a having a substantially semicircular cross section with an open top is disposed so as to be tiltable around a horizontal rotation axis 10d whose axis is orthogonal to the rotation axis.
a is supported by a support formed of a semicircular curved and upright circular plate extending rearward, and is tilted to an arbitrary inclination angle by a drive source (not shown) (for example, a motor or a fluid pressure cylinder). The stop holding can be performed.

Further, the upright circular plate on the back of the support 10c is supported by a bearing fixed to the top of the guide conduit 20, and is connected to the output shaft of a motor 24 also fixed to the top of the guide conduit 20 for rotation. It is joined to the shaft 22a, and is rotatable around this rotation shaft, that is, around the axis of the receiving container 10a. The cylindrical body receiving device 10 thus configured
2, the receiving container 10a is tilted in accordance with the tilt angle of the holding container V, and the cylindrical body Mb sliding down from the holding container V is received by the receiving container 10a. When the motor 24 is driven to rotate the receiving container 10a a half turn from the horizontal state, the cylindrical body Mb placed on the receiving container 10a is rotated.
Is dropped into the guide conduit 20, rolls or slides on the guide conduit, and is aligned with the axis of the horizontal injection sleeve at a predetermined position of the horizontal injection sleeve via the supply port 8b, Is stored.

FIG. 4 shows an embodiment employing an articulated robot 30 having at least four-dimensional degrees of freedom as a transfer means for transferring and tilting the holding container V. In practice, the articulated robot 30 has four degrees of freedom (x, y,
The articulated robot 30 having degrees of freedom in z-axis direction and y-axis rotation)) to six-dimensional degrees of freedom (x, y, z-axis direction and x-axis rotation, y-axis rotation, and z-axis rotation degrees of freedom). Adopted. Here, the x-axis is the axial direction of the horizontal injection sleeve, the y-axis is the horizontal direction perpendicular to the horizontal injection sleeve, and the z-axis is the vertical direction. In other words, the rotating shaft 30c that is more horizontal than the side surface of the rotating seat 30b that rotates about the vertical axis at the top of the upright column base 30a.
A first arm 32 that rotates around is extended, and a second arm 34 that is rotatable about a horizontal rotation axis 32 a is connected to a distal end of the first arm 32. Is a small attitude control mechanism (x-axis rotation, y-axis) to which a motor 36 having an output shaft 36a extending downward via a horizontal rotation shaft 34a is attached, and the lower end of the output shaft 36a is capable of minute direction change. A pair of left and right magic hands 40 for holding the holding container V from both sides are attached to the holding container V
Posture control and movement can be performed arbitrarily. In this case, a personal computer, a sequencer, or a programmable controller capable of inputting a program is used as the robot automation device.

After the cylindrical body Mb is stored in the horizontal injection sleeve 8 as described above, the injection process is started. The plunger tip 8a is advanced to crush the semi-molten metal Mb and inject it into the mold cavity 5. Fill. After the injection filling is completed, the molded product is cooled and solidified through a pressure-holding step, the mold is opened, and the molded product is taken out as a product.

The inner surface of the receiving container 10a and the guide conduit 20 of the cylindrical body receiving device 10 has a cylindrical body Mb having a high temperature of about 650 °.
Therefore, in consideration of direct contact with the semi-molten metal Mb, for example, the following material is used, which has a small temperature drop and is free from contamination. Ceramic having low thermal conductivity, for example, silicon nitride (Si ₃ N ₄ ) fired body having low thermal conductivity of about 0.05 cal / cmsec ° C. Ceramic mixed composite material having low thermal conductivity, for example, about 0.03 cal / cmsec ° Metal-ceramic composite material with low thermal conductivity (composite material composed of titanium alloy and ceramic particles) Combination material of metal-ceramic composite material and steel For example, the outer periphery of a ceramic composite material is wrapped in steel.

[0027]

As is apparent from the above description,
The metal molding apparatus for semi-solid molding according to the present invention is a horizontal injection sleeve for forming a cylinder of semi-molten metal at low cost, easily and easily, and without causing shape loss or mixing of impurities such as oxides. Since it can be automatically stored in the inside, good molded product quality is ensured, so that an excellent molded body having a fine and granular structure can be mass-produced.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of an apparatus for forming a semi-molten metal according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional side view of the column receiving device according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a front sectional view taken along the line AA of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a side view of an articulated robot according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an overall manufacturing process diagram for forming a semi-molten metal by injection using a horizontal injection sleeve according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Fixed board 2 Movable board 3 Fixed mold 4 Movable mold 5 Mold cavity 6 Runner 8 Horizontal injection sleeve 8a Plunger tip 8b Supply port (opening) 9 Injection cylinder 9a Piston rod 9b Coupling 10 Cylindrical body receiving device 10a Receiving Container 10b Circular flat plate 10c Support 10d Rotating shaft 20 Guide conduit 20a Rotating shaft 22 Bearing 22a Rotating shaft 24 Motor 30 Articulated robot 30a Column base 30b Rotating seat 30c Rotating shaft 32 First arm 32a Rotating shaft 34 Second arm 34a Rotating shaft Reference Signs List 36 motor 36a output shaft 38 small attitude control mechanism 40 magic hand 50 ladle 52 tilt cooling jig 53 immersion vibration jig 55 lid 54 bottom plate 56 guidance device (heating coil) 57 cooling device 100 molding device 100a injection device 100b Mold device M Genus melt (including the crystal nuclei) Ma molten metal Mb semi molten metal V-holding vessel

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A semi-molten metal in which fine primary crystals are dispersed in a liquid phase is stored in an injection sleeve having a horizontal axis, and then the semi-molten metal in the injection sleeve is injected into a mold cavity by an injection cylinder. A molding apparatus for semi-molten metal which is injection-filled and molded, wherein the injection sleeve has a rectangular opening in a side view into which a cylindrical body of semi-molten metal can be introduced. A guide conduit for the cylindrical body connected to the opening and extending in an obliquely upward direction; receiving the cylindrical body dropped and discharged from the tilted holding container at the top of the guide conduit; and An apparatus for forming a semi-molten metal, comprising a cylindrical receiving device for guiding a cylindrical body to a guide conduit. 2. The cylindrical body receiving device according to claim 1, wherein a substantially semi-cylindrical receiving container is disposed at the distal end of the guide conduit so as to be rotatable in the axial direction and rotatable around the horizontal axis. Equipment for forming semi-molten metal. 3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein an articulated robot having at least four-dimensional degrees of freedom is used for the transfer means and the tilting means of the holding container.