Injection molding system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10773435-B2
Application number	US-201615133301-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 20, 2016
Priority date	Apr 27, 2015
Publication date	Sep 15, 2020
Grant date	Sep 15, 2020

Abstract

In an injection molding system, a molded part transport apparatus and a worker share an area to perform cooperative work. When a molded part check mode is valid, conforming product identification inspection of a molded part is performed in an area where the worker works, and molded part sorting means sorts the molded part on the basis of a result of the inspection. As a result, the conforming product identification inspection of the molded part can be performed and the molded part can be sorted with the safety of the worker is maintained.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An injection molding system, comprising:
a molded part transport apparatus configured to transport a molded part after molding operation;
a controller configured to control the molded part transport apparatus; and
molded part sorting means for sorting the molded part,
wherein
the molded part transport apparatus and a worker share an area to perform cooperative work,
the molded part transport apparatus includes a plurality of force sensors,
in response to a value detected by any sensor of the plurality of force sensors exceeding a predetermined value, the controller is configured to control action of the molded part transport apparatus to decrease the value detected by said force sensor,
the injection molding system has a molded part check mode in which the molded part is inspected,
when the molded part check mode is valid,
conforming product identification inspection of the molded part is performed in a molded part inspection position, and
the molded part sorting means is configured to sort the molded part on the basis of a result of the conforming product identification inspection, and

in response to the result of the conforming product identification inspection, the controller is configured to control the molded part transport apparatus to be driven in an automated manner or in a semi-automated manner,
the injection molding system further comprising an injection molding machine, wherein
(1) in response to results of the conforming product identification inspection showing that molded parts are conforming products, the controller is configured to control the injection molding machine and the molded part sorting means to be driven in an automated manner for a predetermined period,
(2) in response to results of the conforming product identification inspection indicating that defective products are produced at a number not greater than a threshold, the controller is configured to control the injection molding machine to be driven in a semi-automated manner in which
the injection molding machine and the molded part sorting means are driven in an automated manner only for one cycle after the conforming product identification inspection, and
the molded part sorting means is driven not in the automated manner after the one cycle, and

(3) in response to results of the conforming product identification inspection indicating that defective products are produced at a number greater than the threshold, the controller is configured to control the injection molding machine and the molded part sorting means to be not driven in any of the automated and semi-automated manners.

2. The injection molding system according to claim 1 ,
wherein when the molded part check mode is not valid, the molded part transport apparatus is configured to transport the molded part without carrying the molded part to the molded part inspection position.

3. The injection molding system according to claim 1 , further comprising:
an inspection apparatus configured to perform the conforming product identification inspection of the molded part.

4. The injection molding system according to claim 1 ,
wherein the molded part transport apparatus is a robot.

5. The injection molding system according to claim 1 ,
wherein the conforming product identification inspection is performed on the basis of at least one of analysis of a captured image of the molded part or measurement of weight of the molded part, and whether the molded part is a conforming product or a defective product is determined on the basis of a preset threshold.

6. The injection molding system according to claim 1 ,
wherein, in response to an external force acting on a molded part gripper of the molded part transport apparatus, the controller is configured to control the molded part transport apparatus to move in a direction in which the external force acts.

7. The injection molding system according to claim 6 ,
wherein the molded part transport apparatus includes an operation section for changing an orientation and a position of the molded part gripper.

8. The injection molding system according to claim 1 ,
wherein the molded part transport apparatus includes conforming product identification result input means for allowing the worker to input a result of the conforming product identification inspection.

9. The injection molding system according to claim 8 ,
wherein in response to (1) an input, by the worker, of a result of the conforming product identification inspection to the conforming product identification result input means, and (2) an elapse of a predetermined period since said input of the result of the conforming product identification inspection, the molded part sorting means is configured to sort the molded part on the basis of the result of the conforming product identification inspection.

10. The injection molding system according to claim 6 ,
wherein the molded part transport apparatus includes
action restriction means for restricting action of the molded part transport apparatus but only allowing the molded part transport apparatus to move in the direction in which the external force acts, and
an action restriction switch that allows action performed by the action restriction means to be valid only while the worker presses the switch,

the molded part transport apparatus is configured to also operate as the molded part sorting means, and
in response to release of the action restriction switch by the worker, the molded part transport apparatus is configured to sort the molded part on the basis of the result of the conforming product identification inspection.

11. The injection molding system according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a centralized management system configured to
manage the injection molding machine and the molded part transport apparatus, and
evaluate whether the molded part is a conforming product or a defective product based on the result of the conforming product identification inspection.

Assignees

• Fanuc Corp

Inventors

• Ichihara Toshiaki
• Shiraishi Wataru

Classifications

• B29C45/7686 Primary

  the ejected articles, e.g. weight control · CPC title

• B29C2945/76464

  cameras · CPC title

• B29C45/84

  Safety devices {(B29C45/7626 takes precedence)} · CPC title

• B29C2945/7613

  Weight · CPC title

• B29C2945/7629

  Moulded articles · CPC title