Extrusion Die Pre-Heating System, Apparatus And Method

Abstract

A die pre-heating system comprises at least one die oven, a robotic hoist and processing structure in communication with the hoist and the at least one die oven. The processing structure is configured to control the hoist to permit an extrusion die to be loaded into the at least one die oven and to be unloaded from the at least one die oven. The processing structure is also configured to cause the at least one die oven to operate according to a production formula for pre-heating an extrusion die loaded therein.

1 . A die pre-heating system comprising:
 at least one die oven;   a robotic hoist; and   processing structure in communication with the hoist and said at least one die oven, the processing structure being configured to control the hoist to permit an extrusion die to be loaded into the at least one die oven and to be unloaded from the at least one die oven, the processing structure also being configured to cause the at least one die oven to operate according to a production formula for pre-heating an extrusion die loaded therein.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one die oven comprises a plurality of die ovens. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein each die oven comprises a housing, a lid on the housing and an actuator in communication with the processing structure, the actuator being responsive to the processing structure to open and close the lid to permit the robotic hoist to place an extrusion die into the die oven or to remove an extrusion die from the die oven. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein said robotic hoist is an overhead robotic hoist responsive to said processing structure and comprising a lifting mechanism positionable over each of said die ovens. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4  wherein each extrusion die is supported on a die cradle and wherein said lifting mechanism is configured to engage said die cradle. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5  wherein said lifting mechanism is moveable along three generally orthogonal axes. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6  wherein said overhead robotic hoist comprises a at least one longitudinally extending first rail, a first trolley moveable along said first rail and supporting a second rail, said second rail being generally orthogonal to said first rail, and a second trolley moveable along said second rail, said lifting mechanism being mounted on said second trolley and moveable generally vertically. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7  wherein said first and second trolleys and said lifting mechanism are motor driven. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 4  further comprising a scheduling zone accommodating die cradles supporting extrusion dies, said robotic hoist being responsive to said processing structure to remove a die cradle from said scheduling zone for delivery to a pre-heated die oven. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9  further comprising a die cradle transport mechanism, said robotic hoist being responsive to said processing structure to remove a die cradle carrying a pre-heated extrusion die from a die oven for delivery to said die cradle transport mechanism. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10  wherein said die ovens are arranged in spaced groups and wherein said scheduling zone and cradle transport mechanism are positioned between said die oven groups. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 1  wherein a production formula is assigned to each extrusion die to be pre-heated and wherein said production formula specifies a pre-heat temperature for a selected die oven prior to extrusion die placement therein 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12  wherein said production formula further specifies the duration the extrusion die is to spend in said selected pre-heated die oven. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the extrusion die is a metal extrusion die. 
     
     
         15 . A method for pre-heating an extrusion die comprising:
 inputting die identity information into processing structure, the processing structure being in communication with at least one die oven and with a robotic hoist;   associating a production formula with the die identity information;   directing, by the processing structure, said at least one die oven to pre-heat to a set temperature specified by the production formula; and   directing, by the processing structure, the robotic hoist to load an extrusion die into the pre-heated at least one die oven for pre-heating the extrusion die.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 directing, by the processing structure, the robotic hoist to unload the extrusion die from the at least one die oven at a time specified by the production formula.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 directing, by the processing structure, the robotic hoist to unload the extrusion die from the at least one die oven at a time specified by the production formula and upon receipt of operator input.   
     
     
         18 . A die pre-heating apparatus comprising:
 a plurality of die ovens, each die oven being configured to pre-heat an extrusion die placed therein; and   an overhead robotic hoist, said robotic hoist being configured to load and unload extrusion dies into and from said die ovens and to deliver pre-heated extrusion dies to an unloading zone.   
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein each die oven comprises a housing, a lid on the housing and an actuator, the actuator being acuable to open and close the lid to permit the robotic hoist to place or remove an extrusion die into or from the die oven. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein said robotic hoist is an overhead robotic hoist comprising a lifting mechanism positionable over each of said die ovens. 
     
     
         21 . The apparatus of  claim 20  wherein each extrusion die is supported on a die cradle and wherein said lifting mechanism is configured to engage said die cradle. 
     
     
         22 . The apparatus of  claim 21  wherein said lifting mechanism is moveable along three generally orthogonal axes. 
     
     
         23 . The apparatus of  claim 22  wherein said overhead robotic hoist comprises at least one longitudinally extending first rail, a first trolley moveable along said first rail and supporting a second rail, said second rail being generally orthogonal to said first rail, and a second trolley moveable along said second rail, said lifting mechanism being mounted on said second trolley and moveable generally vertically. 
     
     
         24 . The apparatus of  claim 23  wherein said first and second trolleys and said lifting mechanism are motor driven. 
     
     
         25 . The apparatus of  claim 20  further comprising a scheduling zone accommodating die cradles supporting extrusion dies, said robotic hoist being actuable to remove a die cradle from said scheduling zone for delivering to a pre-heated die oven. 
     
     
         26 . The apparatus of  claim 25  further comprising a die cradle transport mechanism, said robotic hoist being actuable to remove a die cradle carrying a pre-heated extrusion die from a die oven for delivery to said die cradle transport mechanism. 
     
     
         27 . The apparatus of  claim 26  wherein said die ovens are arranged in spaced groups and wherein said scheduling zone and cradle transport mechanism are positioned between said die oven groups.