Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
1054774
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed to a device for
moving items in a production operation, such as in a molding
operation, where the device includes a mechanism for moving
items to be produced or elements used in the production operation
between working stations. The mechanism extends vertically and
in addition to rotation about its vertical axis, can be moved
upwardly and downwardly in carrying out the moving operations.
In particular, the invention is directed to a molding operation
for moving mold boxes from a conveyor device to a pattern device
and, after the molding op ration, moving a molded item from the
pattern device to a conveyor.
Molding equipment including a mechanically driven
intermittently rotatable turntable which supports at least two
pattern devices is known from Swiss Patent 318,528. In such
equipment, mechanisms are arranged to be swung-in over the
turntable and include controllable elements in operative
connection with the turntable. Such mechanisms include elements
for engaging mold boxes, for lifting and turning the boxes and,
after the boxes have been usedf for lifting and removing them.
Of necessity, in such molding equipment, heavy turntables
are used which weigh in the range of 15 to 30 tons in the
usual case. An extremely powerful rotary drive is required to
effect the rapid rotation of the turntable and to effect the
1054774
the precise positioning of the heavy masses being moved in the
different working stations. As a result, a very great backlash
is experienced in such equipment. In the molding operation
there is the preliminary compression by vibrating or shaking
and a final compression by a jolt squeezing operation. These
steps are carried out at the same time that the molded parts
are being lifted from the pattern device and, as a result,
it is not possible without special measures to lift a molded
part properly from the pattern device without damaging it. To
improve the lifting process, additional brakes have been used
which act both on the rotary movement of the turntable and on
the elevating and turning mechanisms in the stationary position
of the turntable. These brakes are provided to prevent rotary
movement during the lifting of a molded part from the pattern
device. ~owever, up to the present time, it has not been possible
to preventmutu~ rotation of the turntable with the elevating
and rotating mechanism during the lifting of a molded part from
the pattern device to such an extent that a molded part can
be lifted without any problems.
Moreover, it has not been possible up to the present
to design the elevating and turning mechanism so that the
elastic deformation of the lifting piston and the projecting
arms which carry the clamps for engaging the molded parts, is
kept within narrow limits so that they do not interfere with
the li ing of the lded par om the pattern device.
1054'~74
Because of the disadvantages mentioned above, on one
hand, the tightening of the patterns does not drop below a
certain value and the sharp edges required for a molded part
in many molding operations cannot be achieved.
Sl~MMARY OF THE INVENTION
Therefore, a primary object of the present invention
involves the provision of a mechanism for lifting molded parts
from a pattern device so that foreign influences such as
vibrations for horizontal or tilting movements of the pattern
device or the molded part do not interfere with the initial
phase of the lifting operation.
Another object of the invention is to perform the
lifting step so that the lifting mechanism experiences only
fractions of the elastic deformation of the equipment previously
1~ used for such operations.
Still another object of the invention is to simplify
the equipment required by using a single elevating and turning
mechanism instead of two separate mechanisms as used in the
past,for depositing mold boxes on the pattern device and for
lifting the molded parts from the pattern device.
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A further object of the invention is to simplify the
molding equipment, making it more economical, by using a single
conveyor device for feeding the mold boxes and for removing
the molded parts, instead of the two separate conveyor devices
which have been used in the past.
In accordance with the present invention, the problems
previously experienced are overcome by combining an elevating
or lifting mechanism with the turning mechanism. The lifting
mechanism supports or carries two oppositely extending members
or frames which include control means for releasably engaging
mold boxes and molded parts. A controlled drive is operatively
connected with the turning or rotating mechanism so that the
mechanism can be turned through 180 with controlled acceleration
into the working stations of the molding operation. Accordingly,
with this equipment, a mold box can be gripped and lifted from
a conveyor device by one part of the carrying member while a
molded part positioned in a pattern device on a support is
gripped and lifted by the other part of the carrying member
so that the mold box can be moved to the pattern device and
the molded part can be placed on the conveyor device after the
turning mechanism has moved through half of a complete turn.
Since, in accordance with the present invention, the
pattern device rests on a support independent of the shaking
and squeezing devices and of the other moving parts, and because
the combined rotating and lifting mechanism has no direct contact
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with other mechanisms during operation, disturbing influences
are avoided which would disadvantageously affect the molding
operation.
In accordance with the invention, the means projecting
from the carrying member which has control means for engaging
the mold boxes or molded parts, is much smaller because it has
only to reach over the pattern device and not over a molding
machine including a turntable. Furthermore, the moments of
force developed by the clamping members used for engaging and
lifting the mold boxes and the molded parts cancel each other
out to a great extent. Both of these influences provided by
the invention reduce the elastic deformation of the lifting
and rotating mechanism to fractions of the deformation experienced
in previously known devices and, thus, improve the lifting and
turning process considerably. In known molding equipment a
separate lifting and turning mechanism was required for placing
the mold boxes on the pattern device and for lifting the molded
parts from the pattern device, however, in the present invention
a single lifting and turning mechanism is used. Further, in
known molding equipment, two separate conveyor devices were
required, one for supplying the mold boxes and another for
removing the mold boxes. In the present invention, the supply
and removal of the mold boxes and the molded parts are carried
out using the same conveyor device.
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In automatic molding equipment it is customary to
keep the guide dowels of the pattern device and of the mold box
short, both for the round guiding dowels and for the flat
dowels in the guide, so that canting of the dowel guide during
the deposit of a mold box or removal of a molded part can be
avoided. Furthermore, it was found that a molded part with a
sharp edge can be lifted with known pendulum suspensions on a
U-frame carrying the gripping members. However, the present
invention affords a similar function for gripping the mold boxes
or the molded parts for movement onto or from the pattern device
even for sharp-edged molded parts where narrow tolerances are
provided for long guide dowels. In the present invention,
clamping means are used for gripping and lifting the members to
be moved and they are arranged for horizontal movement to the
required extent and employ controllable bolts with conical or
wedqe-shaped ends which can retain the clamping means in a
predetermined horizontal position. Therefore,it it possible to
use rigidly mounted clamping means secured by the controllable
bolts during the gripping, lifting and turning of the mold boxes
or molded parts and the clamping means are released only when
the mold boxes or the molded parts are finally positioned in
the working station to which they are moved as determined in
the horizontal direction by the dowel guide of the pattern device.
1054 774
According to United States patent 4,077,461,
molding equipment is known in which molds can be compressed
by simultaneous free-fall jarring and squeezing and which use
a frame that is attachable to the mold box. To enable the
frame to be lifted from or to be deposited on the mold box,
additional controllable clamping means can be provided, in
accordance with the invention, for releasably engaging the
frame to the mold box. This solution has the advantage that
frames can be attached to the mold boxes without any special
devices which is an excellent expedient for equallizing the
compression within the mold.
Another feature of the invention is the ability
of the clamping means to lift the frame a given distance off
the mold box before the box is engaged. Since there are differences
in the height of the mold boxes, due to the fact that these
boxes must be ground periodically on their top and bottom
sides, it does not cause any difficulty in the lifting of the
frame before it is engaged.
In accordance with the present invention, con-
trolled gripping means can be provided for releasably engagingone or a number of parts for placement on or lifting from the
pattern device, for example, top sprue patterns, journals for
ventilation, and the like. This arrangement replaces the
special mechanisms required in known automatic molding equipment
using intermittently rotatable turntables.
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1054774
Still another feature of the invention is the provision
of a damper in operative communication with the lifting mechanism
which stops both the lifting and lowering movement in predeterminec
positions with predetermined accelerationO This arrangement
has the advantage over solutions used in the past in that the
same damper construction can stop both the lifting and lowering
movements in certain positions and with a certain acceleration
and the damper is constructed to be completely protected against
fouling by sand or dust so that it always works reliably.
In accordance with the present invention, the drive
for the turning or rotating mechanism includes a crank gear
which effects rotation through half of a complete revolution,
that is, through 180,and the gear is connected over a connecting
rod to a toothed segment which, in turn, is in meshed engagement
with a gear wheel positioned on the turning mechanism. This
arrangement has the advantage over the lifting and turning
device disclosed in Swiss Patent No. 318,528 in that the
rotary disks for supplying the electrical lines are eliminated.
Furthenmore, the drive for the turning mechanism can be constructe~
in a small space without any difficulties so that it is completely
protected against contamination and runs in an oil bath. Another
feature of the present invention is the provision of elastic
means asserting a force in the tangential direction on the
turning mechanism when it is in a stationary position and during
the complete period when the mechanism is being rotated. In other
words, the elastic means acts continuously on the turning mechanis
~ 10~4774
in both of its rotational directions and also when the mechanism
is at a standstill. With this arrangement gear clearance is
eliminated and, in addition, there is a reduction in the driving
movement and also a reduction in the size of the driving gear
and the other gear parts.
Another improvement is the arrangement for retaining
the pattern device on a support which prevents the lifting of
the pattern device from its support at the start of the lifting
process and permits the molded part to be lifted from the
pattern device though the device is low in weight and the molded
part may be difficu,lt to lift.
Another feature of the invention is the provision of
air supply lines connected to the support for the pattern
device which provide compressed air, vacuum conditions or
atmospheric air to the support. A control valve is positioned
in the line connected to the support to provide the desired
regulation. With this arrangement there is not only the advantage
that the pattern device is firmly retained on the support, but
that the support is completely cleaned by a flow of compressed
air before the pattern device is attached in each instance.
The various features of novelty which characterize the
invention are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed
to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better under-
standing of the invention, its operating advantages and specific
objects attained by its use, reference should be had to the accom-
panying drawings and descriptive matter in which there is illus-
trated and described a preferred embodiment of the invention.
.
1054'774
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
In the drawings:
Fig. 1 is a schematic plan view of an equipment set up
for molding parts including a lifting and turning mechanism,
in accordance with the present invention, and conveyors for
supplying and removing mold boxes and molded parts;
,
Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view of the lifting
and turning mechanism taken along line II-II in Fig. 3;
Fig. 2a is an enlarged partial sectional view of the
mechanism illustrated in Fig. 2 and designated by the reference
character D;
Fig. 3 is a top view, partly in section, of the drive
for the turning mechanism taken along line III-III in Fig. 2
with the cover 32 removed;
Fig. 4 is a partial top view, taken in the direction A
in Fig. 2 of the top part of the elevating mechanism taken along
the line IV-IV in Fig. 5 with a portion of the elevating mechanism
removed for illustrating the means for engaging a mold box;
Fig. 5 is an elevational view of a portion of the
mechanism shown in Fig. 4 and taken in the direction of B in Fig.4
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Fig. 6 is a horizontal sectional view taken along the
line VI-VI in Fig. 2;
Fig. 7 is a sectional view taken along the line VII-VII
in Fig. 8;
Fig. 8 is a sectional view taken along the line VIII-VIII
in Fig. 6;
Fig. 9 is a sectional view taken along the line IX-IX
in Fig. 4;
Fig. 10 is an enlarged detail view of the portion of
Fig. 8 identified by reference numeral 95;
Fig. 11 is an enlarged detail ~iew of the portion of
Fig. 8 identified by the reference numeral 96;
Fig. 12 is an enlarged sectional view of a portion of
Fig. 8 identified by the reference numerals 97, 98;
Fig. 13 is a plan view taken in the direction of the
arrow A in Fig. 2 of another embodiment of the part illustrated;
Fig. 14 is a sectional view taken along the line XIV-XIV
in Fig. 5 and through the bolt 149 shown in Fig. 4; and
Figs. 15a, 15b and 15c each contain a schematic
illustration of a portion of the equipment shown in Fig. 5.
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1054774
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
In Fig. 1 a schematic arrangement of molding equipment
is illustrated consisting of a molding machine 1, a pattern
device 2 and a conveyor device 3 on which the pattern device
can be moved from the position 4 into the molding machine
and then back into the position 4. In Fig. 5, as well as in
Fig. 1, a molded part 5 is shown positioned on the pattern device
which, in turn, bears on a support 6. The support 6 rests on
columns 7 on a foundation, not shown, which preferably is
separate from the foundation for the molding machine 1. A lifting
and turning device 8 is located between and extends over
conveyor 3 and another conveyor 9 positioned on a foundation 30,
note Fig. 2, which is independent of the other devices. Mold
boxes 10 are positioned on the conveyor 9 for movement in the
direction of arrow 11 from an unpacking station (not shown) into
a position 12 located under the device 8. However, the conveyor 9
can also be used to remove molded parts 4 in the direction of
the arrow 13 after they have been moved from the pattern device
~nto the conveyor 9.
In Fig. 5 and in the schematic representations of
Figs. 15a, 15b and 15c, a compressed air line 15 is connected to
a controllable angle check valve 16 and a controllable 3-way
valve 17 is connected over a line 20 to the check valve. Further,
.1~
1054774
an exhaust line 21 is connected to the 3-way valve and the
connecting line 22 extends between the 3-way valve and a vacuum
tank (not shown). This arrangement of valves and lines operates
in the following manner:
Normally, the check valve 16 and the 3-way valve 17
are set as shown in Fig. 15a so that the line 18 extending to
the support 6 is connected via check valve 16 and connecting
line 20 with the exhaust line 21 with atmospheric conditions
present in the line 18. If a pattern device 2 with a molded
part 5 and the other parts thereon is moved from the molding
machine 1 into position 4, the check valve 16 is positioned, as
shown in Fig. 15b, so that compressed air is applied to the
upper side 19 of support 6 with the upper side being cleaned
before the pattern device is attached to it. Immediately after
the cleaning operation, the upper side 19 of the support 6 is
connected with the vacuum tank (not shown) by positioning the
check valve 16 and the 3-way valve 17 as shown in Fig. 15c
as the pattern device is lowered onto the support 6 and presses
downwardly on the support. Packing 23 is provided on the
undersurface of the pattern device 2 and effects a seal with the
upper side 19 of the support. The undersurface of the pattern
device is provided with recesses or gaps 24 separated by supportin~
surfaces 25. However, the present invention is not limited to
the arrangement of the support 6 as shown in the drawing, this
arrangement is shown by way of example. Support 6 can also be
cleaned by brushes or strippers attached to the pattern device
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10547'74
before the pattern device is placed in contact with the support 6.
~urthermore, the pattern device 2, if it is low in weight, can
be retained on the support by means of clamps when a molded part 5
is lifted off the pattern device 2.
In Figs. 2 and 3, the foundation 30 provides the support
for the lifting and turning device 8. A housing 31, partly
covered by a cover member 32, carries an upwardly extending
housing part 33 rigidly connected to the housing. The housing
part 33, note also Fig. 6, has openings which are closed in a
dustproof manner by covers 36, 37 and 38. Within the housing
part 33, a rotary member 35 is mounted on bearings 34, 3g. The
rotary member 35 is rigidly connected with a cover 40 which bears
on a race 41 in cover 42 which is rigidly secured to the housing 3 .
A horizontally disposed gear wheel 43, note Figs. 2 and 3, is
secured to the rotary part 35 and is in meshed engagement with
a toothed segment 34 mounted in a known manner on a journal 45.
The toothed segment 44 has a lug 46 attached via a bolt 47 and
a connecting rod 48 to a crank 49 of a motor gear 50. A motor 51
and a brake 52 are connected to the motor gear. Positioned on
the rotary member 35 is a bolt 53 which carries a roller 54. A
compressed air cylinder 55 is rigidly attached to a housing flange
57 and another compressed air cylinder 56 is similarly attached
to another housing flange 58. The housing flanges 57,58 are
attached to the housing 31 and are spaced apart about the housing.
1054774
When crank 49 turns from position 59, shown in full line in
Fig. 3 to position 60,shown in broken line in Fig. 3, the
toothed segment moves from position 61, shown in full lines,
to position 62shown in broken lines and moves the roller 54,
secured onto the rotary member 35, from position 63, shown in
full lines, into position 64 shown in broken lines. At the
commencement of the rotation of the rotary member 35, roller 54
and connecting rod 65 of the compressed air cylinder 55, which
is under constant pressure in the direction of the arrow 139
over the stroke of the compressed air cylinder 55, constantly
presses the rod 65 against roller 54 and, thus, relieves the
drive of the turning mechanism. Toward the completion of the
rotary movement, roller 54 contacts and presses piston
rod 66 of the compressed air cylinder 56 into the cylinder, and
a part of the kinetic energy of the rotary member 35 and of the
parts connected to it is taken up by the rod 66 and, thus,
relieves the rotary drive toward the end of the rotation operation
Since both of the compressed air cylinders 55, 56 are under
constant pressure they ellminate the entire motor clearance in
the positions 63,64 of the roller 54. Other members can be
used in place of the compressed air cylinders 55, 56, for
example, air springs or wire springs. However, the compressed
air cylinders have the advantage that the piston pressure remains
constant over the entire path, in contrast to the springs.
lQ54'774
As can be noted in Fig. 2, the rotary member 35 has
a two-part sealing ring 67 which is attached to the part and
prevents the penetration of dust into the bearing 34. Vertically
extending and aligned bores 68,69 guide the vertically arranged
tubular member 70. Member 70 has a piston 71 and piston rings 72
at its lower end, note Fig. 2a. Piston 71 is secured against
displacement by a cover 73 secured on member 70. Member 70 is
displaceable from a lower position 74,75, note Figs. 2 and 8,
into an upper position 76, 77. In the lower position 74, 75,
the weight of member 70 as well as that of the parts connected to
it, bears on cover 73, cover 78, cover 40 and race 41 of cover 42,
which is rigidly connected with the housing 31. The vertical
movement of the member 70 is limited between its upper and lower
positions by a damper 79, described below. Member 70 is rigidly
connected with a beam 82 on which a roller 80 is supported and
the roller is guided in a guide 81 and secures member 70 against
rotation in any lifted position relative to the rotary part 35
in which the guide 81 is formed.
As can be seen best in Fig. 8, the damper 79 is secured
on a surface 83 to the rotary members 35. The damper 79 consists
of a base plate 84, a vertically extending cylinder 85 projecting
upwardly from the base plate, a cover 86 forming a closure for
the upper end of the cylinder so that the combination of the
base plate, cylinder and cover form an oil or hydraulic vessel. Th ,
cover 86 has a bore or guide 87 extending upwardly through it.
105~'774
The base plate 84, cylinder 85 and cover 86 are rigidly connected
to one another and sealed in a known manner. The interior of
cylinder 85 forms a bore 88 in which a piston 89 is vertically
displaceable. A piston rod 90 is connected to the upper end of
the piston 89 and extends outwardly from the cylinder through
guide 87 in the cover 86. As shown in Fig. 8, the damper 79 is
an annular vessel filled with hydraulic fluid up to a level 91
with bores 92 arranged so that fastening screws 93, extending
through the cover 86 into the walls of the cylinder 85, can be
tightened or loosened and, at the same time, permit the flow of
air between the space 94 above the level 91 and the space
surrounding the exterior of the damper. Valve 95 in Fig. 10,
valve 96 in Fig. 11, and valves 97 and 98 in Fig. 12 are
represented on an enlarged scale. The design and operation of
these valves is described below.
A bush 99 laterally encloses the piston rod 90 above
the damper 79 and a damping body 100 encircles a lower portion
of the bush. Another hush 101 is located about the bush 99
outwardly of the damping body and extends upwardly for a portion
of the height of the bush 99. Still another bush 102 extends
upwardly from the upper end of the bush 101 spaced radially
outwardly from the upper end of the piston rod 90 with a damping
body 103 located between the bush 102 and the inner bush 99.
A nut 104 is threaded onto the upper end of the piston rod 90
and secures the bush 99, damping body 100, bush 101, bush 102,
d d~mping bod~ 103 ~gainst s shoulder 105 on the piston rod 90.
1054'774
An annular disk 106 is secured against the upper surface of the
nut 104 by a check nut 107.
Just above the damper 79 in Fig. 8 is a support 108
secured to member 70 by screws 109 and extending outwardly with
a flange 111 having a bore 110 encircling the bush 101 so that
the flange 111 can move with the support over the exterior of
the structure enclosing the upper portion of the piston rod 90.
In position 75, the bore 110 in flange 111 of support 108 laterall
surrounds the piston rod 90 immediately above the damper 79.
When member 70 moves downwardly from the position 77 of the
support 108, the lower surface of the flange 111 bears against
the surface 112 which extends radially outwardly at the lower
end of the bush 101. As the flange 111 contacts the surface 112,
it presses the piston 89 downwardly from the upper position it
assumes with the piston rod 90 until it reaches the position
shown in full lines in Fig. 8. Position 75 of the support 108
in Fig. 8 is identical to position 74 shown in Fig. 2 and the
member 70 is in its lower position with its cover 73 bearing on
the cover 78. If member 70 is lifted from position 75 into
position 77, as the support moves upwardly around the piston
rod 90, the flange 111 finally comes into contact with the
surface 113 on the lower surface of intermediate disk 106 and
lifts the piston rod 90 and piston 89 into position 77 indicated
by broken lines until the upper face 114 on the piston bears
against the oppositely disposed face of the cover 86.
1054'774
When member 70 moves downwardly from position 77 to
position 75, piston 89 and the parts connected to it tend to
follow the lowering movement. To prevent the downward movement
of the piston 89, a flat spring 115 is secured to the rotary
member 35 by means of a pressure plate 116 and screws 117. In
the position 77 of the piston 89-piston rod 90 the flat spring 115
bears against the surface of the intermediate disk 106 and holds
the piston-piston rod in the upper raised position until the
flange 111 on the support 108 contacts the surface 112. Such
contact causes the flat spring 115 to release the intermediate
disk so that the piston-piston rod commences its downward movement
The flat spring 115 provides a lock which insures the satisfactory
operation of the damper during the lowering movement.
When the piston 89-piston rod 90 rises upwardly from
position 75 represented in solid lines into the position 77
represented in broken lines, spring 118, note Fig. 12, presses
valve disk 119 against the surface 120 and prevents the fluid
contained in space 121 from flowing through bore 22. At the
same time, valve disk 123, note Fig. 10, bearing on surface 124
prevents the hydraulic fluid from flowing from space 121 through
bore 125. Accordingly, the hydraulic fluid is forced to flow
through channel 126 which diminishes in its cross section with
the square of the stroke of the piston 89. Member 70 is braked
with a constant force as soon as flange 111 contacts the lower
surface 113 of the upper end of bush 102, until it reaches the
position 77. Position 77 is secured by contact of the piston
105~'774
face 114 bearing against the downwardly facing surface of the
cover 86. During the lifting movement the hydraulic fluid can
flow undisturbed from space 127 through bore 128, channels 129,
and bore 130 into space 134, since the valve disk 135 is lifted
by the flow of the hydraulic fluid. Since the annular surface
definingSpace 21 is smaller than the full circular surface
definingspace 134, hydraulic fluid flows at the same time during
the lifting movement from space 94 through channels 133, 132
and space 131 then through bores 137, 138 into the space 134.
If part 70 moves downwardly from position 77 into positio
75, piston 89-piston rod 90 is held by flat spring 115 in the
position 77 until the flange 111 on the support 108 contacts the
surface 112. Subsequently, as the piston 89 is lowered, valve
disk 135 closes bore 128 and valve disk 136 closes bore 137.
Therefore, the hydraulic fluid in space 134 is forced to flow
from the space 134 into space 137 through channel 126, whose
cross section narrows with the square of the lowering movement
of piston 89. At the same time the hydraulic fluid can flow
out from space 121 and the small amount of excess hydraulic
fluid obtained during the stroke can flow off through bore 125
into space 94 by slightly lifting valve disk 123. An advantage
of damper 79 is that the downward movement has displaced a
larger amount of oil than the lifting movement and, thus, partly
balances the accelerating effect of the weight of the downwardly
moving parts relative to the decelerating effect during the
lifting movement.
1054774
At its upper end, member 70 is rigidly connected via
a flange 145 with a beam 140 and beams 141 and 144 extend
transversely of the member 70 from one side of beam 140 while
beams 142 and 143 extend transversely of the part 70 from the
other side of the beam 140. Beams 140-144 are designed as
bending -torsion-resistant hollow bodies having a rectangular
cross section. Member 70 is secured to a protective pipe 146
which protects bore 69 against fouling and moves upwardly and
downwardly with the member 70.
Figs. 2, 4 and 5 show the structure used for clamping
the mold boxes or the mold parts. For clarity's sake,in Fig. 4
beam 144 is cut away and in Fig. 5 the parts secured on the top
side are cut off along the line IV-IV. In Fig. 4,a clamping
device 147 is provided for engaging a mold box or a molded part.
The clamping flevice is arranged on beam 141, 142 and 143 as well
as on beam 144, however, for clarity's sake they are not shown
on all the beams. The clamping device corresponds to that
disclosed in Swiss Patent 308,042. In many years of use, the
clamping device has proved to be excellent. The clamping device
is mounted vertically on beam 144 free from play, but horizontally
displaceable by bolts 148, 149 which are rigidly connected to
thè part 150 which extends between the two bolts. This particular
type of support is illustrated in Fig. 14 which displays a
section through bolt 149 along the line XIV-XIV of Fig. 5. As
mentioned, bolt 149 is rigidly connected with part 150. Two
~ 1054'774
double-levers 153-154 are connected to the part 150. These
levers are pressed in a known manner against the surfaces 156,157
of the mold box or of the molded part by means of a controllable
cylinder 155. Since the manner in which the molded part 5 or
the mold box 6 are retained is already known from Swiss Patent
308,042, a detailed description is not provided here.
Bolts 148, 149, note Figs. 5 and 14, can be moved
horizontally according to the clearances 158, 159 as long as
the pistons 160 of the cylinders 164, 165 are lifted by spring 161
into position 162. If the cylinders 164, 165 receive compressed
air in a known manner, the pistons 160 and the piston rods 163
connected to them are moved downwardly toward the bolts 148, 149
and secure a predetermined center position of the bolts. Preferabl Y,
the center position of bolt 148 is secured by doweling the
mold box on a pattern device with round dowels while flat
dowels are used for the position of bolt 149. The present
invention has the advantage, as can be seen in Figs. 4, 5 and 14,
that the clamping device 147 is held extremely rigidly against
torsion bending in the position secured by the piston rods 163,
while they are easily displaceable in all directions of the
lifted positions of the piston rods 163. Therefore, the invention
permits, in contrast to known devices, a design of the beams 140-
144, as described above, as torsion-bending resistant tubular
members of rectangular cross section. The means for engaging and
releasing the mold boxes and molded parts are not confined to
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105477~ 1
double-levers and to clamps. These molding devices can also be
designed to engage the bottom of the mold boxes or molded parts
with specifically designed stops on the mold boxes or molded
parts to prevent them from any horizontal displacement. In Figs.4,
S 5 and 9 clamping devices 169,170 for lifting and engaging the
frames 166, 167 are shown. The frames are attached on the molded
part 5 or the mold box 168. A cylinder 171 is articulated to
levers 172 which are connected by bolts 173 to levers 174. By
operating the cylinders 177 the levers can be moved between the
positions 175 and 176. In Fig. 9, the frame 166 is lowered onto
the molded part 5. Frame 166 is released by the levers 174 which ¦
are in position 175. By actuating cylinder 171, lever 174 is
moved from position 175 to position 176 and the face 177 on the
lever contacts the face 178 on stop 179 rigidly fixed to the
frame 166. It will be noted that the face 178 is disposed
obliquely to the horizontal direction of the frame. The face 177
on the lever slides along the corresponding face 178 on the
stop and lifts the frame 166 into the position 180 designated
by broken lines. At the same time the levers clamp the frame 166.
If cylinder 171 is operated so that the levers 174 move or open
from position 176 to position 175, the levers 172 bear on stops
181,182 which are connected to the beam 144. The stops 181, 182
establish the open position 17S of the levers 174 at a predetermin~ ~d
distance from stop 179. Frames 166, 167 are secured in position
on the respective molded part 5 and mold box 10, 168 and are
secured in the horizontal position by round dowels 183, 185 and
flat dowels 184, 186. The dowel guides in the mold boxes and
molded parts are designed in a manner not shown, so that molding
1054774
sand can be emptied laterally to the outside. The solution
according to the invention has the advantage that the frame
166, 167 can be easily and simultaneously exchanged when the
patterns of the pattern device 2 are changed, if the pattern
volume does not change substantially, that is, if the frame is
adapted in its height and in its longitudinal profile to the
changed patterns.
In Figs. 4 and 5, a top sprue pattern 187 is
illustrated in accordance with Swiss patent 320,832 or U.S.
patent 3,970,138. By actuating cylinder 188, the levers 189
can be moved from a position 190 into another position 191.
The levers 189 are secured by bolts 192 to levers 193. In posi-
tion 190, shown in Fig. S, the levers 189 and the levers 193
engage the top sprue pattern 187 in a known manner. If the
levers 189 are moved from position 190 into position 191, by
actuating cylinders 188, the levers 193 release the top sprue
pattern 197. The ends of the bolts 192, to the extent that
they project over the inner surfaces of the mold box in plan view,
note 211, in Fig. 4, are designed as vertical flat sections
forming a rectangle which is stiffened by a vertical diagonally
extending flat section, so that sand falling through during
the filling of themold is not deflected. In accordance with
the present invention, it is possible to lift-all parts to be
attached on a pattern device, which parts must be removed again
after the molded parts are compressed.
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~' .
10547~4
In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Fig. 13,
used when large molds with several upper sprues 205 are produced
and the upper sprues, as is customary, extend transversely of
the longitudinal direction of the molded part 212. For the
sake of clarity, Fig. 13 shows only means for gripping and
releasing parts of the pattern device. The means for engaging
and releasing of the mold boxes, molded parts and frames corresponc
to those shown in Figs. 4, 5 and 14.
The beams 199, 200 and 201 are connected by the flange 14
with member 70, as described above. Beams 202 and 203 are
attached on the beams 200, 201 and extend in generally parallel
relation with the beam 199. Screws 204 secure the beams 202 and
203 to beams 200, 201. This arrangement is necessary because
the beams 202, 203 are located directly above the attached frame.
lS The means for engaging and releasing the top sprue pattern 205
attached on the pattern device, that is, cylinder 206, lever 207,
bolt 208, and lever 209, are identical in their arrangement and
operation with the parts 188-193 shown in Fig. 5.
The lifting and turning or rotating mechanism of the
molding equipment embodying the invention~operates in the
following manner:
A finished, compressed molded part 5 is located
in position 4 on the pattern device 2 resting on support 6, note
Fig. 5. Frame 166 bears on the molded part 5 and top sprue patter l
is attached in a known manner on the pattern device 2. In additio 1,
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a mold box 10 rests on the conveyor device 9 opposite the position
4. Member 70 and its connected parts are in the lowered
position 74, 75. The clamping devices associated with the
molded part for engaging and releasing the molded part, for
engaging frame 166 and for engaging top sprue pattern 187 which
are connected with the beams 141 and 144, are in the open
positions 194, 175 and 191, respectively, note Figs. 5 and 9.
-The clamping devices 147 connected with the beams 142 and 143,
note Fig. 4, are in the open position 194. The clamping device
for engaging frame 167, connected with the beams 142 and 143,
holds frame 167 in the clamped position 176 and 180, respectively,
note Fig. 9. The means for clamping top sprue pattern 187
hold it in the lever position 190, according to Fig. 5.
By reversing cylinders 155, 171 and 188, the clamping
means connected with means 141 and 144 engage the molded part
5 and the associated frame 166, lifting it as well as top
sprue pattern 187 into position 180, note Fig. 9. At the
same time, by reversing cylinders 155 associated with beams 142,
143,the mold box 168 is also engaged. Line 195, note Fig. 2a,
is provided with compressed air through the valve, not shown.
The lifting member 70 and the parts connected with it, hence
also the molded part, frame 166, top sprue pattern 187, mold
box 10, 168, frame 167 and its top sprue pattern are lifted from
position 74,75 into position 76, 77. When member 70 has been
lifted until flange 111 on support 108 contacts the face 113 on
the bush 102 encircling the upper end of the piston rod 90,
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'~ 0547~7~
the piston rod and piston 89 are lifted. When flange 111
contacts the face 113, the damping body 103 contracts and thus
prevents flange 111 and face 113 from being damaged. When the
flange 111 contacts face 113, it lifts the bush 102 with the
parts connected to it, hence also the piston 89 of the damper 79
which moves from the position 196 shown in full lines to
position 197 shown in broken lines, decelerating with a constant
force the lifting velocity of the parts connected with member 70
through the distance between the two positions 196, 197 and
finally stopping the member 70 and the parts with it in the
position 197 which corresponds to positions 76,77. In position
197, flat spring 115 engages the intermediate disk 106 and
secures the lifted position of the piston 89-piston rod 90. In
this lifted position, the brake 52 is lifted. Motor Sl receives
current and turns the crank 49 by means of the motor gear from
position 59 to position 60. The toothed segment moves from
position 61 into position 62 and thus rotates the rotary member
35 via gear wheel 43 from position 63 in the direction of
arrow 39 into position 64. Beam 140 and the beams 141-144
connected to it as well as the mold box 10, 168, frame 166 and
sprue pattern 187 are turned in the direction of arrow 198,
see Fig. 4. When crank 49 reaches position 60, the electric
current to the motor is cut off in a known manner over a control
and the brake is placed in operation again.
~ 10~47~4
Lifting member 70 and parts connected with it are
then lowered from position 76, 77 into position 74, 75. During
the lowering movement, the cylinders 171 on the beams 142, 143
are reversed and the levers associated therewith are moved from
position 176 into position 175. Frame 167 moves from the lifted
position 180 on the mold box and is centered on the mold box by
the round dowel 185 and the flat dowel 186. When the flange 111
moving downwardly with the lifting member 70 contacts the face
112 at the lower end of bush 101, the damping body 100 contracts
at first and prevents flange 111 and face 112 from being damaged
and moves the parts connected with bush 101, hence the piston 89
and piston rod 90 of the damper rod,from position 197 into
position 196 braking the lowering movement in the above-described
manner. When cover 73 contacts cover 79, member 70 and the
parts connected with it stop in the lowered position 74. By
reversing cylinders 155, beams 141 and 144 and double-levers 153
and 154 move into position 194 and release the molded part which
rests on the conveyor device 9. At the same time, both the
double levers 153, 154 and the levers 193 for retaining top
sprue pattern 187 are opened by reversing the cylinders 155 and
188 associated with beams 142, 143 thus releasing the mold box 10
on the pattern device 2 with its frame 167 and top sprue pattern
187 attached to the pattern device. The reversal of the valve
in line 195 effects the lifting of member 70 from position 74 into
position 76 while the mold box 10, 168 and frame 167 attached to
it, as well as the top sprue pattern 187, remain on the pattern
device 2. At the same time the molded part remains on conveyor
1054774
device 9, frame 166 and top sprue pattern 187 are held in the
clamping means connected with the beams 142 and 143 and, as a
result, are lifted with the member 70.
While according to United States patent no.
4,077,461 the mold box attached on the pattern device with its
associated parts is filled with molding sand, the 3-way valve
17 and the angle check valve 16 are moved from the position
in Fig. 15c into the position in Fig. 15a so that the line
18 and the gap 24 are at zero pressure. The mold box 10 on
the pattern device 2 now filled with molding sand, is subsequently
compressed to the molded part according to the above-mentioned
United States patent no. 4,077,461 and returned with the pattern
device positioned over the support 6. At the same time, the
molded parts 14 and the mold boxes 10 on the conveyor 9 are
moved in the direction of the arrow 13 and a new mold box 10 ,
is moved into position 12. Shortly before the pattern device 2
and the parts associated with it are lowered, as described above,
the top surface 19 of support 6 is cleaned with compressed air.
While a specific embodiment of the invention
has been shown and described in detail to illustrate the
application of the inventive principles, it will be understood
that the invention may be embodied otherwise without departing from
such principles.
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