EP0129370B1 - Automatic ladling apparatus - Google Patents

Automatic ladling apparatus Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0129370B1
EP0129370B1 EP19840303825 EP84303825A EP0129370B1 EP 0129370 B1 EP0129370 B1 EP 0129370B1 EP 19840303825 EP19840303825 EP 19840303825 EP 84303825 A EP84303825 A EP 84303825A EP 0129370 B1 EP0129370 B1 EP 0129370B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
dipper
ladle
link
pour
arm
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired
Application number
EP19840303825
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German (de)
English (en)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP0129370A1 (en
Inventor
Charles A. Burton
Peter Banovic
Ronald D. Shriver
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Rimrock Corp
Original Assignee
Rimrock Corp
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Priority claimed from US06/503,164 external-priority patent/US4516699A/en
Application filed by Rimrock Corp filed Critical Rimrock Corp
Publication of EP0129370A1 publication Critical patent/EP0129370A1/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0129370B1 publication Critical patent/EP0129370B1/en
Expired legal-status Critical Current

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    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B22—CASTING; POWDER METALLURGY
    • B22D—CASTING OF METALS; CASTING OF OTHER SUBSTANCES BY THE SAME PROCESSES OR DEVICES
    • B22D39/00—Equipment for supplying molten metal in rations
    • B22D39/02—Equipment for supplying molten metal in rations having means for controlling the amount of molten metal by volume
    • B22D39/026—Equipment for supplying molten metal in rations having means for controlling the amount of molten metal by volume using a ladler

Definitions

  • This invention relates to apparatus for transporting a charge of molten metal, such as aluminium, from a furnace to a casting means such as a die casting machine. More particularly, the invention relates to a ladling apparatus operative to mechanically receive a measured charge of molten metal from a holding furnace or crucible, transport it a desired distance, and pour it into the casting apparatus preparatory to the casting operation.
  • a ladling apparatus operative to mechanically receive a measured charge of molten metal from a holding furnace or crucible, transport it a desired distance, and pour it into the casting apparatus preparatory to the casting operation.
  • Automatic ladling devices generally comprise a conveyor mechanism with a ladle dipper attached thereto and adapted to be conveyed thereby between a crucible or furnace and a die casting machine.
  • the ladle dipper automatically descends into the furnace to draw a supply of molten metal and is then transported by the conveying mechanism from the furnace to the die casting machine, where the metal is poured into an appropriate receiver.
  • the apparatus disclosed in Australian Patent No. 472321 comprises a ladle dipper, a crankshaft journalled in a support assembly, drive means for turning said crankshaft in forward and reverse directions, a main link connected at one end for pivot movement about a main axis, a carrier link pivotally connected to the other end of said main link and adapted to support said ladle dipper at its outer end for pivotal movement relative thereto about a tilt axis parallel to said main axis, said main link and said carrier link being operable to transport said ladle dipper through a controlled path of travel between a fill position wherein said ladle dipper is lowered into a furnace reservoir to receive a charge of molten metal and a pour position wherein said ladle dipper is over said receiver for said casting means, and means for controlling the attitude of said ladle dipper relative to said tilt axis.
  • the main axis is that of the crankshaft and the main link is connected directly to the crankshaft for rotation thereby, and is pivotally connected to the carrier link intermediate its ends.
  • the controlled path of travel of the ladle dipper is determined by a guide slot in the support assembly which receives a roller mounted on the inner end of the carrier link.
  • the guide slot is shaped for a specific furnace and casting means, the apparatus requiring careful positioning and adjustment of heights and the like so that the path of travel of the ladle dipper is carefully matched to the furnace and the casting means.
  • the installation and adjustment are time-consuming operations and, once completed, are difficult to change. Often, however, due to changes in molds, furnaces, and the like in the casting facility, a change in position is necessary, all of which requires extensive adjustment of the ladling apparatus.
  • the crank arm and the generating arm are advantageously adapted primarily to greatly enlarge the path of motion generated by the generating arm.
  • the movement of the generating arm may be controlled in part by a rocking link pivotally connected at one end to the support assembly and at the other end to the generating arm intermediate its ends.
  • the drive means may include a Geneva motion mechanism which provides dwell periods at the respective ends of the path of travel of the ladle dipper.
  • the transfer links means may comprise two transfer links, one of which is connected between the main link and the generating arm and the other of which is connected at one end to the carrier link intermediate its ends and at the other end to the generator arm.
  • the control of the attitude or tilt of the ladle dipper may be accomplished by means of a chain and sprocket mechanism that extends through the main link and the carrier link and which is operatively associated with the crank arm that drives the generating arm and (through a cam mechanism) with the rocking link connected to the generating arm.
  • the ladle dipper is carried through a path oftravel that includes a generally horizontal span with the pouring performed at one end thereof and a downwardly curved generally vertical portion at the other end of the horizontal span wherein the ladle dipper is lowered into the molten metal contained in the furnace reservoir.
  • the control mechanism for the apparatus may include an abort system that operates in association with the ladle tilt control mechanism to pour molten metal from the ladle dipper back into the furnace whenever a "not-ready-to-pour" condition is sensed.
  • an apparatus for transporting a ladle dipper L adapted to contain a charge of molten metal, in a controlled path of travel between a furnace F and an appropriate receiver in a die casting machine D includes as basic components a pedestal assembly 10 that supports a drive assembly 30, which in turn operates a ladle transport assembly 50, and a ladle tilt assembly 100.
  • the pedestal assembly 10 includes a generally vertical base tube 11, an upper tube 12 slidably received in the base tube 11, and an adjusting cylinder 13 adapted to raise and lower the upper tube 12 relative to the base tube 11 for the purpose of adjusting the apparatus relative to the furnace height.
  • a support tube 14 connected to the upper tube by a pair of links 15 and 16 of unequal length and adapted to be adjusted vertically relative to the upper tube 12 by a pour position adjusting cylinder 17.
  • the lengths of the links 15 and 16 are so selected that as the height of the support tube 14 is changed relative to the upper tube 12, the main housing 20 tilts relative to the base tube 11, as illustrated in dashed lines in Fig. 1. Accordingly, when the ladle dipper L is supported in the receiving position relative to the furnace F, its position is relatively unchanged. On the other hand, the vertical position of the ladle dipper L relative to the receiver for the die casting machine D may be adjusted as necessary.
  • a threaded stop screw 18 may be tightened against the bottom of the main housing 20 to provide a positive stop.
  • the main housing 20 includes a pair of vertical, parallel side plates 22 and 23 (Fig. 8) located relative to one another by spacer plates 25 and 26.
  • the side plate 22 has a curved slot 24 formed therein for use in connection with the "not-ready-to-pour" abort system described below.
  • each of the side plates 22 and 23 has several corresponding bores formed therein for bearings in which the various shafts of the drive assembly 30 are journalled.
  • the drive assembly 30 includes a reversible DC motor 31 and an associated worm-type gear reduction unit 32 with an output shaft 33, as best illustrated in Fig. 8.
  • the shaft 33 has a pinion 34 that meshes with a large input gear 35 keyed to a shaft 36 journalled in the side plates 22 and 23 (Fig. 9).
  • Another pinion 37 is keyed to the shaft 36 between the plates 22 and 23 and meshes with a gear 38 that is keyed to a shaft 39 also journalled in the side plates 22 and 23.
  • the gear 38 carries a pair of laterally extending rollers 41 and 42 which form part of a Geneva motion mechanism that includes a Geneva gear segment 43 journalled on the shaft 36.
  • the Geneva gear segment 43 has a recessed portion cut therein that receives a plate 44 that defines a pair of slots 45 and 46 arranged perpendicularly to one another (Fig. 9).
  • the rollers 41 and 42 are received in the slots 45 and 46 to produce a Geneva type motion for the gear segment 43.
  • the teeth of the gear segment 43 engage a pinion 47 keyed to a crankshaft 48 journalled at its ends in the side plates 22 and 23.
  • the crankshaft 48 provides the drive for the ladle transport linkage which carries the ladle dipper L through its operating cycles.
  • the movement provided by the ladle transport assembly 50 is best illustrated in Figs. 1 and 3 through 6, wherein it will be seen that the path of movement (shown in dashed lines in Fig. 1) includes a generally horizontal span that extends to a pour position adjacent the die casting machine at one end and a downwardly curved, generally vertical portion wherein the ladle dipper L is dipped into the furnace at the opposite end or the right hand end as viewed in Fig. 1.
  • the assembly 50 includes a crank arm 51 keyed to the crankshaft 48 and pivotally connected at its outer end to a generating arm 52 by a pivot pin 53.
  • the shape of the generating arm is best shown in Fig. 9.
  • the movement of the motion generating arm 52 is controlled by both the crank 51 and a rocking link 54 which is pivotally supported on a shaft 55 journalled between the plates 22 and 23, and which is also pivotally connected to the motion generating arm 52 by means of a pivot pin 56.
  • the motion produced at the outer end of the motion generating arm 52, resulting from the movement of the crank 51 and rocking links 54 includes primarily horizontal and vertical components corresponding generally, but on a reduced scale, to the ladle movement illustrated in dashed lines in Fig. 1.
  • a helical counterbalance spring 57 is adapted to urge the rocking link 54 toward its upward position illustrated in Fig. 9.
  • the counterbalance spring 57 is mounted on a rod that extends between a lower support stud 58 mounted on the side plate 23 and a swivel pin 59 mounted on the rocking link 54.
  • the motion produced at the outer end of the motion generating arm 52 is transferred to another link assembly that includes a main link 60 pivotally connected to the main housing 20 for pivotal movement about a main axis defined by a pivot pin 61 and a carrier link 62 adapted to carry the ladle dipper L at its outer end and pivotally connected by a pivot pin 63 to the outer end of the main link 60.
  • the main link 60 and carrier link 62 are each connected to the lower end of the generating arm 52 by a pair of control links 64 and 65, respectively, with one end of each connected to one another and to the other end of the motion generating arm 52 by a pivot pin 66.
  • the opposite end of the link 64 is connected to a central portion of the main link 60 by a pivot pin 67 and the opposite end of the link 65 is pivotally connected to the mid-portion of the carrier link 62 by a pivot pin 68.
  • the ladle dipper L is supported at the outer end of the carrier link 62 by means of a ladle carriage assembly 70, best shown in Figs. 9 and 12.
  • the assembly includes a carrier housing 71 comprising side plates and end plates pressed together to form an enclosure and adapted to be connected to the end of the carrier link 62 by means of a threaded rod 72.
  • the inner end of the rod 72 is connected to a brace 73 centrally mounted in the carrier link 62 by means of a nut 74 (Fig. 9), and the outer end of the rod 72 is secured to the carrier housing 71 by means of a threaded insert 75.
  • This arrangement permits the ladle dipper L and ladle carriage assembly 70 to be removed from the apparatus quickly and conveniently by disconnecting the inner end of the threaded rod 72 by removing the nut 74.
  • a shaft 77 Journalled in the carrier housing 71 is a shaft 77, which defines the tilt axis of the ladle dipper L.
  • Shaft 77 has a bracket 78 secured to one end by a bolt 79 that extends axially through the shaft 77.
  • the bracket 78 is locked in place on the shaft by means of locater pins 81 and 82.
  • the bracket 78 is of a generally L-shaped configuration and the ladle dipper L is mounted thereto at the base of the "L" by means of a nut 83.
  • the ladle dipper L is of generally conventional design, and includes a pour spout 84 at one end and a fill slot 85 at the opposite side with a lip 86 extending outwardly along the upper part of the slot.
  • the carrier link 62 has a bracket 90 secured thereto adapted to carry three metal level sensing probes 91, 92, and 93 (Figs. 1 and 9) forming part of the control system for the apparatus, to be described in detail below.
  • the probes are lowered into the furnace coincidentally with the lowering of the ladle dipper L into the furnace to obtain a charge of molten metal.
  • the probes 91 and 92 each comprise electrical conductors capable of conducting low current and as they contact molten metal, an electrical connection is made between them. Accordingly, when they first reach the level of molten metal in the furnace 21, they provide an electrical signal that is used to halt the downward movement of the ladle dipper L in an appropriate position to begin drawing molten metal from the furnace.
  • the probe 93 is much shorter and is used to sense a "high metal level" condition in the furnace.
  • a ladle tilt assembly 100 is provided generally in association with the main link 60 and the carrier link 62.
  • the ladle tilt assembly 100 includes a sprocket 101 (Fig. 8) secured to a sleeve 102 that is pivotally received around the pin 61.
  • the sprocket 101 drives an endless roller chain 103 that extends from one end to the other of the main link 60 and drives another sprocket 104 secured to a sleeve 105 that is freely received over the pin 63 (Figs. 9 and 11).
  • Another sprocket 106 is secured to the sleeve 105 coaxially with the sprocket 104, and is adapted to drive another endless roller chain 107 which extends the length of the carrier link 62 to another sprocket 108 (Fig. 12) secured to the shaft 77 of the ladle carriage assembly 70.
  • the tilting movement of the ladle dipper L is controlled by rotation of the sprocket 101 and sleeve 102.
  • Such control is important during the movement of the ladle dipper between its fill and pour positions because of the varying changes in attitude of the carrier link 62, which moves between a generally vertical position shown in dashed lines in Fig. 1 and in solid lines in Fig. 4, and a generally horizontal position shown in solid lines in Figs. 1, 5, and 6.
  • crank arm 110 is also connected to the sleeve 102 for use in association with certain control linkage. The operation of which is coordinated with the movement of the ladle transport assembly 50.
  • a manual crank 111 is mounted on the outer end of the sleeve 102, as best shown in Fig. 7.
  • a lazy link 112 is connected by a pin 113 to the end of the crank arm 110, and by a pin 114 at its other end to an end of a cam link 115, which is freely pivoted on the shaft 48 (Figs. 9 and 14).
  • the lower end of the cam link 115 is urged in a counterclockwise direction, or to the right as viewed in Fig. 9, by a helical spring 116 which is connected between the pivot pin 114 and a mount 120 on the sideplate 22.
  • the counterclockwise movement of the cam link 115, and thus of the crank arm 110, is prevented, however, by a cam roller 121 mounted at the mid-portion of the rocking link 54.
  • the cam roller 121 engages a cam surface 118 (dashed lines in Fig.
  • the cam surface 118 is curved, with its radius of curvature centered at the axis of the pin 55 so that as long as the roller 121 engages the curved cam surface 118, there is essentially no movement of the cam link 115, and thus no movement of the sprocket 101 can occur.
  • the cam link 115 In order to tilt the ladle dipper forwardly for pouring, it will be noted that the cam link 115 must be pivoted about the shaft 48 in a clockwise direction to turn the sprocket 101 in a counterclockwise direction. This movement is provided by means of a dog carrier arm 122 secured to the shaft 48 for rotation with the crank arm 51.
  • the carrier arm 122 has a dog 123 at its outer end that is adapted to rotate to a position shown in Fig. 9, wherein it engages the cam link 115 and pivots it against the tension force of the spring 116 in a clockwise direction. This engagement occurs at the outer limits of the horizontal travel of the ladle dipper L or, in other words, as the ladle dipper approaches the die casting machine.
  • the dog 123 produces a progressive tilting of the ladle dipper simultaneously with the continued advance thereof so that the pour spout 84 of the ladle remains in approximately the same vertical line, even though the forward motion of the carrier arm 62 continues slowly. Then, as the motor 31 reverses to drive the crank arm 51 in a counterclockwise direction, the dog 123 also reverses and moves in a counterclockwise direction until the cam link 115 pivots back into engagement with the cam roller 121.
  • the mechanism 130 includes a carrier arm 131 which is attached to the same shaft 55 on which the rocking link 54 is pivoted.
  • the arm 131 is located on the outside of the sideplate 22, and it extends radially, parallel to the rocking link 54, the outer end of the arm 131 being positioned adjacent the curved slot 24 in the sideplate 22.
  • the mechanism includes a solenoid 132 mounted on the arm 131 and having a plunger 133 that is pivotally connected to a bell crank 134, which in turn is pivotally mounted by a pin 135 in a bifurcated bracket 136 secured to the arm 131.
  • the opposite end of the bell crank 134 has a roller 137 adapted to engage the outer end of a plunger 138 which extends slidably through a bearing assembly 139, and also into the slot 24.
  • the plunger 138 is urged to a retracted position by a helical return spring 141.
  • Another cam roller 140 is mounted on the end of the plunger 138, and is adapted to be moved thereby into an extended operating position.
  • the solenoid 132 is generally energized when the carrier arm 131 is pivoted in a clockwise direction from the position shown in solid lines in Figs. 9 and 15 to a position shown in dashed lines in Fig. 7 wherein the cam link 115 is pivoted counterclockwise to a limit position. Then, when the carrier arm 131 pivots back in a clockwise direction with the shaft 55, the roller 140 engages the cam surface 119 and causes the cam link 115 to pivot in a direction causing forward tilting (i.e., to a dumping position) of the ladle dipper L. This is accomplished when the ladle dipper is above the furnace F and causes the ladle dipper to pour molten metal contained therein back into the furnace.
  • a locking ring 142 is mounted on the plunger 138 at its forward end adjacent the cam roller 140 in order to positively lock the roller 140 in its extended position once it engages the cam surface 119.
  • the arm 131 is in approximately the position shown in dashed lines in Fig. 7.
  • the locking ring 142 slides behind a curved ledge 143 that extends into the curved slot 24.
  • the ledge 143 is best shown in Figs. 7 and 16.
  • the ledge blocks rearward movement of the ring 142 and prevents retraction of the plunger until the carrier arm swings back to the position shown in dashed lines in Fig. 7. In that position, the ladle dipper L would be over the furnace F.
  • the operation of the apparatus is generally controlled by components that include an encoder 150 operatively connected to the shaft 36, a limit switch 151 operated by a cam 152 carried on a pin 153 that extends radially through the outer end of the shaft 55, and a limit switch 156 operated by a cam 157 carried on the outer end of the shaft 39.
  • the location of these components is best shown in Fig. 7.
  • the limit switch 151 is actuated whenever the ladle dipper reaches a lower limit position in the furnace without having the probes 91 and 92 contact the molten metal.
  • the switch 156 is actuated when the ladle dipper approaches its pouring position to start a timer that initiates a "not-ready-to-pour" abort sequence whenever certain ready-to-pour signals are not received from the die casting machine D.
  • the automatic operating cycle of the apparatus is actuated by operating the motor 31 from a condition wherein the ladle dipper is located at an intermediate rest position.
  • the motor 31 operates in its reverse direction at a predetermined speed through the Geneva motion mechanism to turn the crank 51 in a counterclockwise direction so that the ladle transport assembly 50 retracts the ladle dipper L rearwardly and then in a downwardly curved path (Fig. 3) into the furnace F.
  • the ladle dipper L will halt its downward movement when a metal level signal is sensed by the probes 91 and 92.
  • a timer is actuated for an interval in which the DC motor 31 is halted to permit the ladle dipper L to fill with molten metal (Fig. 4).
  • the ladle dipper will be raised until all of the probes are out of the metal. Then, the motor will be operated again to lower the ladle dipper until the probes touch and the dipper-fill timer will be actuated again.
  • the motor 31 is operated in its forward direction and the ladle dipper L is raised to a spill-off position determined by a preset pulse count in the encoder 150 and held there until a spill-off timer times out. This permits excess molten metal to drop off back into the furnace.
  • the motor 31 When the timer times out, the motor 31 is operated in its forward direction again and the ladle dipper L is moved forward (Fig. 5) to the die casting machine D. At this time, the limit switch 156 is actuated by the cam 157 and the ladle dipper moves forward (Fig. 6) at a predetermined ready-to-pour speed. Normally, the control system will receive a signal from the die casting machine indicating that the dies are locked in a closed position and the injection plunger is retracted. If these signals are not received, the ladle dipper will stop and a "not-ready-to-pour" abort timer will start timing out.
  • the unit will go into a "pour-signal-not-received" abort sequence. If the die-locked plunger retract signals are broken while the ladle is pouring, the ladle dipper will stop and the abort timer will start timing again.
  • the ladle dipper Once the ladle dipper is pouring (Fig. 6), it will start moving forward at the first pour speed to the first pour position. Once it reaches the second pour position, it will change into the second pour speed and continue forward. Once it reaches the third pour position, it will change into the third pour speed and continue forward. The ladle will continue forward until the final pour position is reached, and at this time the unit will start retracting at the return-to-rest speed.
  • the respective abort cycle will begin.
  • the ladle dipper L will start retracting at a predetermined speed until it is returned to the furnace the probes touch the molten metal.
  • the dump solenoid 132 will be energized and the ladle will start forward.
  • the forward movement causes engagement between the cam roller 140 and the cam surface 119 of the cam link 115 to cause the dipper to tilt and pour the molten metal contained therein back into the furnace.
  • the dipper will be moved back to the rest position to await the next cycle-start signal.
  • the basic components of the control system for the apparatus A include an encoder 150 on the shaft 36, a limit switch 151 operated by a cam 152 carried on a pin 153 that extends radially through the shaft 55, and a limit switch 156 operated by a cam 157 carried on the outer end of the shaft 39.
  • the limit switch 151 is actuated whenever the ladle dipper reaches a lower limit position in the furnace.
  • the limit switch 156 is actuated when the ladle dipper approaches its pouring position.
  • the limit switches 151 and 156 are connected to a control unit 200 which controls the operation of the apparatus A.
  • the control unit 200 is also connected to the encoder 150 through a counter 202 and a comparator 203.
  • the control unit 200 operates in accordance with input control signals supplied from control switches 205-210.
  • the control unit 200 also receives interlock signals from the die casting machine D on lines 211-213. In accordance with these input signals, the control unit operates the apparatus A by controlling the operation of the motor 31 through a motor control circuit 215.
  • the control unit 200 is connected to the motor control circuit 215 by means of a three-bit line 216 which supplies the circuit 215 with data indicating at which of eight pre-adjusted speeds the motor 31 should be operated.
  • the circuit 215 selects one of the eight motor speeds which are preset by the speed control settings 220A-G. The selected speed is also fed to a speed indicator display 222.
  • the three-bit line 216 is capable of providing a signal designating one of eight different speed indications to the motor control circuit 215. These eight speed signals are represented in the following table:
  • the control unit 200 monitors the position of the ladle transport assembly and receives signals indicating that the transport assembly is at one of various programmable positions. These positions are determined using the encoder 150, the counter 202, and the comparator 203. As each position is desired, a binary number which is stored in the control unit 200 is fed into the counter 202. The counter 202 then counts down to zero as it is pulsed by the encoder 150 as the shaft 36 rotates. The output of the counter 202 is fed to the comparator 203 which compares the counter output to zero. When the output of the counter 202 is equal to zero, the comparator 203 sends a signal to the control unit 200, indicating that the desired position has been reached.
  • positions which are determined by the encoder 150. These positions are all programmable, and a determination of the location of each position depends upon the count provided to the counter 202. In the preferred form of the present invention, the six positions are:
  • a delay-cycle-start timer 224 delays the beginning of the automatic cycle after the auto-cycle start switch 206 is actuated.
  • a dipper-fill time timer 225 halts motion of the ladle dipper in the furnace so that the dipper may fill.
  • a spill-off timer 226 delays motion of the dipper after it fills and while it is over the furnace F so that excess metal may spill off back into the furnace.
  • a cycle-abort timer 227 is used to delay the initiation of the abort cycle to give the die casting machine D adequate time to be prepared for the introduction of the metal.
  • Each of these timers 224-227 is adjustable, so that each of the delay times may be varied.
  • the control unit 200 is also capable of initiating operation of the die casting machine D by sending an appropriate signal on a line 228.
  • the control unit 200 is also connected to the dump solenoid 132 so that the ladle dipper L may be tilted during the abort sequence to dump metal back into the furnace F. Operation of the apparatus A is monitored by various control panel indicators 229, which are also operated by the control unit 200.
  • the control unit 200 may comprise any suitable control circuitry capable of carrying out a predetermined program of operation in accordance with various conditional inputs.
  • the control unit 200 comprises a circuit of TTL components in which the signal for each step of the operations is conditional upon the completion of a previous step.
  • Such a control unit has the advantage in that an easy step-by-step movement can be obtained for ease of understanding and troubleshooting.
  • a stepwise control system provides for noise immunity. This is achieved by making the enable for a step come from the output of the preceding step. If there is a noise on an input to a step, that step will not be initiated unless the preceding step has already been accomplished.
  • control unit 200 may comprise a microprocessor or other unit capable of performing a sequence of operation from a predetermined program.
  • the program may be contained in a read-only memory which drives a multiplexer unit to provide the necessary signals.
  • the control switches 205-210 include a manual-auto selector switch through which the operator selects between manual and automatic operation of the apparatus A. If automatic operation is selected, the operator initiates the operation by actuating the auto-cycle-start switch 206. If manual operation is selected, the operator controls the movement of the ladle transport assembly using the manual control switches 207-210.
  • the manual forward switch 207 moves the ladle transport assembly forward, and the manual retract switch 208 moves the transport assembly back.
  • the manual pour switch 209 is used to cause the ladle transport assembly to move forward and pour the metal into the die casting machine D when the transport assembly is past the ready-to-pour position.
  • the manual dump switch 210 is used to actuate the solenoid 132 to dump metal from the dipper back into the furnace when the ladle dipper is over the furnace.
  • the details of the motor control circuit 215 may be seen with reference to Figs. 19 and 20.
  • the three-bit line 216 from the control unit 200 is fed to a binary-to-decimal decoder 231.
  • the b/d decoder 231 may be, for example, an SN7445 integrated circuit unit manufactured by Texas Instruments, Inc., which is a TTL circuit, and is thus compatible with the TTL logic employed in the control unit 200.
  • the b/d decoder 231 provides eight outputs which are used as control inputs for an array of analog switches 233.
  • the array of analog switches 233 selectively connects either ground or one of the motor speed control settings 220A-G supplied on lines 234A-G to line 235.
  • the array of analog switches 233 may be, for example, a pair of AD7501 multiple analog switch units manufactured by Analog Devices.
  • the line 235 is connected to the positive input of a unity-gain voltage follower amplifier 236 having a feedback loop in which the output is connected to the negative input of the amplifier.
  • the output of the amplifier 237 is fed to the motor 31 on line 237.
  • Each of the motor speed settings 220A-G is identical, and a typical motor speed setting 220 is shown in greater detail in Fig. 20.
  • Each control 220 has a reference voltage which is supplied on a line 240.
  • the line 240 is connected to the output of a potentiometer 241 which is connected between either positive or negative supply voltages. By adjusting the potentiometer 241, a maximum speed adjustment may be obtained for each individual speed.
  • the potentiometer 241 is capable of adjustment between either the positive supply voltage or the negative supply voltage and zero, typically between +15 volts and -15 volts.
  • the line 240 which supplies the reference voltage is fed to a cascade of nine identical resistors 243 connected in series.
  • the intermediate points between the series-connected resistors 243 are connected to a rotary switch unit 245, which selects one of the points in the cascade for connectibn to the output line 234 which is connected to the analog switch 233.
  • the bottom of the cascade of resistors 243 is connected to the output of an identical rotary switch unit 247.
  • the rotary switch unit 247 is connected to intermediate points between a cascade of nine identical resistors 248 connected in series. The bottom of the cascade of resistors 248 is grounded.
  • the values of the resistors 243 and 248 are selected such that each of the resistors 243 is identical and each of the resistors 248 is identical, and the value of each of the resistors 243 is ten times the value of each of the resistors 248.
  • the switch units 245 and 247 thus provide a two-digit decimal-type control in which any of 99 different voltage outputs may be provided on the line 234 from a given reference voltage supplied on the line 240.
  • the switch unit 245 provides the "tens" of the setting and the switch unit 241 provides the "ones" of the setting.
  • the potentiometer 241 provides for adjustment of the reference voltage on the line 240, so that the speed is infinitely variable between the positive or negative supply voltages and zero. Once the reference voltage has been selected by the potentiometer 241, any of 99 different incremental voltages may be selected using the switches 245 and 247.
  • the motor 31 runs from the power supply connected to the potentiometer 241 for each of the speed control settings 220A-G.
  • This power supply is typically +15 volts and -15 volts.
  • the amplifier 136 also runs from this power supply.
  • the other portions of the control unit are preferably TTL or TTL-compatible, and run from a +5-volt power supply. This +5-volt power supply is preferably optically isolated from the 15-volt power supply which runs the motor 31 so that any interference produced by the motor will not affect the other components of the control system.
  • the output of the amplifier 236 is also fed on the line 237 to the speed indicator display 222 shown in Fig. 19.
  • the output on the line 237 is fed through a resistor 251 to a bar graph display driver 252.
  • the display driver 252 is connected to a display 253 comprising an array of LED bars.
  • the display 253 may be, for example, an MV57164 unit manufactured by General Instruments, which comprises a ten-bar LED display.
  • the display driver 252 may be, for example, an LM3914 integrated circuit unit manufactured by National Semiconductors, which supplies ten outputs to the display 253.
  • the LM3914 unit provides a linear display whereby one of the ten LED's is illuminated for each tenth of full-scale voltage fed to the display driver.
  • the display driver 252 may be an LM3915 unit, also manufactured by National Semiconductors, which provides for a logarithmic display in the bar graph display 253 instead of a linear display.
  • the input of the display driver 252 is grounded through a capacitor 254 to delay the rise and fall of the display and is grounded through a biasing diode 255 to prevent negative voltage levels from being fed to the display driver 252.
  • the display driver 252 is connected to a calibration potentiometer 257 which provides a reference voltage to the display drivers at which a full scale indication will be displayed.
  • the display 253 only operates when the voltage on the line 237 is positive.
  • a substantially identical circuit is provided for displaying negative voltage levels on the line 237.
  • This display is fed by the output of a unity gain inverting amplifier 258.
  • the amplifier 258 has the positive input grounded and the negative input connected to a feedback loop having a feedback resistor 259.
  • An input resistor 260 is connected between the line 237 and the negative input of the amplifier 258.
  • the resistors 259 and 260 are equal in value so that the amplifier 258 has a gain of one.
  • the output of the amplifier 258 is fed through a resistor 261 to a display driver 262.
  • the resistor 261 is identical to the resistor 250, and the display driver 262 is identical to the display driver 252.
  • the display driver 262 operates a bar display 263 which is essentially identical to the display 253, but which is mounted in the opposite direction.
  • the input of the display driver 262 has a capacitor 264 and a diode 265 which are identical in operation to the capacitor 254 and the diode 255.
  • the apparatus A may be operated in either a manual mode or an automatic mode.
  • the manual-auto select switch 205 is set to "manual" and the control unit 200 operates in accordance with this setting.
  • the first step is to fill the dipper L.
  • the operator depresses the manual retract switch 208.
  • the control unit 200 supplies a signal on the lines 216 indicating the selection of the retract-to-metal speed A.
  • the ladle transport assembly 50 will retract until the sensing probes 91 and 92 touch the metal in the furnace F, or until the low-metal-level limit switch 151 is made. Either one of these signals will stop the transport assembly from retracting.
  • the control unit 200 stops retraction by sending a 000 signal on line 216 indicating no movement.
  • the control unit 200 supplies a signal on the line 216 indicating the dipper-fill speed B, and the ladle transport assembly moves forward until it reaches the ready-to-pour position. This position is indicated by actuation of the limit switch 156. When the ladle transport assembly reaches the ready-to-pour position, the control unit 200 stops further movement.
  • the control unit 200 checks to see that the dies are closed and locked and that the plunger is retracted on the die casting machine D. These signals are provided from the die casting machine D to the control unit 200 on the lines 211, 212, and 213. The control unit 200 will then send a signal on the line 216 to cause the motor 31 to operate at the first pour speed D until the ladle transport assembly reaches the first pour position.
  • the first pour position is a programmable position and is determined by the signal received from the encoder 150 through the counter 202 and the comparator 203.
  • the control unit automatically switches to the second pour speed E by providing the appropriate signal on the line 216.
  • the ladle transport assembly will go forward at this speed until it reaches the second pour position, as indicated by the encoder 150.
  • the control unit 200 automatically changes the speed to the third pour speed F, and the ladle transport assembly will continue forward until it reaches the third pour position, at which time the control unit will cause it to stop moving forward.
  • the operator can return the ladle dipper L to the furnace F by actuating the manual retract switch 208.
  • the control unit 200 will supply a signal on the line 216 indicating the retract-to-metal speed A and the ladle transport assembly will retract.
  • the operator can actuate the manual retract switch 208 to return the ladle dipper L to the furnace at the retract-to-metal speed A. Movement of the ladle transport assembly will be halted when the probes 91, 92 detect the presence of metal or when the low metal limit switch 151 is made. The operator then actuates the manual dump switch 210 to energize the dump solenoid 132 and cause the ladle dipper L to tilt. By actuating the manual forward switch 207, the operator causes the dipper L to move up and out of the metal in the furnace and the metal in the dipper is dumped back into the furnace.
  • control unit 200 In addition to the manual operating mode, the control unit 200 also provides a completely automatic operating mode in which manual control at each step of the operation is not required, and in which the unit automatically aborts its sequence of operations under certain circumstances.
  • the manual-auto switch 205 To select the automatic mode of operation, the manual-auto switch 205 is positioned in the "auto" position so that the control unit 200 operates in its automatic mode. The steps in this automatic cycle may be seen with reference to Fig. 21, which shows the sequence of operations in the automatic cycle.
  • step 301 the operator only actuates the auto cycle start switch 206.
  • step 301 the control unit 200 initiates the delay cycle start timer 224.
  • step 302 begins.
  • the control unit 200 provides a signal indicating the retract-to-metal speed A on the line 216 to the motor control circuit 215.
  • the ladle transport assembly retracts toward the metal in the furnace F at the retract-to-metal speed, as shown in Fig. 3.
  • the ladle transport assembly will stop retracting either when the metal level sensing probes 91, 91 detect the presence of metal or when the low-metal-level limit switch 151 is made. If the low-metal-level limit switch 151 is made before the probes 91, 91 sense metal, the unit will go into a low-metal-level abort sequence, which will be described later with reference to step 312.
  • the control unit 200 will cause the ladle transport assembly to move forward at speed B until all of the metal level sensing probes 91, 92, and 93 are out of the metal. The ladle transport assembly will then be retracted at the retract-to-metal speed A until the metal level probes 91 and 92 again touch and the dipper-fill timer 225 will be reinitiated.
  • step 304 is performed.
  • the control unit 200 sends a signal on line 216 designating the dipper-fill speed B, and the ladle transport assembly will move forward until it reaches the spill-off position (a).
  • the spill-off position (a) is a programmed position and is achieved when the preset count loaded into the counter 201 is counted down to zero by the pulses from the encoder 150.
  • step 305 is started.
  • the spill-off timer 226 is initiated, and the ladle transport assembly stops for the amount of time set by this timer.
  • step 306 begins.
  • the control unit 200 sends a signal on the line 216 indicating the forward-to-pour speed C, and the ladle transport assembly moves forward, as shown in Fig. 5.
  • the ladle transport assembly continues forward until it reaches the ready-to-pour position, as indicated by the limit switch 156.
  • the limit switch 156 is made, the control unit 200 checks to see whether the dies are closed and locked and the plunger is retracted in the die casting machine D. This is indicated by the signals on lines 211, 212, and 213.
  • control unit 200 receives a die-open signal or if it does not receive a die-locked signal or a plunger-retracted signal, it performs step 307 and initiates the abort-cycle timer 227. If the abort-cycle timer 227 times out before the die-locked and plunger-retracted signals are received, the control unit 200 will go into a no-pour abort sequence, which will be described later with reference to steps 313 and 314. If the die-locked or the plunger-retracted signals are broken, or a die-opened signal is received while the apparatus is pouring metal, the ladle transport assembly will again stop and the abort-cycle timer 227 will be reinitiated.
  • step 308 will be performed, and the ladle dipper L will begin pouring, as indicated in Fig. 6.
  • the control unit 200 will indicate the first pour speed D on the line 216 and the ladle transport assembly will move forward at the first pour speed until it reaches the first pour position (b).
  • the first pour position (b) is a programmable position determined by the encoder 150.
  • step 309 is begun.
  • the control unit 200 changes the speed signal on the line 216 to the second pour speed E, and the transport assembly continues forward at the second pour speed until it reaches the second pour position (c), as indicated by the encoder 150.
  • step 310 is performed.
  • the control unit 200 changes to the third pour speed F, and the third pour speed is used until the unit reaches the forwardmost position or third pour position (d).
  • step 311 is started.
  • the control unit 200 sends a signal on the line 216, indicating the retract-to-rest speed G, and the ladle transport assembly begins retracting. If selected, the control unit 200 will now give an early start cycle signal to the die casting machine D on line 228. If the early start cycle signal is not selected, the control unit 200 will not give a start cycle signal to the die casting machine D until the ready-to-pour limit switch 156 is off and the ladle transport assembly has retracted past the ready-to-pour position. The transport assembly continues to retract at speed G until it reaches the rest position (e), which is determined by the encoder 150.
  • the control unit 200 then stops the ladle transport assembly and waits for a start signal.
  • a start signal is received, the delay-cycle-start timer 224 initiates, as in step 301.
  • the delay-cycle-start timer 224 times out, the automatic cycle is repeated, beginning with step 302.
  • step 302 If during step 302 the low-metal-level limit switch 151 is made before the probes 91 and 92 detect metal, then a low-metal-level abort sequence is performed.
  • This sequence comprises step 312.
  • the ladle transport assembly will stop retracting and low-metal-level indicator light will be turned on in the control panel display 226.
  • the control unit 200 will feed a signal on the line 216 indicating speed B, and the ladle transport assembly will move forward until it reaches the abort-rest position (f), as indicated by the counting out of the signal from the encoder 150.
  • the transport assembly will wait in this position for a start signal.
  • the control unit 200 will send a signal on the line 216 indicating the retract-to-metal speed A to the motor control circuit 215, and the ladle transport assembly will retract until the metal level sensing probes 91, 92 touch the metal in the furnace F. Step 314 will then be performed.
  • the control unit 200 will energize the dump solenoid 132, causing the ladle dipper L to tilt forward as previously described.
  • the control unit 200 will then indicate the forward speed B on the line 216 and the ladle transport assembly will move forward and the ladle dipper L will move upwardly out of the metal as it pours the metal back into the furnace F.
  • the ladle transport assembly will continue to move forward to the abort-rest position (f), as indicated by the output of the encoder 150, and the control unit 200 will wait for the next start signal to begin step 301.
  • the control unit 200 will maintain the solenoid 132 energized so that the ladle dipper L will stay in the "dump" position until the metal level sensing probes 91, 92 touch the metal again.
  • control system may be made to the control system. For example, more or fewer resistors 243 and 248 may be used to create more or fewer incremental speed adjustments. If more speed adjustments are used, the potentiometer 241 may be eliminated. While three different pouring speeds are disclosed, more or fewer pouring speeds may be utilized, each separated by a programmed intermediate pouring position.
  • the above described ladling apparatus has greatly improved adjustability and flexibility and affords many other features and advantages heretofor not obtainable.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Casting Support Devices, Ladles, And Melt Control Thereby (AREA)
EP19840303825 1983-06-09 1984-06-06 Automatic ladling apparatus Expired EP0129370B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (4)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US50275383A 1983-06-09 1983-06-09
US502753 1983-06-09
US503164 1983-06-10
US06/503,164 US4516699A (en) 1983-06-10 1983-06-10 Automatic ladling apparatus

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0129370A1 EP0129370A1 (en) 1984-12-27
EP0129370B1 true EP0129370B1 (en) 1987-09-09

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Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP19840303825 Expired EP0129370B1 (en) 1983-06-09 1984-06-06 Automatic ladling apparatus

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EP (1) EP0129370B1 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
DE (1) DE3465911D1 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
IN (1) IN161256B (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)

Families Citing this family (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE3927852A1 (de) * 1989-08-23 1991-02-28 Alcan Gmbh Verfahren und vorrichtung zur dosierten entnahme fluessigen metalls aus einem schmelzebehaelter
CN111136254B (zh) * 2020-01-14 2022-03-04 合肥工业大学 一种浇包用的换包装置及换包方法
CN113649555A (zh) * 2021-07-30 2021-11-16 共享智能铸造产业创新中心有限公司 一种自动浇铸机及浇铸方法

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* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
AU472321B2 (en) * 1975-09-17 1976-05-20 Ube Industries, Ltd. Automatic molten-metal feeder for die-casting machine
DE3048391A1 (de) * 1978-02-02 1982-07-22 Wilfried Ing.(grad.) 2082 Heidgraben Dobé Vorrichtung zur dosierten entnahme von fluessigem metall aus einem schmelzebehaelter

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Publication number Publication date
EP0129370A1 (en) 1984-12-27
IN161256B (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1987-10-31
DE3465911D1 (en) 1987-10-15

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