GB1266403A - - Google Patents

Abstract

1,266,403. Removing ceramic plates from moulds. NETZSCH MASCHINENFABRIK GEB. 20 March, 1969 [21 March, 1968], No. 14645/69. Heading B5A. [Also in Division B8] Ceramic plates 14, each conveyed from a drier in a mould located in rows along rockers 12 pivotally mounted between chain conveyers 10, are transferred to spindles 16 whereon they are trimmed, or to a conveyer (not shown), by suction heads 32 mounted between arms 26 which are arcuately reciprocable, through 180 degrees, to a position over the spindles 16 and beneath suction heads 42 which descend to engage and then lift the plates 14 from the heads 32, to provide clearance for the return arcuate movement thereof, and then lower the plates 14 for release on to the spindles 16. The arms 26 are reciprocated from the main drive shaft 24 by a crank 44 driven rack 46 and pinion 48. The suction heads 42 are mounted on a cross member 36 which is pivotally mounted between arms 34 mounted on a shaft 22 which is arcuately reciprocated, to perform the raising and lowering movement of the heads 42, via a lever 54 and follower 52 connection to a cam 50 on the mainshaft 24; arms 38 pivotally connected to the member 36 and the machine frame providing a parallelogram linkage whereby the heads 42 remain vertical. The suction effect of the heads 32 and 42 is controlled from cams 56 carried on the mainshaft 24 which actuate suction control vessels 84 and 68 which are each connected to one of the heads 32 or 42 by hoses 86 and 80. The vessels 84 and 68 may each comprise a cylinder and piston arrangement (not shown), or comprise a bellows (70), Fig. 3 (not printed), which is compressed against a spring (76), to release the suction, and expanded by the spring (76) to produce the suction, via the action of the cams 56 on a shaft (60) to which the bellows are mounted and which is guided, e.g. by guide rods 62, for reciprocable displacement radially of the shaft 24; the respective guide rods for the vessels 84 and 68 being arcuately separated whereby the required synchronization of suction and release to the heads 32 and 42 is obtained. The suction heads 32 or 42 each comprise a flexible bellows 98 laterally stabilized by a perforated disc 96 from which extends a guide tube 92 which slides in a holder 90, the bellows 98 contracting under the suction effect to lift the plate 14 out of the mould.