GB1399622A - Moulding apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

1399622 Isostatic press OLIN ENERGY SYSTEMS Ltd 6 April 1973 [6 April 1972] 15889/72 Heading B5A The isostatic compaction of powder is effected in apparatus comprising a vertically movable block 35 with bores 36, 37 accommodating moulds 1, 2. Each mould has a main resilient body 38 with upper and lower end closures surrounded by a perforated metal sleeve 44. The mould 1, for producing a sphere 3, has resilient end closures 39, 42 attached to members 71, 64, respectively, whereas the mould 2, for producing a tube 4, includes a perforated spacer sleeve 80 and end closures 39a, 42a. The latter receive a mandrel 84 vertically movable by an air cylinder 66. The lower closures are attached to a stationary table 15 whereas the upper closures are secured to a vertically movable plate 73 attached to a ram assembly part 22 guided by pillars 11. The block 35, also guided by the pillars, is attached to the piston-rod of a piston 77. The moulds are supplied with powder from a feeder 90, Fig. 2, after raising the part 22. With the moulds closed the powder is compacted by pressure fluid fed into the manifolds 47. After decompression, the piston chamber 75 is pressurized and the part 22 raised whereby the upper mould closures and the block 35 are raised to leave the moulded products exposed on the lower members 42, 42a. As the block rises, an ejector mechanism 100 on a rotary shaft 101 is operated to swing into position and grip the products and then swing back free of the moulds before releasing them. The mechanism includes a gripper assembly for each mould, each comprising a pair of gripper members on extensions 117 of levers 114 spring- urged towards each other and separated by a wedge pin 125 at the extreme positions of the assembly movement. Stops 140, 141 at such positions effect wedge pin displacement. The shaft 101 is appropriately rotated against spring action by an arm 104 clamped to it and carrying a roller 106 engaging a cam track 107 movable with the block 35.