GB1594161A - Apparatus for mouldings articles of self-hardening mouldable material - Google Patents

Description

(54) IMI'ROVEMLNTS IN OR RELATING TO Al'PARA- TUS l;OR MOLDINC ARTICLES OF SF LU- IIARDLNIN(, MOLDABLI; MATI RIAL (71) I, IIARLES J. IEWZMAN, a citizen of the United States of Anlerica, of 1024, Waicle Sleet Honolulu, Hawaii 96821 , United States of America do hereby declare tlie inven tioii for which I pray that a patent inlay be granted to nle and the method by which it is to he perforiooed to be particularly described in and by the following stateiooent In a machine for molding a self-hardening material such as concrete for successively producing elongated molded articles, it has been wound desirable to incorporate an elongated niold box which carries a removable liner or pallet and is movable between a vertical pos ition for receiving the moldable material and a horizontal position where the molded article is stripped along with tlie liner or pallet from the mold box and moved onto a horizontal receiving platform or run-out table. Such machines are disclosed in U.S. Patents Nos.

3 303 545 and No. 3 624 825 which issued to Applicant.

In the fonder patent, the molded article is ejected with its liner from the mold box onto a receiving platfonn by means of a pusher plate which is pushed through the mold by the extension of the piston rod of a fluid cylinder supported adjacent the molding machine on the side opposite of the receiving platform.

Similarly. in the molding machine disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 2 663 063, a molded article is ejected from a tilting mold box by first retracting a set of core members from the article with a fluid cylinder and then using the core members to push the molded article from the mold box onto a receiving platform or table. In Applicant s U.S. patent No. 3 624 825, the tilting mold box of the molding machine incorporates or carries with it a fluid cylinder which is extended when it is desired to strip each molded article from the mold box.

It has been found desirable to minimize the floor space required by a molding machine or apparatus of the type disclosed in the above patents. While the machine disclosed in above mentioned U.S. patent No. 3 624 825 provides this desirable feature by incorporating a fluid cylinder within the tiltable mold box for stripping each article, the stripping cylinder is subjected to substantial vibration while the concrete or material is being condensed within the mold box by vibrators mounted on the mold box. As a result, additional maintenance is required by the fluid cylinder which is not only difficult to maintain but is also difficult to keep clean. Furthennore, when a mold box has substantial length, the nuid stripping cylinder also has a corresponding length.However, when a long piston rod is extended for stripping an article from the mold box, the piston rod tends to wander as it is extended, resulting in substantial bending forces being exerted on the extended piston rod.

The present invention is directed to an improved machine or apparatus for molding articles of concrete or other self-hardening moldable material and which is particularly adapted for molding articles having substantial length while minimizing the floor space required by the apparatus. The apparatus embodying the invention is also capable of eliminating the problem mentioned above ill connection with the molding machine disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 3 624 825 and is adapted to be operated over an extended period of time with a minimum of maintenance.The apparatus embodying the invention further provides for efficiently producing cored articles of self-hardening material by incorporating improved means for supporting a series of cores within the mold box and for releasing the cores to simplify stripping of each molded article from the mold box.

According to the present invention, there is provided apparatus for molding articles of selfhardening moldable material and including a mold box, means supporting said mold box for tilting movement between a generally vertical filling position and a generally horizontal stripping position, means for supplying a moldable material to said mold box when in said filling position to form an article within said mold box, a mold box member carried by said mold box and movable relative to said mold box, and a generally horizontal platform disposed for receiving a molded article from said mold box after said mold box is moved to said stripping position, the apparatus further comprising power operated stripping means associated with said platform and including a pulling member movable along said platform, means for releasably connecting said pulling member to said mold box member when said mold box is in said stripping position and means for moving said pulling member along said platform for pulling said mold box member to effect stripping of a molded article from said mold box onto said platform.

In order that the present invention may be more readily understood, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a somewhat schematic side elevational view of molding apparatus constructed in accordance with one embodiment of the invention and illustrating a pallet supported molded article after it is stripped from the mold box and placed on a receiving platform; Figure 2 is also a somewhat schematic fragmentary plan view of the receiving platform as taken generally on the line 2-2 of Figure 1, and showing the stripping mechanism associated with the platform; Figure 3 is a fragmentary plan view on a somewhat larger scale of the mold box forming part of the apparatus shown in Figure 1 and with portions broken away to show the internal core members; Figure 4 is a vertical section taken generally on the line 44 of Figure 3;; Figure 5 is a somewhat enlarged end view of the mold box and taken generally on the line 5-5 of Figure 3; Figure 6 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the front or outer end portion of the mold box and illustrating by broken lines the core support members in their retracted positions; Figure 7 is an enlarged fragmentary section of the outer end portion of the mold box as taken generally on the line 7-7 of Figure 5; and Figure 8 is an enlarged fragmentary section of the receiving table or platform as taken generally on line 8-8 of Figure 2.

The apparatus illustrated in the drawings is adapted for successively producing or molding cored articles of concrete, but other selfhardening material may also be used. The apparatus includes an elongated mold box 10 which is pivotally supported by trunnions 11 for tilting movement between a generally vertical filling position, as illustrated in full lines in Figure 1 and a generally horizontal stripping position as illustrated by the broken lines in Figure 1. The mold box 10 is moved or shifted between its filling and stripping positions by actuation of a fluid or hydraulic cylinder 12 having a piston rod pivotally connected to an arm 13 on the mold box by a pin 14.

When the mold box is tilted to its vertical filling position, mixed concrete material is supplied to the upper or outer end of the mold box by an endless feed conveyor 16 which extends horizontally under the bottom outlet of a material supply hopper 18. The conveyor 16 and supply hopper 18 are supported by a fabricated steel frame 20 and are sufficiently elevated so that the material falls by gravity from the conveyor 16 into the upper open end of the mold box 10. As also illustrated in the above mentioned U.S. patent No. 3 624 825, a tamper assembly 22 is supported by the frame 20 above the mold box 10 in a vertical alignment and includes a fluid cylinder 24 connected to a tamper plate 26 for tamping or packing the concrete material into the mold box 10.

Referring to Figure 8, the mold box 10 is constructed to form an elongated and generally flat concrete slab 30 having a pluraility of parallel spaced and longitudinally extending core openings 31. However, it is to be understood that the mold box 10 may be constructed to provide for forming or molding other articles of concrete or self-hardening material. As shown in Figures 3-7, the mold box 10 includes a pair of longitudinally extending side frame channels or members 34 which are rigidly secured to a fabricated steel base 36 which includes a pluraility of parallel spaced beams 37 sandwiched between upper and lower metal plates 38. The mold box 10 also includes an upper flat wall 39 (Figure 4) which is rigidly secured to a pluraility of longitudinally spaced cross beams 41 rigidly connecting the side frame members 34.The cross beams 41 are reinforced by corresponding ribs 43 to provide the upper wall 39 and substantial strength.

The mold box 10 is adapted to receive a rectangular pallet 45 (Figures 4 and 5) which is preferably constructed of formed interfitting sheet metal sections. The pallet 45 is supported within the mold box by a series of parallel spaced rails 46 which are mounted on the base 36. A series of guide rollers 48 are mounted on each of the side frame members 34 at longitudinally spaced intervals for guiding the pallet 45 into and out of the mold box.

These guide rollers may have resilient outer surfaces and be driven to facilitate moving the pallets in and out of the mold box. A set of chamfer forming rails or elements 51 (Figure 8) are secured to the top surface of the pallet 45 and are positioned to abut a corresponding pair of longitudinally extending edge form members 52 which are removably secured to the side frame members 34 of the mold box 10 by a set of screws.

In addition to a pallet 45, the mold box 10 is adapted to receive a flat rectangular liner plate 55 (Figure 8) which corresponds in size to the pallet 45. The liner plate 55 is positioned adjacent the upper wall 39 of the mold box by the edge formed members 52 which also abut a set of longitudinally extending chamfer forming rails or elements 56 secured to the liner plate 55. The liner plate 55 cooperates with the edge form members 52 and the pallet 45 to define a cavity 57 (Figure 4) having an open upper end for receiving the concrete material from the feed conveyor 16. The lower end of the cavity is closed by an ejector or push plate 58 (Figure 4) which is rigidly secured to one end portion of an elongated mold box arm 60.

The arm 60 extends longitudinally within the base 36 of the mold box 10 under the pallet 45 and is slidably supported by a pair of parallel spaced tracks 62 (Figure 5) which slidably receive corresponding rails 63 projecting outwardly from the arm 60. A set of brackets 66 (Figure 4) reinforce the push plate 58 which is provided with a series of circular holes for receiving a corresponding series of elongated core members or tubes 68 which extend longitudinally within the mold box cavity 57. The inner ends of the core tubes 68 are supported by a cross beam or member 71 (Figure 4) which is rigidly connected to the side frame members 34. The outer or upper ends of the core tube 68 are supported by a corresponding series of core support arms 72 which are rigidly secured to a cross support tube 74 (Figure 7) in parallel spaced relation.

Each of the core support arms 72 includes a projecting tapered stud 76 (Figure 7) which is adapted to be received within a mating hold 77 formed within the center of a plug member 78 inserted into the outer end portion of the corresponding core tube 68.

The core support arms 72 and their connecting cross support tube 74 are pivotally supported by a set of trunnions 82 (Figures 5-7) which are rotatably supported within corresponding bearings 83 secured to the side frame members 34. A crank arm 86 (Figure 6) is secured to the outer end portion of one of the trunnions 82 and is pivotally connected to the piston rod of a fluid or hydraulic cylinder 88 pivotally supported by the corresponding side frame member 34. As illustrated in Figures 6 and 7, actuation of the cylinder 88 is effective to shift the core support arms 72 as a unit between core supporting positions (Figure 7) and retracted positions illustrated by the dotted lines in Figure 6. The mold box 10 also carries a set of electrically actuated vibrators 90 which function to consolidate the concrete received within the cavity 57 and to eliminate voids within the concrete.

Referring to Figures 1,2 and 8, an elongated generally horizontal run-out table or platform 95 is positioned adjacent the mold box 10 in its stripping position to receive each pallet supported article or slab formed within the box. The table or platform 95 includes a series of longitudinally spaced support legs 96 which are rigidly connected by longitudinally extending side frame plates or members 98 and laterally extending cross-frame members 99 (Figure 8). A series of longitudinally spaced pairs of rollers 102 (Figure 8) are supported by the cross frame members 99, and the rollers 102 are adapted to engage the bottom surface of a pallet 45 as the pallet is removed from the mold box 10 with a partially set concrete slab 30.The table legs 96 also support a series of longitudinally spaced pairs of opposing guide rollers 104 (Figure 8) which also engage and guide each pallet 45 as it is removed from the mold box so that the pallet is confined to a precise linear path as the pallet is shifted from the mold box 10 on the run-out table or platform 95. The support rollers 102 and/or the guide rollers 104 may be power driven to provide for feeding an empty pallet 45 into the mold box 10, as will be explained later.

A pulling or coupling member 108 (Figures 2 and 6) is supported for horizontal linear movement along the run-out platform 95 by a pair of longitudinally extending guide tracks 110 which have opposing slots for slidably receiving a pair of rails 111 projecting laterally from opposite side of the coupling member 108. The tracks 110 in the run-out platform 95 align with the corresponding tracks 62 within the base 36 of the mold box 10, but are sufficiently spaced to allow arm 60 to pass vertically between the tracks 110.

As shown in Figure 6, the coupling member 108 has a vertically extending hole 114 which is adapted to receive a connecting pin 116 projecting downwardly from an extending outer end portion 117 of the mold box arm 60. When the mold box 10 is tilted from its filling position to its stripping position, the pin 116 moves into the hole 114 of the coupl- ing member 108. A set of stop elements 118 are secured by screws to the arm 60 and may be adjustably positioned along the length of the arm to limit the movement of the arm 60 into the mold box according to the length of the article being molded. The coupling member 108 is shifted horizontally along the run-out table or platform 95 within the tracks 110 by an elongated fluid or hydraulic cylinder 125 (Figure 2) which is supported by a set of the cross frame members 99.The cylinder 125 has a piston rod 126 which is connected to the coupling member 108.

A set of vertical fluid cylinders or hydraulic jacks 128 (Figure 1) are positioned under the run-out platform 95 and include corresponding piston rods which support lifting pads 129. The hydraulic jacks 128 provide for elevating a pallet 45 and its supported concrete slab 30 above the elevation of the support rollers 102 and the legs 96 when the hydraulic jacks are actuated together.

After an article or concrete slab 30 is formed within the mold box 10 in its vertical position and the concrete is consolidated by actuation of the vibrators 90, the mold box 10 is tilted to its horizontal position by actuation of the hydraulic cylinder 12. Before the mold box is tilted, the piston rod 126 of the fluid cylinder 125 is extended so that the pin 116 lowers into the hold 114 of the extended coupling member 108, as mentioned above. The core support arms 72 are then retracted by extension of the fluid cylinder 88, and the fluid cylinder 125 is actuated to retract the piston rod 126 so that the coupling member 108 pulls the mold box arm 60 from the mold box 10 onto the runout platform 95.As the arm 60 is pulled out of the mold box 10, the arm and push plate 58 pull or strip the molded concrete article or slab 30 from the mold box cavity 57 along with its supporting pallet 45 and its overlying liner plate 55.

After the pallet 45, top liner plate 55 and a formed slab 30 are stripped from the mold box 10, the pallet, top liner plate 55 and slab are rolled along the run-out platform 95 onto a conveyor or another roller table which forms an extension of the run-out platform 95 and extends to a final curing area. The pallet 45 and the supported concrete slab 30 may also be elevated by actuation of the hydraulic jacks 128 so that the pallet and the slab may be picked up by a fork lift truck or other transport system.

From the drawings and the above description, it is apparent that apparatus embodying the present invention provides desirable features and advantages. For example, the construction and cooperation of the mold box 10 and of the run-out platform 95 provide for precisely stripping each partially set-up article from the mold box and depositing the article and its supporting pallet onto the run-out platform. That is, not only is the mold box arm 60 guided along a precise linear path by the tracks 62 as each pallet and molded article are stripped from the mold box, the pallet 45 is also precisely guided by the guide rollers 48 amd 104.This assures that each molded article is stripped from the edge form members 52 and the core tubes 68 without any distortion or cracks developing in the molded article, As another important feature, the pulling or stripping cylinder 125 is removed from operating with the mold box 10 and is located in a cleaner environment to minimize servicing of the cylinder 125. In addition, the long piston rod 126 of the cylinder 125 is being retracted during the stripping operation, thereby placing the piston rod 126 in tension. This not only provides for minimizing maintenance and servicing of the cylinder 125, but also assures precision linear movement and stripping of each molded article from the mold box 10.

WHAT I CLAIM IS: 1. Apparatus for molding articles of selfhardening moldable material and including a mold box, means supporting said mold box for tilting movement between a generally vertical filling position and a generally horizontal stripping position, means for supplying the moldable material to said mold box when in said filling position to form an article within said mold box, a mold box member carried by said mold box and movable relative to said mold box, and a generally horizontal platform disposed for receiving a molded article from said mold box after said mold box is moved to said stripping position, the apparatus further comprising power operated stripping means associated with said platform and including a pulling member movable along said platform, means for releasably connecting said pulling member to said mold box member when said mold box is in said stripping position, and means for moving said pulling member along said platform for pulling said mold box member to effect stripping of a molded article from said mold box onto said platform.

2. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 1, including a plurality of said core members disposed in parallel spaced relation, a corresponding plurality of said core support members, and means rigidly connecting said core support members for pivotal movement as a unit.

3. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 1 or 2, wherein said platform includes track means for guiding said mold box member along said platform, and a plurality of article guide rollers mounted on said platform and spaced with said track means therebetween.

4. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 2 or 3, wherein said connecting means comprise a pin element secured to either the mold box member or the pulling member, the other member including an aperture for receiving said pin element.

5. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein said platform includes generally horizontal guide means for guiding said pulling member along said platform.

6. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein said power operated stripping means comprise an elongated fluid cylinder supported by said platform with a generally horizontal axis, and said fluid cylinder includes an extensible member connected to said pulling member.

7. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim including a pallet disposed with said mold box and movable in response to movement of said mold box member, and said pallet includes parallel spaced chamfer forming elements to define corresponding chamfer corners on the molded article.

8. Apparatus for molding articles of selfhardening moldable material constructed, arranged and adapted to operate substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (8)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. the coupling member 108 pulls the mold box arm 60 from the mold box 10 onto the runout platform 95. As the arm 60 is pulled out of the mold box 10, the arm and push plate 58 pull or strip the molded concrete article or slab 30 from the mold box cavity 57 along with its supporting pallet 45 and its overlying liner plate 55. After the pallet 45, top liner plate 55 and a formed slab 30 are stripped from the mold box 10, the pallet, top liner plate 55 and slab are rolled along the run-out platform 95 onto a conveyor or another roller table which forms an extension of the run-out platform 95 and extends to a final curing area. The pallet 45 and the supported concrete slab 30 may also be elevated by actuation of the hydraulic jacks 128 so that the pallet and the slab may be picked up by a fork lift truck or other transport system. From the drawings and the above description, it is apparent that apparatus embodying the present invention provides desirable features and advantages. For example, the construction and cooperation of the mold box 10 and of the run-out platform 95 provide for precisely stripping each partially set-up article from the mold box and depositing the article and its supporting pallet onto the run-out platform. That is, not only is the mold box arm 60 guided along a precise linear path by the tracks 62 as each pallet and molded article are stripped from the mold box, the pallet 45 is also precisely guided by the guide rollers 48 amd 104.This assures that each molded article is stripped from the edge form members 52 and the core tubes 68 without any distortion or cracks developing in the molded article, As another important feature, the pulling or stripping cylinder 125 is removed from operating with the mold box 10 and is located in a cleaner environment to minimize servicing of the cylinder 125. In addition, the long piston rod 126 of the cylinder 125 is being retracted during the stripping operation, thereby placing the piston rod 126 in tension. This not only provides for minimizing maintenance and servicing of the cylinder 125, but also assures precision linear movement and stripping of each molded article from the mold box 10. WHAT I CLAIM IS:

1. Apparatus for molding articles of selfhardening moldable material and including a mold box, means supporting said mold box for tilting movement between a generally vertical filling position and a generally horizontal stripping position, means for supplying the moldable material to said mold box when in said filling position to form an article within said mold box, a mold box member carried by said mold box and movable relative to said mold box, and a generally horizontal platform disposed for receiving a molded article from said mold box after said mold box is moved to said stripping position, the apparatus further comprising power operated stripping means associated with said platform and including a pulling member movable along said platform, means for releasably connecting said pulling member to said mold box member when said mold box is in said stripping position, and means for moving said pulling member along said platform for pulling said mold box member to effect stripping of a molded article from said mold box onto said platform.

2. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 1, including a plurality of said core members disposed in parallel spaced relation, a corresponding plurality of said core support members, and means rigidly connecting said core support members for pivotal movement as a unit.

3. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 1 or 2, wherein said platform includes track means for guiding said mold box member along said platform, and a plurality of article guide rollers mounted on said platform and spaced with said track means therebetween.

4. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 2 or 3, wherein said connecting means comprise a pin element secured to either the mold box member or the pulling member, the other member including an aperture for receiving said pin element.

5. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein said platform includes generally horizontal guide means for guiding said pulling member along said platform.

6. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein said power operated stripping means comprise an elongated fluid cylinder supported by said platform with a generally horizontal axis, and said fluid cylinder includes an extensible member connected to said pulling member.

7. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim including a pallet disposed with said mold box and movable in response to movement of said mold box member, and said pallet includes parallel spaced chamfer forming elements to define corresponding chamfer corners on the molded article.

8. Apparatus for molding articles of selfhardening moldable material constructed, arranged and adapted to operate substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.