GB2044648A

GB2044648A - Flask moulding machine with sand slinging and compression

Info

Publication number: GB2044648A
Application number: GB8007401A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1979-03-12
Filing date: 1980-03-05
Publication date: 1980-10-22
Also published as: FR2451239A1; IT7921059V0; CH638120A5; DE3008801A1; JPS55122651A; GB2044648B; FR2451239B3

Abstract

In a flask moulding machine with sand slinging and compression, in order to give greater ease and simplicity of checking, adjusting and manoeuvring the pattern plates, the plate holders with their pattern plates are supported by a platform rotatable about a vertical axis eccentric to the central axis of the machine. In this manner, by rotating the platform one plate holder can be positioned inside the machine in moulding position and at least a further plate holder becomes simultaneously located outside the machine in a checking, adjustment and replacement position.

Description

SPECIFICATION Flask moulding machine with sand slinging and compression This invention relates to a flask moulding machine with sand slinging and compression.

Flask moulding machines are known in which the lower andlor upper flasks are fed into the moulding position on a roller line which traverses the machine, and on which the empty flasks arrive from one side, and leave full and moulded from the other side of the machine. These moulding machines also comprise a carriage moving with reciprocating motion trans tersely to the roller line which conveys the flasks, on the carriage there being normally supported two plate holders of box form, each of which carries a pattern plate. The carriage with the plate holders moves in a horizontal plane below the roller line, and its purpose is to move the one and other of the pattern plates alternately into the moulding position blow an empty flask.In this manner, it is apparent that at any moment one plate holder with its pattern plate is inside the machine in the moulding position, whereas the other plate holder with its pattern plate is outside the machine on one or the other side of it The pattern plates on the respective plate holders require frequent checking or adjustment, this checking or adjustment being able to be carried out only when the plate holder is outside the machine. As in the case of the known arrangement comprising a carriage moving with reciprocating motion one plate holder always reaches the outside of the machine on the same side of the machine, whereas the other plate holder reaches its inactive position on the other side of the machine, it is apparent that the checking or adjustment of the pattern plates must be carried out by two people disposed on opposite sides of the machine.

Moreover, the known arrangement leads to difficulties in changing and replacing the pattern plates, which for space reasons are usually carried out on only one side of the machine. This means that the pattern plate which together with the carriage emerges to the outside of the machine on the opposite side must be moved across the moulding line of the installation in order to be replaced or changed, with all the drawbacks that this entails.

The object of the present invention is therefore to obviate these drawbacks, and to give greater ease and simplicity of checking, adjusting and manoeuvring the pattern plates in flask moulding machines with sand slinging and compression.

This object is attained according to the invention by using a platform rotatable about a vertical axis eccentric to the central axis of the moulding machine for supporting the plate holders with their pattern plates in such a manner that the position in which one plate holder is supported on the platform can be made to correspond to the moulding position inside the moulding machine by rotating the platform, and at least one position in which afurther plate holder is supported becomes simultaneously located outside the moulding machine.

By means of this combination of a rotatable support platform for the plate holders and their pattern plates with a flask moulding machine with sand slinging and compression, it is possible to carry out all the checking, adjustment and replacement opera tionsforthe pattern plates in a single position on a single side of the machine, with considerable saving of labour, time and effort.

The rotatable platform can be disposed to support two or more than two plate holders with their pattern plates, and it can be mounted to rotate on a column of the moulding machine. The characteristics and advantages of the moulding machine according to the invention will be more apparent from the description given hereinafter of one embodiment thereof with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Figures 1 and 2 are diagrammatic elevations of the moulding machine taken at 90" to each other; Figure 3 is a horizontal section on the line Ill-Ill of Figure 1; and Figure 4 is a section through the rotatable platform to an enlarged scale.

The moulding machine illustrated in particular in Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings is of the conventional type well known in the art, comprising sand slinging and compression into flasks. It comprises a base 10 from which three support uprights 11, 12, 13 rise to support the upper part of the machine, which is not described here in detail because it does not differ from known constructions, and does not directly form part of the invention. This upper part, indicated overall by 14, terminates lowerly in the so-called slinging cap 15, outside which a compression frame 16 is mounted slidable to a limited degree in a vertical direction. Pistons 17 acting as springs tend to keep the frame 16 lowered.

A roller line 18 which horizontally traverses the machine is mounted between the pair of uprights 12, 13 and the upright 11, and serves for feeding empty flasks into the machine and for conveying full flasks from them.

These can be flasks all of one type, either upper or lower, or alternately upper and lower flasks. Figure 2 shows three flasks 19 of which the central one is in the moulding position, the left hand one (feed side) is empty and the right hand one (exit side) is full.

A table 20 which can be raised and lowered by means of a hydraulic jack 21 is disposed on the base 10 of the moulding machine vertically below the slinging cap 15.

A platform 22 constituted substantially by a rectangular frame 23 formed from a tubular section (see Figure 4), cross members 24 and a plate 25 is mounted rotatable by means of suitable bearings on the upright 11 in a horizontal plane between the roller line 18 and table 20. Two substantially square through seats are defined in opposing positions relative to the centre in this rotatable platform 22, each of which is arranged to receive a plate holder box 26 which is supported by way of its projecting edges and is centred by pins 27 on the edges of the respective seat in the platform 22.

A spacer 28 is inserted into the plate holder box 26, and the pattern plate 29 carrying the pattern 30 is rested on the spacer 28 and on the upper edge of the box.

The plate holder box designed to cooperate with a lower flask (that shown to the right in Figures 1,3 and 4) is provided with two centering pins 31 designed for insertion into corresponding bushes 33 rigid with the plate holder boxes designed to cooperate with the upper flasks (that shown on the left in Figure 1,3 and 4).

The rotatable platform 22 with the plate holders 26 and pattern plates 29 can be rotated by any suitable means through 1800 each time, and stops are provided for stopping the platform in the required positions, in which one plate holder is inside the machine in the moulding position, whereas the second plate holder is outside the machinery as clearly shown in particular in Figures 1 and 3.

In addition, the lifting table 20 is able to freely traverse the seat in the platform 22 which receives the plate holder 26 in the moulding position inside the machine, and during its lifting it makes contact with the relative plate holder 26 from below to lift it together with the respective pattern plate 29 until they come into contact (with automatic centering) with the overlying flask 19 in the moulding position.

As the lifting motion continues, the flask 19 is lifted from the roller line 18 and is brought into contact with the compression frame 16.

The sand is then slung in this position, with the pattern 30 inserted in the flask 19. The compression frame 16 is kept lowered and in contact with the flask 19 by means of the pistons 17. The table 20 with the plate holder 26, pattern plate 29, flask 19 and com pression frame 16 is then further raised upwards, during which the frame 16 slides on the slinging cap 15, so as to carry out compression in the previously filled flask.

The table 20 is then lowered, and all the parts return to their initial positions.

The flasks are then moved forward through one step in order to bring a new empty flask into the moulding position. Simultaneously, the platform 22 is rotated through 1800 to move the other plate holdex with its pattern plate into the moulding position.

In this manner, the plate holder with the previously used pattern plate is moved to the outside of the machine for any required inspection, checking and possible replacement of the pattern plate.

It is apparent that all these operations can always be carried out in the same position on one side of the moulding machine (on the left with reference to Figure 1).

The same concept can be put into practice even if the rotatable platform has a structural configuration different from that illustrated, and if it is arranged to support more than two plate holders.

Claims

1. A flask moulding machine with sand slinging and compression comprising a base with a raisable table, an upper part with a sand slinging cap and slidable compression frame, a roller line for conveying the flasks, and means for moving the plate holders with their pattern plate alternately into a mould ing position inside the machine and into a position outside the machine, wherein said means are constituted by a platform rotatable about a vertical axis eccentric to the central axis of the machine, for supporting at least two plate holders with their pattern plates, in such a manner that the position in which one plate holder is supported can be made to correspond with the moulding position by rotating the platform, and at least one position in which another plate holder is supported simultaneously becomes located outside the machine.

2. A moulding machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the platform is mounted to rotate on an upright supporting the upper part of the machine.

3. A moulding machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the rotatable platform comprises, for each plate holder, a vertical through seat in which the plate holder is supported and centred by means of one of its upper projecting edges.