SK512001A3 - Transport system for stright transferring of moulds - Google Patents

Description

Technical field

The present invention relates generally to conveying systems for transferring foundry molds, and more specifically to conveying systems for transferring sand molds.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Molded metal castings are usually made in foundries using a two-sided molding molding process using raw molds made from a mixture of treated molding sand and the appropriate chemical additives that are applied to and compressed around the top and bottom of the cast blank, mounted on the respective side of the double-sided model plate. The sand mold thus formed consists of two paired together, an upper and a lower mold part, or a mold top and a mold bottom. After forming the respective mold tops and bottoms, they are paired and assembled together to form a uniform complex mold with an internal cavity of the desired shape configuration. This inner cavity can then be filled with molten metal through the inlet or inlet molding channel located in the upper mold part to form the desired casting. The system described above is disclosed by Hunter U.S. Patent 5,200,212.

Currently, technologies are available on the market which enable the combination of a sand molding unit as a whole with a sand molding device for molten metal, to which is further attached a device for cooling molten metal into solidified castings, to which is further connected a device for removing molding sand and cleaning the formed casting for further processing. The system described above is disclosed by Hunter U.S. Patent 4,589,467.

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According to the aforementioned U.S. Pat. No. 4,589,467, sand molds are manufactured and conveyed by means of a straight conveyor to a circular, rotary or carousel conveyor. The molten metal is introduced into the sand molds at a predetermined position on the carousel conveyor and is then allowed to cool inside the sand mold during its transfer along the carousel conveyor. The carousel conveyor is equipped both with an outer track arranged on its outer diameter and an inner track arranged on its inner diameter for the purpose of further additional cooling of the molten metal, which in turn increases the overall production capacity of the plant. Although such a carousel system exhibits very good production parameters and is able to maintain and develop these parameters, its use is substantially limited by its limited controllability of both the cooling time (or residence time) and the volume production capacity.

U.S. Patent 5,901,774 to Hunter discloses a system with improved dynamics of change in production capacity and improved controllability of the residence time. This system ensures the formation of sand molds and their conveyance by means of a straight-through conveyor and a multi-row casting conveyor on which they are conveyed in series mode. After removal of the respective stowage and clamped reinforcing frames, the sand molds are transferred to a multi-row cooling conveyor on which they are conveyed in parallel mode. Although this is sufficiently commercially successful, the use of separate, spaced-apart conveyors for casting and cooling, as well as the use of multi-row conveyors, results in a system with a rather complicated design.

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SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a conveying system for transferring sand molds with a support structure which inherently has a simple and compact construction.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a conveying system for moving sand molds with a plane base of a simple and uncomplicated structure, on which two rails are arranged in a transverse direction in a transverse direction.

An essential feature of the present invention, in view of the above, is a conveying system for transferring sand molds with a planar base of simple and uncomplicated construction, on which a conveying device is stored for all operations required for casting and cooling the casting span from installation of reinforced frames and moldings until emptying of the cooled mold to remove solidified castings.

Another feature of the present invention is to provide two operating devices for moving the bearing plates or trolleys between two spaced apart laterally side-by-side rails without having to carry them from one rail to another to lift and re-position them .

Yet another feature of the present invention is to provide a single support structure for the assembly of the piling station and the clamp reinforcement frames, and two mold pusher.

Yet another feature of the present invention is to provide storage trolleys adapted to receive two molds both in the first storage position and in the second storage position, wherein said first storage position is a reinforced casting position for the gripping frame.

31641 T ·· ·· ··· · _β ·. * Ϊ. * _E JJ ··· · e · fe ······· And said second storage position is a frameless cooling position. In other words, the sand molds are transferred by means of a single conveying device during casting and cooling.

The above and other objects and features of the present invention will be explained in detail in the following detailed description of exemplary embodiments thereof.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The present invention will be explained in more detail by means of specific exemplary embodiments illustrated in the drawings, in which FIG. 1 a and 1 b show a first preferred embodiment of a mold transfer system according to the present invention, shown respectively in plan and side views;

Fig. 2a, 2b and 2c the support structure of the mold transfer system of FIG. 1a, shown in elevation, plan and side views respectively;

Fig. 3a, 3b and 3c, a transmission device of a preferred embodiment of the conveying system; and FIG. 4 shows a second preferred embodiment of a mold transfer system according to the present invention.

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Although the present invention will be further described in connection with certain preferred embodiments, it is not intended to limit the scope of the disclosure to those described embodiments. On the contrary, it is intended to cover and cover all alternatives, modifications and equivalents of such embodiments that fall within the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined in the appended claims.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to FIG. 1a and 1b is a schematic representation of a mold transfer system 20 adapted for use in combination with the sand mold casting apparatus 21 of the present invention, which includes a sand mold forming station 22, a clamping frame installation station 24 and depots, a casting station 26, a station 30 for removing pits and clamping frames, and a station 32 for removing molding sand from solidified castings. The movement of the sand mold 36 in the conveying device is, as indicated by the directional arrows shown in FIG. 1a, from the beginning to the end of the technological production flow takes place along a linear and in a series-arranged path.

As shown in FIG. 1a, the sand molds 36 extend from the mold forming station 22 and move in the direction indicated by the arrow 40. Sand molds 36, which are equipped with inlet openings or inlet pouring channels for receiving and introducing molten metal, exit from the molding station 22, The conveyor belt 42 moves the sand molds 36 from the molding station 22 to the molding station 24 for the installation of the clamping frames and inserts. This station 24 for the installation of clamping frames and stowage is located on the mold transfer system 20. As can best be seen from the illustrations in FIG. 1a and 2a, includes a transport system 20 for relocation

31641 T molds a general planar base 80 of a simple and uncomplicated construction, wherein the first and second rail tracks 82, 84 are disposed adjacent to each other. The first and second rail tracks 82, 84 are arranged generally parallel, each of these rail tracks consisting of a pair of parallel guide rails 86. the guide rails 86, by means of the wheels 54 provided therein, to ensure the corresponding introduction of the sand molds 36, the bearing plates or carriages 52. In the mold transfer system 20, as can be seen from FIG. 1 and 1b, a plurality of such storage trolleys 52. In a preferred embodiment, at least one of said wheels 54 is provided with outer flange collars for guiding the guide rail 86, the purpose of which is to maintain and promote contact between the trolley 52 and the guide rail 86. the carriage 52 is designed to accommodate two sand molds 36 arranged side by side in a first storage position 56 and a second storage position 58.

Upon reaching the end of the conveyor belt 42, the sand molds 36 from the conveyor belt 42 are transferred to the station 24 for installing clamping frames and slots in the direction indicated by the arrow 44. As can be seen from FIG. 2a and 2b, this displacement is effected by means of a syringe arm 46. The syringe arm 46 is driven by a pneumatic or hydraulic piston plunger 48, which has a simple and standard construction. As can best be seen from the illustrations in FIG. 2c, the sprayer arm 46 comprises a portion 50 extending substantially perpendicular therefrom which is adapted to engage the sand molds 36. As can further be best seen in FIG. 1a, 2a and 2b, this arm 46 pushes the sand mold sprayer 36 to a first storage position 56 on a storage carriage 52 at a station 24 for installing clamping frames and slots.

After placing the sand mold 36 on the storage trolley 52, a clamping stiffening frame is installed in the central region around the periphery of the sand mold 36.

31641 T fl fl, and a deposition 62 is placed on top thereof. The sides of this sand mold 36 are behind in order to facilitate the implementation of said installation formed as slanted. The resulting state of the above-described installation of the clamping frame 60 and the deposition 62 is best seen from the drawings in FIG. 2a, in which the direction of movement of the clamping frame 60 and the stack 62 to their respective location on the sand mold 36 is indicated by an arrow 64. The clamping frame and stowage installation station 24 includes as part of a lifting device for lifting and lowering the stacks and clamping frames which is provided with gripping arms 70 for gripping, firmly gripping and releasing the respective clamping frame 60 and storage 62 using friction, magnetic or any other means that may be used in combination with the system of the present invention. These gripping arms 70 are, as can be seen from the illustrations in FIG. 2c, adapted to move between the upper and lower deadbars, and this movement is controlled by the main shaft 74 and performed by the auxiliary bars 76. In the preferred embodiment, the gripping arms 70 are provided with hooks 72 which engage the lateral projections 66 arranged on the clamping frames 60 (see Figures 2a and 2c). In normal operation, the gripper arms 70 move only in the vertical direction by first lifting the clamping frame assembly 60 and the stowage 62 from the storage trolley 52, then sliding the sand mold 36 to its corresponding position and finally performs the installation of the clamping frame assembly 60 and the sand mold assembly 62.

Sand molds 36 equipped with a clamping arm 60 and a depot 62 extend from the clamp frame and depot installation station 24, along the rail 82 of the transfer system 20 for transferring the molds to the casting station 26. As can be seen from the drawings in FIG. 1a and 1b, in this casting station 26, the molten metal is introduced into the sand molds 36 through the inlet channels therein. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1

31641 T • · · · · · <<9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 A and 1 b, the molten metal is fed into the sand molds 36 from the casting vessel 90, although it is of course possible to use any other means or apparatus useful for this purpose. In a preferred embodiment, the casting vessel 90 is supported on an overhead conveyor 92 that allows both the manual handling of the casting vessel 90 and its transfer between the molten metal source and the casting station 26.

At this point, it must be noted that the mold transfer system 20 is not driven by the conveyor device in the traditional sense in that it does not include any internal power train at all, but instead includes a guide rail 86 as part of which the wheels 54 The equipped storage trolleys 52 slide by means of piston plungers 104 arranged on the transfer devices 100 and 102. These transfer devices 100 and 102 are completely identical and will be described in detail with reference to FIG. 3a, 3b and 3c, the only difference being that they are conveniently located at opposite ends of the rail tracks 82 and 84. The transfer base 114 carries a transfer piston plunger 106, a pair of guides 118 and a pair of transfer rails 12_2. On the operating rails 112, in turn, by means of a pair of guide rails 86a supported there is an operating carriage 108, equipped with rolling rollers 110 arranged in mutual engagement with the operating rails 112. These guide rails 86a correspond to the guide rails 86 and are adapted to accommodate the carriages. 52 from the first track 82 to the second track 84 and vice versa. A piston plunger 104 is attached to the inner end of the trolley 108.

At the moment of insertion of the respective storage trolley 52 onto the transfer trolley 108 of the transfer device 100, 102, the transfer trolley 108 and the storage trolley 52 are moved transversely from the position in alignment with the first track 82 to the position by the transfer piston plunger 106. in which it is in the settlement

31641 T with a second rail track 84 or vice versa. During this transverse movement, the rolling rollers 110 travel on the operating rails 112, while the guide rollers 116 roll in the guides 118. As can be seen from the illustrations in FIG. 3c, the guides 118 have curved end portions 120. These curved end portions 120 of the track 118 serve to steer the conveying carriage 108 and the load moved therein slightly away from the rail tracks 82 and 84 while being located between these rail tracks 82. and 84, thereby providing sufficient clearance. Upon reaching the beginning of the rail tracks 82 and 84, the guide rail guide 118 positions the substantially straight plane and aligns with the guide rails 86 such that the carriage 52 can, in this state, leave the transfer device 100, 102.

As can be seen from the representations of FIG. 1a and 1b, each storage trolley 52 is engaged with the other two storage trolleys 52 upstream and downstream thereof. Accordingly, the transfer device 100 and 102 provides driving movement along the rails 82, 84 by using piston plungers 104. After moving the storage carriage 52 by the first transfer device 100 from the first track 82 to a position close to the second track 84 The piston plunger 104 moves the carriage 52 from the carriage 108 towards and onto the second track 84. The force and efficiency of this drive movement directs the carriage 52 to the second track 84, and through other carriages 52 located on the second track. 84, the other stowage carriages 52 on this rail track are moved until the last stowage carriage 52 is finally moved to the conveyance carriage 108 of the second conveyor device 102.

From the above, it can be seen that after moving from the first rail track 82 to the second rail track 84, the sand molds 36 rotate and move to the stowage and shrink frame moving station 30 in the direction indicated by the arrow 124. In this context,

31641 T 9 it is clear that immediately after reaching the molten metal into In the casting station 26, the molten metal begins to cool. During the gradual passage of the sand molds 36 through the conveyor system 20 after the molds have been moved, the molten metal is continuously cooled until a semi-solid state is reached. As a result, upon reaching the removal station 30 and the clamp reinforcement frames, the depots 62 and the clamp reinforcement frames 60 can be removed from the respective molds without being melted, in this state the semi-solid metal already adversely affecting the integral integrity of the sand mold. 36. The pockets 62 and the clamp reinforcement frames 60, after retracting them, are placed back on the storage trolley 52, rotated and moved to the station 24 for installation of the clamp frames and slots. In the clamping frame and stowage installation station 24, there is provided a stowage assembly of stowing and stiffening frames, comprising as part gripping arms 70, which grip the respective stiffening frame 60 and stowage 62 again, clamp and lift up along the axis of the main shaft 74. After raising the clamping frame 60 and the stowage 62 at the clamping frame and stowage installation station 24 to an elevated position, the new sand mold 36 formed by the spray arm 46 is moved to the first stowing position 56 on the stowing carriage 52 in the manner described above. visible from the representations of FIG. 2a and 2b. then the clamping frame 60 and the deposition 62 are installed on the new mold 36.

In the stowage and clamp frame removal station 30, the stowage and clamp frame lifting device comprises as part of a gripper arm (not shown) that moves downwardly to grip and grip the respective stowage and clamp frame as they move in the direction upwardly for lifting and thus pulling away this deposition and clamping frame from the sand mold 36. Then, the sand mold 36 is moved to the second storage position 58 in the direction indicated by the arrow 126 shown in FIG. 2a and 2b. This sand mold 36 is moved to the second storage position 58 via

31641 T ·· ·· ·· ·· ········· · · · β ·············· Syringe arms 130. The syringe arm 130 is substantially identical to the syringe arm 46 in that it is driven by a hydraulic piston plunger, in this case, a hydraulic piston plunger 132, and includes a shoe 134 intended to engage sand molds 36 as part of it. visible from the representations of FIG. 2a and 2b, when moving the sand molds 36 from the first storage position 56 to the second storage position 58 by the spray arm 130 adjacent thereto, the sand mold 36 that was originally located in this second storage position 58, forcibly forces the conveying system 20 onto transferring the molds to the mold sand removal station 32, wherein the first storage position 56 remains empty. Upon release of the first stowage position 56, the just retracted stack and stowage frame assembly is placed back on the stowage carriage 52, as described above.

In FIG. 4, a second preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown in which a third plunger arm 150 is operatively coupled to the plunger plunger 48, i.e. the same plunger plunger 48 that controls the sprayer arm 46, provided with a shoe 152. The third sprayer arm 150 extends downwardly between the sand molds 36 located in the first storage position 56 and the second storage position 58 on the storage trolley 52 located immediately in front of the storage trolley 52, which is located directly in the storage withdrawal station 30 and the clamping frame. In this arrangement, the spray gun arm 46 moves the sand mold 36 from the conveyor belt 42 to the first storage position 56 on the storage carriage 52 on the first track 82, while the spray gun arm 150 moves the sand mold 36 from the second storage position 58 on the storage carriage 52 from the conveying system 20 for transferring the molds to the station 32 for removing deposited molding sand. Subsequently, the storage carts 52 will be rotated and moved to the first position, and the sprayer arm 130 will move the sand mold 36 (after removal of the stowage 62 and the clamping frame 60 from this mold) from the first storage position 56 to the released second storage position 58.

31641 T ······················· In substantially the same manner as in the first preferred embodiment.

In view of the foregoing, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the mold transfer system 20 provides a sufficiently long residence time to cool molten metal in the sand molds 36. During this residence time, the sand molds 36 are moved into the first track 82 and the second rail track 84 first in the first storage position 56, after which the molds are moved along the first rail track 82 and the second rail track 84 in the second storage position 58, whereby the molten metal inside the mold cools and solidifies to form a solidified casting. The sand cast and adhered to the solidified casting may be removed from the casting in the mold sand removal station 32. In a preferred embodiment, this removal is accomplished using a ramp 33 and a shake-out container 34. The shake-out container 34 is provided with a vibrating conveyor belt to facilitate and assist in separating the remaining deposited molding sand from the casting.

An essential feature of the present invention is to provide a planar base of simple and uncomplicated construction for the purpose of accommodating the conveyor mechanism represented in the described embodiment by rail tracks 82, 84 and conveying devices 100 and 102. In accordance with the present invention, sand molds have been installed. they move in one and the same horizontal plane until the molding sand is removed, making the space below this support plane free to accommodate the respective support structure of any type and at the same time realizing the foundation reinforcement necessary for each installation of this type . The need to raise and return the storage trolleys to their original lower position is completely eliminated in this state.

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In addition, each storage trolley is adapted to receive two sand molds in a first storage position and a second storage position, wherein the sand mold located in the first storage position is usually reinforced by a clamping stiffening frame, while the sand mold located in the second storage position is free of frame. The first storage position is primarily intended for casting and the initial stage of cooling, while the second storage position is intended for cooling (and optionally for removal of molding sand). Based on this arrangement, it will be clear to those skilled in the art that only a single mold transfer system 20 can be used for both the molten metal casting operation and the molten metal cooling operation.

It is a further feature of the present invention to provide a single support structure for a number of different, independently of each other work stations, which in many cases usually have the support structures themselves. As can best be seen from the illustration in FIG. 1a, 1b, and 2a to 2c, the support structure 138 extends over and spans both the first and second track tracks 82, 84 of the mold transfer system 20. This support structure 138 has a simple construction and generally includes a first vertical column upright 140, a second vertical column upright 141, a kit frame support structure 142, a clamping frame / stowage, and a piston plunger / syringe frame support structure 144.

In a preferred embodiment, the first vertical uprights 140 extend from the ground up and terminate at the corners of the support frame structure 144 of the piston plunger / syringe assembly. The plunger plungers 48 and 132 are attached to the support frame structure 144, and the sandblaster arms 46 and 130 are attached to the plunger plungers 48 and 132. The second vertical uprights 141 extend from the support frame structure 144 of the plunger / syringe assembly. up and are terminated

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............ · in the corners of the supporting frame structure 142 of the clamping frame / stack. Attached to this support frame structure 142 are stations 24 for installing clamping frames and depots, and stations 30 for removing depots and clamping frames.

From the above, it can be seen that the support structure 138 is relatively simple, yet is able to provide a compact rack frame on which it is supported and which carries a plurality of stations for carrying out various operations or work activities. These types of work include introducing a new sand mold to a first storage position in a mold transfer system, installing clamping frames and stowing molds, removing the molds and stowing frames from the molds, moving the sand molds to a second stowing position, and finally removing of these sand molds from the mold transfer system. Furthermore, said support structure 138 provides for the possibility of a centered arrangement of the control means (not shown) for controlling the control of all the above-mentioned work activities.

Since the conveying system according to the present invention is controlled numerically by means of the control means, it is possible to dynamically adapt the working operation of the system via the operator input.

In this state, the residence time or cooling time of the molten metal within each sand mold 36 is also dynamically adjustable. Furthermore, the speed of the mold transfer system 20 and the formation rate of the sand molds 36 at the molding station 22 are adjustable. each of these operations, as well as the driving movements of the strut arms 46 and 130 centrally controlled, the respective characteristic parameters of the entire mold transfer system 20 can be increased and decreased uniformly.

From the above, it must be understood that the present invention brings to the state of the art a new and improved conveying system for

31641 T ·································· Mold relocation, which by its nature is simple and compact, while at the same time providing improved uniformity of displacement achieved by a linear and in-line arranged path of a technological flow flow paired apart in a transverse direction adjacent to each other by rails operating systems.

Claims (7)

PATENT CLAIMS A mold transfer system adapted for use in combination with a molding apparatus comprising a molding station for generating a plurality of sand molds and a mold sand removal station from solidified castings, said mold transport system comprising: planar base; a first rail track mounted on a planar base; a second rail track disposed on a planar base and arranged substantially parallel to the first rail track; a plurality of storage trolleys disposed on said first and second rail tracks, wherein each storage trolley is designed to receive sand molds fed from the molding station, each storage trolley being adapted to support two sand molds side by side in a clamping frame a reinforced first storage position and in a non-frame second storage position, that the storage trolleys on the first track are moved to the casting station and that the storage trolleys on the second track are moved to the molding sand removal station; a first striker and a first stowage and clamp stiffening device cooperating to remove the stowage and clamp stiffening frame from the partially cooled sand mold and then move the partially cooled sand mold to a second storage position for further cooling; 31641 T ············································································· A first transmission device arranged at respective ends of the rail tracks for operating the storage trolleys in a transverse direction between the rail tracks; and a second transfer device for driving the storage trolleys along the rail tracks in opposite directions to each other. The mold transfer system according to claim 1, further comprising a second plow and a second pickup and clamp lift mechanism cooperating to transfer the sand molds from the sand molding forming station to the conveying system, and then installing the pickups; clamping frames for these sand molds. The mold transfer system of claim 1, further comprising a single support structure extending across the pair of track tracks, the support structure supporting a first pacifier, a second pacifier, a first lifting device of the piling and clamping frames, and a second lifting mechanism for storage and clamping frames. Mold transfer system according to claim 2, characterized in that said first and second stacking and clamping frame lifting devices comprise gripping arms adapted to engage respective stacks and clamping frame mounted on sand molds which are located on the sand molds. in the first storage position below these lifting devices. Mold transfer system according to claim 3, characterized in that the second plow shifts the sand molds into the first storage container. 31641 T ············································ Positions below the second lifting device of the stowage and clamping frames, and that the first plow shifts the sand molds, after withdrawing the stowing and clamping frames from these molds, from the first stowing position to the second stowing position. The mold transfer system of claim 5, further comprising a third spray arm, wherein the third spray arm moves each sand mold from the second storage position to the mold sand removal station. The mold transfer system according to claim 1, wherein the second transfer device comprises a piston plunger for imparting drive movement to the sand cart for transferring the sand molds along the transport system.