US2102378A - Roll-off molding machine - Google Patents

Description

Dec.-14', 1937. w. H. NICHOLLS 2,102,378

ROLL-OFF MOLDING MACHINE Filed Feb, 5, l1936 Patented Dec. 14, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ROLL-OFF MOLDING MACHINE New York Application February 5, 1936, Serial No. 62,523

'l' Ciaims.

The invention relates to foundry equipment and has particular reference to what is known in the art and to the trade as a jolt, squeeze and roll-oit molding machine.

It is well known that machines have been devised embodying means for applying to a flask any desired number of successive blows or jolts, by suitably controlled pneumatic means for the purpose of shaking and distributing the sand properly about the patterns, subsequently to which a different piston is brought into operation for the purpose of squeezing the flask together with the sand and patterns therein so as to compress the sand nrmly about the patterns and thereby produce sharp and Well defined molds in which high class castings may be made. Some machines of this general character are also provided with rollers adapted to be brought into engagement with the ask, after the molding operation, so that the ask and the molds therein may be rolled off from the machine onto other appropriately located rollers ready for removal and the subsequent casting operation.

The present invention relates to machines of the l above mentioned type and has for its general object the provision of a roll-ofi structure which is movably mounted so as to be automatically swung out of the Way of the flask at certain times and to be swung into operative relation to the flask for supporting it at the conclusion of the squeezing operation, the position oi the roll-ofi device being controlled by that of the top frame and squeeze head.

An important object of the invention is to provide a roll-ofi device of this character which may be adjusted so as to permit the use of different sizes of pattern plates and asks.

Still another object is to provide a device of this character which may be applied as an attachment to already existing molding machines at present or initially unequipped with any roll-on device, the additions to existing machines being easily made and not involving any serious changes.

A more specific object oi the invention is to provide a molding machine with a roll-oit device including laterally swingable 'bars each equipped with a series of rollers adapted to be engaged beneath the iiask at the appropriate time for the purpose of enabling it to be slid off onto a suitable trackway without any jarring such as might disurb or break down the molds Within the flask.

An additional object is to provide a device or structure of this character and for this purpose which will be simple and inexpensive to manufacture in addition to being easy to apply, positive and automaticin action, efficient and durable ln service, and a general improvement in the art.

To the attainment of the foregoing and other objects and advantages, the invention preferably consists in the details of construction and the arrangement and combination of parts to be hereinaiter more fully described and claimed, and illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which:

Figure l is a view partly in side elevation and partly in vertical section illustrating the machine, a portion of the flask being broken away,

Figure 2 is a top plan view with part of the ask and base broken away,

Figure 3 is a fragmentary detail section taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Referring more particularly to the drawing the machine is represented as including a base lil formed centrally with a cylinder II and near its ends with guide sockets I2. slidable within the cylinder Il is a squeeze piston I3 formed as a cylinder Within which is in turn slidable a jolt piston i carrying a jolt and squeeze head I5 forming part of or engaging a top frame I6 upon which is adapted to be disposed a pattern carrying plate il upon which rests the flask I8 in which the molding of any desired patterns is to be carried out. The squeeze and jolt pistons I3 and Id, respectively, are adapted to be operated by pneumatic pressure, though said means is not shown for the reason that it is old and Weil known and may be of any desired type for instance as illustrated in the patent to J. R. Dunbeck, No. 1,545,817 or in my prior Patent No. 1,472,807, the arrangement in said and also in other patents being such that the jolt piston I4 is movable independently or the squeeze piston I3 Whereas both the jolt and squeeze pistons move together during the squeeze operation.

For guiding purposes, the squeeze head I5 is represented as having depending arms I9 carrying guide sleeves or sockets 26 slidably receiving pins or rods 2i extending downwardly from the top frame, and the top frame It is provided With arms 22 having downwardly offset ends 23 through which are secured guide rods 2li which are slidable Within the sockets I2, these sockets being preferably bushed at 25 and 26 so that wear can be taken up, it being important that the top frame i3 must have a smooth movement so as to avoid disturbing the sand after the squeeze operation is completed and the squeeze head retreats from the top of the machine.

Though it is not illustrated herein, machines oi this general type include an upstandlng post 'ITI rising from the base and carrying a vsw'ingable arm equipped with a pressure head which is vertically adjustable as by means of a screw connection, for instance as illustrated in the above men'- tioned Dunbeck Patent No. 1,545,817. The purpose of such a pressure head is of course to pro- Vide'an abutment against which the top of the sand engages during the squeeze position of the machine. From knownrartit is thought that thisl will be quite apparent.

In carrying out the present invention, the essential feature of which is the provision of novel roll-off means which will not interferewith downward movement of the parts at certain times but which will support the flask after the molding operation, I provide at each corner of the base an elongated supporting bracket 21 bolted or cast into place and having an outwardly oi'set inter# Vmediate portiondeiining a slot 28. Mounted on each of these brackets is a clevis V29 having a reducedstem portion 30- extending through the slot 28 and carrying a securing nut 3`I. These clevises are adjustable along the slots 28 in accordance with the size of the pattern plate and flask desired to be used.A Pivoted' at 32 within each clevis is an upstanding arm 33 normally maintained in vertical position by virtue of the provision of a laterally extending counter-weight 34,-or its equivalent, engaging a stop 35 on the associated clevis. At their upper ends the arms 33 at each end of the machine carry horizontally disposed. bars 36 on each of which is'journaled a series of flanged rolle-rs 31. These bars are outwardly offset at their central portions as shown at 38 to accommodate or avoid interference with the ears 39 and 40 on the pattern plate and ilask respectively, which ears are connected by dowel pins 4Il for maintaining the flask in proper position upon the pattern plate.

When the Varms 33 carrying the rollers 31 are in their vertical positions they are not in the path of verticaltravel of the pattern plate, as clearlyy indicated at the right `of Figure 2 but they are, however, in obstructing relation to downwardl movement of the flask as shown at the left hand of Fig-ure 2inasmuch as the flask projects` somewhat beyond the ends of the pattern' plate. To effect movement of the arms outwardly so as to be out of the path of travel of the iiask, Yl-'provide a-t each corner portion of the top frame I6 an elongated guide or camming member 42 secured in place by studs 43' passingV through elongated slots 44, the idea being to provide for adjustment of the guides orcamming members in accordance with the adjustedl posi-- tions of the olevis members 29. These guide or camming members 42 engage against the inner edges of the arms 33 which have their upper portions partly cut away at 45 to provide inclined cam or wedging surfaces 46', it beingclear that whenV the top frame I6 is in lowered posi-tion the guide or camming members 42 riding over the inclined cam or wedge surfaces 46 and travelling down the inner edges of the arms 33 to their lowermost positions indicated by the dot and dash lines at 4-1 in Figure 1 will swing the arms 33 outwardly upon their pivots 32, thereby moving the bars 36 outwardly so that the rollers 3-1 carried thereby will be in the positions showrl by dot and dash lines in Figure l', the rollers being then out of the path of travel of the ilask.

In the use of the machine, it should be understood that at the very outset the clevis members 29j must be adjusted along the slots 28 a-nd that the guide or camming members. 42 mustbe simi'- larly adjusted by means of the studs 43 passing through the slots 44, all in accordance with the size of the pattern plate and flask which are of course arranged in superposed relation upon the top frame I6 and connected by the dowels 4|. The desired patterns are supported upon the patern plate I 1 and sand is poured into` the flask I8 so as to surround the patterns. 'I'he drawing shows the jolt and squeeze head I5, the top frame I6', pattern plate I1 and flask I8 in their positions of maximum elevation. However, the initial position of the parts is their lowered one with the squeeze pistonY I3 at the bottom of the cylinder I I@ and it is at this time that the flask and pattern are, placed in position and the sand poured into the flask., It should of course be understood that at this time, that is to say when the parts I3, I4, I5, I6, I1 and I8 are in their lowered po-V sition thearms 33 carrying the bars 36 equipped with the rollers 31 are in their divergent relationship. Whatever control means is provided, not shown as forming no part of the present invention andas being old and well known in the art, is then operated to admit compressed? air beneath the jolt piston I-4 which ils` caused, likewise by means. old in the art, to reciprocate vertically rather rapidly for the purpose of jolt-- ing the pattern plate and flask and thereby set--Y tling the sand about the patterns- Subsequentlyto this, whatever control means is provided is actuated to admit fluid pressure into the squeeze cylinder I I so that the squeeze piston I3, togethery with the then inactive jolt piston I4 willbe forced upwardly, the squeeze head I5 then applying upward pressure against the top frame |16 and through the pattern plate I1r to the sand2 within the flask I8 so that the sand will' be thoroughbI compressed about the patterns and betweenl the pattern plate I1 and the pressurel plate or head, above referred to but which is not illustrated asbeing old and well known. This completes the molding operation. As the top frame I'6- moves upwardly to perform the squeeze operation the guide or camming members 42 ride off from those portions of the inner edges of the arms 33 below the inclined shoulders 46, ride upwardly over the shoulders 46 and against the inner edges ofv the cutaway portions 45- at the upper ends of the arms 33. The counter-weights 34 at the lower ends of the arms 33 then operate to restore the arms 33 to their vertical positions. The pneumatic control means isthen operated to release the air pressure beneath the squeeze pistonv I3- so that this squeeze piston together with the squeeze head I5, top frame I6. and pattern plate I1 may movey downwardly to the normal or lowered pos-i tion.V However, as the arms 33 are thenA vertically disposed the rollers 31 willl be in the path of travel of the flask I8 which will descend until its ends rest upon the rollers so that it may be pushed olf onto whatever trackways or other guide rollers: are provided at either side of the machine. The remaining parts are permittedl to continue their descent whereupon the guide or cammi'ng members 42 willagain move the arms 33 and rollers 3.1 outwardl;7 so thatr the cycle of operations able it to be rolled off when the molding operation has been completed. It is thought from the above that the construction, operation and advantages will be readily apparent to one skilled in the art without further explanation.

While I have shown and described the preferred embodiment of the invention, it should be understood that the disclosure is merely an exemplifioation of the principles involved as the right is reserved to make all such changes in the details of construction as will widen the eld of utility and increase the adaptability of the device provided such changes constitute no departure from the' spirit of the invention or the scope of the claims hereunto appended.

Having thus described the invention, I claim:

1. In a molding machine including a base carrying a squeeze cylinder, a squeeze piston slidable within said cylinder and formed with a jolt cylinder, a jolt piston slidable within said jolt cylinder and carrying a jolt and squeeze head, a top frame supported by said squeeze head, laterally positioned guiding means for said frame, a pattern plate connected to said frame and normally adapted to engage and support a iiask, roll-off mechanism for said flask comprising a pair of roll bars adapted to underlie adjacent portions of said ilask, arms for pivotally and adjustably supporting said bars, and adjustable means carried by said frame for maintaining said roll bars out of the path of movement of the said ask during a portion of the downward movement of said frame.

2. In a molding machine including a base carrying a squeeze cylinder, a squeeze piston slidable within said cylinder and formed with a jolt cylinder, a jolt piston slidable within said jolt cylinder and carrying a jolt and squeeze head, a top frame supported by said squeeze head, laterally positioned guiding means for said frame, a pattern plate connected to said frame and normally adapted to engage and support a ask, roll-01T mechanism for said flask comprising a pair of bars carrying rollers positioned on opposite sides of said squeeze head, each of said bars having an oiset portion to clear said adjacent frame guiding means, and arms for pivotally and adjustably supporting said bars, and adjustable means carried by said frame for maintaining said bars out of the path of movement of said ask during a portion of the downward movement of said frame.

3. In a molding machine including a base carrying a squeeze cylinder, a squeeze piston slidable within said cylinder and formed with a jolt cylinder, a jolt piston slidable within said jolt cylinder and carrying a jolt and squeeze head, a top frame above the squeeze head supporting a pattern plate carrying a flask, upstanding arms pivoted on the machine, a roll bar carried by each pair of said arms, means tending to normally maintain said arms in position with said roll bars in the path of downward movement of the flask, and means carried by said squeeze head and adapted to engage said arms to force the same out of the path of downward movement of said head after a predetermined movement of said head, and means carried by said arms for continually urging said arms into load supporting position.

4. In a molding machine including a base carrying a squeeze cylinder, a squeeze piston slidable within said cylinder and formed with a jolt cylinder, a jolt piston slidable within said jolt cylinder and carrying a jolt and squeeze head, a top frame supported by said squeeze head, laterally positioned guiding means for said frame, a pattern plate supported on said frame and adapted to normally engage and support a ask, roll-ofi mechanism for said flask comprising a pair of roll bars and a pair of arms for pivotally and adjustably supporting each of said bars, means continually urging said roll bars into ask engaging position, and means carried by said frame and movable therewith for forcing said bars out of ask supporting position upon downward movement of said squeeze head to normal position.

5. In a molding machine including a base carrying a squeeze cylinder, a squeeze piston slidable within said cylinder and formed With a jolt cylinder, a jolt piston slidable within said jolt cylinder and carrying a jolt and squeeze head, a top frame above the squeeze head supporting a pattern plate carrying a flask, upstanding arms pivoted on the machine, a plurality of roll bars carried by said arms, means carried by the arms for normally maintaining said roll bars in the path of downward movement of the ask, and means operating upon downward movement of said top frame to swing said arms outwardly to move said rollers out of flask engaging position, the pivots of said arms and the means carried by said top frame and cooperating with the arms for moving them being both adjustable laterally to accord with iiasks of different dimensions.

6. In a molding machine, a base, a top frame carrying a pattern plate for supporting a flask, jolt and squeeze means reacting against said top frame, brackets mounted on the base, pivot elements laterally slidably adjustable along said brackets toward and from each other, upstanding arms pivoted on said pivot elements, guide members mounted on the top frame and reacting against said arms for swinging the same laterally out of the path of travel of the flask, and means for adjusting said guide members toward or from each other to .accord with the adjustability of said pivot elements.

7. In a molding machine, a base, a top frame carrying a pattern plate supporting a ask, jolt and squeeze means reacting against said top frame, and roll-oil means comprising longitudinally slotted brackets mounted in a horizontal position upon the base, bolts extending vertically through said slotted brackets and adjustable therealong, upstanding arms pivoted on said bolts and formed with inclined surfaces, the arms on each side of the machine carrying bars, rollers mounted on said bars, guide members mounted in horizontal positions upon the top frame for coaction with said inclined surfaces for moving said arms out of the path of travel of said flask, and means for adjusting the positions of said guide members in accordance with the adjustment of said pivot bolts to enable the parts to accommodate ilasks of different sizes.

WILLIAM HENRY NICHOLLS.

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