US2638645A - Foundry device - Google Patents

Description

May 19, 1953 W. J. OLSON FOUNDRY DEVICE 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 8, 1949 ww ww INVENTOR. WALTER .J. OLSON ZOU ATTORNEYS w. J. OLSON FOUNDRY DEVICE May 19, 1953 e Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 8, 1949 w mm mm R k vmw INVENTOR- WALTER J. OLSON ATTORNEYS w. J. oLsoN FOUNDRY DEVICE May 19, 1953 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed NOV- 8, 1949 wx m3 p Q MW IN VEN TOR.

OLSON WALTER J. BYWW Q CW ATTORNEYS 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 W. J. CLS ON FOUNDRY DEVICE Mgy 19, 1953 Filed NOV. 8, 1949 7 INVENTOR.

ATTORNEYS N S O R M A W W Y B w. J. OLSON FOUNDRY DEVICE May 19, 1953 6 Shets-Sheet 5 Filed Nov. 8, 1949 V n O n Al v vw n n I] x Q :99 Q n nm R n I W N: R Q m QM i; M .mN\ Q E NW1 mm \\.m IHINIR NJ 1 mm m l R QQ E R uv IN VEN TOR.

N o S L O I R E u A W ATTORNEYS May 19, 1953 w. J. OLSON FOUNDRY DEVICE Filed Nov. 8, 1949 HOIST 30/ F5? TRAVEL 780%U/ AIR INLET I EXH. 63 FIG. 6 TO I T0 T0 T T0 T0 T TO I? RESERVOIR RESERVOIR CYLINDER CYLINDER CYLINDER CYLINDER I v I 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 TRAVEL OPENING AND CLOSING GRAB CONTROL Z w M Ma FIG.IO

ma I 275 272 GRAB 30M RAISING 28041 [12 AND I 2% 2% LOWERING 265 20/ FIG. l2

INV ENTOR.

, WALTER J. OLSON ATTORNEYS Patented May 19, 1953 refs-r ce EQUNDRY'DEYICE: I

*Wetl-t-er-ZIPOls'on-g- Clifton, N. J., assignor to Ameri- -ca n Brake Shoe fiompanyg New' fiol kJm Ya, a corporationsof Delaware 7 anplitati aummher s,"194a,sriai m rzaiiz This "invention relates to fioundryeguipmetit, and-more particularly to 'transportirrgudevices, et the type pa ticula ly .well .adaptew 'us i handling molds and ffi'asks infoundries-antithelike;

In" many places; and" especially factories, foundries; andthe like, .it is often necessary'ito transport relativelyheavy-articles:repeatedlyiover the 'sameipatlr; "Thisris les pecially'true'in foundrie's wherein; after molds have been poured -they1 10 are normally stored" at cooling. station until" cooland are then transportedito afshake out de-- vice which is effective tovibrate *themoldi-irsudh a manner that theI.casting,"and; themolding'isand' are separated-from the flask amii'in adtiition',-;the* l5 sand'is' vibrated ofi from-rthe casting; the castings thenbeing transportedto a'suitablestorage place; and the flasksbeing transportedto' another storage "space *wherethey maybe cleaned and "made ready for re-use.

,It is a primary object 'ofimy invention to enable-molds -and";the like'to be-"moved "along, pred'etermined'pathasmh 'asbetweenacooling station "and a shake-'out-device; in anovel and 'ex-- peditiousmanner:

Another object is to afford novel mechanism" for transporting molds; audithelike-and tofenable such mechanism-to Ice-arranged a novel and expeditious mannerrfon affording a" novel system for transporting-mol-dsyand the-,j'like; over 1-30 a predetermined-path.

In "most foundries:and*the*1ike; ,floor-space is: somewhat at"a premiumywith-the resulttl'rat in order to conserve ,fioor -;spa ce it "is-oftewdesirabl' t0 "stack 'pouredmolds' one oniton'df theotherfjii i duringthec0o1ing- .pe1i0d, and ftlre problemthen arises-as to how to"efie t:tive1y handlethe stackedmol'ds when itis desi red to shakethemout;

It is another-important objectwf myinvf m tion to .enablesuch-stacks. oil 'molds to'be handl'ed 40 expeditiously isoi *thatthe' moldsjrtherein may betransportedtothe'shake outtlevicefin aipradtical 1 and'efficient manner.

An object 'arrcillaryfto the foregoing'iiato'aiford a novel "system wherein stacks *offimoldsmaybe transported as' a unit irom'flthecoolingcstation' toward "the shake-outdevice, and during suoh movement or the staoked'molds; the individual? mcldsanay oe ha-ndlecil" in amoveljand" expeditions manner whereby the individual zmolls may?ble fed onto the shake outtdeviceand 'after havmg been shaken "outtheindiVidualflasks-m'ay be re moved-frcm the shake 0ut' 1i;vioe--forfeeding to astorage-stationfor'emptyflasks.

A -further object oPmy "invent-lends to enableanovel system-to be ailforcted-"whereby stacks of cooledindividuarmoldsmaybefed fromapooling station toward a" shakeeout device, or--'the -like, and the molds-comprisingtthefiifierenttlayersgof" the stack may' be removed *fromdhestack and 300 fed onto the-shake out 'de'vice-i! i.-i-a'-n'ovelr and-*ex peditiousmanner:

5 0lalims. (Cl. 228-) An object 'ancillaryjtothe foregoing is to afford ajnoyel'fsystem"wherein molds -ma'y be-fed in a novel "andiexpeditious mannerseguentially' from thefbottom .nfra'stack of :suchimolds onto a shake out device? A"*ftrrtherobiect"of my'invention is to afforda system of *the aforementioned type embodying a novel grab for handling articles such as'molds andflasks:

Various -typ'es*of "grabs have been known and heretofore used foundry aitf and the like. -I-I'owever, many such gra b sjh ave -had'" several inherent disadvantages such as, for example,- b'eirrgcostlyand difiicult to manufacture; being difiicult and impraoticalfin construction and operation, 'and the like.

Another important Ob iect -of my inventionj is tomvercome'these disadvantages and toafiord -a novel 5 grab l which may be economically manufractured and impracticalandwfiicierlt in con-'- structioir'and *operatiorii Yet another object is'to eonstruct'a-novel grab of the: aforementioned type which is well adapted for handling found-ry molds; andithe like, and

whichismovablebothyerticallyand horizontally,

in a novel andeX-peditiou-s manner:

Ar1irther=ob jeet"=is *toafiord a-nove1 grab of the a-Eorementionedtype wherein the operator may be transported therewith during movement 'in'-*-movemen'*t of tlie grappling arms --towardand away from each other, and in a vertical direction, may' beeffected a praetical arr'd eflicient mannor by a reciprocating-piston type motor-Wherein th'e piston is -reoipr'oeated by pressure exerted thereon by workingalii-id'ied *into the motor under Yet another obfi-ot is tocensttuct a novel grab l of theaforementioned type-insuch a manner that proper alignment-and "positioningofthe gran-- pl'ing arms -is insured -dur-i-rig movement thereof 't-oward and-away rrom eaohzotner. r A further obtectis to enable a gra'b of the aforementioned type 'to be installedfland .used in a novel and eitpeditious manner in" a: foundry-or the like with little loss offloor"space,' and'in .a:

and emoien tly to zraise and lower articles *to- "be transported; and to transport isuo'h' articles horizontal ly. T i

object-istomonstructraainovel grab for picking up and transporting articleshorizontally emilo odies grapplingzarmsiand power means so constit ited'and arranged that theigrape plin'g be moved toward andrawayinom ieach othen th'e grapplin'gzarmsfi may hemmed,

in the manufacturing and upwardly and erted thereon by working fluid fed into the power means under pressure.

Other and further objects of the present invention will be apparent from the following description and claims and are illustrated in the accompanying drawings which, by way of illustration, show a preferred embodiment and the principles thereof and what I now consider to be the best mode in which I have contemplated applying those principles. Other embodiments of the invention embodying the same or equivalent principles may be used and structural changes may be made as desired by those skilled in the art without departing from the present invention and the purview of the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a portion of a foundry system embodying the principles of my invention;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 2-2 in Fig. 3, showing in front elevation, a portion of hoisting mechanism shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 33 in Fig. l;

Fig. 4 is a detail sectional view of the grab shown in Fig. 2, this view being taken substantially along the line 4-4 in Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a detail sectional view taken substantially along the line 55 in Fig. 4; 1

6 is a detail rear elevational view of control mechanism shown in Fig. 2;

Fig. 7 is a detail end elevational view taken substantially along the line 7-1 in Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a diagrammatic view showing the control system for controlling the horizontal travel f the hoist hown in Fig. 3;

Fig. 9 is a diagrammatic view showing the control system for opening and closing the grab shown in Fig. 10 is a diagrammatic view showing; the control system for raising and lowering the grab shown in Fig. 4; 1

Fig. 11 is a detail view of part of the mechanism shownin. 1 for raising and lowering the grab;

Fig. 12- is a detail sectional view taken substan tially along the line; |.2-I2 in Fig. 11;

Fig. 13 is a detail sectional view taken substa-ntially along the; line l3-l3 in Fig. 11;

Fig. 14 is a detail sectional view taken substantially along the line I4l4 in Fig. 11;

Fig. 15 is a detail sectional view taken substantially along the line l5-I5 in Fig. 1;

Fig. 16 is a diagrammatic view showing the control system for operating the conveyor mechanism embodied in my novel system; and

Fig. 17 is a diagrammatic view showing the control system for stop mechanism embodied in. the conveyor shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3.

The foundry system F shown in Figs. 1 to 14, inclusive, to illustrate a preferred embodiment of '4 the period required for the molds to cool. Thereafter, the stacks of molds are, fed from the cooling station along the approach PI of the conveyor C to the left, as viewed in Fig. 1, into a first work station I at which the hoist H1 is disposed. In the operation of my novel foundry system, the molds abovethe first layer in the stack disposed at station I,- are raised by the hoist HI. Thereafter, the bottom layer of the stack, and which was not raised by the hoist H1, is moved by suitable operation of the conveyor C from station I to a work station II, at which the hoist H2 is disposed. This group of molds thus fed to work station II may then be "picked up by hoist H2 and transported to the shake-out device D wherein the molding sand and the castings are dislodged from the flasks, with the sand dropping down through a screen 20 in the shake-out device D, and the castings sliding down a chute 22 toa suitable powerconveyor, such as, for example, a belt conveyor 24 by which the castings may be transported to a suitable storage place,

not shown. The emptyflasks on the shake-out device D may then be picked up by the hoist H2 and returned to the conveyor C at the second Work station II and by suitable operation of the conveyor C may be fed from work station II along the discharge portion P2 of the conveyor C to the left to a suitable storage space, not shown, wherein they may remain until it is necessary to again prepare molds .therein and pour the same, after which the aforementioned operations may be repeated.

As will be discussed in greater detail hereinafter, as the empt flasks are being returned from the shake-out device D to'the second work station II the hoist- HI at the first work station I may be operated to thereby lower the upper layers of the'stackoriginally raised from the work station I back down onto the conveyor C, and then, the hoist HI may again be operated to raise the layer or layers above the bottom layer of molds then disposed on the conveyor C "at station I. Hence, after the empty flasks have been returned from the shake-out device D to the conveyorC at the second work station II, the subsequent operation of the conveyor C to there- .by feed the empty flasks from the second work station II to the left, as previously mentioned,

\ .0 into station II.

seen, ma be repeated until each of the layers of molds originally fed into station I has been fed through station II onto the shake-out device, shaken out, and the empty flasks returned to station II andfed. therefrom along the conveyor C toward the storage space for empty flasks.

After this has been completed, another stack of molds may be fed along the conveyor C into station I and the aforementioned cycle of operations repeated.

my invention comprises, in general, a roller-conveyor system 0, two hoists HI and H2, and a shake-out device D, ,as will be discussed in greater detail hereinafter.

In general, in the operation of the preferred embodiment of my novel foundry system, molds which have been poured are stored in stacked relation at a coolingv station, not shown, during,

The shake out device D forms no part of my invention except inasmuch as it forms a part of my novel combination, and may be any one of several different suitable types which are Well known to those skilled in the art, such as, for

ing vibration of the screen 20 and slide therea 5 from down the chute 22 onto the power conveyor 24.

The hoisting device H2, Figs. 1, 2 and 3, by which the molds passing through station II are transported to the shake-out device D and back to the conveyor C, preferably comprises two suitable pillars or posts such as I- beams 30 and 3|, Figs. 1 and 3, which are mounted on and project upwardly from the floor in the foundry or shop in parallel spaced relation to each other. Two beams such as I- beams 33 and 34 are mounted at one end on, and project horizontally from, the upper end portions of the posts 38 and 3| and are conected together by suitable cross braces 36, 31, 38, 39, and 35, Figs. 1 and 2, the cross braces 38 and 39 extending outwardly on each side of the I- beams 33 and 34, Fig. 2. The other end portions of the beams 33 and 34 are preferably supported from above from suitable building structure such as the girder 4|, Fig. 3.

A grab stop 48 comprising two elongated arms 42 and 43 depending from the cross braces 31' and 38 f the hoist H2, is mounted on the I- beams 33 and 34 with the legs 42 and 43 disposed in spaced relation to the I- beams 33 and 34, as best shown in Figs. 2 and 3. The legs 42 and 43 of the grab stop 48 are disposed in parallel relation to each other, and each has an inwardly projecting flange or leg 45 and 46, respectively, on the lower end portion thereof which affords supporting means for the grab of the hoisting mechanism H2, when the grab is in its lowermost position, as will be discussed in greater detail presently.

The posts 30 and 3|, the I- beams 33 and 34,

a supporting frame 54 mounted on, and depend-' ing from, two carriages 56 and 51, which are mounted on the I- beams 33 and 34, respectively, for movement therealong. Each of the carriages 56 and comprises two pairs of rollers 59 and 60, Figs. 2 and 3, the rollers in each pair being mounted on the lower flange 33a and 34a of the respective I- beams 33 and 34 on opposite sides of the web of the I- beams 33 and 34, whereby the lower flanges 33a and 34a of the I- beams 33 and 34 afiord tracks on which the rollers 59 and 60 may roll with the web of the I- beams 33 and 34 affording a partition wall between the rollers in each pair to thereby afford a guide member for the carriages 56 and 51.

Two hanger arms 62 and 63, Fig. 2, are mounted on opposite sides of the rear end portion of the supporting frame 54, which is disposed toward the right, as viewed in Fig. 3, and depend therefrom in parallel spaced relation to each other. A floor or platform 65, Fig. 3, is mounted on the lower end portion of the hanger arms 62 and 63 by any suitable means such as, for example welding and extends substantially horizontally therefrom in a rearward direction. Suitable braces such as the brace 61, Fig. 3, may be attached to the platform 65 and the supporting frame 54 to lend further supportto the platform- 65. A guard rail 69 may be mounted on the rear end portion of the platform 65 and projects up-. wardly therefrom, as shown in Fig. 3, to afford a hand rail for the operator who will stand on the platform 65 during theoperation of the hoist H2, as will be presently discussed in greater detail. I

The grab 52, Figs. 3, 4 and 5, which is movably supported on the supporting frame 54, for raising and lowering molds relative to the conveyor C at station II, includes two elongated side rails H and 12, Fig. 5, disposed in spaced parallel relation to each other, and an elongated cross beam 14' connected between intermediate portions of the side rails II and 12 by suitable means such as bolts 15, Fig. 4. Two grappling arms 11 and 18, Figs. 3 and 4, are mounted on the side rails II and 12 for movement toward and away from each other, the grappling arm 11 being mounted on the side rails 1| and 12 by means of carriages 8|, Figs. 4 and 5, from which the grappling arm 17 depends, and the grappling arm 18 being similarly mounted on the I-beams H and 12 by means of similar carriages 83, Fig. 4, from which the grappling arm 18 depends. The carriages 8| and 83 are all similar, each comprising two plates 85 and 86, Fig. 5, disposed in parallel spaced relation to each other and retained in such relation by means of a suitable spacer 88 disposed therebetween and connected thereto by suitable means such as welding. Each of the carriages 8| and 83 includes four rollers journaled on suitable shafts 9| mounted in the plates 85 and 86, with two of the four rollers in each carriage being rotatably mounted on a corresponding one of the plates 85 and 86, respectively. The rollers 99 are disposed at the upper edge portion of the plates 85 and 86, Fig. 5, and are mounted on the lower flanges of the respective I-beams H and 12, the side plates 85 and 86 of the carriages 8| and 83 depending from the rollers 98 with the spacers 88 disposed below the I-beams II and 12 whereby the carriages 8| and 83 may be moved longitudinally of the I-beams II and 12 with the rollers 90 rolling along the lower flange of the I-beams H and I2 to thereby support the carriages 8| and 83. 8

Each of the carriages 8| and 83 also includes another pair of rollers 92, Figs. 4 and 5, rotatably mounted on shafts extending between the plates 85 and 86, the rollers 92 being disposed in rolling contact with the lower face of the respective I-beams H and 12 to thereby hold the carriages 8| and 83 against upward movement relative to the I-beams'l and 12. v

The grappling arm 11 of thegrab 52, Figs. 4 and 5, comprises a horizontally disposed jaw member 93 to which is connected four drop legs 94, Fig. 5, the lower end portions of each end pair of the drop legs 94 being connected together by a gusset plate 96 welded thereto. The jaw member 93 comprises an elongated bar 99 formed of suitable material such as an angle iron having a horizontally disposed flange |8| and an upwardly projecting flange I02, the upwardly extending flange I82 being attached to the gusset, plates 96 and the lower end portions of the drop legs 94 by suitable means such as bolts 91. L The grappling arm 18, Fig. 4, is similar to the grappling arm 11, including a jaw member I03 comprising an angle iron having a horizontally disposed flange 05 and a vertically .disposed flange I06. Drop legs |08, having gusset plates |09 welded to the lower end portions thereof, are connected to the jaw member I03 "by bolts whichiextend ethrough itheidrop legs M8 .and the plate'zmll.

casiistbest seen .in Fig.1'5, the .dropslegsrinieaoh end pair of .rlrop .ilegs :94 of ithe i grappling zarm 7i! extend vertically along :opposite sides (of ta respective tone :of the marriages 28I, and are attached to a respective one of the side plates 85 iandcBG of the parriage :Bl aby suitable means such (as melding, :Fig. :4. The =drop4legs m8 iof thergrapplmg .arm 118 similarlyiextendpalong, and are welded to thes'ide plates @85 and i8 610i :correspending carriages-3;3,'Fig.-A.

.A ahydraulic z-mctor H15, :compri'sing :aeylinder or housing M T and :a ;piston tor :plu-nger H13 recipro cably mounte-cl :therein, sis .pivotallyrmounted between, :and attached, to the :plat es 2 2115 sand 85 of .oneco-f the narriagesifll, ifligs. Ayand :5. Two pins i! studs zt-I 9 project -.o utwardly :from ,op.=positersides of the housing 2| [2110f .the-imotor :ME and are liournaled .in ;complementary ppenings H20 and 12k! respectively, in-mounting blocks .l 23 -ancl I24 attached to ithe :inner face of the ilower'end portion .of the :pia tes 2.86 and l 8.5,, respectively, ;of the carriage 3i aby suitable means such .as bolts [25. The :free end portion for the piston H8 is connected to the side ;plates and :36 of the carriage 1:83 .onthe :I-heam.=;'l 2 by means .o'f; apivot I30 rmounted in bracket plates 'IBI attached "ate the inner faee of llheglOWGl endgportion ;-of "the last =mentioned side ,plates 285 and 285 :of :the rearriagei8r3.

Similarly, :a Ihydraulic motor I235, Figs. :3 :and 5, comprising a cylinder :or housing 13.6 and a piston \or plunger .is mounted between :the side plates 85rancl :fifimfzthe carriage 83 on the il bea-m H the @oylinder I35 being .rotatably mounted :on pins 1.38, ?Fig. 3,131 Ournalediin blocks I319 mounted on the :inner faeesnof the plates .8, 5 and 8.8 of the carriage --83 {by means of .ho'lts M0. lIhe vfree-end portion of thetshaft 4.37 attached to :the side plates @85 and :86 of the carriage -8I :mounted'on the sLbeam 1:] =,byra;piv;ot;pln M2, Fig. 3, -mounted between r-brackets M3 zcarried by the :last amentionedsideiplatesq85eandzfifi.

.-A shaftlllifi, Fig.5, havingrrackwheels 5 I and IA-B.-mounted=on-the oppesiteend portions thereof, for rotation therewith, is rotatablyrmo-uiitedsin brackets [vita-attached to andadependingfromzthe cross heamlmrof thexgrabi-SL .Two racks I-SZ-and I153, Big. :5, are iconI-iected to the inn-er plate sit-.6 of corresponding carriages ill :on :thmgrappling arm :11! by :means aoi pins 155, Fig. 14, extending throughibrackets 515:6: mounted .on thetinner faces of-rtherrespective ones: of the" plates 2286. The tracks I52 and I53 have teeth [fiddisposedan the :lower face 3thel1e0f :Fig. A, and are slidablyrmountediin guide :members A58 and 1.60, respectively, Fig. .15, which are secured tozthe. cross beam :Wbymeans of 1the1bolts 75, *theeguide :members .I 59 and. IE0 engage the upper :portion of the ;-.racks H52 and I153, and arcefiective to retainthe teeth I58 of the ..racks m2 and H253 .:in operative 1 engagement with the teeth -:on tthe sraek =whe'els M1 and M8, respectively.

isimilarly'twoiracks l 62:1and IBBfFig-li, are attached to ithei lower edge :portionof ztheiinner face of the;plate misonirespective carriages 83 ten the grappling arm t8 by means of-pins-lfifi, Ei'g.-=4, extending through the -'racks ItZwand =I'83 and throughfiibrackets lififismountedron the -inneriface of the last:mentiomed plate -86-of the 'earriages '83. liilteithezrackszlm and [53, the racks .152 and lm have :teeth 2W8 tfornred i in the upper face thereof and are islidabiy amounted ain' -guides 1 I 1'0 and IEII connected hy pins :Ir'lti :to brackets I151andit'l3 attaehed to the lower surface .:of the I-beams 5H and 12, respectively, the guide members flll'and Ifltl engaging the loweredge'portion .of .the racks 52 andEH33andheingreffective toiholdzthe teeth Ifilkonathe racks I152 and I 63 in operative engagemerit -..with the "teeth on the rack wheels I- l'hand I 148, respectively.

.Thus, it *willloe seen :that upon reciprocation of thezplungers'l l8 and t3! inithecylinders laflzand I138 (of .the hydraulic :motors t! 5. and I35, respectively, the grappling-arms .-l--'I and "16 are thereby caused to reciprocatealong-the 'Iebeams -H and 12 .;relative to-each .other, the engagement of the rack wheels I4?! and M8 on :the shaft M5 with the'raoks I52 and I eland thEIIELfikS t53 and-I63, respectively, affording positive guiding means wherebyproperalignment and positioning of the jaws Jill and N5 of thegrappling arms Ti and. $58 is *assured during reciprocation of the grappling arms H andt-lfizbythemotorsl i5 andiH-E. Also, it will :be seen that, if necessary, a movement :of the grappling .-arms i l and TEE in opening and closing relation relative to each-other may beei fectedbyeither one of the hydraulic-motors I15 or 6.35,:tl1e interconnection of the oppositezends of the grappling arms 'i'i and zllqby the :IELGK wheels I47 and M8 Onthe shaft M5 and :the rackslfiz, I53, I62 and I63.being-efiectivetoafford adrivingconnection for theoppositeend portionsof the grappling arms :11 and "i8.

.Reoiprocation of thepistons Liliana lt'itinthe motors M5 and 1! i-ifimay be effected'by alternate- 1y lfeedinga suitable working v.fiuid suchas, for example, compressed air, into the oppositeend portions of-the housings i llandiiifi, respectively aniior this .purpose, I affordhoses l8! and i182 connected 'by suitable coupling members .to .the outer end portions .of theicylinders 1 I11 and 136, respectively, Figs. 4and,5,tand hoses m6 and 1.81 connected by suitablecoupling members to the inner end portions \of thecylinders I I? .and .I 36, respectively, suitable .eontrol means .heingconheated to the hoses 'i'ill, Hi2, 'Ii83-andil'8l, as will be discussedflin greater detailpresently.

For the purpose of raising andlowering .the grab '52 relative tothe supporting "frame'M of the cage 5B,.Lhaveaiiordeda motor MI, Figs. 1,2, 3

andilLcomprising a cylinder or hous'ingI'QZ and a piston or plunger "1'93 reciprocably mounted therein. The housing [92 ofthe motor 'I9I is mounted on icrossbeamsigd and i96,F'igs. 1 and 2, onithe supporting I'frame'fi i o'i'the cage Eli and is securedthereto by means o'f'bolts I98, Fig. 2.

Two shafts'ifil and'Z'fiiZ, Figs. 1,2 and'll are journaled in suitable bearings "2 94 mounted on the upper surface of the supporting frame 540i the cage 5t on opposite sides ofthemotor :I9I. A sprocket wheel "20B is 'mountedon'th'e intermediate. portion'of the shaft 2d i ,Fig. 11,1101 rota tioirtherewith and two ad'ditionalsprocket wheels Miami 2638 are'mounted on'one'endportion of theshait 26 I- and are disposed at one side of the sprocket wheel 2%. mounted on the shafted-2 'for 'rotationtherewith and is disposed in radial-alignment with the sproeketwheelfiw. -A sprcclret 'ehain fi I 2,- l3igs. 1'1 and M, 1 is connected at one end -by-a:clevis joint 2 M to the free end portionof the plunger 93 of the motor I 9! and the otherend portion of the chain l2 1 is i trained over the-sprocket wheel 205 in operative engagement therewith and is pivotally connected to 'the sprocket wheel izot by a pin'ilizli.

SA sprocket Lchain. 2 I8, havingone end: connectover ithe sprocket wheel 01 :and demands from A sprocket wheel "219 isthe-outside edge thereon: and the lower end portion of the chain 218 is connected Joya clevis. 22!

to the top of the I=beam 12, Fig. '3.

Another sprocketehain 223, Figs. l1 and l3 ;-is -connected at one end to the sprocket =whee1= .268 bymeans-of a pin 224and is trained under the I sprocket KVhBCL 208 and over the. sprocket wheel =2! and-depends from the outwardly disposed peripheral edge portion of the wheel zlfita ndis connected to the top of [the I-beam l; hymeans ofaclevisZZB; Fig. 3.

On the other side of the sprocketwheel-2% .irom the sprocket wheels.;2lll and .208. two isprocket wheels ZWa-and 208a are positioned on the other :end. portion of the shaft 20! in positions corresponding to theposi-tions o-fthe sprocket wheels 2%? and 288, respectively. A.-lso,,.as is Joest seen in Fig. 11, a sprocket'wheel Milo is mounted .on the other end portion of the shaft 282 from .the wheel 2 6, midis-disposed in radial'al-ignment withthe wheel 283d. Ansprocket chainfifia Fig.

.11., is mounted on and trained over thesproeket wheel 201a in a manner similar tothatinwhich the sprocket chain '2 I58 is mounted on and trained over .to the sprocket 1287i, and depends iromthe outer peripheral edge portion of the sprocket wheel. Mia and is. connected to the top of. the Hoeah'i .12 hy means eta-a clevis 228; Figs. 1 and 4. Also, similar to ,the manner in which the sprocket 5 nately. feeding suitable workingjfiuids such ,as; f or eexamnle, compressed .air, into. one. end. and then the other of the housin I92, and, for' this,pur- ,pose. I .have.-afior.ded hoses. .2 40 and 2.4 I connected tovithe front and reanendportions. of the housing l 1324.103 scoup'ling .membersfllzdz ..and;"243,. respecttivl'ely suitablenontrol means being. connectedto the hoses? 24.0 and 241. .for. controlling theflow. of .workingrfiuid throngh the' hoses ZMLand 241, as ,will;be!.discussed in greaterdetail. presently.

.fiFor.moringgthe.earriagesjfifi and and thereg iorel-fthe. cage ill and, the ,grablfiz lon itudinally .alonglthe "Irbeams' 3'3 and; 4;, whioh'i'orm a part of "the stationary supporting structure of the hoisting device H-2, as previously discussed, "I

cylinderzflagand ,a; plunger or pistonfifl; Figs; 1 and'pB. "The ihousingizflfl ofthemotor 245 extends ,betweenthe cross braces" 36 andia'land is secured to the loweriiacethereof by suitable means such .20 a'fiiord a motor" 246 which comprises a housing or .as weldingjthe motorfldbeing disposedbetween "the'LI-heamsjxi? andffl, mqsubstantial'iy parallel relation thereto.

.The Ifree end portion of the piston'2 lt9 of the motor'2'46 is connected by a pin 252 and ahrack'et .cha-in. 223 is mounted on and trained over $116 .30f'zfififfigsjjl,andjfigtO the--1zear end portionof'jthe -:sprocket wheels Z-Miand Mme. sprocket chain 223a is connected to the. sprocketwheel 2318a, and .is trained under the-sprocket wheel 2113a. andover --the,.sproeketwhee1 2111a :andqdepends from the sprocketwheel 2I-lloandis mounted to the top v1 ortions of thej'r-nbeamsflw and i3 8 beingidisposed s to' engage the'frontend; portion" of the carriages .of the I-heam 1 iwby means of e clevis 22,), Figs. -,3 ando.

*I-Ienee, it-will be seen that. upon inward movement-of the plunger m3 relative to the housing thereby efiective to cause the sprocket wheels 2.01,

1233;20:112 and Elmo-to rotate irra corresponding direction. This. "will be seen iseffective -.to cause. the chains, 2A8 and 213a toiheimouedrupzwardly around the-sprocket wheels. 201. and. 2111a,

sprocket .wheelsfi lfi-zand-z-lila, respectively, and, thereby effective to, lift. the grab. 52.

. Conversely, it will be seen .thatnpon movement of the. plunger l.93,.outward1y.re1atire to .thehousing m2, of themotorJSlor,in-otherwordstothe left; as riewedin-Eig. .11, the wheellllh and, .therer.-iore,-the=;shatt 20.1 isufreed. :for rotationin-a counterscloclswiseadirection,as viewedlin Fig.14, -.-whereby the-weight-v ot the grab 52cm the -chains 248.; 2.1811,.223 and-223a is effective to cause the :chains 243,;21811, 223.and 223a Ltomnwindirom I the. sprocket .'wheelse2.ll'l,..2fl.'la, 2.08.1and 20580 136- .sspeetive y; and therebylowerithe grab. .52.

For guiding thcgrabZ: in the aiorementioned upward and downward movement I preier to afford vertically extendin :guide. rods 2.3.Land232 -moiunted :on. the hanger arms .162 and so of the -eage-5fie respeetiizely, Fig. .2, suitable .means such as hraekets. 234 and guide "100195 236-, which are mounted on =opposite ends, on the upper. end nportionoithe grapplingarms; Ill-end m, aredisposed harm-ind theaguide rods 23:1 mend 1 23,2420 .therep retain the grab .--52.--inr substantially the send 2230, to rbe..moved v.fomzvard1.y.around -lthe supportingframeifl of the carriagefifl. Two v.st ops 255 andi256 arexmounted on; the 'frontnnd rear endportions, respectively, ,of. each of the Iebeams 33 and-3k, the steps? 55 .on thej'frontjend 56 and 151 to thereby "limit iorwardmoszementof I ithe grab" Stand the-cage!!! alfing their-beams -and'3L-and thestops 256 on thei-beams'fl and -:l.-92-0 f'the -.motor MM, or, inother words, upon goM-heing positioned: toiengagevthe'rear-end pormovement ofthe'. plunger 49.3 to the. right, as

*tion of "theicarriages ifi 'andifi'l" to "thereby limit ":rearw'ardmovement of. the cagefil) and-the grab 52. aionjg' th'e l-"beamsfl and 34.

"It wilibe seen thatwilth the'cyl-inder 2480f the molt-or I246 stationarily mounted on the '--cross braces '36 and "31; asgpreviously" discussed, unevement oithe plunger :24'9 inwardlyandoutwardly relative to. thetcylindeifil'fl may "be effective to 'movepth'e carriagesf-filand 51* rim-therefore, the

ndds vlikewise.efieetive tea-cause.thexchainso223 cage mandthegraofl"back'andforth-along the .I- loeams ;33'and;"3t between the stopsifii-and i 7.56. "Forlthe; purpose of" effectn g such reciproca- .tion of the 'p1ungeri24 9in the cylinder 24; I have aflorded suitable hoses ,or .condui'tsjfia and 259 ,5 which are connected touthe frontand rear end portionsof' the cylindeffld, respectively,'Fig."-'3,

' for. the v purpose. of feeding. alsuitable working "fluid such as, for example, hydraulicifiuid into and. out of thencylinden248 underv the. control of 50 .rneanswhich will he .discussed' greater detail hereinafter.

It will beurememberejd that .during' the covera- .tion. of my. novel .ioundry system the. operator, Moontmlling the. toperationuthereofl stands on .ifihe its platform; 65,.of.the..cage. .511. vits. revioujSLY.men-

itioned,..the. cage y5lli. moves with .thegrab jfizlongi- .tudinally .Qfithe -I-heams 3.3. and .3 4 during operation 40f. thehoistingdeyice Bland forLthe purpose moiaffording controls for the rarionsx-nechanisms J0 embodieds-in my lnovel. .foundr-y ..-system,..I; have s;gme;-;t(eilrtical iy e tendingparalglel relat ontethe .75: iaice of thehan eraarm fl and. contains trolling the opening and closingof the grab 52,

respectively, as willbe discussed in greater detail presently.

I prefer that the motors H5, I35 and l9l be pneumatically operated motors, and that the motor 246 be hydraulically operated but be pneu matically controlled, and for these purposes I afford a suitable airline such as a pipe 265, Figs. 2, 3 and ,6, mounted on the front face of the hanger arm 63 bysuitable brackets 266, which pipe may be connected by a suitable conduit such as an air hose 268 to a suitable source of fluid supply such as, for example, an air compressor,

not shown.

It will be remembered that the hydraulic motor 246 is mounted on the lower face of the brackets 36 and 31, and that one end of the hoses 258 and 259 are connected to the front and rear end portions, respectively, of the cylinder 248 of the motor 246. The other end of the line 258 is connected to two parallel lines 218 and 2", Fig. 8, which are connected by a line 213 to the lower end portion of a hydraulic reservoir or tank 215, which is connected by a line 211 to one discharge port 218 of a control valve 289 of the control unit Ul. A one-way check valve 282, constituted and arranged toopen to permit flow from the motor 246 through the line 210 toward the reservoir 215 is mounted in the line 219; and a manually operable control valve283 is mounted in the line 21l for-controlling the opening and closing of the line 21l. Hence, it will be seen that by opening and closing the valve 283, flow of hydraulic fluid from the tank 215 to the motor 246 may be controlled, but that a by-pass is afforded through the line 210 through which hydraulic fluid may return from the motor 246 to the tank 215 irrespective of whether or not the valve 283 is open or closed.

The line 259 connected to the rear end portion of the cylinder 248 of the motor 246 is similarly connected to two parallel lines 285 and 286 which are connected by a line 288 to the lower end portionof a hydraulic reservoir or tank 289, and the upper end portion of the tank 289 is connected by a line 29! to another discharge port 292 of the control valve 280. An air inlet line 294 having one end portion connected to the air conduit265. Fig. 6, is connected at its other end to an inlet port 296 on the control valve. 280,.and affords means for feeding air from the conduit 265 into the valve 280. An exhaust conduit 298 having one end open to atmosphere, is connected at its other end to a discharge port 299 on the control valve 280.

A handle 39! mounted on the-valve 280 is manually operable to selectively connect the discharge ports 218 and 292 with the exhaust port 299 and the inlet port 296, in a manner well known to those skilled in the .art. The specific construction of the control valve 280 forms no part of my invention except insofar as it forms a part of my novel combination, and various types of control valves which are operable in the same manner as the control valve 280, and which are well known to those skilled in the art, may be usedwithout departing from the purview of my invention.

The control valve 280, which I prefer to use is of the type wherein, when the handle 30! is disposed in position to interconnect the air inlet port 296 with the. air discharge port 218, the air discharge port 292 is simultaneously interconnected with the exhaust port 299;- and, vice versa, when the control handle 30l is disposed in position to connect the air inlet port 296 with the air discharge port 292, the air discharge port 218 is simultaneously connected with the exhaust port 299; also, when the handle 39! is disposed in a position intermediate the aforementioned two positions, all the ports 218, 292, 296 and 299 are closed.

Thus, it will be seen, that, when it is desired to move the piston 249 to the right in the cylinder 248, as viewed in Figs. 3 and 8, to thereby move the cage 50 and the grab 52 rearwardly or, in other words, from left to right on the I- beams 33 and 34, the handle39l of the control valve 289 may be turned to the position wherein the air inlet port 296 is connected with the discharge port 218, and the discharge port 292 is connected with the exhaust port 299, whereby air from the conduit 265 may flow through the line 294, the inlet port 296, the outlet port 218 and the line 211 into the upper end portion of the reservoir 215 to thereby build up pressure in the upper end portion of the reservoir 215. This increase of pressure in the reservoir 215 is efiective to force hydraulic fluid from the bottom of the tank 215 through the line 213, and, the valve 283 being open, through the line 2H and the line 258 into the front end portion of the cylinder 248 to thereby push the piston 249 rearwardly or, in other words, to the right, as viewed in Fig. 8. Such movement of the piston 249 in the cylinder 248 is effective to force hydraulic fluid disposed in the cylinder 248 on the right side of the piston 249, as viewed in Fig. 8, outwardly through the line 259, the lines 285 and 286, and the line 288, into the bottom of the reservoir 289. The feeding of hydraulic fluid into'the bottom of the tank 289, of course, raises the level of the hydraulic fluid in the tank 289 and, the discharge port 292 being interconnected with the exhaust port 299, is effective to push air out of theupper end portion of the tank 289 through the line 29 I the port 292, the exhaust port 299, and the exhaust conduit 298. It will be seen that if, after moving the piston 249 to the right in the cylinder 248, it is desired to then move the piston 249 to the left, the position of the handle 30! may be reversed to thereby connect the inlet port 296 to the discharge port 292 and connect the discharge port 218 with the exhaust port 299 and force hydraulic fluid from the tank 289 into the cylinder 248 on the right end side of the piston 249, as viewed in Fig. 8, to thereby move the piston 2 .9 to the left and force hydraulic fluid from the left side of the piston 249 back into the tank 215 and air from the line 211 to flow outwardly to the atmosphere through the ports 218 and 299, and the exhaust conduit 298. After the piston has been moved to the desired position in the cylinder 248, the handle 30! may be moved to the aforementioned intermediate position, wherein all of the ports 218, 292, 296 and 299 are closed so that the conduits leading to the cylinder 248 may be closed to thereby hold the piston in the adjusted position.

Control of the motor l9! which, it will be remembered, is operated to raise and lower the grab 52, may be effected by a valve 280a in the control unit U2 which is of the same construction as the valve 280 in the control unit Ul. However, as is best seen in Fig; 10, operation of the motor I9! is preferablyeifected directly by air pressure without the intervening hydraulic system embodied in the travel control system of the motor 246. Thus, it will be seen that the lines 249 1 93- to the right --portion of thecylindcr i359 outward-lytherefrom stacca o and/241a whichit will be remembered, arevconnected at one end; by coupling: membersCEZ- and 243; respectively, to the front andarearendsnor tions of the cylinder K820i thenmotor t'fiil ware connectedvv at their other: ends to: discharge: ports :ZTSL-and on'the: valveizima. Likeythe valve 280', the VaJVSI'ZEGCL Fi' a fi and I-OQ 'iS-"cQnn'ected to the air conduit-265 an air inlet linen-29M:

having one-end portion connected toztheair'inlet port, 296a of the valve 288a, and the other 1 end portion connected to the-conduit 1265. 'A discharge. conduitlflaahaving one end open-t: at-

. mosphere randthe other end connectedfi-to discharge -port 29 9a on:.the valve Z'Eita is: aflm dedi'for discharging compressed" air from v the f lines 52M and 241 in the same manner thait. air discharged from the linesvzl ls and 2st through-the valve 280'.

Like the h'ansdl'ei'w l on the valveiibfi, the handie 13mm: on; the valve accuisi manuallywoperable lie-selectively connect the cl-ischarge'ports 21:3 and .zcw-ith the inlet ports 296'w and theexhau'st po'rt 299a, and is also operableato close all the'ports 218a, 292-a,"2%c anctie iat Thus; it i ill'beseen that if it is desired to move the piston lfifi-to-the right, as viewed Fig. 1- 0 the operator may turn the: handle 3am to the predetermined position wherein the di'scharge per-ti 21 8 is connectedto: the

'nected' to the zidischarge port 292 'wher'eby' thevalve 280a is soset that compressed air'mayiflnw from the condhitzfifi through the line ZMmathe inlet port ZSBaJthe-Gischarge portitfiy the line E1 8 and the fitting 1M2 into -lihe 'cylinde1192-=of the motor lil ion" the l'eftsside of the piston 1 as viewed iii-"Fig. 19, to-thereby -force'the piston feed ai-r fromtherightefid through the fitting-"2M5, the linefiffita, the diischarge port 2 92, the-eXha-u'st'port 299a;-and the discharge condnit 2958c,- to the atmosphere. Ii -it is desired to move a; piston I 93 tothelft, as

viewed i-n'Fig'. 1 0, will lee-seen that by properly positioning the hand-1e 3 3 to oftheva lve Z-Wa-ythe valve maybe set at a position whereinairmaylee fedfrom the air li ne z through the air I-ine" 294a,

the inlet port 296a, the discharge port-Miythe line 24m, and the fit ting 243' into'cyli-nder'wi and air-may be fedfrom the cylinder 2 H 'Z'th-rough-the fitting 242 the line 2413, the discharge-port- 218,-

the exhaust 289a and the discharge conduit 298a to the atmosphere.

It will be remembered that two pneumatically operated motors 4 E 5 and 135, are embodied-in novel grab 52 for opening andclo'si-ng the grap-i pling arms'll and t8 thereof. As previouslymentioned, two hoses 182 and 18? are connectedto opposite end portions of the"cylinder l H o-f the motor H5, bysuitable fittings l w-and NHL-renected to the opposite end portions"of the'cylinder I36 of the'motor" t-bysuitable= fittings" HM and- I8'9, respectively; "The other end'portions'of on the motor I35; are connected to oneendp'ortion of a line 2TH? mounted in suitable brackets 305 on top of the I-beam"Honthe'grab52j'Figs. 4 and 9. Theother end portion of the linefllb is connected to a discharge port 2181) on a valve 28Gb which is of the same construction asthe" valves 280 andififia. The'other ends of the other lines [8! and I82; connected tothe'motors ['1 5 and I35 are connected to one end of afi'ine 29th mounted in suitable brackets 306 on the tgp3of 5 and: M :and :tl re fitting's 18$ and 1 .5 -like thevalvezmm; a disclzrargeaconduit 2%98bihavin-gone. end-open 130: the atmospheceis, provided, the *oither emit-portion. of: the discharge; conduit 2 98b being connected toz'the "discharge: port; 2991) qm m rzma, 'i'hhiusz it willcbe seen; that by 110 feeding airselectiyely into. thelineeiB lzb ,z.air may :beted?simuitaneonsly intoi the: correspondingeend portions oaths-cylinder t t1? and il 35,-. respectively, "oi thee motors H fi-and iliiifn lilor examplmzii it ..is desired 4 to feed air-into. the 'tront portion ot the -1a5 cylinders-Inland F361tetherebymmovetherpistons I i-Brand. 131: rearwar'dly therein; the handle 3111b -'--of the v-al ve :zsoomay betmanualzlyamoved toithe position-wherein: the mlietport 29519 is' imencon- -nected with the dischargeaport 2M1) and: the 'd i's- -2 charge -"portszfiz is: connected with; the exhaust front. end :poi tione oi -the cylinders l oi the motors: l l fi and 135,. respecti vellygiaznd air -may'ifiowsimultaneously-Emm the -1=ea r*end portions of thexcylinders H1- a ndb P 35- outwardly 30 through the fitting'e l'imand 8-4, the lines I8 I and F82; into theline'fifi lbvarldthem through-the "dischargeport" zero; the eXhaust =port zeec and the-exhaust conduit- 29% tdthe atmosphere. Reversa'l of the flow oi airinto anclwmtoi the'cyl inhandle 3H lb-to the-' proper *position' to thereby feed air fromthe conduit'i'flfii throughthe discharge portflS-Zb into the-rearend por-ti'on o-fthecylinders I Wand P36 air -fron'ithe'front' c0 "endportions of the cylinders N4 and 't36 'throug-h.

the d'isch-arge" port 218b and outwardly through exhaust "port z fi b- -arid-fithe' exhaust acondu-it 12-98-17; to the atmosphere.

The control valves @EOQ Z'Btla ancl i 28 611i: of the v eon-trot units U1, and 1 respectively, are

' preferably mounted'On thepaneI EG Uwithin-easy reach of -the operator; when theoperator isstand-- *in-gon'the platform of thecageliit during operation oi 'my d'evi-ce. it-w ill be seeni'that fi f' it is desi-Id-to open or close tlae-"grab iaor to raise or'lowerthe grab "52"," orto move the grab 52 and the cage-'50 along the li beams ivfi andclt, the operatormay-pertormof "theseoperations selectively or simultaneoushfibypropev manipula- 289b, Errand-2&0 i n the'con-trol U3; In and U1, respectively.

In connection with the raising-and lowering-of the grab 52-, it wi-il be noted'that-such- "movement so of thegrah-M 'is'efiected between'the arms A2 and 5 "ter'ial" such a-sflforexample;angle iron, and afforcing horizontally projecting i-ianges Him and 9 I la which are engageable -Mthr the legs' 36- and 45 on the armscc and 42', respectiv'ely,- cf'the grab stop 4% when thegrab 52 ie-di-sposed in lowermost ported in the --aforemen-tioned --lowermost posi- "tion aridis preventedtrom-being lowered beyond this position which is-at a *precleterminedmeight over the conveyorO forproperly-positioning: the

18, to engage the sides of molds, which are disposed on the conveyor C at station II when it is desired to pick up such molds in the grab 52. Normally, I prefer that this lowermost position ofthe jaws llll and I65 of the grab 52 be such that the jaws I! and H15 of the grab will engage the outer face of the drag of mold -below the handles, such as handles 315, Fig. 3, thereon.

The hoist HI, as previously mentioned, comprisesa de-stacker for raising the upper layers of stacks of molds to thereby free the lower layer of such stacks for movement along the conveyor C from station I to station II. For this purpose I have afforded a grab 520 which is of the same construction and is operable to be opened and closed, and raised and lowered, in the same manner as the grab 52 heretofore discussed in considerable detail, and, therefore, it is believed unnecessary to discuss the operation and construction of the grab 520 in any detail. However, it will be seen that inasmuch as the function of the hoist HI is merely to raise and lower the upper molds of a stack in a vertical direction, and it is unnecessary to move these molds with'the hoist HI in a horizontal direction, the grab 520 may be mounted in a stationary supporting frame 325, Figs. 1 and 2, for movement in a vertical direction only. For raising and lowering the grab 520 in the supporting frame 325, a motor l9lc is mounted on the upper end portion of the frame 325 and is connected by suitable sprocket wheels and sprocket chains generally indicated at 321, Fig. 1, to the grab 520 in the same manner that the motor 191 is connected to the grab 52, as was heretofore discussed in relatively great detail and as is shown in the drawings, Figs. 1, 2 and 11.

Another control panel 330, Figs. 1 and 3, is mounted on the guard rail 69 of the cage 50 and may embody suitable controls U4 and U5 similar to the controls U2 and U3 on the control panel 260, as previously mentioned, for controlling the raising and lowering of the grab 52c whereby opening and closing, and raising and lowering of the grab 520 may be controlled by the operator standing on the platform 65 of the cage 50, as will be understood by those skilled in the art.

The conveyor C, Figs. 1, 2 and 3, comprises a supporting frame 340 including two spaced parallel side rails 342 and 343 mounted on a suitable base or table 345. A plurality of shafts 341 are journaled in the side rails 342 and 343 and extend therebetween in spaced parallel relation to each other, and each shaft 341 has two rollers or wheels 349 and 350 mounted on opposite end portions thereof, respectively, for rotation therewith, adjacent to the inside faceof the side rails 342 and 343, respectively.

The molds fed along the conveyor C are preferably mounted in stacked groups on pallets 352, Figs; 2 and 3, which comprise side rails 354 and 355 disposed in parallel spaced relation to each other and connected together at each end by end rails 351. The side rails 354 and 355 of the pallets 352 are constituted and arranged in such a manner that they are positioned on the peripheral edge portions of the rollers 349 and 350, respectively, for movement along the conveyor C. The molds M in each layer in a stack of molds may be mounted on bottomboards 359 which rest on the top of the side rails 354 and 359 of a pallet 352, with the pallet 352 of each layer above the bottom layer resting on the upper edge portion of the molds in the layer directly therebelow. The pallet 352 of the lowermost layer in each stack rests on the rollers 349 and 350 of the conveyor C, as previously discussed.

As previously mentioned, in my novel foundry system, the molds are preferably fed by gravity from the cooling station to the work station I and, also, the empty flasks are preferably fed by gravity from work station II to the storage space therefor. For this purpose, the approach portion Pl to station I of the conveyor C, Fig. 1, is arranged so as to have a slight downward grade from the cooling station to the work station I whereby the stacks of molds M may be moved by gravity across the rollers 349 and 350 of approach portion PI of the conveyor C toward the work station I. Also, the discharge portion P2, Fig. 1, of the conveyor C is preferably arranged to have a slight downward grade from the work station II toward the storage area, not shown, whereby the bottom boards 359 and the flasks of molds M which have been shaken out on the shake-out device D, may be fed by gravity across the rollers 354 and 355 of the discharge portion P2 of the conveyor C from the work station II toward the aforementioned storage station.

The shafts 341 disposed beneath and between, the work stations I and II, each have a sprocket wheel 36!, Fig. 3, on one outer end portion thereof and an endless chain 363 is trained over all of these sprocket. wheels 36l, Fig. 1, in operative engagement therewith. An electric motor 365, Fig. 1, is mounted on the supporting frame 340 of the conveyor-C adjacent to one of the shafts 341 having a sprocket wheel 36! mounted thereon, Fig. 1, and has a sprocket wheel 361 mounted on the shaft 368 thereof which projects through and is journaled in one of the side rails of the supporting frame 340. The sprocket wheel 361 is operatively connected by a, chain 369 to a sprocket wheel 310 mounted on the shaft 341 adjacent to which the motor 365 is mounted, whereby upon operation of the motor 365, the last mentioned shaft 341 may be caused to rotate to thereby rotate the other shafts 341 disposed in the power portion P3 of the conveyor C.

The motor 365 may be connected by suitable wires such as wires 312 and 313, Figs. 1, 3 and 16 to a suitable source of electric current such as line wires LI and L2, Figs. 3 and 16. A suitable switch 315, Figs. 3 and 16, may be connected in the wire 312, and mounted in the control panel 330 to thereby afford means for manually opening and closing the circuit between the line wires LI and L2, through the wire 312, the motor 365 and the wire 313.

Hence, it will be seen that when molds are disposed on the rollers 349 and 350 of the conveyor C at work stations I and II, and the switch 315 is closed to thereby initiate operation of the motor 365, operation of the motor 365 causes the rollers 349 and 350 in the power portion P3 of the conveyor C to be rotated to thereby positively feed the molds disposed on the conveyor at station I toward station II and to positively feed the molds disposed on the rollers 349 and 350 at station II toward the discharge portion P2 of the conveyor 0.

It will be remembered that the molds moving toward station I from the cooling station along the approach PI of the conveyor C are moving by gravity across the rollers P1 with a plurality of stacks of molds successively moving therealong. When it is desired to dispose 17 hoist Hl for the purpose of de-stacking that one stack of molds, it is, of course, desirable that the molds following that one stack on the approach Pl be prevented from moving into position wherein they would interfere with operation of the hoist HI. For this purpose, I have afforded a lever 388, Figs. 1 and 15, which is pivitally mounted by a pin 38| on a bracket 382 mounted on and projecting inwardly from the side rail 343 of the conveyor frame 348 between the last shaft 341 in the approach PI and the adjacent first shaft 341 in the power portion P3 of the conveyor 0. A solenoid 384 is mounted on the lower face of the side rail 343 adjacent to the bracket 382, and the plunger 385 of the solenoid is connected to the lower end portion of the lever 388 by a suitable pin and slot connection 386, Fig. 15, whereby, upon reciprocation of the plunger 385 of the solenoid 384, the lever 388 may be pivoted about its horizontal pivot pin 38I on the bracket 382 to thereby raise and lower the upper end portion of the lever 388.

During normal periods in which the solenoid 384 is not energized, the plunger '385 thereof is disposed in the outwardly projecting position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 15 and is thereby effective to hold the lever 388 in the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 15, in which position the upper end portion of the lever 388 is disposed in horizontal alignment with the end rail 51 of the pallets 352 and thereby affords an abutment or stop member against which the pallets 352 moving along the approach PI of the conveyor C toward the station I will strike and will therefore be held against further movement toward the station I. However, when the solenoid 384 is energized, the plunger 385 thereof is caused to retract thereinto and is thereby effective to cause the lever 388 to pivot about the horizontal pivot pin 38! into the position shown in solid lines in Fig. wherein the upper end portion of the lever 388 is disposed below the horizontal plane of the end rails 351 of the pallets 352 and the pallets 352 are thereby freed for movement along the approach PI toward station I.

Energization of the solenoid 384 may be effected through suitable means such as wires 381 and 388, Figs. 3 and 15, connected at one end to the solenoid 384 and connected at the other end to the line wires LI and L2 in the control panel 338, Figs. 3 and 17. A switch 398, Figs. 3 and 17, may be mounted in the control panel 330 and connected at the wire 381 to thereby control the opening and closing of the circuit between the line wires LI and L2 through the wire 381, solenoid 384, and the wire 388, and, therefore, it will be seen that control of the position of the lever 388 may be effected by the operator from his. station on the platform 65 of the cage.

58 duringthe operation of my device.

Operation As previously mentioned, in the operation of my novel foundry system, after molds have been poured they are normally stored at a cooling station in stacked relation, with each layer of molds in the stack comprising a plurality of molds mounted on top of a pallet.

From the cooling station, the stacks of molds are fed by gravity along the rollers 349 and. 358, in the approach portion PI of the conveyor C to the stop lever 388 adjacent to the feed-in end of station I. The solenoid 384, as previously mentioned, is normally de-energized, and, there fore, is operable to hold the upper end portion 18 of the lever 388 in raised, or stopping, position, and is thereby effective to stop the stacks of molds on the approach PI of the conveyor 0 bethe first stack of molds to roll into the first pair of rollers 349 and 358 of the power portion P3 of the conveyor C. The operator may then close the switch 315 to thereby energize the motor 365 and cause the rollers 349 and 358 in the power portion P3 of the conveyor C to rotate to thereby feed this first stack into position at station I. When this first stack is disposed in station I, the operator may open the switch 315 and the switch 388 to thereby stop operation of the motor 365 and therefore stop the first stack at station I, and de-energize solenoid 384 to thereby cause the lever 388 to rotate into stopping position wherein it is effective to block further movement of the second stack, along the approach portion Pi of the conveyor C toward the station I.

The operator may then effect actuation of the hoist Hi to engage the pallets 352 between the grappling arms of the grab 520 of the hoist HI and raise the stacks of molds M disposed above the lowermost layer in this first mentioned stack off from this lowermost layer. Thereupon, the operator may again close the switch 315 to effect rotation of the rollers 349 and 358 in the power portion P3 of the conveyor C and advance this lowermost layer of the first stack from station I to station II. When this lowermost layer moves into station I, the operator may again open the switch 315 to stop the operation of the power portion P3 of the conveyor C and stop this stack in position at station II. Then, the

operator may move the handle 38: of the valve 288a to the aforementioned position wherein the control unit U2 is effective to cause lowering of the grab 52, and the grab 52 may thereby be lowered to the lowermost position wherein it rests on the grab stop 48, as previously described. The handle 38la may then be moved to neutral position, and the handle 3l8b' may be moved to grab-closing position wherein the grappling arms 11 and 18 are caused to move toward each other into engagement with the flask of the mold M beneath the handles 35 on the drag of the mold.

The handle 38lb may then be moved to neutral position to hold the grappling arms 11 and 18 in this closed position.

Thereafter, the operator may turn the handle com of the control unit U2 into grab raising position, and effectupward movement of the grab 52 to thereby raise the molds M disposed at station I off from the bottom boards 359 and the pallet 352, and, after moving the handle 38la to and the cage 58 are moved forwardly by the motor 246 toward the shake-out device D, a wiper blade 395, mounted on and'depending from the front edge portion of the platform of the cage 58 scrapes across the top surface of the bottom boards 359 on the pallet 352 disposed instation I and thereby causes any loose stand or other for eign material to be scraped from the bottom boards onto a plate 395 which is mounted below the level of the bottom boards between the shakeout device D and the conveyor C on suitable bracing members 39% mounted on the shake-out device D and the frame 34%! of the conveyor C.

When the grab 52 and the cage to have been moved forwardly a sufficient distance that the molds M carried by the grab are disposed over the screen 26 of the shake-out device D the operator may stop movement of the grab 52 and the cage 59 in a horizontal direction by turning the handle 3M of the control unit U! into neutral position. Thereafter, the operator may turn the handle tom of the control unit U2 in to grab-lowering position and thereby lower the molds mounted therein onto the screen of the shake-out device D, and permit the molds M to be vibrated thereon until the sand and the castings disposed therein are shaken out onto the screen as. Thereafter, the operator may raise the shaken out molds by turning the handle 38kt of the control unit U2 into position to effect raising of the grab 52, and, after stopping the upward movement of the grab 52 by turning the handle Sillb to neutral position, may then initiate return movement of the cage 50 and the grab 52 to normal position wherein the grab 52 is disposed in vertical alignment with the conveyor C at station II, by turning the handle 3M of the control unit U! to the position to effect operation of the motor 246 to move the grab 52 and cage 50 rearwardly along the I-bearns 33 and 34, as previously described.

Upon return of the cage 5% and the grab 52 to normal position relative to the coveyor C, the grab 52 may be stopped by turning the handle and the grab 52 may then be lowered by turning the handle 3llla to the proper position, and the grappling arms TI and 18. may then be moved to open position by turning the handle 3111b to open position.

During the horizontal movement of the grab 52 and. the cage 59 toward the shake-out device D and back to normal position relative to the conveyor C, the operator may effect lowering of the 520 in the hoist Hi to thereby lower the remaining layers of molds in the aforementioned first stack onto the rollers 3.49 and s at sta- I tion I; open the grab 52c; raise it slightly and engage the next layer of molds; and then raise the next layer of molds off from the second layer of molds thus deposited on the conveyor C at station I.

Thus, it will be seen that when the grab 52- and the cage have beenreturned to normal position and the grappling arms TI and 18 have been opened, a layer of empty flasks are disposed at station II, and a layer of molds are disposed on the conveyor at station I. The operator may then. close the switch 315 to effect actuation of the motor 365 and thereby cause the empty flasks; to be fed from station 11 onto the discharge portion PZ. of the conveyor 6, and simultaneously cause the second layer of molds disposed. at station I to be moved into position at station II. After the second layer of molds: have been disposed in position at station II, the operator may open the switch 315. to. thereby de -enerthe. motor 365, and the grab: 52 and the cage 5.0 may again be actuated, asv previousiy described, to shake out this second. layer of flasks and return the empty flasks to the conveyor at station II.

20 The aforementioned operations may be repeated until the last layer of the stack initially disposed at station I has been deposited on the rollers 349 and 350 at station I, and it is desired tov move this last layer into position at station II. At this time, the operator may close the switch 390 to thereby energize the solenoid 384 and free the second stack of molds which has been held in the next adjacent position on the approach PI of the conveyor C and then, by closing the switch 315, may effect movement of the last layer of the first stack from station I into station II and simultaneously move the second stack from the approach PI into station I, whereupon the operator may open the switch 390 to thereby raise the lever 380 to hold the next stack on the approach P! in position thereon and may also open switch 315 to thereby stop actuation of the motor 365 and stop the last layer of molds from the first stack in position at station II, and stop the second stack of molds in position at station I.

Subsequently, the operation heretofore discussed with respect to the first stack may be repeated with respect to the second stack, each layer of molds being separately fed from station I into station II, transported to the shake-out. device, shaken out, and the empty flasks returned to the conveyor 0 at station 11, and then fed on to the discharge portion P2 of the conveyor C.

Thus, it will be seen that during the operation of my novel foundry system, the operator is at all times in an advantageous position to determine the proper operation of the various units, and is at all times within easy reach of the controis for controlling the operation of the units.

From the foregoing it will be seen that I have afforded novel foundry equipment which is operable in a novel and expeditious manner to aifo'rd a practical and efiicient means for handling molds in the production of castings.

Also, it will be seen, that I have afforded a novel grab which is constructed, and is operable, in a novel and expeditious manner.

Furthermore, it will be seen that I have afforded novel equipment which is efficient and practical in operation and may be economically manufactured commercially.

Thus, while I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiment of my invention, it is to be understood that this is capable of variation and modification and I therefore do not wish to be limited to the precise details set forth, but desire to avail myself of such changes and alterations as fall within the purview of the following claims.

I claim:

1. In a foundry system for transporting stacks of molds between a cooling station and a shakeout device, supporting means defining a predetermined path along which snch molds may move in traveling between such a cooling station and such a shake-out device, said supporting means having a first work station and. a second work station disposed at predetermined spaced positions along said path, rollers mounted on said supporting means for moving such a stack 01. molds along said path to said station, means including hoisting means mounted at said first station in operable position to lift all but the bottom mold of such a stack at said first station and other rollers mounted. on said supporting means along the portion of said path between said first and second stations for moving such 21 molds on said other rollers sequentially one after the other from the bottom of such a stack at said first station along said portion of said path to said second station, said first-mentioned rollers and said other rollers being operable in timed relation to each other for efi'ecting said movement of said molds therealong and means, including a hoist mounted at said second station, for moving such molds sequentially from said second station to such a shake-out device.

2. In a foundry system for transporting a pinrality of stacked molds from a. cooling station to a shake-out device, a plurality cf rollers disposed side by side for moving a stack of such molds to a first work station, a hoist at said first work station for raising and lowering the molds above the bottom molds in a stack disposed at said first work station, a plurality of rollers affording a path from said first work station to a second work station, means for rotating said last mentioned rollers in timed relation to the raising and lowering of said hoist to thereby move said bottom mold from such a stack in said first station to said second station, a hoist at said second station adapted to be operatively engaged with such a mold disposed at said second station, and means for moving said last named hoist from said second station to said shake-out device when said last named hoist is operatively engaged with such a mold to thereby transport the latter from said second station to said shake-out device.

3. In a foundry system including a cooling station and a shake-out device, supporting means extending between said cooling station and said shake-out device and defining a predetermined path along which foundry molds may be moved from said cooling station to said shake-out device, and conveyor means mounted on said supporting means for moving such molds from said cooling station to said shake-out device, said conveyor means comprising a plurality of rollers mounted on said supporting means in parallel relation to each other along said path for transporting a stack of such molds from said cooling station to a predetermined position on said path, a plurality of other rollers mounted on said supporting means in parallel relation to each other along said path for transporting molds from said first mentioned predetermined position to a second predetermined position along said path, a hoist mounted at said first mentioned position for picking up a plurality of molds from such a stack disposed at said position, means for feeding molds from the bottom of such a stack disposed at said one position into said second position, said last named means including said hoist and power means connected to said other rollers and operable to rotate the latter in timed relation to the operation of said hoist, another hoist mounted on said supporting means and movable thereon between a position over said second position and a position over said shake-out device and operable when moved between said last named positions to carry molds from said second position to said shake-out device, and means connected to said supporting means and said other hoist for so moving the latter.

4. In a foundry system for transporting a plurality of stacked molds from a cooling station to a shake-out device, an elongated conveyor extending between such a cooling station and a first work station and operable to move a stack of such molds to said first station, a hoist at said first work station for raising and lowering the molds above the bottom molds in a stack disposed at said first work station, another elongated conveyor extending between said first work station and a second work station and operable when driven to move molds from said first work station to said second Work station, power means connected to said other conveyor and operable to drive said other conveyor independently of said first conveyor and in timed relation to the raising and lowering of said hoist to thereby move said bottom mold from said stack in said first station to said second station, and means for moving a mold disposed at said second work station to said shake-out device, said last named means comprisin a hoist operable to be operatively engaged with such a mold disposed at said second Work station, and means connected to said last named hoist for moving the latter from said second station to said shake-out device when said second mentioned hoist is operatively engaged with such a mold to thereby move the latter from said second station to said shake-out device.

5. In a foundry system for transporting a plurality of stacked molds from a cooling station to a shake-out device, an elongated conveyor extending between such a cooling station and a first work station and operable to move a stack of such molds to said first station, a hoist at said first work station for raising and lowering the molds above the bottom molds in a stack disposed at said first work station, another elongated conveyor extending between said first work station and a second work station and operable when driven to move molds from said first work station to said second work station, power means connected to said other conveyor and operable to drive said other conveyor independently of said first conveyor and in timed relation to the raising and lowering of said hoist to thereby move said bottom mold from said stack in said first station to said second station, a hoist at said second station adapted to be operatively engaged with such a mold disposed at said second station, means for moving said last named hoist from said second station to said shake-out device when said last named hoist is operatively engaged with such a mold to thereby transport the latter from said second station to said shake-out device, and means mounted on said last mentioned hoist and movable therewith and operatively connected to said first mentioned hoist, said power means, and said second mentioned hoist, for controlling the operation of said hoists and said power means.

WALTER J. OLSON.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,694,084 Straight Dec. 4, 1928 1,734,174 McCabe Nov. 5, 1929 1,789,860 Bennington Jan. 20, 1931 1,807,124 Meyer May 26, 1931 1,810,100 Bertel June 16, 1931 1,941,434 Douglas Dec, 26, 1933 1,968,135 Fildes July 31, 1934 2,050,711 Malocsay Aug. 11, 1936 2,138,662 Neumair Nov. 29, 1938 2,139,772 Ringe Dec. 13, 1938 2,159,132 Chalmers May 23, 1939

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