US2755124A

US2755124A - Apparatus for handling mold flask sections

Info

Publication number: US2755124A
Application number: US282088A
Authority: US
Inventors: Ivan L Underwood; John V Sulga
Original assignee: Kelsey Hayes Co
Current assignee: Kelsey Hayes Co
Priority date: 1952-04-14
Filing date: 1952-04-14
Publication date: 1956-07-17
Anticipated expiration: 1973-07-17

Description

July 17, 1956 l. L. UNDERWOOD n AL 2,755,124

APPARATUS FOR HANDLING MOLD FLASK SECTIONS Filed April 14, 1952 ATTORNEYS United States Patent O APPARATUS FOR HANDLING MOLD FLASK SECTIONS Ivan L. Underwood and John V. Sulga, Detroit, Mich., assgnors to Kelsey-Hayes Wheel Company, Detroit, Mich., a corporation of Delaware Application April 14, 1952, Serial No. 282,088

2 Claims. (Cl. 294-110) The invention has for one of its objects to provide an apparatus for transferring a ask section from one position to another position, the apparatus being so constructed that it quickly and efficiently performs the transfer operation.

The invention has for another object to provide a molding ask section handling apparatus in which the device for releasably gripping a flask section is automatically operable to grip and release the flask section.

These and other objects of the invention will become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure l is a side elevation of the apparatus for handling molding flask sections showing an embodiment of the invention;

Figure 2 is an end view thereof.

The apparatus for handling molding flask sections is designed particularly for use with ask sections for receiving molding sand and is designed to transfer empty llask. sections' being advanced upon a conveyor from the conveyor to a molding machine at one side of the conveyor.

1 is the conveyor of conventional construction, it being, in the present instance, a gravity conveyor having the frame 2 and the rollers 3 which support the molding llask sections 4 and are arranged to provide for advance of the ask sections by gravity. The ask sections are of conventional construction, each being formed of metal and having at its sides and upper and lower edges the bevelled shoulders 5 facing each other. 6 is a molding machine adjacent to and at one side of the conveyor, it being of conventional construction and in the present instance an Osborn molding machine. The molding machine is adapted to support a flask section above which is located the'molding sand hopper 7 which is also of conventional construction designed to discharge a predetermined amount of molding sand into the ilask section on the molding machine.

For transferring a flask section from the conveyor to the molding machine, we have provided the device 8 for gripping the ask section, the trolley 9 for carrying the device from a position over the conveyor to a position over the molding machine, the motor 10 for moving the trolley and the motor 11 for raising and lowering the device. The gripping device has the support 12 which is in the nature of a bar and the arms 13 pivotally connected at their upper ends to the plate and depending from the plate in divergent relation to each other. The arms have the lower faces 14 which are adapted to ride over the upper edge of the flask section when the gripping device is being lowered relative to the flask section to thereby spread the arms apart. The arms also have at their lower ends the hooks 15 facing each other and normally engageable with the downwardly facing shoulders 5 at the upper edge of the flask section when the gripping device is' being raised. For holding the arms spread apart in a position spacing the hooks from each other a distance sufficient to clear the shoulders upon a ask section,

Patented July 17, 1956 we have provided the gravity actuated link 16 pivotally connected at one end to one of the arms and the cooperating keeper 17 upon the other of the arms. The link is provided near its free end with the downwardly opening notch 18 forming the shoulder 19, for engaging a shoulder formed by the keeper 17 when the keeper extends into the notch 18.` The link 16 is pivoted to a cross bar and the keeper is formed by a cross bar. The notch and its shoulder are spaced from the pivotal connection of the link with its arm a sufficient distance such that when the keeper extends into the notch the arms are held spread apart to space their hooks from each other a sufcient distance to clear the shoulders upon the flask section. For the purpose of releasing the link from the keeper during the lowering of the gripping device toward the conveyor, the frame of the conveyor has secured to one side thereof the upwardly extending bar 20 to the upper end portion of which is secured the transverse stop 21 in the nature of a pin which is engageable with the free end portion of the link 16 after the hooks 15 have reached a position below the shoulders 5 at the upper edge of the llask section. As a result the hooks are free to swing inwardly toward each other into engagement with the shoulders to lift the flask section when the gripping device is raised. It will be noted that the lower edge of the link inwardly of the notch rides over the keeper.

22 is a track located at an elevation above the conveyor and molding machine and extending transverse of the conveyor toward the molding machine. The trolley 9 has the load bar 23 to the ends of which are secured uprights 24 at the upper ends of which are journalled the wheels 25 resting upon and movable along the lower flanges of the track which is preferably an I-beam. The trolley also has the hanger 26 secured to and depending from the load bar and having at one end the depending leg 27 to which is pivotally connected one end of the motor 11. The motor is a double acting iluid pressure actuated cylinder of conventional construction located below and extending parallel to the load bar 23 and having its cylinder proper pivotally connected to the leg 27 and its piston connected to one end of the cable 28, the other end of which is connected to the frame 12 of the gripping device. The cable extends over the sheave 29 which is located Within the outer end of the guide housing 30. The guide housing is in axial alignment with the piston of the motor 11 and is supported by the leg 31 and the brace 32 depending from the hanger 26. This guide housing engages' and supports the piston of the motor at all times during its reciprocation while raising and lowering the gripping device.

For moving the gripping device between a position locating the same above the conveyor and engageable with a ask section upon the conveyor and a position locating the gripping device and the ilask section gripped thereby above and registering with the table of the molding machine, the motor 10 is connected to the trolley 9 to move the trolley a predetermined stroke which is controlled by the motor. The motor is a double acting uid pressure actuated cylinder of conventional construction having its cylinder proper pivotally connected to the support 33 and its piston connected to the hanger 26 of the trolley by the rod 34. The motor is located beneath and extends parallel to the track 22 and is positioned to clear the trolley when the latter is in position registering the gripping device with a flask section upon the conveyor.

To control the operation of the motors 10 and 11, we have provided the

valves

35 and 36 located to be easily manipulated by the operator of the apparatus. As shown, these valves are mounted upon the track 22. The valve 35 is connected by the

pipes

37 and 38 to the rear and front ends of the cylinder proper of the motor 10. The valve 36 is connected to the rear and front ends of the cylinder proper of the motor 11 by the

pipes

39 and 40. Both valves control the inlet and exhaust to the ends of the cylinders proper of the fluid under pressure which is preferably compressed air.

In operation, assuming the parts to be in positions shown by full lines in Figure 1, the gripping device 8 is in position registering the flask section 4 with the table of the molding machine 6 and holding the flask section above the table. Manipulation of the valve 36 to admit compressed air through the pipe 39 to the cylinder proper of the motor 11 and allow compressed air to exhaust through the pipe 40 provides for the forward movement of the piston of the motor to permit the gripping device and the flask section to lower. During the lowering, the flask section engages and rests upon the table of the molding machine after which the lower faces 14 of the arms 13 ride downwardly over the upper edge of the ask section spreading the arms apart and disengaging the hooks 15 from the downwardly facing shoulders of the ask section after which the keeper 17 engages in the notch 18 of the link 16 and a shoulder upon the keeper engages the shoulder 19 of the notch. At this time the arms are held spread apart so that the valve 36 may again be manipulated to allow compressed air to exhaust through the pipe 39 and compressed air to enter through the pipe 40 whereby the piston of the motor 11 is moved rearwardly or retracted and raises the gripping device through the cable 28. In connection with the engagement of the keeper in the notch of the link, it is apparent that, during the lowering of the gripping device, it may be lowered to an extent such that the link will ride over the keeper to a position locating the notch inwardly of the keeper. However, it is apparent that when the gripping device is raised, the link will ride back over the keeper until the keeper engages in the notch. After the gripping device has been raised to its uppermost position, the valve 35 is manipulated to provide for passage of compressed air through the pipe 38 to the front end of the cylinder proper of the motor and to permit compressed air to exhaust through the pipe 37 from the cylinder proper. As a result the piston of the motor 10 is moved rearwardly or retracted and through the piston rod 34 moves the trolley 9 to its rearward position as shown by dotted lines at which time the gripping device is located above the conveyor 2 and in position to register with a ask upon the conveyor. At this time the valve 36 is again manipulated to permit compressed air to enter through the pipe 39 and exhaust through the pipe 40 so that the gripping device is lowered to a position enabling the hooks to be manually directed past the shoulders 5 at the upper edge of the flask section. During the lowering and after the hooks l5 have passed the downwardly facing shoulders, the keeper 17 is disengaged from the notch 18 of the link 16 by the stop 21 engaging the lower surface of the free outer end portion of the link and preventing the free end portion of the link from further downward movement. As a result, the hooks 1S are free to move inwardly toward each other. Upon again manipulating the valve 36 to permit compressed air to enter through the pipe 40 and exhaust through the pipe 39 the gripping device is raised bringing the hooks 15 into gripping engagement with the downwardly facing shoulders of the flask section and thereafter raising the flask section to its uppermost position as determined by the stroke of the piston of the motor 11. Then the valve is manipulated to permit compressed air to pass through the pipe 37 and exhaust through the pipe 38 with the result that the piston of the motor 10 is moved forwardly to advance the trolley and the gripping device to the positions shown in full lines.

What we claim as our invention is:

l. Apparatus for handling articles comprising a support adapted to be mounted above an article for up and down movement, arms pivoted to said support and depending therefrom in divergent relation to cach other and having portions at their lower ends facing each other for gripping an article, cooperating means on said arms for holding said arms spread apart and spacing said gripping portions from each other to clear the article, release means operable upon said cooperating means to release the same upon lowering of said support to permit the gripping portions of said arms to move into gripping relation with the article for raising the article upon subsequent raising of said support, said arms being displaced by the article to permit said cooperating means to become operative to hold said arms spread apart to release the article upon lowering of said support following the subsequent deposit of the article upon a supporting surface with said cooperating means clearing said release means.

2. Apparatus for handling articles comprising a support adapted to be mounted above an article for up and down movement, arms pivoted to said support and depending therefrom in divergent relation to each other and having portions at their lower ends facing each other for gripping an article, cooperating means on said arms for holding said arms spread apart and spacing said gripping portions from each other to clear the article, said cooperating means comprising a link pivotally connected to one of said arms and provided with a shoulder remote from the pivotal connection and a keeper on the other of said arms engageable with said shoulder, a member engageable with said link to automatically release said cooperating means upon lowering of said support to permit the gripping portions of said arms to move into gripping relation with the article for raising thc article on subsequent raising of said support, said arms being displaced by the article to permit said cooperating means to become operative to hold said arms spread apart to release the article upon lowering of said support following the subsequent deposit of the article upon a :supporting surface with said link clearing said member.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 938,904 Sherman Nov. 2, 1909 1,643,208 Griffin Sept. 20, 1927 1,674,967 Fitch June 26, 1928 1,995,509 Hayden Mar. 26, 1935 2,215,844 Van Syckle Sept. 24, 1940 2,434,163 lobe Jan. 6, 1948 2,598,222 Cahners et al s May 27, 1952 2,638,645 Olson May 19, 1953 FOREIGN PATENTS 24,770 Great Britain Dec. 5, 1901