US3129462A - Press and mold operating apparatus - Google Patents

Description

A ril 21, 1964 J. E. BORAH 3,129462 PRESS AND MOLD OPERATING APPARATUS Filed NOV. 18, 1960 I 8 Sheets-Sheet l JOHN E. BORAH ATTORNEY April 21, 1964 J. E. BORAH 3,129,462

PRESS AND MOLD OPERATING APPARATUS Filed Nov. 18, 1960 8 Sheets-Sheet 2 F 2 INVENTOR.

JOHN E. BORAH BY ATTORNEY April 21, 1964 J. E. BORAH PRESS AND MOLD OPERATING APPARATUS 8 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Nov. 18, 1960 mmg m e2 .02 mm wm II E BEN om W MQQQQ E QQQQ @m 3 .m

QE L

@QQ @QQQ U l l l l ln U L F. I

Mi mm.

AT TORNEY- April 21, 1964 J. E. BORAH PRESS AND MOLD OPERATING APPARATUS 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed NOV. 18, 1960 INVENTOR. JOHN E. BORAH BY wayo zv ATTORNEY April 21, 1964 J BORAH 3,129,462

PRESS AND MOLD OPERATING APPARATUS Filed NOV. 18, 1960 8 Sheets-Sheet 6 FIG. 6

FIG. 8

Pie. 7

INVENTOR.

JOHN E. BORAH ATTORNEY April 21, 1964 J, BORAH 3,129,462

PRESS AND MOLD OPERATING APPARATUS Filed Nov. 18, 1960 8 Sheets-Sheet 7 987 FIG, 9

LIZ s4 INVENTOR. JOHN E. BORAH ATTORNEY A ril 21, 1964 J. E. BORAH PRESS AND MOLD OPERATING APPARATUS Filed Ndv. 18, 1960' 8 Sheets-Sheet 8 FIG. H

FIG. l3

FIG. l4

INVENTOR. JOHN E. BORAH BY ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,129,462 PRESS AND MOLD OPERATING APPARATUS John E. Borah, 815 Mishawaka Ave, Mishawaka, Ind. Filed Nov. 18, 1960, Ser. No. 70,156 Claims. (CI. 1816) The present invention relates to apparatus for molding articles from rubber, plastic and similar materials, and more particularly to a combination press and mold operating mechanism.

In the conventional method of molding relatively long and/ or large articles of rubber and rubber-like materials, compression molds are often employed having upper and lower sections and one or more thick intermediate sections, either the upper or lower or both frequently having cores extending through or projecting into the cavities in the intermediate sections. These compression molds are usually fully or partially assembled, returned bodily to molding position between the press platens, and then removed bodily from the press after the molding operation has been completed. While moving the assembled mold to and from the press is a laborious, hot and often dangerous operation, separating the mold sections for removing the molded articles after the mold has been removed from the press is equally as difiicult and more time consuming, causing frequent turn-over of operating personnel, and hence further loss of time and expense in the overall operation. In some instances the cavities are so shaped and the mold sections so large, that hammer and crowbar are necessary to pry the sections apart after the mold has been removed from the press, and a mallet and punch are required to remove the molded articles from the mold cavities. It is apparent that such operations are inherently slow, tedious and time consuming, resulting in excessive cost in producing the articles and delay in completing orders. It is therefore one of the principal objects of the present invention to provide a combination press and mold operating apparatus in which the entire operation of assembling the mold sections, inserting the mold in and removing it from the press, separating the mold sections, and the removal of the molded articles from the mold cavities, is performed semi-automatically and under power without requiring any manual manipulating other than actuating the control mechanism for the press and apparatus.

In the molding operation involving compression molds, flashings and other excess material adhere to the upper and lower mold sections, particularly when these sections contain cores or other protrusions, and must be removed and the face of the respective mold sections properly lubricated before the next molding operation is performed. In the conventional method with the mold fully removed from the press, the upper mold section is often fully inverted when it is separated from the intermediate mold section, thus fully exposing the cores, cavity parts and adjacent surfaces to the operator and permitting easy inspection, cleaning and lubricating. This complete or partial inversion of the upper mold section is a further time consuming operation requiring appreciable physical eifort by the operator while the mold is hot. It is thus a further object of the invention to provide an apparatus which separates the upper mold section from the intermediate mold section when the mold is removed from the press, and so positions the upper mold section that the surface thereof on which mold cavity parts and cores are located can be easily and effectively inspected, cleaned and lubricated preparatory for the next molding operation.

Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus for assembling, inserting and removing the mold into and from the press, disassembling the mold, and removing the molded articles from the press, which is so con st-ructed and arranged that it can be mounted onto most conventional hydraulic or mechanical presses, either as original equipment or after the press has been installed, without making any changes in the basic construction and operation of the press and without making anyappreciable alterations for securing the apparatus to the press.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a mold operating apparatus which can be readily adapted to various makes of presses and to molds of various sizes and shapes, and which permits the press to be used in the conventional manner without first removing any parts of the present apparatus.

The present mold operating appartus permits effective utilization of the full capacity of the press, regardless of the size or weight of the mold and mold sections; 'however, some articles are made only in small lots at any one time and consequently large and more expensive molds normally used in largequantity production operations can not be justified merely from the economy of operation standpoint. It is therefore another object of the invention to provide in an apparatus of the aforesaid type a feature which permits two or more molds for articles of different sizes and shapes to be molded simultaneously throughout each cycle of the press operation, and which permits manipulation of the separate molds simultaneously and without interference from the other mold or molds involved in the operation.

A further object is to provide a dual mold, simultaneously operating apparatus or" the aforesaid type which can be operated effectively either in conjunction with two molds or with either of the two molds singly, and which permits the apparatus to be shifted between the single and dual operations without interfering with the normal press operating cycle.

Another object of the invention is to provide a compact, safe and simplycontrolled mold manipulating mechanism which can be operated from the press power system in individually manually controlled steps, .or in a completely automatically controlled cycle.

Additional objects .and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the :following description and accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a conventional hydraulic .press having mounted thereon my mold apparatus, the press and mold being shown in open position;

FIGURE 2 :is a front ,elevational view of .the press shown in FIGURE l'having mounted thereon the present mold apparatus, with the press and'mold being shown :in open position;

FIGURE 3 is a front elevational view of the press shown .in the preceding figures with the present mold apparatus mounted .thereon, the press and mold beingshown in closed position;

FIGURE 4 is a horizontal cross sectional view of the .press and mold operating apparatus shown in the preceding figures, taken on line 4-4 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 5 is a side elevational View of a portion of the press and mold operating apparatus showing the press, the apparatus and mold thereon in open position;

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged vertical cross sectional view of one of the tracks for supporting an intermediate section of a mold, said section being taken on line 6-6 of FIGURE 5;

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary side elevational view :of the press showing the apparatus positioned at an intermediate step in the mold opening operation;

FIGURE 8 is a fragmentary side elevat-ional view of the press showing the apparatus at another step in the mold opening operation;

FIGURE 9 is an enlarged vertical cross sectional view of a three sectioned mold, showing the mold containing .a molded article in the cavity thereof prior to the mold opening operation;

FIGURE 10' is a vertical cross sectional view through the upper and intermediate sections of the mold shown in FIGURE 9, showing the two sections separated and illustrating the manner in which the molded article is removed from the intermediate section;

FIGURE 11 is a fragmentary plan view of the mold section separating means showing the means by which the unit is attached to the upper section of the mold;

FIGURE ;l2 is a vertical cross sectional view of the attaching means shown in FIGURE 11, taken on line 12-12 of said latter figure;

FIGURE 13 is a fragmentary plan view of the mold separating uni-t showing a safety catch;

FIGURE 14 is a vertical cross sectional view through the safety catch shown in FIGURE 13 taken on line 14-14 of said latter figure; and

FIGURE 15 is a side elevational view of a modified form for the portion of the present apparatus used in handling the intermediate mold section.

Referring more specifically to the drawings and to FIGURES l, 2 and 3 in particular, numeral 26' designates generally a hydraulic press including a base 22 containing the hydraulic cylinder with ram 24, ram platen 26, press head 28 and two heavy slab tie members 3i) and 32 rigid-1y secured at their lower portions to base 22 by a plurality of rods and nuts 34- and 36 and rigidly secured at their upper ends to head 28 by rods 38 and nuts 40, rods 34 and 38 extending completely through the base and the head, respectively, and through the two slab members 30 and '32. Base 22 contains ribs 42 and 44 interlocking with recesses 46 and 48, and head 28 contains ribs 50 and 2 interlocking with recesses 54 and 56, respectively. The press is supported on and secured to a suitable base with sill members 58 and 60 on the lower edges of slab members 30 and 32, respec t-ively, resting on and being bolted to the support base. The press shown in the drawings is considered for the purpose of the present description as a conventional hydraulic press controlled and operated by well known hydraulic equipment, including a supply tank, electric driven pressure pump, and standard control valves and relays (not shown). The type of press and the details in construction shown are included only to fully illustrate the construction and operation of the present mold apparatus and its adaptation to various types of presses. The apparatus is readily mountable on various types of presses without the necessity of any substantial modifications in either the apparatus or the press.

The present mold operating mechanism is designed primarily for use with compression molds of various types which include at least one intermediate section and an upper and lower section. The apparatus, however, may be used to assist in molding operations in which a transfer mold is employed, the present specific description nevertheless being directed to the compression type mold having a single intermediate section. Briefly, the compression mold shown in the drawings consists of an upper section 70, an intermediate section 72, and a lower section 74, the particular compression mold shown having a plurality of mold cavities 76 for molding cylindrical sleeve type articles 80. The principal part of the mold cavity 76 is contained in intermediate section 72 extending from top to bottom therein and terminating in an upper recessed end portion 82 and a lower recessed end portion 84 in upper mold section 70 and lower mold section 74, respectively. A cylindrical core 86 for forming the hollow interior of article 80 is provided for each mold cavity and is secured by a stem 88 to upper mold section 70, the core being somewhat longer than the article 80, and the upper and lower ends 9t) and 92 thereof seating in recesses 94 and 96, respectively, in upper and lower mold sections 76} and 74. Stem 88 of the core is secured by a tight fit in upper mold section 70. An annular groove 1% separated by a thin section of metal is provided around each mold cavity on the upper side of intermediate mold section 72 to facilitate severance of the flashing from the molded article. When the fore-going mold is opened, the upper section 70 is removed, drawing cores 86 from the longitudinal hole through articles 80, and leaving the articles in the cavities in intermediate section 72. After lower section 74 has been withdrawn or otherwise separated from intermediate section 72, the molded articles are ejected from their respective cavities in intermediate section 72 in the manner hereinafiter more fully described.

After the articles have been removed from intermediate section 72, sections 72 and 74 are again reassembled in the positions shown in FIGURE 9, and while section 7% and core 86 are fully withdrawn from sections 72 and 74, a slug of rubber or other moldable material is dropped into cavity 76. Section 70 and cores 86 are then reassembled in position on sections 72 and 74, and the assembled mold with the uncured rubber is placed in the press and the press closed. The mold is then placed under high pressure and maintained at an elevated temperature for a sufiicient time to cause the rubber to fully till the cavity around core 86 and to cure and form a relatively firm article 80. The excess rubber introduced with the slug flows through the very small space between mold sections 70 and 72 into groove 100, providing only an extremely thin film connecting the surface of article with the material formed in groove res, thus permitting this excess material to be readily removed from the article after the mold has been opened. In the mold shown in FIGURE 9, flashing remaining in groove 1% is severed from the article as the article is removed from the mold cavity in the manner shown in FIGURE 10. The operation of the mold, the sequence of operation thereof, and operating conditions just described are standard operating procedures performed in any normal rubber molding operation using a compression mold. These operations are performed manually and the mold is necessarily limited in size, often with only a small number of cavities capable of being handled physically by one or two press operators. The present mold operating apparatus makes the foregoing operations at least semi-automatic and permits a single operator to perform the molding operation, regardless of the size of the mold or number of cavities in any particular mold.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in detail in the drawings, the lower mold section 74 is secured to and supported by an adapter plate resting on the upper side of ram platen 26 and having projecting edges 1 1-2 and 114 extending into inwardly facing grooves 116 and 118 of horizontally disposed tracks 120 and 122. Tracks 126 and 122 are secured to and supported by ram platen 26 and move therewith from the position shown in FIGURE 2 to the position shown in FIGURE 3. The lower surfaces of grooves 116 and 118 are substantially on a plane with the upper surface of ram platen 26 so that plate 116 will form a firm contact with ram platen 26 for optimum heat transfer, and will permit extensions 1'12 and 114 to slide readily into and along grooves 116 and 1 18 when the mold is removed from the press.

The apparatus shown in the drawings is of the dual type adapted to have two complete molds operable simultaneously, both during the molding operation and during the article removing operation. Since the two molds are basically the same in construction and operation, and the apparatus for operating the molds are the same in construction and operation, one mold and the parts thereof and the apparatus for operating the mold will be given one numeral and the corresponding parts of the other mold and operating apparatus will be given the same number with a prime designation, and the description of the identical sets of parts will not be duplicated.

Lower mold section 74 and supporting plate 110 are moved outwardly on tracks 120 and 122 by a pair of cylinders 130 and 132 on opposite sides of the press carried up and down with the ram platen 26 by crossbars 133 and 133. Operating in cylinders 138 and 132 are pistons (not shown) connected to mold section 74 by piston rods 134 and 136, respectively, and a lateral member 137 secured to mold section 74 by a plurality of bolts 138 and to piston rods 134 and 136 by nuts 140 and 142 threadedly received on the ends of the piston rods and clamping the ends of cross member 137 against an annular shoulder on each rod. Cylinders 130 and 132 are connected at their two ends to the hydraulic system by suitable conduits (not shown). Mold sections 74 and 74' are moved between their positions in the mold as shown in full lines in FIGURE 4 to the positions removed from the press as illustrated for mold section 74 in said figure by cylinders 138' and 132 and 130 and 132, respectively.

Intermediate mold section 72 is supported by laterally disposed horizontal tracks 1'58 and 152 having inwardly facing longitudinal grooves 154 and 156 for receiving laterally extending members 158 and 160 secured to or formed integrally with the sides of mold section 72. Tracks 156 and 152 are supported by four cylinder and piston units 162, 164, 166 and 168 mounted rigidly on slab members 36 and 32 by supports 162', 164', 166' and 168', each unit consisting of a cylinder and a piston connected with the respective tracks 150 and 152 by reciprocating rods 170, 172, 174 and 176. The cylinders are hydraulically operated in the downward direction and are connected to a hydraulic system and controls through conduits (not shown). Mold section 72 is moved along the supporting track by cylinders 130 and 132 while the intermediate mold section 72 and lower mold section 74 are retained together in the manner shown in FIGURE 9 by interlocking dowel pins and holes (not shown). However, when the mold sections 72 and 74 have been separated, mold section 72 can be moved manually along its track to and from the press. The mold is stopped in its extended position by a pin 178 in one or both of grooves 116 and 118.

During the mold removal operation, all three sections 70, 72 and 74 are removed from the press along tracks 120 and 122 and 150 and 152 while the three sections are fully closed. After the sections have been removed from the press to the position shown in FIGURES 4 and 7, the upper section 70 is removed from section 72 by mold separating unit 180, consisting of a plate 182 having attachment means 184 and 186 thereon for engaging and lifting upper section 70 from section 72. The plate 182 is raised and lowered by a cylinder and piston unit 188 operating reciprocating rod 190, the lower end of which is rigidly secured to plate 182. Unit 180 is rigidly mounted on the press by a support bracket 192 consisting of beam like member 194 projecting outwardly from the front of the press and supported on and connected to head 28 by braces 196 and 198, unit 188 being preferably adjustable along member 194 to adapt the unit to various sized molds. Cylinder 180 is connected to a hydraulic system and suitable controls by conduits (not shown) for power operation, both upwardly and down wardly. A pair of safety catches 280 and 202 pivotably mounted on plate 182 are preferably provided to eliminate any possibility of the upper mold section slipping and accidentally becoming disconnected from plate 182 while the mold section is being held in its raised position.

The mold attachment means 184 and 186, the details of which are shown in FIGURES 11 and 12, each consists of a shaft 2:10 having an enlarged threaded lower end 212 for threading into a hole 214 in mold section 70.

The lower end is provided with a pointed section 216 in order to facilitate alignment of shaft 210 with hole the lower side of which rests on and is secured to plate 182. An enlarged hole 228 is provided in plate 182 to permit the threaded end 212 of shaft 210 to fully retract from threaded hole 214 of mold section 7 0, and the upper end of shaft 210 projects above block 218 and has rigid-1y secured thereon a handwheel 222 to assist in threadedly engaging shaft 218 with the mold section 70. The safety latches 200 and 292 are identical in construction and operation, each consisting of a hook 224 having an inwardly extending portion 226 for engaging the lower side of mold section 70 and being pivotably supported at its upper end on a pin 228 which in turn is rigidly supported by bifurcated bracket 230 welded or otherwise secured to the upper surface of plate 182. Normally safety catches 200 and 2112 remain in the position shown in FIGURE 14 while the mold section 70 is being lifted, i.e. with the inwardly projecting end portion 226 disengaged from section 70. In the event, however, attachment means 184 and 186 should not be properly engaged when the mold separating unit 180 is operated, hooks 224 of the two safety catches will become effective and retain mold section 70 in place beneath plate 182. When it is desired to release mold section 70 from plate 182, the hooks of the two safety catches are readily swung laterally on their pivot pins until inwardly projecting end portion 226 has fully cleared the underside of section 70, permitting plate 182 to be returned to its raised position by the operation of hydraulic cylinder 188.

In illustrating the operation of the present press and mold operating apparatus, one complete cycle of operation will be described, starting with the press and mold closed, as shown in FIGURE 3, with a full charge of moldable material in the mold. When the mold has remained in closed position under the required compression and temperature to fully cure the rubber or other moldable material in the mold, the press controls are actuated to retract ram 24 downwardly. During the initial part of this opening operation, the entire mold, consisting of upper section 70, intermediate section 72 and lower section 74, and tracks and 122 and 150 and 152 move downwardly in unison with the ram. Cylinders 130, 132 and 132 being supported on cross members 133 and 133' also move downwardly with the ram. This downward movement is arrested by the operator when rods 170, 172 and 174 and 176 have moved downwardly to their full extent as shown in FIGURES 2, 5, 7, and 8. At this stage of the operation, the three mold sections are still fully closed. The operator now actuates the proper control (not shown) for energizing cylinders 130 and 132, thereby moving the entire mold outwardly from the press along tracks 120, 122, and 152 to the position shown in FIGURE 7. Ram 24 is now retracted to its fully lowered position, carrying with it tracks 120 and 122 and lower mold section '74, leaving mold sections 70 and 72 suspended on tracks 150 and 152 supported in this position by rods and 174 and 172 and 176 respectively.

Mold separating unit is now actuated, causing plate 182'to move downwardly until it rests upon the upper part of upper mold 70 with mold attachment means 184 and 186 in position to threadedly engage mold section 70 in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 12. After these two mold attachment means have been threadedly secured to plate 70, hydraulic cylinder 188 is operated to lift mold section 70 into the position shown in FIGURES 2 and 5. Safety hooks 224 automatically latch in the position shown in FIGURE 14 when plate 182 is moved downwardly into engagement with the upper surface of mold section 70. After mold sections 72 and 74 have been fully separated by retraction of ram 24, as prevously described, cylinders 130 and 132 are actuated to retract rods 134 and 136 and cross member 137, thereby returning mold section -74 into the press, as seen in FIGURE 5. With mold section 70 held suspended by plate 182, and mold section 72 in its extended position on tracks 150 and 152, hydraulic cylinder 188 is actuated to lower plate 182 and upper mold section 70, causing cores 86 to engage the upper end of articles 80 and further movement of plate 182 and section 70 presses the articles downwardly from cavities 7 6 in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 10. The fact that cores 86 will not readily re-enter the cylindrical opening formed thereby in articles 30, permits the cores to be used as knock-out pins for removing articles 89 from their respective cavities.

After articles 30 have been removed from their cavities in intermediate mold section 72, section 7% is again raised to its upper position as shown in FIGURES 2 and lower section 74 is again moved outwardly along tracks 120 and 122 to its position directly beneath mold section '72; and ram 24 is operated to move section 74 into engagement with the lower surface of section 72 as shown in FIGURE 7. With sections 72 and 74 in the closed position and section 70 still held in its raised position by unit 180, new charges of moldable raw material are dropped in the cavities by the operator, and mold section '79 is thereafter lowered to its position on section 72. With the mold fully charged and closed in the foregoing manner, cylinders 130 and 132 are actuated to retract rods 134 and 136 and cross member 137 to return the entire mold into the press on ram platen 26. The ram is now operated to close the press to the position shown in FIGURE 3 for molding and curing the material forming the articles 83, the entire cycle now being completed and ready to be repeated in the manner herein described, as soon as the new charge has cured.

In some molds the core pins are either too small or too short to effectively remove articles 8%} from cavities 76 in the manner described and illustrated in FIGURES 9 and 10. When this situation exists, the foregoing operation is modified to the extent of using a separate knockout mechanism in place of the upper mold section and core pin, consisting of a plate similar to the upper mold section and containing a plurality of pins similar to cores 85. This mechanism which is preferably constructed entirely of wood, including the wooden dowel pins for the knockout pins, is attached to the underside of plate 182 by any suitable securing means such as bolts or screws. In the operation of this type of knockout mechanism, upper section 70 is removed manually or by the press. Preferably, upper mold section 79 is secured to the underside of the upper platen and the intermediate and lower mold sections are separated from the upper section during the initial stages of the press opening operation. With this arrangement, after the upper mold section has been separated from the intermediate and lower mold sections, the latter two sections are moved outwardly along tracks 12%), 122, 150 and 152 to their fully removed position, as shown in FIGURES 7 and 8, and the lower mold section is separated from the intermediate section in the manner previously described. The knockout mechanism is then actuated to lower the wooden knockout pins downwardly against the upper ends of articles 89, and further movement of the knockout mechanism causes the pins to move downwardly into the cavity and eject the articles therefrom. After the articles have been removed from their respective cavities, the knockout mechanism is returned to its raised position and the mold is reassembled, loaded and returned to the press, and all three sections are fully closed in the conventional manner.

It is sometimes necessary at least to partially invert the intermediate mold section in order to remove the formed articles and to clean the mold cavities. FIGURE illustrates a convenient means for partially inverting the intermediate section, consisting of a rod 250 supported by and between tracks 15% and 152 below the respective grooves therein and one or more hooks 252 attached to the trailing edge of the mold or mold support. When the mold is pulled outwardly from the grooves in the tracks, the hooks engage rod 250 and permit the mold section to swing downwardly to the vertical position shown. With the mold in this position, the underside can be easily reached for removing articles and cleaning the cavities.

While the apparatus and the steps forming the procedures set forth herein may be performed automatically without any manual manipulations being required, each step can be performed by the direct control of the operator, and various portions of the operation can be used Without performing every step of the operation. For example, mold separating unit 18th for ejecting the articles may be rendered inoperable and the articles removed by hand or by some other mechanical means, if desired. Further, the entire mechanism can be, in effect, rendered inoperative if desired, so that the press can be used as a conventional press, without interference from the present mold operating apparatus. Various changes and modifications rnay be made in the present mold apparatus without departing from the scope of the invention.

I claim:

1. A mold operating and article ejecting apparatus for use in conjunction with a press having a vertical movable ram, a stationary head above the ram, platens operatively connected to the ram and head, and with a pair of compression molds having upper, intermediate and lower sections with cavities extending through the intermediate section and cores on said upper section extending into said cavities, said apparatus comprising a pair of spaced parallel rails mounted on opposite sides of said ram platen and extending from the press on opposite sides and having inwardly facing grooves, members connected to the lower section of each mold and projecting into said grooves, hydraulic cylinder units positioned along opposite sides of the press and connected to each lower mold section for moving said sections from the press along said rails on opposide sides, a pair of horizontally disposed vertically movable rails above said first pair of rails spaced laterally from one another and extending from the press on opposite sides and having inwardly facing grooves, members supporting both said intermediate and upper mold sections connected to the intermediate section of each mold and projecting into the grooves of said second mentioned rails for movement therealong into and from the press, a pair of vertical shafts spaced along each of said second mentioned rails and projecting toward the head of the press, hydraulic units connected to each of said shafts for urging the respective rails downwardly, vertically reciprocable plungers on opposite sides of the press, means for removably attaching said plungers to the upper section of each mold when the molds are removed from the press on said rails, and hydraulically operated units connected to the upper end of said plungers for lifting said upper mold sections and withdrawing said cores from the molded articles and thereafter lowering said sections to eject the molded articles from their cavities.

2. A mold operating apparatus for use in conjunction with a press having a vertically movable ram, a stationary head above the ram, platens operatively connected to the ram and head, and with a pair of compression molds having upper, intermediate and lower sections with cavities extending through the intermediate section, said apparatus comprising a pair of spaced parallel rails mounted on opposite sides of said ram platen and extending from the press on opposite sides and having inwardly facing grooves, members connected to the lower section of each mold and projecting into said grooves, power means dis posed along each side of the press and connected to each lower mold section for moving said sections from the press along said rails on opposite sides, a pair of horizontally disposed vertically movable rails above said first pair of rails spaced laterally from one another and extending from the press on opposite sides and having inwardly facing grooves, members supporting both said intermediate and upper mold sections connected to the intermediate section of each mold and projecting into the groovesof said second mentioned rails for movement therealong into and from the press, a pair of vertical shafts spaced along each of said second mentioned rails, power units connected to each of said shaft for urging the respective rails downwardly, lift members on opposite sides of the press, means for removably attaching said lift members to the upper section of each mold when the molds are removed from the press on said rails, and power operated units connected to said lift member for raising and lowering said upper mold sections.

3. A mold operating and article ejecting apparatus for use in conjunction with a press having a vertically movable ram, a stationary head above the ram, and with a compression mold having upper, intermediate and lower sections with cavities extending through the intermediate section and cores on said upper section extending into said cavities, said apparatus comprising a pair of horizontally disposed vertically movable rails spaced laterally from one another and extending from the press and having inwardly facing grooves, members supporting both said intermediate and upper mold sections connected to the intermediate mold section and projecting into the grooves of said rails for movement therealong into and fromthe press, a pair of vertical shafts spaced along each of said rails, power units connected to each of said shafts for urging the respective rails downwardly, a vertically reciprocable lift member, means for removably attaching said lift member to the upper mold section, and a power operated unit connected to the upper end of said lift member for lifting said upper mold section and withdrawing said cores from the molded articles and thereafter lowering said section to eject the molded articles from their cavities.

4. A mold operating apparatus for use in conjunction with a press having a vertically movable ram, a stationary head above the ram, and with a compression mold having upper, intermediate and lower sections with cavities extending through the intermediate section, said apparatus comprising a pair of spaced parallel rails mounted on opposite sides of said ram and extending from the press, members connected to the lower mold section and engaging said rails, power means disposed along each side of the press and connected to the lower mold section for moving said section from the press along said rails, a pair of horizontally disposed vertically movable rails above said first pair of rails spaced laterally from one another and extending from the press in the same direction as said first mentioned rails, members supporting both said intermediate and upper mold sections connected to the intermediate mold section and engaging said second mentioned rails for movement therealong into and from the press, a pair of vertical shafts spaced along each of said second mentioned rails for supporting said rails, a vertically reciprocable lift member, means for removably attaching said lift member to the upper mold section, and a power operated unit connected to the upper end of said lift member for raising and lowering said upper mold section.

5. In a mold operating apparatus for use in conjunction with a press having a vertically movable ram, a stationary head above the ram, and with a pair of compression molds having upper, intermediate and lower sections with cavities extending through the intermediate section, said apparatus comprising a pair of spaced parallel rails mounted on opposite sides of said ram and extending from the press on opposite sides, members connected to the lower section of each mold and engaging said rails, power means disposed along each side of the press and connected to each lower mold section for moving said sections from the press along said rails on opposite sides, a pair of horizontally disposed vertically movable rails above said first pair of rails spaced laterally from one another and extending from the press on opposite sides, members supporting both said intermediate and upper mold sections connected to the intermediate section of each mold and engaging said second mentioned rails for movement therealong into and from the press, a pair of vertical shafts spaced along each of said second mentioned rails, and power units connected to each of said shafts for urging the respective rails downwardly.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,387,617 Roberts Aug. 16, 1921 2,239,248 Rieser Apr. 22, 1941 2,289,102 Clark July 7, 1942 2,412,671 Brunner et al Dec. 17, 1946 2,718,030 Collins Sept. 20, 1955 2,778,765 Dym Jan. 22, 1957 2,910,727 Salbeck et al. Nov. 3, 1959 2,983,953 Borah May 16, 1961 FOREIGN PATENTS 412,572 Great Britain June 21, 1934

Claims (1)

1. 5. IN A MOLD OPERATING APPARATUS FOR USE IN CONJUNCTION WITH A PRESS HAVING A VERTICALLY MOVABLE RAM, A STATIONARY HEAD ABOVE THE RAM, AND WITH A PAIR OF COMPRESSION MOLDS HAVING UPPER, INTERMEDIATE AND LOWER SECTIONS WITH CAVITIES EXTENDING THROUGH THE INTERMEDIATE SECTION, SAID APPARATUS COMPRISING A PAIR OF SPACED PARALLEL RAILS MOUNTED ON OPPOSITE SIDES OF SAID RAM AND EXTENDING FROM THE PRESS ON OPPOSITE SIDES, MEMBERS CONNECTED TO THE LOWER SECTION OF EACH MOLD AND ENGAGING SAID RAILS, POWER MEANS DISPOSED ALONG EACH SIDE OF THE PRESS AND CONNECTED TO EACH LOWER MOLD SECTION FOR MOVING SAID SECTIONS FROM THE PRESS ALONG SAID RAILS ON OPPOSITE SIDES, A PAIR OF HORIZONTALLY DISPOSED VERTICALLY MOVABLE RAILS ABOVE SAID FIRST PAIR OF RAILS SPACED LATERALLY FROM ONE ANOTHER AND EXTENDING FROM THE PRESS ON OPPOSITE SIDES, MEMBERS SUPPORTING BOTH SAID INTERMEDIATE AND UPPER MOLD SECTIONS CONNECTED TO THE INTERMEDIATE SECTION OF EACH MOLD AND ENGAGING SAID SECOND MENTIONED RAILS FOR MOVEMENT THEREALONG INTO AND FROM THE PRESS, A PAIR OF VERTICAL SHAFTS SPACED ALONG EACH OF SAID SECOND MENTIONED RAILS, AND POWER UNITS CONNECTED TO EACH OF SAID SHAFTS FOR URGING THE RESPECTIVE RAILS DOWNWARDLY.

Images