US3520348A

US3520348A - Fill carriages for automatic matchplate moulding machines

Info

Publication number: US3520348A
Application number: US673605A
Authority: US
Inventors: William Allan Hunter
Original assignee: Heatherwill Co
Current assignee: Heatherwill Co
Priority date: 1967-10-09
Filing date: 1967-10-09
Publication date: 1970-07-14
Anticipated expiration: 1987-07-14

Description

July 14, 1970 w. A. HUNTER 3,520,348

FILL CARRIAGES FOR AUTOMATIC MATCHPLATE MOULDING MACHINES 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed 001,- 9, 1967 STATION 1 22 STATION ]I FIG.)

\NVENTOR WILLIAM ALLAN HUNTER ATTORNEY W. A. HUNTER July 14, 1970 FILL CARRIAGES FOR AUTOMATIC MATCHPLATE MOULDING MACHINES Filed Oct. 9, 1967 3 Sheets-Sheet :3

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INVENTOR WTLLIAM ALLAN HUNTER July 14, 1970 w. A. HUNTER FILL CARRIAGES FOR AUTOMATIC MATCHPLATE MOULDING MACHINES AT TO R N E Y INVENTOR WILLIAM ALLAN HUNTER BY I M Q 3 m 3 \L fiwm X -W mQE United States Patent 3,520,348 FILL CARRIAGES FOR AUTOMATIC MATCH- PLATE MOULDING MACHINES William Allan Hunter, Morton Grove, 11]., assignor to Heatherwill Company, Morton Grove, 111., a partnership Filed Oct. 9, 1967, Ser. No. 673,605 Int. Cl. B22c /12 US. Cl. 164-193 4 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A fill carriage for an automatic matchplate moulding machine, said fill carriage being characterized by structure for aerating moulding sand and depositing the same in substantially level condition alternately into drag and cope flasks as the fill carriage moves into positions atop the same.

The invention herein is an improvement over the matchplate moulding machine disclosed in Hunter Pat. No. 3,406,738 for Automatic Matchplate Moulding Machine and Method of Matchplate Moulding, dated Oct. 22, 1968.

The aforesaid application discloses a fill carriage movable with a moulding sand metering hopper between a position where an inverted drag flask is filled with moulding sand, and a subsequent position where a cope flask is filled with moulding sand while the matchplate is interposed between an erect and filled drag flask and the cope flask to be filled.

According to the present invention the fill carriage movable between the aforesaid positions is provided with structure operable to riddle or aerate the moulding sand which moves downward from a metering hopper and into the inverted drag flask or into the cope flask as the case may be, the same structure effectively providing even deposition of the moulding sand and substantial freedom from unintended voids around the matchplate and throughout the mass of the moulding sand, all to the end that a perfect mould is made.

With the foregoing considerations in mind it is a principal object of this invention to provide an improved matchplate moulding machine characterized by a fill carriage movable between drag flask and cope flask filling positions, and having structure for effectively aerating the moulding sand and depositing the same substantially in a level condition in such flasks.

Another object is to provide an improved riddler for moulding sand, said riddler being characterized by structure depositing the sand in substantially a level state in the flask without substantial loss of the sand in moving from a metering hopper and past the riddler into the flask.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of an automatic matchplate moulding machine having the improved fill carriage according to the present invention incorporated therein;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of a fill carriage adapted to be employed with the moulding machine seen in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side view thereof, showing details of a riddle supported thereon and details of a squeeze head supported thereon for placing pressure against sand which has been deposited into a cope flask;

FIG. 4 is a transverse sectional view taken along the line 44 of FIG. 2 looking in the direction of the arrows showing structure for driving the riddle; and

FIG. 5 is a transverse sectional view taken along the line 5-5 of FIG. 2 looking in the direction of the arrows, showing further details of the structure for driving the riddle.

3,520,348 Patented July 14, 1970 Referring now to FIG. 1 of the drawings the improvements in the fill carriage according to the present invention are embodied in an automatic moulding machine of the type as disclosed in the aforesaid Hunter application. Said moulding machine comprises a base frame 11 supporting a stage 12 for a ram device 13. The base 11 also supports an oil reservoir 14 containing a supply of hydraulic oil for operation of various hydraulically actuated devices such as the ram 13. Corner frame members 16 extend upward from the stage 12, and

vertical members

17 and 18 extend upward from the base 11. The upper ends of the corner frame members 16 and the

vertical members

17 and 18 have Z-shaped upper frame members 19 secured thereto. The vertical frame members 18 also provide a support for a cabinet 21 having a closure 22, cabinet 21 enclosing various control mechanisms incident to the operation of the matchplate moulding machine 10.

As disclosed in the aforesaid Hunter application, matchplate moulding machine 10 comprises a first moulding station denoted Station I for filling an inverted drag flask 23, and a second moulding station denoted Station II for filling a cope flask 25, placing pressure against the filled drag and

cope flasks

23 and 25, subsequently separating the filled drag flask 23 from the filled cope flask 25, separating the drag flask 23 from the drag mould formed therein, and finally lightly pressing such drag mould against a cope mould formed within cope flask 25 while the same is released from the cope flask to provide a finished mould at Station II.

Inverted drag flask 23 is located at Station I and has a matchplate 24 secured thereto in any convenient fashion. Matchplate 24 is provided with pattern halves P and P Drag flask 23 is arranged to be held in a yoke or roll-over device 26. As seen in FIG. 1, drag flask 23 is in its inverted position for filling, and the yoke or rollover device 26 supports a chute 27 spaced above the inverted drag flask 23 so as to guide moulding sand into the inverted drag flask 23.

A fill carriage, see also FIG. 2, denoted generally by the reference numeral 30 is adapted to be guided on the upper frame members 19 and to move from the position seen at Station I where it deposits a riddled quantity of moulding sand into the inverted drag flask 23, and to move to a second position at Station II where it deposits a riddled quantity of moulding sand into the cope flask 25.

Fill carriage 30 comprises laterally spaced side frame members 32 and transversely extending

cross frame members

33 and 34. Cross frame member 34 has a bracket 36 extending upward therefrom for connecting fill carriage to a piston rod 37 of a fill carriage moving cylinder 38 anchored at 39 to the upper frame members 19.

Fill carriage 39 has the side frame members 32 thereof provided with rails 41 resting upon guide rollers 42 secured for rotation on stub shafts 43 supported in the upper frame members 19, see also FIGS. 4 and 5. Fill carriage 30 supports a metering hopper 44 for a supply of moulding sand stored in a fill hopper 46, see again FIG. 1. As described in detail in the aforesaid Hunter patent fill hopper 46 is provided with proper gating mechanism to discharge into the metering hopper 44 when the latter is in position beneath the fill hopper 46. Metering hopper 44 is provided with movable gates 47 for discharging the contents thereof into the inverted drag flask 23. Metering hopper 44 is supported on the fill carriage 30 and inposition thereover on vertical members secured to the sides of metering hopper 44, and to the sides of fill carriage 30.

Structure is provided for riddling the moulding sand moving from the metering hopper 44 into the inverted drag flask 23, or into the cope flask 25, and such riddling of the moulding sand is accomplished without appreciable slinging or throwing of the sand to an extent where the metered quantity thereof will be changed to any degree.

As seen in FIG. 2, the fill carriage 30 supports a riddler denoted generally by the reference numeral 35 and including laterally spaced sloping side walls 48 which are integral with outward extending upper flanges 49 welded to the inner faces of the side frame members 32 of the fill carriage 30.

End walls

50 and 51 extend between the laterally spaced sidewalls 48 to define what is essentially a chute for the movement of moulding sand after the same has been riddled.

Structure is provided for riddling the moulding sand moving from the metering hopper 44 to the inverted drag flask or to the cope flask 25 as the case may be. According to the present invention such riddling is accomplished without appreciable slinging of the moulding sand, which in the structure herein disclosed is carefully metered. Heretofore riddling has been achieved by vanes mounted on a turning shaft, and while riddling has been achieved by such structure, the vanes thereof have operated to sling the sand unduly.

On the other hand, and according to the present in: vention, riddling is accomplished by riddling bars having longitudinal axes which are laterally spaced from an axis of rotation, so that the bars move in an orbital path. In a preferred form of the invention, a pair of such bars are mounted for such orbital movement upon trunnions disposed at the ends of the riddler bars, and alternate pairs of the so paired bars are driven in such orbital movement in one direction, while the other alternate pairs are driven in an opposite direction.

Such structure for riddling the mouldings and preferably consists of paired

smooth riddling bars

52 and 53, these being joined at their ends to trunnion members '54 and 56 so as to turn orbitally about an axis as defined by

trunnion members

54 and 56. Trunnion members 56 have trunnion stub shafts 57 which are journaled in the end wall 51, while trunnion members 54 are supported upon trunnion shafts 58 journaled in the end wall 50.

While the

riddling bars

52 and 53 are shown as being arranged in pairs, a single bar may be mounted for such orbital movement. Power for driving the

riddler bars

52 and 53 consists of a pair of driving motors 59 and 61, these being mounted on a cross member 62 secured by fastening screws 63 to the top of the laterally spaced side frame members 32 of the fill carriage 30. Motor 59 is arranged to drive a pair of the paired

riddler bars

52 and 53 in the same direction, while motor 61 is arranged to drive the other pair of the paired

riddler bars

52 and 53 in an opposite direction. Motor 59 has an output shaft 64 having a drive pulley 66 fast thereon, drive pulley 66 driving an endless belt 67 trained about

pulleys

68, 68 fast on the shafts 58 supporting the first and the third pair of the

riddler bars

52 and 53 to drive the same in one direction. Drive motor 61 has an output shaft 69 with a drive pulley 71 fast thereon, it driving an endless belt 72 trained about pulley 73, 73 driving the second and fourth paired

riddler bars

52 and 53 in an opposite direction, as indicated by the arrows seen in FIG. 2.

The operation of the metering hopper 44 and the riddler 35 when fill carriage 30 is at Station I is such as to deposit a metered charge of aerated molding sand into the inverted drag flask 23. The latter is then being covered by a bottom board BB from a stack S thereof advanced in position over the inverted drag flask 23 by a pusher member 74 as described in the aforementioned Hunter application.

At the conclusion of the filling operation of the inverted drag flask 23 the meter hopper 44 is again filled with a supply of moulding sand from the fill hopper 46. Pusher cylinder 38 then operates to move the fill carriage 30 to Station II where cope flask 25 is filled with riddled sand moving from the metering hopper 44.

Prior to the deposition of moulding sand into the cope flask the bottom board BB is clamped to the inverted drag flask 23 and the dragflask 23 then rotated to an erect position by the rollover device 26. The erect drag flask 23, with the bottom board BB clamped thereto then moves on to a platen 76 of the'ram member 13. Platen 76 then moves with the erect and filled drag flask 23 against the cope flask .25 as described in said previously recited Hunter patent for the filling of the cope flask 25.

Fill carriage 30 supports a squeeze head 77 which moves with the fill carriage to a position atop the filled cope flask 25 when the fill carriage 30 returns to its position at Station I after filling cope flask 25. At such time the platen 76 moves with the drag'flasl;, 23 and the cope flask 25 against the squeeze head 77 to sque'Zethe moulding sand within the two

flasks

23 and 25 withthematchplate 24 therebetween.

Fill carriage 30 has the side frame members 32 thereof provided with gibs 78 along the lower portions thereof moving into contact with thrust blocks 79 supported on the inside of the frame members 19 to take the thrust from the ram 13 against the squeeze head 77.

Fill carriage 30 and the riddler 35 carried thereby are provided with structure for striking off the filled cope flask 25 after the same has been filled from the metering hopper 44. This is accomplished by a scraper blade 81 having arms '82 which are pivoted on pins 83 extending outward from the sides 48 of the riddler 35. The scraper blade 81 is adjusted in its height so as to clear the top of the cope flask 21 a slight amount as the fill carriage 30 and riddler 35 return to Station I beneath the fill hopper 46. This slight clearance levels the sand which has been deposited in the cope flask 25, so that the squeeze head 77 supported by the fill carriage 30 moves into contact with a quantity of molding sand Within the cope flask 25 which is substantially level.

The position of the scraper blade 81 is adjusted by a hanger 84 welded at its lower end to one of the arms 82 and extending at its upper end throuugh the flange 49 for the sloping side 48, a nut 86 being threaded to the upper end of hanger 84 and bearing against flange 49, the amount of threaded engagement varying the height of the scraper blade '81.

I claim:

1. A fill carriage for an automatic moulding machine, said fill carriage having a metering hopper thereon for moulding sand and being movable between a first position where the metering hopper discharges into a drag flask and a second position where the metering hopper discharges into a cope flask, the improvement in said fill carriage comprising a riddler disposed below said metering hopper for aerating and leveling the moulding sand to be deposited in said drag and cope flasks without appreciable loss in the metered quantity thereof, said riddler including a frame, a plurality of riddler bars extending lengthwise of said frame, means for mounting each of said bars for orbital movement about said last named means, and means for rotating alternate of said riddler bars in identical directions on said means for mounting said riddle bars, and means on said frame for leveling the mouldings and in said cope flask upon movement of said fill carriage from said second position to said first position.

2. A fill carriage according to claim 1 wherein said means comprises a scraper blade movable with said frame.

3. A fill carriage for an automatic moulding machine, said fill carriage having a metering hopper thereon for moulding sand and being movable between a first position where the metering hopper discharges into a drag flask and a second position where the metering hopper discharges into a cope flask, the improvement in said fill carriage comprising a riddler disposed below said metering hopper for aerating and leveling the moulding sand to be deposited in said drag and cope flasks without appreciable loss in the metered quantity thereof, and means 5 6 on said fill carriage for leveling the moulding sand in 3.007.216 ll/l96l .lohnslon [64-193 said cope flask upon movement of said fill carriage from 3.l 10,067 ll/l963 Abbott l64--192 X said second position to said first position. 3. 0 .449 8/1965 Hutch l64--l94 X 4. A fill carriage according to claim 3 wherein said FOREIGN PATENTS l I giigsgecompnses a scraper bade movable with said 5 974,672 11/1964 Great Bmam.

Reie'e'lces I. SPENCER OVERHOLSER, Primary Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS J. B. BROWN, Assistant Examiner 1,155,019 9/1915 Tscherning 164-183 10 2,893,079 7/1959 Moran et al. 164-192 x 2,973,188 2/1961 Howe 259-131 164--207; 222410; 259-429