US3729281A - Apparatus for compression-molding a powder within containers - Google Patents

Apparatus for compression-molding a powder within containers Download PDF

Info

Publication number
US3729281A
US3729281A US00883799A US3729281DA US3729281A US 3729281 A US3729281 A US 3729281A US 00883799 A US00883799 A US 00883799A US 3729281D A US3729281D A US 3729281DA US 3729281 A US3729281 A US 3729281A
Authority
US
United States
Prior art keywords
powder
die
molding
rotary table
container
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
US00883799A
Inventor
M Nakai
H Shimada
K Okubo
T Horiguchi
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Panasonic Holdings Corp
Original Assignee
Matsushita Electric Industrial Co Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Matsushita Electric Industrial Co Ltd filed Critical Matsushita Electric Industrial Co Ltd
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US3729281A publication Critical patent/US3729281A/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

Links

Images

Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
    • H01M6/00—Primary cells; Manufacture thereof
    • H01M6/04—Cells with aqueous electrolyte
    • H01M6/06—Dry cells, i.e. cells wherein the electrolyte is rendered non-fluid
    • H01M6/08—Dry cells, i.e. cells wherein the electrolyte is rendered non-fluid with cup-shaped electrodes
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B30—PRESSES
    • B30B—PRESSES IN GENERAL
    • B30B11/00—Presses specially adapted for forming shaped articles from material in particulate or plastic state, e.g. briquetting presses, tabletting presses
    • B30B11/02—Presses specially adapted for forming shaped articles from material in particulate or plastic state, e.g. briquetting presses, tabletting presses using a ram exerting pressure on the material in a moulding space
    • B30B11/022—Presses specially adapted for forming shaped articles from material in particulate or plastic state, e.g. briquetting presses, tabletting presses using a ram exerting pressure on the material in a moulding space whereby the material is subjected to vibrations
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B30—PRESSES
    • B30B—PRESSES IN GENERAL
    • B30B11/00—Presses specially adapted for forming shaped articles from material in particulate or plastic state, e.g. briquetting presses, tabletting presses
    • B30B11/02—Presses specially adapted for forming shaped articles from material in particulate or plastic state, e.g. briquetting presses, tabletting presses using a ram exerting pressure on the material in a moulding space
    • B30B11/08—Presses specially adapted for forming shaped articles from material in particulate or plastic state, e.g. briquetting presses, tabletting presses using a ram exerting pressure on the material in a moulding space co-operating with moulds carried by a turntable
    • B30B11/10—Presses specially adapted for forming shaped articles from material in particulate or plastic state, e.g. briquetting presses, tabletting presses using a ram exerting pressure on the material in a moulding space co-operating with moulds carried by a turntable intermittently rotated

Definitions

  • ABSTRACT A plurality of dies are mounted on an intermittently rotating table in circumferentially equally spaced relation and below each die is provided a powder molding mechanism comprising a vertically movable molding tube extending into said die at its top end and a vertically movable center pin extending through said molding tube with the top end thereof located within said die.
  • Each die is charged with a powder at one station and shifted to another station upon the intermittent rotation of said table where a cylindrical container with a bottom is placed in the die with the open end thereof facing downward, and then further shifted to still another station where the powder charged in the die is moved into the container and compressionmolded therein by said molding mechanism, whereby the steps of charging the powder into the die, moving the powder into the container and compression-molding the powder within said container are carried out successively during one complete rotation of said tablc, and hence operation efficiency can be enhanced and the apparatus is highly adapted to mass pr0duction.
  • the present invention relates to a powder molding apparatus by which a powder is compression-molded into a predetermined shape within a container, and which comprises a rotary table, a plurality of dies mounted on said rotary table and each having a shoulder formed at about the middle portion of the inner surface thereof, means for charging a powder into said die, means for placing a cylindrical container with a bottom in each die from the upper side with the lower open end thereof facing downward to rest on said shoulder and means for pushing the powder in the die upward from the lower side to compression-mold the same within said container.
  • the present inventors previously applied for a patent for a molding apparatus of this type which is so constructed that containers carried by an intermittently driven rotary table are successively placed into op posed relation to a die at a predetermined position and a powder previously charged in said die is-pushed into the container and compression-molded therein at said position. Therefore, the apparatus must be provided with a rotary table for carrying the containers.
  • the present invention contemplates the provision of an apparatus which is capable of compression-molding a powder into a predetermined shape within containers efficiently, without necessitating the provision of a rotary table or the like for carrying the containers, by inserting a container into a die with the open end thereof facing downward, which die is previously charged with a powder, and moving the powder upward into the container and compression-molding the same therein while holding said container in said die.
  • the first object of the present invention is to form a molding of a powder in a container, particularly the molding of a positive electrode depolarizer in a cell container, in tight contact therewith by compression molding, without permitting the powder to scatter and without adversely affecting the dimensional accuracy of the container.
  • the second object of the invention is to prevent the moldings ofa powder from varying from one another in density in the operation of charging the powder into the containers, by providing below each die a powder molding mechanism including a molding tube and a molding center pin disposed in the axial hole of said molding tube, vertically oscillating'said molding tube and said molding center pin independently of each other incident to the rotation of a rotary table after the powder has been charged in said die and thereby equalizing the consistency ofthe power in the die.
  • the third object of the invention is to provide for smooth rotation of the rotary table by providing cushion means below each die so that said die maybe movable vertically against the biasing force of said cushion means, and thereby preventing the pressure of container pressing means from exerting on the rotary table in the compression-molding of the powder within the container.
  • a further object of the invention is tocarry out the steps of charging the power into a container, compression-molding the power within thecontainer and inwardly curling the open end of the container successively continuously, by operatively engaging an auxiliary rotary table with a main rotary table provided with dies and molding mechanisms, through intermeshing gear teeth formed on the peripheral surfaces of said respective rotary tables, and providing curling means to effect said curling operation in operational relation to said auxiliary rotary table.
  • FIG. 1 is a perspective view, partially broken away, of an embodiment of the apparatus for compressionmolding a powder within containers according to the present invention
  • FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the position A H of the molding mechanisms provided on the main rotary table and the positions I L ofthe container gripping means provided on the auxiliary rotary table of the apparatus of this invention, and also showing the change in relative position of the molding mechanisms and the container gripping means incident to rotation of said respectiverotary tables;
  • FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the powder molding mechanism provided on the main rotary table
  • FIGS. 4 to 10 are views showing the process of the compression-molding operation stepwise from the time when a powder is charged into the die to the time when the powder is compression-molded in a container, said operation being carried out as the die is shifted from the station M to the station S successively incident to rotation of the main rotary table;
  • FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of curling means by which the open end of the container is curled inwardly with the powder molded therein in a predetermined shape.
  • a powder molding apparatus comprising a base plate, an upright support column mounted on said base plate, a rotary table rotatably mounted on said support column and being rotated intermittently, a plurality of dies provided on said rotary table in circumferentially equally spaced relation, each of said dies being open at the upper and lower ends thereof and having a shoulder formed at about the middle portion of the inner surface thereof'for supporting the open end of a cylindrical container with a bottom which will be inserted into said die with said open end facing downward, a powder molding mechanism provided below each die, said molding mechanism including a vertically movable molding tube which will be inserted into the axial hollow of said die from the lower open end to compress a powder charged in the die and a vertically movable center pin extending through said molding tube with the top end thereof located within said die, powder charging means for charging the powder into said die through the upper open end at a predetermined position, container feed means for placing said container in the powder-charged die through the upper open end at a
  • the apparatus of the present invention illustrated in the drawings includes two rotary tables, i.e. a main rotary table 1 and an auxiliary rotary table 2.
  • the main rotary table 1 is provided with a plurality of molding mechanisms to be described later in circumferentially equally spaced relation, while the auxiliary rotary table 2 is provided with secondary working mechanisms, e.g., curling mechanisms, for cooperation with said respective molding mechanisms.
  • the main rotary table 1 as shown in FIG. 2, has the molding mechanisms provided at eight locations A H which are equally spaced circumferentially, each of said molding mechanisms being constructed as shown in FIG. 3.
  • the main rotary table 1 is formed with gear teeth on the peripheral surface thereof, which are in engagement with gear teeth formed on the peripheral surface of the auxiliary rotary table 2, and is rotated intermittently in a clockwise direction as indicated by the arrow in FIG. 2, through an angle of 45 in each movement.
  • the auxiliary rotary table 2 has gripping means provided at four locations I L along the periphery thereof in equally spaced relation, and is rotated intermittently by the main rotary table 1 in a counterclockwise direction as indicated by the arrow, through an angle of 90 in each movement.
  • the apparatus also has eight working stations M T arranged in circumferentially equally spaced relation adjacent to the periphery of the main rotary table 1 and each of the molding mechanisms is shifted from one working station to another incident to the intermittent rotation of the main rotary table 1.
  • stations U X are provided in circumferentially equally spaced relation adjacent the periphery of the auxiliary rotary table 2 and each of the gripping means is shifted from one station to another incident to the intermittent rotation of the auxiliary rotary table.
  • the station S and the station U are located in opposed relation to each other.
  • Numeral 3 designates a die which is provided at each of the locations A H of the main rotary table I and fixed in position by a flange member 4 with the top surface flush with the upper surface of said main rotary table.
  • the die 3 consists of a container adapted to receive a cell container 5 and is positioned with the bottom end located on the upper side and the open end located on the lower side.
  • Below the die 3 is provided another die 7 in adjoining relation thereto.
  • the die 7 has an axial hole of adiameter equal to the inner diameter of the cell container formed therein for receiving a powder (positive electrode depolarizer), and also has a shoulder 6 formed at the contacting surface with the die 3.
  • the die 7 is vertically movably mounted in a sleeve portion 9 formed at the center of a fixed body 8 of the molding apparatus which is located below the main rotary table 1.
  • the open lower end of the sleeve portion 9 is closed by a closure member 10 which has a throughhole'formed centrally thereof, and a coil spring 11 is providedin said sleeve portion with one end bearing against said closure member and the other end against a shoulder 12 formed on the peripheral surface of the die 7.
  • the dies 3 and 7 may be made separately and united integrally with each other so as to form the shoulder 6, but alternatively they may be made as a unitary piece having an axial through-hole and the shoulder 6 at about the mid portion of the peripheral wall of said through-hole.
  • the flange member 4 serves to regulate the position of the die 3 so that the top surface of the die may be flush with the upper surface of the main rotary table 1, and can be removed from said main rotary table when the die is desired to be replaced upon wearing of the same.
  • Numeral 13 designates a molding tube with the lower end screw-threaded into a bushing 14 secured to a sliding member 15 and the top end thereof extending into the axial hole of the die 7 through the lower end thereof.
  • Numeral l6 designates a washer and 17 designates a bearing formed on each side of the sliding member 15.
  • a pair of guide rods 18, 18 are each fixed to the body 8 of the molding apparatus at the top end and extend downwardly through the bearing 17, so that said bearing is movable vertically by being guided by the guide rod.
  • Numeral 19 designates rollers rotatably connected to each side of the lower end portion of the sliding member 15. These rollers 19 are provided for controlling the position of the molding tube 13 through the sliding member 15, by engaging guide means at a predetermined position as will be described later.
  • Numeral 20 designates a molding center pin extending through the molding tube 13.
  • the molding center pin 20 has an axial vent hole 20' and is fixedly connected at its lower end to a beam 22 which is vertically movable along a vertical slot 21 formed in the sliding member 15.
  • a pair of rollers 23,23 are provided at the opposite ends of the beam 22 and one of said rollers 23' rolls on a guide rail to be described later and causes the center pin 20 to progressively move upward according to a positional change of said guide rail.
  • the amount of movement b of the roller 23' caused by the guide rail is the distance which the top end of the center pin 20 travels from the interior of the die 7 to reach the inner bottom surface of the cell container 5.
  • Both of the rollers 23, 23 are oscillated vertically by engaging engaging members to be described later, whereby the powder is charged satisfactorily in the die 7.
  • the amount of movement h ofthe molding tube 13 is a distance necessary to charge and mold the powder in the cell container 5 and to push said cell container upward from the die 3 upon completion of the molding.
  • main rotary table 1 and the auxiliary rotary table 2 are operatively associated with each other with the gear teeth formed on the peripheral surfaces thereof intermeshing, so that when one of them is rotated intermittently, the other one is also rotated intermittently regularly relative to said one rotary table.
  • These two rotary tables 1 and 2 are rotatably mounted on support columns 25, 25 respectively which stand upright on a base plate 24.
  • a motor For rotating the main and auxiliary rotary tables, a motor is provided on the underside of the base plate 24 and the drive of the motor is transmitted to one of said rotary tables through a suitable reduction gearing and intermittent motion mechanism.
  • the auxiliary rotary table 2 is operatively connected to the motor to be driven therefrom and the main rotary table 1 is rotated by the auxiliary rotary table 2.
  • Above the center of the main rotary table 1 is provided a cam 26.
  • the cam 26 is rotated by a driving system, independent of that for the rotary tables 1 and 2, to impart a horizontal vibration to three powder supply hoppers 27, 28 (and one provided above the station M, though not apparent in the drawings) through transmission levers 29.
  • Numeral 30 designates a container feed lever provided near the leading end of container guide means 31 for placing the cell container 5 into each die 3
  • numeral 32 designates a rotary brush provided at a midportion of the container guide means 31 for advancing the cell containers.
  • Numeral 33 designates a press provided above the station R. The press 33 includes a ram 34 which will be lowered, when the rotary table 1 has stopped rotating at the Station R, to engage the bottom wall of the container 5 and the upper surface of the die 3 and hold said container against upward movement relative to the rotary table 1 under the molding pressure acting on the container from the underside.
  • Numeral 35 designates the container gripping means provided on the auxiliary rotary table 2 at the locations 1- L respectively.
  • Each container gripping'means 35 is composed of a pair of opposed arms 36, 36' which are formed with a notch in the confronting surfaces thereof.
  • One of the arms 36 is pivotably connected and the other arm 36 is fixedlyconnected to the rotary table 2.
  • the pivotable arm 36 is urged against the fixed arm 36 by a spring 38 to keep the gripping portion 37 closed at the outer end portions of the respective gripping arms.
  • the pivotable arm 36 of the gripping means 35 is opened against the biasing force of the spring 38 by an operating member when said gripping means is located at the station U, and thereby the gripping portion 37 is opened slightly so that the gripping arms can grip the container 5 from both sides without interfering with the upward movement of said container and hold the same against downward movement together with the molding tube 13 when said molding tube is lowered.
  • Numeral 39 designates the curling means by which the open edge of the container 5 is curled inwardly after the powder has been molded into, a predetermined shape within the container.
  • the curling means is provided at the station V and comprises, as shown in FIG.
  • numeral 43 designates a plurality of U-shaped engaging members provided on the base plate 24. These engaging members 43 engage the rollers 23, 23 provided on both sides of the beam 22 and cause the center pin 20 to oscillate vertically through said beam.
  • Each of the engaging members 43 is operatively connected to a lever mechanism 46 at the lower end of a shaft 45 thereof and said lever mechanism 46 is operated by a rotary cam 47.
  • Numeral 48 designates a spring to bias the lever mechanism 46 constantly upwardly. Therefore, the engaging members 43 is also constantly biased upwardly by the spring 48.
  • the roller 23' which is one of the two rollers provided on the beam 22 is located in the annular guide rail 49 having a U-shaped cross-section and rolls therein while being guided thereby. If the roller 23' were to be still located in the guide rail 49 when the other roller 23 has been brought into engagement with the engaging member 43, it would be impossible for the roller to oscillate vertically. Therefore, the guide rail 49 is partially broken at locations where the roller 23 engages the respective engaging members 43, so that the roller 23 can oscillate vertically together with the engaging member 43. Namely, the engaging members 43 are provided in a pair for engagement with both of the rollers 23, 23' and one of the engaging members which engages the roller 23 is provided in the borken portion of the guide rail 49 to constitute part of said guide rail.
  • the guide rail 49 is broken at the locations where the engaging members 43 are provided.
  • the height of the guide rail 49 is increased by a predetermined rate stepwise rearwardly from the location of the engaging member 43 (i.e. from the right to left when the table 1 is rotated clockwise).
  • M O are the stations where a powder (positive electrode depolarizer) is charged into the dies 3 and 7 from the three hoppers.
  • a powder positive electrode depolarizer
  • the position A of the main rotary table 1 is located below the hopper which is located above the station M though not apparent in FIG. 1
  • said hopper is oscillated horizontally by the cam 26, so that the powder contained in the hopper is charged into the dies 3 and 7 while being prevented from cross-linking and without being permitted to agglomerate.
  • the rollers 23, 23' are in engagement with the first engaging members 43 provided below that station M, so that the center pin 20 having the top end thereof located within the die 7 is oscillated vertically and thereby the powder is charged to the bottom of the die 7.
  • the main rotary table 1 is rotated 45 in a clockwise direction, whereby the dies 3 and 7 having previously been held stationary at the station M are shifted to the station N and the hopper 27 at said station is similarly oscillated horizontally by the cam 26 to charge the powder into the dies.
  • the powder thus charged in the dies is well packed therein by the action of the centerpin 20 which is again oscillated due to engagement with the second engaging members 43.
  • the roller 23'- is progressively pushed upward by the guide rail 49, so that thetop end of the center pin 20 is raised within'the die 7 correspondingly.
  • the rotary table 1 is rotated through another 45, so that the position A is shifted from the station N to the station to locate the dies 3 and 7 below the hopper 28.
  • the hopper 28 is oscillated horizontally by the cam 26 and the powder in said hopper is charged into the dies.
  • the roller 23' rolls in the guide rail 49 while being guided thereby and engages the third engaging member 43, with the other roller 23 engaging the other one of the pair of engaging members. Therefore, the center pin 20 is again oscillated vertically, whereby the powder is packed more satisfactorily and any possible irregularity in charging quantity can be corrected.
  • the powder is packed tightly at a uniform density in a vertical direction.
  • the center pin 20 is raised by the height b shown in'FlG. 3 due to the engagement between the rollers 23, 23 and the third engaging members 43, and is maintained at the same level even after the rollers 23, 23' roll onto the guide rail 49.
  • the table 1 is further rotated clockwise and the position A of the table is shifted from the station 0 to the station P.
  • a container is placed in the die 3, flush with the die 3, by the container feed lever 30, with the bottom wall facing upwardly and the open end facing downwardly.
  • the top end of the center pin 20 in the die 3 is located at a level b higher than the original level and the open end of the container 5 rests on the shoulder 6 formed at the junction of the dies 3 and 7. Therefore, the container 5 is not permitted to move deeper into the die and the top end of the center pin 20 engages the inner bottom wall of the container 5, with the edge of the open end of said container resting on said shoulder 6.
  • the station Q is an idle station.
  • the ram 34 of the press 33 moves downward and engages the bottom wall of the container 5 to hold the container so that it may not be pushed upward from the die 3 under an upward molding pressure.
  • the lower end 50 of the sliding member is pushed up by an oil cylinder or the like provided on the base plate 24, so that the molding tube 13 is moved upward and the powder in the die .7 is moved into the container 5 and compressed therein by the molding tube 13, whereby said powder is molded into a cylindrical shape conforming to the shape of the tapered top end portion of thec'enter pin 20.
  • the air present in the, powder is released to the outside through the axial hole 20' of the center pin 20.
  • the lower portion of the sliding member 15 is moved by the pressing means a distance only sufficient .to cause a flange 51 to move I upward to the position 51', which flange 51 is formed integrally on the molding tube 13.
  • the ram 34 of the press 33 is moved upward to the original position and the container 5 is shifted from the station R to the station S while being carried on the table 1 rotating 45 in a clockwise direction.
  • the top end of the molding tube 13 is maintained at the same level as it was at the station R, by the pressure from the pressing means.
  • the center pin 20 is slightly lowered at the station R upon completion of the compressionmolding and maintained in that position to facilitate the removal of the container 5 at the following station S.
  • the container 5 gripped by the gripping means 35 and having the compression-molded powder therein is carried to the station V, where the edge of the lower end of the container 5 is curled inwardly by the curling means 39 in the manner shown in FIG. 11.
  • the die 3 which has been emptied upon removal of the container 5 therefrom is shifted from the station- S to the idling station T while being carried by the rotating table 1.
  • a pair of rollers 19 provided on both sides of the lower portion of the sliding member 15 are gradually lowered from the elevated position to the same level as they are at the station M by return guide means and hence the molding tube 13 is also returned to the original position.
  • the center pin 20 is also lowered to the same position as it was at the station M, like the molding tube 13.
  • the container 5 which has been subjected to the curling operation at the station V while being held by the gripping means, is located at the idling station W by the table 2 upon rotation of said table through an angle of and then further shifted to the station X, where it is slipped down from the gripping portion 37 of the gripping means 35 by a pressure applied thereto from the upper side and delivered to the next working station.
  • the container 5 In the compression-molding of the powder within the container 5, the container 5 is held against upward movement by the ram 34, as stated above.
  • the coil spring 11 is provided between the shoulder.l2 of the die 7 and the closure member 10 which closes the lower end of the sleeve portion 8, the dies 3, 7 or the flange member 4 will not be subjected to an unnecessarily large pressure even if the ram 34 is lowered excessively, the coilspring 11 only being compressed .as shown in FIG. 12. Therefore, the table 1 or the flange member 4 will not be damaged by the ram,
  • the powder molding device since the powder molding device is provided below each ofa plurality of dies mounted on the main rotary table, the steps of charging the powder into the die, transferring the powder from the die into the container and compression-molding the powder within the container, can be operated successively as the container is shifted from one station to another while being carried by the main rotary table. Therefore, the apparatus of the present invention is highly adapted to mass production. It is also to be noted that in operating the present apparatus, a smaller amount of the powder is permitted to leak from the container than in case of the apparatus of the type wherein the container is held above the die. Another advantage of the present invention is that the residence time of the container at each station can be minimized due to the fact that the amount of movement of the powder at each station in charging the powder into the die or in transferring the powder from the die into the container is small.
  • a powder molding apparatus comprising:
  • each of said dies having a through-hole therein, said hole having a shoulder at about the middle of the inner surface of said hole for supporting the open end of a cylindrical can body which has the other end closed, said die adapted to receive said cylindrical can body in said throughhole in an inverted position from the upper side of said die;
  • each die said powder molding mechanism comprising a molding tube adapted for inserting into its respective die upwardly from the underside of said die to force into the can body supported in said die a powder charge, and a center pin extending through said molding tube and having a tapered upper portion, said center pin being vertically movable independently of said molding tube, said center pin comprising an inner mold for forming a hollow volume within the powder molded within said can;
  • powder charging means for charging powder into the hole in each die from the upper side ofthe die
  • pressing means for pressing the can with a downward force against the upward force of said molding mechanism when the powder is inserted, compressed, and molded in said can by said molding mechanism;
  • the power molding apparatus of claim 1 additionally comprising vibrating means for causing a vertical oscillatory movement of the center pin when powder is charged into each die, whereby said powder is packed in said die.
  • the powder molding apparatus of claim 1 additionally comprising means for removing a can from said further pressing means after said can has been removed from a die.
  • a powder molding apparatus comprising:
  • each of said dies having a through-hole therein, said hole having a shoulder at about the middle of the inner surface of said hole for supporting the open end of a cylindrical can body which has the other end closed, said die adapted to receive said cylindrical can body in said throughhole in an inverted position from the upper side of said die;
  • each die said powder molding mechanism comprising a molding tube adapted for insertion into its respective die upwardly from the underside of said die to force into the can body supported in said die a powder charge, and a center pin extending through said molding tube and having a tapered upper portion, said center pin being vertically movable independently of said molding tube, said center pin comprising an inner mold for forming a hollow volume within the powder molded within said can;
  • powder charging means for charging powder into the hole in each die from the upper side of the die
  • pressing means for pressing the can with a downward force against the upward force of said molding mechanism when the powder is inserted, compressed, and molded in said can by said molding mechanism;

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Electrochemistry (AREA)
  • General Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Manufacturing & Machinery (AREA)
  • Powder Metallurgy (AREA)
  • Forging (AREA)
  • Casting Or Compression Moulding Of Plastics Or The Like (AREA)
  • Basic Packing Technique (AREA)
  • Primary Cells (AREA)
  • Battery Electrode And Active Subsutance (AREA)

Abstract

A plurality of dies are mounted on an intermittently rotating table in circumferentially equally spaced relation and below each die is provided a powder molding mechanism comprising a vertically movable molding tube extending into said die at its top end and a vertically movable center pin extending through said molding tube with the top end thereof located within said die. Each die is charged with a powder at one station and shifted to another station upon the intermittent rotation of said table where a cylindrical container with a bottom is placed in the die with the open end thereof facing downward, and then further shifted to still another station where the powder charged in the die is moved into the container and compression-molded therein by said molding mechanism, whereby the steps of charging the powder into the die, moving the powder into the container and compression-molding the powder within said container are carried out successively during one complete rotation of said table, and hence operation efficiency can be enhanced and the apparatus is highly adapted to mass production.

Description

United States Patent [1 1 Okubo et al.
[451 Apr. 2 4,197?
[ 1 APPARATUS FOR COMPRESSION- MOLDING A POWDER WITHIN CONTAINERS [75] Inventors: Kei Okubo, Neyagawa-shi; Toru Horiguchi, Kadoma-shi; Miyoji Nakai, Neyagawa-shi; Haruhisa Shimada,0saka, all of J apan [73] Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co.,
Ltd., Osaka. Japan [22] Filed: Dec. 10,1969
[21] Appl.No.: 883,799
[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Dec. 13, 1968 Japan ..43/9l862 [52] US. Cl. ..425/36l, 425/78, 425/355, 425/424, 425/432, 425/431 [51] Int. Cl. ..B29c l/l4, B29c 3/04, 1329C 6/00 [58] Field ofSearch ..18/l6.5,5 RR, R, 18/20 B, 20 C, 20 G, 20 H, 20 P, 20 RR, 20
S, 20 T, DIG. 47, 23, 16.7; /66, 67,
[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,449,008 9/1948 Pecker Ct 211. 1 8/20 T X 3,445,893 5/1969 Talmage .l8/l6.5 X 2,954,585 10/1960 Simpson "18/20 (1 917,627 4/1909 Lizottc 1 8/20 F 2,875,471 3/1959 Crowther 18/20 '1 3,084,387 4/1963 Tochner et a1 18/20 T X 3,537,137 11/1970 Lancesseur 18/20 (TX H1955 Gilbert 18/5 PP X 5/1956 3,382,533 5/1968 Fyfe ct a1 ..l8/2O P X 3,522,631 8/1970 Niclas ..18/2O C 2,122,874 7/1938 Whipple 18/165 X 2,900,664 8/1959 Hampel et al.. ..l8/16 R 3,183,570 5/1965 Vogt 18/165 X 3,495,308 2/1970 Schulze ..18/16.5 X 2,325,687 8/1943 Kux ..18/DIG. 35
FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 739,71 1 1955 Great Britain ..18/20 RR Primary ExaminerRobert L. Spicer, Jr. Att0rneyStevens, Davis, Miller & Mosher 57] ABSTRACT A plurality of dies are mounted on an intermittently rotating table in circumferentially equally spaced relation and below each die is provided a powder molding mechanism comprising a vertically movable molding tube extending into said die at its top end and a vertically movable center pin extending through said molding tube with the top end thereof located within said die. Each die is charged with a powder at one station and shifted to another station upon the intermittent rotation of said table where a cylindrical container with a bottom is placed in the die with the open end thereof facing downward, and then further shifted to still another station where the powder charged in the die is moved into the container and compressionmolded therein by said molding mechanism, whereby the steps of charging the powder into the die, moving the powder into the container and compression-molding the powder within said container are carried out successively during one complete rotation of said tablc, and hence operation efficiency can be enhanced and the apparatus is highly adapted to mass pr0duction.
5 Claims, 12 Drawing Figures Gora "18/206 X 7 Patented April 24, 1973 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG.
KEI OKUB'O TORU HORI'GUCHI MlYOJl NAK'AI HARUHISA SHIMADA Patented April 24, 1973 3,729,281
6 Sheets-Sheet 2 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 klll-l FIG 3 Patented April 24-, 1973 Patented April 24, 1973 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 FIG; 6 28 FIG. 5
FIG. 4
mi .7 r HT VA Patented April 24, 1973 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 FIG. l2
APPARATUS FOR COMPRESSION-MOLDING A POWDER WITHIN CONTAINERS The present invention relates to a powder molding apparatus by which a powder is compression-molded into a predetermined shape within a container, and which comprises a rotary table, a plurality of dies mounted on said rotary table and each having a shoulder formed at about the middle portion of the inner surface thereof, means for charging a powder into said die, means for placing a cylindrical container with a bottom in each die from the upper side with the lower open end thereof facing downward to rest on said shoulder and means for pushing the powder in the die upward from the lower side to compression-mold the same within said container.
The present inventors previously applied for a patent for a molding apparatus of this type which is so constructed that containers carried by an intermittently driven rotary table are successively placed into op posed relation to a die at a predetermined position and a powder previously charged in said die is-pushed into the container and compression-molded therein at said position. Therefore, the apparatus must be provided with a rotary table for carrying the containers.
The present invention contemplates the provision of an apparatus which is capable of compression-molding a powder into a predetermined shape within containers efficiently, without necessitating the provision of a rotary table or the like for carrying the containers, by inserting a container into a die with the open end thereof facing downward, which die is previously charged with a powder, and moving the powder upward into the container and compression-molding the same therein while holding said container in said die.
The first object of the present invention is to form a molding of a powder in a container, particularly the molding of a positive electrode depolarizer in a cell container, in tight contact therewith by compression molding, without permitting the powder to scatter and without adversely affecting the dimensional accuracy of the container.
The second object of the invention is to prevent the moldings ofa powder from varying from one another in density in the operation of charging the powder into the containers, by providing below each die a powder molding mechanism including a molding tube and a molding center pin disposed in the axial hole of said molding tube, vertically oscillating'said molding tube and said molding center pin independently of each other incident to the rotation of a rotary table after the powder has been charged in said die and thereby equalizing the consistency ofthe power in the die.
The third object of the invention is to provide for smooth rotation of the rotary table by providing cushion means below each die so that said die maybe movable vertically against the biasing force of said cushion means, and thereby preventing the pressure of container pressing means from exerting on the rotary table in the compression-molding of the powder within the container.
A further object of the invention is tocarry out the steps of charging the power into a container, compression-molding the power within thecontainer and inwardly curling the open end of the container successively continuously, by operatively engaging an auxiliary rotary table with a main rotary table provided with dies and molding mechanisms, through intermeshing gear teeth formed on the peripheral surfaces of said respective rotary tables, and providing curling means to effect said curling operation in operational relation to said auxiliary rotary table.
These and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view, partially broken away, of an embodiment of the apparatus for compressionmolding a powder within containers according to the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the position A H of the molding mechanisms provided on the main rotary table and the positions I L ofthe container gripping means provided on the auxiliary rotary table of the apparatus of this invention, and also showing the change in relative position of the molding mechanisms and the container gripping means incident to rotation of said respectiverotary tables;
FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the powder molding mechanism provided on the main rotary table;
FIGS. 4 to 10 are views showing the process of the compression-molding operation stepwise from the time when a powder is charged into the die to the time when the powder is compression-molded in a container, said operation being carried out as the die is shifted from the station M to the station S successively incident to rotation of the main rotary table; and
FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of curling means by which the open end of the container is curled inwardly with the powder molded therein in a predetermined shape.
According to the present invention, there is provided a powder molding apparatus comprising a base plate, an upright support column mounted on said base plate, a rotary table rotatably mounted on said support column and being rotated intermittently, a plurality of dies provided on said rotary table in circumferentially equally spaced relation, each of said dies being open at the upper and lower ends thereof and having a shoulder formed at about the middle portion of the inner surface thereof'for supporting the open end of a cylindrical container with a bottom which will be inserted into said die with said open end facing downward, a powder molding mechanism provided below each die, said molding mechanism including a vertically movable molding tube which will be inserted into the axial hollow of said die from the lower open end to compress a powder charged in the die and a vertically movable center pin extending through said molding tube with the top end thereof located within said die, powder charging means for charging the powder into said die through the upper open end at a predetermined position, container feed means for placing said container in the powder-charged die through the upper open end at a predetermined position and pressing means for depressing said container when the powder charged in the die is moved into the container and compressionmolded into a predetermined shape therein by the action of said powder molding mechanism; said powder charging means, said container feed means and said pressingmeans being provided above said rotary table.
As an embodiment of the present invention, an apparatus for compression-molding a positive electrode depolarizer in a predetermined shape within a cell container will be described with reference to the drawings.
The apparatus of the present invention illustrated in the drawings includes two rotary tables, i.e. a main rotary table 1 and an auxiliary rotary table 2. The main rotary table 1 is provided with a plurality of molding mechanisms to be described later in circumferentially equally spaced relation, while the auxiliary rotary table 2 is provided with secondary working mechanisms, e.g., curling mechanisms, for cooperation with said respective molding mechanisms. More specifically, the main rotary table 1, as shown in FIG. 2, has the molding mechanisms provided at eight locations A H which are equally spaced circumferentially, each of said molding mechanisms being constructed as shown in FIG. 3. Further, the main rotary table 1 is formed with gear teeth on the peripheral surface thereof, which are in engagement with gear teeth formed on the peripheral surface of the auxiliary rotary table 2, and is rotated intermittently in a clockwise direction as indicated by the arrow in FIG. 2, through an angle of 45 in each movement. The auxiliary rotary table 2 has gripping means provided at four locations I L along the periphery thereof in equally spaced relation, and is rotated intermittently by the main rotary table 1 in a counterclockwise direction as indicated by the arrow, through an angle of 90 in each movement.
As shown in FIG. 1, the apparatus also has eight working stations M T arranged in circumferentially equally spaced relation adjacent to the periphery of the main rotary table 1 and each of the molding mechanisms is shifted from one working station to another incident to the intermittent rotation of the main rotary table 1. Likewise, four stations U X are provided in circumferentially equally spaced relation adjacent the periphery of the auxiliary rotary table 2 and each of the gripping means is shifted from one station to another incident to the intermittent rotation of the auxiliary rotary table. The station S and the station U are located in opposed relation to each other.
Now, various mechanisms of the apparatus associated with the main rotary table 1 and the auxiliary rotary table 2 will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3.
Numeral 3 designates a die which is provided at each of the locations A H of the main rotary table I and fixed in position by a flange member 4 with the top surface flush with the upper surface of said main rotary table. The die 3 consists ofa container adapted to receive a cell container 5 and is positioned with the bottom end located on the upper side and the open end located on the lower side. Below the die 3 is provided another die 7 in adjoining relation thereto. The die 7 has an axial hole of adiameter equal to the inner diameter of the cell container formed therein for receiving a powder (positive electrode depolarizer), and also has a shoulder 6 formed at the contacting surface with the die 3.
The die 7 is vertically movably mounted in a sleeve portion 9 formed at the center of a fixed body 8 of the molding apparatus which is located below the main rotary table 1. The open lower end of the sleeve portion 9 is closed by a closure member 10 which has a throughhole'formed centrally thereof, and a coil spring 11 is providedin said sleeve portion with one end bearing against said closure member and the other end against a shoulder 12 formed on the peripheral surface of the die 7. Thus, it will be seen that the die 7 is urged upwardly by the biasing force of the spring 11.
The dies 3 and 7 may be made separately and united integrally with each other so as to form the shoulder 6, but alternatively they may be made as a unitary piece having an axial through-hole and the shoulder 6 at about the mid portion of the peripheral wall of said through-hole.
The flange member 4 serves to regulate the position of the die 3 so that the top surface of the die may be flush with the upper surface of the main rotary table 1, and can be removed from said main rotary table when the die is desired to be replaced upon wearing of the same.
Numeral 13 designates a molding tube with the lower end screw-threaded into a bushing 14 secured to a sliding member 15 and the top end thereof extending into the axial hole of the die 7 through the lower end thereof. Numeral l6 designates a washer and 17 designates a bearing formed on each side of the sliding member 15. A pair of guide rods 18, 18 are each fixed to the body 8 of the molding apparatus at the top end and extend downwardly through the bearing 17, so that said bearing is movable vertically by being guided by the guide rod. Numeral 19 designates rollers rotatably connected to each side of the lower end portion of the sliding member 15. These rollers 19 are provided for controlling the position of the molding tube 13 through the sliding member 15, by engaging guide means at a predetermined position as will be described later.
Numeral 20 designates a molding center pin extending through the molding tube 13. The molding center pin 20 has an axial vent hole 20' and is fixedly connected at its lower end to a beam 22 which is vertically movable along a vertical slot 21 formed in the sliding member 15. A pair of rollers 23,23 are provided at the opposite ends of the beam 22 and one of said rollers 23' rolls on a guide rail to be described later and causes the center pin 20 to progressively move upward according to a positional change of said guide rail. The amount of movement b of the roller 23' caused by the guide rail is the distance which the top end of the center pin 20 travels from the interior of the die 7 to reach the inner bottom surface of the cell container 5. Both of the rollers 23, 23 are oscillated vertically by engaging engaging members to be described later, whereby the powder is charged satisfactorily in the die 7.
The amount of movement h ofthe molding tube 13 is a distance necessary to charge and mold the powder in the cell container 5 and to push said cell container upward from the die 3 upon completion of the molding.
As stated previously, the main rotary table 1 and the auxiliary rotary table 2 are operatively associated with each other with the gear teeth formed on the peripheral surfaces thereof intermeshing, so that when one of them is rotated intermittently, the other one is also rotated intermittently regularly relative to said one rotary table. These two rotary tables 1 and 2 are rotatably mounted on support columns 25, 25 respectively which stand upright on a base plate 24.
For rotating the main and auxiliary rotary tables, a motor is provided on the underside of the base plate 24 and the drive of the motor is transmitted to one of said rotary tables through a suitable reduction gearing and intermittent motion mechanism. In the embodiment shown, the auxiliary rotary table 2 is operatively connected to the motor to be driven therefrom and the main rotary table 1 is rotated by the auxiliary rotary table 2. Above the center of the main rotary table 1 is provided a cam 26. The cam 26 is rotated by a driving system, independent of that for the rotary tables 1 and 2, to impart a horizontal vibration to three powder supply hoppers 27, 28 (and one provided above the station M, though not apparent in the drawings) through transmission levers 29.
Numeral 30 designates a container feed lever provided near the leading end of container guide means 31 for placing the cell container 5 into each die 3, and numeral 32 designates a rotary brush provided at a midportion of the container guide means 31 for advancing the cell containers. Numeral 33 designates a press provided above the station R. The press 33 includes a ram 34 which will be lowered, when the rotary table 1 has stopped rotating at the Station R, to engage the bottom wall of the container 5 and the upper surface of the die 3 and hold said container against upward movement relative to the rotary table 1 under the molding pressure acting on the container from the underside.
Numeral 35 designates the container gripping means provided on the auxiliary rotary table 2 at the locations 1- L respectively. Each container gripping'means 35 is composed of a pair of opposed arms 36, 36' which are formed with a notch in the confronting surfaces thereof. One of the arms 36 is pivotably connected and the other arm 36 is fixedlyconnected to the rotary table 2. The pivotable arm 36 is urged against the fixed arm 36 by a spring 38 to keep the gripping portion 37 closed at the outer end portions of the respective gripping arms.
The pivotable arm 36 of the gripping means 35 is opened against the biasing force of the spring 38 by an operating member when said gripping means is located at the station U, and thereby the gripping portion 37 is opened slightly so that the gripping arms can grip the container 5 from both sides without interfering with the upward movement of said container and hold the same against downward movement together with the molding tube 13 when said molding tube is lowered. Numeral 39 designates the curling means by which the open edge of the container 5 is curled inwardly after the powder has been molded into, a predetermined shape within the container. The curling means is provided at the station V and comprises, as shown in FIG. ll, a ram 40 for pushing the bottom wall (the top side) of the container 5, with said container 5 being held by the gripping means 35, and a curling die 42 provided below the ram 40 in opposed relation thereto and having a cavity 41 of a predetermined shape formed therein, in which the open edge (the lower side) of the container is curled inwardly as shown.
Reverting to FIG. 1, numeral 43 designates a plurality of U-shaped engaging members provided on the base plate 24. These engaging members 43 engage the rollers 23, 23 provided on both sides of the beam 22 and cause the center pin 20 to oscillate vertically through said beam. Each of the engaging members 43 is operatively connected to a lever mechanism 46 at the lower end of a shaft 45 thereof and said lever mechanism 46 is operated by a rotary cam 47. Numeral 48 designates a spring to bias the lever mechanism 46 constantly upwardly. Therefore, the engaging members 43 is also constantly biased upwardly by the spring 48.
The roller 23' which is one of the two rollers provided on the beam 22 is located in the annular guide rail 49 having a U-shaped cross-section and rolls therein while being guided thereby. If the roller 23' were to be still located in the guide rail 49 when the other roller 23 has been brought into engagement with the engaging member 43, it would be impossible for the roller to oscillate vertically. Therefore, the guide rail 49 is partially broken at locations where the roller 23 engages the respective engaging members 43, so that the roller 23 can oscillate vertically together with the engaging member 43. Namely, the engaging members 43 are provided in a pair for engagement with both of the rollers 23, 23' and one of the engaging members which engages the roller 23 is provided in the borken portion of the guide rail 49 to constitute part of said guide rail.
Therefore, when the rollers 23, 23' are in engagement with the respective engaging members 43, the vertical oscillation imparted to said engaging members is transmitted to the beam through the respective rollers and thence to the center pin to cause the top end of said center pin to oscillate within the die 7. Thus, the guide rail 49 is broken at the locations where the engaging members 43 are provided. However, in order to attain satisfactory charging of the powder into the die 7, it is necessary to raise the center pin 20 progressively as the main rotary table 1 rotates. For this purpose, the height of the guide rail 49 is increased by a predetermined rate stepwise rearwardly from the location of the engaging member 43 (i.e. from the right to left when the table 1 is rotated clockwise).
The operation of the apparatus, having the construction described above, for charging the compressionmolding a powder within the container will be described hereinafter with reference to FIGS. 4 to 10.
Of the station M T of the apparatus, M O are the stations where a powder (positive electrode depolarizer) is charged into the dies 3 and 7 from the three hoppers. First of all, when the position A of the main rotary table 1 is located below the hopper which is located above the station M though not apparent in FIG. 1, said hopper is oscillated horizontally by the cam 26, so that the powder contained in the hopper is charged into the dies 3 and 7 while being prevented from cross-linking and without being permitted to agglomerate. In this case, the rollers 23, 23' are in engagement with the first engaging members 43 provided below that station M, so that the center pin 20 having the top end thereof located within the die 7 is oscillated vertically and thereby the powder is charged to the bottom of the die 7.
Then, the main rotary table 1 is rotated 45 in a clockwise direction, whereby the dies 3 and 7 having previously been held stationary at the station M are shifted to the station N and the hopper 27 at said station is similarly oscillated horizontally by the cam 26 to charge the powder into the dies. The powder thus charged in the dies is well packed therein by the action of the centerpin 20 which is again oscillated due to engagement with the second engaging members 43. When the position A is shifted from the station M to the station N incident to rotation of the main rotary table 1, the roller 23'-is progressively pushed upward by the guide rail 49, so that thetop end of the center pin 20 is raised within'the die 7 correspondingly.
Then, the rotary table 1 is rotated through another 45, so that the position A is shifted from the station N to the station to locate the dies 3 and 7 below the hopper 28.The hopper 28 is oscillated horizontally by the cam 26 and the powder in said hopper is charged into the dies. On the other hand, the roller 23' rolls in the guide rail 49 while being guided thereby and engages the third engaging member 43, with the other roller 23 engaging the other one of the pair of engaging members. Therefore, the center pin 20 is again oscillated vertically, whereby the powder is packed more satisfactorily and any possible irregularity in charging quantity can be corrected.
By the triple charging operations and oscillation described above, the powder is packed tightly at a uniform density in a vertical direction. The center pin 20 is raised by the height b shown in'FlG. 3 due to the engagement between the rollers 23, 23 and the third engaging members 43, and is maintained at the same level even after the rollers 23, 23' roll onto the guide rail 49.
The table 1 is further rotated clockwise and the position A of the table is shifted from the station 0 to the station P. At the station P, a container is placed in the die 3, flush with the die 3, by the container feed lever 30, with the bottom wall facing upwardly and the open end facing downwardly. ln this case, the top end of the center pin 20 in the die 3 is located at a level b higher than the original level and the open end of the container 5 rests on the shoulder 6 formed at the junction of the dies 3 and 7. Therefore, the container 5 is not permitted to move deeper into the die and the top end of the center pin 20 engages the inner bottom wall of the container 5, with the edge of the open end of said container resting on said shoulder 6.
This condition is maintained as such even after the position A is shifted from the station P to the station Q upon another 45 rotation of the table 1. The station Q is an idle station. When the position A is further shifted from the station Q to the station R, the ram 34 of the press 33 moves downward and engages the bottom wall of the container 5 to hold the container so that it may not be pushed upward from the die 3 under an upward molding pressure.
In the lower portion of the molding apparatus, on the other hand, the lower end 50 of the sliding member is pushed up by an oil cylinder or the like provided on the base plate 24, so that the molding tube 13 is moved upward and the powder in the die .7 is moved into the container 5 and compressed therein by the molding tube 13, whereby said powder is molded into a cylindrical shape conforming to the shape of the tapered top end portion of thec'enter pin 20. In charging the 7 powder into the container 5, the air present in the, powder is released to the outside through the axial hole 20' of the center pin 20. The lower portion of the sliding member 15 is moved by the pressing means a distance only sufficient .to cause a flange 51 to move I upward to the position 51', which flange 51 is formed integrally on the molding tube 13. Upon completion of the compression-molding of the powder within the container 5, the ram 34 of the press 33 is moved upward to the original position and the container 5 is shifted from the station R to the station S while being carried on the table 1 rotating 45 in a clockwise direction. During shifting of the container 5 to the station S, the top end of the molding tube 13 is maintained at the same level as it was at the station R, by the pressure from the pressing means. The center pin 20 is slightly lowered at the station R upon completion of the compressionmolding and maintained in that position to facilitate the removal of the container 5 at the following station S.
When the table 1 is stopped to locate the container 5 at the station S, they lower end portion 50 of the sliding member 15 is pushed upward by the pressing means and the flange 51 of the molding tube 13 is further moved upward from the position 51' to the position 51", that is the position a distance of h higher than the original position, whereby the container 5 is pushed up from the die 3 by the force of the molding tube 13 acting on the molded powder in said container. The container 5 thus pushed up is gripped in the gripping por tion 37 of the gripping means 35 which is provided on the auxiliary rotary table 2 and located above the container 5. Of course, the center pin 20 is also move up incident to that upward movement of the molding tube 13. The container 5 gripped by the gripping means 35 and having the compression-molded powder therein is carried to the station V, where the edge of the lower end of the container 5 is curled inwardly by the curling means 39 in the manner shown in FIG. 11. On the other hand, the die 3 which has been emptied upon removal of the container 5 therefrom is shifted from the station- S to the idling station T while being carried by the rotating table 1. During this period, a pair of rollers 19 provided on both sides of the lower portion of the sliding member 15 are gradually lowered from the elevated position to the same level as they are at the station M by return guide means and hence the molding tube 13 is also returned to the original position. Of course, the center pin 20 is also lowered to the same position as it was at the station M, like the molding tube 13.
On the other hand, the container 5 which has been subjected to the curling operation at the station V while being held by the gripping means, is located at the idling station W by the table 2 upon rotation of said table through an angle of and then further shifted to the station X, where it is slipped down from the gripping portion 37 of the gripping means 35 by a pressure applied thereto from the upper side and delivered to the next working station.
In the compression-molding of the powder within the container 5, the container 5 is held against upward movement by the ram 34, as stated above. In this case, since the coil spring 11 is provided between the shoulder.l2 of the die 7 and the closure member 10 which closes the lower end of the sleeve portion 8, the dies 3, 7 or the flange member 4 will not be subjected to an unnecessarily large pressure even if the ram 34 is lowered excessively, the coilspring 11 only being compressed .as shown in FIG. 12. Therefore, the table 1 or the flange member 4 will not be damaged by the ram,
nor will the rotation of the main rotary table I suffer from interference.
According to the present invention, since the powder molding device is provided below each ofa plurality of dies mounted on the main rotary table, the steps of charging the powder into the die, transferring the powder from the die into the container and compression-molding the powder within the container, can be operated successively as the container is shifted from one station to another while being carried by the main rotary table. Therefore, the apparatus of the present invention is highly adapted to mass production. It is also to be noted that in operating the present apparatus, a smaller amount of the powder is permitted to leak from the container than in case of the apparatus of the type wherein the container is held above the die. Another advantage of the present invention is that the residence time of the container at each station can be minimized due to the fact that the amount of movement of the powder at each station in charging the powder into the die or in transferring the powder from the die into the container is small.
What is claimed is:
1. A powder molding apparatus comprising:
a base plate, a support column mounted upright on said base plate;
a rotary table rotatably mounted on said support column;
means for intermittently rotating said rotary table;
a plurality of dies supported in said rotary table in circumferentially equally spaced relation on said table, each of said dies having a through-hole therein, said hole having a shoulder at about the middle of the inner surface of said hole for supporting the open end of a cylindrical can body which has the other end closed, said die adapted to receive said cylindrical can body in said throughhole in an inverted position from the upper side of said die;
a powder molding mechanism provided below each die, said powder molding mechanism comprising a molding tube adapted for inserting into its respective die upwardly from the underside of said die to force into the can body supported in said die a powder charge, and a center pin extending through said molding tube and having a tapered upper portion, said center pin being vertically movable independently of said molding tube, said center pin comprising an inner mold for forming a hollow volume within the powder molded within said can;
powder charging means for charging powder into the hole in each die from the upper side ofthe die;
can feed means for inserting a cylindrical can body in an inverted position in each die after said die has been charged with powder;
pressing means for pressing the can with a downward force against the upward force of said molding mechanism when the powder is inserted, compressed, and molded in said can by said molding mechanism;
vibrating means for vibrating the powder charging means while said powder charging means is charging powder into a die; and
further pressing means for moving said center pin and said molding tube upwardly after said powder has been molded in said can to permit removal of said can containing the powder molded therein from engagement with said mechanism.
2. The power molding apparatus of claim 1, additionally comprising vibrating means for causing a vertical oscillatory movement of the center pin when powder is charged into each die, whereby said powder is packed in said die.
3. The powder molding apparatus of claim 1, additionally comprising means for removing a can from said further pressing means after said can has been removed from a die.
4. The powder molding apparatus of claim 1, wherein said dies are resiliently mounted in said rotary table by coil springs located between said dies and said table, for resiliently absorbing any excessive downward force applied to said die by said pressing means.
5. A powder molding apparatus comprising:
a base plate, a support column mounted upright on said base plate;
a rotary table rotatably mounted on said support column;
means for intermittently rotating said rotary table;
a plurality of dies supported in said rotary table in circumferentially equally spaced relation on said table, each of said dies having a through-hole therein, said hole having a shoulder at about the middle of the inner surface of said hole for supporting the open end of a cylindrical can body which has the other end closed, said die adapted to receive said cylindrical can body in said throughhole in an inverted position from the upper side of said die;
a powder molding mechanism provided below each die, said powder molding mechanism comprising a molding tube adapted for insertion into its respective die upwardly from the underside of said die to force into the can body supported in said die a powder charge, and a center pin extending through said molding tube and having a tapered upper portion, said center pin being vertically movable independently of said molding tube, said center pin comprising an inner mold for forming a hollow volume within the powder molded within said can;
powder charging means for charging powder into the hole in each die from the upper side of the die;
can feed means for inserting a cylindrical can body in an inverted position in each die after said die has been charged with powder;
pressing means for pressing the can with a downward force against the upward force of said molding mechanism when the powder is inserted, compressed, and molded in said can by said molding mechanism;
coil springs located between said dies and said table resiliently mounting said dies in said rotary table for resiliently absorbing any excessive downward force applied to said die by said pressing means;
vibrating means for vibrating the powder charging means while said powder charging means is charging powder into a die;
further vibrating means for causing a vertical oscillatory movement of the center pin when powder is charged into each die, whereby said powder is packed in said die; and
powder molding

Claims (5)

1. A powder molding apparatus comprising: a base plate, a support column mounted upright on said base plate; a rotary table rotatably mounted on said support column; means for intermittently rotating said rotary table; a plurality of dies supported in said rotary table in circumferentially equally spaced relation on said table, each of said dies having a through-hole therein, said hole having a shoulder at about the middle of the inner surface of said hole for supporting the open end of a cylindrical can body which has the other end closed, said die adapted to receive said cylindrical can body in said through-hole in an inverted position from the upper side of said die; powder molding mechanism provided below each die, said powder molding mechanism comprising a molding tube adapted for inserting into its respective die upwardly from the underside of said die to force into the can body supported in said die a powder charge, and a center pIn extending through said molding tube and having a tapered upper portion, said center pin being vertically movable independently of said molding tube, said center pin comprising an inner mold for forming a hollow volume within the powder molded within said can; powder charging means for charging powder into the hole in each die from the upper side of the die; can feed means for inserting a cylindrical can body in an inverted position in each die after said die has been charged with powder; pressing means for pressing the can with a downward force against the upward force of said molding mechanism when the powder is inserted, compressed, and molded in said can by said molding mechanism; vibrating means for vibrating the powder charging means while said powder charging means is charging powder into a die; and further pressing means for moving said center pin and said molding tube upwardly after said powder has been molded in said can to permit removal of said can containing the powder molded therein from engagement with said powder molding mechanism.
2. The power molding apparatus of claim 1, additionally comprising vibrating means for causing a vertical oscillatory movement of the center pin when powder is charged into each die, whereby said powder is packed in said die.
3. The powder molding apparatus of claim 1, additionally comprising means for removing a can from said further pressing means after said can has been removed from a die.
4. The powder molding apparatus of claim 1, wherein said dies are resiliently mounted in said rotary table by coil springs located between said dies and said table, for resiliently absorbing any excessive downward force applied to said die by said pressing means.
5. A powder molding apparatus comprising: a base plate, a support column mounted upright on said base plate; a rotary table rotatably mounted on said support column; means for intermittently rotating said rotary table; a plurality of dies supported in said rotary table in circumferentially equally spaced relation on said table, each of said dies having a through-hole therein, said hole having a shoulder at about the middle of the inner surface of said hole for supporting the open end of a cylindrical can body which has the other end closed, said die adapted to receive said cylindrical can body in said through-hole in an inverted position from the upper side of said die; a powder molding mechanism provided below each die, said powder molding mechanism comprising a molding tube adapted for insertion into its respective die upwardly from the underside of said die to force into the can body supported in said die a powder charge, and a center pin extending through said molding tube and having a tapered upper portion, said center pin being vertically movable independently of said molding tube, said center pin comprising an inner mold for forming a hollow volume within the powder molded within said can; powder charging means for charging powder into the hole in each die from the upper side of the die; can feed means for inserting a cylindrical can body in an inverted position in each die after said die has been charged with powder; pressing means for pressing the can with a downward force against the upward force of said molding mechanism when the powder is inserted, compressed, and molded in said can by said molding mechanism; coil springs located between said dies and said table resiliently mounting said dies in said rotary table for resiliently absorbing any excessive downward force applied to said die by said pressing means; vibrating means for vibrating the powder charging means while said powder charging means is charging powder into a die; further vibrating means for causing a vertical oscillatory movement of the center pin when powder is charged into each die, whereby said powder is packed in said die; and further pressing means for moving said center pin and said molding tube upWardly after said powder has been molded in said can to permit removal of said can containing the powder molded therein from engagement with said powder molding mechanism.
US00883799A 1968-12-13 1969-12-10 Apparatus for compression-molding a powder within containers Expired - Lifetime US3729281A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
JP43091862A JPS5111293B1 (en) 1968-12-13 1968-12-13

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US3729281A true US3729281A (en) 1973-04-24

Family

ID=14038348

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US00883799A Expired - Lifetime US3729281A (en) 1968-12-13 1969-12-10 Apparatus for compression-molding a powder within containers

Country Status (7)

Country Link
US (1) US3729281A (en)
JP (1) JPS5111293B1 (en)
BE (1) BE743097A (en)
DE (1) DE1961937A1 (en)
FR (1) FR2026113A1 (en)
GB (1) GB1296366A (en)
NL (1) NL147283B (en)

Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4080128A (en) * 1974-04-29 1978-03-21 Siemens Aktiengesellschaft Apparatus for the production of compacts of layerwise different composition, for heavy duty electric contacts
EP0842762A2 (en) * 1996-11-14 1998-05-20 Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. Powder compression molding method and apparatus and dry cell
US6558594B2 (en) 1996-11-14 2003-05-06 Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. Powder compression molding method for producing cathode pellets for dry cells
US9199308B2 (en) 2011-09-20 2015-12-01 GM Global Technology Operations LLC Method of producing composite articles and articles made thereby

Families Citing this family (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPS6083372U (en) * 1983-05-25 1985-06-08 森脇　治忠 Shaft mounting that allows the main paper to be replaced
JPS62193468U (en) * 1986-05-30 1987-12-09
JPH0174865U (en) * 1987-11-07 1989-05-22
CN107159766A (en) * 2017-07-18 2017-09-15 中国石油大学(华东) A kind of automatic stamping lathe of variable-station adjustment height
CN107557574A (en) * 2017-10-11 2018-01-09 岳宪忠 A kind of pelletizing former

Citations (17)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US917627A (en) * 1904-12-24 1909-04-06 Joseph Lizotte Machine for covering studs.
US2122874A (en) * 1935-01-31 1938-07-05 Johnson Lab Inc Apparatus for compressing finely divided substances
US2325687A (en) * 1940-10-03 1943-08-03 Albert S Kux Press for forming tablets and the like
US2449008A (en) * 1940-10-18 1948-09-07 Pecker Means for forming pressed articles from powders
US2699574A (en) * 1950-12-04 1955-01-18 Gilbert Mfg Co Inc Moldng machine for molding plastic articles
GB739711A (en) * 1952-05-02 1955-11-02 Merck & Co Inc Improvements in or relating to machines for compressing a coating upon tablets, pills and like cores
US2745135A (en) * 1950-09-29 1956-05-15 Anchor Hocking Glass Corp Molding machine
US2875471A (en) * 1953-09-11 1959-03-03 Collins M Crowther Rotary molding machine
US2900664A (en) * 1955-09-01 1959-08-25 Kolmar Laboratories Apparatus for compressing finely divided solids
US2954585A (en) * 1955-08-03 1960-10-04 Continental Can Co Crown cap lining machine
US3084387A (en) * 1959-11-16 1963-04-09 Dake Corp Molding apparatus
US3183570A (en) * 1960-03-21 1965-05-18 Clarence W Vogt Compacting equipment
US3382533A (en) * 1966-04-25 1968-05-14 Western Electric Co Apparatus for applying sleeves to objects
US3445893A (en) * 1967-04-10 1969-05-27 Motor Wheel Corp Apparatus for compacting a metal powder brake track
US3495308A (en) * 1966-03-14 1970-02-17 Herbert C Schulze Apparatus for forming pipe fittings
US3522631A (en) * 1965-09-18 1970-08-04 Nico S R L Apparatus for the automatic dosing and filling of fluent media into containers or the like
US3537137A (en) * 1967-10-20 1970-11-03 Francois Lancesseur Machine for hot-crimping skirts of plastic capsules and the like

Patent Citations (17)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US917627A (en) * 1904-12-24 1909-04-06 Joseph Lizotte Machine for covering studs.
US2122874A (en) * 1935-01-31 1938-07-05 Johnson Lab Inc Apparatus for compressing finely divided substances
US2325687A (en) * 1940-10-03 1943-08-03 Albert S Kux Press for forming tablets and the like
US2449008A (en) * 1940-10-18 1948-09-07 Pecker Means for forming pressed articles from powders
US2745135A (en) * 1950-09-29 1956-05-15 Anchor Hocking Glass Corp Molding machine
US2699574A (en) * 1950-12-04 1955-01-18 Gilbert Mfg Co Inc Moldng machine for molding plastic articles
GB739711A (en) * 1952-05-02 1955-11-02 Merck & Co Inc Improvements in or relating to machines for compressing a coating upon tablets, pills and like cores
US2875471A (en) * 1953-09-11 1959-03-03 Collins M Crowther Rotary molding machine
US2954585A (en) * 1955-08-03 1960-10-04 Continental Can Co Crown cap lining machine
US2900664A (en) * 1955-09-01 1959-08-25 Kolmar Laboratories Apparatus for compressing finely divided solids
US3084387A (en) * 1959-11-16 1963-04-09 Dake Corp Molding apparatus
US3183570A (en) * 1960-03-21 1965-05-18 Clarence W Vogt Compacting equipment
US3522631A (en) * 1965-09-18 1970-08-04 Nico S R L Apparatus for the automatic dosing and filling of fluent media into containers or the like
US3495308A (en) * 1966-03-14 1970-02-17 Herbert C Schulze Apparatus for forming pipe fittings
US3382533A (en) * 1966-04-25 1968-05-14 Western Electric Co Apparatus for applying sleeves to objects
US3445893A (en) * 1967-04-10 1969-05-27 Motor Wheel Corp Apparatus for compacting a metal powder brake track
US3537137A (en) * 1967-10-20 1970-11-03 Francois Lancesseur Machine for hot-crimping skirts of plastic capsules and the like

Cited By (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4080128A (en) * 1974-04-29 1978-03-21 Siemens Aktiengesellschaft Apparatus for the production of compacts of layerwise different composition, for heavy duty electric contacts
EP0842762A2 (en) * 1996-11-14 1998-05-20 Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. Powder compression molding method and apparatus and dry cell
EP0842762A3 (en) * 1996-11-14 1999-01-07 Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. Powder compression molding method and apparatus and dry cell
US6558594B2 (en) 1996-11-14 2003-05-06 Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. Powder compression molding method for producing cathode pellets for dry cells
US6827567B2 (en) * 1996-11-14 2004-12-07 Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. Powder compression molding method and apparatus and dry cell
US9199308B2 (en) 2011-09-20 2015-12-01 GM Global Technology Operations LLC Method of producing composite articles and articles made thereby

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB1296366A (en) 1972-11-15
NL6918665A (en) 1970-06-16
FR2026113A1 (en) 1970-09-11
NL147283B (en) 1975-09-15
JPS5111293B1 (en) 1976-04-10
BE743097A (en) 1970-05-14
DE1961937A1 (en) 1970-06-25

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US3729281A (en) Apparatus for compression-molding a powder within containers
US3752622A (en) Device for moulding sintering blanks
US2853118A (en) Assembly apparatus
CN211764158U (en) Automatic impression device of location
US3574892A (en) Powder compacting press
WO2001066337A1 (en) Biaxial press molding system
JPS6219279B2 (en)
CN112775280A (en) Batch tubular metal resonator puncher
GB946446A (en) Molding device
CN214925396U (en) Forming die for pressing refractory materials
US3958612A (en) Production of galvanic primary cells
CN213496073U (en) Battery barrel top cover compactor
JPH0320074Y2 (en)
CN220428530U (en) Storage mechanism of punching machine
CN217171536U (en) Storage device for maintaining die
CN218700685U (en) Rubber vibration isolator forming die
CN220500048U (en) Indapamide sustained release tablet tabletting device
CN2492384Y (en) Autoamtic multistation rotary powder press
CN112248467B (en) Full-automatic badge making machine and making method
CN213428033U (en) Moon cake forming machine
JPH06210495A (en) Powder feeder
JPH041041Y2 (en)
JPH0243595Y2 (en)
CN220578873U (en) Material moving mechanism of corking machine
CN220972922U (en) Automatic feeding device of graphite sawing machine