WO2002024377A1

WO2002024377A1 - Mould-making machine with means for moving an upper core box to an inspection, cleaning, etc. position

Info

Publication number: WO2002024377A1
Application number: PCT/DK2000/000518
Authority: WO
Inventors: Gerald Richter; Frank-Uwe Engel
Original assignee: Georg Fischer Disa A/S
Priority date: 2000-09-19
Filing date: 2000-09-19
Publication date: 2002-03-28
Also published as: AU2000272708A1

Abstract

The present invention relates to a mould-making machine, particularly a core and mask shooting machine, comprising core boxes (1, 2), which in the working position are horizontally divided, said machine comprising a guide frame (3) for supporting the upper core box (1) during parts of the mould-making process and mounted on rails (4) for horizontal movement, controlled by a moving mechanism (7) such as a piston-cylinder unit (7), into and out of the working space, the movement being performed either i) with the upper core box (1) resting on the guiding frame (3), thereby permitting inspection, cleaning, etc. of the upper core box (1) outside the working space or ii) with the upper core box (1) resting on the lower core box (2), whereby the superposed core boxes (1, 2) can be lowered and exchanged in unison. by having at least a part of the rails (4) for horizontal movement of the guiding frame (3) pivotally mounted (15),the rails (4), guiding frame (3) and upper core box (1) can swing to a mainly vertical position for inspection, cleaning, etc., thereby providing a more ergonomically convenient position for this work.

Description

MOULD-MAKING MACHINE WITH MEANS FOR MOVING AN UPPER CORE BOX TO AN INSPECTION. CLEANING. ETC. POSITION

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a mould-making machine of the kind set forth in the preamble of claim 1.

BACKGROUND ART

In mould-making machines of this kind, it is known to insert the core boxes in the machine by horizontal movement into the working space, raising the core box by means of a hydraulic cylinder to engagement with the shooting head, and insertion of the guiding frame to support the upper core box, when the lower core box is lowered for extraction of produced cores. In such a system, the upper core box can be moved horizontally out of the working space, together with and resting on the guiding frame, thereby permitting inspection, cleaning, etc., thereof. This, however, provides a relatively awkward, ergonomically inconvenient position of the upper core box for such inspection, cleaning, etc.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

Based on this known apparatus, it is the object of the present invention to provide a mould-making machine of the kind referred to above, in which it is possible to provide a more ergonomically convenient position of the upper core box for such inspection, cleaning, etc., and this object is achieved with a mould-making machine of said kind, which according to the present invention also comprises the features set forth in the characterizing clause of claim 1. With this arrangement, the upper core box is presented in an ergonomically convenient position for the inspection, cleaning, etc., and this is provided in a very simple manner, without any complex moving means for moving the different components in the apparatus. Preferred means for performing the swinging movement, locking of different parts in different positions, and positioning of the pivot axis, are stated in the sub-ordinate claims, the advantages of which will be clear from the following detailed description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the following detailed part of the present description, the invention will be explained in more detail with reference to the exemplary embodiment of a mould- making machine according to the invention shown in the drawings, in which

Figure 1 schematically shows a front view of a mould-making machine in accordance with the present invention,

Figure 2 schematically shows some of the parts of importance for the present invention in the working position,

Figure 3 shows the same parts as Figure 2 with the upper core box and guiding frame moved horizontally out of the working space,

Figure 4 shows the same parts pivoted down and

Figure 5 shows different possible positions of the pivot axis.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The mould-making machine shown in Figure 1 comprises a core box consisting of an upper core box 1 and a lower core box 2, guided for vertical movement, said movement being provided by means of a hydraulic cylinder 12. In the position shown in Figure 1 , the upper core box 1 is supported by a guiding frame 3, said guiding frame 3 being horizontally movable on rails 4, said horizontal movement being provided by means of a hydraulic cylinder 7. Furthermore, the mould-making machine comprises a shooting head 11 for injection of core sand into the superposed core boxes 1 , 2, which can be brought into engagement with the shooting head 11 by vertical movement by means of the hydraulic cylinder 12. Furthermore, the mould-making machine comprises a gassing plate 10 movable in a horizontal direction into a position between the shooting head 11 and the upper core box 1 , said gassing plate 10 being used for introducing gas, such as carbon dioxide, into the core box for hardening the sand cores.

In accordance with the present invention, the rails 4 comprise a pivotal part mounted for swinging movement on a pivot axis 5, said swinging movement being controlled by means of a hydraulic cylinder 6. In the embodiment shown in Figure 1 , the pivotal part of the rails 4 is releasably locked by means of a locking mechanism 8 selectively preventing or permitting the pivotal movement of the pivotal part of the rails 4. Furthermore, a locking mechanism 9 is provided on the pivotal part of the rails 4, said locking mechanism 9 being provided with means for locking the upper core box 1 and/or the guiding frame 3 to the pivotal part of the rails 4.

In order to remove a used core box from the mould-making machine, the upper core box 1 and lower core box 2 are raised by means of the hydraulic cylinder, whereby the upper core box 1 is lifted from the guiding frame 3. Then the guiding frame 3 is withdrawn out of the working space on the rails 3, whereafter the superposed upper and lower core boxes 1 , 2 can be lowered in unison by means of the hydraulic cylinder 12 and taken sideways out of the mould-making machine, whereupon a new set of upper and lower core boxes 1,2 is positioned on the hydraulic cylinder 12 and lifted by the hydraulic cylinder in order to enable the guiding frame 3 to be inserted to support the upper core box 1.

With the guiding frame 3 in this position, the mould-making machine is ready for producing mould cores. This production of mould cores is provided by moving the core boxes 1 , 2 up by means of the hydraulic cylinder 12 into engagement with the shooting head 11. In this position, the core boxes 1 , 2 are pressed firmly against the shooting head 11 during injection of core sand into the core box cavities. After injection of core sand, the shooting head 11 is raised to enable insertion of the gassing plate 10 which is brought into firm engagement with the upper core box for injection of gas in order to harden the sand inside the core boxes 1 , 2. After gasification and hardening of the cores, the lower core box 2 is lowered, leaving the upper core box 1 resting on the guiding frame 3, whereby the produced cores are released from the upper core box and the cores resting inside the lower core box 2 are ejected from this lower core box for further transport in the foundry plant. Due to the fact that the injected core sand has a tendency of sticking to the cavities inside the core boxes 1 , 2, leading to production of more or less defective cores, it may from time to time be necessary to clean the core boxes 1 , 2 from such sticking core sand. In this respect, the lower core box 2 may be cleaned in the lowered position for this core box, in which position access to this lower core box is relatively convenient, whereas the upper core box, positioned on the guiding frame 3, is less accessible. In this respect, it is known to move the guiding frame 3 with the upper core box 1 on the rails 4 to the outside of the mould-making machine, whereby access to this upper core box is improved. However, the side of the upper core box 1 that is to be cleaned is pointing downwardly in this position, which makes it ergonomically inconvenient for the staff to perform the cleaning/inspection. In this respect, the present invention prescribes that a part of the rails 4 is mounted for a swinging movement around a pivot axis 5, whereby the rails 4, the guiding frame 3 and the upper core box 1 are brought to a mainly vertical position, as shown in Figure 4. In this position, the inspection and cleaning can be performed in an ergonomically convenient manner. After inspection and cleaning, the rails 4, guiding frame 3 and upper core box 1 are pivoted back to the horizontal position as shown in Figure 3, whereafter the guiding frame 3 and upper core box 1 are moved into the working position inside the mould-making machine as shown in Figures 1 and 2.

In a preferred embodiment, the swinging movement of the rails 4 is controlled by means of a hydraulic cylinder 6 and a locking mechanism 8 prevents premature swinging movement of the rails 4, said locking mechanism 8 preferably being of a type which in a non-activated state automatically locks the rails 4 in the horizontal position.

Furthermore, a locking mechanism 9 may be provided, which locking mechanism is able to lock at least the upper core box 1 against movement in the longitudinal direction of the rails 4, whereby the secure movement of the guiding frame and upper core box 1 is provided in a safe way preventing the upper core box 1 from falling out of the guiding frame 3 and rails 4, e.g. in the vertical position shown in Figure 4.

Preferably the locking mechanism 8 can only be released when a secure locking of the locking mechanism 9 has been detected and correspondingly, the locking mechanism 8 can only be released when a secure locking of the locking mechanism 8 has been detected.

Although the invention above has been described in connection with a preferred embodiment of the mould-making machine in accordance with the invention, it is evident for a man skilled in the art that several modifications may be made without departing from the following claims. Among such modifications should be mentioned at least the displacement of the pivot axis 5 from the shown position, in Figure 5 shown as 5a, to any of the positions shown in Figure 5 as 5b or 5c, or any intermediate position, where the pivot axis position 5b provides a swinging movement of the rails 4 upwards, which may be convenient in some constructions where this direction of swinging movement provides a better, ergonomically convenient position for the cleaning of the upper core box. The positioning of the pivot axis 5c, as shown in Figure 5, provides a turning movement of the rails 4, whereby the balance of the whole system is improved, reducing the necessary forces provided by the moving mechanism 6 for performing the swinging movement of the rails, guiding frame and upper core box.

Claims

1. Mould-making machine, particularly a core and mask shooting machine, comprising core boxes (1,2), which in the working position are horizontally divided, said machine comprising

- a guiding frame (3) for supporting the upper core box (1) during parts of the mould- making process and mounted on rails (4) for horizontal movement, controlled by a moving mechanism (7) such as a piston-cylinder unit (7), into and out of the working space, the movement being performed either i) with the upper core box (1 ) resting on the guiding frame (3), thereby permitting inspection, cleaning, etc. of the upper core box (1) outside the working space or ii) with the upper core box (1) resting on the lower core box (2), whereby the superposed core boxes (1,2) can be lowered and exchanged in unison, characterized by at least a part of the rails (4) for horizontal movement of the guiding frame (3) being pivotally mounted (15), whereby the rails (4), guiding frame (3) and upper core box (1) can swing to a mainly vertical position for inspection, cleaning, etc.

2. Mould-making machine in accordance with claim 1, characterized by comprising a swing mechanism (6), comprising a piston-cylinder unit mounted to swing the rails (4), guiding frame (3) and upper core box (1) around the pivot axis from the horizontal position to the vertical position and vice versa.

3. Mould-making machine in accordance with claim 1 or2, characterized by comprising locking means (8) for locking the pivotally mounted rail parts in the horizontal position and releasable to permit the swinging movement to the vertical position.

4. Mould-making machine in accordance with any of the preceding claims, characterized by comprising locking means (7) for locking the upper core box (1) and/or the guiding frame (3) to the pivotally mounted rail part before performing the swinging movements.

5. Mould-making machine in accordance with any of the preceding claims, characterized by the pivot axis (5) being positioned (5a) at the end of the rails (4) distant from the working space.

6. Mould-making machine in accordance with any of the claims 1-4, c h a racterized by the pivot axis (5) being positioned (5b) at the end of the rails (4) close to the working space.

7. Mould-making machine in accordance with any of the claims 1-4, ch a r- a c t e r i z e d by the pivot axis (5) being positioned (5c) centrally on the rails (4).