U.S. patent application number 10/558961 was filed with the patent office on 2007-02-01 for casting robot comprising a weighing cell.
This patent application is currently assigned to Kunkel-Wagner SLS Swisspour AG. Invention is credited to Fritz Lauper.
Application Number | 20070023160 10/558961 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 33546152 |
Filed Date | 2007-02-01 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070023160 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Lauper; Fritz |
February 1, 2007 |
Casting robot comprising a weighing cell
Abstract
A casting robot (1) which includes a pivoting device for a
foundry ladle (3) that is suspended by the casting robot is
provided. At least one weighing cell (23) is located in the area
connecting the foundry ladle (3) to the casting robot (1). The cell
is used to dynamically measure an instantaneous amount of molten
material present in the foundry ladle (3) or the amount of molten
material poured into a casting mold (7).
Inventors: |
Lauper; Fritz; (Wiler bei
Seedorf, CH) |
Correspondence
Address: |
VOLPE AND KOENIG, P.C.
UNITED PLAZA, SUITE 1600
30 SOUTH 17TH STREET
PHILADELPHIA
PA
19103
US
|
Assignee: |
Kunkel-Wagner SLS Swisspour
AG
Gisleren 2
Wiler bei Seedorf
CH
CH-3255
|
Family ID: |
33546152 |
Appl. No.: |
10/558961 |
Filed: |
June 10, 2004 |
PCT Filed: |
June 10, 2004 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/CH04/00351 |
371 Date: |
December 1, 2005 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
164/337 ;
164/136 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B22D 39/04 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
164/337 ;
164/136 |
International
Class: |
B22D 39/04 20070101
B22D039/04; B22D 41/04 20070101 B22D041/04 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jun 13, 2003 |
CH |
1040/03 |
Claims
1. A casting robot (1) comprising a foundry ladle (3) suspended on
a pivoting device and having a weighing cell (23) between the
pivoting device and the foundry ladle (3) for weighing a metal melt
contained in the foundry ladle (3), at least one weighing cell (23)
is arranged, between a receiving plate (19), from which the foundry
ladle (3) is suspended, and a holding plate (21), mounted to the
pivoting device.
2. A casting robot according to claim 1, wherein a load axis (A) of
the at least one weighing cell (23) in a normal position with the
foundry ladle (3) is horizontal, and is positioned tilted by an
initial angle (X.degree.) in reference to a vertical (V), and at a
maximum travel of the foundry ladle (3), the axis (A) is tilted to
the other side by an angle (Y.degree.) after having passed through
the vertical (V).
3. A casting robot according to claim 2, wherein the initial angle
(X.degree.) is smaller than the angle (Y.degree.).
4. A casting robot according to claim 3, wherein the initial angle
(X.degree.) is approximately 18.degree. and the angle (Y.degree.)
prior to complete emptying is approximately 35.degree..
5. A casting robot according to claim 1, wherein the at least one
weighing cell comprises three weighing cells (23) are distributed
around an actual or imaginary pivoting axis (B) and are arranged
between the receiving plate (19) and the holding plate (21).
6. A casting robot according to claim 5, wherein the axes (A) of
all weighing cells (23) are positioned parallel to one another.
7. A casting robot according to claim 5, wherein the axes (A) of
the weighing cells (23) are positioned at an angle to one another
in each pivotal position of the foundry ladle (3).
8. A casting robot according to claim 1, wherein weighing sensors
are arranged for detecting weight changes of the foundry ladle (3).
Description
BACKGROUND
[0001] The invention is directed to a casting robot according to
the preamble of claim 1.
[0002] When large numbers are to be produced today the production
of mold castings occurs primarily with partially automated or fully
automated casting robots. In order to allow an amount of liquid
melt, determined as precisely as possible, to flow into the mold,
various weighing devices are known, by which during the casting the
amount of matter removed is determined via the different weight of
the foundry ladle prior to and after the casting. Depending on the
type of suspension of the pivotal foundry ladle, measurement cells
for determining the present weight are to be arranged below the
casting machine and, in this way, they measure not only the melt
and the foundry ladle but also the other elements of the casting
robot. Such devices are disadvantageous in that the weight of the
amount of melt to be measured, flowing into the mold, is very small
in comparison to the total weight of the machine and therefore
respectively great measurement errors can occur.
[0003] In DE 4028918 A1 a weighing cell is suggested, which is used
between the foundry ladle and the pivoting device at the pivoting
robot. This weighing device serves to perform a measurement of the
weight difference between the empty foundry ladle and the one
filled with melt, in order to determine the casting process using
this parameter. Any details regarding the technical embodiment of
the measuring device, except for the location of said measuring, is
not disclosed in this technology of prior art.
SUMMARY
[0004] The objective of the present invention is to provide a
casting robot with a weight measuring device, by which the liquid
melt dispensed, flowing into the mold, can be measured exactly.
[0005] This objective is attained by a casting robot having the
features of claim 1. Additional advantageous embodiments of the
invention are defined in the dependent claims.
[0006] By the arrangement according to the invention of at least
one weighing cell and at least one motion sensor connected to said
weighing cell it is achieved that the liquid melt introduced into
the mold can be measured within narrow tolerances and thus exactly
the required amount of melt can be introduced into the mold.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0007] Using the illustrated exemplary embodiments, the invention
is explained in greater detail. In the drawings:
[0008] FIG. 1 is a side view of a casting robot having a foundry
ladle arranged in a horizontal position, i.e. in the original
position,
[0009] FIG. 2 is a top view of the casting robot,
[0010] FIG. 3 is a perspective top view onto the support plate from
the direction of arrow 5 (foundry ladle not suspended)
[0011] FIG. 4 is one possible embodiment of a weighing cell from
the front,
[0012] FIG. 5 is a view of the weighing cell in FIG. 4 from the
direction P,
[0013] FIG. 6 is an enlarged representation of the carrier plate
(view from the top), and
[0014] FIG. 7 is an enlarged representation of the carrier plate
(side view).
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0015] In FIG. 1, a casting machine is shown, referred to as
casting robot 1 in short, partially hidden by a suspended foundry
ladle 3. The casting robot 1 can be displaced on first rails 5 in
the Y-direction, i.e. along a number of molds 7. It can further be
displaced on second rails 9 in the X-direction, i.e. in the
direction towards the molds 7 and away from them. The foundry ladle
3 can be displaced vertically, i.e. in the Z-direction along a
tower 11 at the casting robot 1, and additionally it is pivotal on
a defined path positioned in the Y-Z level. The pivotal motion of
the foundry ladle 3 can, for example, occur according to the
features of WO 99/00205. Here, the lip 13 of the foundry ladle 3 is
guided over the inlet funnel 15 at the mold 7 such that the liquid
metal melt exiting the foundry ladle 3, can essentially flow
coaxially into the inlet opening at all times. The process for
pivoting the foundry ladle 5 is not included in the invention; it
is merely a potentially advantageous way for an optimum production
of mold casting.
[0016] The foundry ladle 3 is laterally connected in a detachable
manner to a receiving plate 19 at the tower 11 by way of a catch
part 17. Between the receiving plate 19 and a holding plate 21 at
the tower 11, similarly shaped as the receiving plate 19, at least
one weighing cell 23 of a known design is used. The measurement of
the weight of the foundry ladle 3 and the melt can occur, for
example, by way of a plunger coil or a wire strung between the load
side 23' and the fastening side 23'' of the measurement cell 23,
its oscillation value changing dependent on the load. Such
measurement cells 23 are also used in scales and are known from
prior art. Certainly, other measurement means, such as measuring
cans can be used as well, to the extent they can provide sufficient
resolution.
[0017] A measurement cell 23 having a wire strung between the load
side 23' and the fastening side 23'' (wire not shown) is
illustrated schematically in the FIGS. 4 and 5. The measurement
cell 23 is connected by suitable fastening means, for example
screws, on the load bearing side to the receiving plate 19 and on
the fastening side to the holding plate 21. In the normal position,
i.e. when the upper surface of the foundry ladle 3 is horizontal,
the load axis A, i.e. the axis in which the load is optimally
introduced onto the measurement element (wire), is arranged tilted
from the vertical V (FIG. 1). The angle of the slope between the
axes A and V amounts to X.degree., i.e. 18.degree.. At a full
pivotal extent of the foundry ladle 3 shortly before the complete
outflow of the melt, the load axis A of the measuring cell 23 is at
an angle Y.degree. of approx. 35.degree. towards the vertical V.
This arrangement of the measurement cell 23 allows the achievement
of an optimal precision to the measurement, regardless if the
direction of the load extends optimally in the load axis A or if
the load extends at an acute angle thereto and the result having to
be compensated accordingly.
[0018] Another increase in the precision of measurement can be
achieved when, for example, three measurement cells, as shown in
FIGS. 3, 6, and 7, are arranged around an imaginary or actual axle
between the receiving plate 19 and the holding plate 21.
[0019] Automatic casting devices with casting robots 1 achieve high
efficiency only when the individual movement processes, such as the
pivoting of the foundry ladle or the displacement of the casting
robot 1 from the foundry ladle 7 to the foundry ladle 7 and/or from
the entry funnel 15 to the entry funnel 15 occurs as quickly as
possible. This leads to additional forces (massive forces), which
act onto the measurement cell 23 and can influence the result of
the measurement. According to the invention, suitable sensors
determine these additional forces acting upon the measurement cells
23, and consider them in the measurement result.
* * * * *