U.S. patent application number 12/020164 was filed with the patent office on 2008-08-07 for a core-setting apparatus used for a molding apparatus and a method for setting a core.
This patent application is currently assigned to SINTOKOGIO, LTD.. Invention is credited to Minoru HIRATA, Koichi SAKAGUCHI.
Application Number | 20080185117 12/020164 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39414299 |
Filed Date | 2008-08-07 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080185117 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
HIRATA; Minoru ; et
al. |
August 7, 2008 |
A CORE-SETTING APPARATUS USED FOR A MOLDING APPARATUS AND A METHOD
FOR SETTING A CORE
Abstract
These inventions provide a core-setting apparatus and a method
for setting the core in a lower mold used for a molding apparatus,
wherein the core-setting apparatus has a simple structure and can
maintain the core in the mold in a highly accurate position. The
inventions consist of: the core-setting apparatus to set a core in
the lower mold while the upper and the lower mold and a match plate
are separated from each other after molding the upper and lower
mold that comprises: a handling tool having a holding means and a
rotatable rod, wherein the handling tool is rotatably supported by
the rod, a carrier for transferring the handling tool, wherein the
carrier supports the rotatable rod and is moved to or from the
location above the lower mold, and an actuator for lowering and
lifting the cope flask together with the carrier and the handling
tool which are located above the drag flask, wherein the actuator
is mounted on the main body of the molding apparatus.
Inventors: |
HIRATA; Minoru;
(Toyokawa-shi, Aichi-ken, JP) ; SAKAGUCHI; Koichi;
(Toyokawa-shi, Aichi-ken, JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
FINNEGAN, HENDERSON, FARABOW, GARRETT & DUNNER;LLP
901 NEW YORK AVENUE, NW
WASHINGTON
DC
20001-4413
UNITED STATES
|
Assignee: |
SINTOKOGIO, LTD.
28-12, Meieki 3-chome, Nakamura-ku Nagoya-shi, 450-0002
Aichi-ken
JP
|
Family ID: |
39414299 |
Appl. No.: |
12/020164 |
Filed: |
January 25, 2008 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
164/1 ;
164/397 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B22C 15/02 20130101;
B22C 15/08 20130101; B22C 11/10 20130101; B22C 9/108 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
164/001 ;
164/397 |
International
Class: |
B22C 9/10 20060101
B22C009/10 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Oct 11, 2007 |
JP |
2007-265425 |
Claims
1. A core-setting apparatus used for a molding apparatus for
producing an upper and a lower mold, the molding apparatus having
processes comprising: a molding-space-defining step to define
molding spaces, each space having a predetermined volume, in a cope
and a drag flask by inserting an upper and a lower squeeze means
into the cope and the drag flask respectively while a match plate
is held between the cope and the drag flask, a sand-filling step to
fill the molding spaces with molding sand, and a squeezing step to
squeeze the molding sand in the molding spaces by means of the
upper and the lower squeeze means, characterized in that the
core-setting apparatus to set a core in the lower mold while the
upper and the lower mold and the match plate are separated from
each other after molding the upper and the lower mold comprises: a
handling tool to handle the core, comprising a holding means to
hold the core and a rotatable rod supporting the handling tool
about its axis, a carrier for transferring the handling tool,
wherein the carrier supports the rotatable rod and is moved to or
from the location above the lower mold, and an actuator for
lowering and lifting the cope flask together with the carrier and
the handling tool which are located above the drag flask, wherein
the actuator is mounted on the main body of the molding
apparatus.
2. The core-setting apparatus of claim 1, wherein it further
comprises a pair of perpendicularly movable rails disposed at both
outer side walls of the cope flask, wherein the rails can be moved
perpendicularly together with the cope flask, and wherein the
carrier and the handling tool can also be lowered and lifted
together with the cope flask when the carrier and the handling tool
are moved to a position above the drag flask by using the pair of
perpendicularly movable rails.
3. A method for setting a core used for a molding apparatus for
producing an upper and a lower mold, the molding apparatus having
processes comprising: a molding-space-defining step to define
molding spaces, each space having a predetermined volume, in a cope
and a drag flask by inserting an upper and a lower squeeze means
into the cope and the drag flask respectively while a match plate
is held between the cope and the drag flask, a sand-filling step to
fill the molding spaces with molding sand, and a squeezing step to
squeeze the molding sand in the molding spaces by means of the
upper and the lower squeeze means, characterized in that the method
for setting the core in the lower mold while the upper and the
lower mold and the match plate are separated from each other after
molding the upper and the lower mold comprises: a holding step to
hold the core by operating a holding means after inserting the core
in a handling tool, a positioning step to position the core held by
the handling tool so that the core faces the lower mold by moving a
carrier supporting a rotatable rod of the handling tool to a
position above the lower mold and by forwardly rotating the
handling tool about the rotatable rod, a lowering step to lower the
core to just in front of the surface of the lower mold or to a
position where the core contacts the surface, which core is held by
the handling tool, by forwardly moving an actuator for lowering or
lifting the cope flask, wherein the actuator, which is mounted on
the main body of the molding apparatus, can lower and lift the
carrier, which is transferred to the position above the lower mold,
and can lower and lift the handling tool together with the cope
flask, a setting step to set the core in the lower mold by
releasing the core from the holding means at the lowered position,
a lifting step to lift the carrier and the handling tool by
inversely moving the actuator for lowering and lifting the cope
flask, and a removing and rotating step to take the carrier from
the position above the lower mold and to inversely rotate the
handling tool.
4. The method for setting the core of claim 3, further comprising:
a pressurizing step to pressurize the core by compressed air while
setting the core after lowering the core to just in front of the
surface of the lower mold or to a position where the core contacts
the surface, which core is held by the handling tool, and releasing
the core from the holding means.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] These inventions relate to a core-setting apparatus used for
a flaskless molding apparatus for producing a pair of an upper and
a lower mold, which molding apparatus uses a match plate, and a
method for setting a core.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONS
[0002] Conventionally, as one core-setting apparatus that is used
for a flaskless molding apparatus for producing a pair of an upper
and a lower mold by using a match plate, there is a type of
apparatus that comprises the following:
[0003] after a drag flask is placed outside the apparatus by moving
it forward from the apparatus, wherein the drag flask is movable
forward and backward,
[0004] a core-setting apparatus sets a core in a lower mold in the
drag flask, wherein the core-setting apparatus is disposed above
the drag flask. (See Patent Document 1.) [0005] Patent Document 1:
Pamphlet of International Patent Laid-open Publication No. WO
02/43901 (See FIG. 3.)
DISCLOSURES OF INVENTIONS
[0006] However, for the inventions of Patent Document 1, since a
drag flask must be able to move backward and forward, it becomes a
problem in that the structure of the apparatus becomes complicated.
Further, since a core is set in a mold by lifting the drag flask
under the condition that the drag flask is placed outside the
apparatus by moving it forward from the apparatus, that is, while
the drag flask is supported in a cantilevered state, it becomes
another problem in that it is hard to keep the position of the core
accurate.
[0007] The present inventions have been conceived to solve these
problems. Namely, the purpose of them is to provide a core-setting
apparatus used for a molding apparatus and a method for setting a
core in a mold that can simplify the structure of the molding
apparatus and that can maintain the core in a highly accurate
position.
[0008] To solve these problems, a core-setting apparatus is used
for a molding apparatus for producing an upper and a lower mold of
these inventions. The molding apparatus has processes
comprising:
[0009] a molding-space-defining step to define molding spaces, each
space having a predetermined volume, in a cope and a drag flask by
inserting an upper and a lower squeeze means into the cope and the
drag flask respectively while a match plate is held between the
cope and the drag flask,
[0010] a sand-filling step to fill the molding spaces with molding
sand, and
[0011] a squeezing step to squeeze the molding sand in the molding
spaces by the upper and the lower squeeze means,
[0012] characterized in that the core-setting apparatus to set a
core in the lower mold while the upper and the lower mold and the
match plate are separated each other after molding the upper and
the lower mold comprises:
[0013] a handling tool to handle the core, comprising a holding
means to hold the core and a rotatable rod supporting the handling
tool about its axis,
[0014] a carrier for transferring the handling tool, wherein the
carrier supports the rotatable rod and is moved to or from the
location above the lower mold, and
[0015] an actuator for lowering and lifting the cope flask together
with the carrier and the handling tool which are located above the
drag flask, wherein the actuator is mounted on the main body of the
molding apparatus.
[0016] The core-setting apparatus of these inventions that are used
for the molding apparatus further comprises a pair of
perpendicularly movable rails disposed at both outer side walls of
the cope flask, wherein the rails can be moved perpendicularly
together with the cope flask, and wherein the carrier and the
handling tool can also be lowered and lifted together with the cope
flask when the carrier and the handling tool are moved to a
position above the drag flask by using the pair of perpendicularly
movable rails.
[0017] To solve the above problems, the method for setting a core
is used for the molding apparatus for producing an upper and a
lower mold of these inventions. The molding apparatus has processes
comprising:
[0018] a molding-space-defining step to define molding spaces, each
space having a predetermined volume, in a cope and a drag flask by
inserting an upper and a lower squeeze means into the cope and the
drag flask respectively while a match plate is held between the
cope and the drag flask,
[0019] a sand-filling step to fill the molding spaces with molding
sand, and
[0020] a squeezing step to squeeze the molding sand in the molding
spaces by the upper and the lower squeeze means,
[0021] characterized in that the method for setting the core in the
lower mold while the upper and the lower mold and the match plate
are separated from each other after molding the upper and the lower
mold comprises:
[0022] a holding step to hold the core by operating a holding means
after inserting the core in a handling tool,
[0023] a positioning step to position the core held by the handling
tool so that the core faces the lower mold by moving a carrier
supporting a rotatable rod of the handling tool to the position
above the lower mold and by rotating the handling tool forwardly
about the rotatable rod,
[0024] a lowering step to lower the core to just in front of the
surface of the lower mold or to a position where the core contacts
the surface, which core is held by the handling tool, by forwardly
moving an actuator for lowering or lifting the cope flask, wherein
the actuator, which is mounted on the main body of the molding
apparatus, can lower and lift the carrier, which is transferred to
the position above the lower mold, and can also lower and lift the
handling tool together with the cope flask,
[0025] a setting step to set the core in the lower mold by
releasing the core from the holding means at the lowered
position,
[0026] a lifting step to lift the carrier and the handling tool by
inversely moving the actuator for lowering and lifting the cope
flask, and
[0027] a removing and rotating step to take the carrier from the
position above the lower mold and to inversely rotate the handling
tool.
[0028] The method for setting the core used for the molding
apparatus for producing the upper and the lower mold of these
inventions further comprises:
[0029] a pressurizing step to pressurize the core by compressed air
while setting the core after lowering it to a position just in
front of the surface of the lower mold or to a position where the
core contacts the surface, which core is held by the handling tool,
and releasing the core from the holding means.
[0030] These inventions include the following technical
features:
[0031] a core-setting apparatus used for a molding apparatus having
processes comprising:
[0032] a molding-space-defining step to define molding spaces, each
space having a predetermined volume, in a cope and a drag flask by
inserting an upper and a lower squeeze means into the cope and the
drag flask respectively while a match plate is held between the
cope and the drag flask,
[0033] a sand-filling step to fill the molding spaces with molding
sand, and
[0034] a squeezing step to squeeze the molding sand in the molding
spaces by the upper and the lower squeeze means,
[0035] characterized in that the core-setting apparatus to set a
core in the lower mold while the upper and the lower mold and the
match plate are separated from each other after molding the upper
and the lower mold comprises:
[0036] a handling tool to handle the core, comprising a holding
means to hold the core and a rotatable rod supporting the handling
tool about its axis,
[0037] a carrier for transferring the handling tool, wherein the
carrier supports the rotatable rod and is moved to or from a
location above the lower mold, and
[0038] an actuator for lowering and lifting the cope flask together
with the carrier and the handling tool which are located above the
drag flask, wherein the actuator is mounted on the main body of the
molding apparatus. Since these inventions have these technical
features, they have different types of effects, such as that the
structure of the apparatus can be simplified, and that it is
possible to maintain the accuracy of the position of the core when
the core is set in the lower mold.
BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF THE DRAWINGS
[0039] FIG. 1 is an elevational and a partial sectional view of the
main structure of the molding apparatus.
[0040] FIG. 2 is an elevational view of the core-setting apparatus
of these inventions showing one of the embodiments used for the
molding apparatus.
[0041] FIG. 3 is a plane view of FIG. 2. Part of FIG. 2 is omitted.
FIG. 3 shows that the carrier and a transferring carriage are moved
forward.
[0042] FIG. 4 is a view of the right side of FIG. 2. Part of FIG. 2
is omitted.
[0043] FIG. 5 is a plane view of a pair of molding spaces defined
in the flasks by the molding apparatus. Some relevant elements are
omitted.
[0044] FIG. 6 is an elevational and a partially sectional view of a
pair of molding spaces defined in the flasks by the molding
apparatus. Some relevant elements are omitted.
[0045] FIG. 7 is an elevational view of the core-setting apparatus.
and shows that the core is held in the handling tool, which is at
an initial position.
[0046] FIG. 8 is an elevational view of the core-setting apparatus.
It shows that the carrier is moved to a position above the lower
mold, and that the core faces the lower mold.
[0047] FIG. 9 is an elevational view of the core-setting apparatus,
and shows that the core is lowered to just in front of the surface
of the lower mold.
[0048] FIG. 10 is an elevational view of the core-setting
apparatus, and shows that the carrier and the empty handling tool
are lifted.
[0049] FIG. 11 is an elevational view of the core-setting
apparatus, and shows that the carrier is removed from the position
above the lower mold, and that the handling tool is located at an
initial position.
PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTIONS
[0050] One embodiment of these inventions is now explained in
detail based on figures. As in FIG. 1, a main body A of a molding
apparatus comprises:
[0051] a cope flask 2 and a drag flask 3, which can hold
therebetween a match plate 1, having patterns 1a, 1a, at both its
sides,
[0052] an upper squeezing member 4, which is insertable into the
opening positioned on the opposite side of the cope flask 2 from
the match plate 1,
[0053] a filling frame 6 perpendicularly fixed to a base 5, and
[0054] a lower squeezing member 7, which is insertable in the
filling frame 6, wherein the lower squeezing member 7 is disposed
so that its pressurizing surface faces the horizontal
direction.
[0055] FIG. 1 shows the main body A of the molding apparatus at the
initial position. In this stage, the match plate 1, the cope flask
2, the drag flask 3, and the upper squeezing member 4 are disposed
at the horizontal position, and the pressurizing surface of the
upper squeezing member 4 faces perpendicularly downward. As
explained below, the match plate 1, the cope flask 2, the drag
flask 3, and the upper squeezing member 4 can be integrally rotated
so that they are disposed at the perpendicular position.
[0056] In contrast, the filling frame 6 and the lower squeezing
member 7 cannot rotate, and the pressurizing surface of the lower
squeezing member 7 is fixed so that it faces horizontally. When the
cope flask 2 and the drag flask 3 holding the match plate 1
therebetween are at the perpendicular position after they rotate,
the filling frame 6 is disposed at the fixed position, which the
drag flask comes in contact with. The lower squeezing member 7 is
also insertable into the drag flask, which is at the perpendicular
position, through the filling frame.
[0057] A sand-supplying mechanism 8, disposed at an upper-central
portion of the main body A, fills molding spaces located below the
sand-supplying mechanism 8 with molding sand. (Here, FIG. 1 does
not show the molding spaces located below the sand-supplying
mechanism 8.) A pair of first cylinders 9 (upper cylinders)
horizontally extending (see FIGS. 2 and 3) and a second cylinder 10
(a lower cylinder) also horizontally extending (see FIG. 1) face
each other and are disposed near a location below the
sand-supplying mechanism 8. The respective cylinders drive the
upper squeezing member 4 and the lower squeezing member 7. In this
embodiment, the first and the second cylinder are each hydraulic.
However, electrically-driven cylinders may be used.
[0058] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a rotating shaft 11, disposed at
the top-right side of the base 5, extends in the direction
connecting the rear to the front of the main body A (perpendicular
to the sheets showing FIGS. 1 and 2). Thus, FIGS. 1 and 2 show just
the front-end surface of the rotating shaft 11. The rotating shaft
11 is rotatably supported by a pair of bearings 12 disposed at the
base 5 with a predetermined interval in the direction connecting
the rear to the front of the main body A (FIG. 2 shows only the
front bearing 12). A rotating frame 13, extending substantially
perpendicularly, is fixed to the rotating shaft 11 near the central
portion in its longitudinal direction.
[0059] Especially, as shown in FIG. 1, the drag flask 3, which has
a sand-filling port at its left side wall, is disposed at the right
side and bottom end of the rotating frame 13 by means of a
supporting member 14. A pair of guide rods 15, substantially
extending perpendicularly, are disposed at the right side of the
rotating frame 13 with a predetermined interval in the direction
connecting the rear to the front of the main body A (FIGS. 1 and 3
show only the front guide rod 15).
[0060] Further, as shown in FIG. 1, a retaining member 16, which
retains the match plate 1 above the drag flask 3, is slidable and
is supported by the pair of the guide rods 15 perpendicularly
extending by means of a guide holder 17. The cope flask 2, which
has a sand-filling port at its left side wall, is also slidable and
is supported above the retaining member 16 by means of another
guide holder 18. Further, the retaining member 16 is supported by
guide rails 19 extending in the direction connecting the rear to
the front of the molding apparatus so that it can move along the
guide rails 19. The guide rails 19 can ascend and descend by
extending and contracting a third cylinder 20 disposed at the
rotating frame 13. The cope flask 2 is connected to a fourth
cylinder 21, which extends downwardly, through a support structure
(not shown). The distal end of the piston rod of the fourth
cylinder 21 is connected to the rotating frame 13. The cope flask
can move forward to and backward from the retaining member 16 by
extending and contracting a fourth cylinder 21.
[0061] Especially, as shown in FIG. 2, a pair of fifth cylinders 22
is disposed at the central portions of the front and the rear side
surface of the cope flask 2 (only the front side surface of the
cope flask 2 is shown in FIG. 2). The upper squeezing member 4
connects the distal ends of the piston rods of the pair of the
fifth cylinders 22 so that the cylinders 22 can move the upper
squeezing member 4 forward to or backward from the cope flask 2 by
their extending and contracting motions. Thus, the pair of the
fifth cylinders 22 can be rotated together with the cope flask 2
and the upper squeezing member 4. Two pairs of sixth cylinders 23,
downwardly extending, are disposed at the right and left ends of
the front and the rear side surface of the cope flask 2 so that the
cylinders 23 can move the match plate 1 away from the cope flask 2.
Four seventh cylinders 24 (see FIG. 2), upwardly extending, are
disposed at the front and the rear side surface of the drag flask 3
(see FIG. 1) so that the cylinders 24 can move the match plate 1
away from the drag flask 3. In addition, since the third cylinder
20 can be used as a substitute for two of the four seventh
cylinders 24, two cylinders 24 can be omitted. A pair of eighth
cylinders 25 extending rightward is disposed at the front and the
rear side of the upper surface of the base 5. The upper portion of
the rotating frame 13 connects the distal ends of the piston rods
of the pair of the eighth cylinders 25 through a connecting
mechanism 26. The rotating frame 13 can rotate about the rotating
shaft 11 by extending and contracting the eighth cylinders 25.
[0062] As shown in FIG. 2, the sand-supplying mechanism 8 of the
main body A is disposed between the pair of the eighth cylinders 25
at the upper surface of the base 5. As shown in FIG. 1, an aeration
mechanism 28 for ejecting compressed air to fluidize molding sand
is disposed below the sand-tank 27 of the sand-supplying mechanism
8.
[0063] FIG. 5, a plane view, and FIG. 6, an elevational view, show
the match plate 1, the cope and the drag flask 2, 3, the upper and
the lower squeezing member 4, 7, and the filling frame 6, which are
positioned just under the sand-supplying mechanism 8 by rotating
them together with related members from the position in FIGS. 1 and
2 after defining the upper and the lower molding space as explained
above. As in FIGS. 5 and 6, a supporting frame 29 (see FIG. 5),
having a C-like shape in the sectional plane view, is fixed to the
base 5 (see FIGS. 1 and 2) below the sand-supplying mechanism 8
(see FIG. 6).
[0064] Especially, as shown in FIG. 5, the filling frame 6, which
is positioned perpendicularly, is disposed at the inner left side
of the supporting frame 29, so that the filling frame 6 comes into
contact with the drag flask 3 when the lower molding space is
defined. The second cylinder 10, horizontally extending to the
right, is disposed at the central portion of the left frame of the
supporting frame 29. The distal end of the piston rod of the
cylinder 10 is fixed to the lower squeezing member 7. The lower
squeezing member 7 is in a perpendicular position. Each of the
first cylinders 9, horizontally extending to the left, is disposed
at the pair of the open ends of the supporting frame 29.
[0065] Next, a core-setting apparatus B is explained. A handling
tool 101 is provided with and is rotatably supported by a rotatable
rod 102. The rotatable rod 102 is also rotatably supported by a
carrier 104, which is used for transferring the handling tool 101,
by means of bearings 103, 103 (see FIG. 4) disposed at both its
ends. Here, the rotatable rod 102 can be rotated by a driving
motor. (not shown)
[0066] The portion contacting the core of the handling tool 101 is
made from resin, and is designed so that it can be changed (not
shown). Further, the handling tool 101 is provided with a holding
means (not shown) to hold the core. In this embodiment, a vacuuming
means is used for holding the core and acts as the holding means.
The holding means is not limited to the vacuuming means. For
example, a clamping means to mechanically clamp the core can also
be used for the holding means.
[0067] The carrier 104 for transferring the handling tool is
provided with four rollers 104a, 104a disposed at the upper portion
of its inside. A pair of guide members 105, 105 (see FIGS. 2 and 3)
is fixed to the front side of the carrier 104 at a predetermined
interval. A roller 106 is slidably disposed between the pair of the
guide members 105, 105. Further, the roller 106 is disposed at an
arm 107. The arm 107 is connected to a rotating shaft of a motor
108, explained below.
[0068] A carriage 109 is disposed over the carrier 104 and provided
with four rollers 109a, 109a disposed at the upper portion of the
outside of the carriage 109. A pair of horizontally movable rails
110, 110 is fixed to the lower portion of the outside of the
carriage 109. The rails can move horizontally together with the
carriage 109. The rollers 104a, 104a of the carrier 104 are
disposed on the pair of the horizontally movable rails 110, 110.
Further, the motor 108 is disposed at the lower portion of the
front side of the carriage 109 and is fixed to the carriage 109 by
means of a supporting member 111.
[0069] The rollers 109a, 109a of the carriage 109 are disposed on
rails 112, 112, which are located under the rollers 109a, 109a. The
rails 112, 112 are supported by being fixed to supporting frames
113. Here, the frames 113 are supported by columns (not shown). A
pair of perpendicularly movable rails 114, 114 is fixed to two of
the outer sides of the cope flask 2 in the main body A of the
molding apparatus through fixing members 115, 115 (see FIG. 3) so
that the rails 114, 114 can perpendicularly move together with the
cope flask 2. Thus, the carrier 104 and the handling tool 101 can
perpendicularly move together with the cope flask 2 by moving the
carrier 104 and the handling tool 101 to a position above the drag
flask 3 through the perpendicularly movable rails 114, 114. Here,
when the cope flask is located at the highest position, the upper
surfaces of the perpendicularly movable rails 114, 114 correspond
to those of the horizontally movable rails 110, 110.
[0070] "C" denotes a transferring mechanism to transfer the match
plate 1 between the cope flask 2 and the drag flask 3 together with
the retaining member 16. "30" denotes a receiving member that is
used for placing an upper and a lower mold that is stripped from
the cope flask 2 and the drag flask 3. Further, "31" denotes a
cylinder for pushing the upper and the lower mold placed on the
receiving member 30 out from it.
[0071] Below, the operations of the apparatus having the
constitution explained in the above paragraphs are explained. From
the state shown in FIG. 1, the match plate 1 is held between the
cope flask 2 and the drag flask 3 by sequentially stacking the drag
flask 3, the match plate 1, and the cope flask 2 in a substantially
horizontal condition by contracting the fourth cylinder 21 of the
main body A, which cylinder extends downward.
[0072] Next, while the first cylinders 9 of the main body are
contracted, the rotating frame 13 is rotated clockwise about the
rotating shaft 11 by extending the pair of the eighth cylinders 25
of the main body A. As a result of this operation, the upper
squeezing member 4 is transferred between the first cylinders 9 and
the filling frame 6 together with the cope flask 2 and the drag
flask 3 holding the match plate 1 and located at the perpendicular
position. At the same time that the rotating frame 13 rotates, the
upper and the lower molding space shown in FIG. 5 start to be
defined by extending the second cylinder 10 at a predetermined
length, and by contracting the pair of the fifth cylinders 22. For
more detail, note that while the match plate 1 is held between the
cope flask 2 and the drag flask 3, the upper molding space is
defined by inserting the upper squeezing member 4 into the cope
flask 3 from its side opposite the match plate 1. Since the cope
flask 2 and the drag flask 3 holding the match plate 1, the upper
squeezing member 4, and the fifth cylinders 22 for moving the upper
squeezing member 4 can all be rotated together, during the rotation
of the rotating frame 13 the upper molding space can be defined.
Further, when the rotating frame 13 is rotating, the lower
squeezing member 7 is inserted into the drag flask 3 through the
filling frame 6. The flask 3 is moved near the filling frame 6 and
is placed in the substantially perpendicular position by the
rotation of the rotating frame 13. After the rotation of the
rotating frame 13 is completed, the lower molding space is also
defined by contacting the drag flask 3 to the filling frame 6.
[0073] Next, the upper and the lower molding space are filled with
the molding sand by supplying compressed air into the aeration
mechanism 28 of the sand-tank 27 from a source of compressed air
(not shown). When the molding spaces are filled with the molding
sand, it is preferable to supply compressed air in the sand-tank 27
so as to shorten the time for filling the molding space with the
molding sand. However, these inventions are not limited by these
configurations.
[0074] Next, the molding sand in the upper and the lower molding
space is squeezed by respectively moving the upper and lower
squeezing members 4, 7 toward the match plate 1 by respectively
extending the first cylinders 9 and the second cylinder 10. By
these squeezing operations, the upper and the lower mold is
respectively produced in the upper and the lower molding space.
[0075] Then, the cope flask 2 and the drag flask 3, which
respectively include the upper and lower mold in the flasks, are
rotated and moved by the counterclockwise rotation of the rotating
frame 13 by contracting the eighth cylinders 25.
[0076] Next, the cope flask 2 is lifted by extending the fourth
cylinder 21. Then the match plate 1 is pushed down from the cope
flask 2 by extending the sixth cylinders 23. At the same time, the
match plate 1 is pushed up from the drag flask 3 by the seventh
cylinders 24.
[0077] Then, the match plate 1 is removed from between the cope
flask 2 and the drag flask 3 together with the retaining member 16
by driving the transferring mechanism C. When the state shown by
FIG. 2 is achieved, the operations for setting a core in the mold
start. Below, these operations are explained in detail. First,
after the horizontally movable rails 110, 110 are contacted by the
perpendicularly movable rails 114, 114 by manually moving the
carrier 104 and the carriage 109 forward, the carriage 109 is fixed
to the position by a fixing means (not shown).
[0078] Next, after setting a core N on the holding surface 101a of
the handling tool 101 that is at an initial state, namely, the
handling tool 101 is inclined at a predetermined angle (in this
embodiment, the angle is 30 degrees) by rotating it about the
rotatable rod 102 so that the top of the handling tool 101 moves
backward (toward the main body A), the core N is held in the
handling tool 101 by suctioning it by driving the vacuuming means.
(See FIG. 7.)
[0079] Then, the arm 107 is rotated 180 degrees so that it moves
toward the main body A by driving the motor 108. As a result of
this operation, the roller 106 slidably reciprocates between the
pair of the guide members 105, 105, and the carrier 104 moves to
above the lower mold. When the carrier 104 begins to move toward
the main body A, simultaneously the handling tool is rotated (in
FIG. 7, clockwise) so that the core N faces downward by driving the
motor for rotating the rotatable rod 102. As a result of these
operations, since while the carrier 104 is transferred to above the
lower mold the holding surface 101a of the handling tool 101 faces
downward, the core N, held by the handling tool, faces toward the
lower mold. (See FIG. 8.)
[0080] Then an actuator for lifting and lowering the cope flask 2,
which actuator is mounted on the main body A, is driven. The
actuator can lift and lower both the cope flask 2 together with the
handling tool 101 and the carrier 104, which are transferred to
above the lower mold. Namely, the perpendicularly movable rails
114, 114 are lowered together with the cope flask 2 by contracting
the fourth cylinder 21. As a result of these operations, the core
N, held by the handling tool 101 disposed at the carrier 104, is
lowered to just in front of the surface of the lower mold (in this
embodiment, the clearance between the core N and the surface of the
lower mold is 1 mm). (See FIG. 9.) After the core N is lowered, it
is released from the handling tool 101 by stopping the vacuuming
means and is set in the lower mold.
[0081] Next, the perpendicularly movable rails 114, 114 are lifted
by inversely driving the actuator together with the cope flask 2,
namely, by extending the fourth cylinder 21. Thus, the carrier 104
and the vacant handling tool 101 are also lifted. (See FIG.
10.)
[0082] Then, the arm 107 is rotated 180 degrees so that it moves
toward the core-setting apparatus B by inversely driving the motor
108. As a result of this operation, the roller 106 slidably
reciprocates between the pair of the guide members 105, 105, and
the carrier 104 is removed from above the lower mold. When the
carrier 104 begins to move toward the core-setting apparatus B,
simultaneously the handling tool 101 is inversely rotated (in FIG.
10, counterclockwise) so that the handling tool returns to the
initial position, explained previously, by inversely driving the
motor for rotating the rotatable rod 102. As a result of these
operations, while the carrier 104 is removed from above the lower
mold, the handling tool 101 is placed at the initial position. (See
FIG. 11.)
[0083] In the main body A, the cope flask 2 is lowered and stacked
on the drag flask 3 by contracting the forth cylinder 21. Then the
upper surface of the receiving member 30 is contacted by the bottom
surface of the lower mold by driving a lifting and lowering
cylinder (not shown). Next, the upper squeezing member 4 pushes
down the upper mold in the cope flask 2 by contracting the fifth
cylinders 22. Then, the upper and lower molds are stripped from the
cope flask 2 and the drag flask 3 by lowering the receiving member
30 by driving the lifting and lowering cylinder (not shown). Next,
the upper squeezing member 4 is lifted by extending the fifth
cylinders 22. Then, the upper and lower molds that are placed on
the receiving member 30 are pushed out from it by extending the
cylinder 31 for pushing the molds. As a result of a series of these
operations, a flaskless upper mold and a flaskless lower mold can
be produced.
[0084] Incidentally, for the next operations for producing another
pair of molds, if it is necessary to set a core in the molds then
the carriage 109 is kept at the forward position. In contrast, when
molds that need no core are to be produced, namely, if it is
unnecessary to set a core in the molds, the carrier 104 and the
carriage 109 are manually moved backward by releasing the fixing
means for the carriage 109.
[0085] For the present inventions, the handling tool 101 is
transferred to the space between the cope flask 2 and drag flask 3
so that the core N faces downward, wherein the space is used for
inserting and holding the match plate 1. Then the core N is set in
the lower mold in the main body A of the molding apparatus, which
main body has a high stiffness and a high dimensional accuracy.
These operations are similar to the operations for holding the
match plate 1 between the cope flask 2 and the drag flask 3. In
contrast, in the prior art, a core is set in a lower mold by
lifting a drag flask while it is drawn out from a molding
apparatus. Namely, it is cantilevered. Thus, in comparison with the
prior art, by the present inventions the core in the mold can be
held very accurately. Further, for the present inventions, the core
is set in the lower mold in an operation similar to that where the
match plate 1 is held between the cope flask 2 and the drag flask
3. Thus, since there is no need to constitute the molding apparatus
so that the drag flask is movable forward and backward, a molding
apparatus that has a simple structure can be provided.
[0086] For the embodiment of these inventions, the carrier 104 and
the carriage 109 are manually moved forward and backward. However,
these inventions are not limited to this embodiment. It is also
possible to use an actuator (say, a cylinder or a motor) for moving
them forward and backward.
[0087] Further, for the embodiment of these inventions, the core N,
held in the handling tool 101 disposed at the carrier 104, is
lowered to just in front of the surface of the lower mold. However,
these inventions are not limited to this embodiment. It is also
possible to lower the core N until it contacts the surface of the
lower mold.
[0088] Further, for the embodiment of these inventions, after the
core N, held by the handling tool 101 disposed at the carrier 104,
is lowered to just in front of the surface of the lower mold (or
until it contacts that surface), the core N is released from the
handling tool 101 by stopping the vacuuming means, and is then set
in the lower mold. However, these inventions are not limited to
this embodiment. It is more preferable that the core N be set in
the lower mold by pressurizing the core N with compressed air after
stopping the vacuuming means, because the core N can be definitely
released from the handling tool, and so any possible trouble in
releasing the core N from the handling tool can be prevented.
Incidentally, a vacuuming and pressurizing means can be used for
the holding means instead of the vacuuming means alone, to
pressurize the core N with the compressed air.
[0089] Further, for the embodiment of these inventions, the
handling tool 101 is rotated by rotating the rotatable rod 102 by
the driving motor (not shown). However, these inventions are not
limited to this embodiment. Also an arm can be attached to one end
of the rotatable rod 102 so that the rod 102 can be rotated by
driving a cylinder connected to the distal end of the arm. Further,
a cam mechanism can be used for rotating the rotatable rod 102,
instead of the actuator.
[0090] Further, for the embodiments of these inventions, after the
horizontally movable rails 110, 110 are contacted by the
perpendicularly movable rails 114, 114 by moving the carrier 104
and the carriage 109 forward, the carriage 109 is fixed to its
position by a fixing means (not shown). However, these inventions
are not limited to this embodiment. Also, the carriage can be
positioned so that a little clearance (for example, 1 mm) between
the horizontally movable rails 110, 110 and the perpendicularly
movable rails 114, 114 can be maintained.
* * * * *