Apparatus for automatic matchplate molding

Claim 2

Multistation apparatus for automatic continuous preparation of molds from mold flasks having cope and drag sections, matchplate mold patterns and mold-forming material, said apparatus comprising: means for supplying mold flasks having a drag section positioned atop a cope section; means for spacing apart mold flask drag and cope sections permitting insertion of a matchplate mold pattern therebetween; means for inserting a matchplate mold pattern between spacedapart mold flask drag and cope sections; means for closing together mold flask drag and cope sections with a matchplate mold pattern positioned therebetween; means for filling a mold flask drag section with mold-forming material; means for compacting mold-forming material in a mold flask drag section; means for inverting a mold flask; means for filling a mold flask cope section with mold-forming material; means for compacting mold-forming material in a mold flask cope section; means for spacing apart mold flask cope and drag sections having a matchplate mold pattern positioned therebetween, permitting removal of the matchplate mold pattern; means for removing a matchplate mold pattern from between spaced-apart mold flask cope and drag sections; means for inverting a matchplate mold pattern; and means for individually supporting and removing spaced-apart mold flask cope and drag sections.

Claim 3

Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said means for compacting mold-forming material in said drag section includes agitating means.

Claim 4

Apparatus as set forth in claim 2 wherein said agitating means comprises jolt means.

Claim 5

Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said means for compacting mold-forming material in said drag section includes hydraulic squeeze means.

Claim 6

Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said means for compacting mold-forming material in said cope section includes squeeze means.

Claim 7

Apparatus as set forth in claim 5 wherein said squeeze means comprises pneumatic squeeze means.

Claim 8

Apparatus as set forth in claim 6 further including hydraulic squeeze means for contemporaneously compacting mold-forming material in a mold flask drag section filled with such mold-forming material.

Claim 9

Apparatus as set forth in claim 7 further including: means for supplying a mold flask to said mold flask-inverting means; means for removing mold flasks from said mold flask-inverting means to said means for filling a mold flask cope section with mold-forming material; first carriage means for transporting mold flasks from said flask-supplying means to said means for spacing apart mold flask cope and drag sections permitting insertion of a pattern therebetween, said means for inserting a pattern between spaced-apart mold flask cope and drag sections, and said means for closing together mold flask cope and drag sections with a pattern positioned therebetween, thence to said mold flask drag filling means, and thence to said means for supplying mold flasks to said flask-inverting means; and second carriage means for transporting mold flasks from said flask cope filling means to said compacting means and thence to said means for spacing apart mold flask cope and drag sections having a pattern positioned therebetween permitting removal of the pattern, and thence to said means for removing spaced-apart mold flask cope and drag sections.

Claim 10

Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 further including means for synchronously activating said mold flask-inverting and pattern-inverting means.

Claim 11

Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said means for spacing apart flask cope and drag sections permitting pattern insertion, said means for closing together flask cope and drag sections with a pattern positioned therebetween, and said means for spacing apart flask cope and drag sections permitting pattern removal include selectively engageable electromagnetic means.

Claim 12

Apparatus for automatic continuous preparation of molds from mold flasks having cope and drag sections, matchplate mold patterns and mold-forming material, said apparatus comprising: means for supplying mold flasks having a drag section positioned atop a cope section; eight mold preparation procedure stations, the first of said stations comprising means for spacing apart mold flask drag and cope sections permitting insertion of a matchplate mold pattern therebetween, means for inserting a matchplate mold pattern between spaced-apart mold flask drag and cope sections, and means for closing together mold flask drag and cope sections with a matchplate mold pattern positioned therebetween, the second of said stations comprising means for filling a mold flask drag section with mold-forming material, the third of said stations comprising means for providing a mold flask to means for inverting a mold flask, the fourth of said stations comprising means for inverting a mold flask, the fifth of said stations comprising means for removing a mold flask from mold flask-inverting means and means for filling a mold flask cope section with mold-forming material, the sixth of said stations comprising means for compacting mold-forming material in mold flask cope and drag sections filled with such mold-forming material, the seventh of said stations comprising means for spacing apart mold flask cope and drag sections having a matchplate mold pattern positioned therebetween permitting pattern removal and means for removing a matchplate mold pattern from between spaced-apart mold flask cope and drag sections, the eighth of said stations comprising means for inverting a matchplate mold pattern; and means for individually supporting and removing spaced-apart mold flask cope and drag sections.

Claim 13

Apparatus for automatic continuous preparation of molds from mold flasks having cope and drag sections, matchplate mold patterns and mold-forming material, said apparatus comprising: means for supplying mold flasks having a drag section positioned atop a cope section; eight mold preparation procedure stations, the first of said stations comprising means for spacing apart mold flask drag and cope sections permitting insertion of a matchplate mold pattern therebetween, means for inserting a matchplate mold pattern between spaced-apart mold flask drag and cope sections, and means for closing together mold flask drag and cope sections with a matchplate mold pattern positioned therebetween, the second of said stations comprising means for filling a mold flask drag section with mold-forming material, the third of said stations comprising means for providing a mold flask to means for inverting a mold flask, the fourth of said stations comprising means for inverting a mold flask, the fifth of said stations comprising means for removing a mold flask from mold flask-inverting means and means for filling a mold flask cope section with mold-forming material, the sixth of said stations comprising means for compacting mold-forming material in mold flask cope and drag sections filled with such mold-forming material, the seventh of said stations comprising means for spacing apart mold flask cope and drag sections having a matchplate mold pattern positioned therebetween permitting pattern removal and means for removing a matchplate mold pattern from between spaced-apart mold flask cope and drag sections, the eighth of said stations comprising means for inverting a matchplate mold pattern; and means for individually supporting and removing spaced-apart mold flask cope and drag sections.

Claim 14

Apparatus as set forth in claim 11 wherein said sixth of said stations comprises means for compacting mold-forming material in a mold flask drag section contemporaneously with compacting mold-forming material in a mold flask cope section.

Claim 15

Apparatus as set forth in claim 12 wherein said means for compacting mold-forming material includes pneumatic squeeze means for the mold flask cope section and hydraulic squeeze means for the mold flask drag section.

Claim 16

Apparatus as set forth in claim 11 wherein said second of said stations further comprises agitating means for compacting mold-forming material in a mold flask drag section filled with such mold-forming material.

Claim 17

Apparatus as set forth in claim 14 wherein said agitating means comprises jolt means.

Claim 18

Apparatus as set forth in claim 15 wherein said jolt means comprises: a resiliently mounted jolt drive assembly including a first platen having affixed thereto a pair of double-shaft contrarotating motor means for imparting a continuous reciprocating vertical motion to said first platen; and, a resiliently mounted flask retaining and jolt engaging assembly including a second platen in spaced relation above said first platen and adapted to substantially support a mold flask, said second platen being rigidly interconnected with means for releasably securing a mold flask to said second platen, both said second platen and said flask securing means being rigidly interconnected with means for selectively contacting said first platen with said second platen, whereby said first platen may be maintained in a continuous state of reciprocating motion and may be selectively contacted with said second platen to impart reciprocating motion to said second platen and a mold flask secured thereto.

Claim 19

Apparatus as set forth in claim 11 further including first carriage means for transporting a mold flask from said means for supplying mold flasks to said first of said stations, thence to said second of said stations and thence to said third of said stations and second carriage means for transporting a mold flask from said fifth of said stations to said sixth of said stations, thence to said seventh of said stations and thence to said means for removing spaced-apart mold flask cope and drag sections.

Claim 20

Apparatus as set forth in claim 17 wherein said first carriage means comprises means for simultaneously transporting a mold flask from said means for supplying mold flasks to said first of said stations, transporting a mold flask from said first of said stations to said second of said stations, and transporting a mold flask from said second of said stations to said third of said stations and said second carriage means comprises means for simultaneously transporting a mold flask from said fifth of said stations to said sixth of said stations, transporting a mold flask from said sixth of said stations to said seventh of said stations and transporting spaced-apart mold flask cope and drag sections from said seventh of said stations to said means for removing spaced-apart mold flask cope and drag sections.

Claim 21

Apparatus as set forth in claim 11 further including means for synchronously actuating said mold flask-inverting means comprising said fourth of said stations and said means for inverting a matchplate mold pattern comprising said eighth of said stations.

Claim 22

Apparatus as set forth in claim 11 wherein said fourth of said stations further comprises hydraulic squeeze means for compacting mold-forming material in a mold flask drag section.

Claim 23

Apparatus as set forth in claim 11 wherein said means comprising said first and said seventh of said stations further include selectively engageable electromagnetic means.

Claim 24

Multistation apparatus for continuous preparation of sand molds from mold flasks having cope and drag sections, matchplate mold patterns and sand, said apparatus comprising: a first, flask insert, station, said first station comprising means for horizontally supporting a mold flask having drag section positioned atop cope section and hydraulic means for supplying such mold flasks to said horizontally supporting means; a second pattern insert, station, said second station comprising hydraulically actuated means for supporting and positioning a matchplate mold pattern between spaced-apart cope and drag sections and hydraulic and selectively engageable electromagnetic means for spacing apart sections of a mold flask by raising the drag section to a position above its initial horizontal level while retaining the cope section at its initial horizontal level and thereafter lowering the drag section to a level above its initial horizontal level while raising the cope section above its initial horizontal level to a position directly beneath the lowered drag section, whereby, as flask cope and drag sections are spaced apart, a pattern is positioned between the sectiOns and the sections are thereafter closed together with the pattern secured between sections, with the flask ultimately at a horizontal level above its initial horizontal level; a third drag filling, station, said third station comprising means for pouring sand into a drag section and jolt means for compacting sand in the drag section, said jolt means comprising a resiliently mounted jolt drive assembly including a first platen having affixed thereto a pair of double-shaft contrarotating motor means for imparting a continuous reciprocating motion to said first platen and a resiliently mounted flask-retaining and jolt-engaging assembly including a second platen in spaced relation above said first platen and adapted to substantially support a mold flask, said second platen being rigidly interconnected with frame means for releasably securing a mold flask against said second platen, said second platen and said flask securing means being rigidly interconnected with means for selectively contacting said first platen with said second platen, whereby said first platen may be maintained in a continuous state of reciprocating motion and may be selectively contacted with said second platen to impart reciprocating motion to said second platen and a mold flask secured thereto; first vertically adjustable roller means for compacting sand in a filled drag section; first vertically adjustable strikeoff bar means for striking off to a fixed level residual sand extending above the level of the top of a drag section; a fourth, idler, station, said fourth station comprising means for horizontally supporting a mold flask and hydraulic and selectively engageable electromagnetic means for laterally moving a mold flask from said fourth station to a fifth station; a fifth, flask rollover, station, said fifth station comprising hydraulic means for releasably securing a mold flask within a frame while contemporaneously compacting sand in a filled drag section and motor means for inverting the frame; a sixth, cope filling, station, said sixth station comprising hydraulic and selectively engageable electromagnetic means for moving a mold flask from said fifth station to said sixth station and means for pouring sand into a cope section; second vertically adjustable strikeoff bar means for striking off to a fixed level residual sand extending above the level of the top of a cope section; a seventh, squeeze, station, said seventh station comprising hydraulic means for compacting sand in a drag section and pneumatic means for compacting sand in a cope section; an eighth, pattern removal, station, said eighth station comprising hydraulic and selectively engageable electromagnetic means for spacing apart mold flask sections by raising the cope section and lowering the drag section and hydraulically actuated means for supporting and laterally moving a matchplate mold pattern from said eighth station to a ninth station; a ninth, pattern rollover, station, said ninth station comprising frame means for securing a pattern in aligned position with said pattern securing and positioning means of said second station, said frame being interconnected with the motor for inverting the frame at said fifth station, whereby, after lateral movement of a pattern from said eighth station to said ninth station, the pattern may be inverted simultaneously with the frame of the fifth station and thereafter may be moved to said second station by lateral movement of another pattern from said eighth station to said ninth station; a tenth, flask removal, station, said tenth station comprising means for horizontally supporting spaced-apart cope and drag sections of a mold flask and hydraulic means for removing the spaced-apart sections from said horizontally supporting means; a first carriage capable of supporting three mold flasks along its length and further capable of transporting one mold flask from said first station to said second station while transporting a second mold flask from said second station to said third station and a third mold flask from said third station to said fourth station; and a second carriage capable of supporting two mold flasks and the spaced-apart sections of a third mold flask along its length and further capable of transporting one mold flask from said sixth station to said seventh station while transporting a second mold flask from said seventh station to said eighth station and the spaced-apart cope and drag sections of a third flask from said eighth station to said tenth station, whereby a given mold flask may be passed sequentially through said first station through said eighth and then tenth stations, a matchplate mold pattern may be positioned between mold flask sections at said second station and may pass with the mold flask sequentially through said third through eighth stations and thereafter be moved from said eighth to said ninth stations and thence moved to said second station, and a plurality of mold flasks and patterns may be so moved through the stations, one after the other.

Claim 25

Multistation apparatus for continuous preparation of sand molds from mold flasks having cope and drag sections, matchplate mold patterns and sand, said apparatus comprising: a first, flask insert, station, said first station comprising means for horizontally supporting a mold flask having drag section positioned atop cope section and hydraulic means for supplying such mold flasks to said horizontally supporting means; a second pattern insert, station, said second station comprising hydraulically actuated means for supporting and positioning a matchplate mold pattern between spaced-apart cope and drag sections and hydraulic and selectively engageable electromagnetic means for spacing apart sections of a mold flask by raising the drag section to a position above its initial horizontal level while retaining the cope section at its initial horizontal level and thereafter lowering the drag section to a level above its initial horizontal level while raising the cope section above its initial horizontal level to a position directly beneath the lowered drag section, whereby, as flask cope and drag sections are spaced apart, a pattern is positioned between the sectiOns and the sections are thereafter closed together with the pattern secured between sections, with the flask ultimately at a horizontal level above its initial horizontal level; a third drag filling, station, said third station comprising means for pouring sand into a drag section and jolt means for compacting sand in the drag section, said jolt means comprising a resiliently mounted jolt drive assembly including a first platen having affixed thereto a pair of double-shaft contrarotating motor means for imparting a continuous reciprocating motion to said first platen and a resiliently mounted flask-retaining and jolt-engaging assembly including a second platen in spaced relation above said first platen and adapted to substantially support a mold flask, said second platen being rigidly interconnected with frame means for releasably securing a mold flask against said second platen, said second platen and said flask securing means being rigidly interconnected with means for selectively contacting said first platen with said second platen, whereby said first platen may be maintained in a continuous state of reciprocating motion and may be selectively contacted with said second platen to impart reciprocating motion to said second platen and a mold flask secured thereto; first vertically adjustable roller means for compacting sand in a filled drag section; first vertically adjustable strikeoff bar means for striking off to a fixed level residual sand extending above the level of the top of a drag section; a fourth, idler, station, said fourth station comprising means for horizontally supporting a mold flask and hydraulic and selectively engageable electromagnetic means for laterally moving a mold flask from said fourth station to a fifth station; a fifth, flask rollover, station, said fifth station comprising hydraulic means for releasably securing a mold flask within a frame while contemporaneously compacting sand in a filled drag section and motor means for inverting the frame; a sixth, cope filling, station, said sixth station comprising hydraulic and selectively engageable electromagnetic means for moving a mold flask from said fifth station to said sixth station and means for pouring sand into a cope section; second vertically adjustable strikeoff bar means for striking off to a fixed level residual sand extending above the level of the top of a cope section; a seventh, squeeze, station, said seventh station comprising hydraulic means for compacting sand in a drag section and pneumatic means for compacting sand in a cope section; an eighth, pattern removal, station, said eighth station comprising hydraulic and selectively engageable electromagnetic means for spacing apart mold flask sections by raising the cope section and lowering the drag section and hydraulically actuated means for supporting and laterally moving a matchplate mold pattern from said eighth station to a ninth station; a ninth, pattern rollover, station, said ninth station comprising frame means for securing a pattern in aligned position with said pattern securing and positioning means of said second station, said frame being interconnected with the motor for inverting the frame at said fifth station, whereby, after lateral movement of a pattern from said eighth station to said ninth station, the pattern may be inverted simultaneously with the frame of the fifth station and thereafter may be moved to said second station by lateral movement of another pattern from said eighth station to said ninth station; a tenth, flask removal, station, said tenth station comprising means for horizontally supporting spaced-apart cope and drag sections of a mold flask and hydraulic means for removing the spaced-apart sections from said horizontally supporting means; a first carriage capable of supporting three mold flasks along its length and further capable of transporting one mold flask from said first station to said second station while transporting a second mold flask from said second station to said third station and a third mold flask from said third station to said fourth station; and a second carriage capable of supporting two mold flasks and the spaced-apart sections of a third mold flask along its length and further capable of transporting one mold flask from said sixth station to said seventh station while transporting a second mold flask from said seventh station to said eighth station and the spaced-apart cope and drag sections of a third flask from said eighth station to said tenth station, whereby a given mold flask may be passed sequentially through said first station through said eighth and then tenth stations, a matchplate mold pattern may be positioned between mold flask sections at said second station and may pass with the mold flask sequentially through said third through eighth stations and thereafter be moved from said eighth to said ninth stations and thence moved to said second station, and a plurality of mold flasks and patterns may be so moved through the stations, one after the other.