Metal mould dropping prevention device

A stopping device (37) is provided in a metal mould depository stand (6) and a stop cancelling device (39) is provided in a metal mould replacing carriage (3). When a metal mould (13) supported by the stand (6) is transferred onto the carriage (3), firstly the carriage (3) is moved to a location of the stand (6) a stopped condition of which is going to be cancelled, so as to make an output portion (53) of the cancelling device (39) face an actuating member (44) of the stopping device (37). Then, the output portion (53) is made to advance from a return position (G) to an advanced position (H). Thereupon, the actuating member (44) is changed over to a retracting actuation position (D), so that the actuating member (44) changes over a stopper member (42) to a retracted posture (B).

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
The present invention relates to a metal mould dropping prevention device 
for use in a metal mould replacing system and, more specifically, to a 
device adapted to prevent a dropping of a metal mould placed on a metal 
mould replacing carriage or a metal mould depository stand from the 
carriage or the depository stand. 
2. Description of Prior Art 
Such a dropping prevention device known by the inventors of the present 
invention is the following one. 
As shown in FIGS. 20 and 21, a stop lever 237 is supported swingably by a 
block 241 fixedly secured onto an upper surface of a metal mould 
depository stand 206. A stopper portion 242 is fixed to the upper end of 
the stop lever 237 while an actuating roller 244 is supported by a lower 
end thereof. A stop cancelling block 239 is fixedly secured to a side of a 
carriage 203 so as to face the roller 244. 
Under such a condition that the stop lever 237 has been changed over to a 
downward posture ( refer to a solid line figure in FIG. 21 ), the stopper 
portion 242 is changed over to a projecting posture A. Thereby, a leftward 
movement of the metal mould 213 in FIG. 20 is blocked through its 
controlled portion 217, so that the metal mould 213 can be prevented from 
dropping from the depository stand 206. When the metal mould 213 is 
transferred from the depository stand 206 to the carriage 203, firstly the 
carriage 203 is moved rightward in FIG. 21 so as to displace the stop 
cancelling block 239 from the position indicated by the alternate long and 
two short dashes line to the position indicated by the alternate long and 
short dash line. Thereupon, the stop lever 237 swings ( refer to the 
figure indicated by the alternate long and short dash line ) so that the 
stopper portion 242 is changed over to a retracted posture B to fall in 
the stop cancelled condition. Thereby, the metal mould 213 becomes movable 
leftward in FIG. 20. 
There is, however, a problem associated with the above-mentioned 
conventional embodiment. 
In the case that many depository stands 206 are juxtaposed to one another 
in the left and right directions in FIG. 21, when the carriage 203 is 
moved to the location of the depository stand 206 for which the stop 
cancellation is going to be carried out, the stop cancelling block 239 
cancels temporarily also stopped conditions of other stop levers 237, 
which stopped conditions are not required to be cancelled, on the way of 
movement of the carriage 203. It is apprehended that the metal moulds 213 
under this condition would drop from the stands 206 when any shock might 
be imposed to those metal moulds 213. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
It is an object of the present invention to surely prevent a dropping of a 
metal mould. For accomplishing the object, the present invention has 
constructed a metal mould dropping prevention device as follows. 
A stopping means is provided in one of both end portions of a metal mould 
depository stand and of a metal mould replacing carriage facing each other 
and a stop cancelling means is provided in the other thereof. The stopping 
means is provided with a housing, a stopper member supported by the 
housing and an actuating member to be connected to the stopper member. The 
stopper member is so constructed as to be changeable over between a 
projecting posture in which it project above a lower end of a received 
portion of a metal mould and a retracted posture in which it is retracted 
below the lower end thereof. The actuating member is so constructed as to 
be changeable over between a projecting actuation position in which it 
changes over the stopping member to the projecting posture and a 
retracting actuation position in which it changes over the stopping member 
to the retracted posture. The stop cancelling means is provided with an 
output portion adapted to be advanced and retracted between the other end 
portion and the one end portion thereof. The output portion is so 
constructed as to be changeable over between a return position in which 
the actuating member is allowed to be changed over to the projecting 
actuation position by cancelling the engagement with the actuating member 
and an advanced position in which the actuating member is changed over to 
the retracting actuation position by engaging with the actuating member. 
Incidentally, the stopping means may be provided in the depository stand or 
in the carriage case by case while the stop cancelling means may be 
provided in the carriage or in the depository stand corresponding to the 
aforementioned provision of the stopping means. 
The present invention operates, for example as follows. 
An operation for taking out the metal mould placed on the depository stand 
in the stopped condition onto the carriage is carried out by the following 
procedure. Firstly, the carriage is moved to the location of the 
depository stand for which the stop cancellation going to be carried out 
so as to make the output portion of the stop cancelling means face the 
actuating member of the stopping means. Then, the output portion is 
advanced from the return position to the advanced position. Thereupon, the 
actuating member is changed over from the projecting actuation position to 
the retracting actuation position. At the same time, the stopping member 
is changed over from the projecting posture to the retracted posture. 
Thereby, the received portion of the metal mould is allowed to move toward 
the carriage, so that the metal mould can be transferred. 
Since the present invention is constructed and functions as mentioned 
above, the following advantages can be obtained. 
According to the present invention, it becomes possible to cancel a stopped 
condition of only a specified depository stand or a carriage the stopped 
condition of which is intended to be cancelled and to surely prevent a 
dropping of a metal mould without cancelling the stopped conditions of the 
depository stands or the carriages the stopped conditions of which are not 
required, differently from the conventional embodiment.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS &lt; First Embodiment&gt; 
FIGS. 1 through 7 show a first embodiment of the present invention. 
Firstly, a whole construction of a metal mould replacing system will be 
explained with reference to a plan view of FIG. 2. 
Two rails 2 are placed between two different kinds of injection moulding 
machines 1a, 1b, and a metal mould replacing carriage 3 (referred to 
merely as a carriage hereinafter ) provided with two left and right metal 
mould support surfaces 4, 5 is movable in the left and right directions 
along the rails 2. A plurality of metal mould depository stands 6 are 
fixedly secured on a front side F of right end portions of the rails 2. 
Each depository stand 6 is provided with two left and right metal mould 
support surfaces S, S. 
For example, a replacement of a metal mould (not illustrated herein ) a 
using of which has been ended the injection moulding machine 1a carried 
out by the following procedure. As indicated by the alternate long and 
short dash line, the carriage 3 is moved along the rails 2 to a location 
on the rear side R of the stand 6 and then a new metal mould (not 
illustrated herein ) put on the left metal mould support surface S of the 
stand 6 is brought in onto the left metal mould support surface 4 of the 
carriage 3. As indicated by the solid line, the carriage 3 is moved to the 
rear side R of the injection moulding machine 1a and a used metal mould 
the injection moulding machine 1a is brought in onto the right metal mould 
support surface 5. Then the carriage 3 is moved rightward a predetermined 
distance so that the new metal mould on the left support surface 4 is 
brought out to the injection moulding machine 1a. After that, as indicated 
by the alternate long and two short dashes line, the carriage 3 is moved 
to a location on the rear side R of the stand 6 and the used metal mould 
on the right support surface 5 is returned to the right support surface S 
of the stand 6. 
Constructions of the carriage 3 and the metal mould depository stand 6 will 
be explained with reference to FIG. 1 and FIGS. 3 through 7. 
As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the right metal mould surface 5 (and the left 
metal mould support surface 4 ) of the carriage 3 comprises a group of 
long rollers 7 on the left side and a group of short rollers 8 on the 
right side both of which are arranged in parallel in the fore and rear 
directions (in the F - R directions shown by the arrows. Also the 
respective metal mould support surfaces S of the depository stand 6 
comprise a group of long rollers on the left group of short rollers 11 on 
the right side in parallel the fore and rear direction. Metal mould plates 
14, 14 are fixedly secured to left and right opposite sides of the metal 
mould 13 so that their downward projecting portions can be supported 
movably in the fore and rear directions by the metal mould support surface 
S. 
As shown in FIGS. 3 through 5, a L-shaped bracket 16 is fixedly secured to 
the rear portion of the right metal mould plate 14. A laterally long 
actuated member 17 fixedly secured to the bottom of the bracket 16 
provides a metal mould push-pull driven portion 18, a first received 
portion 19 for prevention of metal mould backing and a second received 
portion 20 for prevention of metal mould advancing. The lower end surface 
of the actuated member 17 is positioned below the lower surface L of the 
metal mould 13 and above the metal mould support S. 
A guide rail 23 comprising two rail members 22, 22 having a C-shaped cross 
section is fixed on the upper surface of the carriage 3 so as to face each 
other. A push-pull base 26 adapted to be drivingly pushed and pulled by a 
chain 25 is inserted in this guide rail 23 movably in the fore and rear 
directions through front and rear rollers 27, 27 while the chain 25 is 
adapted to be driven by a sprocket wheel 28 disposed in the rear upper 
portion of the carriage 30 wheel 28 disposed in the rear upper portion of 
the carriage 3. Incidentally, the sprocket wheel 28 is rotated by a motor 
(not illustrated ). The rear end portion of the chain 25 is adapted to be 
bent so as to be stored in a storage box 29 within the carriage 3. 
A push-pull hook 31 is supported by the push-pull base 26 through a pivot 
pin 32 so as to be vertically swingable within a receiving groove 26a ( 
refer to FIG. 6 ) formed in the base 26 and is resiliently urged upward to 
an engagement position X (refer to a figure depicted by a solid line in 
FIG. 5 ) by a spring 33. In the leading end portion of the hook 31, a 
forward declining cam surface 34 and an engagement groove 35 adapted to be 
engaged with the driven portion 18 are formed in order from the leading 
end. 
In the rear end portion of the depository stand 6, there are provided a 
first stopping means 37 for prevention of metal mould backing and a second 
stopping means 38 for prevention of metal mould advancement. In the front 
end portion of the carriage 3, there is provided a stop cancelling means 
39 facing the first stopping means 37. These respective means 37, 38, 39 
are, as shown mainly in FIG. 1, constructed as follows. 
A stopper member 42 is supported vertically swingably by the upper portion 
of a housing 41 of the first stopping means 37 through a pivot pin 43. The 
stopper member 42 is adapted to be changed over between a projecting 
posture A (refer to FIG. 1 (A) ) in which it projects above the lower end 
of the first received portion 19 and a retracted posture B (refer to FIG. 
1 (B) ) in which it retracts below the lower end. A piston- like actuating 
member 44 is supported movably in the fore and rear directions in the 
lower portion of the housing 41. The actuating member 44 is connected to 
the stopper member 42 and adapted to be changed over between a projecting 
actuation position C (refer to FIG. 1 (A) ) in which it changes over the 
stopper member 42 to the projecting posture A and a retracting actuation 
position D (refer to FIG. 1 (B) ) in which it changes over the stopper 
member 42 to the retracted posture B. Incidentally, the actuating member 
44 is prevented by a stopping pin 45 from projecting beyond the rear 
surface of the housing 41. 
Under the stopped condition shown in FIG. 1 (A ), an actuating flange 46 of 
the actuating member 44 is urged resiliently to the projecting actuation 
position C by a spring 47 so as to raise up an actuated portion 42a of the 
stopper member 42 from below. Thereby, a stopper portion 42b of the 
stopper member 42 swings upward so as to prevent a backing of the actuated 
member 17. To the contrary, under the stop cancelled condition shown in 
FIG. 1 (B ), the actuating flange 46 enters a release groove 48 of the 
stopper member 42. Thereby, the stopper portion 42b is allowed to swing 
downward, so that a retraction of the actuated member 17 can be allowed. 
The second stopping means 38 is fixedly secured to the upper portion of the 
housing by two bolts 49 (refer to FIG. 7 ) and is faced to the actuated 
member 17 from the front side F. 
The stop cancelling means 39 is provided with a pneumatic cylinder 51. An 
output portion 53 is provided at a front end of a piston rod 52 of the 
cylinder 51 so as to be opposed to the actuating member 44. The output 
portion 52 is adapted to be changed over between a returned position G ( 
refer to FIG. 1 (A) ) in which it changes over the actuating member 44 to 
the projecting actuation position C and an advanced position H (refer to 
FIG. 1(B)) in which it changes over the actuating member 44 to the 
retracting actuation position D. The symbol 54 designates a return 
detecting switch and the symbol 55 designates an advancement detecting 
switch. As shown in FIG. 7, both a first supply/discharge port 57 and a 
second supply/discharge port 58 of the cylinder 51 are adapted to be 
connected selectively to a pneumatic source 61 through switching valves 
59, 60 respectively. 
A procedure for transferring the metal mould 13 between the carriage 3 and 
the depository stand 6 will be explained hereinafter. 
Under such a condition that the metal mould 13 is deposited on the metal 
mould support surface S of the stand 6, a forward movement of the mold 13 
is prevented by the second stopping means 38. A pressurized air is 
discharged from the first supply/discharge port 57 of the cylinder 51 as 
well as the pressurized air is supplied to the second supply/discharge 
port 58. Thereupon, as shown in FIG. 1 (A), the output portion 53 is 
retracted to the returned position G so that the actuating member 44 is 
changed over to the projecting actuation position C and then the stopper 
member 42 is changed over to the projecting posture A. Thereby, a movement 
of the actuated member 17 toward the rear side R is prevented. As a 
result, the metal mould 13 can be precisely located in a predetermined 
position in the fore and rear directions. At this time, the push-pull base 
26 has been retracted to a location of the rear side R on the carriage 3. 
An operation for transferring the metal mould 13 on the depository stand 6 
onto the carriage 3 is carried out according to the following procedure. 
Firstly, when the carriage 3 is moved to a location on the rear side R of 
the depository stand 6 and the stop cancelling means 39 of the carriage 3 
reaches a location where it faces the first stopping means 37 of the stand 
6, the carriage 3 is stopped in place. Then, the pressurized air is 
discharged from the second supply/discharge port 58 of the cylinder 51 and 
the pressurized air is supplied to the first supply/discharge port 57. 
Thereupon, as shown in FIG. 1 (B), the output portion 53 is advanced to an 
advanced position H, so that the actuating member 44 is changed over to 
the retracting actuation position D and the stopper member 42 is changed 
over to the retracted posture B. Thereby, the actuated member 17 is 
allowed to move toward the rear side R. 
Then, when the sprocket wheel 28 (refer to FIG. 5 ) is rotated 
counterclockwise by a motor (not illustrated ), the push-pull base 26 on 
the carriage 3 is advanced toward the front side F. Together with the 
advancement of the pushpull base 26, firstly the cam surface 34 of the 
push-pull hook 31 is brought into contact with the lower surface of the 
driven portion 18 of the plate 14 and then the leading end of the hook 31 
is swung downward against a resilient force of the spring 33 by a downward 
reaction force acting from the driven portion 18 to the cam surface 34. 
Subsequently thereto, when the engagement groove 35 of the hook 31 is 
moved to the location of the driven portion 18 by the advancement of the 
push-pull base 26, the leading end of the hook 31 is swung upward by the 
resilient force of the spring 33, the engagement groove 35 is engaged with 
the driven portion 18. 
By the way, just before the advancement of the hook 31 to the engagement 
position, a first limit switch 64 shown in FIG. 3 serves to reduce a speed 
of the aforementioned motor (not illustrated ) so as to reduce an 
advancing speed of the push-pull base 26. At the time of the advancement 
to the aforementioned engagement position, a second limit switch 65 shown 
in FIG. 3 detects the advancement position of the push-pull base 26 so as 
to stop the revolution of the motor. 
By moving the push-pull base 26 to the rear side R under the aforementioned 
engaged condition, the metal mould 13 on the depository stand 6 is pulled 
out onto the carriage 3. After that, the pressurized air is discharged 
from the first supply/discharge port 57. Thereupon, the actuating member 
44 is changed over to the projecting actuation position C by a spring 47 
of the first stopping means 37 and the stopper member 42 is changed over 
to the projecting posture A. At the same time, the piston rod 52 of the 
stop cancelling means 39 is retracted to the position depicted by the 
alternate long and two short dashes line in FIG. 1(B). When a return 
detecting switch 54 detects this retraction, the pressurized air is 
supplied to the second supply/discharge port 58 so as to retract the 
piston rod 52 to the rearmost end. After that, the positioning of the 
carriage 3 is cancelled and the carriage 3 is moved to the location of the 
injection moulding machine 1a or 1b. 
Incidentally, an operation for transferring the metal mould 13 on the 
carriage 13 to the depository stand 6 is carried out by a substantially 
reverse procedure relative to the above-mentioned procedure. 
That is, the stop cancelling means 39 of the carriage 3 is made to face the 
first stopping means 37 of the depository stand 6 and, as shown in FIG. 1 
(B), an output portion 53 of the stop cancelling means 39 is made to 
advance so as to change over the first stopping means 37 to the stop 
cancelled condition. Then, the push-pull base 26 is made to advance from 
the side of the carriage 3 to the side of the stand 6 so as to transfer 
the metal mould 13 to the stand 6. Subsequently, as shown FIG. 1 (A), the 
stop cancelling means 39 is made to contract so as to change over the 
first stopping means 37 to the stop condition. Thereby, a fore and rear 
movement of the metal mould 13 is prevented by those two stopping means 
37, 38, so that the mould 13 can be positioned precisely on the stand 6. 
Under the above-mentioned condition, a pneumatic actuator 68 (refer to FIG. 
5 ) fixedly secured to the carriage 3 is made to extend so as to raise a 
push pin 70 of the push-pull base 26 by means of a pushing member 69. 
Thereby, as indicated by the alternate long and two short dashes line in 
FIG. 5, the leading end of the hook 31 swings downward so as to be changed 
over to an engagement cancelled position Y which is lower than the lower 
end surface of the driven portion 18. Under this condition, the sprocket 
wheel 28 is driven clockwise. Thereby, the push-pull base 26 is pulled to 
the rear side R by the chain 25, so that the engagement between the 
engagement groove 35 and the driven portion 18 can be cancelled. 
Subsequently, the push-pull base 26 is moved to the rear side of the 
carriage 3. 
The following advantages can be obtained by the device having the 
above-mentioned construction. 
It is possible to carry out the stop cancellation of only the specified 
depository stand 6, the stopped condition of which is intended to be 
cancelled, of a plurality of depository stands 6 juxtaposed in the right 
and left directions while differently from the conventional embodiment, 
the stop cancellations of other stands thereof, which are not required, 
are never caused. Therefore, it becomes possible to surely prevent a 
dropping of the metal mould. 
Since the position G or H of the output portion 53 can be detected by 
detecting the advanced and retracted positions of the piston rod 52 of the 
stop cancelling means 39 by means of two detecting switches 54, 55, the 
posture A or B of the stopper member 42 can be detected. As a result, it 
becomes possible to inexpensively manufacture such a device as to detect 
whichever the metal mould 13 is in the stopped condition or in the stop 
cancelled condition. 
Utilities such as a pneumatic piping and an electrical wiring required for 
the stop cancelling means 39 are provided only in the carriage 3 but not 
required to be provided in each of many depository stands 6. Therefore, it 
is not necessary to provide a pneumatic piping and an electrical wiring in 
a factory, so that a whole of the system can be constructed simple as well 
as a utility cost can be decreased. Further, when the number of the 
depository stand 6 is required to be increased, merely the mechanical 
stopping means 37 is provided additionally in the stand 6 to be added and 
the aforementioned utilities are not required to be provided additionally. 
Therefore, the additional working becomes and inexpensive. Furthermore, 
since a test running of the carriage 3 is possible under the condition 
provided with such utilities in the manufacturer factory, a linking 
operation and an adjustment with respect to the stands 6 in an 
installation site is not necessary or becomes easy. 
Incidentally, the above-mentioned first embodiment can be modified as 
follows. 
Since the aforementioned chain 25 may perform a push-pull driving and bend 
so as to be stored, also it can be replaced by a belt and a wire. 
All the driven portion 18, the first received portion 19 and the second 
received portion 20 may be constructed also by other members. 
The metal mould support surface S of the depository stand 6 may be only one 
or at least three. 
FIGS. 8 through 19 show a second embodiment through a ninth embodiment of 
the present invention. In the respective embodiments, component members 
having the same functions as those in the first embodiment are designated 
by the same symbols, in principle. 
&lt; Second Embodiment&gt; 
FIG. 8 shows the second embodiment. 
An actuating projection 73 is projected upward from the right end of the 
actuating member 44. The actuating member 44 in the projecting actuation 
position C and the stopper member 42 in the retreated posture B are 
adapted to be received by a block 74 formed in the housing 41. 
&lt; Third Embodiment&gt; 
FIG. 9 shows the third embodiment. 
The left end of the stopper member 42 of the first stopping means 37 is 
supported vertically swingably by the block- like housing 41 through the 
pivot pin 43. The lever-like actuating member 44 is supported at its 
middle portion by another pivot pin 76 and provided at its upper end with 
an actuating roller 77 and at its lower end with an actuated roller 78 
respectively. The actuating roller 77 is adapted to be brought into 
contact with an actuated inclined surface 79 of the stopper member 42. The 
second stopping means 38 is formed integrally with the housing 41. 
When the actuating member 44 is changed over from the projecting actuation 
position C depicted by the solid line to the retracting actuation position 
D depicted by the alternate long and two short dashes line against a 
tension spring 80 through the output portion 53 by advancing the piston 
rod 52 of the stop cancelling means 39, the stopper member 42 is swung 
downward from the projecting posture A to the retracted posture. The 
respective positions C, D of the actuating member 44 are adapted to be 
detected by a photoelectric switch 81 disposed in the cylinder 51. 
&lt; Fourth Embodiment&gt; 
FIG. 10 shows a fourth embodiment, which is obtained by modifying the 
embodiment shown in FIG. 9 as follows. That is, the actuated portion of 
the stopper member 42 is constructed by a cam surface 83, and a mounting 
position of the tension spring 80 is changed. 
&lt; Fifth Embodiment&gt; 
FIG. 11 shows a fifth embodiment. 
The stopper member 42 is inserted vertically movably into the upper portion 
of the housing 41. When the actuating member 44 is changed over from the 
illustrated projecting actuation position C to the retracting actuation 
position on the left side by the output portion 53 of the stop cancelling 
means 39, the stopper member 42 is changed over from the illustrated 
projecting posture A to the retracted posture on the lower side by a 
retracting spring 85 of the stopper member 42. 
&lt; Sixth Embodiment&gt; 
FIG. 12 shows a sixth embodiment. 
Similarly to the embodiment shown in FIG. 11, the stopper member 42 is 
inserted vertically movably into the housing 41. When the actuating member 
44 is changed over from the illustrated projecting actuation position C to 
the retracting actuation position on the left side by the output portion 
53 of the stop cancelling means 39, the stopper member 42 is changed over 
from the illustrated projecting posture A to the retracted posture on the 
lower side against a projecting spring 87. In this sixth embodiment, even 
when the metal mould collides against the stopper member 42 from above by 
mistakes, since the stopper member 42 is allowed to lower against the 
projecting spring 87, a damage of the first stopping means 37 can be 
prevented. 
&lt; Seventh Embodiment&gt; 
FIGS. 13 through 15 show a seventh embodiment. 
The first stopping means 37 has a lever 91 supported vertically swingably 
by the block-like housing 41 through a pin 89. The lever 91 is provided at 
its upper end with the stopper member 42 and at its lower portion with the 
actuating member 44. The symbol 92 designates a swing restricting pin. The 
second stopping means 38 is formed integrally with the housing 41. 
The stop cancelling means 39 provided with the pneumatic cylinder 51. The 
cylinder 51 is supported at its one end by a pivot pin 90 while its piston 
rod 52 connected at its leading end to a middle portion output lever 93. A 
base end portion of the lever 93 is supported by a pivot pin 94, and the 
lever 93 is provided at its leading end with the output portion 53. 
When the cylinder 51 is extended from the illustrated contracted condition, 
the output portion 53 of the output lever 93 is changed over from the 
return position G (depicted by the alternate long and two short dashes 
line in FIG. 15 ) to the advanced position H (depicted by the long and 
short dash line in FIG. 15 ). Thereupon, the actuating member 44 is 
changed over from the projecting actuation position C (depicted by the 
solid line in FIG. 15 ) to the retracting actuation position (depicted by 
the long and short dash line in FIG. 15 ) against a spring 95 while the 
stopper member 42 changed over from the projecting posture A (depicted by 
the solid line in FIG. 15 ) to the retracted posture B (depicted by the 
alternate long and short dash line in FIG. 15 ). 
Also in this seventh embodiment, even when the metal mould collides against 
the stopper member 42 from above by mistakes, since the stopper member 42 
is allowed to swing downward, a damage of the first stopping means 37 can 
be prevented. 
&lt; Eighth Embodiment&gt; 
FIGS. 16 and 17 show an eighth embodiment. 
A shuttle device 99 is disposed behind a press machine 101. A carriage 103 
is mounted movably in the left and right directions to rails 102 placed on 
a base 100 of the shuttle device 99. A metal mould 113 is adapted to be 
supported on left and right metal mould support surfaces 104, 105 of the 
carriage 103. The support surfaces 104, 105 are provided at their front 
ends with the first stopping means 37 respectively. A metal mould 
depository stand 106 is disposed between the push/pull 103 and the press 
machine 101. The stop cancelling means 39 is disposed at the rear end of 
the depository stand 106. These first stopping means 37 and stop 
cancelling means 39 are constructed substantially similarly to those of 
the first embodiment of FIG. 1. 
Incidentally, the push-pull base 26 is adapted to be advanced and retracted 
along guide rails 123, 124 placed on the carriage 103 and the depository 
stand 106 respectively. The hook 31 supported by the push-pull base 26 is 
adapted to be engaged with the driven portion (not illustrated) of the 
metal mould 113 from above. 
When the present invention is applied to the press machine in that way, the 
second stopping means 38 employed in the first embodiment can be omitted. 
&lt; Ninth Embodiment&gt; 
FIGS. 18 and 19 show a ninth embodiment. 
The symbol 3 designates the carriage, and the symbol 6 designates the 
depository stand. the stopper member 42 is supported vertically movably 
between the projecting posture A and the retracted posture B by the 
housing 41 of the first stopping means 37. The stopper member 42 is 
resiliently urged to the projecting posture A by the projecting spring 87. 
The actuating member 44 is formed in the J-configuration. The actuating 
member 42 is supported at its upper right portion by the housing 41 
through a pin 130 so as to be vertically swingable. A roller 131 is 
provided in the lower left portion of the actuating member 44 so as to 
face the output portion 53 of the stop cancelling means 39. A spherical 
coupling 132 projected leftward from the upper portion of the actuating 
member 44 is connected to the stopper member 42. 
Under the stop condition depicted by the solid line in FIG. 18, since the 
output portion 53 of the stop cancelling means 39 has been changed over to 
the return position G, the stopper member 42 is changed over to the 
projecting posture A by the spring 87 as well as the actuating member 44 
is changed over to the projecting actuation position C. As depicted by the 
alternate long and two short dashes line in Fig. 18, when the output 
portion 53 is changed over to the advanced position H at the time of the 
stop cancellation, the actuating member 44 is swung downward so as to be 
changed over to the retracting actuation position D. Thereby, the stopper 
member 42 is changed over to the retracted posture B. 
The second stopping means 38 is provided in an opposed position to the 
stopper member 42 with respect to the received portion 19 of the metal 
mould 13. This second stopping means 38 is supported vertically swingably 
by a groove 133 of the housing 41 through a pin 134 under such a condition 
as to be able to project above the lower end of the received portion 19 by 
its own gravity or a spring. 
Further, the depository stand 6 is provided with a means for detecting a 
support of the metal mould 13 thereon. This means is provided with a J- 
shaped arm 136 supported vertically swingably by the housing 41 through a 
pin 135 and a proximity switch 137 mounted to the carriage 3. When the 
mould 13 is supported by the stand 6, the arm 136 is swung clockwise as 
shown in FIG. 18, so that the left lower portion of the arm 136 faces the 
proximity switch 137. Since the support of the mould 13 on the stand 6 can 
be detected by a detection signal of this switch 137, a mistaken transfer 
of a new mould from the carriage 3 to the stand 6 can be prevented. 
Incidentally, when any mould doesn't exist on the stand 6, the arm 136 is 
swung counterclockwise by a spring 138. 
Further, in the upper portion of the carriage 3 there may be provided an 
air cylinder 140 serving as the metal mould dropping prevention device on 
the side of the carriage. A piston rod 141 of the cylinder 140 adapted to 
project above the metal mould support surface S. 
According to this ninth embodiment, even when the metal mould 13 collides 
against the stopper member 42 from above by mistake at the time of putting 
the mould 13 onto the depository stand 6 by a crane and so on, since the 
stopper member 42 is allowed to lower against the projecting spring 87, a 
damage of the first stopping means 37 can be prevented. Further, even when 
the mould collides against the second stopping means 38 from above by 
mistake, since the second stopping means 38 can be swung downward, its 
damage can be prevented. Since the proximity switch 137 mounted to the 
carriage 3 is adapted to detect whether the mould exists on the stand 6 or 
not, it is not necessary to provide an electrical wiring in the stand 6. 
In the respective above-mentioned embodiments, the stop cancelling means 39 
may be an electric actuator such as a solenoid and a motor instead of the 
air cylinder. 
It will be apparent from the foregoing that, while particular forms of the 
invention have been illustrated and described, various modifications can 
be made within the spirit and scope of the invention.