Foundry equipment

Abstract: Foundry equipment (1) comprises a plurality of moulding tables (2) arranged radially on a carousel (3), with a central work station (5) for a machine operator (6), and control means (17, 1⊘ - 12) to rotate the carousel (3), and hence the tables (2), in a selective manner beneath a discharge head (13) of a resin/sand mixing machine (14). The invention also includes equipment (1) in combination with the machine (14).

Description: This invention relates to foundry equipment for use in the production of foundry products, such as cores, of a sand/resin mix. Widely used core etc production equipment comprises a mixing machine having a discharge head for the sand/resin mix swingable over an arc, under the control of a machine operator, with a plurality - usually four - moulding tables arranged around the arc, the operator swinging the head over selected tables to discharge an appropriate quantity of mix into a mould, which is then left to cure before the core etc can be stripped from the mould, during which time the head is swung to a discharge position above another table. However, as the arc is finite, the number of tables that can be located within the arc is restricted, usually to four. This places restrictions on production, particularly if relatively long curing times are involved before a mould/core can be handled, stripped and removed to provide room to mould the next core etc. In FR-A-2345367 is described a sand/resin mixing machine having a discharge head located above a plurality of moulding tables, the moulding tables being arranged radially on a carousel, and control means being provided to rotate the carousel, and hence the moulding tables, in a selective manner, beneath the discharge head. According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided foundry equipment comprising a plurality of moulding tables, characterised in that the moulding tables are arranged radially on a carousel, with a work station for a machine operator arranged in the centre of the carousel, and means under the control of the operator to rotate the carousel, and hence the moulding tables, in a selective manner. According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a sand/resin mixing machine in combination with foundry equipment of the first aspect. Thus, the foundry equipment and sand/resin mixing machine in accordance with the two aspects of the invention, depart from conventional teaching in that the moulding tables are rotatable about the axis of the carousel, while the mixing machine, and in particular its discharge head, is static, to provide substantially increased production of multiples of core boxes, sizes and weights. Thus the operator, after completion of a moulding, activates the control means to rotate the table over a prescribed arc, to remove from beneath the discharge head a table carrying a filled mould, and to present beneath the discharge head a table carrying the next mould requiring filling. In practice, with the equipment in accordance with the invention, eight moulding tables can be arranged at 45° spacings, which provides the possibility of virtually doubling the production of cores of a variety of sizes and weight. Conveniently, the moulding tables radiate from an inner, annular table area, the centre of which provides the work station. The moulding tables are, naturally, located at a convenient working height for the machine operator and may be supported on legs extending upwardly from a circular base plate, the underside of which is in contact with bearing means. Rotation of the carousel is conveniently by a friction drive e.g. a rubber tyre, from an electric motor, and is reversible. At least one radial moulding table is conveniently readily releasable from the carousel, e.g. by providing locating pegs and receiving holes, so that, the carousel can accommodate oversize moulds when required. The invention will now be further described, in greater detail, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawing which is a perspective view of the foundry equipment and machine in accordance with the first and second aspects of the invention, respectively. In the drawing, foundry equipment 1, in accordance with the first aspect of the invention comprises eight moulding tables 2 spaced at 45° arranged on a carousel 3 radiating from an inner, annular table area 4, a centre 5 of which provides a work station for the machine operator 6. In detail, each table 2 is supported at a convenient working height on legs 7 extending upwards from a circular base plate 8, the underside of which is supported on suitable bearing means (not shown) for rotation about a vertical axis under the control of the operator 6, and a circumferential edge 9 of which is in frictional driving contact with a rubber tyre 10 rotatable about a vertical axis, and an associated electric drive motor 11 and an interposed speed reduction, reversible gearbox 12. The mould tables 2 are adapted to be brought individually beneath a static, elevated discharge head 13 of a sand/resin mixing machine 14 which, in combination with the carousel 1 etc constitutes the second aspect of the invention. The head 13 discharges sand/resin mixes, under the control of the operator 6, into a mould box 15 supported on whichever table 2 is beneath the head 13. The latter is supported at one end of a cantilever arm 16 and for purposes of control, the end of that arm is also provided with a bank of control switches, buttons (17) etc., within easy reach of the operator 6. After the filling of a mould box 15, the drive motor 11 is activated to rotate the carousel and hence the mould tables to present a fresh mould box beneath the head 13 and to rotate the filled mould box to a curing area to allow sufficient curing time, after which a further operator 18 is able to knock the moulds from the boxes, in the usual manner. To provide for enhanced height and size versatility, at least one table 2 is removable.

Claims: Foundry equipment comprising a plurality of moulding tables, characterised in that the moulding tables (2) are arranged radially on a carousel (3), with a work station (5) for a machine operator (6) arranged in the centre of the carousel (3), and means under the control of the operator (6), to rotate the carousel (3), and hence the moulding tables (2), in a selective manner. Foundry equipment as claimed in Claim 1, characterised in that eight moulding tables (2) are provided, arranged at 45° spacing. Foundry equipment as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2, characterised in that the moulding tables (2) radiate from an inner, annular table area (4), the centre of which provides the work station (5). Foundry equipment as claimed in any preceding Claim, characterised in that the moulding tables (2) are located at a convenient working height for the machine operator (6), being supported on legs (7) extending upwardly from a circular base plate (8), the underside of which is in contact with bearing means. Foundry equipment as claimed in any preceding Claim, characterised in that rotation of the carousel (3) is by a friction drive e.g., a rubber tyre (10), from an electric motor (11), and is reversible. Foundry equipment as claimed in any preceding Claim, characterised in that at least one radial moulding table (2) is readily releasable from the carousel (3), e.g. by providing locating pegs and receiving holes, so that, the carousel (3) can accommodate oversize mould boxes, when required. A sand/resin mixing machine in combination with foundry equipment as defined in any one of Claims 1 to 6, the machine (14) having a discharge head (13) located above the carousel (3) on which a plurality of moulding tables (2) is arranged.

Inventors: BELL ALBERT C O WILLIAM COOK P, BELL, ALBERT, C/O WILLIAM COOK PLC.
Applicants: COOK WILLIAM PLC, WILLIAM COOK PLC
Application year: 1990
Main classification: B22C11
IPC codes: B22C11