Apparatus for making cores

Abstract: Core making apparatus having a frame (12) and capable of producing cores at a moulding position within the frame (12) can be configured to include one or more horizontal core box handling components (62,64) and/or one or more vertical core box handling components (174,176). The machine may be adapted to many different foundry needs.

Description: Technical Field The invention relates to apparatus for making cores, and particularly to sand cores used in casting processes. Background Art Core making machines are employed to produce sand cores that are in turn used to produce voids or recesses in cast parts. Such machines typically inject specially prepared sand into a core box comprising first and second mating core box halves. Conventional machines are adapted to accommodate either horizontal-type core boxes having a horizontal parting line or vertical-type core boxes having a vertical parting line or both. In machines adapted to accommodate a horizontal-type core box, the core box is transported into the machine, the core box is elevated to a moulding position, an upper half or cope of the core box is clamped and an injecting head injects sand into the core box. Following injection of sand, a gassing plate is moved into position above the core box and curing gas is injected into the core box to cure the cores. Thereafter, a lower half or drag of the core box is lowered away from the cope and the produced cores are retained in the drag. The drag is then transported out of the moulding machine for removal of cores. Alternatively, the cores may be retained in the cope and thereafter removed using a core conveyor or a pick off unit. In machines adapted to accommodate core boxes having a vertical parting line, the assembled core box is transported into the machine, the core box halves are clamped together using side platens and sand is injected into the core box. Curing of the cores in the box is then accomplished using the curing gas and the side platens and core box halves are thereafter moved away from one another. Ejector pins carried by one of the side platens and extending through the corresponding core box half carried thereby ensure that the produced cores are retained within the other core box half. The platen carrying the other core box half is retracted by a first piston and cylinder unit and is tilted downwardly by a second piston and cylinder unit. The produced cores are than ejected onto a conveyor or other surface for further processing. Machines have been devised which may be configured to accommodate either type of core box through the addition of a set of horizontal core box handling components or a set of vertical core box handling components. However, only one set of handling components can be mounted on the machine at a time while in use. As a consequence, the machine must be reconfigured whenever a different core box type is to be used. The time required to reconfigure the machine is significant. GB 2024070 A discloses a convertible sand core machine that uses interchangeable parts to allow the production of cores using either a horizontally parting core box or a vertically parting core box. When the machine is configured to produce cores in one type of core box and it is desired to produce cores in the other type of core box, an operator has to convert the machine accordingly. The foregoing core making machines are thus limited in their usefulness since such machines are limited in their adaptability to change from one type of core box handling capability to the other. In the situations where jobbers or other manufacturers produce different cast parts requiring cores formed in both types of core boxes, two different machines must be purchased and maintained or long reconfiguration times required. This is an obvious disadvantage which increases the ultimate cost of the cast parts. Further, as far as applicants are now aware, there is no core making machine which can be readily adapted to add optional features which greatly improve the usefulness thereof. The Invention Apparatus for making cores at a moulding position within a frame, including: first means mounted on the frame adjacent the moulding position for applying pressure on a horizontal-type core box in a first direction to hold the core box in the moulding position; and second means mounted on the frame adjacent the moulding position for applying pressure on a vertical-type core box in a second direction transverse to the first direction to hold the core box in the moulding position. The first means preferably comprises a platen mounted on the frame for lifting the core box. The second means preferably comprises first and second movable platens mounted on the frame for supporting portions of the core box. One of the platens may be rotatable above a pivot axis so as to be capable of ejecting cores formed in a core box portion carried by the one platen, and the apparatus may further include means below the one platen, such as a conveyor, for transporting cores. The core making machine according to the invention can easily be customized to suit the needs of a particular user. For example, where only core boxes of a single type are to be accommodated, only the apparatus required to handle the core box in the desired fashion need be added to the basic machine. Since only those components necessary to undertake a particular function are used in the machine, overall cost is decreased. Further, additional capability can be added at a later date in ready fashion. In addition, different core box types can be accommodated with only minimal time spent reconfiguring the machine. The Drawings Figure 1 comprises an exploded perspective view of a core making machine according to the invention, with portions broken away to reveal components therein; Figure 2 comprises a fragmentary perspective view of the core making machine of Figure 1 during operation thereof; Figures 3-6 are sectional views taken generally along the lines 3-3 of Figure 2 illustrating a sequence of steps effected by the core making machine according to the invention; Figure 7 is a sectional view similar to Figures 3-6 illustrating removal of cores by a vacuum pick-off unit; Figure 8 comprises an exploded perspective view of the core making machine in conjunction with handling apparatus for handling a vertical-type core box with portions broken away to reveal components therein; Figures 9-12 comprise perspective views illustrating operation of the core making machine of Figure 8 wherein some elements of the machine are not shown for the sake of unity; Figure 13 comprises a fragmentary sectional view taken generally along the lines 13-13 of Figure 9 wherein a core box is shown diagrammatically; and Figure 14 comprises a diagrammatic plan view of a further embodiment of the invention. Best Mode Referring now to Figure 1, a core moulding machine 10 useful in the production of sand cores includes a frame 12, an extruding head 14 mounted on the frame 12 and a gassing plate assembly 16 mounted on the frame 12 by bolts or other fasteners. A shuttle system 18 is also fastened to the frame 12 and is capable of transporting a core box toward and away from a moulding position within the frame 12. The shuttle system 18 is described in greater detail in the Applicants US-A-5056582, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. The frame 12 further includes means for accepting at least one horizontal core box handling component for mounting on the frame 12. As seen in Figure 1, such means comprises one or more bores or holes 20,22. The bores or holes 20 are used to mount a lifting platen 24 to the frame 12 by means of bolts 26 that extend through holes 28 in flanges 30 aligned with the bores or holes 20. First and second stop blocks 31 are bolted to plates 32 which are in turn welded to upper cross members 34, 36 of the frame 12. Stiffeners 33 may be welded to the plates 32 and the frame 12. The holes 22 are formed in the stop blocks 31. Bolts 38 extend through holes 40 formed in first and second clamps 42,44 into the holes 22 in the stop blocks 31. The frame 12 may include further bores or holes 46 which are used to mount an optional transport mechanism in the form of a vacuum pick-off unit 50 to the frame 12 by bolts or other fasteners. As noted in greater detail hereinafter, the vacuum pick-off unit 50 removes cores from a drag of a core box and places the removed cores on a conveyor 52 for further processing. Referring now to Figure 2, the core moulding machine is readied for operation by placing a core box 60 having a lower portion or drag 62 and an upper portion or cope 64 on a shuttle car 66 of the shuttle system 18. An actuator 68 is then operated to move the shuttle car 66 and the assembled core box 60 toward the moulding position within the frame 12. The shuttle car 66 is moved until the core box 60 assumes the position shown in Figure 3. Thereafter, an actuator 72 is operated to raise the lifting platen 24 and the core box 60 to the moulding position, as seen in Figure 4. Following operation of the actuator 72, the extruding head 14 is moved downwardly by means of first and second piston and cylinder units 74,76 into engagement with the cope 64 of the core box 60. The actuator 72 applies upward pressure on the core box 60 to force the core box against the stop blocks 31. The extruding plate 80 of the extruding head 14 also applies pressure down on the core box 60. Sand is then injected through apertures in the cope 64 into the core box 60. Following injection of sand, the extruding head 14 is retracted away from the core box 60 and the gassing plate assembly 16 is moved into engagement with the upper surface of the cope 64. The gassing plate assembly 16 injects curing gas through the apertures in the cope 64 to thereby cure the cores formed therein. The curing gasses are thereafter exhausted through exhaust tubes 82,84 which are in fluid communication with further apertures in the drag 60. Following the gassing operation, and as seen in Figure 5, the actuator 72 retracts the lifting platen 24 and the drag 62. The clamps 42,44 maintain the cope 64 in an elevated position so that the cope 64 and drag 62 are separated from one another. The cores at this time are retained within the drag 62. As seen in Figure 6, the actuator 68 is then operated to move the shuttle car 66 and the drag 62 away from the moulding position. The cores produced and retained within the drag 62 are ejected by a drag ejector plate 89 and may then be manually removed. If desired, and as seen in Figure 7, the cores may alternatively be removed by the vacuum pick-off unit 50. The vacuum pick-off unit 50 includes a movable carriage 90 mounted on guide rails 92,94 and can be moved by an actuator (not shown) between a pick-off position directly above the shuttle system 18 and a drop-off position above the conveyor 52. As previously noted, the pick-off unit 50 is mounted to the frame 12, and more particularly the upper cross-member 34, by bolts 95, only one of which is visible in the Figures. During operation of the machine shown in Figure 7, the shuttle car 66 and the drag 62 with cores formed therein are moved to the position shown in Figure 7 directly above the drag ejector plate 89. An actuator 96 is operated to elevate the drag ejector plate 89 while a further actuator 98 is operated to advance a vacuum pick-off head 100 toward the cores in the drag 62. When contact is made between the head 100 and the cores in the drag 62, a vacuum is applied to the cores to remove same from the drag 62. The carriage 90 is then moved to a position over the conveyor 52, Figure 1, at which point the head 100 is lowered. When the head 100 and cores are on or near the conveyor 52, the vacuum is removed, thereby releasing the cores onto the conveyor 52 for removal and/or further processing. Following the sequence of steps illustrated in Figures 1-7, the drag ejector plate 89 is retracted by the actuator 96 to the position shown in Figure 7 and the actuator 68 is operated to return the drag to the position within the frame 12 illustrated in Figure 5, at which point further production of cores can take place. Figure 8 illustrates modifications which may be effected to the machine 10 to accommodate a vertical-type core box having a vertical parting line. As noted prevously, the machine 10 includes the frame 12 having the upper cross members 34,36 together with the stop blocks 31 and the plates 32 (shown in Figures 3-7) that mount the stop blocks 31 on the cross-member 34. Also included is the extruding head 14, the gassing plate assembly 16 and the shuttle system 18 mounted on the frame 12. The machine 10 can be adapted to permit manual removal of cores from a vertical-type core box, in which case a first platen assembly 102 is mounted on the frame 12, or may permit automatic removal of cores, in which case a second platen assembly 104 is mounted on the frame 12. The frame 12 includes bores or holes 106 in an outer face of a cross-tie 108 and corresponding holes 110 (Figure 13) in an outer face of a cross-tie 112. The first platen assembly 102 includes first and second guide rails 113,114 which extend through bores 117 in the stop blocks 31. Disposed on the ends of the guide rails 113,114 are mounting plates 115,116 respectively, each having holes 118,120 respectively, which are aligned with the holes or bores 106 and 110. Bolts 122, one of which is seen in Figure 8, extend through the holes 118,120 into the holes 106,110 to secure the first platen assembly 102 to the frame 12. Disposed on the guide rails 113,114 are first and second vertical platens 124,126 which are movable relative to one another on the guide rails 113,114. As noted in greater detail hereinafter, the vertical platens 124,126 are capable of supporting portions of a vertical-type core box for the production of cores. An actuator 130 controls movement of the platen 124 while a further actuator 132 controls movement of the platen 126. A hand wheel 134 of an adjusting apparatus 136 may be rotated to control the travel distance of the platen 124 allowing variations of core box thickness. The second platen assembly 104 is similar to the first platen assembly 102 in that it includes the guide rails 113,114, the mounting plates 115,116, the mounting holes 118,120, the first vertical platen 124, the actuator 130, the hand wheel 134 and the adjusting apparatus 136. The second platen assembly is mounted by the bolts 122 extending through the holes 118,120 into the holes 106,110 of the frame 12. However, the second vertical platen 126 is replaced by a pivotable platen 140 which is pivotable about a pivot axis 142. The pivotable platen 140 is moved by the actuator 132 along the guide rails 113,114 and, as such movement occurs, the platen 140 pivots about the axis 142 from an upright orientation to a downward orientation as seen in Figure 8. Means in the form of a conveyor 144 is disposed below the platen 140 for transporting cores deposited from the core box portion carried by the platen 140 for further processing. As noted in greater detail hereinafter, the conveyor 144 is movable upwardly and downwardly by a pair of actuators 146,148 which are in turn mounted in shoes 150,152 bolted to the frame 12 (best seen in Figure 13). A guide rod 154 is telescoped within a guide tube 156 that is in turn welded or otherwise secured to a shoe 158. A corresponding guide rod 160 is telescoped within a guide tube 162 which is in turn welded or otherwise secured to a shoe 164. The shoes 158,164 are secured to a frame 166, Figure 13, that in turn supports the conveyor 144. Figures 10-12 illustrate operation of the machine 10 utilizing the second platen assembly 104. Although the drag ejector plate 89 and support 169 therefor are shown in Figures 9-13, it should be noted that these structures are not used in the machine when configured to accommodate only vertical-type core boxes. Referring first to Figure 9, a stool 170 is placed on the shuttle car 66, a core box 172 having core box portions 174,176 is placed on the stool 170 and the actuator 68 is operated to move the stool 170 and the core box 172 to the moulding position seen in Figure 10. As seen in Figure 11, the actuators 130,132 are operated to advance the platens 124,140 toward one another into engagement with the core box portions 174,176. As seen in Figures 10 and 11, clamps 178,180 carried by the platens 124,140 are then rotated either manually or automatically into recesses 182,184 in the core box portions 174,176 respectively, to clamp the core box halves to the respective platens 124,140. The platens 124,140 are then retracted from one another and ejector pins (not shown) in the platen 124 are operated to push the produced cores so that they remain in core box portion 176. Referring specifically to Figures 12 and 13, as the platen 140 and the core box portion 176 are retracted by the actuator 132, a pair of rollers 190 (only one of which is visible in Figure 13) carried on brackets mounted by the platen 140 roll over cam surfaces 192 of a pair of cam plates (again, only one of the cam plates 194 is visible in the Figures), thereby permitting the platen 140 to rotate to the downward orientation seen in Figure 13. Following rotation of the platen 140, the conveyor 144 is raised so that cores retained in the core box portion 176 may be ejected thereon without damage. The cores may then be transported away by the conveyor 144 for further processing. Following the foregoing sequence of steps, the conveyor 144 is lowered to the position shown in Figure 13 and the actuator 132 is operated to extend the platen 140 toward he platen 124. Riding of the rollers 190 on the surfaces 192 causes the platen 140 to rotate about the pivot axis 142, in turn returning the platen 140 to the upright orientation as the platen 140 moves toward the platen 124. The operation of the core box handling apparatus of Figures 9-13 is described in greater detail in the Applicant's United States patent No. 5 154 229 filed 1990 December 14, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. Operation of the first platen assembly 102 is essentially identical to that described above for the second platen assembly 104, except that no tilt-down function is undertaken, nor are cores ejected onto a conveyor. Instead, following production of cores in the core box, the platens 124,126 are retracted from one another, thereby retracting the core box portions 174,176 from one another. In this embodiment, ejector pins in the core box portions 174,176 ensure that the produced cores are maintained on one or more mandrels disposed on the stool 170. The shuttle system 18 may then be operated to remove the produced cores from within the frame for manual removal from the mandrels. Figure 14 illustrates a modification of the machine of Figures 9-13 wherein an indexing system 200 replaces the conveyor 144. In this case, the platen 140 deposits produced cores on moving stations of the indexing system. A walking beam transfers the cores to a removal station comprising a moving conveyor 210, at which point the cores can be removed for further processing.

Claims: Apparatus for making cores at a moulding position within a frame (12), including: first means (24; 72; 80) mounted on the frame adjacent the moulding position for applying pressure on a horizontal-type core box (60) in a first direction to hold the core box in the moulding position; and second means (124; 126, 140; 130; 132) mounted on the frame adjacent the moulding position for applying pressure on a vertical-type core box (172) in a second direction transverse to the first direction to hold the core box in the moulding position. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the first means comprises a platen (24) mounted on the frame (12) for lifting the core box (60). Apparatus according to claim 2 further comprising a clamp (42,44) mounted on the frame (12) for clamping a cope (64) of the core box (60). Apparatus according to any of claims 1 to 3 further comprising means mounted on the frame (12) for removing cores formed in a drag (62) of the core box (60). Apparatus according to claim 4 wherein the removing means comprises a vacuum pick-off unit (50). Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the second means comprises first and second movable platens (124,126,140) mounted on the frame (12) for supporting portions (174,176) of the core box (172). Apparatus according to claim 6 wherein one of the platens (140) is rotatable about a pivot axis (142) to eject cores formed in a core box portion (176) carried by the one platen (140) and further comprising means below the one platen (140) for transporting cores. Apparatus according to claim 7 wherein the transporting means comprises an indexing system (200) for carrying cores between the moulding position and a removal station. Apparatus according to claim 7 or claim 8 wherein the transporting means comprises a conveyor (144) for carrying cores away from the moulding position. Apparatus according to claim 9 wherein the conveyor (144) is movable between upper and lower positions. Apparatus according to any preceding claim further comprising a shuttle system (18) mounted on the frame (12) for transporting a core box (60,172) toward and away from the moulding position.

Inventors: EICHER CLYDE, NAGARWALLA PHEROZE J, WITTE RAYMOND F, EICHER, CLYDE, NAGARWALLA, PHEROZE J., WITTE, RAYMOND F.
Applicants: GEORG FISCHER DISA INC, GEORG FISCHER DISA, INC.
Application year: 1992
Main classification: B22C13
IPC codes: B22C9, B22C17, B22C13, B22C11