Patent GB-758716-A (GB)
Title: Improved method of and apparatus for converting non-metallic molten masses into solid portions by moulding
IPC: A23G3/02
Filed: 1953-03-19
Abstract: 758,716. Casting molten resin, pitch, &c., into moulds. RUTGERSWERKE-AKT.- GES. March 19, 1953 [March 19, 1952; Oct. 14, 1952], No. 7587/53. Class 87(2) Non-metallic material, e.g. naphthalene, pitch, petroleum, asphalt . and synthetic resin is prepared in comminuted form by pouring the material in a molten state in a layer on a moving member forming or carrying open moulds, cooling the material in the moulds until solidification takes place, and ejecting the resulting solid portions from the moulds. In one embodiment, Fig. 1, a series of units 2, each comprising a number of open moulds, is driven as an endless chain round guide rollers or sprockets 9 and past nozzles 12 through which coolings liquid is sprayed. The material to be moulded is supplied in liquid form by members 1 at the beginning of each run of the chain, plates 6 below the open bottoms preventing the material from running out. The plates 6 are mounted on supports of adjustable height. Between the guide rollers 9 at each end is a spiked roller by the action of which the articles, cooled and solidified in the moulds, are ejected therefrom into funnels 11. The open moulds, instead of being in a series of elements forming chain, may be on the periphery of a horizontal drum, Fig. 5. The material is fed through a member 14, cooled in the moulds as they move past spraying nozzles 16, and the articles are ejected by a spiked roller 18 and pass down a shoot 19. A plate 15 prevents the material from running out of the moulds before it has solidified. The greater part of the drum is immersed in liquid contained in a part cylindrical casing 17, which completes the cooling. Elements 20, each comprising a number of open moulds, may be arranged in a horizontal ring or table (Fig. 7, plan) with the liquid material material fed at 21 and ejected by a spiked roller 23. In this embodiment the ring rotates slowly enough for the material to solidify by natural cooling, though cooling liquid may be applied. The partitions between the individual moulds in an element may have bellows through which cooling gas may be passed. Other means than spiked rollers may be used for ejecting the moulded articles. In the embodiment of Fig. 1, plungers 43 project from a member 40, Fig. 8. On the shaft of the guide roller round which the series of mould elements passes is a disc 27 with notches in its periphery which engage in turn the end of a lever 29. The periodical movement of the lever 29 so caused operates valves supplying a compressed air cylinder 35 to the piston of which the member 40 is connected through levers 37, 38. The nature of this connection allows the member 40, when it descends due to operation of the piston, and when the plunger 43 consequently enters the moulds to eject the moulded articles, to travel for a short distance with the chain of moulds. When the air supply is cut off due to further rotation of the notched disc 27 the member 40 is restored by a spring 141, lifting the plungers out of the moulds, and by a spring 139, retracting the member 40 the distance it has travelled with the moulds. A similar arrangement is described in relation to the horizontal ring arrangement of Fig. 7, actuated by a horizontal notched disc on the vertical shaft of the ring or table. Camoperated ejecting means, Figs. 10, 11, may also be used in the arrangement of Fig. 1. In this case, there is a plurality of ejectors 54 with their plungers 61, mounted between the guide rollers or sprockets and rotating with them and movable radially in guides 55. Adjacent one of the guide rollers is a stationary cam track 60, Fig. 11, into which rollers 59 fit, on the ends of levers 58. The ends of the levers 58, which go round with the guide rollers, are fixed to shafts 56, to the other ends of which levers 57 are fixed which, as appears from Fig. 10, move the members 54 radially outwards to eject the moulded articles according to the control of the cam track. The moulds need not be all of the same shape and size, nor need they be uniformly spaced in their carrier. It is advantageous for cooling if the weight of the endless band or belt is appreciably higher than the weight of the moulding material.