Patent GB-1457162-A (GB)
Title: Record producing apparatus
IPC: B29C69/00
Filed: 1974-07-19
Abstract: 1457162 Moulding gramophone records VALLEY METALLURGICAL PROCESSING CO Inc 19 July 1974 [20 July 1973] 32054/74 Heading B5A  An automatically operated apparatus for the production of labelled gramophone records includes an opposed platen press 54, 56 producing a record with a centre hole and peripheral flash, a trimming station B remote from the press, means to transfer a record from the opened press to the trimming station, such means including a flat turntable surface 240 with a centre pin 242 mounted on a carriage 172, means at the press to hold the record at its peripheral flash and separate the record from the platens and to place the separated record on to the surface 240 in register with its pin, and means at the trimming station to remove the flash whilst the record supporting surface is rotated. The upper platen is stationary and the lower platen reciprocated vertically by a ram 64; the lower platen includes a pin 65 which forms the record centre hole and which is retracted when the press closes. A preform of plastic, to be pressed into a record, is shaped at a station A by means comprising a mould cavity formed by an inverted cup 88, a core 76 and a carrier 84 which forms the base of the cavity. Plastic material is injected into the cavity from a nozzle 82; following the injection, the cup and core are raised and the biscuit ejected on to the carrier by a spring-urged disc 90 Fig. 11, which, during injection is urged upwardly by lugs on the carrier. The carrier base supports means 150 receiving a lower label from a support 130 with a centre pin 132; the support 130 is located on a plunger of a double-acting cylinder whereby the topmost label of a stack is transferred to a disc 206 with suction cups 208. For such transfer, the pin 132 is raised and its end received in a seat 214 Fig. 11 of the core 76 with the cup in its lowered position. The carrier 84 is mounted on the carriage 172 slidable on bars 176 and reciprocated by the plunger of a double-acting cylinder 192 to bring a top label transport means 170 Figs. 4 and 5 on the carriage from its label receiving position to the press axis. Such means 170 includes a casing 216 with a bottom plate with suction cups 220. The top labels are located at station B on a support 152 with a spring-urged centre pin 154; the support is carried by a plunger 156 of a double-acting cylinder 158 whereby the top label of a stack is transferred to the means 170. The biscuit carrier is mounted on the carriage 172 and movable therealong on bars 182 by the plunger of a double-acting cylinder to bring it into alignment with the press axis and below a top label. When the biscuit and the two labels are received at the press, the pin 65 of the lower platen is extended to pass through the aligned centre holes of the biscuit and labels whereupon the vacuum retaining means of the labels is released and the carriers 172 and 84 are returned to their original positions. Approximately located slots in the label transports and carrier allow such return with the pin 65 in its projecting position. The press includes two pairs of fingers 314, 316 Fig. 7 mounted on the upper platen, each pair on an assembly pivoted at 330 on a bracket, and associated with cylinders 338, 346 whereby the fingers 316 may be raised or lowered and the fingers 314 brought towards or away from the fingers 316. On press closure the fingers are received in recesses in the platens and brought to the position of Fig. 8, not shown; on opening the press the fingers are brought together to grip the flash causing the record to be peeled from the lower stamper. After press opening and movement of the carriage 172 to enable the turntable 268 to receive a record, the fingers are lowered, Fig. 7, to peel the record from the upper stamper and lower it on to the turntable. The latter is supported by the casing 216 and driven by a rotary disc 272 vertically movable by a double-active cylinder 282. The disc frictionally engages the record to effect turntable rotation, and is supported by a shaft 274 rotated by gearing. The trimming is effected by motor driven shear discs 244, 246, Fig. 6. The disc 272 has suction cups whereby the trimmed record is conveyed from the trimming station to a stacking station C Fig. 6 which includes a table 370 with a centre pin 375. A support 276 of the disc slides on bars 378 extending normally to the main travel path, and is driven via a double-acting cylinder.