Patent GB-190526074-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in Rotary Casting Machines.
Inventor: JUSTICE PHILIP MIDDLETON
Filed: 1905-12-14
Granted: 1906-06-07
Abstract: 26,074. Justice, P. M., [Schiepe, A., and Schutte, C.]. Dec. 14. Casting. -Relates to rotary casting - machines for casting type or other small articles of readily fusible metal. The moulds are arranged in four groups placed at equal distances apart on the circumference of a wheel 1. The number of moulds in each group is preferably such that a complete set of type is cast at each revolution or partial revolution of the drum. The cast types are delivered to a magazine C having four groups of channels, one for each group of moulds, and means are provided for preventing the casting of any type for which there is not room in the corresponding magazine channel. The matrices for the type heads are formed on plates 3, each of which bears several rows of matrices and which are adjustably mounted by means of arms 3<x> on the wheel 1 so that various fonts of type can be cast. The wheel 1 is rotated through a quarterrevolution at a time by ratchet gearing actuated by a cam on a driving-shaft. The metal is injected into the moulds from a nozzle 6 by means of a piston 15 actuated by a cam. The-metal pot is fed with bars 18 of metal, which rest on a slope 17 and are fed forward by a roller 19 actuated by the lever of the piston 15. The feed aperture is closed by a spring - pressed flap 20. As the wheel 1 rotates, the head of the metal formed by the nozzle 6 is knocked off by a fixed projection, and the resulting ridge is removed by a transversely moving plane 21. Each set of moulds comprises a box 36, Fig. 5, mounted between two disks forming the casting-wheel 1 and containing a number of plates 4, 5. The plates 4 rest on the bottom of the box, and are held in position by a nose 37, which engages recesses 38 in the plates. The plates 5, which alternate with the plates 4, are pressed up by springs 39 so that the lower edges of the recesses 38 bear against the nose 37. In this position, the tops of the plates 4, 5 are at the same level. When a plate 5 has been depressed through a distance equal to the thickness of the type to be cast, a mould is formed by two adjacent plates 4, the top of the intervening plate 5, and a cover 22. The plates 5 are held in the lower position by a spring pawl 45 carried by sliding bars 40 and engaging noses 46 on the plates. Strong springs 42 pull down the bars 40 until lugs 43, 44 are in contact, one of the lugs being adjusted according to the thickness of the type to be cast. When the casting-wheel has made nearly half a revolution from the casting position, the mould cover 22 is lifted by a fixed stop 31 and the types are withdrawn by a pawl 32, Fig. 6, which engages recesses or signatures formed in the types by a projecting rib on the cover 22. The pawl 32 is carried by a slide 25, which is reciprocated by a lever 26, 28 actuated by a projection on the wheel 1. To enable the types to be removed from the moulds, they are lifted through about-half their thickness by a rise of the plates 5. This is effected by noses 50 on the bars 40 coming in contact with a fixed stop 51 on the frame and thereby slightly raising the pawl 45. After the removal of the types, all the plates 5 which have been depressed are allowed to rise to their upper positions, which is effected by a pawl 52 on the slide 25, which engages a pin on the pawl 45 and pulls it clear of the noses 46. The plates 5 of the moulds which are to be employed at the next casting operation are then depressed by sliding rods 47. The types are drawn by the pawl 32 on to a ledge 35, which is rocked intermittently about one edge by means of a sprocket-wheel and chain actuated by a cam on the driving-shaft. The types are thereby turned over so as to lie with their heads to the right on a ledge 57 pivoted to a slide which reciprocates on rails 54 above the magazine C. As the slide moves to the right, the types are pushed off the ledge 57 into the magazine by one of four rows of prongs 61, which are depressed into operative position by the action of one of four projections 62<a> on the casting- wheel. The rods 47 that depress the plates 5 of the mould are connected by levers 73 and links 72 to sliding bars 71, which are moved to the left to operate the rods. The slide carries a row of pawls 75 which tend by their weight to assume a vertical position in which their lower ends enter the channels of the magazine and their upper ends rest in the path of studs 79 on the bars 71. A spring-pressed lever 77 pivoted on the slide carries a bar which normally holds the pawls 75 in an inclined or inoperative position. The shafts carrying the prongs 61 are provided with cams 80, which, when the prongs are depressed, lie in the path of the lever 77. When the slide moves towards the left, that cam 80 which is depressed actuates the lever 77 and releases the pawls 75, which fall into the vertical position. The upper ends of the pawls then engage the studs 79 on the bars 71, which are thereby advanced and actuate the rods 47. Should a magazine channel be full, the corresponding pawl does not fall into the vertical position and its rod 47 is not actuated.