Self-hardening mold-making apparatus

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10144056-B2
Application number	US-201515313172-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 6, 2015
Priority date	May 27, 2014
Publication date	Dec 4, 2018
Grant date	Dec 4, 2018

Abstract

Teaching storage means stores teaching data created on the basis of signals from a first pulse generator, a first shaft detector, a second pulse generator, and a second shaft detector, in a storage unit as a sequence control program of molding operation of a self-hardening mold when teaching operation of throwing kneaded self-hardening foundry sand from a discharge port into a molding flask is performed by manually moving a conveyor arm and a kneading arm. Molding playback means reads out the sequence control program from the storage unit to control and drive a first pivot motor and a second pivot motor on the basis of the sequence control program to pivot the conveyor arm and the kneading arm, and then throws the self-hardening foundry sand from the discharge port of the kneading arm into the molding flask to reproduce the molding operation.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A self-hardening molding apparatus that throws self-hardening foundry sand kneaded by adding a hardener and a binder into foundry sand into a molding flask so that the molding flask is filled with the self-hardening, foundry sand to be hardened to form a mold, the self-hardening molding apparatus comprising:
a conveyor arm that is pivotally supported around a pivot and has a conveyor for feeding the foundry sand;
a first pivot motor that pivotally drives the conveyor arm;
a first pulse generator that generates a pulse signal in accordance with rotation of the first pivot motor;
a first shaft detector that includes a plurality of detection switches each being associated with a pivot angle and being configured to generate an angle detection signal indicating the pivot angle when the conveyor arm is pivoted by the pivot angle;
a kneading arm that is pivotally attached around a pivot at a leading end of the conveyor arm to receive the foundry sand fed by the conveyor in the conveyor arm, and that feeds the foundry sand to a leading end of the kneading arm while kneading the foundry sand together with the hardener and the binder to discharge the kneaded self-hardening foundry sand from a discharge port provided at the leading end of the kneading arm;
a second pivot motor that pivotally drives the kneading arm with respect to the conveyor arm;
a second pulse generator that generates a pulse signal in accordance with rotation of the second pivot motor;
a second shaft detector that includes a plurality of detection switches each being associated with a pivot angle and being configured to generate an angle detection signal indicating the pivot angle when the kneading arm is pivoted by the pivot angle;
a processor configured to:
perform teaching storage operation of storing teaching data created on the basis of signals from the first pulse generator, the first shaft detector, the second pulse generator, and the second shaft detector when teaching operation of throwing the kneaded self-hardening foundry sand from the discharge port into the molding flask is performed by moving the conveyor arm and the kneading arm manually, the teaching data being stored in a storage unit as a sequence control program of molding operation of a self-hardening mold; and
perform molding playback operation to perform the molding operation of a self-hardening mold by reading, out the sequence control program from the storage unit to control and drive the first pivot motor and the second pivot motor on the basis of the sequence control program,
wherein the processor calculates a rotation angle of the conveyor arm or the kneading arm by counting the pulse signal outputted from the first pulse generator or the second pulse generator from a starting point at which the angle detection signal to be outputted from each of the first shaft detector and the second shaft detector is generated, thereby performing the teaching storage operation or the molding playback operation.

2. The self-hardening molding apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein
the plurality of detection switches of the first shaft detector and the plurality of detection switches of the second shaft detector are disposed to allow each of at least one of the plurality of detection switches of the first shaft detector and at least one of the plurality of detection switches of the second shaft detector to generate the angle detection signal when the discharge port is moved to a central portion of the molding flask.

3. The self-hardening molding apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a vibratory table for vibrating the molding flask,
wherein the vibratory table vibrates the molding flask while the self-hardening foundry sand is thrown from the discharge port provided at the leading end of the kneading arm during the teaching storage operation or the molding playback operation.

4. The self-hardening molding apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein
the processor stores teaching polar coordinates data indicating polar coordinates of moved positions of the discharge port in the storage unit as the sequence control program on the basis of signals from the first pulse generator, the first shaft detector, the second pulse generator, and the second shaft detector, during the teaching storage operation, and
the processor reproduces the molding operation of a self hardening mold on the basis of the teaching polar coordinates data stored in the storage unit, during the molding playback operation.

5. The self-hardening molding apparatus according to claim 4 , further comprising:
a display configured to display coordinates of moved positions of the discharge port,
wherein the conveyor arm and the kneading arm are pivotally supported in a horizontal plane to form a horizontal biaxial rotation mechanism, the horizontal biaxial rotation mechanism being operated to set XY-coordinates in the molding flask being a range of movement of the discharge port, and
the display displays coordinates of moved positions of the discharge port on the basis of the teaching polar coordinates data converted into the XY-coordinates.

Assignees

• Sintokogio Ltd

Inventors

• Aoki Yukinori

Classifications

• B22C19/04

  Controlling devices specially designed for moulding machines · CPC title

• B22C15/10 Primary

  Compacting by jarring devices only · CPC title

• B22C5/16

  with conveyors or other equipment for feeding the material · CPC title

• B22C15/02

  Compacting by pressing devices only · CPC title

• B22C5/0472

  Parts; Accessories; Controlling; Feeding; Discharging; Proportioning · CPC title