Core handling device

Abstract

The present disclosure makes the process of removing a core unnecessary part efficient. A core handling device includes: a core support portion for supporting a core; a tray having one end portion and another end portion for supporting a core unnecessary portion connected to the core; a handling portion for handling the core support portion and the tray from a first position to a second position in a handling direction; a change mechanism for changing a posture of the tray between a first posture in which the positions of the one end portion and the another end portion in a vertical direction are the same, and a second posture in which the another end portion is positioned lower than the one end portion; and a housing portion positioned below the another end portion of the tray in the second posture. The first position is a position in which the core is arranged on the core support portion and the core unnecessary portion is arranged on the tray, and the second position is a position in which the core is removed from the core support portion. During being handled from the first position to the second position, the change mechanism maintains the tray in the first posture, and after being handled to the second position, changes the tray to the second posture.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a core handling device. BACKGROUND

[0002] Conventionally, in the production of a sand core, a mixture of sand and a binder is injected from a spout of a mold toward a mold cavity after sintering (for example, Patent Literature 1). The mixture of sand and a binder is also filled in a passage that communicates the mold cavity with the spout. The portion shaped by the filling in the passage is unnecessary, and thus needs to be removed.

[0003] Patent Literature 1: Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2021-094591 SUMMARY

[0004] PROBLEMS TO BE SOLVED BY THE INVENTION

[0005] As for the process of removing the portion shaped by the filling in the passage from the device, it is possible to increase the working hours, and there is room for improvement.

[0006] MEANS FOR SOLVING THE PROBLEMS

[0007] The present disclosure can be implemented in the following manner.

[0008] (1) According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, a core handling device is provided. The core handling device includes a core support portion for supporting a core; a tray having one end portion and another end portion for supporting a core unnecessary portion connected to the core; a handling portion for handling the core support portion and the tray in a handling direction from a first position to a second position; a changing mechanism for changing a posture of the tray between a first posture in which the one end portion and the other end portion are located at the same position in a vertical direction, and a second posture in which the other end portion is located lower than the one end portion; and a housing portion located below the other end portion of the tray in the second posture. The first position is a position in which the core is arranged on the core support portion and the core unnecessary portion is arranged on the tray, and the second position is a position in which the core is removed from the core support portion. During the handling of the tray from the first position to the second position, the changing mechanism maintains the tray in the first posture, and after the tray is handled to the second position, the changing mechanism changes the tray to the second posture. According to this embodiment, the core unnecessary portion is handled from the first position to the second position together with the core. Then, the tray is changed to the second posture by the changing mechanism, and thus the core unnecessary portion supported by the tray moves from the one end portion toward the other end portion, and exits from the tray to the housing portion below. In this way, the core unnecessary portion enters the housing portion without being handled by a person, and thus the working time can be reduced.

[0009] (2) In the core transfer device of the above-described aspect, the tray can be rotatably mounted to the transfer portion about a first axis, and the changing mechanism can change the tray to the second posture by rotating the tray about the first axis. According to this aspect, the tray can be changed to the second posture by rotating the tray about the first axis.

[0010] (3) In the core transfer device of the above-described aspect, the changing mechanism can include a support having a support one end portion and a support other end portion, the support one end portion rotatably supporting the tray about a second axis that is parallel to the first axis, a cam follower mounted to the support other end portion, and a cam plate that interfaces with the cam follower at a first face extending in the transfer direction and a second face parallel to the first face and located below the first face, the cam follower interfacing with the first face during a period in which the core support portion and the tray are transferred from the first position to the second position, and the cam follower interfacing with the second face to move the second axis downward after the core support portion and the tray are transferred to the second position, thereby rotating the tray about the first axis. According to this aspect, the first face extending in the transfer direction interfaces with the cam follower during a period in which the tray is transferred from the first position to the second position, thereby maintaining the distance between the second axis and the first face, and thus the tray can be maintained in the first posture. Then, after the tray is transferred to the second position, the second face located below the first face interfaces with the cam follower, thereby moving the second axis downward, and thus the tray can be changed to the second posture. Therefore, the posture of the tray can be changed from the first posture to the second posture by switching the point at which the cam follower mounted to the support interfaces with the cam plate from the first face to the second face in conjunction with the transfer of the tray. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0011] Figure 1 is a perspective view of a core transfer device.

[0012] Figure 2 is a first diagram illustrating the operation of a changing mechanism.

[0013] Figure 3 is a second diagram illustrating the operation of a changing mechanism. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0014] A. Embodiment:

[0015] Figure 1 is a perspective view of a core transfer device 100 according to the present embodiment. Figure 2 is a first diagram illustrating the operation of a changing mechanism 40. Figure 3 is a second diagram illustrating the operation of a changing mechanism 40.Figure 1 The front-rear direction, the left-right direction, and the up-down direction that are orthogonal to each other are shown in the figure. The front-rear direction is the depth direction of the core handling device 100, and the left-right direction is the width direction of the core handling device 100. The same applies to the figures and the description shown later.

[0016] The core handling device 100 Figure 1 has a device frame 101 having an opening 102 in the front. A worker performs work facing the opening 102 of the device frame 101. A housing portion 70 that houses a core unnecessary portion Wp is provided in front of the opening 102. In the present embodiment, the housing portion 70 has a box shape, but the shape of the housing portion 70 is not limited to a box shape. For example, a bag-shaped or the like housing portion 70 that can house the core unnecessary portion Wp can be used.

[0017] The core handling device 100 further has a core support portion 14 that supports the core W, a tray 16 that supports the core unnecessary portion Wp, a core molding portion 20, a handling portion 30, and a change mechanism 40. The core support portion 14 and the tray 16 are moved in the front-rear direction by the handling portion 30. The core W molded by the core molding portion 20 is disposed in the core support portion 14 moved to the rear at a stop position of the handling portion 30 in the rear, that is, a first position Pa, in a state connected to the core unnecessary portion Wp. The core W connected to the core unnecessary portion Wp is handled to a stop position of the handling portion 30 in the front, that is, a second position Pb, by the handling portion 30 in a state supported by the core support portion 14. In the second position Pb, only the core W is taken out from the core W and the core unnecessary portion Wp by the worker. Here, in the present embodiment, the core handling device 100 has the change mechanism 40, so that the core unnecessary portion Wp is thrown into the housing portion 70 without passing through the worker's hand. Thus, since the process of taking out the core unnecessary portion Wp by the worker can be reduced, the process time required for the core manufacturing process can be reduced.

[0018] The changing mechanism 40 has two cam plates 10 and two cam followers 43. The two cam plates 10 are configured to move each cam follower 43 in the vertical direction. The two cam plates 10 are fixed to a device frame (not shown) with a left-right gap in the orientation of their extension direction being the front-back direction. The two cam plates 10 are positioned below the movement path of the transport unit 30. Each cam plate 10 has a first surface 10a extending in the transport direction, i.e., the front-back direction, and a second surface 10b parallel to the first surface 10a and located below it. Furthermore, in detail, each cam plate 10 has a shape for defining the vertical position of the cam follower 43. As for the shape for defining the vertical position, it can be a shape consisting of a side surface erected from the first surface 10a, an opposing surface opposite to the first surface 10a, and the first surface 10a surrounding the cam follower 43. The same applies to the second surface 10b.

[0019] The core forming section 20 includes a mold 21 and a plurality of mold pins 22. The mold 21 has an internal cavity (not shown), an injection port, and a channel. The channel connects the cavity to the injection port. Core sand is mixed with an adhesive and injected into the cavity from the injection port of the mold 21. In this embodiment, an inorganic adhesive whose main component is water glass is used, but an organic adhesive whose main component is resin can also be used. The plurality of mold pins 22 are spaced apart in the left-right direction. Each mold pin 22 is movable in the up-down direction.

[0020] After the mold 21 is filled with a mixture of core sand and binder, the mixture is sintered. A portion Wp, the unwanted part of the sintered core, is attached to the front of the sintered core W, which is filled with the mixture in a channel. After sintering, the core W with the unwanted portion Wp attached is removed from the mold 21 by multiple mold pins 22. Specifically, the multiple mold pins 22 move upwards while supporting the lower surface of the core W. Thus, as... Figure 1 As shown, the core W is supported on multiple mold pins 22, and the front of the core W is connected to a portion of the core that is not needed, Wp.

[0021] The transport unit 30 includes a main body rod 31 and a drive unit 12. The main body rod 31 is mounted on a device frame (not shown) with the left-right direction as its axis. The main body rod 31 moves in the front-back direction by the driving force of the drive unit 12. The transport unit 30 transports the core support 14 and the tray 16 from a first position Pa to a second position Pb in the forward direction of transport.

[0022] The core support 14 has multiple pin plates 14a and multiple pins 14b. Multiple pins 14b are fixed to the upper surface of each pin plate 14a. The multiple pins 14b are fixed in a vertically oriented axial position. The multiple pin plates 14a are spaced apart in the horizontal direction and fixed to the rear of the main body rod 31. Each pin plate 14a is positioned so as not to interfere with the mold pins 22 arranged in the horizontal direction when the transport unit 30 has moved to the first position Pa.

[0023] The core W, supported by the mold pin 22, is moved to the core support portion 14, which has moved to the first position Pa. Specifically, by moving the mold pin 22 downward, the pin supporting the lower surface of the core W changes from the mold pin 22 to the pin 14b. Thus, the core W is supported by the pin 14b.

[0024] The tray 16 is positioned above the main body rod 31. The tray 16 is supported by its upper surface, eliminating the need for a portion of the core (Wp). The flat tray 16 has ends in the front-rear direction, namely one end 16a and another end 16b. The other end 16b is located in front of the first end 16a. The tray 16 is capable of changing between a first posture and a second posture. Figure 2 As shown, the first posture is when one end 16a and the other end 16b are in the same vertical position. In the first posture, the upper surface of the tray 16 is parallel to the horizontal plane, so the core can be supported by the upper surface without the need for part Wp. The second posture is when the other end 16b is located below the first end 16a. Furthermore, "one end 16a and the other end 16b are in the same vertical position" means that the angle between the line connecting one end 16a and the other end 16b and the horizontal plane is within the range of 0 degrees ± 5 degrees. "The other end 16b is located below the first end 16a" means that the angle between the line connecting one end 16a and the other end 16b and the horizontal plane is greater than 5 degrees.

[0025] like Figure 1 As shown, the changing mechanism 40 also has two supports 42. The changing mechanism 40 is configured to move in the front-to-back direction in conjunction with the conveying unit 30. The changing mechanism 40 changes the posture of the tray 16. The two supports 42 are respectively positioned at the left and right ends of the tray 16 with their extension direction being vertical. The tray 16 is mounted on the upper end 42a of each support 42. A cam follower 43 is mounted on the lower end 42b of each support 42. The cam follower 43 rotates about a cam follower shaft 43a extending in the left-to-right direction. The other end 42b of each support 42 is fixed to the cam follower shaft 43a.

[0026] like Figure 2As shown, the changing mechanism 40 also has a first shaft 51 and a second shaft 52 extending in the left-right direction. The first shaft 51 is fixed to the conveying part 30, specifically to the shaft support part 31a extending upward from the upper surface of the main body rod 31. The second shaft 52 is fixed to the bracket 42. The tray 16 is rotatably mounted about the first shaft 51 and rotatably mounted about the second shaft 52.

[0027] like Figure 2 As shown, when the position of the cam follower 43 changes downward in the vertical direction, the bracket 42 causes the second shaft 52 to move downward, thereby causing the tray 16 to rotate about the first shaft 51. Thus, the tray 16 changes from the first posture to the second posture.

[0028] like Figure 1 As shown, the molded core W and the unnecessary portion Wp are respectively positioned at the first position Pa on the core support 14 and the tray 16. The core W and the unnecessary portion Wp are transported from the first position Pa to the second position Pb. Figure 3 As shown, during the process of being moved from the first position Pa to the second position Pb, the cam follower 43 engages with the first surface 10a, thereby maintaining the tray 16 in the first posture.

[0029] At the second position Pb, the operator removes only the core W from the core W and the unwanted portion Wp. Then, the transport unit 30 moves to a position further forward of the second position Pb, and its direction of movement changes, moving backward to transport the next core W. During this backward movement, the cam follower 43 engages with the second surface 10b of the cam plate 10. Specifically, as shown by the track OB of the cam follower 43, the cam follower 43 moves forward from its engagement with the first surface 10a to the front end of the cam plate 10 in the longitudinal direction, then folds back and moves backward to engage with the second surface 10b. The engagement point between the cam follower 43 and the cam plate 10 changes from the first surface 10a to the second surface 10b, causing the support 42 to move the second shaft 52 downward. As a result, the tray 16 rotates about the first shaft 51, changing to a second posture. Therefore, the unwanted portion Wp of the core, supported on the tray 16, falls into the receiving portion 70 below the other end 16b of the tray 16 in the second position. Thus, the unwanted portion Wp of the core can be automatically retrieved into the receiving portion 70 without the operator's intervention. Furthermore, specifically, the receiving portion 70 is positioned on the track depicted by the falling unwanted portion Wp of the core.

[0030] In addition, such as Figure 1As shown, the cam follower 43, while in contact with the second surface 10b, moves rearward to the rear end of the cam plate 10 in the front-rear direction and then folds back, returning to contact with the first surface 10a. Thus, the tray 16 changes to a first posture. Then, at the first position Pa, the unnecessary portion Wp of the core is positioned on the tray 16 in the first posture.

[0031] According to the embodiment described above, the changing mechanism 40 of the core transport device 100 maintains the tray 16 in a first posture during transport from the first position Pa to the second position Pb, and changes the tray 16 to a second posture after being transported to the second position Pb. As a result, the unnecessary portion Wp of the core supported on the tray 16 moves from one end 16a to the other end 16b and leaves the tray 16 to enter the lower receiving section 70. Thus, the unnecessary portion Wp of the core enters the receiving section 70 without manual intervention, thereby reducing operation time.

[0032] Furthermore, the changing mechanism 40 rotates the tray 16 about the first axis 51, thereby changing the tray 16 into a second posture. Thus, by rotating the tray 16 about the first axis 51, the tray 16 can be changed into a second posture.

[0033] Furthermore, the changing mechanism 40 includes: a support 42 that rotatably supports the tray 16 about a second axis 52 at one end 42a of the support, and a cam follower 43 is mounted at one end 42a of the support; and a cam plate 10 that contacts the cam follower 43. The cam plate 10 has a first surface 10a and a second surface 10b located below the first surface 10a. Thus, by switching the contact point between the cam follower 43 and the cam plate 10 from the first surface 10a to the second surface 10b in conjunction with the transport unit 30, the tray 16 can be changed to a second posture.

[0034] B. Other implementation methods:

[0035] (B1) In the above embodiment, the posture of the tray 16 is changed by the cam follower 43 and the cam plate 10 of the changing mechanism 40. Alternatively, the posture of the tray 16 can be changed by having the changing mechanism 40 have a mechanism that rotates the tray 16. Specifically, the changing mechanism 40 may have a motor, and the tray 16 may be rotated by the drive of the motor, thereby changing the posture of the tray 16.

[0036] (B2) In the above embodiment, the tray 16 is changed to a second posture by moving the second axis 52 downward. Alternatively, the tray 16 can be changed to a second posture by moving the second axis 52 upward. Specifically, the second posture can be changed by positioning the second axis 52 between the first axis 51 and one end 16a, positioning the second surface 10b above the first surface 10a, and moving the second axis 52 upward to move one end 16a upward relative to the other end 16b.

[0037] This disclosure is not limited to the embodiments described above, and can be implemented in various configurations without departing from its spirit. For example, the technical features of the embodiments corresponding to the technical features described in the summary section can be appropriately replaced or combined to solve part or all of the above-mentioned problems, or to achieve part or all of the above-mentioned effects. In addition, any technical feature that is not described as a necessary part in this specification can be appropriately deleted.

[0038] Explanation of reference signs

[0039] 10…cam plate; 10a…first side; 10b…second side; 12…drive section; 14…core support section; 14…pin plate; 14b…pin; 16…pallet; 16a…one end; 16b…the other end; 20…core forming section; 21…mold; 22…mold pin; 30…transfer section; 31…main rod; 31a…shaft support section; 40…changing mechanism; 42…bracket; 42a…one end of bracket; 42b…the other end of bracket; 43…cam follower; 43a…cam follower shaft; 51…first shaft; 52…second shaft; 70…receiving section; 100…core transport device; 101…device frame; 102…opening; Pa…first position; Pb…second position; W…core; Wp…core not required part.

Claims

1. A core conveying device, comprising: Core support section, used to support the core; A tray, having one end and another end, is used to support the unnecessary portion of the core that is connected to the core; The transport unit transports the core support and the tray from the first position to the second position along the transport direction; A mechanism for changing the posture of the tray, the mechanism causing the posture of the tray to change between a first posture in which one end and the other end are at the same vertical position, and a second posture in which the other end is located below the first end; and The receiving portion is located below the other end of the tray in the second posture. The first position is the position where the core is disposed on the core support portion and the portion of the core that does not need to be disposed on the tray. The second position is the position where the core is removed from the core support. During the period when the tray is moved from the first position to the second position, the changing mechanism maintains the tray in the first posture, and after the tray is moved to the second position, the changing mechanism changes the tray to the second posture.

2. The core conveying device according to claim 1, wherein, The pallet is rotatably mounted on the transport unit about a first axis. The changing mechanism causes the tray to change to the second posture by rotating the tray about the first axis.

3. The core conveying device according to claim 2, wherein, The changing mechanism has: A support having one end and another end, wherein the one end of the support rotatably supports the tray about a second axis, the second axis being parallel to the first axis; A cam follower is mounted at the other end of the bracket; and The cam plate is in contact with the cam follower at a first surface extending along the transport direction and a second surface parallel to the first surface and located below it. During the process of the core support and the tray being moved from the first position to the second position, the cam follower is in contact with the first surface. After the core support and the tray are moved to the second position, the cam follower is in contact with the second surface, causing the second axis to move downward, thereby causing the tray to rotate about the first axis.

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