Separation device and separation process

Abstract

A separating device (1) is provided, capable of separating a manufactured product (10) from at least one sprue (11) connected to the manufactured product (10), the device (1) comprising: a positioning element (2) comprising a rigid body (21) comprising at least an opening (20), a spreader (3) comprising a first arm (30) and a second arm (31), the first arm (30) and the second arm (31) being mutually separable in a first direction (3a), the spreader (3) being available in a constraint configuration in which it constrains the positioning element (2) to the first arm (30) at least along the first direction (3a), the sprue (11) being available in the opening (20) such that the sprue (11) encounters the body (21) along the first direction (3a), the body (21) being positioned to interact with the sprue (11) along a transverse wall (22), the spreader (3) being operable from the costraining configuration so that the second arm (31) contacts the sprue (11) and continues in its movement away from the first arm (30) along the first direction (3a) causing the subsequent detachment of the sprue (11) from the manufactured product (10).

Description

[0001] DESCRIPTION

[0002] SEPARATION DEVICE AND SEPARATION PROCESS

[0003] This invention relates to a separation device and a separation process of the type specified in the preamble of the first claim.

[0004] This invention relates to both a separation device and a separation process that find application in the production of manufactured products and, in particular, manufactured products made of metal.

[0005] Tools used for processing of manufactured products in their raw state in the early stages after molding are currently known.

[0006] In particular, some tools used in these stages are employed in techniques for the production of manufactured products for which accessory portions to the manufactured product are provided; these are necessary during molding and must be removed at the end of the process, before the finishing stages.

[0007] Some examples of molding techniques for which there is a step of removing accessory portions are foundry techniques. In particular, in these molding techniques, there are sprues connected to the manufactured product being formed. The presence of the sprue ensures complete filling of the mold even during the cooling phases of the molten metal.

[0008] Once released from the mold, the casting must be separated from each sprue.

[0009] The separation operation is usually carried out using tools such as hammers or tools that are not specific to this function.

[0010] The prior art just described includes some important drawbacks.

[0011] In particular, the use of nonspecific tools to carry out separation may cause alterations to the manufactured product.

[0012] In some cases, separation can also lead to damage or breakage of the manufactured product.

[0013] In particular, this operation becomes all the more delicate the smaller the size of the manufactured product to be separated.

[0014] In this situation, the technical task underlying this invention is to devise a separation device capable of substantially overcoming at least part of the aforementioned drawbacks.

[0015] Within the scope of the said technical task, it is an important purpose of the invention to obtain a separation device and separation process capable of making it easier to separate a manufactured product from its accessory portion.

[0016] Another important purpose of the invention is to realize a separation device and separation process that can make the operation of separating a manufactured product from its accessory portion more precise.

[0017] Finally, an important purpose of the invention is to make a separation device capable of preventing damage to the manufactured product during separation of a manufactured product from its accessory portion.

[0018] The specified technical task and purposes are achieved by a separation device as claimed in the annexed claim 1 .

[0019] Preferred embodiments are highlighted in the dependent claims.

[0020] The characteristics and benefits of the invention will be clarified in the following detailed description of some preferred embodiments of the invention, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

[0021] Fig. 1 shows a first axonometric view of a separation device according to the invention;

[0022] Fig. 2 shows a second axonometric view of a separation device according to the invention; Fig. 3 shows a top view of a separation device according to the invention in a first configuration;

[0023] Fig. 4 shows a top view of a separation device according to the invention in a second configuration;

[0024] Fig. 5 shows a top view of a separation device according to the invention in a third configuration;

[0025] Fig. 6 shows a top view of a separation device according to the invention in a fourth configuration;

[0026] Fig. 7 shows a top view of a separation device according to the invention in a fifth configuration;

[0027] Fig. 8 shows a top view of a separation device according to the invention in a sixth configuration;

[0028] Fig. 9 shows a top view of a separation device according to the invention in a seventh configuration; and

[0029] Fig. 10 shows a top view of a separation device according to the invention in an eighth configuration;

[0030] In this document, when measurements, values, shapes, and geometric references (such as perpendicularity and parallelism) are associated with words like “approximately” or other similar terms, such as “almost” or “substantially”, they shall be understood as except for errors of measurement or im precisions due to errors of production and / or manufacturing and, above all, except for a slight departure from the value, measurement, shape, or geometric reference with which it is associated. For example, if associated with a value, such terms preferably indicate a departure of no more than 10% of the value itself.

[0031] Moreover, when used, terms such as “first”, “second”, “higher”, “lower”, “main” and “secondary” do not necessarily identify an order, a priority of relationship or a relative position, but can simply be used to clearly distinguish between their different components.

[0032] Unless otherwise specified, as reflected in the following discussions, terms such as "processing”, "computing”, "determination”, "computation”, or the like are considered to refer to the action and / or processes of a computer or similar electronic computing device that manipulates and / or transforms data represented as physical, such as electronic quantities of records of a computer system and / or memories, in other data similarly represented as physical quantities within computer systems, records, or other information storage, transmission, or display devices.

[0033] Unless otherwise stated, the measurements and data reported in this text shall be considered as performed in International Standard Atmosphere ICAO (ISO 2533:1975).

[0034] With reference to the figures, the device according to the invention is globally indicated with the number 1.

[0035] Separation device 1 is designed to separate a manufactured product 10 from at least one sprue 11 connected to manufactured product 10. It is produced by a molding technique that requires the presence of at least one sprue 11 . The latter is a protruding element from manufactured product 10 and performs a function of improving the quality of manufactured product 10 produced through the molding technique. In particular, it is present in molding techniques such as, for example, casting processes, for which molds having cavities for sprues 11 are used.

[0036] Therefore, manufactured product 10 is preferably a metal casting.

[0037] Device 1 advantageously includes a positioning element 2. The latter includes a rigid body 21. It may include a plate. Body 21 includes at least one opening 20. It performs the function of engaging the sprue 11 to facilitate its separation from the manufactured product 10.

[0038] In particular, opening 20 preferably includes a through-hole. In this way, body 21 has better mechanical strength, which is useful in the separation operation.

[0039] Positioning element 2 preferably includes a plurality of through-holes of different sizes. Sprue 11 is, then, passed through one of the through-holes. This will arrange the sprue 11 in one of the through-holes. The presence of multiple through-holes makes it possible to arrange the sprue 11 in the through-hole, which makes it easier to separate the sprue 11 from the manufactured product 10. Depending on the size of the sprue 11 , the most suitable through-hole can be used.

[0040] In some device 1 configurations, the opening 20 may be open and correspond to the space formed between a portion of the body 21 and a curved arm protruding from said portion that allows for the attachment of the sprue 11 .

[0041] Device 1 advantageously includes a spreader 3. It is a tool for manipulating, deforming and separating into parts the objects with which it interacts. In particular, spreader 3 is preferably a hydraulic spreader. This type of spreader allows high stresses to be applied to the objects with which it interacts, so it can also interact easily with components made of materials such as steel. Or, the spreader 3 is a mechanical or different spreader. It preferably acts through a wedge separating the two arms.

[0042] The spreader 3 comprises a first arm 30 and a second arm 31.

[0043] They are reciprocally separable in a first direction 3a.

[0044] Specifically, the first arm 30 and the second arm 31 can move apart in a rotational motion around a common point located at one end of each arm.

[0045] In device 1 , spreader 3 is available in a constraint configuration (Fig. 4) in which spreader 3 is constrained to positioning element 2. In particular, the first arm 30 is constrained to the positioning element 2 at least along the first direction 3a.

[0046] The constraint configuration can be realized by the interaction of the first arm 30 with an obstacle portion of the positioning element 2. For example, in one possible configuration, positioning element 2 may include an obstacle portion 23. It may be, for example, a plate including opening 20. Such an obstacle portion 23 is preferably placed at the end opposite to the portion comprising said opening 20 and may be protruding from the plate. The obstacle portion may also include an attachment 23a (Fig. 2 only) that is lopsided to the obstacle portion 23 and intended to constrain or at least obstruct said spreader along a second direction 3b perpendicular to the first direction 3a, i.e., along the same direction along which the spreader is also obstructed by the rigid body 21 .

[0047] Therefore, spreader 3 is available in a constraint configuration when the first arm 30 in its movement encounters the obstacle portion 23 and, by friction, is blocked against it making the first arm 30 of spreader 3 and the positioning element 2 integral.

[0048] If from the constraint position the spreader 3 continues its effort in the opening direction, the first arm 30 pulls, by drag, the positioning element 2, which moves together with the first arm 30.

[0049] Spreader 3 is preferably available in a release configuration in which it does not bind positioning element 2 to the first arm 30 (Fig. 3). In particular, this configuration may be realized when the first arm 30 has not yet made contact with the obstacle portion during its movement. The advantage of this configuration is related to the fact that device 1 is separated into two components and is, therefore, less bulky.

[0050] Alternatively, the positioning element 2 is rigidly constrained, preferably in one piece, to another portion of the spreader 3, such as a fixed portion, as the rod from which arms 30 and 31 diverge.

[0051] The first arm 30 of the spreader 3 and the positioning element 2 are always rigidly constrained, e.g., because they are connected by costraining means, welds, or otherwise.

[0052] Therefore, in this configuration, the first arm 30 moves with positioning element 2. Device 1 , in this configuration, has the advantage of being easier to apply to sprue 11.

[0053] Sprue 11 is available in opening 20 such that it encounters body 21 along the first direction 3a. In particular, sprue 11 , since it is a protruding element from manufactured product 10, can be passed through opening 20 and positioned so that it is beyond opening 20.

[0054] The body 21 is positioned to interact with the sprue 11 along a transverse wall 22. The transverse wall 22 forms the edge of the opening 20.

[0055] In particular, sprue 1 1 preferably includes a contact section 11a with manufactured product 10. This portion corresponds to the junction between sprue 11 and manufactured product 10. Contact section 1 1a may correspond to a portion of the sprue that is narrower than the portion furthest from manufactured product 10. This form is advantageous since it facilitates the separation of the sprue 11 from the manufactured product 10. In fact, if contact section 11 a is narrow with respect to the extreme portion of sprue 11 , it becomes a point of brittleness that facilitates its detachment.

[0056] The transverse wall 22 is preferably arranged along the second direction 3b. Sprue 11 is passed through opening 20 essentially along a direction parallel to the second direction 3b. The second direction 3b is, moreover, perpendicular to the main direction of development of the transverse wall 22 closer to the contact section 11 a than to the second arm 31 when in contact with the sprue 11 , so as to create a moment of a pair of forces in which one of the acting forces intervenes in the contact between the contact section 11 a and the transverse wall 22 and the other in the contact between the sprue 11 and the second arm 31 . In particular, said moment increases the more the arm increases, thus the distance of the second arm 31 from the positioning element 2 along the second direction 3b. Therefore, in some configurations of device 1 , the second arm 31 can be placed at a distance from the positioning element 2 so as to increase the moment acting on the sprue 11 and facilitate its release from the manufactured product 10.

[0057] In general, spreader 3 is operable from the constraint configuration so that the second arm 31 contacts sprue 11 . It continues in its movement away from the first arm 30 along the first direction 3a causing the subsequent detachment of the sprue 11 from the manufactured product 10.

[0058] In some configurations of device 1 , the second arm 31 can move in such a way that it continues in its motion along the first direction 3a until it passes through opening 20.

[0059] The second arm 31 fulfils the function of detaching the sprue 11 from the manufactured product 10. The second arm 31 then moves apart from the first arm 30 until it encounters the sprue 11 along the first direction 3a, and then continues to move in such a way as to push the sprue 11 . Specifically, the sprue 11 is pushed by the second arm 31 until it encounters the obstacle of the transverse wall 22, which hinders its further displacement by the thrust imparted by the second arm 31 . Since contact section 11 a constitutes a point of brittleness between sprue 11 and manufactured product 10, the moment imparted by the pair of forces previously described, consisting of the thrust of the second arm 31 on sprue 11 and the obstacle formed by the transverse wall 22 in the opposite direction on contact section 11 a, causes sprue 11 to detach from manufactured product 10. Detachment may occur more easily along contact section 11a.

[0060] Device 1 preferably includes an actuator 4. It is a device configured to move the spreader 3. For example, actuator 4 can be a hydraulic actuator and transmit motion to the first arm 30 and second arm 31 by motion triggered by fluid transmission through a hydraulic pump. It is usually a piston or similar.

[0061] Device 1 preferably includes an actuating element 5. It is connected with actuator 4 and is configured to operate actuator 4 in response to a user's interaction with actuating element 5. It can be, for example, a button or an interface. The interface can also control parameters for the use of spreader 3, such as the speed of movement of the two arms and the direction of movement, i.e., approaching or receding the two arms. A user can then command, via actuating element 5, the operation of device 1 . In this way, a user can start the device 1 easily.

[0062] Device 1 may include a handle integral to spreader 3. In this way, device 1 can be more easily handled and used.

[0063] The invention comprises a novel separation process to separate a sprue 11 from a manufactured product 10 obtained by means of a separation device 1.

[0064] The separation process advantageously includes a positioning step. At this stage sprue 11 is placed in opening 20. Therefore, the positioning element is oriented so that the sprue passes through opening 20.

[0065] In this way sprue 11 encounters body 21 along the first direction 3a. In fact, once placed through opening 20, sprue 1 1 is positioned so that it is on the first direction 3a.

[0066] The body 21 is positioned to interact with the sprue 11 along the transverse wall 22. As described earlier, sprue 1 1 interacts with transverse wall 22 through contact section 11 a.

[0067] Next, the process includes an actuation phase. At this stage, spreader 3 is operated. Actuation can be done by means of actuating element 5, which controls actuator 4. Spreader 3 is operated by the constraint configuration.

[0068] In configurations where the obstacle portion 23 is present, the constraint configuration is realized when the first arm 30 makes contact with it, causing the further movement of the first arm 30 to be integral to the movement of the positioning element 2.

[0069] In configurations where the first arm 30 is constrained to positioning element 2, the movement of the first arm 30 is consequently always integral to the movement of positioning element 2, and thus the movement of spreader 3 is always triggered from a constraint configuration.

[0070] Therefore, the first arm 30 moves solidly with the positioning element 2. The second arm 31 is moved along the first direction 3a away from the first arm 30. Specifically, the movement of the positioning element 2 causes a portion of the transverse wall 22 to make contact with the contact section 11 a. Meanwhile, along the direction of movement, the second arm 31 makes contact with sprue 11. At this point, it continues in its movement away from the first arm 30 along the first direction 3a causing the subsequent detachment of the sprue 11 from the manufactured product 10.

[0071] In detail, detachment of sprue 11 may occur due to the combined effect of the thrust action of the second arm 31 on sprue 11 and, in the opposite direction and at a position on the second axis 3b at opening 20, of the transverse wall on contact section 11 a.

[0072] Once the removal of the sprue 11 from manufactured product 10 is completed, the second arm 31 can be returned to the initial position of contact with the first arm 30. Device 1 and the separation process according to the invention achieve important advantages.

[0073] In fact, the separation device and the separation process have the advantage of making the sprue removal operation easier, since a dedicated tool is used to perform this operation. In fact, the process is made simple by the small number of steps to carry out the separation. In fact, it is sufficient to place the positioning element and operate the spreader.

[0074] Another advantage is the improved accuracy of the separation operation. In fact, the presence of the positioning element and the transverse wall in contact with the contact section causes the detachment to occur in a narrow area between the sprue and the manufactured product. In particular, it is done in such a way as to realize the detachment along the contact section. By doing so, better quality manufactured products are obtained, since the separation process allows for more regular surfaces at the location where the sprues were present.

[0075] Finally, the separation device and the separation process have the advantage of allowing sprue removal that does not damage the manufactured product. In fact, the presence of the positioning element means that the sprue is limited in its contact with the manufactured product once separation is achieved.

[0076] Variations may be made to the invention that fall within the scope of the inventive concept defined in the claims.

[0077] In this context, all the details can be replaced by equivalent elements and any materials, shapes and dimensions can be used.

Claims

CLAI MS1. A separating device (1 ) suitable for separating a manufactured product(10) from at least one sprue (11 ) connected to said manufactured product (10), said device (1 ) being characterised by comprising:- a positioning element (2) comprising a rigid body (21 ) comprising at least one opening (20),- a spreader (3) comprising a first arm (30) and a second arm (31 ),- said first arm (30) and said second arm (31 ) being reciprocally separable in a first direction (3a),- said spreader (3) being available in a constraint configuration in which it constrains said positioning element (2) to said first arm (30) at least along said first direction (3a),- said sprue (11 ) being available in said opening (20) such that said sprue (11 ) encounters said body (21 ) along said first direction (3a), said body (21 ) being positioned so as to interact with said sprue (11 ) along a transverse wall (22), said spreader (3) being operable by said constraining configuration so that said second arm (31 ) contacts said sprue (11 ) and continues in its movement away from said first arm (30) along said first direction (3a) causing said sprue (11 ) to detach itself from said manufactured product (10).

2. Device according to the preceding claim, wherein said sprue (11 ) comprises a contact section (11a) with said manufactured product (10), wherein said transverse wall (22) is arranged, in a second direction (3b) perpendicular to said first direction (3a) and to the main direction of development of said transverse wall (22), closer to said contact section (11a) than to said second arm (31 ) when in contact with said sprue (11 ).

3. Device (1 ) according to any preceding claim, wherein said spreader (3) is provided in a release configuration in which it does not bind said positioning element (2) to said first arm (30).

4. Device (1 ) according to any one of claims 1 and 2, wherein said first arm (30) is integral with said positioning element (2).

5. Device (1 ) according to any one of claims 1 and 2, wherein said positioning element (2) is integral with said spreader (3).

6. Device (1 ) according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising an actuator (4) configured to move said spreader (3) and an actuating element (5) connected to said actuator (4) and configured to actuate said actuator (4) in response to an interaction of a user with said actuating element (5).

7. Device (1 ) according to any preceding claim, wherein said opening (20) corresponds to a through-hole.

8. Device (1 ) according to any preceding claim, wherein said spreader (3) is a hydraulic spreader.

9. Device (1 ) according to at least claim 6, wherein said positioning element (2) comprises a plurality of through-holes of different sizes, and said sprue (11 ) is passed through any one of said through-holes to place said sprue (11 ) in any one of said through-holes.

10. A process for separating a sprue (11 ) from a manufactured product (10) obtained by means of a separating device (1 ) and characterised in that- said device (1 ) comprises:- a positioning element (2) comprising a rigid body (21 ) comprising at least one opening (20),- a spreader (3) comprising a first arm (30) and a second arm (31 ),said first arm (30) and said second arm (31 ) being reciprocally separable in a first direction (3a),- said spreader (3) being available in a constraint configuration in which it constrains said positioning element (2) to said first arm (30) at least along said first direction (3a),- said separation process comprising- a positioning phase in which said sprue (11 ) is placed in said opening (20) such that said sprue (11 ) encounters said body (21 ) along said first direction (3a), said body (21 ) being positioned so as to interact with said sprue (11 ) along a transverse wall (22),- an actuation phase in which said spreader (3) is actuated by said constraining configuration and said second arm (31 ) contacts said sprue (11 ) and continues in its movement away from said first arm (30) along said first direction (3a) causing said sprue (11 ) to detach from said manufactured product (10).

Images