Automatic Pouring Method for High-Speed Molding Lines

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Solution Overview

Problem

Stopper-type pouring machines in high-speed molding lines face issues with molten metal leakage due to impurities and abrasion, and ladle-tilting-type machines struggle to maintain high-speed pouring required for these lines.

Innovation Solution

An automatic pouring method using a ladle-tilting-type machine with a holding furnace and pouring hopper that tilts forwardly to supply molten metal, allowing for continuous pouring by measuring weight and adjusting flow volume, ensuring consistent high-speed pouring.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Speed

If a stopper-type pouring machine is used for high-speed pouring, then pouring speed is improved, but reliability deteriorates due to molten metal leakage from stopper adhesion to impurities and abrasion

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepouring speedVSAvoidpouring reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The invention removes the stopper component entirely from the pouring system. By using a ladle-tilting mechanism instead of a stopper to control molten metal flow, the source of leakage problems (stopper adhesion to impurities and abrasion) is eliminated while maintaining high-speed pouring capability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of controlling the flow by opening/closing a stopper within the pouring nozzle, the invention inverts the control mechanism by tilting the entire ladle to control the flow. The ladle tilts forward to pour and then tilts backward to stop pouring, completely avoiding the stopper-related reliability issues

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

2Reliability

If a ladle-tilting-type pouring machine is used to avoid stopper maintenance, then reliability is improved, but pouring speed deteriorates and cannot adapt to high-speed molding lines

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepouring reliabilityVSAvoidpouring speed
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSSpeed

Solution Approach 1:

The invention employs dynamic control of the ladle tilting mechanism with programmable speed and position control. The ladle can be tilted forward and backward at controlled speeds, and the pouring rate can be adjusted by controlling the tilting speed, enabling adaptation to high-speed molding lines while maintaining reliability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the operational parameters of the ladle tilting mechanism, including tilting speed, angle, and acceleration profiles. By optimizing these parameters, the system achieves both high pouring speed and high reliability without the limitations of conventional ladle-tilting machines

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Duration of action of stationary object

If the pouring hopper is tilted forwardly to supply molten metal during pouring, then continuous pouring is achieved, but device complexity increases due to coordination between holding furnace and pouring hopper

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontinuous pouring durationVSAvoidsystem coordination complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Duration of action of stationary objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention pre-fills the pouring hopper with molten metal before the actual pouring process. The holding furnace supplies molten metal to the pouring hopper in advance, ensuring that the hopper has sufficient metal储备 to complete the pouring cycle without interruption, thereby achieving continuous pouring

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The invention uses weight sensors to monitor the molten metal level in the pouring hopper in real-time. When the weight drops below a predetermined threshold, the system automatically triggers the holding furnace to supply more molten metal, creating a closed-loop feedback control system that maintains continuous pouring operation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Enables high-speed pouring in high-speed molding lines by maintaining consistent molten metal flow and reducing maintenance costs associated with stopper-type machines.

Implementation Method 1

a holding furnace for storing and holding the molten metal therein and for supplying the stored molten metal by forwardly tilting the holding furnace

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectGravity: Gravitation

Implementation Method 2

forwardly tilting the pouring hopper and for pouring the molten metal into a mold therefrom

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectGravity: Gravitation

Implementation Method 3

if the weight of the molten metal within the pouring hopper has not reached a predetermined weight

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectWeight measurement:

Data Source

PatentEP2415540B1Automatic pouring method
Publication Date: 2019.05.08 SINTOKOGIO LTD
  • EP2415540B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2415540B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP2415540B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

Provided is an automatic pouring method whereby even a tilting automatic pouring device can pour at high speed, accommodating high-speed molding on a high-speed molding line. Said method includes: a process wherein a pouring tank, which can hold an amount of molten metal sufficient for multiple pours, is tilted forward, thereby pouring the molten metal from inside said tank into a casting mold; a process wherein the pouring tank is tilted backward, thereby halting the aforementioned pouring into the casting mold; and a process wherein a set of casting molds, including the casting mold for which the aforementioned pouring had completed, are moved at intervals. During the period from the beginning of the process in which molten metal is poured into the casting mold to the end of the process in which the set of casting molds is moved at intervals, whenever the weight of molten metal in the pouring tank is less than a prescribed weight, molten metal is continually supplied to the pouring tank by tilting a holding furnace forward.