Flaskless Molding Machine Lateral Drag Flask Movement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional flaskless molding machines have low production efficiency due to manual pattern plate exchange and interference issues when placing cores, resulting in lengthy molding cycles and reduced access for operators.
Innovation Solution
A flaskless molding machine design featuring a flask assembly with exchangeable match plates, squeeze members, and actuators that allow for simultaneous rotation and vertical positioning, enabling efficient definition and filling of molding spaces, and facilitating easy core placement by lateral movement of the drag flask.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the cope and drag flasks are positioned vertically to define molding spaces, then the molding process can proceed, but the operator cannot access the lower mold to place a core
Solution Approach 1:
The drag flask is made movable relative to the cope flask through a lateral moving mechanism. After the flasks are positioned vertically for molding, the drag flask can be moved laterally to the side, creating access space for the operator to place a core in the lower mold, then returned to its original position for subsequent operations.
2Productivity
If manual pattern plate exchange is used, then the device complexity is low, but the production efficiency is reduced due to lengthy molding cycles
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses automatic pattern plate exchange where the match plate is carried in and out by a shuttle mechanism that operates automatically without manual intervention. The pattern plate is exchanged automatically between the flask assembly and the storage position, improving production efficiency while maintaining reasonable device complexity through automated mechanical operation.
3Productivity
If the flask assembly is rotated to vertical position to define molding spaces, then the molding process can begin, but the time required for making molds increases
Solution Approach 1:
The flask assembly, upper squeeze member, and supporting means are rotated in unison from horizontal to vertical position continuously. The upper squeeze member is inserted into the cope flask during the rotation, and the lower squeeze member is inserted through the filling frame into the drag flask, so that molding spaces are defined continuously without idle waiting time, thereby reducing the overall molding cycle time.
Data Source
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AI summary
The disclosed invention provides a molding machine that defines upper and lower molding spaces while cope and drag flasks 12,13 and a match plate 11 clamped therebetween are rotated from a horizontal position to a vertical position, and that readily places a core into a lower mold within the drag flask. An upper squeeze member 14 is insertable into the cope flask 12 with its pressure-applying plane being opposed to the upper face of the match plate 11. The pressure-applying plane defines an upper molding space together with the upper face of the match plate 11 and the cope flask 12. A pivoting frame 23 supports the cope and drag flasks 12,13, a match plate 11 clamped therebetween, and the upper squeeze member 14, such that they rotate in unison between a horizontal position, in which the pressure-applying plane of the upper squeeze member 14 is oriented vertically downward, to a vertical position in which the pressure-applying plane is oriented horizontally. A fixed, vertical, filling frame abuts the drag flask 13 when the flasks 12, 13 and the match plate 11 that is clamped therebetween are in the vertical position. A lower squeeze member 16 has a pressure-applying plane that is oriented horizontally, and is insertable into the filling frame and the abutting drag flask 13. The pressure-applying plane of the lower squeeze member 16 defines a lower molding space together with the lower face of the match plate 11, the drag flask 13, and the filling frame 15. To place a core into a lower mold within the drag flask, the drag flask 13 is laterally moved from a position that is immediately beneath the cope flask 12 such that an open working space is provided.