A core-setting apparatus used for a molding apparatus and a method for setting a core

Abstract

These inventions provide a core-setting apparatus and a method for setting the core in a lower mold used for a molding apparatus, wherein the core-setting apparatus has a simple structure and can maintain the core in the mold in a highly accurate position. The inventions consist of: the core-setting apparatus to set a core in the lower mold while the upper and the lower mold and a match plate are separated from each other after molding the upper and lower mold that comprises: a handling tool having a holding means and a rotatable rod, wherein the handling tool is rotatably supported by the rod, a carrier for transferring the handling tool, wherein the carrier supports the rotatable rod and is moved to or from the location above the lower mold, and an actuator for lowering and lifting the cope flask together with the carrier and the handling tool which are located above the drag flask, wherein the actuator is mounted on the main body of the molding apparatus.

1 . A core-setting apparatus used for a molding apparatus for producing an upper and a lower mold, the molding apparatus having processes comprising: 
 a molding-space-defining step to define molding spaces, each space having a predetermined volume, in a cope and a drag flask by inserting an upper and a lower squeeze means into the cope and the drag flask respectively while a match plate is held between the cope and the drag flask,    a sand-filling step to fill the molding spaces with molding sand, and    a squeezing step to squeeze the molding sand in the molding spaces by means of the upper and the lower squeeze means,    characterized in that the core-setting apparatus to set a core in the lower mold while the upper and the lower mold and the match plate are separated from each other after molding the upper and the lower mold comprises:    a handling tool to handle the core, comprising a holding means to hold the core and a rotatable rod supporting the handling tool about its axis,    a carrier for transferring the handling tool, wherein the carrier supports the rotatable rod and is moved to or from the location above the lower mold, and    an actuator for lowering and lifting the cope flask together with the carrier and the handling tool which are located above the drag flask, wherein the actuator is mounted on the main body of the molding apparatus.    
   
   
       2 . The core-setting apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein it further comprises a pair of perpendicularly movable rails disposed at both outer side walls of the cope flask, wherein the rails can be moved perpendicularly together with the cope flask, and wherein the carrier and the handling tool can also be lowered and lifted together with the cope flask when the carrier and the handling tool are moved to a position above the drag flask by using the pair of perpendicularly movable rails.  
   
   
       3 . A method for setting a core used for a molding apparatus for producing an upper and a lower mold, the molding apparatus having processes comprising: 
 a molding-space-defining step to define molding spaces, each space having a predetermined volume, in a cope and a drag flask by inserting an upper and a lower squeeze means into the cope and the drag flask respectively while a match plate is held between the cope and the drag flask,    a sand-filling step to fill the molding spaces with molding sand, and    a squeezing step to squeeze the molding sand in the molding spaces by means of the upper and the lower squeeze means,    characterized in that the method for setting the core in the lower mold while the upper and the lower mold and the match plate are separated from each other after molding the upper and the lower mold comprises:    a holding step to hold the core by operating a holding means after inserting the core in a handling tool,    a positioning step to position the core held by the handling tool so that the core faces the lower mold by moving a carrier supporting a rotatable rod of the handling tool to a position above the lower mold and by forwardly rotating the handling tool about the rotatable rod,    a lowering step to lower the core to just in front of the surface of the lower mold or to a position where the core contacts the surface, which core is held by the handling tool, by forwardly moving an actuator for lowering or lifting the cope flask, wherein the actuator, which is mounted on the main body of the molding apparatus, can lower and lift the carrier, which is transferred to the position above the lower mold, and can lower and lift the handling tool together with the cope flask,    a setting step to set the core in the lower mold by releasing the core from the holding means at the lowered position,    a lifting step to lift the carrier and the handling tool by inversely moving the actuator for lowering and lifting the cope flask, and    a removing and rotating step to take the carrier from the position above the lower mold and to inversely rotate the handling tool.    
   
   
       4 . The method for setting the core of  claim 3 , further comprising: 
 a pressurizing step to pressurize the core by compressed air while setting the core after lowering the core to just in front of the surface of the lower mold or to a position where the core contacts the surface, which core is held by the handling tool, and releasing the core from the holding means.