Casting mold height changing unit, flaskless molding machine, and casting mold height changing method

Abstract

A flaskless molding machine includes an upper flask, a lower flask capable of clamping a match plate with the upper flask, a filling frame connectable to the lower flask, a first squeeze board movable into and out from the upper flask, a second squeeze board movable into and out from the filling frame, a filling frame cylinder moving the filling frame relative to the second squeeze board, a squeeze cylinder integrally moving the filling frame, the second squeeze board, and the filling frame cylinder, and a control unit configured to control the filling frame cylinder and the squeeze cylinder. A mold height changing unit includes a stopper limiting a stroke length of the filling frame cylinder to a predetermined length.

1 : A mold height changing unit used in a flaskless molding machine, the flaskless molding machine including an upper flask, a lower flask capable of clamping a match plate with the upper flask, a filling frame connectable to the lower flask, a first squeeze board movable into and out from the upper flask, a second squeeze board movable into and out from the filling frame, a filling frame cylinder moving the filling frame relative to the second squeeze board, a squeeze cylinder integrally moving the filling frame, the second squeeze board, and the filling frame cylinder, and a control unit configured to control the filling frame cylinder and the squeeze cylinder,
 the mold height changing unit comprising a stopper limiting a stroke length of the filling frame cylinder to a predetermined length.   
     
     
         2 : The mold height changing unit according to  claim 1 , wherein the stopper includes
 a rod member including a first end part and a second end part, the first end part being fixed to the filling frame and being inserted into a through hole provided in a frame supporting the filling frame cylinder, and   a contact member being attached to the second end part of the rod member and abutting on the frame when the filling frame is moved in a direction separating from the frame.   
     
     
         3 : The mold height changing unit according to  claim 2 , wherein a length from the frame to the contact member of the rod member when the filling frame is located at a position closest to the frame is shorter than the stroke length of the filling frame cylinder. 
     
     
         4 : The mold height changing unit according to  claim 1 , wherein the stopper includes
 a rod member including a first end part and a second end part, the first end part being provided at a lower end of a piston rod of the filling frame cylinder, the second end part being located below the filling frame cylinder and entering the filling frame cylinder along with rise of the piston rod, and   a contact member being attached to the second end part of the rod member and abutting on a lower end of the filling frame cylinder when the filling frame is moved in a direction separating from a frame supporting the filling frame cylinder.   
     
     
         5 : The mold height changing unit according to  claim 4 , wherein a length from a lower end of the filling frame cylinder to the contact member of the rod member when the filling frame is located at a position closest to the frame is shorter than the stroke length of the filling frame cylinder. 
     
     
         6 : The mold height changing unit according to  claim 1 , wherein the filling frame cylinder is an air cylinder. 
     
     
         7 : The mold height changing unit according to  claim 1 , further comprising a position detection sensor connected to the control unit, the position detection sensor detecting that the filling frame cylinder has been expanded to the predetermined length. 
     
     
         8 : The mold height changing unit according to  claim 1 , further comprising a spacer member attached to a principle surface of the first squeeze board facing the match plate. 
     
     
         9 : The mold height changing unit according to  claim 8 , wherein a material of the spacer member is a resin. 
     
     
         10 : The mold height changing unit according to  claim 8 , wherein the spacer member is fixed to the first squeeze board by a screw. 
     
     
         11 : The mold height changing unit according to  claim 10 , wherein the spacer member is fixed to the first squeeze board with use of a liner attachment screw hole provided in the first squeeze board. 
     
     
         12 : A flaskless molding machine, comprising:
 an upper flask;   a lower flask capable of clamping a match plate with the upper flask;   a filling frame connectable to the lower flask;   a first squeeze board movable into and out from the upper flask;   a second squeeze board movable into and out from the filling frame;   a filling frame cylinder moving the filling frame relative to the second squeeze board;   a squeeze cylinder integrally moving the filling frame, the second squeeze board, and the filling frame cylinder;   a control unit configured to control the filling frame cylinder and the squeeze cylinder; and   a stopper limiting a stroke length of the filling frame cylinder to a predetermined length.   
     
     
         13 : The flaskless molding machine according to  claim 12 , wherein the stopper includes
 a rod member including a first end part and a second end part, the first end part being fixed to the filling frame and being inserted into a through hole provided in a frame supporting the filling frame cylinder, and   a contact member being attached to the second end part of the rod member and abutting on the frame when the filling frame is moved in a direction separating from the frame.   
     
     
         14 : The flaskless molding machine according to  claim 13 , wherein a length from the frame to the contact member of the rod member when the filling frame is located at a position closest to the frame is shorter than the stroke length of the filling frame cylinder. 
     
     
         15 : The flaskless molding machine according to  claim 1 , wherein the filling frame cylinder is an air cylinder. 
     
     
         16 : The flaskless molding machine according to  claim 1 , further comprising a position detection sensor connected to the control unit, the position detection sensor detecting that the filling frame cylinder has been expanded to the predetermined length. 
     
     
         17 : The flaskless molding machine according to  claim 1 , further comprising a spacer member attached to a principle surface of the first squeeze board facing the match plate. 
     
     
         18 : The flaskless molding machine according to  claim 17 , wherein a material of the spacer member is a resin. 
     
     
         19 : The flaskless molding machine according to  claim 17 , wherein the spacer member is fixed to the first squeeze board by a screw. 
     
     
         20 : The flaskless molding machine according to  claim 19 , wherein the spacer member is fixed to the first squeeze board with use of a liner attachment screw hole provided in the first squeeze board. 
     
     
         21 : The flaskless molding machine according to  claim 1 , further comprising an input unit connected to the control unit, the input unit allowing for selection of one of a first mode in which a mold is formed without limiting the stroke length of the filling frame cylinder and a second mode in which a mold is formed while the stroke length of the filling frame cylinder is limited by the stopper. 
     
     
         22 : The flaskless molding machine according to  claim 21 , wherein, in the second mode, the mold is formed by further using a spacer member attached to a principle surface of the first squeeze board facing the match plate. 
     
     
         23 : A flaskless molding machine, comprising:
 an upper flask;   a lower flask capable of clamping a match plate with the upper flask;   a filling frame connectable to the lower flask;   a first squeeze board movable into and out from the upper flask;   a second squeeze board movable into and out from the filling frame;   a filling frame cylinder moving the filling frame relative to the second squeeze board;   a squeeze cylinder integrally moving the filling frame, the second squeeze board, and the filling frame cylinder;   a control unit configured to control the filling frame cylinder and the squeeze cylinder;   a first position detection sensor connected to the control unit, the first position detection sensor detecting that the filling frame cylinder has been expanded to a first length; and   a second position detection sensor connected to the control unit, the second position detection sensor detecting that the filling frame cylinder has been expanded to a second length shorter than the first length, wherein   the control unit is configured to switch a mode between a first operation mode in which the filling frame cylinder is operated to be expanded up to the first length based on a result detected by the first position detection sensor and a second operation mode in which the filling frame cylinder is operated to be expanded up to the second length based on a result detected by the second position detection sensor.   
     
     
         24 : A mold height changing method for a flaskless molding machine, the flaskless molding machine including an upper flask, a lower flask capable of clamping a match plate with the upper flask, a filling frame connectable to the lower flask, a first squeeze board movable into and out from the upper flask, a second squeeze board movable into and out from the filling frame, a first filling frame cylinder moving the filling frame relative to the second squeeze board, and a squeeze cylinder integrally moving the filling frame, the second squeeze board, and the filling frame cylinder,
 the mold height changing method comprising:   preparing a second filling frame cylinder having a stroke length different from a stroke length of the first filling frame cylinder; and   replacing the first filling frame cylinder with the second filling frame cylinder.   
     
     
         25 : A mold height changing method for a flaskless molding machine, the flaskless molding machine including an upper flask, a lower flask capable of clamping a match plate with the upper flask, a filling frame connectable to the lower flask, a first squeeze board movable into and out from the upper flask, a second squeeze board movable into and out from the filling frame, a first filling frame cylinder moving the filling frame relative to the second squeeze board, and a squeeze cylinder integrally moving the filling frame, the second squeeze board, and the filling frame cylinder,
 the mold height changing method comprising any one of attaching a spacer member on a principle surface of the first squeeze board facing the match plate, attaching a spacer member on a principle surface on side opposed to the principle surface of the first squeeze board facing the match plate, and replacing the first squeeze board with a third squeeze board having a thickness different from a thickness of the first squeeze board.