Rotating indexing apparatus for conveying sand molds

Abstract

An indexing transfer station for a sand mold conveyor system, and method of conveying. The indexing transfer station rotates between two or more angled conveyors to position the sand mold for further downstream movement. The indexing transfer station includes resting pads for the sand molds, spaced apart to allow a walking transfer rail of a first conveyor to place the sand mold and, upon rotation, to allow a walking transfer rail of a second conveyor each to position under the sand mold for lifting.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus for conveying sand molds, comprising:
 two resting pads configured to receive a sand mold thereon, the resting pads spaced apart and rotatable from a first angular position to a second angular position.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the first angular position is aligned with a first transfer conveyor for the sand mold, and the second angular position is aligned with a second transfer conveyor for the sand mold. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein the resting pads rotate 90°. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising a rail channel disposed between the resting pads, configured to rotate and alternatively receive a transfer rail of each of a first transfer conveyor and a second transfer conveyor. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus according to  claim 4 , further comprising a roller extending within the rail channel to receive the transfer rail thereon. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a base;   a rotator is connected to and above the base; and   a frame connected to the rotator, wherein the resting pads are connected above the frame, wherein the frame rotates with respect to the rotator and base.   
     
     
         7 . The apparatus according to  claim 6 , further comprising a bearing connecting the frame to the rotator. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus according to  claim 6 , further comprising a rail channel disposed between the resting pads, configured to alternatively receive upon rotation a transfer rail of each of a first transfer conveyor and a second transfer conveyor, wherein a portion of the frame forms a bottom of the rail channel, and a roller is connected to the frame and extending within the rail channel to alternatively receive thereon the transfer rail of each of the first transfer conveyor and the second transfer conveyor 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein one of the two spaced apart resting pads comprises truncated outer corners. 
     
     
         10 . An apparatus for conveying sand molds, comprising:
 a first transfer conveyor oriented in a first direction and including a first transfer rail movable with respect to at least one fixed rail; and   a rotating junction transfer station disposed at an end of the first transfer conveyor.   
     
     
         11 . The apparatus according to  claim 10 , wherein the junction transfer station includes two resting pads configured to hold a sand mold, wherein the transfer rail of the first transfer conveyor is movable between the spaced apart resting pads of the junction transfer station. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus according to  claim 11 , wherein the junction transfer station comprises a roller adapted to receive the first transfer rail. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus according to  claim 10 , further comprising a second transfer conveyor in conveying combination with the first transfer conveyor and oriented in a second direction that is different than the first direction, the second transfer conveyor including at least one transfer rail movable with respect to at least one fixed rail, wherein the rotating junction transfer station is disposed between the first and second transfer conveyors. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus according to  claim 13 , wherein one of the two spaced apart resting pads, which is disposed toward the first and second transfer conveyors during rotation, comprises truncated outer corners to allow rotation. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus according to  claim 4 , wherein the junction transfer station includes two spaced apart resting pads for holding a sand mold, wherein the central transfer rail of each of the first and second transfer conveyors is movable between the spaced apart resting pads via rotation of the rotating junction transfer station. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus according to  claim 5 , wherein each of the first and second transfer conveyors comprises two outboard rails and a central transfer rail movable between the two outboard rails. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus according to  claim 10 , wherein the rotating junction transfer station comprises a sensor mechanism adapted to sense the presence of the sand mold on the resting pads to initiate rotation. 
     
     
         18 . A method for conveying a sand mold, the method comprising:
 moving the sand mold in a first direction with a first transfer conveyor via a transfer rail reciprocating with respect to at least one fixed rail;   moving the sand mold onto resting pads of a junction transfer station disposed at an end of the first transfer conveyor; and   rotating the resting pads and the sand mold for moving the sand mold in a second direction that is at an angle to the first direction.   
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 18 , further comprising:
 lifting the sand mold off the at least one fixed rail with the transfer rail;   moving the transfer rail and the lifted sand mold in a downstream direction;   lowering the lifted sand mold onto the resting pads;   lifting the sand mold off the resting pads via a second transfer rail after the rotating.   
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 18 , further comprising:
 lifting the sand mold off the at least one fixed rail with the transfer rail;   moving the transfer rail with the lifted sand mold in a downstream direction between the resting pads;   lowering the lifted sand mold onto the resting pads;   moving the first transfer conveyor transfer rail from between the resting pads;   upon the rotating the resting pads, moving a second transfer conveyor transfer rail under the sand mold between the resting pads; and   lifting the sand mold off the resting pads with the second transfer conveyor transfer rail.