Method and apparatus for automatically casting non-ferrous metal

An apparatus for continuously and automatically effecting a series of steps beginning with casting of molten nonferrous metal in molds to cast ingots and ending with binding of ingot stacks comprising:

• an automatic casting machine for casting molten metal in molds to continuously produce ingots, said casting machine comprising:
• a plurality of molds set on chain conveyor means;
• a casting device for casting a constant volume of molten metal in each mold comprising:
• a first tilted part formed at one end with a discharge port and at the other end with an overflow opening and capable of pivotally moving vertically between a discharge position and an overflow position;
• a second tilted part arranged below said discharge port of said first tilted part and capable of pivotally moving vertically between a distribution position and an overflow position, said second tilted part being formed at one end with a plurality of distribution ports and at the other end with an overflow opening;
• supply means for continuously supplying molten metal to said first casting tilted part from a molten metal reservoir;
• actuating means for pivotally moving each of said first tilted part and said second tilted part between said two positions;
• and
• return means for receiving molten metal through the overflow openings of said first tilted part and said second tilted part when said two parts are in their respective overflow positions and returning the molten metal to the molten metal reservoir, said first tilted part being disposed in the discharge position when said second tilted part is in the overflow position and said first tilted part being pivotally moved to the overflow position before said second tilted part is pivotally moved to the distribution position;
• a scum skimming device for skimming scum foaming to the surface of the molten metal cast in each mold;
• cooling means for forcedly cooling the molten metal in the molds to forcedly cool the ingots;
• and
• a hammering device for releasing the ingots from the molds, said devices and means all operatively associated with said chain conveyor means;
• an ingot stacking device for stacking the ingots released from the automatic casting machine to form the ingots into an ingot stack disposed on conveyor means and comprising a plurality of layers of ingots arranged in vertically stacked relationship;
• a weighing device for weighing the ingot stack conveyed by said conveyor means;
• and
• a binding device for binding the ingot stack weighed by said weighing device.

An apparatus for continuously and automatically effecting a series of steps beginning with casting of molten nonferrous metal in molds to cast ingots and ending with binding of ingot stacks comprising:

• an automatic casting machine for casting molten metal in molds to continuously produce ingots, said casting machine comprising:
• a plurality of molds set on chain conveyor means;
• a casting device for casting a constant volume of molten metal in each mold;
• a scum skimming device for skimming scum foaming to the surface of the molten metal cast in each mold, said scum skimming device comprising:
• a movable frame capable of moving horizontally;
• a slide frame movable in sliding motion with respect to said movable frame;
• a pair of scrape-up plates connected to said slide frame and each being capable of pivotally moving through a predetermined angle;
• a scrape-up plate guide frame secured to said movable frame and formed therein with a plurality of inclined slots each receiving therein a pin;
• a plurality of plate cams affixed to said slide frame;
• and
• another pair of scrape-up plates each adapted to operate in cooperation with one of said plate cams and one of said slots formed in the scrape-up plate guide frame and receiving the pin therein for pivotal movement through a predetermined angle, one of said first pair of scrape-up plates being adapted to come into engagement with one of said second pair of scrape-up plates:
• cooling means for forcedly cooling the molten metal in the molds to forcedly cool the ingots;
• and
• a hammering device for releasing the ingots from the molds, said devices and means all operatively associated with said chain conveyor means:
• an ingot stacking device for stacking the ingots released from the automatic casting machine to form the ingots into an ingot stack disposed on conveyor means and comprising a plurality of layers of ingots arranged in vertically stacked relationship;
• a weighing device for weighing the ingot stack conveyed by said conveyor means;
• and
• a binding device for binding the ingot stack weighed by said weighing device.

An apparatus for continuously and automatically effecting a series of steps beginning with casting of molten nonferrous metal in molds to cast ingots and ending with binding of ingot stacks comprising:

• an automatic casting machine for casting molten metal in molds to continuously produce ingots;
• an ingot stacking device for stacking the ingots released from the automatic casting machine to form the ingots into an ingot stack disposed on conveyor means and comprising a plurality of layers of ingots arranged in vertically stacked relationship, said stacking device comprising:
• a stacking table adapted to receive thereon a plurality of ingots released from the molds, said stacking table being capable of moving up and down and rotating through a predetermined angle;
• means for moving the plurality of ingots on said stacking table to a bed after arranging the same in a predetermined pattern;
• and
• moving and stacking means for forwarding a set of ingots from said bed to a predetermined position and stacking the ingots so as to form in a predetermined position on the conveyor means an ingot stack comprising a plurality of layers of ingots arranged in vertically stacked relationship with the ingots of the adjacent layers being arranged in two different patterns:
• a weighing device for weighing the ingot stack conveyed by said conveyor means;
• and
• a binding device for binding the ingot stack weighed by said weighing device.

An apparatus for continuously and automatically effecting a series of steps beginning with casting of molten nonferrous metal in molds to cast ingots and ending with binding of ingot stacks comprising:

• an automatic casting machine for casting molten metal in molds to continuously produce ingots;
• an ingot stacking device for stacking the ingots released from the automatic casting machine to form the ingots into an ingot stack disposed on conveyor means and comprising a plurality of layers of ingots arranged in vertically stacked relationship;
• a weighing device for weighing the ingot stack conveyed by said conveyor means, said weighing device comprising:
• a frame through which the conveyor means extends;
• weighing means mounted on said frame;
• gripping means adapted to be brought into engagement with the ingot stack on the conveyor means for gripping the same;
• and
• lifting means capable of moving upwardly away from the conveyor means said gripping means and the ingot stack gripped thereby;
• and
• a binding device for binding the ingot stack weighed by said weighing device.

An apparatus for continuously and automatically effecting a series of steps beginning with casting of molten nonferrous metal in molds to cast ingots and ending with binding of ingot stacks comprising:

• an automatic casting machine for casting molten metal in molds to continuously produce ingots;
• an ingot stacking device for stacking the ingots released from the automatic casting machine to form the ingots into an ingot stack disposed on conveyor means and comprising a plurality of layers of ingots arranged in vertically stacked relationship;
• a weighing device for weighing the ingot stack conveyed by said conveyor means;
• and
• a binding device for binding the ingot stack weighed by said weighing device, said binding device comprising:
• a support member for supporting the ingot stack;
• pressing means disposed in spaced juxtaposed relation with said support member and adapted to apply pressure to the ingot stack resting on said support plate;
• chute means surrounding the ingot stack for guiding a steel band for binding the ingot stack;
• and
• a binding head adapted to tighten said steel band to bind and seal the ingot stack.