Investment shell molding apparatus and method

Apparatus for automatically forming ceramic shell molds, comprising:

• (a) a first station inluding a first set up support for carrying a plurality of set up assemblies and a pickup arm assembly rotatable about a substantially transverse axis and operative to sequentially transfer each of said set up assemblies to a slurry tank forming part of a second station located laterally adjacent said first station;
• (b) said second station further including a transfer arm assembly for transferring a set up assembly for said slurry tank to a slurry spin-off tank forming part of said second station;
• (c) a third station including another transfer arm assembly for engaging said set up assembly at said spin-off tank and transferring said assembly to a stucco tank forming part of said third station;
• (d) a fourth station located laterally adjacent said third station and including a scraper unit for scraping slurry and stucco material from predetermined portions of said set up assembly and another transfer arm assembly for engaging said set up assembly at said stucco tank and transferring it to said scraper unit;
• and,
• (e) a fifth station including a discharge arm assembly operative to engage the set up assembly at said scraper unit and transfer it to a second set up support;
• (f) said second, third and fourth stations being arranged in a juxtaposed relationship such that a substantially rectilinear processing line is provided for said set up assemblies.

Apparatus for automatically forming ceramic shell molds, comrising:

• (a) a plurality of processing stations arranged in juxtaposed position to define a substantially rectilinear process line for coating set up assemblies, said processing line extending from a first set up support rack located at one end of said processing line and a second, substantially similar support rack located at the end of said processing line;
• (b) a first of said processing stations comprising a pickup arm assembly operable to engage a set up assembly on said first support rack and transfer it along a substantially vertical, arcuate path from said first support rack to a slurry tank;
• (c) a second of said processing stations located adjacent said first station and including a transfer arm assembly operative to engage and impart rotation to a set up assembly at said slurry tank for a predetermined amount of time and being further operative after said predetermined amount of time, to transfer said set up assembly along a substantially vertical arcuate path to a slurry spin-off tank;
• (d) a third of said processing stations comprising another transfer arm assembly operative to engage and impart rotation to a set up assembly at said slurry spin-off tank for a predetermined amount of time, and being further operative to transfer said set up assembly from said spin-off tank to a stucco tank along a substantially vertical, arcuate path;
• (e) a fourth of said processing stations located laterally adjacent said third station and including a transfer arm assembly operative to engage and impart rotation to a set up assembly at said stucco tank for a predetermined amount of time and being further operative after said predetermined time, to transfer said set up assembly along a predetermined path from said stucco tank to a scraper unit;
• (f) a fifth of said processing stations including a transfer arm assembly for engaging and imparting rotation to a set up assembly at said scraper unit to scrape slurry and stucco material from predetermined portions of said set up assembly and being further operative to transfer said set up assembly along a predetermined path from said scraper unit to said second set up support rack.

A method for coating a set up in an investment casting process, comprising the steps of:

• (a) positioning a plurality of set ups in spaced vertical relationship;
• (b) positioning a slurry tank, a slurry spin-off tank, a stucco tank and a scraper unit in a juxtaposed relationship whereby a substantially rectilinear processing line for processing said set ups is provided;
• (c) transferring one of said set ups from said vertical spaced position to said slurry tank by moving said set up assembly through a substantially vertical arc;
• (d) rotating said set up for a predetermined time at said slurry tank;
• (e) transferring said set up from said slurry tank to said slurry spin-off tank by moving it along a substantially vertical ar;
• (f) rotating said set up for a predetermined time at said spin-off tank to drive off excess slurry;
• (g) transferring said set up from said spin-off tank to said slurry tank;
• (h) rotating said set up for a predetermined time at said stucco tank;
• (i) transferring said set up from said stucco tank to said scraper unit and scraping slurry and stucco material from portions of said set up;
• and,
• (j) transferring said set up from said scraper unit to a set up support structure.