Rotary molding machine

A rotary molding apparatus comprising:

• support means for supporting said apparatus;
• a die roll having shaft means for enabling rotation of said die roll at opposite ends and mounting bearing means for engaging with said shaft means comprising pillow blocks each of which has a first portion carried by said support means and a complementary second portion pivotally mounted for clamping engagement with the first portion;
• said pillow block portions having generally V-shaped cross section matching annular clamping cavities;
• and
• said shaft means having complementary generally V-shaped cross section bearing members engaged in said cavities.

A rotary molding apparatus comprising:

• support means for supporting said apparatus;
• a die roll having shaft means for enabling rotation of said die roll at opposite ends, and mounting bearing means carried by the support means for engaging with said shaft means;
• a feed roller mounted on upright pivoted arms and means for adjusting the arms and thereby the feed roller relative to the die roll;
• and
• said arms carrying means for providing a doctor blade projecting between the feed roller and the die roll, and means for biasing the means for providing a doctor blade toward the die roll.

A rotary molding apparatus comprising:

• support means for supporting said apparatus;
• a die roll having shaft means for enabling rotation of said die roll at opposite ends and bearing means on said support means for engaging with said shaft means;
• a magazine for supporting a plurality of die rolls;
• and
• means for selecting said die roll from said magazine and for transporting said die roll from the magazine into working position to said bearing means and for selectively returning the die roll to the magazine.

A method of operating a rotary molding apparatus, comprising:

• supporting a die roll on support means for supporting the apparatus and providing the die roll with shaft means for enabling rotation of said die roll at opposite ends and mounting bearing means for engaging said shaft means comprising pillow blocks each of which has a portion carried by said support means and a portion pivotally mounted for clamping engagement with the supported portion;
• providing said pillow block portions with generally V-shaped cross section annular clamping cavities, providing said shaft means with complementary generally V-shaped cross section bearing members and engaging said bearing members in said cavities positioning the die roll on said support means;
• locking said pivotal bearing portion against displacement in an operating mode when said bearing members are engaged in said cavities;
• providing a feed roller mounted on upright arms and urging said feed roller toward the die roll;
• providing on said arms means for providing a doctor blade between the feed roller and the die roll and biasing the means for providing a doctor blade toward the die roll;
• providing a fluent material support hopper engaging with said feed roller and means carried by said support means for moving said hopper between an operating position engaging said feed roller and a backed-off position, whereby the supply hopper is moved between the feed roller engaging position and the backed-off position to provide clearance for the positioning of the die roll on said support means;
• providing means on said support means for driving said die roll;
• providing means carried by said support means for driving said feed roller;
• providing a magazine for supporting a plurality of die rolls;
• and
• selecting said die roll from said magazine and shifting said die roll from the magazine into working position in said pillow blocks, whereby fluent material is molded during said operating mode and then returning the die roll to the magazine at the end of said operating mode.