Quick-change matchplate system for matchplate molding machine
AssigneeHunter Automated Machinery Corporation
InventorWilliam A. Hunter
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The pattern plate of a matchplate molding machine is attached to a drag flask by spring-loaded clamps which may be rapidly opened to enable the plate to be quickly and easily removed from the flask and replaced by another plate. Locating members are attached to the flask in laterally opposed relation with the clamps and coact with the clamps to fixture the pattern plate accurately on the flask. A removable operating handle is provided for opening the clamps and carries a latch for releasably holding the clamps in their open positions during changing of the pattern plates.
Claims16
A flask adapted to contain sand and adapted to support a generally rectangular pattern plate for forming a molding cavity in the sand, said flask having an open end, said flask being generally rectangular and having a peripheral flange around its open end, said flange having a first side and having a second and generally parallel second side spaced across said flask from said first side, a locating member fixed to and disposed in spaced opposing relation with said first side of said flange and coacting with said flange to define a channel for receiving one side margin of said pattern plate and for captivating said one margin against said flange, a clamp on the second side of said flange and mounted to pivot between open and closed positions relative to said flange, said clamp being operable when in said open position to enable the opposite side margin of said pattern plate to be slipped between said clamp and said flange and being operable when in said closed position to clamp said opposite side margin to said flange, spring means acting between said flask and said clamp for releasably holding said clamp in said closed position, and manually operable means enabling said clamp to be moved to said open position against the bias of said spring means.
The combination of, a drag flask adapted to hold sand, and a generally rectangular pattern plate for forming a molding activity in the sand in the flask, said flask having an open upper end, said flask being generally rectangular and having a peripheral flange around its open end, said flange having a first side and having a generally parallel second side spaced laterally across said flask from said first side, two locating members fixed to said flask and spaced from one another along the first side of the flange, said locating members being disposed in upwardly spaced opposing relation with said first side of said flange and defining channels for receiving one side margin of said pattern plate and for captivating said one margin against vertical and lateral movement relative to said flange, a pair of clamps spaced from one another along the second side of said flange, means mounting said clamps on said flask to pivot upwardly from closed positions to open positions relative to said flange, said clamps being operable when in said open positions to enable the opposite side margin of said pattern plate to be placed against said second side of said flange and being operable when in said closed positions to clamp said opposite side margin downwardly against said second side of said flange, springs acting between said clamps and said flask and biasing said clamps to said closed positions, and manually operable means enabling said clamps to be moved simultaneously to said open positions against the bias of said springs.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.