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US 7,296,613 B2Granted
Mold table sensing and automation system
AssigneeWagstaff, Inc.
InventorsMichael K. Anderson, Robert L. Fletcher
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A molten metal sensing and automation system for use with or in a metal casting mold. Aspects of the invention include a molten metal automation system which may include a bleedout detection system which provides an automated response, and an automated system for the preparation of the starting blocks for casting.
Claims7
A system for stopping the flow of molten metal through at least one of a plurality of mold cavities, each of which are positioned at an x-y coordinate on a mold table, each mold cavity including a mold cavity inlet and a mold cavity outlet, the system being comprised of:
- a plurality of sensors, each positioned relative to one of a plurality of mold cavity outlets such as to detect the occurrence of a molten metal bleedout condition and each of the plurality of sensors configured to provide a bleedout condition signal;
- a mold cavity plug corresponding in size to the plurality of mold cavity inlets such that when inserted at or near the mold cavity inlet, the mold cavity plug stops the flow of molten metal through the mold cavity;
- a robotic arm controlled by a robotic arm controller, the robotic arm being movable in three dimensions and having an arm reach and being disposed in retrieving disposition relative to the mold cavity plug, and further wherein the robotic arm is extendible from a single location to insert the mold cavity plug at or near any one of the plurality of mold cavity inlets to stop the flow of molten metal through that mold cavity;
- and
- the robotic arm controller is configured to utilize a first bleedout condition signal and a first predetermined x-y coordinate for the mold cavity at which the first molten metal bleedout condition occurred, and further to control the robotic arm to place the mold cavity plug at or near any one of the plurality of mold cavity inlets to stop the flow of molten metal through the mold cavity at which the molten metal bleedout condition occurred.
2 more elements
A method for stopping the flow of molten metal through mold cavities on a molten metal mold table, comprised of the following:
- providing a molten metal mold table with a plurality of mold cavities, each of the plurality of mold cavities positioned at an x-y coordinate on the mold table and each of the plurality of mold cavities having a mold cavity inlet and a mold cavity outlet;
- providing a plurality of sensors, each positioned relative to one of a plurality of mold cavity outlets such as to detect the occurrence of a molten metal bleedout condition and each of the plurality of sensors configured to provide a bleedout condition signal;
- providing a mold cavity plug corresponding in size to the plurality of mold cavity inlets such that when inserted at or near the mold cavity inlet, the mold cavity plug stops the flow of molten metal through the mold cavity;
- providing a robotic arm controlled by a robotic arm controller, the robotic arm being disposed to retrieve the mold cavity plug and to insert the mold cavity plug at or near any one of the plurality of mold cavity inlets to stop the flow of molten metal through that mold cavity;
- providing the robotic arm controller being movable in three dimensions from a single location, and configured to utilize the bleedout condition signal and a predetermined x-y coordinate for the mold cavity at which the molten metal bleedout condition occurred, and further to control the robotic arm to place the mold cavity plug at or near the mold cavity inlet to stop the flow of molten metal through the mold cavity at which the molten metal bleedout condition occurred;
- commencing of casting of molten metal through the mold table;
- sensing a molten metal bleedout condition from one of the plurality of mold cavities;
- providing the x-y coordinate for the molten metal bleedout condition from the one of the plurality of mold cavities to the robotic arm controller;
- controlling the robotic arm to retrieve one of the plurality of mold cavity plugs;
- and
- controlling the robotic arm to insert the one of the plurality of mold cavity plugs at or near the mold cavity inlet where the molten metal bleedout condition was sensed, thereby stopping the flow of molten metal through the mold cavity.
8 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.