Patents Assigned to Hunter Automated Machinery Corporation
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Publication number: 20130146422Abstract: Method and apparatus for feeding sand molds from multiple sand mold forming stations to a common metal pouring station. The method and apparatus of this invention utilize walking-beam-type conveyors having spaced apart fixed outboard rails and a central reciprocating rail. Transfer devices are provided for moving the sand molds onto and off of the conveyors.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 13, 2011Publication date: June 13, 2013Applicant: Hunter Automated Machinery CorporationInventor: William Gary Hunter
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Patent number: 7819168Abstract: An air amplifier apparatus and method for transferring or filling sand particles into a flask of a molding machine. A plurality of nozzles are each mounted with respect to the molding machine. A pressurized fluid, such as discharged from an air compressor or other pressure forming device, delivers pressurized fluid into each nozzle. The pressurized fluid flows through a passageway of each nozzle and can follow a Coanda profile as it accelerates the particles through the passageways. The accelerated particles are then discharged into a void formed by the flask of and pattern in the molding machine.Type: GrantFiled: July 27, 2006Date of Patent: October 26, 2010Assignee: Hunter Automated Machinery CorporationInventor: William Gary Hunter
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Patent number: 7637303Abstract: Method and apparatus for feeding sand molds from multiple sand mold forming stations to a common metal pouring station. The method and apparatus of this invention utilize walking-beam-type conveyors having spaced apart fixed outboard rails and a central reciprocating rail. Walking-beam conveyors are disposed in perpendicular directions with a junction therebetween that allows for a perpendicular change in direction. The method and apparatus of this invention allow multiple parallel walking-beam conveyors to feed sand molds to a single junction for transfer to a metal pouring station.Type: GrantFiled: August 7, 2006Date of Patent: December 29, 2009Assignee: Hunter Automated Machinery CorporationInventor: William Allan Hunter
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Patent number: 7475716Abstract: A mold handling system for carrying and transporting sand molds comprises a mold handling conveyor with multiple mold exits to provide different outputs for the sand molds. The mold handling system may include flags which can be used to mark selected molds to segregate the sand molds into different groups. A control system responds to flag sensors and tracks the molds to selectively control output of sand molds through the mold exits. Methods of handling sand molds using a mold handling system are also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: October 29, 2004Date of Patent: January 13, 2009Assignee: Hunter Automated Machinery CorporationInventors: William A. Hunter, William G. Hunter
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Patent number: 7328736Abstract: A mold flask assembly is provided with a novel clamping mechanism for clamping a pattern plate in the mold flask assembly of an automated molding machine. The clamping mechanism comprises a first clamp abutment and a clamping head extending along an axis. The clamping head provides a second clamp abutment. The first and second clamp abutments engage each other in a clamped position. The first and second clamp abutments are spaced along the axis and angularly displaced in a released position. A combination rotary and linear actuator is operative to facilitate relative linear translation and rotation between the rod and the bushing to move between the clamped and released positions.Type: GrantFiled: November 17, 2006Date of Patent: February 12, 2008Assignee: Hunter Automated Machinery CorporationInventors: William A. Hunter, William G. Hunter
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Patent number: 7210515Abstract: An automated matchplate molding machine includes a cope flask, a pattern plate and a drag flask for creating formed sand molds. A lock is provided to lock the drag flask to the platen table of the molding machine during desired stages of an individual sand molding sequence. The lock between the drag flask and the platen table may include actuated pins which engage corresponding detent structures such as tapered holes integral with the drag flask and prevent lateral migration of the drag flask relative to the platen table. Additionally, cope flask actuators are provided which vertically support and are operable to raise the cope flask relative to the squeeze head to facilitate release the cope mold from the cope flask.Type: GrantFiled: September 8, 2006Date of Patent: May 1, 2007Assignee: Hunter Automated Machinery CorporationInventor: William A. Hunter
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Publication number: 20070062667Abstract: A mold flask assembly is provided with a novel clamping mechanism for clamping a pattern plate in the mold flask assembly of an automated molding machine. The clamping mechanism comprises a first clamp abutment and a clamping head extending along an axis. The clamping head provides a second clamp abutment. The first and second clamp abutments engage each other in a clamped position. The first and second clamp abutments are spaced along the axis and angularly displaced in a released position. A combination rotary and linear actuator is operative to facilitate relative linear translation and rotation between the rod and the bushing to move between the clamped and released positions.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 17, 2006Publication date: March 22, 2007Applicant: Hunter Automated Machinery CorporationInventors: William Hunter, William Hunter
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Publication number: 20070000636Abstract: An automated matchplate molding machine includes a cope flask, a pattern plate and a drag flask for creating formed sand molds. A lock is provided to lock the drag flask to the platen table of the molding machine during desired stages of an individual sand molding sequence. The lock between the drag flask and the platen table may include actuated pins which engage corresponding detent structures such as tapered holes integral with the drag flask and prevent lateral migration of the drag flask relative to the platen table. Additionally, cope flask actuators are provided which vertically support and are operable to raise the cope flask relative to the squeeze head to facilitate release the cope mold from the cope flask.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 8, 2006Publication date: January 4, 2007Applicant: Hunter Automated Machinery CorporationInventor: William Hunter
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Patent number: 7150310Abstract: A mold flask assembly is provided with a novel clamping mechanism for clamping a pattern plate in the mold flask assembly of an automated molding machine. The clamping mechanism comprises a first clamp abutment and a clamping head extending along an axis. The clamping head provides a second clamp abutment. The first and second clamp abutments engage each other in a clamped position. The first and second clamp abutments are spaced along the axis and angularly displaced in a released position. A combination rotary and linear actuator is operative to facilitate relative linear translation and rotation between the rod and the bushing to move between the clamped and released positions.Type: GrantFiled: August 31, 2004Date of Patent: December 19, 2006Assignee: Hunter Automated Machinery CorporationInventors: William A. Hunter, William G. Hunter
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Patent number: 7104310Abstract: An automatic molding machine has different operational molding stations in which at least two different safety zones are provided for the different molding stations. Such an automated machine includes a mold flask assembly including a drag flask, a cope flask and a pattern plate. An electronic controller controls the molding machine differently when different safety zones are breached.Type: GrantFiled: December 27, 2004Date of Patent: September 12, 2006Assignee: Hunter Automated Machinery CorporationInventor: William A. Hunter
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Publication number: 20060137850Abstract: An automatic molding machine has different operational molding stations in which at least two different safety zones are provided for the different molding stations. Such an automated machine includes a mold flask assembly including a drag flask, a cope flask and a pattern plate. An electronic controller controls the molding machine differently when different safety zones are breached.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 27, 2004Publication date: June 29, 2006Applicant: Hunter Automated Machinery CorporationInventor: William Hunter
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Publication number: 20060118267Abstract: An automated matchplate molding machine includes a cope flask, a pattern plate and a drag flask for creating formed sand molds. A lock is provided to lock the drag flask to the platen table of the molding machine during desired stages of an individual sand molding sequence. The lock between the drag flask and the platen table may include actuated pins which engage corresponding detent structures such as tapered holes integral with the drag flask and prevent lateral migration of the drag flask relative to the platen table. Additionally, cope flask actuators are provided which vertically support and are operable to raise the cope flask relative to the squeeze head to facilitate release the cope mold from the cope flask.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 6, 2004Publication date: June 8, 2006Applicant: Hunter Automated Machinery CorporationInventor: William Hunter
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Publication number: 20060042775Abstract: A mold flask assembly is provided with a novel clamping mechanism for clamping a pattern plate in the mold flask assembly of an automated molding machine. The clamping mechanism comprises a first clamp abutment and a clamping head extending along an axis. The clamping head provides a second clamp abutment. The first and second clamp abutments engage each other in a clamped position. The first and second clamp abutments are spaced along the axis and angularly displaced in a released position. A combination rotary and linear actuator is operative to facilitate relative linear translation and rotation between the rod and the bushing to move between the clamped and released positions.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 31, 2004Publication date: March 2, 2006Applicant: Hunter Automated Machinery CorporationInventors: William Hunter, William Hunter
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Publication number: 20050109478Abstract: A mold handling system for carrying and transporting sand molds comprises a mold handling conveyor with multiple mold exits to provide different outputs for the sand molds. The mold handling system may include flags which can be used to mark selected molds to segregate the sand molds into different groups. A control system responds to flag sensors and tracks the molds to selectively control output of sand molds through the mold exits. Methods of handling sand molds using a mold handling system are also disclosed.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 29, 2004Publication date: May 26, 2005Applicant: Hunter Automated Machinery CorporationInventors: William Hunter, William Hunter
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Patent number: 6817403Abstract: A method and automated matchplate molding machine for blowing sand horizontally into the horizontally spaced open ends of the cope and drag flasks with a perpendicular trajectory relative to a vertically aligned matchplate between the cope and drag flasks. Sand is pneumatically blown horizontally from sand magazines through opposing ends of the cope and drag flasks toward the matchplate. The cope and drag flask can be turned between the upright and rotated positions. The machine disassembles the mold flask and removes the mold in the upright position and fills the mold with sand horizontally when in the rotated position. The molding machine includes a rotating turret that carries two mold flasks between a mold forming station and a draw station. The mold flasks may also be rotated about a horizontal axis relative to the turret to facilitate turning of the mold flasks between upright and rotated positions.Type: GrantFiled: May 22, 2003Date of Patent: November 16, 2004Assignee: Hunter Automated Machinery CorporationInventor: William A. Hunter
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Patent number: 6779586Abstract: A two tiered mold handling system for use in a sand mold casting machine which comprises a two tiered conveyor for pouring and cooling, or a two tiered conveyor for cooling only. The two-tiered conveyor has an upper linear track and a lower linear track disposed at a lower vertical elevation. The tracks carry a plurality of mold pallets along an endless path around the upper and lower linear tracks. The application is directed toward several concepts including two tiered pouring conveyors in combination with two tiered cooling conveyors, two tiered combination pouring and cooling conveyors, and one tiered pouring conveyors in combination with two tiered cooling conveyors to provide a lower pouring elevation.Type: GrantFiled: March 20, 2003Date of Patent: August 24, 2004Assignee: Hunter Automated Machinery CorporationInventors: William A. Hunter, William G. Hunter
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Publication number: 20030205349Abstract: A method and automated matchplate molding machine for blowing sand horizontally into the horizontally spaced open ends of the cope and drag flasks with a perpendicular trajectory relative to a vertically aligned matchplate between the cope and drag flasks. Sand is pneumatically blown horizontally from sand magazines through opposing ends of the cope and drag flasks toward the matchplate. The cope and drag flask can be turned between upright and rotated positions. The machine disassembles the mold flask and removes the mold in the upright position and fills the mold with sand horizontally when in the rotated position. The molding machine includes a rotating turret that carries two mold flasks between a mold forming station and a draw station. The mold flasks may also be rotated about a horizontal axis relative to the turret to facilitate turning of the mold flasks between upright and rotated positions.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 22, 2003Publication date: November 6, 2003Applicant: Hunter Automated Machinery CorporationInventor: William A. Hunter
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Publication number: 20030178170Abstract: A two tiered mold handling system for use in a sand mold casting machine which comprises a two tiered conveyor for pouring and cooling, or a two tiered conveyor for cooling only. The two-tiered conveyor has an upper linear track and a lower linear track disposed at a lower vertical elevation. The tracks carry a plurality of mold pallets along an endless path around the upper and lower linear tracks. The application is directed toward several concepts including two tiered pouring conveyors in combination with two tiered cooling conveyors, two tiered combination pouring and cooling conveyors, and one tiered pouring conveyors in combination with two tiered cooling conveyors to provide a lower pouring elevation.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 20, 2003Publication date: September 25, 2003Applicant: Hunter Automated Machinery CorporationInventors: William A. Hunter, William G. Hunter
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Patent number: 6622772Abstract: A method and automated matchplate molding machine for blowing sand horizontally into the horizontally spaced open ends of the cope and drag flasks with a perpendicular trajectory relative to a vertically aligned matchplate between the cope and drag flasks. Sand is pneumatically blown horizontally from sand magazines through opposing ends of the cope and drag flasks toward the matchplate. The cope and drag flask can be turned between upright and rotated positions. The machine disassembles the mold flask and removes the mold in the upright position and fills the mold with sand horizontally when in the rotated position. The molding machine includes a rotating turret that carries two mold flasks between a mold forming station and a draw station. The mold flasks may also be rotated about a horizontal axis relative to the turret to facilitate turning of the mold flasks between upright and rotated positions.Type: GrantFiled: April 26, 2002Date of Patent: September 23, 2003Assignee: Hunter Automated Machinery CorporationInventor: William A. Hunter
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Patent number: 6571860Abstract: A two tiered mold handling system for use in a sand mold casting machine which comprises a two tiered conveyor for pouring and cooling, or a two tiered conveyor for cooling only. The two-tiered conveyor has an upper linear track and a lower linear track disposed at a lower vertical elevation. The tracks carry a plurality of mold pallets along an endless path around the upper and lower linear tracks. The application is directed toward several concepts including two tiered pouring conveyors in combination with two tiered cooling conveyors, two tiered combination pouring and cooling conveyors, and one tiered pouring conveyors in combination with two tiered cooling conveyors to provide a lower pouring elevation.Type: GrantFiled: January 22, 2002Date of Patent: June 3, 2003Assignee: Hunter Automated Machinery CorporationInventors: William A. Hunter, William G. Hunter