Method and piercing device for creating clearances in the moulding sand of a moulding box

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for creating clearances in the moulding said of a moulding box, the moulding box being transported into a working area of a robot, a piercing device being brought into a predeterminable position above the moulding box, a piercing implement of the piercing device being moved by a drive predetermined distance in the direction of the moulding said and introduced into the moulding said to a previously defined depth. The invention also relates to a piercing device for creating clearances in the moulding said of a moulding box with at least one connection point at which a mechanical and/or electrical and/or activating connection to a robot is made possible, with a holding device, with at least one drive and with at least one piercing implement, the holding device being connected to the drive and to the at least one connecting point and the at least one piercing implement being movable back and forth along an imaginary longitudinal axis by the at least one drive.

Description

The invention relates to a method and a piercing device for creating clearances in the molding sand of a molding box.

It is generally known that such clearances in the molding sand of a molding box for the production of cast parts in foundries are created by hand or by special machines that are adapted to the molding box that is respectively being used.

On the basis of this prior art, it is an object of the invention to provide a method and a piercing device for creating clearances in the molding sand of a molding box that extend the application possibilities of known methods and devices.

The object is achieved according to the invention by the method for creating clearances in the molding sand of a molding box with the features given in claim 1. Moreover, the object is also achieved according to the invention by the piercing device for creating clearances in the molding sand of a molding box with the features given in claim 9.

Accordingly, the invention relates to a method for creating clearances in the molding sand of a molding box, the molding box being transported into a working area of a robot, a piercing device being brought into a predeterminable position above the molding box, a piercing implement of the piercing device being moved by a drive by a predetermined distance in the direction of the molding sand and introduced into the molding sand to a previously defined depth.

The robot positions the piercing device, whereby the position or positions of the piercing device can be adapted particularly easily to the molding box that is respectively being used. The piercing method according to the invention can consequently be used for many applications, advantageously extending the application possibilities.

The invention also relates to a piercing device for creating clearances in the molding sand of a molding box with at least one connecting point at which a mechanical and/or electrical and/or activating connection to a robot is made possible, with a holding device, with at least one drive and with at least one piercing implement, the holding device being connected to the drive and to the at least one connecting point and the at least one piercing implement being movable back and forth along an imaginary longitudinal axis by the at least one drive.

The piercing device is suitable for connection to a robot and is correspondingly designed. In this way, according to the invention the position or positions of the piercing device can be adapted particularly easily to the respective task. The piercing device can consequently be used for many applications, advantageously extending the application possibilities.

Further advantageous refinements of the subject matter of the invention can be taken from the dependent claims.

The invention, advantageous refinements and improvements of the invention as well as special advantages of the invention are to be explained and described in more detail on the basis of exemplary embodiments that are represented in the drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 shows a robot with a first piercing device in a first view,

FIG. 2 shows the robot in a second view and

FIG. 3 shows a second piercing device.

FIG. 1 shows a robot 10 with a first piercing device 12 in a first view, the first piercing device 12 being arranged at the outer end of a robot arm 14. A first molding box 16 is arranged underneath the first piercing device 12, a second molding box 18 is arranged directly alongside it. The robot 10 stands here laterally alongside the molding box 16 to be worked, but may also be arranged on a framework and also be positioned in such a way above the first molding box 16. A first piercing implement 20 is attached to the piercing device 12 in a first holding means 24.

The method according to the invention for creating clearances in the molding sand of a molding box proceeds as follows. First, the first molding box 16 is transported into a working area of a robot 10. The first piercing device 12 is brought into a predeterminable position above the molding box 16 and moved by a drive 22 by a predetermined distance in the direction of the molding sand and introduced into the molding sand to a previously defined depth.

FIG. 2 shows the robot 10 with the first piercing device 12 in a second view, for which reason the same reference numerals as those inserted in FIG. 1 are also used for the same components.

FIG. 3 shows a second piercing device 30 for creating clearances in the molding sand of a molding box with a connecting point 32 at which a mechanical connection to a robot (not represented in this figure) is made possible. A number of holding elements 34 form a holding device, to which an electric drive 36 is connected. A second piercing implement 38 is designed in this figure as a round rod and is arranged on the drive 36 by means of a holding plate 40. The second piercing impleament 38 can be moved back and forth along an imaginary longitudinal axis by the drive 36, this imaginary longitudinal axis coinciding with the longitudinal axis of the second piercing implement 38.

The following example is also given with respect to the above:

Venting holes are to be introduced into a molding box. For this purpose, a robot equipped with a venting device is used.

An automatic conveying mechanism intermittently advances the molding boxes at fixed intervals. During the brief standstill of the molding box, the predetermined holes are introduced into the casting sand by means of a robot and the venting device.

All box sizes that are compatible with automation can be covered. The number of holes, their diameter and the piercing depth may be varied.

A higher-level control transmits the position of the holes to be produced, after which the robot moves to this position and performs the work required there. It can also operate entirely autonomously without further interfaces with other equipment.

Claims

1. A method for creating clearances in the molding sand of a molding box, the molding box being transported into a working area of a robot, a piercing device being brought into a predeterminable position above the molding box, a piercing implement of the piercing device being moved by a drive by a predetermined distance in the direction of the molding sand and introduced into the molding sand to a previously defined depth.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the piercing device is positioned by the robot in a two-dimensional or three-dimensional manner.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the piercing device is electrically driven.

4. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the piercing implement is moved back again into its original position after it has been introduced into the molding sand.

5. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein, before the piercing, a distance measurement is carried out to determine a distance between the piercing device and the surface of the molding sand that is facing the piercing device.

6. The method as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that wherein, after the creation of a clearance, the piercing device is brought into a further predeterminable position by the robot.

7. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the molding box is transported out of the working area of the robot.

8. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the robot and/or the piercing device is activated by the robot control or by a higher-level control device.

9. A piercing device for creating clearances in the molding sand of a molding box with at least one connecting point at which a mechanical and/or electrical and/or activating connection to a robot is made possible, with a holding device, with at least one drive and with at least one piercing implement, the holding device being connected to the drive and to the at least one connecting point and the at least one piercing implement being movable back and forth along an imaginary longitudinal axis by the at least one drive.

10. The piercing device as claimed in claim 9, wherein the deflection of the back and forth movement can be predetermined by the at least one drive.

11. The piercing device as claimed in claim 9, wherein the at least one drive is an electric, pneumatic or hydraulic drive.

12. The piercing device as claimed in claim 9, wherein a distance measuring device is attached to the holding device and in that, if and when required, the distance from a surface of the molding sand in the molding box can be measured by the distance measuring device

13. The piercing device as claimed in claim 9, wherein the piercing implement that has just been used can be exchanged before the creation of a further clearance.

14. The piercing device as claimed in claim 9, wherein the shape and depth of the clearances can be varied by exchanging the piercing implements.