Abstract: A laser processing apparatus includes worktable for loading a workpiece, a laser emitter, a user interface, a detecting unit, and a controller. The user interface allows inputting a thickness value of the workpiece. The detecting unit includes a signal emitter, a signal receiver for receiving signals emitted by the signal emitter, and a lifting unit. The workpiece is positioned between the signal emitter and the signal receiver. The controller controls the lifting device to adjust a height of the signal emitter and signal receiver relative to the worktable to be equal to a sum of the input thickness value and a focal length of the laser emitter. The controller controls the driving device to adjust a height of the laser emitter relative to the worktable if the signal receiver receives the signals and stop to adjust the laser emitter if the signal receiver does not receive the signals.

Abstract: An investment casting system includes a computer controlled mold transfer device movable between at least three stations, including a mold receiving station. A mold transfer station includes a mold suspended from a first horizontally extending arm of the mold transfer device engaging an intermediate transfer device to transfer the mold to the intermediate transfer device. A storage station has a storage rack receiving the mold following a material coating phase. A robot in communication with the intermediate transfer device is programmed to position the mold in any of multiple material coating stations during the material coating phase. The mold is accessible for removal from the system at any stage of completion by direction of a computer control system.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of 2-chloro-1,1,1,3,3,3-heptafluoropropane is disclosed which involves (a) contacting a mixture comprising hydrogen fluoride, chlorine, and at least one starting material selected from the group consisting of halopropenes of the formula CX3CCI?CX2 and halopropanes of the formula the CX3CCIYCX3, wherein each X is independently F or Cl, and Y is H, Cl or F (provided that the number of X and Y which are F totals no more than six) with a chlorofluorination catalyst in a reaction zone to produce a product mixture comprising CF3CCIFCF3, HCI, HF. and underfluorinated halogenated hydrocarbon intermediates. The process is characterized by said chlorofluorination catalyst comprising at least one chromium-containing component selected from (i) a crystalline alpha-chromium oxide where at least 0.

Abstract: A rotary drive system is provided that can rotate any object or a die holding assembly up to 270 degrees of rotation that uses both air and oil along with a oil/air pressure transferring device to smooth out each rotary cycle. The rotary drive system also utilizes a combination of air and oil in combination with a flow control device and an oil recovery reservoir to provide an impact cushion at the end of each rotational cycle.

Abstract: A pattern plate carrier releasably mounts a pattern plate. The pattern plate carrier is rotatable to an inverted position, and a pattern plate changing device is provided for removing a pattern plate from the inverted carrier and replacing the removed pattern plate with a pre-heated substituting pattern plate.

Abstract: A shell mold includes a plurality of sleeve forming portions. Of the sleeve forming portions, at least an endmost sleeve forming portion located adjacent to a subrunner portion has a modified shape for compensating for deformation of cast sleeves caused by solidification and contraction of molten metal. A shell molding apparatus includes an upper die and a lower die which constitute a die set for molding a shell mold. The lower die is composed of shell molding inserts, each having the shape of a halved cylinder, spiny insert receiving recesses formed in the shell molding inserts, and spiny inserts retractably provided in the spiny insert receiving recesses. In a casting method using a shell mold, many protrusions of a spiny insert are reversely copied to the inner surface of a halved shell mold at the undercut portion of the inner surface, thereby forming many depressions at the undercut portion. The halved shell mold is parted from the lower die.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for manufacturing cast parts by means of a lost wax process which is fully automated and unmanned. The wax tree coating processes, ranging from after a wax tree manufacturing step to immediately before a dewaxing step comprises a handling device for handling wax trees, a pair of slurry fluid dipping baths disposed with the handling device in between, a pair of sanding fluidized bed tanks disposed with the handling device in between, and a pair of conveyors for suspending and transferring the wax trees for not less than given drying time, wherein the handling device chucks the wax tree suspended and transferred by the conveyor at a given transfer position by means of a clamp unit of the handling device, moves the wax tree to the slurry fluid dipping bath and then to the sanding fluidized bed tank to coat the wax tree with a slurry fluid and sand, and returns the coated wax tree to the hanger conveyor again, with the sequence of operations automatically controlled by a controller.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for automatically forming ceramic shell molds as part of an investment casting process. The apparatus includes structure defining a plurality of processing stations which together define a process line through which set ups are conveyed and coated with cermic material. The first station includes a pickup arm assembly operative to transfer a set up from a transfer cart to a slurry tank where it is released. A transfer arm forming part of a second station engages the set up rotates it within the slurry tank for a predetermined time, after which, the slurry transfer arm transfers it to a spin-off tank and releases it. A stucco transfer arm assembly forming part of a third station engages the set up and rotates it to spin-off excess slurry solution after which the stucco transfer arm transfers it to a stucco tank and releases it.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for the dumping of shells, having a dumping station and pattern carriers in which the dumping station is combined with several pattern carriers transported in a circle and their pattern device. By means of this device, it is possible to carry out the dumping of shells without non-productive times, that is, without taking into account the hardening times of the shells and without stoppage of the machine, which results in a considerable saving in time.

Abstract: An improved system for the preparation of ceramic shell molds comprises a rotary disk which is mounted for rotating in a substantially horizontal plane. A plurality of wax master mounting bars are pivotally carried by the rotary disk to move around the periphery of the rotary disk. The mounting bars have free ends loaded with the wax masters. The rotary disk is operatively associated with the wax master mounting bars for swinging and rotating the bars on their own axes as the rotary disk rotates continuously. The preferred embodiment comprises a cam of generally twisted undulating cam strips and a roller attached to the base ends of the bars for frictionally engaging the cam face of the cam strip to swing the bars and to rotate them on their own axes. A slurry bath, a drain bath, and a stucco bath are arranged around the exerior side of the periphery of the rotary disk.

Abstract: Multi-core box apparatus for producing hollow foundry cores made from sand mixed with a binder that is curable either by gaseous catalytic action or by elevated temperature comprises a plurality of core boxes mounted on a housing that is rotatable in a vertical plane. The core boxes are presented sequentially by an index mechanism at various positions where treatment of material in the core boxes is carried out and at a last position a finished hollow foundry core is removed automatically from a core box.The automatic apparatus for removing the finished core from the core box, and for depositing the finished core on a conveyor comprises an elongated rod that can be inserted into the hollow core and that supports the core when the core box half portions separate. The elongated rod is carried by a spindle on a movable carriage so that the spindle and rod rotate and reciprocate thereby removing the hollow core for further treatment.

Abstract: Apparatus for making shells from thermosetting liquid compounds in which at a first station, a travelling and heated permanent metal mould becomes filled with a thermosetting liquid compound. The mould is then moved to a second station where it is held until a shell wall of desired thickness is obtained. Thereafter, the mould is transferred to a further station where excess thermosetting compound is recovered and dispensed to an accumulative mixer to be used again. Subsequently, the metal mould is passed to a final station where it is opened and the ready shell removed. The apparatus comprises said and liquid constituent containers, a sand feeder and two mixers, namely, a basic mixer and an accumulative mixer. The apparatus is provided with a unit for proportioning the liquid constituents and a delivery unit to force the compound into the mould.

Abstract: In a method of forming foundry sand moulds employing a cold-setting sand mixture pressed around a pattern by the use of pneumatic pressure acting on a flexible diaphragm, the sand is formed into a horizontal layer of approximately uniform thickness in a frame of which the bottom wall is formed by the diaphragm, the pattern is then pressed into that layer of sand, causing the diaphragm to bulge downwards, then the gas pressure (conveniently air pressure) is applied to compact the sand, which thereupon sets to allow separation of the resultant mould body from the diaphragm and pattern. During the initial formation of the layer the diaphragm can be supported by a further, stronger diaphragm, which is perforated to allow the gas pressure through, or by a rigid pad, or both.

Abstract: Apparatus for forming molded shapes such as shell molds is disclosed which features a transport mechanism advancing a pattern carrier assembly progressively through a mold mix dispensing station, an excess mix discharging station, through an oven where the mold is cured, and thence to a mold unloading station. The pattern carrier assembly is then retracted back through the curing oven where the pattern or patterns are preheated prior to retraction to the initial mix dispensing station, to be in position for initiation of another cycle. The transport mechanism includes a power cylinder reciprocating a yoke assembly by means of a connected operator rod. The pattern carrier plate is rotatably supported on the yoke assembly so that a rack and pinion means interacting with the pattern plate will produce a mix discharging rotation of the pattern carrier plate after exiting from the mix dispensing station.