JP2945888B2 - Automatic hot water supply device for casting and casting equipment equipped with this device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an automatic hot water supply apparatus for casting and a casting facility equipped with the apparatus, and more particularly to a measure for improving the efficiency of casting operation.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, when casting a casting, a molten metal of an aluminum alloy or the like is filled into a mold cavity. As a method, a molten metal stored in a melting and holding furnace is pumped by a hot water supply ladle to form a metal. There is a method of filling the cavity of the mold (for example, see Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 3-114147 and Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 4-9262).

As another method, a hot water supply ladle having an inlet on the bottom is soaked in molten metal, the molten metal is introduced into the hot water supply ladle, and the hot water supply ladle is placed in a mold while the inlet is closed with a stopper. To remove the stopper and fill the cavity of the mold with the molten metal.

[0004] However, these methods have a disadvantage that the molten metal storage capacity of the hot water supply ladle varies depending on how the hot water supply ladle is immersed, and the molten metal cannot be supplied to the mold cavity without excess or shortage. For this reason, a method of supplying a certain amount of molten metal using a suction type hot water supply ladle has been developed.

A method using the suction type hot water supply ladle is as follows.
A closed-type hot water supply ladle having a suction pipe at the lower end and a suction pipe at the upper end is prepared, and the suction pipe is immersed in the molten metal stored in the melting and holding furnace. By evacuating to a negative pressure, the molten metal is sucked from the suction pipe, the negative pressure in the hot water supply ladder is balanced with the gravity of the molten metal, and a certain amount of the molten metal is accommodated in the hot water supply ladder. The mold is moved to the mold, the negative pressure in the hot water supply ladle is released, and the molten metal is filled into the mold cavity.

[0006] In this case, as a moving means for moving the hot water supply ladle between the melting and holding furnace and the mold, an articulated work robot having a hand at the end of an arm is generally employed. Is moved between the melting and holding furnace and the mold by gripping with the hand of the working robot. In other words, a work robot is installed between the melting and holding furnace and the mold, the hot water supply ladle is gripped by the hand of the work robot, and the suction pipe is immersed in the molten metal in the melting and holding furnace. After being sucked and stored, the hot water supply ladle is taken out of the melting and holding furnace, moved to a mold, and the cavity of the mold is filled with molten metal to cast a casting.

[0007]

However, in the above case, the working robot grips the hot water supply ladle all the time from gripping the hot water supply ladle to suck the molten metal until filling the cavity of the mold with the molten metal. That is,
During this time, for example, the work of holding the casting cast in the previous casting cycle and transferring it from the mold to the pallet, or removing the casting from the mold cavity, The work of applying a release agent in preparation for casting cannot be performed. Therefore, these operations must be performed before the molten metal is sucked into the hot water supply ladle, or in the former case, it must be waited until the filling of the molten metal into the mold cavity is completed, which makes the casting cycle longer. There was a problem that the working efficiency deteriorated.

As a countermeasure for this, a work robot is additionally provided.
Even if one work robot is completely involved in gripping the hot water supply ladle during the period from the suction of the molten metal to the completion of filling the molten metal into the cavity of the mold, the casting operation for transferring the casting to another working robot as described above. It is possible to improve the work efficiency by eliminating the waiting time by performing the application of the mold release agent and the like, and to shorten the casting cycle by that much.However, there is a problem that the cost increases as the number of working robots increases. is there.

Further, in the method of sucking the molten metal by holding the hot water supply ladle with a work robot, when the molten metal in the melting and holding furnace is reduced by use and the level of the molten metal is lowered, the hot water supply ladle is adjusted in accordance with the reduced amount. Since the position of the suction pipe must be lowered, the relationship between the level of the hot water level and the level of the hot water supply ladle must be programmed in the controller of the working robot, which complicates the control system and raises costs. Will be invited.

[0010] The present invention has been made in view of such a point, and an object of the present invention is to perform a casting operation efficiently without incurring much expense.

[0011]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention is characterized in that a hot water supply ladle is received from a moving means such as a work robot and molten metal is automatically sucked into the hot water supply ladle. I do.

More specifically, the present invention relates to an automatic hot water supply apparatus for casting for automatically sucking a molten metal stored in a melting and holding furnace into a hot water supply ladle so as to supply the molten metal to a casting mold, and a casting facility equipped with the apparatus. The following solutions were taken for

That is, the invention according to claims 1 to 5 is
The first aspect of the present invention relates to an automatic hot water supply apparatus for casting, wherein the invention according to claim 1 is provided with an apparatus main body extending upward on a side of the melting and holding furnace, and holding a ladle holding the hot water supply ladle on the apparatus main body. The means is provided so as to be able to move up and down. Further, a lifting drive means for raising and lowering the ladle holding means is provided. In addition, a metal surface level detecting means for detecting the metal surface level of the molten metal is provided in the ladle holding means. In addition, when the molten metal is sucked, the raising and lowering drive means is driven to lower the ladle holding means to introduce the hot water supply ladle into the melting and holding furnace, and the molten metal level detecting means detects the molten metal level based on the detection signal. While the raising and lowering drive means is stopped and the lowering of the ladle holding means is stopped to cause the molten metal to be automatically sucked into the hot water supply ladle, after the molten metal is sucked, the ascending and lowering driving means is driven to raise the ladle holding means to supply hot water. A control means for leading the ladle out of the melting and holding furnace is provided.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect, an earth electrode immersed in the molten metal in the melting and holding furnace is provided. Further, the molten metal level detecting means is constituted by an electrode rod, and the molten metal level is detected by the electrode rod being in contact with the molten metal and being energized between the electrode and the ground electrode. I do.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, a float floated on the molten metal in the melting and holding furnace is provided. Further, the float is made of a lightweight refractory block having a specific gravity smaller than that of the molten metal. Also, the molten metal level detecting means is constituted by a non-contact type optical sensor, and the non-contact type optical sensor detects the molten metal level by approaching the float.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the third aspect of the present invention, a float having a detection rod extending upward is adopted, and the molten metal level detection means approaches the tip of the detection rod. Is used to detect the level of the molten metal.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the fourth aspect of the present invention, a supporting member is erected on the upper edge of the melting and holding furnace. Further, the guide cylinder is attached to the support member so as to face above the molten metal in the melting and holding furnace. The detection rod is inserted into the guide cylinder so as to be vertically movable from below, and is guided vertically according to a change in the level of the molten metal.

The inventions according to claims 6 and 7 relate to the latter casting equipment. Among them, the invention according to claim 6 relates to a melting and holding furnace in which a molten metal is stored, and a casting for casting a casting. A mold, and a moving means provided between the melting and holding furnace and the casting mold, and at the time of casting, the hot water supply ladle containing the molten metal sucked by the melting and holding furnace and accommodated in the casting mold by the moving means. It moves and fills the cavity of the casting mold with molten metal to cast a casting. An automatic hot water supply device for casting according to any one of claims 1 to 5 is provided on a side of the melting and holding furnace, and when the molten metal is sucked, the hot water supply ladle is transferred to the automatic hot water supply device for casting by the moving means. It is characterized by doing so.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the sixth aspect, the moving means is a work robot.

With the above arrangement, in the inventions according to the first to seventh aspects, when the molten metal is sucked, the hot water supply ladle is transferred to the ladle holding means of the automatic hot water supply device for casting by the moving means, and the hot water supply ladle is received. The ladle holding means is lowered by the drive of the elevation drive means, and the hot water supply ladle is introduced into the melting and holding furnace. During this time, the level of the molten metal is detected by the level detecting means. Based on this detection signal, the elevation drive means stops and the descent of the ladle holding means stops. In this state, the molten metal is automatically sucked into the hot water supply ladle. When the suction of the molten metal is completed, the elevation drive means is driven to raise the ladle holding means, and the hot water supply ladle is drawn out of the melting and holding furnace. The moving means receives the hot water supply ladle from the ladle holding means, moves to a casting mold, fills a cavity of the casting mold with a molten metal, and casts a casting.

Accordingly, the moving means is free to be separated from the hot water supply ladle from the time when the hot water supply ladle is delivered to the ladle holding means of the automatic hot water supply apparatus for casting until the suction of the molten metal is completed. The operation of transferring the casting cast in the cycle from the casting mold to the pallet is performed in parallel with the molten metal suction operation, and the casting cycle is shortened by the amount of no waiting time, thereby improving the operation efficiency.

In particular, when the moving means is a working robot (Claim 7), in addition to the casting transfer operation, the casting mold is separated from the mold cavity after the casting is released in preparation for the next casting. The work of applying a mold agent and the like are also performed in parallel with the work of sucking the molten metal, so that the casting cycle is further shortened and the working efficiency is greatly improved. In addition, since the casting transfer operation and the release agent application operation as described above are performed by the work robot having the vacant hand by transferring the hot water supply ladle to the automatic hot water supply device for casting, another work robot is required. Instead, these operations are performed by one work robot, and the increase in costs due to the increase in work robots is avoided.

Further, during casting, the hot water supply ladle in which the molten metal has been filled into the casting mold is delivered to the ladle holding means of the automatic hot water supply apparatus for casting in preparation for the next casting, and the molten metal in the melting and holding furnace is melted. If soaked, the hot water supply ladles are kept warm without being cooled by the outside air, and the temperature of the molten metal sucked into the hot water supply ladles is prevented from lowering, so that the quality of the casting is ensured.

In addition, when the level sensor is a non-contact optical sensor (claims 3 to 5), the level of the molten metal is detected by the non-contact optical sensor approaching the float. Then, based on this detection signal, the positional relationship of the hot water supply ladle with respect to the hot water level is set appropriately. Therefore, even if the molten metal in the melting and holding furnace is reduced due to the use and the molten metal level is lowered, the molten metal level is always accurately detected, and the amount of decrease in the molten metal level and the decrease in the amount of the hot water supply ladle are always determined. The control system is simpler than in a case where the relationship is programmed in a controller on the moving means side such as a work robot to control the operation of the work robot or the like, and a rise in cost is avoided.
Further, when the molten metal level detecting means is a non-contact type optical sensor (claims 3 to 5), contact with the molten metal as in the case where the molten metal level detecting means is an electrode rod (claim 2). In addition, there are no problems such as erosion of the detection portion due to contact with the molten metal and deterioration of detection accuracy due to adhesion of metal or its oxide, and durability and reliability are improved.

When the float has a detection rod (claim 4), the non-contact type optical sensor detects the tip of the detection rod. The distance is large, and the thermal effect of the molten metal on the non-contact type optical sensor is reduced, thereby preventing its failure.

Further, when the detection rod is guided by the guide cylinder (claim 5), the float is positioned at a fixed position so as not to float in the melting and holding furnace, and the non-contact type optical sensor is provided. Is reliably irradiated to the tip of the detection rod, and there is no detection error of the level of the molten metal.

[0027]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

(Embodiment 1) FIG. 2 schematically shows an entire casting facility to which an automatic hot water supply apparatus A for casting according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention is applied. In the figure, reference numeral 1 denotes a melting and holding furnace in which a molten metal M of a metal such as an aluminum alloy is stored, and 2 denotes a mold as a casting mold. The mold 2 includes a pair of right and left split molds 2a. A cavity 2b is formed between the two halves 2a in the tightened state, and the molten metal M is filled into the cavity 2b to cast a casting. A work robot 3 as a moving means is installed between the melting and holding furnace 1 and the mold 2, and the work robot 3 is a multi-joint robot having a hand 3b at the tip of an arm 3a. Then, at the time of casting, the suction type hot water supply ladle 4 containing the molten metal M sucked and stored in the melting and holding furnace 1 is moved to the work robot 3.
The mold 2 is moved to the mold 2, and the cavity 2b of the mold 2 is filled with the molten metal M to cast a casting.

On the side of the melting and holding furnace 1, an automatic hot water supply apparatus A for casting according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention is installed.
When the molten metal is sucked, the work robot 3 grasps the hot water supply ladle 4 and transfers it to the automatic hot water supply apparatus A for casting, and the automatic hot water supply apparatus A for casting the molten metal M stored in the melting and holding furnace 1 into a mold. 2 is automatically sucked into the hot water supply ladle 4.

As shown in FIG. 1, a base 5 is provided on the side of the melting and holding furnace 1, and an upwardly extending column 6 is erected on the base 5, and the base 5 and the column 6
Thus, the apparatus main body 7 of the automatic hot water supply apparatus A for casting is constituted. A drive motor 8 is mounted on an upper end of a column 6 of the apparatus main body 7 as an elevating drive means. An output shaft of the drive motor 8 has an upper end of a screw shaft (not shown) extending vertically in the column 6. Are connected.

On the surface of the column 6 on the melting and holding furnace 1 side,
A slide rail 9 extending in the vertical direction is disposed, and a slider 10 is engaged with the slide rail 9 so as to be slidable in the vertical direction. On the other hand, a base end of a horizontally extending ladle holding frame 11 as a ladle holding means is connected to the screw shaft by a ball nut (not shown) and is supported horizontally. The end side is connected to the slider 10, whereby the ladle holding frame 11 is arranged to be able to move up and down on the apparatus main body 7. And the drive motor 8
The screw shaft is rotated by the drive of, and the ladle holding frame 11 is moved up and down along the slide rail 9.

The front end of the ladle holding frame 11 branches into two branches to form a holder portion 11a, which holds the hot water supply ladle 4. That is, the hot water supply ladle 4 is of a sealed type, a suction pipe 4a is formed at a lower end, and a suction pipe 4b is formed at an upper end, and a flange 4c is projected on an outer periphery of an upper end, and the flange 4c is connected to the ladle holding frame. The hot water supply ladle 4 is held by being received from below by the holder portion 11a of 11. At the center of the upper end of the hot water supply ladle 4, a grip 4d is protruded. The grip 4d is gripped by the hand 3b of the work robot 3 and the work robot 3 and the automatic hot water supply apparatus A for casting.
The hot water supply ladle 4 is transferred to and from the (ladle holding frame 11), and the hot water supply ladle 4 is moved above the mold 2.

The suction pipe 4b of the hot water supply ladle 4 is connected to a vacuum pump 12 as a negative pressure source, and the suction pump 4a is immersed in the molten metal M stored in the melting and holding furnace 1 to operate the vacuum pump 12. By actuating and vacuuming the inside of the hot water supply ladle 4 through the suction pipe 4a to create a negative pressure, the molten metal M is sucked from the suction pipe 4a, and the negative pressure in the hot water supply ladle 4 and the gravity of the molten metal M The molten metal M is accommodated in the hot water supply ladder 4 while the vacuum pump 12 is stopped and the negative pressure in the hot water supply ladder 4 is released. Is to be filled.

A mounting member 13 is vertically provided in the middle of the lower surface of the ladle holding frame 11, and a non-contact type optical sensor 14 as a level detecting means is provided at the lower end of the mounting member 13.
Are arranged to project the light beam horizontally. The non-contact type optical sensor 14 may be of a reflection type or a transmission type that detects the presence or absence of an object by receiving the reflection or transmission of a projection beam. Any type such as a built-in optical element type, or an optical fiber type in which the light projecting unit and the light receiving unit are installed in another place not affected by the heat of the molten metal M and connected to the head with an optical fiber, In this example, a case of a reflection type optical fiber type sensor is shown.

A float 16 made of a lightweight refractory block having a specific gravity smaller than that of the melt M is floated on the melt M in the melting and holding furnace 1, and a detection rod 17 extending upward is provided on the upper surface of the float 16. It is erected. The material of the float 16 is, for example, a refractory brick, a hollow ceramic material, or a hollow metal material whose surface is coated with a refractory. On the other hand, on the upper edge of the melting and holding furnace 1, there is provided an upside-down L-shaped support member 20 whose front end projects horizontally into the melting and holding furnace 1.
A guide cylinder 18 is attached to the leading end so as to face above the molten metal M in the melting and holding furnace 1. Guide tube 18
The detection rod 17 is inserted through the lower part of the molten metal M by a guide tube 18 so that the detection rod 17 can freely move up and down from below.
The guide is freely guided in the vertical direction according to a change in the level of the molten metal.

With this arrangement, the float 16 can be positioned at a fixed position so as not to float in the melting and holding furnace 1. Irradiates and reflects the projected light beam, and the level of the molten metal can be accurately detected without detection error. In addition, the non-contact type optical sensor 14
Since the detection rod 17 extending upward from the sensor 6 is detected, the distance between the non-contact type optical sensor 14 and the surface of the molten metal M at the time of detection is greatly increased, and the thermal effect of the molten metal M on the non-contact type optical sensor 14 The failure can be reduced to a minimum.

The non-contact optical sensor 14 is connected to the detection rod 17
With the ladle holding frame 11 positioned on the side of the tip,
The distance between the lower end of the suction pipe 4a of the hot water supply ladle 4 and the surface of the molten metal M is set in advance, whereby the ladle holding frame 11 is lowered and the non-contact type optical sensor 1
4 approaches the float 16, that is, the non-contact type optical sensor 14 is located on the side of the tip of the detection rod 17, so that the light beam emitted horizontally from the non-contact type optical sensor 14 is The level of the molten metal M is detected by the non-contact optical sensor 14 receiving the reflected light beam reflected by the tip of the detection rod 17.

The drive motor 8 and the non-contact type optical sensor 14
The vacuum pump 12 is connected to a controller 21 as a control means. When the molten metal is sucked, the controller 21 drives the drive motor 8 to lower the ladle holding frame 11 to move the hot water supply ladle 4 to the melting and holding furnace 1. After the level of the molten metal is detected by the non-contact type optical sensor 14, the drive motor 8 is stopped based on the detection signal, and the lowering of the ladle holding frame 11 is stopped to stop the molten metal M.
Is automatically sucked into the hot water supply ladle 4, and after the molten metal is sucked, the drive motor 8 is driven to raise the ladle holding frame 11 to draw out the hot water supply ladle 4 from the melting and holding furnace 1. . A limit switch 2 having a contact 22a is located near the upper end of the column 6.
The limit switch 22 is arranged so that the ladle holding frame 11 is raised and the slider 10 is connected to the contact 2.
It operates by kicking 2 a upward, stopping the ladle holding frame 11 at its raised position, and adjusting the delivery of the hot water supply ladle 4 between the ladle holding frame 11 and the work robot 3. Conversely, the ladle holding frame 11 descends and the slider 10
When kicking a downward, it does not operate, the ladle holding frame 11 continues to descend without stopping, and the hot water supply ladle 4 is introduced into the melting and holding furnace 1.

Next, a procedure for casting a casting by a casting facility equipped with the automatic hot water supply apparatus A for casting configured as described above will be described with reference to FIGS.

The working robot 3 grips the hot water supply ladle 4 in which the cavity 2b of the mold 2 has been filled with the molten metal M in the previous casting cycle with the hand 3b, and the automatic hot water supply apparatus A for casting.
Go to In the automatic hot water supply apparatus A for casting, as shown in FIG. 3, the ladle holding frame 11 rises to prepare the delivery state of the hot water supply ladle 4, and waits.
Is transferred from the work robot 3 to the ladle holding frame 11.

As shown in FIG. 4, the ladle holding frame 11 descends, and the non-contact type optical sensor 14
When the non-contact type optical sensor 14 receives the reflected light of the projected beam by approaching the side of the tip of the detection rod 17, the level of the molten metal M is detected, and this detection signal is output to the controller 21. Is done.

As shown in FIG. 5, the ladle holding frame 11 is then lowered by a predetermined distance and stopped, and almost the entire hot water supply ladle 4 is immersed in the molten metal M. In this state, the hot water supply ladle 4 is maintained for a predetermined period of time to keep the temperature of the hot water supply ladle 4 from being cooled in the hot water supply ladle 4.

As shown in FIG. 6, the ladle holding frame 11 is raised, and only the suction pipe 4a of the hot water supply ladle 4 is immersed in the molten metal M. In this state, the vacuum pump 12 is operated to supply the molten metal M. Suction into ladle 4.

As shown in FIG. 7, the ladle holding frame 11 slightly rises and stops, and the suction pipe 4 a of the hot water supply ladle 4 is pulled up from the surface of the molten metal M to discharge the excess molten metal M in the hot water supply ladle 4. Then, a fixed amount of the molten metal M is held in the hot water supply ladle 4.

As shown in FIG. 8, when the ladle holding frame 11 further moves up and the slider 10 kicks the contact 22 a of the limit switch 22 upward, the ladle holding frame 11 stops, and the delivery state of the hot water supply ladle 4 is changed. Trim.

As shown by a virtual line in FIG. 8, the working robot 3 holds the hot water supply ladle 4 with the hand 3b and receives it from the ladle holding frame 11, and as shown in the left end of FIG.
The hot water supply ladle 4 is moved above the mold 2 and the vacuum pump 1
2, the negative pressure is released, the molten metal M in the hot water supply ladle 4 is filled into the cavity 2b of the mold 2, and a casting is cast.

In the above procedures (1) to (4), the hot water supply ladle 4 is located on the casting automatic hot water supply apparatus A side and not on the work robot 3 side, and the work robot 3 can freely move during this time. The castings cast in the casting cycle described above are transferred to the pallet from the mold 2 and the cavity 2 of the mold 2 after the casting is released.
The operation of applying a release agent to the b in preparation for the next casting can be performed in parallel with the operation of sucking the molten metal, and the casting cycle can be shortened by the amount of no waiting time, thereby improving the operation efficiency.

Further, during casting, the hot water supply ladle 4 in which the mold 2 has been filled with the molten metal M is delivered to the ladle holding frame 11 of the automatic hot water supply apparatus A for casting in preparation for the next casting. By immersing in the molten metal M in 1, the hot water supply ladle 4 can be kept warm from the outside temperature so as not to be cooled, and the temperature of the molten metal M sucked into the hot water supply ladle 4 can be prevented to lower the quality of the casting. Can be secured.

Since the casting transfer operation and the release agent application operation as described above are transferred to the automatic hot water supply apparatus A for casting and performed by the work robot 3 having no available hands, the work robot 3 is separately provided. It is not necessary to increase the number of work robots 3, and these work can be performed by one work robot 3, thereby avoiding an increase in cost due to an increase in work robots 3.

In addition, as described above, the non-contact type optical sensor 14
Detects the level of the molten metal M by approaching the float 16 and appropriately sets the positional relationship of the hot water supply ladle 4 with respect to the level of the molten metal based on this detection signal. Even if the molten metal M decreases due to use and the molten metal level decreases, the molten metal level of the molten metal M can always be detected accurately, and the amount of decrease in the molten metal level and the amount of reduction of the hot water supply ladle 4 can be determined. The control system can be simplified and an increase in cost can be avoided as compared with a case where the relationship is programmed in the controller 21 of the work robot 3 to control the operation of the work robot 3.

(Embodiment 2) FIG. 9 shows an automatic hot water supply apparatus A for casting according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention. The automatic hot water supply apparatus A for casting has the same configuration as the automatic hot water supply apparatus A for casting according to Embodiment 1 described above, except that the detection of the level of the molten metal M is performed by contact energization using electrodes. The same components are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

That is, in the automatic hot water supply apparatus A for casting according to the second embodiment, the electrode rod 24 made of iron, graphite, or the like as the level detecting means is attached to the middle of the lower surface of the ladle holding frame 11 by the attaching member 23. While
An earth electrode 25 is provided on the supporting member 2 at the upper edge of the melting and holding furnace 1.
6 and immersed in the molten metal M in the melting and holding furnace 1. The electrode rod 24 and the ground electrode 25 are both connected to an energization detection circuit 27,
7 is connected to the controller 21.

The electrode rod 24 and the ground electrode 25
A voltage is applied between the molten metal M and the electrode rod 24 so that the tip of the electrode rod 24 comes into contact with the molten metal M by the lowering of the ladle holding frame 11 and is supplied with electricity between the ground electrode 25 so as to detect the level of the molten metal M. It has become. Therefore, also in this example, the same operation and effect as in the case of the above embodiment can be obtained.

In the first embodiment, the case where the float 16 has the detection rod 17 has been described. However, the type without the detection rod 17 may be used. Is suspended vertically in the middle of the lower surface of the ladle holding frame 11 to project a light beam from above to below.
The non-contact type optical sensor 14 receives the light beam reflected upward at 6 to detect the level of the molten metal M.

In both the first and second embodiments, the case where the moving means is the work robot 3 has been described. However, a moving device is configured by combining an actuator, a transfer rail, and the like.
The hot water supply ladle 4 may be moved between the mold 2 and the automatic hot water supply device A for casting by this moving device.

[0056]

As described above, according to the present invention, an automatic hot water supply device for casting is provided on the side of the melting and holding furnace, and the hot water supply ladle is moved from the moving means until the molten metal suction into the hot water supply ladle is completed. Since the transfer to the casting automatic hot water supply device is performed, the casting means can be transferred in parallel with the molten metal suction operation by the moving means during this time, and the working efficiency can be improved by shortening the casting cycle. it can. In particular, when the moving means is a work robot, the release agent application work and the like can be performed in parallel with the molten metal suction work, so that work efficiency can be further improved, and one work robot can be used. Casting transfer work, release agent application work and molten metal suction work can be performed,
An increase in cost due to an increase in the number of working robots can be avoided. Furthermore, the hot water supply ladle is immersed in the molten metal in the melting and holding furnace and is kept warm by the automatic hot water supply device for casting, thereby preventing deterioration of the quality of the casting due to a drop in the molten metal temperature of the sucked molten metal. In addition, since the level of the molten metal is detected by the level detector and the positional relationship of the hot water supply ladder with respect to the level of the molten metal is properly set based on the detection signal, the work is performed according to the change in the level of the molten metal. As compared with the case where the operation of a robot or the like is controlled, a simple control system can avoid an increase in cost.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of an automatic hot water supply device for casting according to Embodiment 1.

FIG. 2 is an overall schematic configuration diagram of a casting facility to which the automatic casting hot water supply apparatus according to Embodiment 1 is applied.

FIG. 3 is a work process diagram showing a state in which a hot water supply ladle is being transferred from a work robot to an automatic hot water supply device for casting in the first embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a work process diagram showing a state in which the non-contact optical sensor detects the level of the molten metal in the first embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a work process diagram showing a state in which a hot water supply ladle is immersed in a molten metal and is kept warm in the first embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a work process diagram showing a state in which molten metal is being sucked into the hot water supply ladle in the first embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a work process diagram showing a state in which excess molten metal is being discharged from the hot water supply ladle after the molten metal is sucked in the first embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a work process diagram showing a state in which the hot water supply ladle is transferred from the automatic hot water supply device for casting to the work robot in the first embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a configuration diagram of an automatic hot water supply apparatus for casting according to Embodiment 2.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Melting and holding furnace 2 Die (casting mold) 2b cavity 3 Work robot (moving means) 4 Hot water supply ladle 7 Main unit 8 Drive motor (elevation driving means) 11 Laddle holding frame (ladle holding means) 14 Non-contact optical sensor (Fluid level detecting means) 16 Float 17 Detecting rod 18 Guide cylinder 20 Support member 21 Controller (Control means) 24 Electrode rod (Fluid level detecting means) 25 Earth electrode A Automatic hot water supply device for casting M Melt

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (58) Field surveyed (Int. Cl. ⁶ , DB name) B22D 39/06 B22D 17/30 G01F 11/28 B22D 41/00

Claims (7)

(57) [Claims] 1. An automatic hot water supply device for casting for automatically sucking a molten metal stored in a melting and holding furnace into a hot water supply ladle so as to supply the molten metal to a casting mold. A main body extending to the main body, a ladder holding means movably provided on the main body for holding the hot water supply ladder, an elevating drive means for raising and lowering the ladder holding means, and a molten metal surface level provided on the ladder holding means. Level detecting means for detecting the temperature of the molten metal, and at the time of sucking the molten metal, the raising and lowering driving means is driven to lower the ladle holding means to introduce the hot water supply ladle into the melting and holding furnace. After the detection, based on this detection signal, the elevation drive means is stopped, the descent of the ladle holding means is stopped, and the molten metal is automatically sucked into the hot water supply ladle. Automatic water heater for casting, characterized in that it comprises a lifting drive means raises the ladle holding means is driven and a control means for deriving a hot water supply ladle from melting and holding furnaces. 2. The automatic hot water supply apparatus for casting according to claim 1, further comprising an earth electrode immersed in the molten metal in the melting and holding furnace, wherein the molten metal surface level detecting means is an electrode rod, and is in contact with the molten metal. An automatic hot water supply device for casting, characterized in that a current level between the ground electrode and the ground electrode is used to detect the level of the molten metal. 3. The automatic hot water supply apparatus for casting according to claim 1, further comprising a float floating on the molten metal in the melting and holding furnace, wherein the float is a lightweight refractory block having a specific gravity smaller than that of the molten metal. The molten metal level detecting means is a non-contact type optical sensor, and detects the molten metal level by approaching the float. 4. The automatic hot water supply apparatus for casting according to claim 3, wherein the float has a detection rod extending upward, and the level detection means detects the level of the molten metal by approaching the tip of the detection rod. Automatic hot water supply apparatus for casting, characterized in that 5. The automatic hot water supply apparatus for casting according to claim 4, wherein a supporting member is erected on an upper edge of the melting and holding furnace, and a guide cylinder is provided on the supporting member above the molten metal in the melting and holding furnace. The detection rod is vertically inserted into the guide cylinder from below so as to be vertically movable according to a change in the level of the molten metal. Automatic water heater for casting. 6. A melting and holding furnace in which a molten metal is stored, a casting mold for casting a casting, and a moving means provided between the melting and holding furnace and the casting mold. A casting facility for moving a hot water supply ladder containing a molten metal by suction in a melting and holding furnace to a casting mold by the moving means, filling the cavity of the casting mold with the molten metal and casting a casting. Any one of claims 1 to 5 on the side of the furnace
The automatic hot water supply device for casting is provided, wherein the hot water supply ladle is transferred to the automatic hot water supply device for casting by the moving means when the molten metal is sucked. Casting equipment. 7. A casting facility equipped with the automatic hot water supply apparatus for casting according to claim 6, wherein the moving means is a work robot.