Moulding sand supply apparatus and method

Abstract

In a moulding sand supply apparatus comprising a sand reservoir ( 2 ) for delivering sand ( 3 ) to a mainly horizontal belt conveyor ( 4 ), the belt conveyor ( 4 ) is controlled to deliver sand for filling a flask ( 5 ) positioned to receive sand falling from the belt conveyor ( 3 ). A controller ( 6 ) controls the speed of the belt conveyor ( 4 ) according to a speed profile providing varying trajectories for the delivered sand, which results in a controlled distribution of the sand ( 3 ) in the flask ( 5 ) in the transport direction of the belt conveyor ( 4 ). In this way, a simple and flexible control of the distribution of the sand ( 3 ) in the flask ( 5 ) can be obtained.

1 . Moulding sand supply apparatus ( 1 ) comprising a sand reservoir ( 2 ) for delivering sand ( 3 ) to a mainly horizontal belt conveyor ( 4 ), said belt conveyor ( 4 ) being controlled to deliver an appropriate amount of sand for filling a flask ( 5 ) positioned to receive sand falling from the belt conveyor, characterized by further comprising means for controlling the belt conveyor speed according to a speed profile providing varying trajectories for the delivered sand resulting in a controlled distribution in the transport direction of the belt conveyor ( 4 ) of the sand ( 3 ) in the flask ( 5 ).  
   
   
       2 . Apparatus in accordance with  claim 1 , characterized by further comprising guide plates ( 7 ) to influence the distribution of the sand ( 3 ) in a direction perpendicular to the transport direction of the belt conveyor ( 4 ).  
   
   
       3 . Apparatus in accordance with  claim 1 , characterized by further comprising guiding plates ( 7 ) to influence the distribution of the sand ( 3 ) in the transport direction of the belt conveyor ( 4 ).  
   
   
       4 . Apparatus in accordance with  claim 1 , characterized by further comprising a funnel ( 8 ) positioned to guide the falling sand between the belt conveyor ( 4 ) and the flask ( 5 ).  
   
   
       5 . Apparatus in accordance with  claim 1 , characterized by further comprising a weighing unit ( 9 ) detecting the weight of the sand delivered to the flask ( 5 ).  
   
   
       6 . Apparatus in accordance with  claim 4 , characterized by said weighing unit ( 9 ) being provided in the form of a sensor activated by the deflection of a structure supporting the flask ( 10 ).  
   
   
       7 . Method for supplying moulding sand ( 3 ) from a sand reservoir ( 2 ) via a belt conveyor ( 4 ) to a flask ( 5 ) comprising the steps of 
 controlling the belt conveyor ( 4 ) to supply an appropriate amount of sand ( 3 ) for filling a flask ( 5 ), characterized by comprising the further steps of:    controlling the belt conveyor speed according to a varying speed profile providing varying trajectories for the sand leaving the end of the belt conveyor ( 4 ), said varying trajectories resulting in a controlled distribution in the transport direction of the belt conveyor ( 4 ) of the sand ( 3 ) in the flask ( 5 ).    
   
   
       8 . Method in accordance with  claim 7 , characterized by comprising the further step of providing guide plates ( 7 ) to influence the distribution of the sand in a direction perpendicular to the transport direction of the belt conveyor ( 4 ).  
   
   
       9 . Method in accordance with  claim 7 , characterized by comprising the further step of providing a funnel ( 8 ) to guide the falling ( 3 ) between the belt conveyor ( 4 ) and the flask ( 5 ).  
   
   
       10 . Method in accordance with  claim 7 , characterized by comprising the further step of using the weight of the sand ( 3 ) delivered to the flask ( 5 ) as an input to the controller controlling the belt conveyor speed.