Core-package handler and method

Abstract

A plurality of grippers ( 502 ) is connected to a frame ( 800 ) of a machine ( 504 ). Each gripper ( 502 ) includes a drive portion ( 704 ) that includes a driven gear ( 712 ), a shaft portion ( 506 ) that is connected to the drive portion ( 704 ) and has an elongate shape with a centerline, and a head portion ( 508 ) that is connected to an end of the shaft portion ( 506 ) that is opposite the drive portion ( 704 ). The head portion ( 508 ) extends past an outer dimension of the shaft portion ( 506 ). At least one actuator ( 718 ) is connected to at least one drive shaft ( 716 ) that includes at least one driver gear ( 714 ). The driver gear ( 714 ) is meshed with the driven gear ( 712 ) of the gripper ( 504 ) such that a motion of the actuator ( 718 ) is transferred in turn to the drive shaft ( 716 ), to the driver gear ( 714 ), to the driven gear ( 712 ), and finally to the gripper ( 504 ) such that the gripper ( 504 ) rotates about the centerline.

1 . A machine for depositing at least one core-package into a cavity of a mold, the machine comprising:
 a frame that is moveable in two directions, wherein a plurality of grippers is connected to the frame, wherein each gripper comprises:
 a drive portion that includes a driven gear, 
 a shaft portion having an elongate shape with a centerline, wherein the shaft portion is connected to the drive portion, and 
 a head portion connected to the shaft portion on a distal end thereof that is opposite the drive portion, wherein the head portion extends past an outer dimension of the shaft portion; 
   at least one actuator connected to at least one drive shaft through at least one linkage, wherein each linkage includes at least one driver gear;   wherein the at least one driver gear is meshed with the driven gear of the at least one gripper such that a motion of the actuator is transferred to the drive shaft, a motion of the drive shaft is transferred to the driver gear, a motion of the driver gear is transferred to the driven gear, and a motion of the driven gear is transferred to the gripper; and wherein the motion of the gripper is a rotational motion about the centerline.   
   
   
       2 . The machine of  claim 1 , wherein the machine defines at least one pad for accepting a core-package, and wherein there are three grippers connected to the machine for each pad. 
   
   
       3 . The machine of  claim 2 , further comprising at least one alignment post operably associated with the frame and disposed adjacent to a periphery of the at least one pad. 
   
   
       4 . The machine of  claim 2 , further comprising at least one retainer operably associated with the frame, wherein the at least one retainer includes a reciprocating pin that at times selectively extends to push a core-package against one or more head portions of the plurality of grippers. 
   
   
       5 . A method of handling one or more core-packages during construction of a mold, comprising the steps of:
 readying a core-package for placement into a mold cavity;   aligning the core-package onto a shipping surface;   positioning a machine having a receiving surface over the core-package;   lowering the machine over the core-package such that the core-package becomes disposed adjacent to the receiving surface;   disposing two or more grippers that are attached to the machine, each gripper having an elongate shaft with a centerline, into respective recesses of the core-package;   rotating each of the two or more grippers about its centerline such that a head portion disposed on an end of each gripper is positioned underneath the core-package.   
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 5 , further comprising the steps of:
 raising the machine while the core-package is engaged by the two or more grippers;   moving the machine to a new position over a mold cavity;   lowering the machine over the mold cavity such that the core-package is disposed within the mold cavity;   rotating the two or more grippers such that their respective heads are no longer underneath the core-package;   raising the machine away from the mold cavity leaving the core-package disposed in the mold cavity.   
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 5 , further comprising the steps of:
 activating a retainer having a reciprocally mounted pin such that the pin extends to push the core-package against the head portions of the two or more grippers; and   selectively retracting the pins.   
   
   
       8 . A method of handling a core-package for placement into a mold cavity formed in a mold, comprising the steps of:
 engaging a core-package with a depositor machine, wherein the depositor machine has a plurality of grippers protruding therefrom, wherein each gripper comprises an elongate shaft having a centerline and a head disposed on a distal end of the elongate shaft, wherein the head protrudes laterally from the elongate shaft, and wherein each gripper is advantageously capable of rotating by at least 90 degrees with respect to the depositor machine;   wherein the step of engaging the core-package with the depositor machine is accomplished by rotating each gripper in a first direction such that each head moves around the centerline in a direction toward the core-package until each head is disposed beneath the core-package;   disengaging the core-package from the depositor machine;   wherein the step of disengaging the core-package from the depositor machine is accomplished by rotating each gripper about the centerline in a second direction that is opposite the first direction of rotation such that each head moves around the centerline in a direction away from the core-package until each head clears the core-package completely.   
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the step of rotating each gripper along the first and second directions is accomplished by activating an actuator, wherein the actuator is connected to a drive shaft having a rack gear, wherein each gripper includes a pinion hear that is meshed with the rack gear, and wherein the actuator causes the drive shaft to move reciprocally such that the rack gear causes the pinion gear to rotate. 
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising the steps of:
 raising the depositor machine while the core-package is engaged by two or more grippers;   moving the depositor machine to a new position over the mold cavity;   lowering the depositor machine over the mold cavity such that the core-package is disposed within the mold cavity; and   raising the depositor machine away from the mold cavity.   
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising the steps of:
 activating a retainer having a reciprocally mounted pin such that the pin extends to push the core-package against each head at times when the core-package is engaged to the depositor machine; and   selectively retracting the pins.