Method and apparatus for moving a mold

Abstract

A method and apparatus for moving a mold in a molding machine, such as a matchplate molding machine. A lock element, preferably but not necessarily having at least 2 pieces, is movably mounted within a platen opening of a platen and within a pallet opening of a pallet. A second piece of the lock element can be fixed or secured with respect to the pallet, for example, to fix a position of a drag flask with respect to the pallet. An indexing device can be used to handle or move at least 2 molds with respect to the molding machine.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for moving a mold in a molding machine, including the steps of:
 movably mounting a two-piece lock element within a first platen opening of a platen and within a first pallet opening of a pallet;   securing the two-piece element with respect to the platen and the pallet;   transferring the secured platen and the pallet from the molding machine to an indexing device; and   transferring a second pallet secured to a second platen to the molding machine.   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , further including separating the two-piece lock element into a first portion and a second portion and maintaining the second portion within the first pallet opening. 
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 2 , wherein the two-piece lock element is separated by a force applied to the first portion and/or the second portion. 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein during a cycle of the molding machine the two-piece lock element moves between a secured position and an unsecured position within the first platen opening and the first pallet opening. 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 1 , further including movably mounting a second two-piece lock element within a second platen opening of the platen and within a second pallet opening of the pallet. 
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 5 , further including separating the second two-piece lock element into a first portion and a second portion and maintaining the second portion within the second pallet opening. 
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the two-piece element is movable between a secured position and an adjustable position with respect to the platen. 
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 7 , wherein in the secured position a drag mold is accurately aligned with a cope mold attached with respect to the pallet of the mold. 
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein a cored mold is attached to the pallet. 
     
     
         10 . A method for moving a mold in a molding machine, including the steps of:
 transferring a first mold having a first drag mold attached to a first pallet from the molding machine to an indexing device; and   transferring a second mold having a second drag mold attached to a second pallet from the indexing device to the molding machine.   
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 10 , further including movably mounting a lock element within a first platen opening of a platen and within a first pallet opening of the pallet, and securing a portion of the lock element with respect to the platen and the pallet. 
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 11 , further including movably mounting a second lock element within a second platen opening of the platen and within a second pallet opening of the pallet. 
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 10 , wherein a transfer device external to the molding machine moves the first drag mold from the molding machine to the indexing device and moves the second drag mold to the molding machine from the indexing device. 
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 13 , wherein the transfer device operates a transfer fork engaging and moving the first drag mold and the second drag mold between the indexing device and the molding machine. 
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 10 , wherein a mold core is positioned within the second drag mold. 
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 10 , wherein in the molding machine the first mold has a first cope mold attached to the first drag mold. 
     
     
         17 . A method for moving a mold in a molding machine, including the steps of:
 transferring a first mold attached to a first pallet from the molding machine to an indexing device, transferring a second mold attached to a second pallet from the indexing device to the molding machine, and moving a lock element within a first platen opening of a platen and within a first pallet opening of the pallet, and releasably securing a portion of the lock element with respect to the platen and the pallet.   
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 17 , wherein the lock element has a first portion and a second portion attachable and detachable with respect to the first portion.