Mesh net supply apparatus

Abstract

An embodiment relates to a mesh net supply apparatus mesh net supply apparatus for supplying mesh nets adapted to remove foreign substances upon the injection of a molten material to a casting mold, including: a first table for placing the mesh nets multi-stacked on top of one another on a plurality of positions thereof; an upper table having a mesh net through hole; a gripping unit for gripping the mesh net exposed from the mesh net through hole; an elevating unit for moving the gripping unit upwards and downwards; a shuttle unit for transferring the gripping unit and the elevating unit; and a plurality of separation plates locked onto the periphery of the mesh net so that the periphery of the mesh net is elastically bent and lifted upwards.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A mesh net supply apparatus for supplying mesh nets adapted to remove foreign substances upon the injection of a molten material into a casting mold, comprising:
 a first table for placing the mesh nets multi-stacked on top of one another on a plurality of positions thereof;   an upper table having a mesh net through hole adapted to allow the topmost mesh net among the multi-stacked mesh nets to be exposed and pass therethrough in an upward direction;   a gripping unit for gripping the mesh net exposed from the mesh net through hole;   an elevating unit for moving the gripping unit upwards and downwards;   a shuttle unit for transferring the gripping unit and the elevating unit; and   a plurality of separation plates located around the mesh net through hole on the upper table in such a way as to be locked onto the periphery of the mesh net if the gripping unit moves downwards, grips the mesh net, and lifts the mesh net upwards, so that after the periphery of the mesh net is elastically bent, the mesh net is lifted upwards.   
     
     
         2 . The mesh net supply apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein each mesh net comprises a cup-shaped mesh net body and a flange extending from the periphery of the mesh net body so that the flange of the mesh net is located under the plurality of separation plates before the mesh net is lifted, and if the mesh net moves upwards by means of the gripping unit, the flange is bent downwards by means of the plurality of separation plates to allow the mesh net to be lifted. 
     
     
         3 . The mesh net supply apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein each separation plate has an end portion extending from one side thereof toward the mesh net through hole in such a way as to be located inside the mesh net through hole. 
     
     
         4 . The mesh net supply apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising a mesh net lifting unit located around the first table to move the multi-stacked mesh nets upwards and downwards, wherein the upper table has a height sensor adapted to sense a height of the mesh net exposed from the mesh net through hole, and the mesh net lifting unit moves the stacked mesh nets upwards and downwards according to the sensed value of the height sensor. 
     
     
         5 . The mesh net supply apparatus according to  claim 4 , wherein the mesh net lifting unit comprises:
 a lifting driver;   a first lifting block reciprocating along the lifting driver;   a second lifting block for supporting the underside of the bottommost mesh net among the multi-stacked mesh nets; and   elastic members placed between the first lifting block and the second lifting block.   
     
     
         6 . The mesh net supply apparatus according to  claim 5 , wherein the first table comprises:
 a plurality of incised grooves passing therethrough in a thickness direction thereof in such a way as to be open toward the outside so that the underside of the mesh net is brought into contact with top of the first table around each incised groove; and   a plurality of bar-shaped guides adapted to come into contact with the peripheries of the multi-stacked mesh nets and support the multi-stacked mesh nets.   
     
     
         7 . The mesh net supply apparatus according to  claim 6 , wherein the first lifting block and the second lifting block pass through the incised groove and move upwards and downwards by means of the operation of the lifting driver. 
     
     
         8 . The mesh net supply apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein the gripping unit comprises:
 a chuck base;   a plurality of gripping jaws coupled to the chuck base in such a way as to be spaced apart from one another along the circumferential direction of the mesh net body to move to the mesh net body and grip the mesh net body; and   gripping actuators located on the chuck base in such a way as to allow the plurality of gripping jaws to be close to or spaced apart from the mesh net body.   
     
     
         9 . The mesh net supply apparatus according to  claim 8 , wherein the elevating unit comprises:
 an elevating actuator; and   an elevating plate connected to the elevating actuator in such a way to move upwards and downwards, while locating the chuck base connected to the underside thereof,   the chuck base comprises a pusher adapted to pressurize the mesh net body downwards by means of the operation of the elevating unit, and   between the chuck base and the elevating plate are disposed elastic members to allow the pusher to elastically pressurize the mesh net body.   
     
     
         10 . The mesh net supply apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a second table located at a position spaced apart from the first table to allow the mesh net transferred through the shuttle unit to be seated on top thereof;   a stacking sensor located on the upper table to irradiate light toward the mesh net gripped by the gripping unit and sense whether at least two or more stacked mesh nets are gripped by the gripping unit through the light reflected on the mesh nets; and a collection container located between the first table and the second table to separate and collect the at least two or more stacked mesh nets if the at least two or more stacked mesh nets are sensed through the stacking sensor.   
     
     
         11 . The mesh net supply apparatus according to  claim 10 , wherein the first table and the second table rotate by means of respective drivers and are provided in the form of turn tables on which the plurality of positions where the mesh nets are multi-stacked on top of one another are spaced apart from one another along the circumferential directions of the first table and the second table.