GB427563A - Improvements in vulcanizing apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

427,563. Vulcanizing-presses. BRIDGE & CO., Ltd., D., Castleton, Lancashire.- (National Rubber Machinery Co.; Akron, Ohio, U.S.A.) Nov. 1, 1933, No. 30302. [Class 70] In a watch-case vulcanizer, locking is effected, and pressure applied by a locking block carried by the movable platen, which is engaged by a locking post mounted on a lever operated by fluid pressure. The locking means also serves for cracking the mould on opening. Means are also provided for separating the article from the mould to facilitate removal. The whole operation may be automatic. A platen 3, Fig. 1, is attached with slight play at 7, 8, to arms 6, hinged at 5 to a bracket on a platen 1. Extensions 6<a> of the arms 6 carry trunnions 34 of a cylinder 33, the piston-rod 40 of which is pivoted to the end of a bent lever 39 mounted on a shaft 37 on the lower platen 1. The lever 39 has pivoted thereto at 41, an upstanding locking post 42 with a series of ribs 43 at its upper end. The post 42 is normally urged forward by a rod 47 with a plate 50 against which bears a spring 49, but it may be rocked on occasion by a lug 52 coming into contact with a stop 53. A complementary locking-block 44 is clamped on the eccentric portion 55 of a shaft 56 which can be rotated to vary the length of the post, and is provided with a casing 60 containing a spring 65 and plunger 63 which holds the block yieldingly against an adjustable stop 67. To close the vulcanizer, pressure is admitted to the top of cylinder 33, which, aided by the weight of the platen 3 moves up on its piston until the vulcanizer is closed. The piston rod 40 also advances, swinging the lever 39, and with it the post 42 downwards and forwards, the toggle action providing a strong pull on the block. To open the vulcanizer, pressure is admitted to the lower end of the cylinder 33, the piston rod 40 is retracted, raising the post and exerting an upthrust on the block 44 to crack the mould. When the lug 52 strikes the projection 53, the post is tilted away from the block, and the cylinder 33 moving down, raises the upper platen. At the end of this stroke, a spring dog 115 on the cylinder engages a notch 40<a> on the piston rod, and locks against accidental closing. On opening, a rod 72, pivoted on an extension of the hinge-arm 6 rocks a lever 71 fulcrummed at 70, to raise rods 75, 76, which bear on rods 20 attached to the lower bead ring 17, and raise it and the tyre thereon, clear of the mould, the side remote from the hinge leaving the mould first. The upper bead-ring 18 is forced away from the mould by a spring 27 acting on a rod 24. For automatic operation valves 80, 82, 83, 84, 85 are controlled through diaphragms by clockwork 79. When the vulcanizer is open, a valve 95 controlling the pipe line 89 supplying pressure to operate the valve 80 of the cylinder 33, is locked by a pin 151 on an arm 152 which enters a slot in a handle 147. To close the vulcanizer, the operator presses back the handle 147 with one hand, and depresses a handle 126. This rotates an arm 131 to disengage the dog 115 from the notch 40<a>, operates a cam 161 through a rod 160 to throw over a switch 170 to start the clock, and opens the valve 95 to operate valve 80 and admit pressure to the top of the cylinder 33. On closing, a pin 165 on the piston rod engages a fork 164 on the cam 161 and resets the switch 170. When closed, valves are operated to circulate pressure fluid through the tyre, and also to the bottom of a cylinder 140. This raises a weighted piston 143 on which is mounted the handle 147 so that its slot can again engage the pin 151 on the arm 152 now in a raised position. On completion of vulcanization, the circulating fluid is exhausted from the tyre, and also from the cylinder 140, whereupon the piston falls, draws down the handle 147, and with it the arm 152 to close the valve 95, and reverse the supply to the cylinder 33 to open the vulcanizer.