GB1515607A - Method and apparatus for trimming and cutting a moulded ceramic component such as a handle - Google Patents

Abstract

1515607 Trimming moulded ceramic handles V E WISSENSCHAFTLICH-TECHNISCHER BETRIEB KERAMIK 6 Oct 1976 [9 Oct 1975] 41552/76 Heading B5A In apparatus for trimming and cutting freshly moulded ceramic handles prior to attaching them to vessels, pairs of handles each attached to a core 1 are located upon supports 3 and 4 carried by plates 38 themselves releasably supported upon a turntable 2. The handles are indexed to a station III at which a resiliently supported vibrating member is lowered into contact with the handles to cause a smoothing out of the irregularities in the handles by thixotropic flow. The handles are then indexed to a station V where the ends of the handles are cut to conform with the surface of the vessels to which they are to be attached. Cutting is effected by blades 27, 28 (see Fig. 4) carried by arms 21, 22 pivoted to levers 19 and 20. The levers are pivotable by cylinders 17, 18 to position where their free ends abut stops 23 and 24 respectively. Further movement of the levers causes the arms 21 and 22 to pivot relative to the levers, against the action of springs 31, 32, and the blades to effect the cutting operation. Retraction of cylinders 17 and 18 causes withdrawal of the blades &c. to their initial positions. The cut and trimmed handles are then indexed to a station VI at which they are transferred on to a take-off conveyor 51. Transfer is effected by a pair of electromagnets 44, 45 mounted upon the ends of arms 39 and a take-over plate 50 carried at the end of an arm 46. In operation, the plates 38 are bodily picked up by the electromagnets on arm 39 and pivoted to a position at which they are transferred on to the take-over plates. The arm 46 is pivoted to bring the take-over plates to a position above the take-off conveyor and the handles slip from the take-over plates on to the conveyor. Alternatively the take-off conveyor can be replaced by a second turntable. In a further alternative (see Fig. 6, not shown) the plates 50 are deposited on to the take-off conveyor and the arm electromagnetically picks up an empty plate for receiving the next handle.