State of the Art Automatic molten metal loaders already exist designed to automate the picking up, transport and pouring of molten *metal from smelting or holding furnaces to catch basins such as the containers of die-casting machines. For example, these automatic loaders take the form of robots with three axes, horizontal, vertical and rotating, intended to move the molten metal pickup ladle so this is submerged in the ! metai bath, turned to pick up the pre-established quantity, lifted again and then horizontaily moved until it is over and in line with the catch basin, and pours the molten metal into such basin. All these operations are controlled by electronic devices containing a11 data relating to the movement parameters and the operating sequences of the various cycles. Nonetheless, such automatic loaders work in environment atmosphere with consequent possibility of the formation of oxides on the@ metal in molten state.

The he demand for increasingly higher quality finished products has therefore called for the use of atmosphere control systems able to ensure the performance of the molten metal pickup, transport and pouring operations in a neutral environment and at high temperature that makes the formation of oxides practically impossible.

Currently, the machines that employ such atmosphere control systems essentially feature pneumatic controls and are based on the principle of communicating vessels. Practically speaking, the furnace or ladle is hermetically sealed and an ine @rt gas, such as nitrogen or carbon dioxide is introduced under pressure onto the molten meta ! so this is forced to pass through a pipe communicating with an exit channe connected to a point or catch basin.

Summary of the invention The purpose of the present invention is to provide a machine for the automated picking up and pouring of molten metal controlled by means of electromechanical controls, with all the advantages in terms of precision of movements and operating sequences provided by the electronic controls, and operating in controlled atmosphere in order to avoid the risk of the formation of oxides on the metal in mdlten state during pickup and pouring operations.

The purpose is achieved with a machine for the automated pickup and pouring in cortftolled atmosphere of a metal malted by a furnace or ladle to a point or catch basin as defined at least by claim 1 which follows. brief description of the drawings Further details of the invention will be made clearer by the continuation of the description made with reference to the attached drawings, which are approximate and not limitative, in which :

FIG. 1,2 and 3 show a front, side and plan view of the machine respectively according to the invention, FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of the mechanical part of the machine ; FIG. 5 and 6 show the mechanical part seen from the side and rear, respectively ; FIC). 7 shows a schematic view of the cone for controlling the atmosphere and of thd boiler connected to it. and hows 8 shows a diagram of the pneumatic circuit for the introduction and re- circulation of an inert gas in the cone.

Detailed description of the invention With reference to Fig. 1-3, the machine for the automated pickup and pouring of a mditen metal from a furnace or ladle 10 0 to a catch basin - not shown - essentially contuses a mechanical loader 11 supporting and moving a cone 12 for controlling the atmosphere and a ladle 13 for picking up the molten metal from the furnace or iad ! e 10 and pouring this into an exit channel'14 linked to the catch basin, and an apparatus 15 for conditioning the atmosphere inside the cone 12 by introducing into the latter an inert gas, such as nitrogen. tviore in detail, with reference to Fig. 4-6, the mechanical loader 11 comprises a support leg 16 to which is fitted, at an intermediate height, a slide 17, with electromechanical or penumatic control, along which cone 12 slides vertically. At the top of support leg 16 is also fitted a first gear reduction unit 18 for vertically moving, by means of a system of gears, a sliding device 19 coaxial to the cone 12.

Underneath the sliding device a column 20 is fitted, made of suitable heat- insulating material, which extends inside the cone 12 being able to move vertically with respect to the latter. Between the column 20 and the sliding device 19, a thermal coupling 22 is placed. At the bottom end of the column, and therefore

inside the cone 12, is fastened by means of a suitable articulation 13', the ladle 13 - Fig. 1-3.

At the top of the sliding device 19 is @astened a second gear reduction unit 21 which controls, by means of a system of gears of the nut screw-screw or pinion- rack type, a transmission with tie-rods and levers connected to the articulation of lad@le 13 to enable this to rotate and therefore pick up and pour the molten metal.

The cone 12 consists of a substantial cyiindricat container open at the bottom so it can rest on furnace 10 and close this hermeticaffy by means of a seat ring 23 around the lower edge of the cone, and with the aid of a further seat joint 24 ptdced between the column 20 and the cone 12.

The cone 12 communicates on the one side with the molten meta) exit channe) 14 by means of a coupling 25 having the function of a seal and, on the other side, with two pipes 26, 27, for inert gas filling and re-circulation respectively, the filling pip ! e being connected to the side wall of the cone at a height greater than that of re-circulation.

The exit channel 14 is secured to a relevant slide 28 which permits horizontal movements between an operating position, in which the channel 14 communicates with the inside of the cone 12, and an inactive position, in which the channel is detached from the cone. This latter position is required to enable vertical movements of the cone 12.

The atmosphere conditioning apparatus 15 inside the cone 12 envisages the use of a tank 29 of inert gas from which depart two ducts 30, 31 for conveying the inert gas during cone 12 filling and re-circulation respectively. For this purpose, along each of these ducts 30 and 31 devices are envisaged for intercepting and regulating the gas pressure and flow parameters, such as for example, pressure

regulators 33, blowdown valves 34, flow regulators 35, solenoid valves 36, adjustable pressure switches 37 and pressure gauges 38. Alternatively, a reserve tank 29' can be fitted. The two ducts 30 and 31 flow into a boiler 39 which features two heating elements 40, 40', for ignition and holding respectively, for heating the inert @ gas. The boiler 39 is in turn connected to cone 12 by means of two pipes 26', 27 for gas filling and re-circulation. In filling pipe 26, a fan 32 can be fitted to optimise the flow and downflow of the gas in the cone 12. The re-circulation pipe 27 can also communicate with the outside environment, or better with a fume collection system, by means of an exhaust pipe 41, if necessary linked to a suction pump (not shown). A valve 42 is envisaged between said exhaust pipe 41 and pipe 27 and features two-position adjustment according to whether the pipe 27 has to communicate with the boiler for inert gas re-circulation or with the outside environment, to release the atmosphere inside the cone.

Practically speaking, machine operation is as follows.

At the start of the work cycle, meaning with the furnace full, the atmosphere inside cone 12 is conditioned. The latter is in towered furnace closed position, and inside is air at a temperature of around 720", depending on the type of furnace and moite metal this contains. The exit channel 14 is connected to the cone. The inert gas is sent, through the filling duct 30, from tank 29 to boiler 39, where it is heated by the two ignition and holding heating elements 40, 40' up to a temperature of alround 850". The gas is then blown, at a suitable pressure, into the cone 12 <BR> <BR> through pipe 26 and, being tighter, rises above the air in the cone. The vatve 42 is in exhaust pipe 41 open position. Continuing to introduce gas, the air is forced to exit from the cone towards the outside through re-circulation pipe 27 and the exhaust pipe, if necessary with the aid of the suction pump. Alternatively, instead

of emptying the cone by exptoiting the different temperature of the blown gas and the air, the latter can be evacuated by introducing the inert gas by pressure impulses and/or high flow.

Once aft the air has been removed from the cone, a command is sent to valve 42 to close the exhaust pipe 41 so the re-circulation pipe 27 is in communication with boiler 39 ; the ignition heating element 40 is switched off and only re-circulation gas is ! blown in, through the relevant pipe 31, so as to offset any leaks due to the openings of cone 12.

At this point, the sliding device 19 can be allowed to drop by means of the relative gear reduction unit 18 and the ladle 14 is immersed in the motten metal. By means of the gear reduction unit 21 which controls the lever and tie-rod transmission, the ladle picks up the exact pre-established quantity of molten metal, after which it is allowed to elevate to a height corresponding to the mouth of the metal exit channel 14. The ladle is then allowed to rotate to pour the molten metal into the exit channel.

When the furnace has to be filled again, the exit channel 14 is detached from the cone, and this is raised to permit furnace movement.

When the furnace has been filled and positioned under the cone, this drops and the exit channel is once more connected up to it. The machine is thus ready to perform a new work cycle.

According to a further operating possibility, the boiler 39 can be used to burn the <BR> <BR> a : ir inside the cone and to introduce into the cone the carbon dioxide produced by<BR> <BR> combustion. ny any case, the machine in question permits achieving large energy savings as it reduces heat dispersion and consequently the demand for energy required to maintain furnace temperature. Furthermore, the environments) compatibility of the machine is greater compared to traditional machines as it makes it possibte to ab ! ate harmful gas emissions through the use of the cone which collects and ccinveys these to a fume treatment plant.