VISE AUTOMATIC
The purpose of the vise automatic is to prevent the mold from coming forward and shearing the lugs of the matrices whenever anything prevents the first elevator from descending low enough for the first elevator adjusting screw to rest on the vise cap.
The vise automatic consists of a stop rod, stop rod pawl, mold disk dog, and vise automatic levers.
The stop rod is suspended and held upward by a spring, the top end of the rod extending through the vise cap and the lower end resting back of the lever which operates against the clutch rod.
A little below center in the stop rod is the stop rod pawl. This pawl is held in place in a slot by a small coil spring which sets just back of the pawl in the stop rod. This spring, in addition to holding the pawl in place, also gives the pawl a little play which allows more of a bite when the pawl is placed in action.
The mold disk dog is held in the vise frame by a screw which extends downward through a slotted hole in the dog. Inside the mold disk dog is a coil spring. This spring is to hold the dog back toward the mold and should be strong enough to keep the mold disk dog pin against the retaining screw when the vise automatic is not in action.
When the first elevator is in its lowest position the vise automatic adjusting screw touches the upper end of the stop rod and forces it downward. When the mold slide advances, the mold opposite the one in use pushes the mold disk dog out, above the pawl, and allows the machine to remain in action. However, should the first elevator fail to descend low enough for the stop rod to be pushed down, the dog, as it is advanced by the mold, strikes against the pawl and forces it forward against the vise automatic levers, stopping the machine.
The mold disk dog must clear the automatic stop rod when the first elevator adjusting screw is resting on the vise cap.
To make this adjustment turn the machine until the first elevator is resting on the vise cap. Move the adjusting screw so the stop rod pawl will just pass below the dog. To test, have machine in normal position, place a thin matrix on the vise cap under the first elevator adjusting screw. Pull out on the starting and stopping lever, setting the machine in action. The first elevator, not going to its proper position, the driving clutch should be forced out of action by the vise automatic. After backing the machine a trifle and removing the matrix, the machine should start.
The machine will not stop when making this test, if either the lip of the disk dog, or the pawl is damaged. If damaged or worn, replace with new parts, as the vise automatic should always be in working condition.
If the machine is delayed in stopping when the vise automatic goes into action, look at the 15/32 and 1/32 inch adjustments on the friction clutch.
When replacing the mold disk dog, be sure that the screw goes between the spring and the pin. This is accomplished by turning the screw down until it is below the level of the pin. Then push in on the dog until the pin strikes the screw. Raise the screw slowly until the pin will just pass under the end of the screw, pushing in on the dog while the screw is being raised. Push in on the dog and turn the screw down just inside the pin. The screw will then be between the spring and the pin. Be careful not to turn the screw down on the spring, as it will damage the spring and not allow the dog to operate.
On the machines with four-pocket mold disks, the dog is pushed forward as the mold slide comes forward in ejecting position. This action of the dog would operate the automatic, throwing the clutch out of action and stopping the machine at ejecting position. To overcome this action, there is a stop rod lever and bracket assembled on the vise frame in front of the automatic stop lever. The lever is fastened to the bracket by a fulcrum screw. One end of this lever carries a small roller, and the other end rests above a pin in the stop rod. The roller runs on a runway at the back of the first elevator slide on the right-hand side. The stop rod is pulled down below the mold disk dog by the lever until the slide moves downward, the roller follows the runway, when owing to a depression, the roller drops, releasing the lever and permitting the stop rod to come to operating position in front of the dog. As the slide moves to transfer position, the lever pulls the stop rod down below the dog.