DESC:TECHNICAL FIELD
Present disclosure generally relates to a field of manufacturing engineering. Particularly, but not exclusively, the present disclosure relates to a tool. Further, embodiments of the disclosure discloses the tool used for cutting and forming fittings in a mould employed in lost wax casting process.

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE

Lost wax casting process is a widely used technique in jewellery industry to manufacture ornaments and other intricate jewellery articles. Lost wax casting process facilitates in manufacturing ornaments in a precise and efficient manner. Usually, lost wax casting process involves a step of forming a wax die, which is a replica of the shape of the ornament or article to be casted. Quality of the final product depends upon the quality of the wax die.

Generally, to produce the wax die, the ornament model or a masterpiece which is replica of the blueprint drafted by a designer may be used. The ornament model or a masterpiece is
Sandwiched between silicon rubber sheets and vulcanised., the vulcanised mould is cut into two halves to extract the ornament model or the masterpiece, which is binded within the mould. Upon removing the ornament model or the masterpiece from the mould, the two halves of the mould are reassembled so as to form the mould as it was before cutting. Once, the two halves of the mould are reassembled, molten wax may be injected through a sprue defined in the mould. The wax injected into the mould solidifies and attains the shape of the impression created by the ornament model or the masterpiece to form a wax die, which is then removed from the mould. Further, the wax model in multiple numbers created and formed as tree positioned in a candle mould made of plaster of Paris (PoP) or any other suitable material. Upon placing the wax die tree in the PoP mould, the PoP mould may be positioned in furnace in order to heat and drain out the wax die from the PoP mould to define a cavity corresponding to shape of the ornament to be manufactured. Upon draining of the wax, the PoP may be positioned in a casting equipment to create vacuum in the cavity and molten gold is injected into the PoP mould through the sprue defined in the PoP mould. The molten gold then solidifies attaining the shape of the wax die. Upon solidification of the gold, the PoP mould may be broken/scrapped off and the wax die with solidified gold in the tree form is extracted.

However, quality of the wax die depends on the effective sealing of the rubber mould halves upon reassembling. In order to reassemble the two half moulds, one among the two halves is carved to include a means for fastening or mating the two halves together. Several conventional forms of mating the mould halves include usage of pins or stems which are pre-casted into the mould. However, such fasteners have several limitations such as improper fitment, fractures due to high stress and temperatures. Also leads to less productivity. Other conventional forms of locking the two halves of the mould is to carve out a male-female fitting by hand from a skilled labour, wherein one mould half would include a male fitting, while the other mould half include a female fitting. In order to carve out the male and female fittings sharp tools such as blades are used by the skilled operators. Further, since carving of the fittings depend on skilled operator, quality of the fittings may vary drastically as the carving of the fittings depend solely on skill of the operator. This takes huge time for creation as its art work. Productivity through this method found to be very less. Moreover, the male-female fittings are formed at the corners of the mould halves, defining a triangular, a square or circular profiles. Adapting, such a configuration may form improper sealing and thus inhibits forming a vacuum tight fit between the two halves of the mould, when reassembled. This improper sealing may lead to several casting defects such as non-fill, blow holes, air bubbles, flashes, parting lines, cooling defects, burrs formation and the like. These defects may lead to improper profiles, imperfect proliferation, cavities in the wax die, which will impact overall quality of the final product i.e. the ornament.

Moreover, usage of such conventional techniques is time consuming as the skilled labour needs to individually work on carving out the fittings in each of the mould halves. Additionally, this handmade profile making may leads to non-matching profile formation, which mongers for re-correction, which is again labour intensive.

Lastly, the carving tool is hand-held and consists of sharp cutting edges which may sever through skin or fingers of the skilled labour leading to a work hazard.

The present disclosure is directed to overcome one or more limitations stated above and any other limitations associated with the prior arts.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

One or more shortcomings of conventional mould assemblies are overcome and additional advantages are provided through the provision of the mould assembly as claimed in the present disclosure. Additional features and advantages are realized through the techniques of the present disclosure. Other embodiments and aspects of the disclosure are described in detail herein and are considered a part of the claimed disclosure.

In one non-limiting embodiment of the present disclosure a tool for cutting and forming fittings in a mould for a lost wax casting is disclosed. The tool includes a body defining a handle portion, a blade portion, wherein a tip end of the blade portion is defined with a pointed edge. Further, the tool includes a forming portion, adjoining the handle portion and the blade portion. The forming portion is defined with a curve extending in a substantially omega-shape, between the handle portion and the blade portion.
In an embodiment, each of the blade portion and the forming portion is defined with at least one cutting edge.
In an embodiment, the body is made of a metal.
In an embodiment, the handle portion coated with a polymeric material and defined with grips for holding the tool.
In an embodiment, the pointed edge defined in the blade portion is configured to pierce into the mould, to perform cutting operation of the mould.
In an embodiment, the forming portion is configured to define a male protrusion fitting and a female groove fitting in portion of the mould, during cutting of the mould.
In an embodiment, wherein radius of curvature of the curve extending in the substantially omega-shape, ranges from about 3mm to 5mm.
It is to be understood that the aspects and embodiments of the disclosure described above may be used in any combination with each other. Several of the aspects and embodiments may be combined together to form a further embodiment of the disclosure.

The foregoing summary is illustrative only and is not intended to be in any way limiting. In addition to the illustrative aspects, embodiments, and features described above, further aspects, embodiments, and features will become apparent by reference to the drawings and the following detailed description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS

The novel features and characteristic of the disclosure are set forth in the appended claims. The disclosure itself, however, as well as a preferred mode of use, further objectives and advantages thereof, will best be understood by reference to the following detailed description of an illustrative embodiment when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. One or more embodiments are now described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein like reference numerals represent like elements and in which:

Figure. 1 illustrates a sectional view of a tool, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Figure. 2 illustrates perspective view of a body of the tool of Figure. 1.

Figure. 3 illustrates a side view of a jig assembly, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Figure. 4 illustrates sectional view of the punch and die of the jig assembly of Figure. 3.

The figures depict embodiments of the disclosure for purposes of illustration only. One skilled in the art will readily recognize from the following description that alternative embodiments of the structures and methods illustrated herein may be employed without departing from the principles of the disclosure described herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

While the embodiments in the disclosure are subject to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiment thereof has been shown by way of example in the figures and will be described below. It should be understood, however, that it is not intended to limit the disclosure to the particular forms disclosed, but on the contrary, the disclosure is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternative falling within the scope of the disclosure.

It is to be noted that a person skilled in the art would be motivated from the present disclosure and modify various constructions of the mould assembly. However, such modifications should be construed within the scope of the disclosure. Accordingly, the drawings show only those specific details that are pertinent to understand the embodiments of the present disclosure, so as not to obscure the disclosure with details that will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art having benefit of the description herein.

The terms “comprises”, “comprising”, or any other variations thereof used in the disclosure, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, such that a device, system, assembly that comprises a list of components does not include only those components but may include other components not expressly listed or inherent to such system, or assembly, or device. In other words, one or more elements in a system or device proceeded by “comprises… a” does not, without more constraints, preclude the existence of other elements or additional elements in the system or device.

Embodiments of the present disclosure discloses a tool, which may facilitate in cutting and forming fittings (i.e. male and female connecting fittings) in portions or halves of the mould, which may be used in lost wax casting. Conventionally, for carving out the male and female fittings sharp tools such as blades are used by the skilled operators. Further, since carving of the fittings depend on skilled operator, quality of the fittings vary drastically as the carving of the fittings depend solely on skill of the operator. Moreover, the male-female fittings are formed at the corners of the mould halves, defining a triangular, a square or circular profiles. Adapting, such a configuration may form improper sealing and thus inhibits from forming a vacuum tight fit between the two halves of the mould, when reassembled. This improper sealing may lead to several casting defects such as non-fill, flashes, parting lines, cooling defects, burrs formation and the like. These defects may lead to formation of bubbles, cracks, improper proliferations, formation of cavities in the wax die, which will impact overall quality of the final product i.e. the ornament

Accordingly, the tool which may be configured to perform simultaneously a cutting operation and forming fittings in portions of the mould, is disclosed. The tool includes a body, defining a handle portion and a blade portion. The blade portion may extend from the handle portion and a tip end of the blade portion is defined with a pointed edge. Further, the tool includes a forming portion, which adjoins the handle portion and the blade portion. The forming portion is defined with a curve, which extends in a substantially omega-shape between the handle portion and the blade portion.

During operation, i.e. to cut and form fittings in the mould, the pointed edge defined in the tip of the blade portion may be pierced into the mould, such that the blade portion and the forming portion may be pierced into the mould. Upon piercing the blade portion and the forming portion into mould, the tool may be moved or dragged suitably along the perimeter of the mould. During movement of the tool, the tool facilitates in cutting the mould into two mould portions and simultaneously forming a male protrusion fitting in one mould portion and female groove fitting in another mould portion, unlike conventional tools where cutting and forming fittings are carried out independently, which is tedious and tend to be inaccurate as forming the fittings solely depend on skill of the labour. In an embodiment, the male protrusion fitting and the female groove fitting defined by the forming portion of the tool, aids in sealingly reassembling the mould portions to form a vacuum tight seal to carry out lost wax casting.

The following paragraphs describe the present disclosure with reference to Figures. 1 to 4. In the Figures, the same element or elements which have similar functions are indicated by the same reference signs.
Figures. 1 and 2 illustrate a sectional view and perspective view of the tool (100) and a body (101) of the tool (100), respectively. The tool (100) may include a body (101), defining a handle portion (101) and a blade portion (102). The body (101) includes a first end (105), a second end (106) and is defined with a flat surface therebetween. In an embodiment, the blade portion (102) may include a tapered profile, which extends along a predetermined length, towards a tip end (107) of the blade portion (102). As apparent from figure. 2, the tip end (107) of the blade portion (102) is defined with a pointed edge. The pointed edge may facilitate in piercing the blade portion (102) into a mould to perform the cutting operation. Further, the handle portion (101) may be coated with a polymeric material such as but not limiting to plastic or fibre plastic and may be defined with grips, to facilitate holding and gripping of the tool (100), during operation.
As apparent from Figure. 2, the tool (100) may further include a forming portion (104), which may adjoin the handle portion (101) and the blade portion (102). In an embodiment, the forming portion (104) may be defined with a curve (104a), which may extend in a substantially omega-shaped profile between the handle portion (101) and the blade portion (102). The omega-shaped profile may not be construed as a limitation as the curve (104a) defined in the forming portion (104), may include any geometrical profiles such as square, rectangular, triangular, U-shape and the like, based on the requirement i.e. based on the profile of the male and female fittings to be configured in the portions of the mould. In an embodiment, radius of curvature of the curve (104a) defined in forming portion (104) may range from about 3mm to 5mm. Further, the blade portion (102) and the forming portion (104) may be defined with at least one cutting edge, to perform the cutting operation. In an embodiment, the forming portion (104) facilitates in simultaneously forming male protrusion fittings and the female groove fittings in the mould portions, during cutting/halving operations of the mould. In other words, the tool (100) facilitates in not only cutting/halving the mould but also in forming male and female fittings in the mould portions.
In an embodiment, the body (101) of the tool (100) may be made of metals such as but not limiting to steel, stainless steel and the like.
In an embodiment to perform cutting and forming male protrusion fitting and the female groove fitting, as a first step, the pointed edge (107) of the blade portion (102) may be pierced into the mould, such that the blade portion (102) and the forming portion (104) may be pierced into the mould. Upon piercing the blade portion (102) and the forming portion (104) into the mould, the tool (100) (thus, the blade portion (102) and the forming portion (104)) is moved or dragged along the perimeter of the mould to form mould portions, typically two mould portions. During, movement or dragging of the blade portion (102) and the forming portion (104) along the perimeter of the mould, the blade portion (102) may cut or slice the mould and the forming portion (104) form the male protrusion fitting in one of the mould portion (thus, mould half) and female groove fitting in the other mould portion, such that the two mould halves are sealingly reassembled to create a vacuum tight seal, when the mould portions are reassembled.
In an embodiment, male protrusion fitting and the female groove fittings formed include a profile corresponding to the profile of the forming portion (104). That is, as an example if the forming portion (104) includes a omega-shape profile, the male protrusion fitting may include an inverted omega-shape profile and the female groove fitting may include omega-shaped profile. Thus, the male protrusion fitting and the female groove fitting may facilitate in perfect mating or sealingly connecting the mould portions, when reassembled. This perfect mating of the mould portions during reassembling may facilitate in forming a vacuum tight seal. In an embodiment, the vacuum tight seal between the mould portions facilitates in eliminating the parameters such as non-fill, flashes, parting lines, cooling defects, burrs formation and the like. These defects may lead to formation of bubbles, cavities in the wax die (205), which will impact overall quality of the final product i.e. the ornament.
In an embodiment, the configuration of the fitting occupies minimum surface area of the mould portion, which makes way for utilizing more surface area for wax die formation.
In an embodiment, the tool (100) facilitates in forming the male protrusion (207) fittings and the female groove fittings, simultaneously while cutting the mould and independent to the skill of the operator, unlike the conventional tools where cutting and forming fittings are carried out individually and the accuracy of the fittings depending on skill of the labour.
Referring to Figure. 3, which illustrates a side view of the jig assembly (200), which is configured to form a curve (104a) in the forming portion. The jig assembly (200) comprises a base portion (201), a support structure (202) extending integrally from the base portion (201). The support structure (202) may be defined with a hollow cylindrical cavity (not shown in figures), for accommodating an actuator (203). As an example, the actuator (203) may be a spring-loaded actuator (203). The spring-loaded actuator (203) guides the punch (204) between operating and non-operating positions. In an embodiment, the jig assembly (200) comprises a lever (208), which may be operated to actuate the actuator (203) for operating the punch (204) between the operating and non-operating position.
As apparent form Figure. 3, a platform (209) is positioned on the base portion (201). The platform (209) may be configured to accommodate a die (205). The die (205) is configured to receive the tool (100) [i.e. forming portion (104) of the tool (100)] in which the curve is to be formed. The die (205) may be defined with a groove (206) on an upper surface of the die (205) [best seen in Figure. 4]. Profile and depth of the groove (206) is based on the profile and the depth of the depression to be formed in the cutting portion (102) of the tool (100). The punch (204) includes a protrusion (207), whose profile is in conformity with the profile of the groove (206) defined on the die (205).
During operation of the jig assembly (200), the forming portion (104) in which depression region is to be formed in positioned on the upper surface of the die (205). In an embodiment, the cutting portion (102) positioned on the groove (206) defined on the upper surface of the die (205). As an example, pins (not shown in figures) may be positioned on the die (205) to firmly secure the forming portion (102), during punching operation. Once the cutting portion (102) is positioned on the die (205), the lever (208) may be operated to actuate the actuator (203) such that the punch (204) displaces from the non-operating position to the operating position. In the operating position, the punch (204) (i.e. protrusion (207) of the punch (204)) comes in contact a predetermined region of the cutting portion (102), and presses the predetermined region of the forming portion (104) against the groove (206) in the die (205). Due to the force applied by the punch (204), the predetermined region of cutting portion (102) deforms and attains a profile of the groove (206) defined on the upper surface of the die (205), and thus a depression is formed in the forming portion (104).
As apparent from Figure. 4, the die (205) and the punch (204) are defined with the groove (206) and the protrusion (207) resembling a omega-shaped profile. The same may not be construed as a limitation as the die (205) and punch (204) may defined with grooves and protrusion (207) having different geometrical shapes such as but not limiting to square, rectangular, triangular and the like.
In an embodiment, the tool (100) of the present disclosure facilitates in cutting the mould and simultaneously defines fittings in the mould halves, without the need of carving the fittings separately.
In an embodiment, the tool (100) facilitates in eliminating the risk of relying on the skill of the operator to carve the fittings in the mould halves.
In an embodiment, the profile of the fittings formed by the tool (100) facilitates in forming vacuum seal joint, upon reassembling of the mould halves.

Equivalents:

With respect to the use of substantially any plural and/or singular terms herein, those having skill in the art can translate from the plural to the singular and/or from the singular to the plural as is appropriate to the context and/or application. The various singular/plural permutations may be expressly set forth herein for sake of clarity.
It will be understood by those within the art that, in general, terms used herein, and especially in the appended claims (e.g., bodies of the appended claims) are generally intended as "open" terms (e.g., the term "including" should be interpreted as "including but not limited to," the term "having" should be interpreted as "having at least," the term "includes" should be interpreted as "includes but is not limited to," etc.). It will be further understood by those within the art that if a specific number of an introduced claim recitation is intended, such an intent will be explicitly recited in the claim, and in the absence of such recitation no such intent is present. For example, as an aid to understanding, the following appended claims may contain usage of the introductory phrases "at least one" and "one or more" to introduce claim recitations. However, the use of such phrases should not be construed to imply that the introduction of a claim recitation by the indefinite articles "a" or "an" limits any particular claim containing such introduced claim recitation to inventions containing only one such recitation, even when the same claim includes the introductory phrases "one or more" or "at least one" and indefinite articles such as "a" or "an" (e.g., "a" and/or "an" should typically be interpreted to mean "at least one" or "one or more"); the same holds true for the use of definite articles used to introduce claim recitations. In addition, even if a specific number of an introduced claim recitation is explicitly recited, those skilled in the art will recognize that such recitation should typically be interpreted to mean at least the recited number (e.g., the bare recitation of "two recitations," without other modifiers, typically means at least two recitations, or two or more recitations). Furthermore, in those instances where a convention analogous to "at least one of A, B, and C, etc." is used, in general such a construction is intended in the sense one having skill in the art would understand the convention (e.g., "a system having at least one of A, B, and C" would include but not be limited to systems that have A alone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and C together, and/or A, B, and C together, etc.). In those instances, where a convention analogous to "at least one of A, B, or C, etc." is used, in general such a construction is intended in the sense one having skill in the art would understand the convention (e.g., "a system having at least one of A, B, or C" would include but not be limited to systems that have A alone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and C together, and/or A, B, and C together, etc.). It will be further understood by those within the art that virtually any disjunctive word and/or phrase presenting two or more alternative terms, whether in the description, claims, or drawings, should be understood to contemplate the possibilities of including one of the terms, either of the terms, or both terms. For example, the phrase "A or B" will be understood to include the possibilities of "A" or "B" or "A and B."

While various aspects and embodiments have been disclosed herein, other aspects and embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art. The various aspects and embodiments disclosed herein are for purposes of illustration and are not intended to be limiting, with the true scope and spirit being indicated by the following claims.

Referral Numerals:
Referral numeral Description
100 Tool
101 Body
102 Handle portion
103 Blade portion
104 Forming portion
104a Curve
105 First end
106 Second end
107 Tip end
200 Jig assembly
201 Base portion
202 Support structure
203 Actuator
204 Punch
205 Die
206 Groove
207 Protrusion
208 Lever
209 Platform

,CLAIMS:1. A tool (100) for cutting and forming fittings in a mould for a lost wax casting, comprising:
a body (101) defining:
a handle portion (101);
a blade portion (102), wherein a tip end of the blade portion (102) is defined with a pointed edge (107); and
a forming portion (104), adjoining the handle portion (101) and the blade portion (102), wherein the forming portion (104) is defined with a curve (104a) extending in a substantially omega-shape, between the handle portion (101) and the blade portion (102).

2. The tool (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of the blade portion (102) and the forming portion (104) is defined with at least one cutting edge.
3. The tool (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the body (101) is made of a metal.
4. The tool (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the handle portion (101) coated with a polymeric material and defined with grips for holding the tool (100).
5. The tool (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the pointed edge (107) defined in the blade portion (102) is configured to pierce into the mould, to perform cutting operation of the mould.
6. The tool (100) as claimed in claims 1 and 6, wherein the forming portion (104) is configured to define a male protrusion fitting and a female groove fitting in portion of the mould, during cutting of the mould.
7. The tool (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein radius of curvature of the curve (104a) extending in the substantially omega-shape, ranges from about 3mm to 5mm.