Abstract: A conveyor for a molding machine and a molding machine incorporating the conveyor in which the portion of the conveyor and its driven rollers that run through the pouring station have been shortened such that the pallets extend over the conveyor to shield the conveyor and rollers from molten metal, and in which the rollers are slanted at an oblique angle relative to the intended path of the molds such that the driven rollers bias the pallets away from the pouring line to ensure that pallets carrying molds do not fall off the conveyor onto the pouring line.

Abstract: A conveyor for a molding machine and a molding machine incorporating the conveyor in which the portion of the conveyor and its driven rollers that run through the pouring station have been shortened such that the pallets extend over the conveyor to shield the conveyor and rollers from molten material, and in which the rollers are slanted at an oblique angle relative to the intended path of the molds such that the driven rollers bias the pallets away from the pouring line to ensure that pallets carrying molds do not fall off the conveyor onto the pouring line.

Abstract: A two tiered mold handling system for use in a sand mold casting machine which comprises a two tiered conveyor for pouring and cooling, or a two tiered conveyor for cooling only. The two-tiered conveyor has an upper linear track and a lower linear track disposed at a lower vertical elevation. The tracks carry a plurality of mold pallets along an endless path around the upper and lower linear tracks. The application is directed toward several concepts including two tiered pouring conveyors in combination with two tiered cooling conveyors, two tiered combination pouring and cooling conveyors, and one tiered pouring conveyors in combination with two tiered cooling conveyors to provide a lower pouring elevation.

Abstract: A mold handling system for transferring molds from multiple feed lines to a single main conveyor. The present invention provides an improved and simplified system for transferring molds from several mold making machines to a single conveyor leading to a pouring station. Through the use of a transfer conveyor with cantilevered arms which intersect with the feed lines and the main line, molds can be transferred from the transfer conveyor to the main line by raising and lowering the cantilevered arms. A simplified mechanism for raising and lowering the transfer conveyor is provided in the form of an air actuated bellows apparatus. In order to provide lateral support to the transfer conveyor, brackets flank the bellows that are provided with a predetermined amount of lateral play to provide both the lateral support to the transfer conveyor, as well as enable the transfer conveyor to be raised and lowered.

Abstract: A simplified mold handling system has a linear flowpath with adjustable throughput, variable cooling cycle capability, and minimized equipment and cost. The system has a mold handling conveyor with upper and lower levels on which pouring and cooling of the molds occur. The upper level of the conveyor receives sand molds and conveys the empty molds to a pouring station wherein molten material is deposited therein to form castings. After the castings have been poured, the molds are transferred to the lower level of the pouring conveyor for cooling purposes, and then back to the upper level. The sand molds are then either pushed to another row of the pallet, or are pushed down a ramp to a vibrating conveyor for removal of the sand. Such features allow adjustability in the dwell time required for cooling of the given metal.

Abstract: Cope and drag molds are formed using a matchplate, in which the matchplate has shift blocks on its upper and lower surfaces. The shift blocks form corresponding cavities in the cope and drag molds. Then, a gauge mechanism is calibrated with a gauge standard. The gauge mechanism generally includes a gauge block, a spring biased arm, and a meter adapted to measure movement of the spring biased arm relative to the meter. The calibrating step is performed by sliding the gauge mechanism into the gauge standard which provides prototypical drag and cope mold surfaces. The gauge mechanism is calibrated by setting the meter to zero when the spring biased arm engages the prototypical cope mold surface. Lastly, the gauge mechanism is inserted into the formed cavities in the actual cope and drag molds such that the gauge block engages the drag mold and the spring biased arm engages the cope mold.

Abstract: The upper level of the pouring conveyor receives sand molds and conveys the empty molds to a pouring station wherein molten material is deposited therein to form castings. Each mold is provided with a supportive weight and jacket before pouring. After the castings have been poured, the molds are transferred to the lower level of the pouring conveyor for cooling purposes, and then back to the upper level to remove the weight and jacket. The sand molds are then transferred to the upper level of the cooling conveyor and are deposited into trays provided on the cooling conveyor. Each tray is adapted to receive a plurality of molds to enable the molds to move from serial to parallel movement. An indexable pusher arm is provided to accurately place each mold in a respective tray to insure proper spacing for uniform cooling. After each tray has traversed the upper and lower levels of the cooling conveyor, the molds are removed from the trays and the sand is broken away to reveal the castings for harvest.

Abstract: The upper level of a pouring conveyor receives sand molds and conveys the empty molds to a pouring station wherein molten material is deposited therein to form castings. Each mold is provided with a supportive weight and jacket before pouring. After the castings have been poured, the molds are transferred to the lower level of the pouring conveyor for cooling purposes, and then back to the upper level to remove the weight and jacket. The sand molds are then transferred to the upper level of a cooling conveyor and are deposited into trays provided on the cooling conveyor. Each tray is adapted to receive a plurality of molds to enable the molds to move from serial to parallel movement. An indexable pusher arm is provided to accurately place each mold in a respective tray to insure proper spacing for uniform cooling. After each tray has traversed the upper and lower levels of the cooling conveyor, the molds are removed from the trays and the sand is broken away to reveal the castings for harvest.

Abstract: The upper level of the pouring conveyor receives sand molds and conveys the empty molds to a pouring station wherein molten material is deposited therein to form castings. Each mold is provided with a supportive weight and jacket before pouring. After the castings have been poured, the molds are transferred to the lower level of the pouring conveyor for cooling purposes, and then back to the upper level to remove the weight and jacket. The sand molds are then transferred to the upper level of the cooling conveyor and are deposited into trays provided on the cooling conveyor. Each tray is adapted to receive a plurality of molds to enable the molds to move from serial to parallel movement. An indexable pusher arm is provided to accurately place each mold in a respective tray to insure proper spacing for uniform cooling. After each tray has traversed the upper and lower levels of the cooling conveyor, the molds are removed from the trays and the sand is broken away to reveal the castings for harvest.

Abstract: The drag flask has at least two opposed sides which include recesses proximate the matchplate. Manifolds are provided in the recesses to communicate compressed air from a source of compressed air to air inlets provided in the manifold. The manifolds are separated from the recesses using an elastomeric seal which is contoured to direct the compressed air between an air passage disposed between the drag mold and the matchplate. When incorporated into a sand mold forming machine, sensors are positioned on the sand mold forming machine to detect when the drag flask has reached a releasing position to thereby cause the source of compressed air to inject air into the manifold and air passage for release of the drag mold from the drag flask.

Abstract: An automatic matchplate molding machine, used to form sand cope and drag molds, includes a basin former to create a pouring basin in the cope mold. The basin former includes a two-piece liner, one of the pieces being a relatively short and inexpensive plastic sleeve which may be replaced at a relatively low cost when wear occurs. Air passages in the liner channel air into the center of the liner, creating a swirling air current, thereby blowing loose sand out of the liner.

Abstract: The pattern plate of a matchplate molding machine is attached to a drag flask by spring-loaded clamps which may be rapidly opened to enable the plate to be quickly and easily removed from the flask and replaced by another plate. Locating members are attached to the flask in laterally opposed relation with the clamps and coact with the clamps to fixture the pattern plate accurately on the flask. A removable operating handle is provided for opening the clamps and carries a latch for releasably holding the clamps in their open positions during changing of the pattern plates. A conventional bolt-on pattern plate may be converted for use with the clamping system by attaching bars with downwardly inclined upper surfaces to the pattern plate, the bars being secured within notches in the side edges of the plate.

Abstract: The pattern plate of a matchplate molding machine is attached to a drag flask by spring-loaded clamps which may be rapidly opened to enable the plate to be quickly and easily removed from the flask and replaced by another plate. Locating members are attached to the flask in laterally opposed relation with the clamps and coact with the clamps to fixture the pattern plate accurately on the flask. A removable operating handle is provided for opening the clamps and carries a latch for releasably holding the clamps in their open positions during changing of the pattern plates.

Abstract: A basin former on a squeeze plate coacts with a sprue former on a pattern plate to form a pouring basin and a sprue in a sand mold. Sand which enters the basin former during formation of the pouring basin is ejected upwardly therefrom by pressurized air which is introduced into the basin former through an opening in the side of a plastic liner located in the basin former. The squeeze plate is modular in nature in that the basin former may be attached to the squeeze plate at any selected one of several locations without need of disconnecting and re-connecting the source of pressurized air when the position of the basin former is changed.

Abstract: Green sand molds for use in casting operations are made automatically by a matchplate molding system. Features of the system include (1) pneumatic apparatus for filling the cope and drag flasks with sand (2) a pusher on the drag flask for shifting molds of various shapes to a transfer conveyor (3) a carriage supporting the drag flask for vertical and lateral movement (4) a lower sand magazine which moves laterally to open and close a sand chute gate while also being movable vertically relative to the gate (5) a squeeze head movable between various positions enabling control over the volume of sand delivered to the cope and drag flasks (6) a vibrator for directly vibrating the matchplates (7) liners for releasably holding molds in the flasks (8) an accumulating conveyor for transferring the newly formed molds and (9) a pusher for shoving the molds off of the accumulating conveyor.

Abstract: Green sand molds for use in casting operations are made automatically by a matchplate molding system. Features of the system include (1) pneumatic apparatus for filling the cope and drag flasks with sand, (2) a pusher on the drag flask for shifting molds of various shapes to a transfer conveyor, (3) a carriage supporting the drag flask for vertical and lateral movement (4) a lower sand magazine which moves laterally to open and close a sand chute gate while also being movable vertically relative to the gate, (5) a squeeze head movable between various positions enabling control over the volume of sand delivered to the cope and drag flasks, (6) a vibrator for directly vibrating the matchplates, (7) liners for releasably holding molds in the flasks, (8) an accumulating conveyor for transferring the newly formed molds and (9) a pusher for shoving the molds off of the accumulating conveyor.

Abstract: An automatic core setting machine having a movable mask with pockets for holding foundry cores until the mask is brought into face-to-face abutment with a mold, and a vacuum system comprising a body member integral with the pocketed mask and defining an interior suction chamber, the body member comprising a first wall having means defining a plurality of inlet ports terminating on the interior surface of the first wall in a plurality of injector nozzles, a second wall parallel to the first wall and having means defining a plurality of outlet ports terminating on the interior surface of the second wall in a plurality of ejector nozzles, each of the plurality of outlet ports being axially aligned with one of the plurality of inlet ports, and side walls rigidly connecting the first wall and the second wall and defining a space therebetween; means defining a suction opening through at least one of the side walls, the suction opening communicating with the interior suction chamber of the body member; means for con

Abstract: Green sand molds for use in casting operations are made automatically by a matchplate molding system. Features of the system include (1) pneumatic apparatus for filling the cope and drag flasks with sand, (2) a pusher on the drag flask for shifting molds of various shapes to a transfer conveyor, (3) a carriage supporting the drag flask for vertical and lateral movement, (4) a lower sand magazine which moves laterally to open and close a sand chute gate while also being movable vertically relative to the gate, (5) a squeeze head which moves between various positions enabling control over the volume of sand delivered to the cope and drag flasks, (6) a vibrator for directly vibrating the matchplates, (7) liners for releasably holding molds in the flasks, (8) an accumulating conveyor for transferring the newly formed molds and (9) a pusher for shoving the molds off of the accumulating conveyor.

Abstract: A bearing slipper for supporting a component of a matchplate mold-making machine for back and forth sliding along an elongated rail. The slipper comprises a rigid mounting block having one face covered wholly or partially by pad means made of tough anti-friction material. Resiliently yieldable elastomeric strips are compressed in grooves at opposite end portions of the block and urge the end portions of the pad means outwardly so as to form protruding fins which wipe sand from the rail as the slipper moves back and forth along the rail.

Abstract: A system for making foundry molds comprising the combination of a platen assembly including a platen having a top surface for supporting a mold pattern, and a ram for raising and lowering the platen in response to a controllable pressurized fluid; a mold flask supported above the platen so that upward movement of the platen positions the mold pattern thereon within the flask and closes the bottom of the flask so that the flask can be filled with sand; a sand hopper located adjacent the mold flask, and a sand magazine mounted for lateral movement between a retracted position below the sand hopper where the magazine can be loaded with sand from the hopper, and an advanced position above the mold flask for filling the cavity defined by the flask and the platen assembly with sand from the magazine; a squeeze head located adjacent the mold flask and mounted for lateral movement so that the squeeze head can be positioned over the mold flask, after the flask has been filled with sand and the sand magazine has been r