Abstract: A flaskless molding machine includes: an upper flask; a lower flask; an upper sand tank; an upper plate attached to a lower end of the upper sand tank; a first lower sand tank; a second lower sand tank; a lower plate attached to an upper end of the second lower sand tank; a drive unit performing squeezing using the upper plate and the lower plate; an adjustment drive unit moving the first lower sand tank; a first detector detecting a height position of the first lower sand tank; a second detector detecting a height position of the second lower sand tank; and a control unit operating the drive unit and the adjustment drive unit so that the height positions of the first communication port and the second communication port coincide with each other, based on detection results of the first detector and the second detector.

Abstract: A cast mold fabricating device supplies thickener-coated sand and steam into a mold forming die at an optimum timing to shorten a mold fabrication time. The device includes the die 2 with an injection inlet 1, a sand supply head 4 for supplying and filling the thickener-coated sand 3 into the die, a steam supply head 5 for supplying steam into the die 2 to solidify and/or cure a thickener of the sand by application of heat of the steam. The device further includes a vertical drive 6 for lowering the sand supply head 4 to a position where the injection inlet 1 is connected to a sand nozzle 8 of the sand supply head 4, and a horizontal drive 7 for advancing the steam supply head 5 to a position where the injection port 1 is connected to a steam nozzle 9 of the steam supply head 5.

Abstract: A flask for containing mold sand within it prevents any mold shifting or mold dropping. Each of an upper flask 2 and a lower flask 3 includes a body that defines an opening in which a sand mold is to be molded. The body has at least one inlet 101 for introducing the mold sand into the opening. Two flanges 102 are extended from the body such that they are opposed to each other across the opening. Each flange has a through bore. The flask also includes engaging members for engaging an actuator in the outside of the flask such that a force or forces from said actuator could be transmitted to the flask. An upper flask 104 and a lower flask 105 are opposed to each other across a pattern plate 107. They are integrally assembled to make a flask unit by means of a pair of connecting rods 106 that are fitted in each bore.

Abstract: A molding process and a flaskless molding machine for simultaneously making an upper flaskless mold and a lower flaskless mold are provided such that the bottom surfaces of the molds can be in a stable and horizontal position, the stripping of the flasks can be reliably carried out, and the configuration of the molding machine can be simplified.

Abstract: A method to efficiently make flaskless upper and lower molds that are stacked, to efficiently spray a release agent in a closed space, and to promptly place a core. The method includes the steps of holding a match-plate between one pair of cope and drag flasks that are horizontally positioned, each of them having a sand-filling port for supplying molding sand at its side wall, defining upper and lower molding spaces by inserting upper and lower squeeze-plates in respective openings of the pair of cope and drag flasks which openings are opposed to the match-plate, putting the pair of cope and drag flasks and the match-plate in a vertical position, and causing the sand-filling ports to be placed in an upper position, spraying a release agent into the two upper and lower molding spaces, supplying molding sand through the sand-filling ports to the two upper and lower molding spaces, and squeezing the molding sand in the two upper and lower molding spaces.

Abstract: The molding and transporting apparatus comprises a molding section for vertically blowing sand from above between a front die and a rear die that have vertically formed pattern faces, and thereafter, driving the front and rear dies and compacting the sand to produce a mold M, and for extruding the mold horizontally, a dividing mechanism for, before the sand is blown, vertically dividing the mold into front and rear portions, as needed, at the center of a molding space, a pouring port formation mechanism for forming a pouring port in the mold; and a form converter for selectively rendering an active operation for changing the form of the mold that is extruded from the molding section from the vertically split form to the horizontally split form, and a non-active operation for transporting the extruded mold to a pouring line, without changing the form of the mold.

Abstract: A method of securing a cap on a piston body includes forming a first annular V-shaped surface at an open end of a cylindrical piston body; forming a second annular V-shaped surface on an annular surface of an oil conduit in the interior center of the piston body; forming a cap to close the open end of the piston body and forming a pair of annular surfaces therein which are flat in shape and in contact with first and second annular V-shaped surfaces on the piston body; placing the cap over the open end of the piston body and thereby placing the annular surface on the cap and the body in close intimate contacting relation; and welding the respective annular surface of the cap and the piston body together by subjecting the cap and body to an extreme high current density to fuse respective contacting annular surfaces together.

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: 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 flaskless molding machine includes a drag flask arranged so as to be rotated between a horizontal position and a vertical position, a cope flask arranged so as to be moved up and down when the drag flask takes its horizontal position and to be also rotated between a horizontal position and a vertical position in association with the rotation of the drag flask, and a squeeze plate for the cope flask arranged in the mold flask so as to be movable therein between the upper and lower openings of the cope flask.

Abstract: Sand is charged into a space in a mold flask by a sand feed nozzle provided on the lower end part of a blow head inserted into a sand charge port formed in the top wall of the mold flask. The blow head is further lowered after completion of the charging so as to deeply insert the sand feed nozzle in the sand charge port in order to press the sand in the vicinity of the sand charge port within the mold flask, thereby uniformly compacting the entire sand in the space.

Abstract: A mold making machine has a pattern plate and a pair of flasks which are superposed on each other such that the pattern plate is interposed between the two flasks. The pattern plate has an integrally formed pattern and cooperates with the flasks to define two mold cavities for forming two sections of a casting mold. The mold making machine includes at least one pattern-plate removing mechanism each of which has a vibrator which is supported by one of the two flasks such that the vibrator is movable in a direction in which the pattern plate and the flasks are superposed on each other. The mechanism further has a biasing member for biasing the vibrator against the pattern plate, so that the vibrator vibrates the pattern plate upon operation thereof, to thereby remove the pattern plate from the sections of the casting mold prepared.

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 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 flaskless sand mold is formed in vertically aligned, sand-filled cope and drag flasks having a pattern board arranged between them so that pattern portions mounted upon the board extend upwardly into the cope and downwardly into the drag. The sand in the drag flask is supported upon a vertically guided platen which covers the bottom of the drag flask, and the cope is covered with a squeeze plate. The sand fillings are compressed against the pattern board and the pattern portions by the platen and squeeze plate to form compacted cope and drag sand molds with aligned cavities. Then the platen, supporting the drag sand mold, is lowered a short distance while the drag flask is held immovably against the cope flask. Thereafter, while the platen, with the drag sand mold, continues to lower, the drag frame is simultaneously lowered into a rest position upon a track-like support.

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: Apertures are formed in the top surface of the platen assembly. A resilient diaphragm extends across each aperture and is extended upwardly through the aperture by a plunger. The extended diaphragm protrudes into sand within the flask and locks the sand mold against movement parallel to the top of the platen assembly.

Abstract: The cope flask and drag platen of a matchplate molding machine are supported for up and down movement on vertical guide rails by sliding bearings or slippers located adjacent to corners of the flask and the platen. Each slipper includes a mounting block and a separate bearing pad connected to the mounting block by screws which may be independently adjusted to establish uniform face-to-face contact between the bearing pad and the rail. The screws also may be quickly released to enable removal and replacement of the bearing pad without disturbing the position of the mounting block.

Abstract: In a plant for the production of vertically divided casting moulds consisting of flaskless mould parts, produced successively in a pressing chamber having pressing plates carrying exchangeable pattern boards. Carriers are arranged laterally of the pressing chamber with a view to allowing a quick changing of said pattern boards, one of the carriages serving to automatically feed and insert "new" pattern boards while the other one picks up and pulls away "used" pattern boards. The various operations are controlled by an electronic control system in dependence on a code on the pattern boards whereby to reduce waste of time to a minimum and avoid risk involving manual operations.

Abstract: A match plate mold-producing apparatus is provided with at least a pair of molding flasks for an upper and a lower sand mold. The pair of molding flasks is alternately positioned in a first mold-forming station in which a match plate carrying thereon a pattern or patterns is vertically held between a pair of squeezing devices movable toward and away from one another along a horizontal axis, and in a second mold-removing station in which mold-jointing operation and mold-removing operation are carried out by cooperation of a vertically movable flask-support device, a vertically movable mold-support device and a vertically movable mold-removing device.

Abstract: A match plate mold-producing apparatus is provided with a flask assembly which has a pair of molding flasks movable toward and away from one another along a fixed guide means, and a flask mover mechanically interconnecting between the pair of molding flasks and actuating movement of the molding flasks, the flask mover per se being arranged so as to be movable with the pair of molding flasks.

Abstract: A foundry molding installation for producing boxless (or flaskless) sand molds comprises a molding machine having a pattern plate (or match plate) for simultaneous molding of upper and lower bodies (or mold halves) and a shifting device for transporting a molded lower body to a transfer station and simultaneously returning to the molding station, for assembly with the upper body therein, a lower body which has been provided with cores. The cores are inserted at core insertion stations along the sides of a rectangular, closed circulation, roller track which is mainly disposed outside the molding machine. At the molding-machine end the track comprises a tandem shifting apparatus having a transfer station in common with that of the shifting device of the molding machine and being movable back and forth, over the shifting device, so as to return a cored lower body from one side of the track to the transfer station while feeding a fresh lower body to the other side of the track.

Abstract: A machine for producing sand molds by a single operator, wherein the flask assembly, including the cope, drag and matchplate remain in the machine at all times, and the method utilized therein.

Abstract: A vertical type machine for continuously forming casting molds at high pressure. The machine is supported by a bed plate and has stays extending vertically with a stationary upper frame connected to the stays. An upper mold frame is fixed to the stays while the lower mold frame is mounted on the stays for vertical reciprocation. A match plate is supported on the stays intermediate the upper and lower mold frames for movement in and out of closing engagement with the upper mold frame. The lower mold frame is mounted on horizontally extending rails on its support so that it may be moved into and out of alignment with the upper mold frame. An upper piston-cylinder actuator is mounted of the stationary frame for vertically displacing an upper squeeze plate, and a lower piston-cylinder actuator is mounted on the bed plate for moving a lower squeeze plate vertically.