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

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: A mold handling system comprising an indexing turntable for carrying a multiplicity of molds in concentric inner and outer rings with the outer ring located at a lower elevation than the inner ring, a conveyor for transporting a multiplicity of molds to a mold transfer station adjacent the turntable, the transfer station including a mold transfer shuttle having a tandem pair of pusher plates for simultaneously (1) transferring a mold from the radial location of the outer ring of molds to the radial location of the inner ring of molds on the turntable, and (2) transferring a new mold from the conveyor to the radial location of the outer ring of molds, the pusher plates directly engaging the respective molds transferred thereby, an elevator mechanism for transporting molds back and forth between the different elevations, the upward movement of the elevator mechanism lifting a mold from the outer ring to the elevation of the inner ring so that the shuttle mechanism transfers the lifted mold directly from the ele