Abstract: The disclosed molding machine defines upper and lower mold cavities while cope and drag flasks 12,13, having a match plate 11 sandwiched therebetween, are rotated from their horizontal positions to their vertical positions. An upper squeeze member 14 is insertable into the cope flask 12 with its pressure-applying plane being opposed to the upper face of the match plate 11. The pressure-applying plane defines an upper mold cavity together with the upper face of the match plate 11 and the cope flask 12. A pivoting frame 23 supports the cope and drag flasks 12,13, having a match plate 11 sandwiched therebetween, and the upper squeeze member 14, such that they rotate in unison between a horizontal position, in which the pressure-applying plane of the upper squeeze member 14 is oriented vertically downward to a vertical position in which the pressure-applying plane is oriented horizontally.

Abstract: The disclosed invention provides a molding machine that defines upper and lower molding spaces while cope and drag flasks 12,13 and a match plate 11 clamped therebetween are rotated from a horizontal position to a vertical position, and that readily places a core into a lower mold within the drag flask. An upper squeeze member 14 is insertable into the cope flask 12 with its pressure-applying plane being opposed to the upper face of the match plate 11. The pressure-applying plane defines an upper molding space together with the upper face of the match plate 11 and the cope flask 12. A pivoting frame 23 supports the cope and drag flasks 12,13, a match plate 11 clamped therebetween, and the upper squeeze member 14, such that they rotate in unison between a horizontal position, in which the pressure-applying plane of the upper squeeze member 14 is oriented vertically downward, to a vertical position in which the pressure-applying plane is oriented horizontally.

Abstract: A sand-introducing device that uses air for introducing molding sand in a molding space or spaces is provided. The device is provided with air-permeable partitioning plates that define a double-walled structure together with the wall of the body of the device. The air-permeable partitioning plates are easily produced, they can easily inject pressurized air of a desired pressure, and they will not need regular maintenance. The body of the device, which acts as a pressure tank, defines a double-walled structure together with the air-permeable partitioning plates (10, 11), thereby defining chambers (12, 13). In the sand-introducing device that uses air, while molding sand is fluidized by pressurized air injected from the air-permeable partitioning plates, it is introduced in a molding space. Each air-permeable partitioning plate is made of a porous resin or metal.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for molding molds having no flask wherein a match plate having a pattern is put between a pair of an upper and a lower flask having intakes for foundry sand. An upper and a lower molding space are defined by inserting an upper and a lower squeeze device into openings of the pair of the upper and the lower flask having no match plate, and the pair of the upper and the lower flask and the match plate are rotated and moved so that they become perpendicular and then the intakes of the flasks move upward. The upper and the lower molding space are then filled with the foundry sand. The foundry sand in the molding space is squeezed by the squeezing device. The pair of the flasks and the match plate are rotated so that they become horizontal. Then the match plate is removed, the flasks are matched to each other, and the molds are removed from the pair of flasks.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for molding molds having no flask wherein a match plate is put between an upper and a lower flask having intakes for foundry sand. An upper and a lower molding space are defined by inserting an upper and a lower squeeze device into openings of a pair of the upper and the lower flask having no match plate, and a pair of the upper and the lower flask and the match plate are rotated and moved so that they become perpendicular, and are moved so that the intakes of the flasks move upward. The upper and the lower molding space are filled with the foundry sand. The foundry sand in the molding spaces is squeezed by the squeeze devices. A pair of the flasks and the match plate are rotated so that they become horizontal. Then the match plate is removed. While the preceding processes are being carried out, if necessary a core can be installed between the molds, the flasks are matched to each other, and the molds are removed from the pair of flasks.

Abstract: A remote-supervisory flaskless molding machine, wherein the fluid pressures of first fluid cylinders (122) and (123) moving a cope (102) and a drag (103) close to and apart from each other, a second fluid cylinder (110) rotating the cope, the drag, and a match plate (105), a third fluid cylinder (129) separating an upper flask from the match plate, and a fourth fluid cylinder (138) extracting the cope and the drag from the upper flask (102) and a lower flask (103) in pairs and the pressure of a compressed air in a filling mechanism (11) filing a foundry sand to the upper and lower flasks by the compressed air are measured by sensors. The measured values by these sensors are transmitted to a monitoring tool (32) by a transmitter (31) through the Internet or an intranet (33) where these values are analyzed and the analyzed results are displayed.

Abstract: There is provided an assembled battery in which a plurality of flat cells having battery containers using a flexible film are vertically stacked by opposing the flat surfaces to each other. The assembled battery has a spacer disposed between the adjacent cells.

Abstract: A hydraulic power unit 15 of a match-plate molding machine comprises a hydraulic pump 20 for supplying oil, a piping system 21, 25, and 26 that fluidly communicates with first and second hydraulic cylinder systems 7 and 10 for supplying the oil from the hydraulic pump 20 to them to perform a squeeze step, an accumulator 22 that is provided within the piping system, first and second electromagnetic directional control valves 23 and 24 for controlling the flow of the oil from the hydraulic pump 20 to the first and second hydraulic cylinder systems 7 and 10, first and second pressure sensors 27 and 28 for measuring pressures of the oil of the first and second hydraulic cylinder systems 7 and 10, and for generating output signals that correspond to the measured value, and a controller 29 for receiving the output signals from the first and second pressure sensors 23 and 24, and for controlling the turns of the first and second electromagnetic directional control valves 23 and 24 based on the output signals and the

Abstract: A method of controlling the operation of an apparatus for making an upper and a lower mold and the apparatus therefore that prevents a mold from having a wrap or a match plate from being damaged. The apparatus controls the forward movement of an upper and a lower squeeze member such that when each moves forward to the match plate by a squeeze device, the difference in the squeeze forces imparted to the upper squeeze member and the squeeze force imparted to the lower squeeze member, is kept within the predetermined tolerance.

Abstract: This invention provides a flaskless molding apparatus for an upper and a lower mold that can produce molds comprised of molding sand with a substantially uniform density, the apparatus, comprising a match plate held between a cope flask and a drag flask, a squeezing mechanism having a plurality of upper and lower segmented-squeeze feet, wherein the upper and the lower segmented-squeeze feet are insertable into each opening of the cope flask and the drag flask respectively, which openings are opposite to the match plate, and wherein the squeezing mechanism can support and rotate the cope flask and the drag flask so that the mechanism allows the cope flask and the drag flask to be rotated clockwise or counterclockwise in a perpendicular plane about a supporting shaft and so that the cope flask and the drag flask can be perpendicular or horizontal, and a means for moving the segmented-squeeze feet, wherein the means can control the positions of the upper and the lower segmented-squeeze feet, which positions dete

Abstract: The purpose of the present invention is to provide a method to efficiently make flaskless upper and lower molds, to efficiently spray a release agent in a closed space, and to promptly place a core.

Abstract: These inventions provide a core-setting apparatus and a method for setting the core in a lower mold used for a molding apparatus, wherein the core-setting apparatus has a simple structure and can maintain the core in the mold in a highly accurate position. The inventions consist of: the core-setting apparatus to set a core in the lower mold while the upper and the lower mold and a match plate are separated from each other after molding the upper and lower mold that comprises: a handling tool having a holding means and a rotatable rod, wherein the handling tool is rotatably supported by the rod, a carrier for transferring the handling tool, wherein the carrier supports the rotatable rod and is moved to or from the location above the lower mold, and an actuator for lowering and lifting the cope flask together with the carrier and the handling tool which are located above the drag flask, wherein the actuator is mounted on the main body of the molding apparatus.

Abstract: A flask unit for producing a cope and a drag that are stacked, comprising at least two uprightly disposed connecting rods (4), a cope flask slidably fitted on the connecting rods and formed with a molding sand blowing-in port in one of its sides, and a drag flask slidably fitted on the connecting rods so that it is located under the cope flask to mate it, the drag flask being formed with a molding sand blowing-in port in one of the sides thereof.

Abstract: A flaskless molding method, wherein a match plate (5) is held between an upper flask (2) and a lower flask (3) and squeeze plates (6) and (7) are inserted into the openings of the upper flask (2) and the lower flask (3) to form an upper manufacturing space and a lower manufacturing space with initial volumes. A foundry sand is filled in the upper and lower manufacturing spaces with the initial volumes through the supply ports of the flask (2) and (3) (first filling). Next, the squeeze plates (6) and (7) are retreated to expand the upper and lower manufacturing spaces more than the initial volumes. The foundry sand is filled again in the expanded upper and lower manufacturing spaces through the supply ports (second filling). After the second filling is completed, the squeeze plates (6) and (7) are advanced to compress the foundry sand in the upper and lower manufacturing spaces so as to manufacture the upper and the lower flasks stacked on each other.

Abstract: This invention provides a method for changing a match plate in a molding apparatus for a flaskless upper mold and a lower mold, which method allows easy change of the match plate. This invention is comprised of a first step for moving a existing match plate placed in the apparatus to between a cope flask and a drag flask of one set of flasks in the perpendicular position, and for holding a new match plate between a cope flask and a drag flask of another set of flasks in the horizontal position, a second step for rotating the cope flask and the drag flask holding said existing match plate from the perpendicular position to the horizontal position, and for rotating the other cope flask and the drag flask holding the new match plate from the horizontal position to the perpendicular position, and a third step for moving the new match plate from the perpendicular position to the apparatus, and for moving the existing match plate from the horizontal position to the outside of the apparatus.

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: The disclosed invention provides a molding machine that defines upper and lower molding spaces while cope and drag flasks 12,13 and a match plate 11 clamped therebetween are rotated from a horizontal position to a vertical position, and that readily places a core into a lower mold within the drag flask. An upper squeeze member 14 is insertable into the cope flask 12 with its pressure-applying plane being opposed to the upper face of the match plate 11. The pressure-applying plane defines an upper molding space together with the upper face of the match plate 11 and the cope flask 12. A pivoting frame 23 supports the cope and drag flasks 12,13, a match plate 11 clamped therebetween, and the upper squeeze member 14, such that they rotate in unison between a horizontal position, in which the pressure-applying plane of the upper squeeze member 14 is oriented vertically downward, to a vertical position in which the pressure-applying plane is oriented horizontally.

Abstract: A method for squeezing foundry sand filled in an upper and a lower molding space, comprising: a step to squeeze the foundry sand by causing the upper and the lower squeeze plate to further approach each other, and a step to squeeze it by causing pattern portions of the match plate to move to each of the upper and the lower squeeze plate.

Abstract: These inventions provide a core-setting apparatus and a method for setting the core in a lower mold used for a molding apparatus, wherein the core-setting apparatus has a simple structure and can maintain the core in the mold in a highly accurate position. The inventions consist of: the core-setting apparatus to set a core in the lower mold while the upper and the lower mold and a match plate are separated from each other after molding the upper and lower mold that comprises: a handling tool having a holding means and a rotatable rod, wherein the handling tool is rotatably supported by the rod, a carrier for transferring the handling tool, wherein the carrier supports the rotatable rod and is moved to or from the location above the lower mold, and an actuator for lowering and lifting the cope flask together with the carrier and the handling tool which are located above the drag flask, wherein the actuator is mounted on the main body of the molding apparatus.

Abstract: Disclosed is a molding method for separating a cope flask and a drag flask from a match plate at the same time. The method comprises the steps of: holding the match plate between the cope and drag flasks; inserting an upper squeeze member and a lower squeeze member into openings of the cope and drag flasks, which are opposed to the match plate, to define an upper molding space and a lower molding space, respectively; filling the defined molding space with molding sand; and driving the upper and lower squeeze members toward the match plate to squeeze the molding sand within the upper and lower molding space to mold an upper mold and a lower mold at the same time. The cope and drag flasks that are included within said molded upper and lower molds are forcibly pushed away from the match plate at the same time when the flasks are stationary.