Abstract: Foundry molding system, apparatus and methods are characterized by horizontally reciprocating flask shuttles located beneath and at entry and exit ends of a molding line conveyor which is operative to support horizontally aligned cope and drag flask sets for indexing along the conveyor in abutting relation through a plurality of stations for production of cope and drag molds in the cope and drag flasks, respectively. The entry and exit flash shuttles respectively operate positively to locate and transfer along the conveyor one flask of cope and drag flask sets out of and into alignment with a flask separate/set-on and flask take-off/close to permit set-on and take-off of the other flask at high production rates.

Abstract: A foundry molding machine of the horizontal stack type such as shown in Hatch U.S. Pat. No. 3,958,621 employs a programmable solid state electrical control system operating in conjunction with a closed-loop hydraulic servo-system to obtain greater flexibility of set-up and higher mold uniformity and precision with fewer reject molds. Each of four of the major moving components of the machine may be provided with an encoder or position, velocity and direction monitoring device, such components being the two opposed squeeze rams, the mold traction device, and the pusher. Such monitors not only measure the final position of one squeeze ram, but also enable the calculation or measurement of the mold thickness so that the pusher cylinder can be controlled during its movement to contact a formed cake at a null condition and to move that cake into contact also at a null condition with a horizontally formed stack.

Abstract: A foundry molding machine of the horizontal stack type such as shown in Hatch U.S. Pat. No. 3,958,621 employs a programmable solid state electrical control system operating in conjunction with a closed-loop hydraulic servo-system to obtain greater flexibility of set-up and higher mold uniformity and precision with fewer reject molds. Each of four of the major moving components of the machine may be provided with an encoder or position, velocity and direction monitoring device, such components being the two opposed squeeze rams, the mold traction device, and the pusher. Such monitors not only measure the final position of one squeeze ram, but also enable the calculation or measurement of the mold thickness so that the pusher cylinder can be controlled during its movement to contact a formed cake at a null condition and to move that cake into contact also at a null condition with a horizontally formed stack.