Abstract: An apparatus for countergravity casting a metallic material, has: a crucible for holding melted metallic material; a casting chamber for containing a mold; a fill tube capable of extending into the crucible to communicate melted metallic material to the casting chamber; and a gas source coupled to a headspace of the melting vessel to allow the gas source to pressurize the headspace to establish a pressure differential to force the melted metallic material upwardly through the fill tube into the mold. Extraneous sulfur is prevented from entering the molten metal from the surrounding environment.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for the casting of cast parts according to the permanent mold casting method comprising: a pivotable retaining element (9) for holding a permanent mold (13, 16) a furnace (11) which may be connected to a low-pressure permanent mold (13) in such a way that melt may be fed to the low-pressure permanent mold (13) in accordance with the low-pressure process, and a melt feed device (17) by which melt may be fed to a gravity permanent mold (16), wherein the gravity permanent mold (16) may be mounted on the retaining element (9).

Abstract: A counter-gravity casting method and apparatus in which the mold is held stationary and the crucible is moved generally laterally from a melt chamber to a fill chamber positioned below the mold with respect to gravity. A casting chamber is located generally above the fill chamber with respect to gravity. The method and apparatus utilize separate chambers for melting and casting in which the pressure in each chamber can be varied relative to each other in order to introduce molten metal into the mold.

Abstract: A casting nozzle for guiding a melt from an outlet of a casting furnace into a casting box, the casting nozzle comprising a main body; a crown attached to the main body; a guiding channel through the main body and crown; a stub on the main body, which stub has a front side that is insertable into a casting furnace outlet and into which the guiding channel enters; a flange on the stub on a side opposite to the front side for applying onto the casting furnace; and a crown socket that is formed at the flange opposite to the stub for carrying the crown. The casting nozzle in combination with a casting furnace and a casting box.

Abstract: The present invention provides a mold casting device including a raising and lowering mechanism that raises and lowers the upper mold; a die plate that is fixed to the upper mold; and a base member that is provided on upper end portions of the raising and lowering mechanism and supports the die plate from below.

Abstract: A casting apparatus for producing a casting by pouring a metal melt into a gas-permeable casting mold by gravity, comprising: a gas-permeable casting mold comprising a cavity including a sprue composed of a tubular portion and a cup portion having a larger diameter than that of the tubular portion to receive the metal melt, a runner constituting a flow path of the metal melt supplied through the sprue, and a product-forming cavity to be filled with the metal melt sent through the runner; a means for pouring the metal melt into the sprue by gravity; a gas-blowing unit comprising a gas-ejecting member to be connected to the sprue; and a mechanism for moving the gas-ejecting member; the gas-ejecting-member-moving mechanism placing the gas-ejecting member at a position just above the tubular portion and not interfering with gravity pouring of the metal melt, and moving it downward for connection to the tubular portion; the gas-blowing unit having blowing a gas to fill the product-forming cavity with the metal mel

Abstract: A pour cup assembly (10) includes a pour cup (12) of frusto-conical shape and which has an inlet end (14), of relatively larger diameter, and an outlet (16), of relatively smaller diameter. The assembly (10) also includes two yokes (18, 20) each including a body section (22) with a part frusto-conical internal profile and opposing arms (24, 26) extending laterally from the body section (22) and that lie in a common plan. Each arm (24, 26) has a bore or hole (30) therein. The body portion (22) has an external profile that is also part frusto-conical in shape and has one or more circumferential grooves (32) in its outer surface. The grooves (32) extend parallel to the arms (18, 20) and transverse to the longitudinal direction of the body portion (22). The grooves (32) in use accommodate a tie element disposed around the body portion (22) and cup (14) to hold the assembly together while the assembly (10) is subsequently coated with ceramic material to form the pour cup assembly.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a hubless one-piece wheel comprising: a rim; and a disc integrally formed at the rim and formed by low-pressure casting, wherein the disc is a hubless type including a plurality of spokes and a space at the center of the rim. One side of said each spoke is integrally formed at the rim, and a lug hole is formed in the other side of said each spoke for coupling the wheel to a vehicle body. The plurality of spokes are radially arranged inside the rim, and each of the other sides of the spoke locates in the inner center portion of the rim being separated by the space.

Abstract: A multi-position parallel pressurized casting device for large aluminum alloy castings and method thereof are provided. The device includes a platform, a top surface of the platform is a working surface, and a bottom of the platform is provided with a holding furnace. A number of the holding furnace is two or more, and each holding furnace is connected to a liquid filling port corresponding to the working surface by a separate lift device, and the holding furnaces can achieve independent liquid level pressure control or synchronization liquid level pressure control in any combination by a lift control system; and a cover body is also provided on the working surface, the cover body and the working surface form a sealed working chamber. A vacuum-pumping system and an inert gas replacement system for the working chamber and/or the holding furnace are further provided.

Abstract: An apparatus for low-pressure casting includes a furnace wall bounding a furnace chamber, a melting crucible unit located in the furnace chamber, a heating device for heating the melting crucible unit, and at least one pressurizing unit for applying overpressure to the melting crucible unit. The furnace chamber in a top view has a length which is greater than its width, so that the furnace chamber has an elongated shape in a longitudinal direction, wherein preferably several riser pipes extending vertically are distributed roughly evenly over around 60% to 95% of the length in the longitudinal direction of the melting crucible or crucibles.

Abstract: The present application discloses an aluminum alloy low-pressure casting device and an aluminum alloy low-pressure casting process. A riser tube is canceled, and the pressure kettle replaces original injection of compressed air into a holding furnace, thereby reducing the consumption of compressed air, and improving the production efficiency of the low-pressure casting process. A non-return stopper is used to space the low-pressure casting and the holding furnace, and molten aluminum alloy can be added into the holding furnace in real time without interrupting the low-pressure casting process, so that rejects affected by temperature field changes due to interrupt of the continuous casting process can be reduced, and the yield of the casting process is improved.

Abstract: A mold for reducing defects in low pressure casting of an aluminum alloy wheel includes a top mold, a side mold and a bottom mold, wherein the top mold is arranged above the bottom mold to mold a back cavity of a wheel, the bottom mold is arranged below the top mold to mold a front wheel disc of the wheel, the side mold is arranged on the side of the top mold and the bottom mold, and the top mold, the side mold and the bottom mold collectively surround a casting cavity of the aluminum alloy wheel, wherein the upper surface of the bottom mold includes a recessed portion configured to form a spoke and a boss portion configured to form a window and wherein the boss portion configured to form the window includes cooling ducts.

Abstract: The present application discloses a low-pressure casting secondary pressure process for an aluminum wheel. The characteristics of smooth low-pressure filling of molten aluminum alloy and rapid solidification of a rim are preserved, the aluminum alloy at a center sprue is frozen by using a center sprue spreader and a forced water coolling to close a mold cavity, and secondary pressure is implemented to the aluminum wheel by means of down-movement of center extrusion rods, so that the material mechanical properties of an aluminum wheel casting and the production efficiency of the casting process are improved.

Abstract: A tandem water spot cooling device for a top die. The device includes a spot cooling device main body, a lower sealing plate, an outer-ring circular track, an inner-ring serpentine passage, outer-ring flow dividing baffles, inner-ring flow dividing baffles, outer-ring through holes, inner-ring through holes, bolt hole reservation positions, stripper rod reservation positions, and water inlet and outlet connection through holes.

Abstract: Molten metal M is raised to the vicinity of a gate 11 of a cavity 9C by increasing the pressure in a holding furnace 5 with gas, and thereafter the cavity 9C is filled with the molten metal M by decreasing the pressure in the cavity 9C by suction and further increasing the pressure in the holding furnace 5. Thereafter, the decompression of the cavity 9C is stopped after a preset filling time, and the compression of the holding furnace 5 is stopped when solidification of the molten metal M is completed. In this way, the suction is minimized, and it becomes possible to employ a simple decompression part 14. A reduction in equipment cost and production cost is thereby achieved, and a reduction in casting cycle time is also achieved.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a low-pressure cast aluminum wheel mold. The back cavity of a top mold (1) is divided into three parts: the back cavity in a rim area is open, and the wall thickness of the top mold is progressively increased by 15-25 mm from bottom to top; the back cavity in a spoke area is machined in a profile-followed manner, and the top mold has an equal wall thickness of 20-30 mm; at each R angle position where the rim is connected with a spoke, the top mold is provided with a boss (11), the axial wall thickness of the boss (11) is 40-60 mm, and the radial wall thickness is 30-50 mm.

Abstract: A low-pressure casting device is provided with a holding furnace, a stoke, a pressure control device and a molten-metal level sensor. The holding furnace holds molten metal. The stoke supplies molten metal into a casting mold via a sprue. The pressure control device moves the molten metal in the stoke and fills the molten metal in the casting mold. The molten-metal level sensor detects a surface level of the molten-metal in the stoke. The stoke has a lower end immersed in the molten metal in the holding furnace. The low-pressure casting device is configured to correct filling of the molten metal in the casting mold in a next casting based on the height of the molten metal surface detected by the molten-metal level sensor.

Abstract: A casting mold of a casting assembly is openable in first and second release directions different from each other. The casting mold has a first base plate transverse to the first release direction and an opposite second base plate. First mold parts on first base plate and second mold parts on second base plate define first and second casting cavities. First and second lateral parts are arranged between first and second base plates. A third mold part on the first lateral part defines the first casting cavity. A fourth mold part on the second lateral part defines the second casting cavity. A fifth mold part on first base plate defines the first and second casting cavities. The first and second lateral parts are movable in second release direction. The first mold parts are moveably supported on guides of first base plate extending in second release direction.

Abstract: The buoyancy transfer jig includes: a rod-shaped rod portion which is disposed extending from an outside of a pattern to an inside of a hollow portion by way of an opening portion which is formed in a foamed mold and makes the outside of the pattern and the hollow portion connected with each other, and is disposed in self hardening sand filled in the hollow portion and the opening portion; and a plate-shaped blade portion which is formed continuously with the rod portion and is disposed in the casting sand.

Abstract: An opening is provided in a foam pattern, and a coating agent is applied to the opening. The coating agent applied to the opening is taken as a beam having a sectional secondary moment I (mm4), a vertical plate thickness h (mm), and a length L (mm). It is assumed that a volume of a cavity part in the foam pattern is V (mm3), a bulk density of the casting sand filling the cavity part is ?s (kg/mm3), a gravitational acceleration is g (mm/sec2), a density of the melt is ?m (kg/mm3), an angle of the opening with respect to a vertical direction is ?, and a transverse strength of the coating agent at the highest temperature during pouring of the melt is ?b (MPa). A sectional shape of the opening, the angle ? of the opening, and the transverse strength ?b of the coating agent are selected to satisfy the expression: ?bI>V(?m??s)g{(hL/2)sin ??cos ?}.

Abstract: A method for forming a three-dimensional object with at least one conductive trace comprises providing an intermediate structure that is generated (e.g., additively or subtractively generated) from a first material in accordance with a model design of the three-dimensional object. The intermediate structure may have at least one predefined location for the at least one conductive trace. The model design includes the at least one predefined location. Next, the at least one conductive trace may be generated adjacent to the at least one predefined location of the intermediate structure. The at least one conductive trace may be formed of a second material that has an electrical and/or thermal conductivity that is greater than the first material.

Abstract: An exhausting device of a low-pressure aluminum alloy wheel casting mold, which includes a control mainframe, a connecting line, a gas storage station, a ventilating pipeline, gas inlet plugs, an exhausting plug and the like, the control mainframe is connected with the gas storage station through the connecting line, and the gas storage station is connected with the gas inlet plugs through the ventilating pipeline; the gas inlet plugs are arranged at the bottom mold window; the mold filling process of the high-temperature molten aluminum can be completed in a relatively oxygen-free environment, direct contact between the molten aluminum and oxygen is avoided, and the occurrence probability of the oxidation slag inclusion defect in the wheel casting process is effectively controlled, so that the internal quality of the casting is remarkably improved.

Abstract: A process for casting TiAl components, having the following process steps: producing a melt (S) of the TiAl material below an inert gas fill (IF); placing a casting mold (1) on a gate (2) in a gastight manner; flooding the casting mold (1) with inert gas (IG) by opening a closure mechanism (7) which is arranged at the gate (2) and is connected to an inert gas source (8); pressing the melt (S) through the gate (2) into the casting mold (1) by increasing the pressure (P) of the inert gas fill (IF) above the melt (S) while at the same time evacuating the inert gas (IG) from the casting mold (1), and stopping the inflow of inert gas (IG) as soon as it is determined that the melt (S) passes above the position of the closure mechanism (7).

Abstract: A low pressure aluminum casting apparatus includes a pair of steel dies each presenting a molding surface and a heat transfer surface. Copper heat sink blocks are disposed on the heat transfer surfaces to remove heat from the steel dies. Steel contact plates and steel spacer plates can be disposed between the heat sink blocks and the steel dies to optimize cooling. In addition, a portion of each contact plate can be spaced from the steel die to reduce cooling. The steel dies include conventional cooling passages for conveying cooling fluid, and the heat sink blocks, contact plates, and spacer plates also include cooling channels for conveying cooling fluid.

Abstract: Provided is a low-pressure casting apparatus for stable casting without using feedback control even if a furnace body has a crack, and a low-pressure casting method using the same. A low-pressure casting apparatus fills a cavity with molten metal M through a guiding unit by introducing gas into a holding furnace for heating the molten metal M to apply pressure to a surface of the molten metal M. The holding furnace includes a casing, a furnace body accommodated in the casing, and a refractory layer disposed between the casing and the furnace body, the refractory layer having a pore structure. The low-pressure casting apparatus further includes a first gas supply unit for supplying to the furnace body the gas to apply pressure to the molten metal M and a second gas supply unit for supplying gas to the refractory layer.

Abstract: A system and a method for casting under pressure pivots an upper casting mold half out of a horizontal position into an approximately vertical position, in such a manner that the inside surface of the casting mold half can be treated in work-facilitating and time-saving manner, preferably by a person.

Abstract: The embodiments described herein relate to methods and apparatus for counter-gravity formation of BMG-containing hollow parts. In one embodiment, the BMG-containing hollow parts may be formed by first feeding a molten metal alloy in a counter-gravity direction into a mold cavity to deposit the molten metal alloy on a surface of the mold cavity and then solidifying the deposited molten metal alloy.

Abstract: The embodiments described herein relate to methods and apparatus for counter-gravity formation of BMG-containing hollow parts. In one embodiment, the BMG-containing hollow parts may be formed by first feeding a molten metal alloy in a counter-gravity direction into a mold cavity to deposit the molten metal alloy on a surface of the mold cavity and then solidifying the deposited molten metal alloy.

Abstract: The embodiments described herein relate to methods and apparatus for counter-gravity formation of BMG-containing hollow parts. In one embodiment, the BMG-containing hollow parts may be formed by first feeding a molten metal alloy in a counter-gravity direction into a mold cavity to deposit the molten metal alloy on a surface of the mold cavity and then solidifying the deposited molten metal alloy.

Abstract: A very low pressure gas or blow forming process for shaping a bulk metallic glass (BMG) in its supercooled liquid state that avoids the frictional stick forces experienced by conventional shaping techniques by engineering the expansion of a pre-shape or parison of BMG material such that substantially all of the lateral strain required to form the final article is accomplished prior to the outer surface of the parison contacting the surface of the shaping apparatus is provided. The capability offered by the inventive shaping process to avoid the frictional forces exerted by the shaping apparatus surface allows for the formation of precision net-shape complex multi-scale parts and components using processing conditions inaccessible by conventional processes.

Abstract: A method of forming a casting using a casting apparatus is disclosed, the method including the steps of lowering a ladle having a hollow interior into a source of molten material and an aperture facilitating flow into the hollow interior, filling the interior of the ladle with the molten material through the aperture, introducing an inert gas into a portion of a nozzle, removing the ladle from the source of molten material, causing the nozzle to contact a casting mold, and pressurizing the hollow interior with an inert gas to cause the molten material to flow into the casting mold.

Abstract: A rotor for an induction motor and a method of preparing same. The method includes making a squirrel-cage rotor made up of a cage and a laminate stack by forming a mold around the stack, heating the stack and introducing a molten metal into the mold such that the molten metal substantially fills a space defined in the stack that corresponds to the cage. In one form, the space includes slots or related channels formed in the stack that upon filling with the molten metal become longitudinal bars that form electric current loops with end rings of the cage. By heating the stack and maintaining it at a temperature high enough to keep the molten metal in a substantially molten state at least long enough for it to flow through the slots of the stack, premature freezing of the molten metal is avoided. In addition, by providing low pressure to the molten metal in conjunction with the elevated temperature in the stack, flow is promoted to ensure a substantially porosity-free, fully dense squirrel-cage for the rotor.

Abstract: Nano-composite structures are formed by pre-loading carbon nanotubes (CNTs) into at least one of a plurality of channels running the length of a cartridge, placing the pre-loaded cartridge in a piston chamber of a die-casting machine, creating a vacuum therein, and filing the piston chamber with molten metal to soak the pre-loaded cartridge and fill empty cartridge channels. Pressure is applied via the piston to eject the carbon nanotubes and molten metal from the cartridge channels and inject the nano-composite mixture into a rod-shaped die cavity. The internal diameter of the cavity is equal to or less than the final diameter of the nozzle. The nano-composite mixture is cooled to form a solid nano-composite rod having the first predetermined diameter, wherein the carbon nanotubes are aligned in a non-random manner. Furthermore, drawing down the nano-composite rod to smaller diameter wire further disperses the nanotubes along the length of the wire.

Abstract: A method of casting including coating at least a portion of a mold with a non-porous coating, placing the mold in a chamber capable of inducing pressure, and applying pressure to the chamber to press material into a cavity in the mold. Another method of casting including coating at least a portion of a mold with a non-porous coating, placing a first fill tube in a material, applying a vacuum to a second fill tube to establish a vacuum within the non-porous coating, and allowing atmospheric pressure to inject the material into the mold without placing the mold in a chamber capable of inducing pressure.

Abstract: A method for moving an upper mold against a lower mold in a mold casting machine having a mold clamping mechanism attached to a lifting and lowering frame. The mechanism has an upper mold lifting and lowering device that assembles and separates the upper and lower molds by lifting and lowering the upper mold relative to the lower mold and the frame. A space for a setting a core and for taking out products is formed between the upper and lower molds by lifting the device relative to the frame, and by lifting the frame relative to the lower mold. Then the frame is lowered until the upper mold comes close to the lower mold. Thereafter the upper mold is lowered by the device to form an assembled mold, molten metal is introduced into the mold and after the metal has solidified the upper mold is lifted by the device, all while the frame is kept fixed relative to the lower mold.

Abstract: A low-pressure casting apparatus that prevents molten metal that is a residue in a conduit from being oxidized. The low-pressure casting apparatus includes a compartment for holding a molten metal 1, a pressure chamber 2 that can communicate with the compartment, wherein the molten meal is pressurized in the chamber, an on-off valve 5 that opens and closes hole 4 through which the compartment can communicate with the pressure chamber, a conduit 7 that conducts the molten metal to the mold 6, wherein the base of the conduit is connected to a lower part of the chamber so as to communicate with the chamber, the end of the conduit being made so that it can communicate with a sprue for a mold 6, a float 9 that goes up and down in the pressure chamber, and a tank that stores an inert gas and that has a pipe 13 that is connected to the upper part of the pressure chamber 2.

Abstract: A device for low-pressure casting wherein the stalk or the guiding tube is filled with inert gas by causing the space formed over the molten metal in the pressurizing room to communicate with the stalk or the guiding tube.

Abstract: The object of the present invention is to provide a casting method capable of simultaneously attaining the shortening of cycle time and the improvement in casting quality. The pressure allowing the molten metal level to go up to the positions of from P0 to P4 is applied to the molten metal within a molten metal reservoir 1. Then, the pressure of P4 is maintained for a predetermined time. During this time, the molten metal which comes into contact with an upper die 4 is cooled earlier than the molten metal being in contact with another die. Through this cooling the molten metal shrinks. However, since the pressure of P4 is maintained, the molten metal is supplied from the lower side to a shrunk portion, so as not to cause shrinkage cavity or underfill.

Abstract: Disclosed is a metal casting system, an engineered mold for use therewith, a process for utilizing the system and mold, and articles having a clean, oxide-free sand casting of molten metals that have been produced under an inert environment. This is especially advantageous for making automotive and airplane parts from the manufacture of lightweight metals, and more especially for the production of magnesium parts in order to reduce weight while maintaining properties found in other lightweight metals. Currently, sand cast articles are being used for automotive, aerospace and semiconductor parts and other industrial applications.

Abstract: The invention makes it possible to manufacture high-quality cast parts in a productive manner in that a casting mould with a filling opening pointing in the direction of gravity is provided during the casting of molten metal. The casting mould with the filling opening is coupled to a melt container containing the molten metal, and the molten metal is conveyed from the melt container into the casting mould counter to the direction of gravity. The casting mould is sealed directly after filling with molten metal using a locking means which is at least temporarily connected to the casting mould in a fixed manner, in that the casting mould is decoupled from the melt container directly after closure of the casting mould and in that the casting mould is rotated about a horizontal axis of rotation, wherein the casting mould remains in a sealed position with respect to the locking means.

Abstract: An internal gear manufacturing method capable of manufacturing time reduction and easy core removal, and a metallic glass internal gear manufactured thereby. A carbon core formed into a shape of an external gear is arranged in a thin, long tubular mold of a length equal thereto with a space extending longitudinally therealong. A molten metal material is pressure-injected under a temperature higher than a melting point thereof into the space between the mold and the core. The molten metal material is resolidified by rapid cooling at or above a critical cooling rate thereof together with the mold and the core. After resolidification of the molten metal material, the core is removed by pulverization or dissolution. Along internal gear formed of the resolidified metal material is cut into a plurality of segments of a prescribed length.

Abstract: The present invention is aimed to provide a low-pressure casting apparatus which can prevent the molten metal that is a residue in a conduit from being oxidized. A conduit in the apparatus is connected to a lower part of a pressure chamber in which the molten metal is pressurized. Also, the end of the conduit is made so that it can communicate with a sprue for a mold.

Abstract: The object of the present invention is to provide a device for low-pressure casting wherein the stalk or the guiding hole is filled with inert gas by causing the space formed over the molten metal in the pressurizing room to communicate with the stalk or the guiding hole.

Abstract: [SUMMARY] [OBJECT] The object of the present invention is to provide a casting method capable of simultaneously attaining the shortening of cycle time and the improvement in casting quality. [SOLUTION] The pressure allowing the molten metal level to go up to the positions of from P0 to P4 is applied to the molten metal within a molten metal reservoir 1. Then, the pressure of P4 is maintained for a predetermined time. During this time, the molten metal which comes into contact with an upper die 4 is cooled earlier than the molten metal being in contact with another die. Through this cooling the molten metal shrinks. However, since the pressure of P4 is maintained, the molten metal is supplied from the lower side to a shrunk portion, so as not to cause shrinkage cavity or underfill.

Abstract: An apparatus and process are provided for discharging a dose of a molten metal from a pressure pour furnace. A heating chamber of the furnace is used to keep the molten metal at a selected temperature. A sealing port between the heating chamber and a pressure chamber allows selectively filling of the pressure chamber with molten metal from the heating chamber by inserting or removing a sealing means from the sealing port. The sealing means inserted in the sealing port also provides a means for preventing back flow of the molten metal to the heating chamber when the pressure chamber is pressurized. Differential pressure sensing of the pressure of the molten metal in the pressure chamber and the pressure of the pressurizing gas in the pressure chamber can optionally be used to achieve an accurate measured discharge from the pressure chamber as the level of molten metal decreases from repeated discharges of doses from the furnace.

Abstract: [OBJECT] To provide a method for casting with a gas permeable mold by gravity pouring, wherein melt is injected into only an intended cavity portion of a casting mold cavity and solidified. [MEANS FOR ATTAINING THE OBJECT] After pouring the melt having the volume substantially equal to that of the intended cavity portion to be filled with the melt, compressed gas is supplied from a sprue to inject the melt into the intended cavity portion and solidify the melt. The cavity may be decompressed before or after pouring according to need.

Abstract: A housing including a housing portion having a reinforcing rib including a cylindrical cross-section. The rib provides reinforcing for the housing and may simultaneously provide a cooling passage for the housing. A cooling path is defined through the housing by the cylindrical cross-section of the rib.

Abstract: A method for forming a solder mold for transferring solder to a wafer includes etching a plurality of solder cavities into a substrate. A plurality of ventilation channels are etched on the substrate connecting the plurality of solder cavities.

Abstract: Disclosed is a metal injection molding system. According to an aspect, the metal injection molding system includes a barrel assembly. The barrel assembly includes a low-pressure section that is configured to be operatively couplable with a high-pressure section. The high-pressure section is selected from a set of high-pressure sections.

Abstract: A new pressure-only molten metal valving apparatus and method is provided. This novel approach to controlling the flow of liquids eliminates the need for active, moving valve components. Using the natural surface tension properties of liquids, the gas pressure either activates liquid flow when a threshold is overcome or retains the liquid in a head, even when lifted.

Abstract: A printing apparatus including a print mechanism for printing key-input print information; an eraser for erasing a character or symbol printed on a recording medium with the print mechanism; a first memory for storing the key-input information; a second memory for storing information on a print object erased with the eraser; and an erasure controller for controlling the eraser in accordance with a comparison result between the erased object information stored in the second memory and the key-input information stored in the first memory.