The moulding machine includes a moulding chamber having at least one chamber end wall provided with a pattern plate adapted to form a pattern in a mould part and associated with a reference pattern block positioned in fixed relationship to a pattern of said pattern plate and adapted to form a reference pattern in an external face of a mould part. The reference pattern block includes a face having a tangent varying in a longitudinal direction of the moulding chamber and being adapted to form a corresponding reference pattern in the sand mould part. A non-contact detection system (87) detects the position of a number of different points (P.sub.1, P.sub.2) distributed over the pattern face of the reference pattern in the longitudinal direction of the sand mould part, and the tangent (T.sub.1, T.sub.2) in the longitudinal direction of the sand mould part is different between at least two of said points.

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.

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.

A method of indexing moulds uses a flaskless moulding machine for forming moulds and a mould conveyor for carrying, and advancing a mould string produced from a plurality of the moulds received by the mould conveyor from the flaskless moulding machine. The method comprises: (i) forming one or more moulds one at a time using the flaskless moulding machine, each of the one or more moulds being added to the mould string while the mould string is stationary by being brought Into contact with the mould string, subsequently to being produced by the flaskless moulding machine. Once the one or more moulds has been produced and added to the mould string, the method continues in step (ii) by advancing the mould siring, in a single motion, away from the flaskless moulding machine a distance corresponding to the sum of the thicknesses of the one or more moulds using the mould conveyor, wherein the flaskless moulding machine assists the mould conveyor in advancing the mould string during a first part of the distance, and wherein the mould conveyor advances the mould string a second part of the distance, corresponding to the remainder of the distance, without assistance from the flaskless moulding machine. The single motion is continuous. A system for indexing moulds is also provided.

A method of indexing moulds uses a flaskless moulding machine for forming moulds and a mould conveyor for carrying, and advancing a mould string produced from a plurality of the moulds received by the mould conveyor from the flaskless moulding machine. The method comprises: (i) forming one or more moulds one at a time using the flaskless moulding machine, each of the one or more moulds being added to the mould string while the mould string is stationary by being brought Into contact with the mould string, subsequently to being produced by the flaskless moulding machine. Once the one or more moulds has been produced and added to the mould string, the method continues in step (ii) by advancing the mould siring, in a single motion, away from the flaskless moulding machine a distance corresponding to the sum of the thicknesses of the one or more moulds using the mould conveyor, wherein the flaskless moulding machine assists the mould conveyor in advancing the mould string during a first part of the distance, and wherein the mould conveyor advances the mould string a second part of the distance, corresponding to the remainder of the distance, without assistance from the flaskless moulding machine. The single motion is continuous. A system for indexing moulds is also provided.

A lining plate for lining a mould chamber in a sand molding machine. A base unit, is equipped with functional openings for injection of particle material, an air exhaust and fasteners. A layer of a synthetic resin material which is cast integrally onto the base unit faces the abrasive areas of said mould chamber. A method of manufacturing a lining plate comprising a base unit equipped with functional openings for injection of particle material, and/or air exhaust openings and fasteners. A method of refurbishing a lining plate in a sand molding machine comprising a base unit equipped with functional openings for injection of particle material, air exhaust openings and fasteners.

A lining plate for lining a mould chamber in a sand molding machine. A base unit, is equipped with functional openings for injection of particle material, an air exhaust and fasteners. A layer of a synthetic resin material which is cast integrally onto the base unit faces the abrasive areas of said mould chamber. A method of manufacturing a lining plate comprising a base unit equipped with functional openings for injection of particle material, and/or air exhaust openings and fasteners. A method of refurbishing a lining plate in a sand molding machine comprising a base unit equipped with functional openings for injection of particle material, air exhaust openings and fasteners.

A casting mold shaping method is provided which enables, in a three-stage squeeze step using an electric motor, quick and smooth switching from a second squeeze step to a third squeeze step. The casting mold shaping method includes: a first squeeze step of moving the pressing member toward a back surface of a pattern to an inside of a molding space; a second squeeze step of regulating an approach of the molding flask toward the pressing member side by the stopper device and moving the pattern and a pattern surface plate to the inside of the molding space; and a third squeeze step of releasing the regulation by the stopper device and moving the pressing member toward the back surface of the pattern to the inside of the molding space in a state where the movement of the output unit in the second squeeze step is continued.

A casting mold shaping method is provided which enables, in a three-stage squeeze step using an electric motor, quick and smooth switching from a second squeeze step to a third squeeze step. The casting mold shaping method includes: a first squeeze step of moving the pressing member toward a back surface of a pattern to an inside of a molding space; a second squeeze step of regulating an approach of the molding flask toward the pressing member side by the stopper device and moving the pattern and a pattern surface plate to the inside of the molding space; and a third squeeze step of releasing the regulation by the stopper device and moving the pressing member toward the back surface of the pattern to the inside of the molding space in a state where the movement of the output unit in the second squeeze step is continued.

A green sand mold molding sensor that can measure the pressure applied to a parting plane of a green sand mold in order to determine the quality (casting mold strength) of a molded green sand mold. A green sand mold molding sensor including a pressure sensor for evaluating the molding properties of a green sand mold molded by a casting mold molding machine, wherein the pressure sensor is embedded in a plate having a model attached thereto.