A sand molding apparatus and method, whereby cope and drag portions of a sand mold are formed simultaneously via pressurized sand delivered to each side of a pattern in a perpendicular trajectory. Two opposing sand shooting passageways include a vertical inner side wall and a horizontal inner side wall extending at an angle from the vertical inner side wall. A sand shooting plate at the outlet of each sand shooting passageway includes removable and interchangeable port and cover inserts that can be arranged in custom arrays within the sand shooting plate.

A molding machine forms a mold by using transferred molding flask and pattern plate, and includes: a filling frame provided with a lower opening connectable to an upper opening of the molding flask; a squeeze head mechanism including a squeeze board movable into and out from the filling frame, and a plurality of squeeze feet passing through the squeeze board, being able to move up and down with respect to the squeeze board; a sand injection hopper including at least one sand injection port for injecting molding sand into a molding space defined by the molding flask, the filling frame, the squeeze head mechanism, and the pattern plate; and a sand injection nozzle provided in a side portion of the filling frame to enable the sand injection port and the molding space to communicate with each other.

A molding machine forms a mold by using transferred molding flask and pattern plate, and includes: a filling frame provided with a lower opening connectable to an upper opening of the molding flask; a squeeze head mechanism including a squeeze board movable into and out from the filling frame, and a plurality of squeeze feet passing through the squeeze board, being able to move up and down with respect to the squeeze board; a sand injection hopper including at least one sand injection port for injecting molding sand into a molding space defined by the molding flask, the filling frame, the squeeze head mechanism, and the pattern plate; and a sand injection nozzle provided in a side portion of the filling frame to enable the sand injection port and the molding space to communicate with each other.

A molding machine forms a mold by using a transferred molding flask and pattern plate, and includes: a filling frame; a squeeze head mechanism including a squeeze board movable into and out from the filling frame, and a plurality of squeeze feet passing through the squeeze board, being able to move up and down with respect to the squeeze board; a sand injection hopper including at least one sand injection port for injecting molding sand into a molding space defined by the molding flask, the filling frame, the squeeze head mechanism, and the pattern plate; and a sand injection nozzle provided in a component detachably attached to an opening of the side portion of the filling frame to enable the sand injection port and the molding space to communicate with each other.

A molding machine forms a mold by using a transferred molding flask and pattern plate, and includes: a filling frame; a squeeze head mechanism including a squeeze board movable into and out from the filling frame, and a plurality of squeeze feet passing through the squeeze board, being able to move up and down with respect to the squeeze board; a sand injection hopper including at least one sand injection port for injecting molding sand into a molding space defined by the molding flask, the filling frame, the squeeze head mechanism, and the pattern plate; and a sand injection nozzle provided in a component detachably attached to an opening of the side portion of the filling frame to enable the sand injection port and the molding space to communicate with each other.

Teaching storage means stores teaching data created on the basis of signals from a first pulse generator, a first shaft detector, a second pulse generator, and a second shaft detector, in a storage unit as a sequence control program of molding operation of a self-hardening mold when teaching operation of throwing kneaded self-hardening foundry sand from a discharge port into a molding flask is performed by manually moving a conveyor arm and a kneading arm. Molding playback means reads out the sequence control program from the storage unit to control and drive a first pivot motor and a second pivot motor on the basis of the sequence control program to pivot the conveyor arm and the kneading arm, and then throws the self-hardening foundry sand from the discharge port of the kneading arm into the molding flask to reproduce the molding operation.

Teaching storage means stores teaching data created on the basis of signals from a first pulse generator, a first shaft detector, a second pulse generator, and a second shaft detector, in a storage unit as a sequence control program of molding operation of a self-hardening mold when teaching operation of throwing kneaded self-hardening foundry sand from a discharge port into a molding flask is performed by manually moving a conveyor arm and a kneading arm. Molding playback means reads out the sequence control program from the storage unit to control and drive a first pivot motor and a second pivot motor on the basis of the sequence control program to pivot the conveyor arm and the kneading arm, and then throws the self-hardening foundry sand from the discharge port of the kneading arm into the molding flask to reproduce the molding operation.

The sand moulding machine (1) includes a moulding chamber (2) formed by a chamber top wall (3), a chamber bottom wall (4), two opposed chamber side walls and two opposed chamber end walls (7, 8). A chamber wall is provided with a sand filling opening (9) communicating with a sand feed system (10). At least one of the chamber end walls is provided with a pattern plate (12, 13) having a pattern (14, 15). At least one of the chamber end walls is displaceable in order to compact sand fed into the moulding chamber. A number of compressed air inlet openings (18, 43) are located in a lower part of the moulding chamber and are arranged to form an upward airflow in at least a part of the moulding chamber in order to create an at least substantially fluidised bed of sand during a sand filling operation.

The sand moulding machine (1) includes a moulding chamber (2) formed by a chamber top wall (3), a chamber bottom wall (4), two opposed chamber side walls and two opposed chamber end walls (7, 8). A chamber wall is provided with a sand filling opening (9) communicating with a sand feed system (10). At least one of the chamber end walls is provided with a pattern plate (12, 13) having a pattern (14, 15). At least one of the chamber end walls is displaceable in order to compact sand fed into the moulding chamber. A number of compressed air inlet openings (18, 43) are located in a lower part of the moulding chamber and are arranged to form an upward airflow in at least a part of the moulding chamber in order to create an at least substantially fluidised bed of sand during a sand filling operation.

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.