A mold molding apparatus can successively mold casting molds having the necessary casting mold strength, and a method for controlling the mold molding apparatus. A molding sensor measures a pressure of molding sand exerted on a surface of one or both of a pattern plate and a squeeze foot, or on a surface of one or both of a pattern plate and a squeeze board; and a control device that controls operation of the mold molding apparatus based on outputs from the molding sensors.

A mold molding apparatus can successively mold casting molds having the necessary casting mold strength, and a method for controlling the mold molding apparatus. A molding sensor measures a pressure of molding sand exerted on a surface of one or both of a pattern plate and a squeeze foot, or on a surface of one or both of a pattern plate and a squeeze board; and a control device that controls operation of the mold molding apparatus based on outputs from the molding sensors.

A core quality estimation system that estimates quality of a core to be formed by filling a mold with kneaded sand produced by kneading in a kneading tank and heating the kneaded sand includes a computer that executes operations of acquiring mold temperature information of the mold, acquiring environmental information regarding a surrounding environment in which the core is formed, and estimating the quality of the core based on the mold temperature information and the environmental information.

A flaskless molding machine includes: an upper sand tank storing the mold sand to be supplied to the upper molding space; a first lower sand tank storing the mold sand to be supplied to the lower molding space, and having a first communication port for discharging the stored mold sand; a second lower sand tank having a second communication port capable of communicating with the first communication port of the first lower sand tank, and storing the mold sand supplied from the first lower sand tank and to be supplied to the lower molding space; at least one first guide member extending in a vertical direction, and guiding the upper flask, the lower flask and the second lower sand tank in the vertical direction; and a second guide member extending in the vertical direction, and guiding the first lower sand tank in the vertical direction.

A flaskless molding machine includes: an upper sand tank storing the mold sand to be supplied to the upper molding space; a first lower sand tank storing the mold sand to be supplied to the lower molding space, and having a first communication port for discharging the stored mold sand; a second lower sand tank having a second communication port capable of communicating with the first communication port of the first lower sand tank, and storing the mold sand supplied from the first lower sand tank and to be supplied to the lower molding space; at least one first guide member extending in a vertical direction, and guiding the upper flask, the lower flask and the second lower sand tank in the vertical direction; and a second guide member extending in the vertical direction, and guiding the first lower sand tank in the vertical direction.

A core shooting machine (1) for producing cores by a process of shooting a core sand mixture (21) into a at least one cavity (19) in a core box (18), the core shooting machine (1) having a source of compressed air (10) at an adjustable initial machine pressure (P.sub.0), a shooting head (13) fluidically coupled to the source of compressed air (10) by at least one conduit (12) that includes an electronically controlled shot valve (11), the shooting head (13) being configured for containing an amount of the core sand mixture (21), resulting in a filling degree of the shoot head (13), and a computing device (50,60) associated with the core shooting machine (1) and being configured to perform a simulation of the process.

A core shooting machine (1) for producing cores by a process of shooting a core sand mixture (21) into a at least one cavity (19) in a core box (18), the core shooting machine (1) having a source of compressed air (10) at an adjustable initial machine pressure (P.sub.0), a shooting head (13) fluidically coupled to the source of compressed air (10) by at least one conduit (12) that includes an electronically controlled shot valve (11), the shooting head (13) being configured for containing an amount of the core sand mixture (21), resulting in a filling degree of the shoot head (13), and a computing device (50,60) associated with the core shooting machine (1) and being configured to perform a simulation of the process.

A casting mold molding machine includes a green sand mold molding sensor including a pressure sensor for evaluating moldability of a green sand mold molded by a casting mold molding machine, wherein the pressure sensor is embedded in a squeeze board or squeeze feet that compresses green sand.

A casting mold molding machine includes a green sand mold molding sensor including a pressure sensor for evaluating moldability of a green sand mold molded by a casting mold molding machine, wherein the pressure sensor is embedded in a squeeze board or squeeze feet that compresses green sand.

A method and apparatus for moving a mold in a molding machine, such as a matchplate molding machine. A lock element, preferably but not necessarily having at least 2 pieces, is movably mounted within a platen opening of a platen and within a pallet opening of a pallet. A second piece of the lock element can be fixed or secured with respect to the pallet, for example, to fix a position of a drag flask with respect to the pallet. An indexing device can be used to handle or move at least 2 molds with respect to the molding machine.