An indexing transfer station for a sand mold conveyor system, and method of conveying. The indexing transfer station rotates between two or more angled conveyors to position the sand mold for further downstream movement. The indexing transfer station includes resting pads for the sand molds, spaced apart to allow a walking transfer rail of a first conveyor to place the sand mold and, upon rotation, to allow a walking transfer rail of a second conveyor each to position under the sand mold for lifting.

An indexing transfer station for a sand mold conveyor system, and method of conveying. The indexing transfer station rotates between two or more angled conveyors to position the sand mold for further downstream movement. The indexing transfer station includes resting pads for the sand molds, spaced apart to allow a walking transfer rail of a first conveyor to place the sand mold and, upon rotation, to allow a walking transfer rail of a second conveyor each to position under the sand mold for lifting.

A casting apparatus includes an upper frame, a lower frame, an opening/closing mechanism, a first main link member, a first sub-link member, a drive unit, a base frame and a retracting mechanism. The first main link member is provided with a first rotating shaft at a central part thereof. The first sub-link member is disposed in parallel with the first main link member. The first sub-link member is provided with a first bearing at a central part thereof. The drive unit is connected to the first rotating shaft and causes the first main link member to rotate around the first rotating shaft. The base frame includes a second rotating shaft. The second rotating shaft rotatably supports the first sub-link member via the first bearing with the first bearing placed thereon. The retracting mechanism causes the second rotating shaft to retract.

A casting apparatus includes an upper frame, a lower frame, an opening/closing mechanism, a first main link member, a first sub-link member, a drive unit, a base frame and a retracting mechanism. The first main link member is provided with a first rotating shaft at a central part thereof. The first sub-link member is disposed in parallel with the first main link member. The first sub-link member is provided with a first bearing at a central part thereof. The drive unit is connected to the first rotating shaft and causes the first main link member to rotate around the first rotating shaft. The base frame includes a second rotating shaft. The second rotating shaft rotatably supports the first sub-link member via the first bearing with the first bearing placed thereon. The retracting mechanism causes the second rotating shaft to retract.

A clean cell environment for a continuous roll-over electric induction batch casting furnace system is provided where each combination of batch charge, for example an ingot, induction melting (ingot-melt) process and mold-pour process are performed in a clean cell environment and each combination ingot-melt and mold-pour process is traceable as to the identity of the specific ingot, or other charge form (composition) and the mold (fabrication identifier).

A clean cell environment for a continuous roll-over electric induction batch casting furnace system is provided where each combination of batch charge, for example an ingot, induction melting (ingot-melt) process and mold-pour process are performed in a clean cell environment and each combination ingot-melt and mold-pour process is traceable as to the identity of the specific ingot, or other charge form (composition) and the mold (fabrication identifier).

A casting apparatus includes an upper frame, a lower frame, an opening/closing mechanism, a first main link member, a first sub-link member, a drive unit, a base frame and a retracting mechanism. The first main link member is provided with a first rotating shaft at a central part thereof. The first sub-link member is disposed in parallel with the first main link member. The first sub-link member is provided with a first bearing at a central part thereof. The drive unit is connected to the first rotating shaft and causes the first main link member to rotate around the first rotating shaft. The base frame includes a second rotating shaft. The second rotating shaft rotatably supports the first sub-link member via the first bearing with the first bearing placed thereon. The retracting mechanism causes the second rotating shaft to retract.

A casting apparatus includes an upper frame, a lower frame, an opening/closing mechanism, a first main link member, a first sub-link member, a drive unit, a base frame and a retracting mechanism. The first main link member is provided with a first rotating shaft at a central part thereof. The first sub-link member is disposed in parallel with the first main link member. The first sub-link member is provided with a first bearing at a central part thereof. The drive unit is connected to the first rotating shaft and causes the first main link member to rotate around the first rotating shaft. The base frame includes a second rotating shaft. The second rotating shaft rotatably supports the first sub-link member via the first bearing with the first bearing placed thereon. The retracting mechanism causes the second rotating shaft to retract.

An intelligent automatic mold-exchanging system and an intelligent automatic mold-exchanging method are provided. The system include a mold storage unit, a mold assembly and disassembly unit, a mold temporary storage unit, a temporary storage mold pick-and-place unit, a plurality of processing machines, a plurality of mold position preparation units, an exchange mold pick-and-place unit, and a central control unit. The central control unit is electrically connected to the mold storage unit, the mold assembly and disassembly unit, the mold temporary storage unit, the temporary storage mold pick-and-place unit, the processing machines, the mold position preparation units, and the exchange mold pick-and-place unit. The mold storage unit, the mold assembly and disassembly unit, the mold temporary storage unit, the temporary storage mold pick-and-place unit, the processing machines, the mold position preparation units, and the exchange mold pick-and-place unit are disposed on a same production line.

Example systems include a vacuum chamber enclosing a pouring cup and a platform configured to support a casting assembly. The casting assembly is configured to hold a plurality of joinable components and a mold defining at least one mating groove configured to join at least two joinable components of the plurality of joinable components when occupied with a metal or an alloy. Each respective mating groove is fluidically connected to a respective surface opening of a plurality of surface openings defined by the mold. The pouring cup and the respective surface opening are movable relative to each other by moving at least one of the pouring cup or the platform supporting the casting assembly to substantially align the pouring cup with the respective surface opening. The pouring cup is configured to pour a respective volume of molten metal or alloy in at least two surface openings.