A method and system for indexing moulds using a flaskless moulding machine and a mould conveyor are provided. The method comprises: (i) forming one or more moulds, 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. Once the one or more moulds has been added to the mould string, the method continues (ii) by advancing the mould string, in a single continuous motion, a distance corresponding to the sum of the thicknesses of the one or more moulds, wherein (1) the moulding machine assists the mould conveyor in advancing the mould string during a first part of the distance, and (2) the mould conveyor advances the mould string a second part of the distance, corresponding to the remainder of the distance, without assistance from the moulding machine.

An inspection device is a device that inspects the appearance of a target, including: an imaging device configured to image the target from a first direction; an illuminating unit configured to apply light to the target; and a controller configured to acquire a first inspection image by causing the imaging device to image the target to which light is applied from a first position, to acquire a second inspection image by causing the imaging device to image the target to which light is applied from a second position, and to inspect an appearance of the target based on the first inspection image, the second inspection image, and a reference image. The first position and the second position overlap each other when viewed from the first direction.

A casting plant to produce a cast product with a high quality and a method for managing data for molding the mold and data on the conditions of the molten metal in the casting plant are provided. The controller (11) for the molding unit issues a serial number for the mold to a mold (M). The controller (31) for the unit for conveying the molds shifts the serial number for the mold in accordance with a movement of the mold. It also gathers data on the mold and links the data for molding the mold with the serial number for the mold. When the molten metal is poured from the ladle into the mold, the controller (71) for the unit for pouring the molten metal sends to the computer (91) for controlling the casting plant the serial number for the ladle that is linked with the data on the conditions of the molten metal and that is linked with the serial number for the mold.

A casting plant to produce a cast product with a high quality and a method for managing data for molding the mold and data on the conditions of the molten metal in the casting plant are provided. The controller (11) for the molding unit issues a serial number for the mold to a mold (M). The controller (31) for the unit for conveying the molds shifts the serial number for the mold in accordance with a movement of the mold. It also gathers data on the mold and links the data for molding the mold with the serial number for the mold. When the molten metal is poured from the ladle into the mold, the controller (71) for the unit for pouring the molten metal sends to the computer (91) for controlling the casting plant the serial number for the ladle that is linked with the data on the conditions of the molten metal and that is linked with the serial number for the mold.

A mold assembly cell for sand mold production comprising a turntable wherein sand cores and other mold parts (which together cooperate to define the casting cavity of the sand mold) are automatically and progressively assembled following a sequential pre-programmed schedule by programmable robots located in proximal relationship with the turntable and a core shooting machine. The assembly turntable rotates clockwise or counterclockwise to permit placement of progressively more-complete mold packages in each of at least three assembly stations to allow the robots to reach the molds being assembled at different angles for simultaneously setting the sand cores and other parts of the mold according to said pre-programmed assembly schedule. Also a mold assembly line comprising a plurality of the foregoing assembly cells to form sand molds for casting complex-geometry aluminum parts, such as aluminum engine blocks and cylinder heads, with greater flexibility, efficiency and productivity.

A pouring facility includes a mold conveying device configured to convey a mold, a molten-metal discharging container configured to store waste molten metal, and a pouring machine movable on a conveyance path located between the mold conveying device and the molten-metal discharging container, the pouring machine being configured to tilt a ladle in a first direction to pour molten metal into the mold conveyed by the mold conveying device, and tilt the ladle in a second direction opposite to the first direction to discharge waste molten metal into the molten-metal discharging container.

A pouring facility includes a mold conveying device configured to convey a mold, a molten-metal discharging container configured to store waste molten metal, and a pouring machine movable on a conveyance path located between the mold conveying device and the molten-metal discharging container, the pouring machine being configured to tilt a ladle in a first direction to pour molten metal into the mold conveyed by the mold conveying device, and tilt the ladle in a second direction opposite to the first direction to discharge waste molten metal into the molten-metal discharging container.

A method is provided for measuring a shift between a carrier for a pattern (a carrier plate) and a flask and preventing a defect caused by a shift in the cavity parts. The method for preventing a defect caused by the shift in the cavity parts in molding a cope and a drag with flasks by using a cope flask (110) that is assembled with a carrier plate (130) for the cope flask and a drag flask (120) that is assembled with a carrier plate (140) for the drag flask, comprises the steps of measuring a shift between the carrier plate (130) for the cope flask and the cope flask (110), measuring a shift between the carrier plate (140) for the drag flask and the drag flask (120), measuring a shift between the cope flask (110) and the drag flask (120) that have been assembled, determining if a shift in cavity parts is within an allowable range, wherein the data on the shift is obtained based on the shift between the carrier plate (130) for the cope flask and the cope flask (110), the shift between the carrier plate (140) for the drag flask and the drag flask (120), and the shift between the cope flask (110) and the drag flask (120, that have been assembled.

A method is provided for measuring a shift between a carrier for a pattern (a carrier plate) and a flask and preventing a defect caused by a shift in the cavity parts. The method for preventing a defect caused by the shift in the cavity parts in molding a cope and a drag with flasks by using a cope flask (110) that is assembled with a carrier plate (130) for the cope flask and a drag flask (120) that is assembled with a carrier plate (140) for the drag flask, comprises the steps of measuring a shift between the carrier plate (130) for the cope flask and the cope flask (110), measuring a shift between the carrier plate (140) for the drag flask and the drag flask (120), measuring a shift between the cope flask (110) and the drag flask (120) that have been assembled, determining if a shift in cavity parts is within an allowable range, wherein the data on the shift is obtained based on the shift between the carrier plate (130) for the cope flask and the cope flask (110), the shift between the carrier plate (140) for the drag flask and the drag flask (120), and the shift between the cope flask (110) and the drag flask (120, that have been assembled.

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.