Molding machine and molding method

Abstract

Disclosed is a molding method for separating a cope flask and a drag flask from a match plate at the same time. The method comprises the steps of: holding the match plate between the cope and drag flasks; inserting an upper squeeze member and a lower squeeze member into openings of the cope and drag flasks, which are opposed to the match plate, to define an upper molding space and a lower molding space, respectively; filling the defined molding space with molding sand; and driving the upper and lower squeeze members toward the match plate to squeeze the molding sand within the upper and lower molding space to mold an upper mold and a lower mold at the same time. The cope and drag flasks that are included within said molded upper and lower molds are forcibly pushed away from the match plate at the same time when the flasks are stationary.

1 . A molding method comprising steps of: holding a match plate between a cope flask and a drag flask; inserting an upper squeeze member and a lower squeeze member into openings of said cope and drag flasks, which are opposed to said match plate, to define an upper molding space and a lower molding spaces, respectively; filling said defined molding spaces with molding sand; and forcing said upper and lower squeeze members toward the match plate to squeeze said molding sand within said upper and lower molding spaces to make an upper mold and a lower mold at the same time;
 said method being characterized in that:   when the flasks are stationary, said cope and drag flasks that include said molded upper and lower molds are pushed away from said match plate at the same time.   
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the velocity at which said cope flask is separated from said drag flask is twice that when said match plate is separated from said drag flask, and wherein the velocity at which said cope flask is separated from said match plate is the same as that when said drag flask is separated from said match plate. 
   
   
       3 . A molding machine comprising: a cope flask and a drag flask; a match plate to be held between said cope and drag flasks; an upper squeeze member and a lower squeeze member that are insertable into openings of said cope and drag flasks, which are opposed to said match plate; means for filling molding sand within an upper molding space that is defined by said cope flask, said match plate, and said upper squeeze member, and a lower molding space that is defined by said drag flask, said match plate, and said lower squeeze member; compacting means for forcing said upper and lower squeeze members toward the match plate to squeeze said molding sand within said upper and lower molding spaces to mold an upper mold and a lower mold at the same time:
 said machine being characterized in that:   when the flasks are stationary, upper and lower pushing means push away said cope and drag flasks that include said upper and lower molds from said match plate at the same time, wherein said upper means and said lower means are mounted on both the cope flask and the drag flask.   
   
   
       4 . The molding machine of  claim 3 , wherein a said upper pushing means is a hydraulic cylinder that is extended by supplying an oil therein, and wherein said lower pushing means is a hydraulic cylinder that has a force for extruding the oil that is less that that of said upper pushing means, or an air cylinder that is extended by the compressed air, or an elastic means that is extended by an elastic member. 
   
   
       5 . The molding machine of  claim 3  or  4 , wherein said cope and drag flasks have sand-filling ports on their sidewalls. 
   
   
       6 . The molding machine of  claim 3  or  4 , wherein said drag flask is mounted on a rotating frame that is upwardly and downwardly rotated in a vertical plane, and wherein said cope flask is mounted on said rotating frame such that said cope flask can approach and retract from said drag flask. 
   
   
       7 . The molding machine of  claim 3  or  4 , wherein said molding machine further comprises a shuttle for carrying in and carrying out said match plate between said cope and drag flasks. 
   
   
       8 . The molding machine of  claim 3  or  4 , wherein said molding machine further comprises a mechanism that enables said match plate to approach and retract from the drag flask. 
   
   
       9 . The molding machine of  claim 3  or  4 , wherein the resulting molds are tight-flask molds or flaskless molds.