Core molding system and method

Abstract

An embodiment core molding system includes an upper hopper partitioned to define a first accommodating part that accommodates first core sand coated with an organic binder and a second accommodating part that accommodates pure sand, a lower hopper disposed under the upper hopper and connected to the first and second accommodating parts, the lower hopper being configured to measure weights of the first core sand and the pure sand, a mixer connected to the lower hopper, wherein the mixer is configured to allow the first core sand to pass directly therethrough and to accommodate the pure sand, a binder supply unit connected to the mixer and configured to supply an inorganic binder into the mixer, and a core mold configured to mold each of the first core sand and second core sand into a preset shape, the second core sand including the pure sand coated with the inorganic binder.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A core molding system comprising:
 an upper hopper partitioned to define a first accommodating part that accommodates first core sand coated with an organic binder and a second accommodating part that accommodates pure sand;   a lower hopper disposed under the upper hopper and connected to the first accommodating part and the second accommodating part, the lower hopper being configured to measure weights of the first core sand and the pure sand;   a mixer connected to the lower hopper, wherein the mixer is configured to allow the first core sand to pass directly therethrough and to accommodate the pure sand;   a binder supply unit connected to the mixer and configured to supply an inorganic binder into the mixer; and   a core mold configured to mold each of the first core sand that has passed directly through the mixer and second core sand into a preset shape, the second core sand comprising the pure sand coated with the inorganic binder.   
     
     
         2 . The core molding system of  claim 1 , further comprising a blow head connected to the mixer to accommodate the first core sand or the second core sand and connected to a blow nozzle of the core mold. 
     
     
         3 . The core molding system of  claim 1 , wherein the upper hopper comprises:
 a first opening/closing part configured to open and close the first accommodating part; and   a second opening/closing part configured to open and close the second accommodating part.   
     
     
         4 . The core molding system of  claim 1 , wherein the lower hopper comprises:
 a third accommodating part that accommodates the first core sand or the pure sand;   a measuring part disposed in the third accommodating part; and   a third opening/closing part configured to open and close the third accommodating part.   
     
     
         5 . The core molding system of  claim 4 , wherein the mixer comprises:
 a fourth accommodating part that accommodates the pure sand;   a mixing member disposed in the fourth accommodating part; and   a fourth opening/closing part configured to open and close the fourth accommodating part.   
     
     
         6 . The core molding system of  claim 1 , wherein the mixer comprises:
 a fourth accommodating part that accommodates the pure sand;   a mixing member disposed in the fourth accommodating part; and   a fourth opening/closing part configured to open and close the fourth accommodating part.   
     
     
         7 . The core molding system of  claim 1 , wherein the binder supply unit comprises:
 a first supply part that accommodates a powder binder and is configured to supply the powder binder into the mixer; and   a second supply part that accommodates a liquid binder and is configured to supply the liquid binder into the mixer.   
     
     
         8 . The core molding system of  claim 7 , wherein the first supply part is configured to supply the powder binder into the mixer through a transfer screw. 
     
     
         9 . The core molding system of  claim 1 , further comprising a dust collector connected to the second accommodating part of the upper hopper and configured to remove dust from the pure sand. 
     
     
         10 . A core molding method comprising:
 putting first core sand coated with an organic binder into a first accommodating part of an upper hopper and putting pure sand into a second accommodating part of the upper hopper;   selecting an organic core molding mode or an inorganic core molding mode;   in response to selecting the organic core molding mode, directly supplying the first core sand into a core mold; and   in response to selecting the inorganic core molding mode, mixing the pure sand with an inorganic binder in a mixer to form second core sand comprising the pure sand coated with the inorganic binder and supplying the second core sand into the core mold.   
     
     
         11 . The core molding method of  claim 10 , wherein in response to selecting the organic core molding mode:
 the first accommodating part is opened and the second accommodating part is closed;   a third accommodating part of a lower hopper connected to the first accommodating part and the second accommodating part is closed; and   the first core sand accommodated in the first accommodating part is supplied into the third accommodating part, and a weight of the first core sand is measured in the third accommodating part.   
     
     
         12 . The core molding method of  claim 11 , wherein in response to selecting the organic core molding mode:
 the third accommodating part is opened, a fourth accommodating part of the mixer is opened, and the first core sand that has passed directly through the fourth accommodating part from the third accommodating part is supplied into the core mold; and   the first core sand is molded into a preset shape by the core mold.   
     
     
         13 . The core molding method of  claim 11 , wherein in response to selecting the organic core molding mode:
 the third accommodating part is opened, a fourth accommodating part of the mixer is opened, and the first core sand that has passed directly through the fourth accommodating part from the third accommodating part is accommodated in a blow head;   the first core sand accommodated in the blow head is supplied into the core mold; and   the first core sand is molded into a preset shape by the core mold.   
     
     
         14 . The core molding method of  claim 10 , wherein in response to selecting the inorganic core molding mode:
 the first accommodating part is closed and the second accommodating part is opened; and   a third accommodating part of a lower hopper connected to the first accommodating part and the second accommodating part is closed, the pure sand accommodated in the second accommodating part is supplied into the third accommodating part, and a weight of the pure sand is measured in the third accommodating part.   
     
     
         15 . The core molding method of  claim 14 , wherein in response to selecting the inorganic core molding mode:
 the third accommodating part is opened, a fourth accommodating part of the mixer is closed, and the pure sand accommodated in the third accommodating part is supplied into the fourth accommodating part;   the inorganic binder is supplied into the fourth accommodating part, and the pure sand and the inorganic binder are mixed in the fourth accommodating part through a mixing member;   the fourth accommodating part is opened, and the second core sand accommodated in the fourth accommodating part is supplied into the core mold; and   the second core sand is molded into a preset shape by the core mold.   
     
     
         16 . The core molding method of  claim 14 , wherein in response to selecting the inorganic core molding mode:
 the third accommodating part is opened, a fourth accommodating part of the mixer is closed, and the pure sand accommodated in the third accommodating part is supplied into the fourth accommodating part;   the inorganic binder is supplied into the fourth accommodating part, and the pure sand and the inorganic binder are mixed in the fourth accommodating part through a mixing member;   the fourth accommodating part is opened, and the second core sand accommodated in the fourth accommodating part is supplied into a blow head;   the second core sand accommodated in the blow head is supplied into the core mold; and   the second core sand is molded into a preset shape by the core mold.   
     
     
         17 . A method of providing a core molding system, the method comprising:
 providing an upper hopper partitioned to define a first accommodating part that accommodates first core sand coated with an organic binder and a second accommodating part that accommodates pure sand;   disposing a lower hopper under the upper hopper and connected to the first accommodating part and the second accommodating part, wherein the lower hopper measures weights of the first core sand and the pure sand;   connecting a mixer to the lower hopper, wherein the mixer allows the first core sand from the first accommodating part to pass directly therethrough and accommodates the pure sand from the second accommodating part;   connecting a binder supply unit to the mixer, wherein the binder supply unit supplies an inorganic binder into the mixer in a case in which the mixer accommodates the pure sand to form second core sand comprising the pure sand coated with the inorganic binder; and   providing a core mold that molds each of the first core sand that has passed directly through the mixer and the second core sand into a preset shape.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein:
 the upper hopper comprises:
 a first opening/closing part that opens and closes the first accommodating part; and 
 a second opening/closing part that opens and closes the second accommodating part; 
   the lower hopper comprises:
 a third accommodating part that accommodates the first core sand or the pure sand; 
 a measuring part disposed in the third accommodating part; and 
 a third opening/closing part that opens and closes the third accommodating part; 
   the mixer comprises:
 a fourth accommodating part that accommodates the pure sand; 
 a mixing member disposed in the fourth accommodating part; and 
   a fourth opening/closing part that opens and closes the fourth accommodating part.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein:
 the inorganic binder comprises a powder binder and a liquid binder; and   the binder supply unit comprises:   a first supply part that accommodates the powder binder and supplies the powder binder into the mixer; and   a second supply part that accommodates the liquid binder and supplies the liquid binder into the mixer.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the first supply part supplies the powder binder into the mixer through a transfer screw.