Flaskless molding machine

Abstract

The disclosed invention provides a molding machine that defines upper and lower molding spaces while cope and drag flasksand a match plateclamped therebetween are rotated from a horizontal position to a vertical position, and that readily places a core into a lower mold within the drag flask. An upper squeeze memberis insertable into the cope flaskwith its pressure-applying plane being opposed to the upper face of the match plate. The pressure-applying plane defines an upper molding space together with the upper face of the match plateand the cope flask. A pivoting framesupports the cope and drag flasks, a match plateclamped therebetween, and the upper squeeze member, such that they rotate in unison between a horizontal position, in which the pressure-applying plane of the upper squeeze memberis oriented vertically downward, to a vertical position in which the pressure-applying plane is oriented horizontally. A fixed, vertical, filling frame abuts the drag flaskwhen the flasksand the match platethat is clamped therebetween are in the vertical position. A lower squeeze memberhas a pressure-applying plane that is oriented horizontally, and is insertable into the filling frame and the abutting drag flask. The pressure-applying plane of the lower squeeze memberdefines a lower molding space together with the lower face of the match plate, the drag flask, and the filling frame. To place a core into a lower mold within the drag flask, the drag flaskis laterally moved from a position that is immediately beneath the cope flasksuch that an open working space is provided.