Apparatus for forming shell molds

Abstract

Apparatus for forming molded shapes such as shell molds is disclosed which features a transport mechanism advancing a pattern carrier assembly progressively through a mold mix dispensing station, an excess mix discharging station, through an oven where the mold is cured, and thence to a mold unloading station. The pattern carrier assembly is then retracted back through the curing oven where the pattern or patterns are preheated prior to retraction to the initial mix dispensing station, to be in position for initiation of another cycle. The transport mechanism includes a power cylinder reciprocating a yoke assembly by means of a connected operator rod. The pattern carrier plate is rotatably supported on the yoke assembly so that a rack and pinion means interacting with the pattern plate will produce a mix discharging rotation of the pattern carrier plate after exiting from the mix dispensing station. The mold curing and pattern heating oven includes a bottom hinged slotted closure at both the entrance and exit thereof opened by advance and retraction of the pattern carrier assembly into engagement therewith which allows for closure of the oven during curing and heating operations without the need for complicated control devices. Also disclosed is the provision of ejection pins carried by the pattern carrier assembly which automatically eject the cured shell molds at the unloading station. The pattern carrier plate is disclosed as having a capacity for either a single or a multiple number of patterns.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.