Method of automatic mold and core forming

A method of making sand molds, cores or the like for use in casting foundry pieces, utilizing a first continuous conveyor having a plurality of pattern pieces and flasks attached thereto, each of the flasks being movable from an upright position through an inverted position and back to an upright position, and a second conveyor for transporting the sand molds, cores or the like from said flasks after deposition of said molds, cores or the like on said second conveyor while said flasks are in their inverted position, said method comprising the steps of substantially continuously

• filling each of said flasks in turn with sand and binder mixture when each flask is in an upright position,
• compacting said sand-binder mixture in each of said flasks,
• allowing at least partial curing of the binder of said sand-binder mixture so that the sand-binder mixture in said flask will remain intact as a sand mold, core, or the like when inverted and separated from said flask,
• inverting each of said flasks in turn, and bringing said sand mold, core or the like in each of said flasks in turn into abutting engagement with said second conveyor,
• effecting release of said sand mold, core or the like from each of said flasks in turn while said flasks are in said inverted position, and
• bringing said flasks back into an upright position for receipt of further sand-binder mixture therein for formation of additional sand molds, cores or the like.