Apparatus for handling a mold box in a vacuum casting system

Apparatus for removing casting sand from a casting in a box in a vacuum casting system comprising two spaced parallel elevated track-forming means, a box having a discharge opening at one end thereof, said box having a portion adapted to ride on the track-forming means, a base, a plurality of expandable pneumatic springs mounted at their lower ends on the base, a platform positioned between and below said parallel track-forming means, means securing the upper ends of the pneumatic springs to the platform, a plurality of fluid operated piston and cylinder devices carried by the platform and arranged when actuated to clamp the box to the platform, means for introducing air under pressure into the pneumatic springs to expand the same and move the platform upwardly between the track-forming means to lift the box off the track-forming means, said air introducing means being arranged to move one side of the platform upwardly a greater distance than the other side to place the box in a tilted attitude slanting downwardly in the direction of the discharge opening, a plurality of springs secured to the platform and extending downwardly therefrom at an acute angle to the horizontal, the lower end of the springs being secured to and supporting the exciter member, and means for vibrating the exciter member.