Sand mold-producing method and apparatus

A sand mold-producing apparatus comprising:

• a stationary framework to provide a rigid construction for the apparatus and to establish a working area;
• a sand blower means mounted on said framework and having first and second vertical supply ports for vertically supplying sand under a first pressure of air applied to said sand blower means;
• a pair of first and second molding flasks laterally arranged so as to be movable toward and away from one another, said first molding flask having therein a first flask cavity enclosed by a side wall formed with a sand inlet port connectable to said first vertical sand supply port of said sand blower means and vent through-holes for connecting said first flask cavity with the outside atmosphere, said first molding flask further having two laterally spaced apart open ends lying in substantially vertical planes, said second molding flask having therein a second flask cavity enclosed by a side wall formed with a sand inlet port connectable to said second vertical sand supply port of said sand blower means and vent through-holes for connecting said second flask cavity with the outside atmosphere, said second molding flask further having two laterally spaced apart open ends lying in substantially vertical planes;
• a match plate mounted for being tightly sandwiched by said first and second molding flasks when both said molding flasks are moved toward one another, said match plate having at least one pattern attached thereto and positioned in either one of said first or second flask cavities;
• a pair of first and second squeeze means for squeezing the sand supplied into said first and second molding flasks, said first squeeze means comprising a first squeeze plate and first actuator means for actuating a lateral movement of said first squeeze plate into and away from said first flask cavity of said first molding flask, said second squeeze means comprising a second squeeze plate and second actuator means for actuating a lateral movement of said second squeeze plate into and away from said second flask cavity of said second molding flask;
• at least an air injecting means for injecting a pressurized air having a second pressure equal to or lower than said first pressure into one of said first and second flask cavities in which said pattern of said match plate is positioned, and;
• an air source means comprising a pressurized air source and a conduit means for supplying the pressurized air having said second pressure from said source to said air injecting means when said sand is being supplied into said first and second molding flasks.

A sand mold-producing method using a machine including:

• a sand blower for supplying sand with the help of a pressurized air;
• at least one molding flask having a laterally extending side wall forming therein a flask cavity and vent holes connecting said flask cavity to the outside atmosphere, said molding flask further having two laterally spaced apart open ends lying in vertical planes, respectively;
• a match plate carrying thereon a pattern and capable of being tightly mated with one of said two open ends of said molding flask, and;
• a sand squeezing means for squeezing the sand in said molding flask,
• said method comprising the steps of:
• supplying said sand from said sand blower through a sand inlet port formed in said side wall of said molding flask into said molding flask;
• injecting a lateral flow of a pressurized air toward said pattern of said match plate at the same time as said supplying of said sand, and;
• squeezing said sand in said molding flask after completion of said sand supply step.