Apparatus and method for slip casting

A method for slip casting formed bodies wherein a slip casting system is used which comprises:

• one or more slip casting molds;
• a pouring pipe for supplying slip and arranged below said slip casting molds;
• one or more branch pipes which branch off from said pouring pipe and which each are connected to a slip supply and discharge port at a lower end of each of said slip casting molds;
• means for feeding pressurized air into slip discharge spaces of formed bodies cast within said slip casting molds;
• and
• pipe means which includes a first portion rising from said pouring pipe for discharging said slip from said slip casting molds to a slip delivery port located at a second portion of said pipe means, said pipe means including means for substantially balancing head pressure of slip within said pipe means with a pressure of slip which is pushed out from said slip discharge spaces by said pressurized air from said means for feeding pressurized air, said method including the steps of:
• (a) pouring and filling said slip casting molds with slip and allowing a predetermined amount of said slip to form slip cast bodies;
• (b) discharging slip from said slip casting molds by said pressurized air fed to slip discharge spaces of said formed bodies;
• (c) directing said discharged slip to said pipe means by way of said pouring pipe;
• (d) directing said discharged slip from said pipe means to a slip discharge pipe located at said slip delivery port of said pipe means;
• and
• (e) discharging said slip from said slip discharge pipe by suction force of a discharge pump, whereby disengagement of said bodies formed in said slipcasting molds does not occur.