US2814844A - Foundry casting apparatus - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 3, 1957 R. P. DAvls FOUDRY cATING APPARATUS 6 Sheets-Shea?I 1 Filed Aug. 1'7, 1954 .ww ESSBQN 25% NSN @www3 S Dec- 3, 1957 4 R. P. DAvls 2,814,844

' l FouNDRY CASTING APPARATUS Filed Aug. 1'7, 1954 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 T i Jr E V il ff i.

v INVENTOR.

Ha0ll P. auc's,

HIS ATTORNEY Dec. 3, 1957 Filed Aug. 17, 1954 ll'ftl it 55 R. P. DAvls 2,814,844

FOUNDRY CASTING APPARATUS 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 lll mi.

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79 RaQvh l. avz's H15' TTORNZY Dec. 3, 1957 R. P. DAVIS 2,814,844

FOUNDRY CASTING APPARATUS Filed Aug. 17, 1954 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 HIS ATTORNEY' Dec. 3, 1957 R. P. DAVIS 2,814,844

FOUNDRY CASTING APPARATUS Filed Aug. 17, 1954 e sheets-sheet 5 42 105 104 Il? 96 1Z0 vlllllllllllllllll, k\\\\\\\\\\\ IN VEN TOR. alp/2 z? aw's.

HIS TTR/VE'Y Dec. 3, 1957 R. P. DAVIS 2,814,344

FOUNDRY CASTING APPARATUS Filed Aug. 17, 1954 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 f' INVENTOR. [P [0. Hal/viz P. Daz/5.

United States Patent O FOUNDRY CASTING APPARATUS Ralph P. Davis, Squantum, Mass., assignor, by mesne assignments, to Link-Belt Company, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Application August 17, 1954, Serial No. 450,447

13 Claims. (Cl. 22-64) This invention relates to foundry apparatus and more particularly to metal casting machines for use with shelltype molds. Molds of the thin-walled shell-typel are comprised of a major portion of an inorganic molding material such as sand and a minor portion of a cornponent serving to bind the inorganic material. The completed molds are in two or more matching parts having the form of hard thin shells of substantial strength. The inner faces .of the matching parts are smooth and nished whereas the outer surfaces are left in a rough and irregular condition. Consequently, during the casting operation using such molds, the common weighting methods for ordinary sand molds cannot be used with any degree of success.

The casting machine of the present invention ernbQdies a plurality of casting boxes each adapted to contain a complete mold or molds. The casting boxes are mounted on a conveyor to be continuously moved at a uniform rate through loading, pouring and unloading or dumping stations. At the loading station, dispensing means move with the casting boxes to load back-up material around the molds while the casting boxes are moving through the station. Pouring is accomplished while the boxes are moving at a uniform rate through the pouring station and dumping of the casting and kback-up material `is effected while the boxes are moving through the unloading station. In the event a mold is not poured at the pouring station, means is provided for preventing dumping of the casting box containing the mold as the same moves through the unloading station so that the mold may be poured on its next pass through the pouring station.

The apparatus above described has for its object the the expeditious production of all manner of castings from shell-type molds. One yor two operators can keep the machine in constant production with a minimum of eifort. Relatively unskilled labor may be employed in the production of good quality castings since the operations involved lend themselves readily to minimum skill. The machine itself is of relatively simple nature embodying uncomplicated parts which are durable and rugged as required in general foundry practice.

Another object of this invention is to simplify the pouring operation by imparting uniform continuous movement to casting boxes passing through a station for loading mold back-up material into the same prior to passage into and through a pouring station.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. 1 is a somewhat schematic plan View ,of a casting apparatus embodying this invention;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the back-up material loading station of the apparatus of Fig. l and shown .on a :larger scale;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view Ataken Yon the jline 11h-.III of Fig. 2;

r ICC Fig, 4 is a fragmentary end view of the apparatus shown in Fig. 2 and is taken on the line IVr-.IV thereof;

Fig, 5j is a sectional View taken on the line V.-V of Fig l1 showing the unloading station of the` apparatus on an, enlarged seele. with portions. thereof broken away;

Fig- 6 is en enlarged illustration of, a casting box shown in Fig. 5;

Eig. 7 is, a fragmentary View similar toFis,y 6y bnf showing the various parts in diierent operatingl positions;

Fig- 8 is a sectional View taken on the line VIII-VIII of'Fig. 6;

Fig. 9 is a schematic layout of a .portionv of the control apparatus at the loading station ofthe apparatus shown in Fia 1.; and

Fig, 1 0 is a fragmentary elevation, of. that. portion of the apparatus shown in Fig.k 9.

Referring more particularly to Fs- 1 of the. drawings, thoy casting apparatus comprises an endless conveyor 10 which is adapted to be continuously moved along a predetermined path by suitable driving means 12 connected thereto. The conveyor 10 carries a plurality, in this instance thirty-nine, of casting b oxes 14v which are adapted to support completed shell molds therein, and which are movable with the conveyor 10. through (l) a mold loading station where completed molds are placed in the easting'boxes .14, (2) a shot loading station Where arenillar back-.up material in the form of steel shot is? inserted into the Casting boxes around thev molds supported. thoroin, (3), a pouring station where molten metal is poured into the molds, (4) a cooling station where the molten metal soIidieS, and (5) a dumping station where the casting boxes are inverted to dump the casting and backup material therefrom.

'A movable platform 16 at the pouring station is adapted to move parallel to the conveyor 10 at the same speed as the same to enable an operator, standing on the platform 16, to pour molten metal into the molds contained in the casting boxes 14 with no more dilliculty than would be experienced were the molds stationary during the pouring As will more folly appear hereinafter-,the structure of the apparatus at the dumping station and loading station is such that uninterrupted movement of the casting boxes 1 4 is facilitated.

Referring now to Figs. 2 and 3, it will be seen that at the loading station, the apparatus comprises e rotary carrier l having a plurality of containers 18 supported thereon and angularly spaced from each other around a central rotatable Vertical spindle 20. The lower end of the spindle 20 is rotatably mounted ina suitable foundation 24 `and the upper end thereof carries a wheel 25 which is rotatable on the spindle 20. The periphery of the wheel 25 meshes with the links of an endless chain 26 which forms a part of the conveyor 10. Thechain 26 is supported beneath an endless monorail 28 by ka plurality of carriages 30 having wheels 32 supported bythe monorail 28. The driving means 12 is operatively connected toy the chain 26 to move the same at -a uniform rate yand thus move the carriages 3l) along the monorail ,28 at the sarne rete ,Since the Chain ,2.6 meshes with the periphery ofthe Whee125,n1.ovementofthe ,chain A2,6 will impart rotational movement to the wheel 2 5.

Each of the carriages 30 has depending therefroma .klink 3.4 and the links 34 of each pair of adjacent carriages j30 are secured to a U-shaped frame member 3,6 by sui-table nuts 38 threaded on the links 34. i

Each U-shaped frame member ,36 `comprises a horizontal member 40, which is secured to the links 34, and .a pair of spaced members 4.2, 44 depending respesfively .from lopposite ends of the ,member 40 A pasting ,hor 14 is pivotally mounted on the lower extremities of eagh v thereof.

gelesen pair of members 42, 44 by means to be described more fully hereinafter.

Each horizontal member 40 of the U-shaped frame members 36 carries a centrally disposed pintle 46 which is adapted to mesh with notched ends 48 of a plurality of beams 50 carried by the spindle 20. As here shown, live of the beams 50 are provided and the same are angularly spaced about the periphery of the spindle 20. Thus, as the chain 26 moves around the spindle 20, meshing with and rotating the wheel 25, the notched ends 48 of the beams 50 mesh sequentially with the pintles 46 to rotate the spindle and accurately position the U-shaped frame members 36 and casting boxes 14 carried thereby with respect to the spindle 20 and the containers 18 carried thereby.

Each of the containers 18 is open at its upper end and is provided with an open-ended funnel-shaped lower wall 52 which is adapted to be opened and closed by a swinging gate 54 actuated by a fluid pressure motor 56 carried on the container 18. Each of the containers 18 is provided, beneath its funnel-shaped wall 52, with discharge means in the form of a bifurcated spout S8 communieating with the open end of the funnel-shaped wall 52 and adapted to straddle a completed mold supported in a casting box 14 as will more fully appear hereinafter.

Each of the containers 18 is mounted to be rotatable with the spindle 20 but reciprocable relative thereto. To this end, each container 18 is pivotally mounted between a pair of spaced bell-crank levers 60 which are pivoted intermediate their ends on a pentagonal element 62 depending from a pentagonal element 63 secured to the spindle 20. A shaft 64 extends between the free ends of each pair of bell-crank levers 60 and carries a sprocket 66 at the midpoint thereof.

A chain 68 is operatively associated with each pair of bell-crank levers 60 and is connected to the free ends Each chain 68 extends from the point where it is connected to the bell-crank levers 60 around a sprocket 70, supported by the element 63, around the sprocket 66, around a third sprocket 72 supported by the element 63 and has its other end connected to a counterweight 74. Each counterweight 74 is connected to the piston 76 of a fluid pressure actuated motor 78 which in turn is mounted upon a plate 80 carried by the spindle 2l). Thus, reciprocation of the piston 76 will raise and lower the counterweight 74 to cause the chain 68 to effect pivotal movement of the bell-crank lever 60 and effect raising and lowering of the container 18.

It will be apparent from the foregoing, that as the driving means 12 moves the chain 26 to carry a casting box 14 to the loading station, the chain 26 will rotate the spindle 20 to bring one of the containers 18 into position above the particular casting box 14 with the container 18 extending between the supporting elements 42, 44 and being accurately positioned with respect to the casting box 14 by engagement of the notched end 48 of one of the beams 50 with the pintle 46.

Fluid pressure for the motors 56 is conducted from a suitable source of supply through the spindle 20 as shown in Fig. 3 by Way of a rotating pressure joint 79 carried by a pipe 81 extending axially part way through the spindle 20. The pipe 81 emerges laterally through the side wall of the spindle 28 and carries a lower circular manifold 83 and an upper circular manifold 93. The upper manifold 93 supplies pressure lluid to a plurality of four-way valves 89 carried on the element 63 and adapted for operation respectively by actuating levers 91 mounted on the shaft of the sprockets 70. The levers 91 make contact with their respective valves 89 only in the extreme downward position of the spouts 58. The

' instant that the spouts 58 start their upward movement then contact of the levers 91 and valves '89 ceases. The valves then reverse due to action of integral springs or the like (not shown) thereby reversing fluid pressure on the motors 56.

The container 18 will remain in registry with the casting box 14 as the latter travels through approximately 180 around the axis of the spindle 20. During such range of movement, the container 18 is lowered by operation of the uid pressure motor 78 to move the bifurcated spout 58 into the casting box with the outlets thereof disposed on either side of a mold supported in the casting box. The fluid pressure motor 56 may then be actuated to move the swinging gate 54 away from the open end of the wall 52 to permit granular material to flow from the interior of the container 18 through the spout 58 and into the casting box 14, piling up on either side of a mold supported in the casting box until the spout 58 is choked and further ow prevented. The gate S4 is then closed by the motor 56 and the motor 78 is actuated to raise the container 18 and withdraw the spout 58 from the casting box 14. This sequence of operations is diagrammatically shown in Fig. 9 and may conveniently be controlled by a plurality of fluid valves 124l which are connected to the lower manifold 83 for pressure fluid supply. The valves 124 are mounted upon and rotatable with a plate 88 carried by the spindle 20 each valve 124 having an actuating arm 125 engageable with a relatively stationary cam 86 to be actuated during an appropriate portion of the cycle.

Means is provided for replenishing the supply of granular back-up material in the container 18. This means is here shown as a conduit extending from a suitable source (not shown) of back-up material and terminating immediately above the path of travel of the container '18. Flow of back-up material from the conduit 85 and into the container 18 is controlled by a swinging gate 87 mounted on the end of the conduit S5 and adapted to be actuated by suitable motor means (not shown).

As is shown in Figs. 4, 6, 7 and 8, each casting box 14 is open at one end and is provided with a pair of oppositely disposed trunnions 88 which are journaled in suitable bearings 90 carried on the lower ends of the frame members 42, 44. The trunnions 88 are positioned in a plane which is offset laterally of the center line of the casting box 14 so that the casting box would normally tend to pivot about thte axis of the trunnions 88 and position itself in the position shown in broken lines in Fig. 5. However, a counterweight 92 is carried on a pair of studs 94 which are secured to the bottom of the casting box 14 and a pair of nuts 95 on each stud 94 serve to locate the counterweight 92 on the studs 94 and relative to the axis of the trunnions 88 to normally balance the casting box 14 about such axis. Thus, the casting box 14 will, when empty, be positioned with its open end uppermost as shown in Figs. 4 and 6.

Means is provided for latching the casting box 14 in position with its open end uppermost to prevent the box from pivoting about the axis of the trunnions 88 when a mold and back-up material are placed therein. This means is here shown as comprising a latching lever 96 which is secured to a shaft 98 pivotally mounted in the support member 42. The latching lever 96 is provided with a notch 100 adapted to receive a lug 102 as shown in Fig. 6. The lug 102 is secured to the casting box 14 and, accordingly, when the lug is positioned in the notch 100, pivotal movement of the casting box 14 `about the axis of the trunnions 88 will be prevented.

A second lever 104 is secured to the shaft 98 and is biased in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in Figs. 6 and 7 by a spring 106 secured thereto and to the vertical support member 42. Since the levers 96, 104 are both secured to the shaft 98, the bias of the spring 106 is transmitted directly to the lever 96 to normally hold the same in engagement with the lug 102 and prevent pivotal movement of the casting box 14 about the axis of the trunnions 88.

To elect inversion of each casting box 14 as the same moves through the dumping station, to dump the contents thereof, means is provided for releasing the above described latching means in response to movement of the casting box 14 through the dumping station. This means is here shown as comprising a fixed abutment 108, mounted on a suitable support 110 at the dumping statoiin and positioned immediately adjacent the path of travel of the supporting members 42, 44. A second abutment means in the form of a lever 112 is movable with each casting box and is normally engageable with the fixed abutment 108 as its associated casting box 14 moves through the dumping station. Each lever 112 is pivotally mounted on one of the vertical support members 42 to overlie the lever 104 and is movable between an active position as shown in full lines in Figs. 6 and 7 and an inactive position as shown in broken lines in Fig. 6.

When the lever 112 is in its active position and extending toward the support 110 of the abutment 108, movement of a casting box 14 past the support 110 at the dumping station will move the lever 112 into engagement with the abutment 108 to force the free end of the lever 112 downward into engagement with the lever 104 as shown in Fig. 7. Such movement of the lever 112 will cause a clockwise movement of the lever 104, as viewed in Fig. 7, to in turn rotate the lever 96 out of engagement with the lug 102.

Since the center of gravity of a mold, back-up material and casting in the casting box 14 will be offset laterally from the axis of the trunnions 88, movement of the lever 96 out of engagement with the lug 102 will cause pivotal movement of the casting box 14 about the axis of the trunnions 88 to the position shown in broken lines in Fig. 5 and the contents of the casting box 14 will be dumped therefrom.

It will be apparent that movement of the lever 112 to the inactive or broken line position as shown in Fig. 6 will permit movement of the casting box 14 through the dumping station without establishing an operative relation between the abutment 108 and the latching levers 96, 104. Thus, in the event that molten metal is not poured into the mold at the pouring station, the operator may swing the lever 112 to the inactive broken line position of Fig. 6 and the casting box, with unused mold intact, will continue on its course through the apparatus to return in due time to the pouring station where it may be poured and the lever 112 manually returned to its active position.

As best shown in Fig. 5, the dumping station includes a shake-out or rocking grate 114 positioned beneath the path of travel of the casting boxes 14 and arranged to receive a casting dumped therefrom.

Suitable means, not shown, is provided for rocking the grate 114. Such rocking promotes the separation of back-up material from the casting, the back-up material passing through the grate 114 into a chute 116, for transmission to a pressurized hopper 118 of a suitable material handling apparatus. Preferably the rocking means periodically extends the amplitude of the rocking motion imparted to the grate 114 to discharge the casting and unburned mold material therefrom.

When the contents of the casting box 14 are dumped therefrom, the original balance of the empty box controlled by the counterweight 92 is restored and the box returns to its upright position as shown in Fig. 6 with the lever 96 once again engaging the lug 102 to restore the locked arrangement between the support 42 and the casting box 14.

The lever 112 also serves to initiate operation of the relling mechanism at the loading station as each casting box enters such station. To this end, a switch 120, as shown in Figs. 2 and 9, is mounted on a suitable support 122 adjacent the path of travel of the casting boxes 14 to be engaged by the lever 112 whenever the same is in its active position as shown in full lines in- Fig. 6 and the casting box 14 associated therewith moves into the loading station. The switch 120 is connected by suitable circuit means (not shown) to electrically operable fluid valve means (not shown) controlling a fluid motor (not shown) for operating the gate 87 of the mechanism for refilling the containers 18. The lever 112 will contact the switch 120 only in its active position and,'when in the inactive position, will not initiate the above relling operation. Preferably the counterweights 74 are suciently heavy to prevent lowen'ng of the containers 18 by the motor 78 unless the containers have been relled with mold back-up material. Accordingly, by preventing refilling of selected containers 18, the loading operation is prevented with respect to selected casting boxes 14 as the unlled containers cannot descend into such casting boxes to initiate the loading operation which will be more fully described in the description of the entire apparatus which follows.

Operation When the apparatus is in operation, the conveyor 10 is moving the casting boxes 14 at a uniform rate along a path which defines a closed loop while the spindle 20 with its associated containers 18 rotates at a uniform rate to superimpose the containers 18 above the casting boxes 14 as the same move around the closed end of the loop at the loading station.

The cycle through which each casting box 14 passes begins at the mold loading station wherein operator places a complete assembled shell mold centrally in the casting box. As the casting box approaches the shot loading station, the lever 112 engages the switch 120 to effect actuation of the uid motor (not shown) for actuating the gate 87 to open the gate 87 and cause refilling of that one of the containers 18, which will subsequently be positioned above the casting box of the cycle being described. As the casting box enters the shot-loading station, the actuating arm of one of the fluid valves 124 contacts the cam 86, effecting reversal of fluid pressure in one of the fluid motors 78 to cause extension of the piston '76 thereof. Extension of the piston 76 raises the counterweight 74 and, through the chain 68, lowers the container 18 to move the bifurcated spout 58 into the casting box with the legs of the bifurcated spout 58 being disposed on opposite sides of the mold.

Downward movement of the container 18 causes actuation of the fluid pressure motor 56 by the valve 89 aS described to move the swinging gate 54 away from the open end of the funnel-shaped lower wall 52 of the container 18. Shot may then ow through the bifurcated spout 58 into the casting box 14 on either side of the mold and will continue to flow until the spout 58 is choked. The motor 56 then closes the gate 54 and the piston 76 of the motor 78 is retracted to raise the container 18 and move the bifurcated spout 5S out of the casting box 14. As the spout S8 moves out of the casting box 14, the shot contained therein ows into the casting box to complete the filling thereof.

The above described operations are diagrammatically shown in Fig. 9 with relation to the travel of a single casting box through the loading station and it will be apparent therefrom that, when the ycontainer 18 is raised to its initial position, the casting box is moving out of the loading station and into the pouring station.

In the event that a casting box containing a mold surrounded by back-up material is moving through the loading station, the lever 112 will have been placed in its inactive position as shown in broken lines in Fig. 6 so that the lever 112 will not engage the switch 120 to initiate the above described refilling operation. Thus a loaded casting box may pass through the loading station without additional shot being loaded therein.

As the casting box moves through the pouring station, it travels parallel to the moving platform 16. Thus, an operator standing on the platform 16 may pour molten metal into the molds supported in the casting box with comparative ease.

A casting box with the mold therein moves out of the pouring station around the end of the loop opposite the shot-loading station and through the cooling station which parallels the pouring station. From the cooling station, the casting box moves into the dumping station.

As the casting box moves through the dumping station, the abutment 108 engages the lever 112 to release the ycasting box latching mechanism and permit inversion of the casting box with consequent dumping of the contents thereof and subsequent return to its initial position. As a casting box returns to its initial upright position, it moves into the mold loading station for the beginning of another uninterrupted cycle.

In the event that an operator is unable to pour a mold at the pouring station, he may move the lever 112 to its inactive position as shown in broken lines in Fig. 6 to prevent the dumping operation at the dumping station as hereinbefore described.

It will be apparent from the foregoing that the apparatus disclosed herein will eifect the expeditious production of all manner of castings from shell-type molds with a minimum number of operators keeping the machine in constant production with a minimum of etfort and skill and that such apparatus accomplishes the objects of the invention.

It will also be apparent that many changes may be made in details of construction and arrangement of parts without departing from the scope of the invention as dened in the appended claims.

I claim:

l. In a casting machine, the combination of a carrier having support means movable through a predetermined path, means for continuously driving said carrier, a plurality of casting boxes mounted on said support means for movement therewith through said path and being adapted to support completed molds therein, means for loading refractory back-up material into said casting boxes respectively to backup molds supported therein, said loading means including a plurality of containers having discharge means, means for moving said containers along at least a portion of said path to bring said discharge y means sequentially into registry with said casting boxes as the latter move along said path.

2. In a casting machine, the combination comprising rotary support means, a plurality of angularly spaced dispensing means for granular back-up material and mounted on said support means, a conveyor movable past said rotary support means, a plurality of casting boxes movable with said conveyor and adapted to support completed molds therein, means for rotating said support means upon movement of said conveyor to move said dispensing means sequentially into registry with said casting boxes for loading granular mold back-up material into the latter.

3. In a casting machine, the combination comprising rotary support means, a plurality of containers for granular back-up material on said support means and angularly spaced from each other, each of said containers being provided with discharge means, a conveyor movable past said rotary support means, a plurality of casting boxes movable with said conveyor and adapted to support completed molds therein, and means for moving said conveyor and rotating said support means to move said discharge means sequentially into registry with said casting boxes for loading granular mold back-up material into the latter.

4. Casting apparatus comprising a conveyor having support means movable along a predetermined path through loading, pouring and unloading stations, means for continuously driving said conveyor, a plurality of casting boxes mounted on said support means for movement therewith through said path and being adapted to support completed molds therein, a rotary carrier at said loading station, a plurality of containers for granular back-up material on said rotary carrier and angularly spaced from each other, each of said containers being provided with discharge means, means for rotating said carrier upon movement of said conveyor to move said containers sequentially into operative relation with said casting boxes, and means for moving said discharge means into and out of said boxes when the same are in said operative relation for loading granular back-up material around completed molds supported therein.

5. Casting apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein said casting boxes are pivotally mounted on said conveyor, means at said unloading station for inverting said boxes to discharge the contents thereof as the same are moving through said unloading station.

6. Casting apparatus as claimed in claim 5 wherein means operatively associated with each of said boxes is provided for selectively preventing said inversion.

7. Casting apparatus comprising a conveyor having support means movable along a predetermined path through loading and unloading stations, means for continuously driving said conveyor, a plurality of casting boxes pivotally mounted on said support means for movement therewith along said path and being adapted to support completed molds therein, means for loading granular refractory material into said boxes at said loading station, latching means operatively associated with each of said boxes for preventing pivotal movement thereof, means positioned at said unloading station for releasing said latching means to permit said pivotal movement for discharging the contents of said boxes, and means positioned at said loading station for preventing said loading operation unless said latching means has been released.

8. Casting apparatus as claimed in claim 7 wherein said releasing means includes a pair of elements, one of said elements being xed and the other being movable with a casting box to engage said one element as said box moves through said unloading station, said other element being adjustable to a position wherein said engagement is prevented.

9. In a casting machine, the combination comprising a rotary carrier, a plurality of containers for granular backup material on said carrier and angularly spaced from each other, each of said containers being provided with discharge means, an endless conveyor extending around said rotary carrier and through pouring and unloading stations, a plurality of casting boxes adapted to support completed molds therein, a plurality of pairs of spaced supporting members connected to each of said boxes respectively for suspending said boxes from said conveyor, and means for moving said conveyor and rotating said carrier to position said containers sequentially between said supporting members with said discharge means in registry with said casting boxes for loading granular mold back-up material into the latter.

l0. A casting machine as claimed in claim 9 wherein means is provided for reciprocating said containers relative to said carrier for moving said discharge means into and ont of said boxes while said boxes are moving around said carrier.

l1. ln a casting machine, the combination comprising a rotary carrier, a plurality of containers for granular back-up material on said carrier and angularly spaced from each other, each of said containers being provided with discharge means, 'an endless conveyor extending around said. rotary carrier and through pouring and unloading stations, a plurality of casting boxes adapted to support completed molds therein and mounted on said conveyor for movement therewith, means for moving said conveyor and rotating said support means to move said discharge means sequentially into registry with said casting boxes for loading granular' mold back-up material into the latter, said last named means including interengaging elements on said conveyor and carrier for maintaining a predetermined relation therebetween.

l2. ln a casting machine, the combination comprising a carrier rotatable about a vertical axis, a plurality of angularly spaced containers for granular mold back-up material mounted on said carrier for rotation therewith and reciprocation relative thereto, each of said containers having discharge means associated therewith, motor means on said carrier for reciprocating said containers, a conveyor, a plurality of casting boxes mounted on said c011- veyor for movement past said carrier and adapted to support completed molds therein, means for rotating said carrier to position said containers over said casting boxes during a predetermined range of their travel, rand means operatively associated with said motor means for actuating said containers and moving said discharge means into and out of said boxes while the latter are moving through said predetermined range.

13. A casting machine as claimed in claim 12 wherein means is provided for supplying granular hack-up mate- 15 2,722,726

10 rial to said containers while the same are outside said range.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 620,020 Davies Feb. 21, 1899 1,011,735 Brown Dec. 12, 1911 1,015,374 Yeager Jan. 23, 1912 1,056,523 Ferris Mar. 18, 1913 1,156,446 Taylor et al Oct. 12, 1915 1,241,476 French Sept. 25, 1917 2,522,031 Gavin Sept. 12, 1950 2,667,674 Hines Feb. 2, 1954 Davis Nov. 8, 1955

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