Patent ID: 7147032

Claim:
An apparatus for assembling a wax tree from a wax runner and a plurality of wax patterns, such apparatus comprising: a runner load station configured for holding a wax runner; means for loading wax patterns configured for holding wax patterns; a pattern assembly including a pattern fixture configured for gripping wax patterns located on the means for loading wax patterns, the pattern assembly further including means for moving the wax patterns gripped by the pattern fixture to positions adjacent to the wax runner; a heating assembly including a heating device, means for heating the heating device to a temperature sufficient to melt wax, and means for moving the heating device between the wax runner and the wax patterns, wherein the heating device is adapted to melt wax on the wax runner and the wax patterns, the means for moving the heating device is configured to remove the heating device when wax melting has occurred, and the pattern assembly further including means to bring the wax patterns and wax runner together where wax has been melted by the heating device.