Patent ID: 7104310

Claim:
An automated molding machine, comprising: a mold flask assembly including a drag flask, a cope flask and a pattern plate for creating sand molds; a first molding station whereat at least one operation of a sand mold forming cycle is conducted with at least a part of the mold flask assembly; a second molding station whereat at least one operation of a sand mold forming cycle is conducted with at least a part of the mold flask assembly; a first safety zone generated by at least one first safety sensor; a second safety zone generated by at least one second safety sensor; and a controller responsive to the first and second safety sensors and providing output signals for controlling operations at the first and second molding stations, the controller providing a first output signal to halt at least one operation of the sand mold forming cycle at the first molding station and providing a second output signal to control at least one operation of the second mold forming station when the first safety zone is breached, and the second safety zone is not breached, wherein the controller controls the molding machine differently when different safety zones are breached.