Apparatus for assembling lost foam casting patterns

An apparatus for gluing together first and second pieces of a foam pattern to be used in a lost foam casting process, the apparatus comprising a frame, a glue tank adapted to contain glue, a glue platen supported by the frame for vertical movement relative thereto, the glue platen being movable relative to the frame between a lower position submerged in the glue and an upper position raised above the glue, a center platen located above the glue platen to hold the first pattern piece, the center platen being supported by the frame for pivotal movement relative thereto about a generally horizontal axis, and a top platen for holding the second pattern piece located above the center platen, the top platen being supported by the frame for vertical movement relative thereto between upper and lower positions. While in one pivotable position, the foam piece held by the center platen faces downward and, in the other position, it faces upward. While in the first position, the center platen is movable vertically downward to apply glue to the surface of the first foam piece by contacting the glue platen which is in its upper position. Then, while in the second position, the center platen is movable vertically upward to glue the first foam piece to the second piece. The apparatus also provides a connector to selectively connect the glue platen to the glue tank to thereby selectively raise the tank allowing access to heating elements underneath.