Claims
- 1. An apparatus for molding uniform concrete tiles, each having a top side, the configuration of which is defined by rectilinear motion of a selected surface generatrix between two opposite edges of the tile, and a bottom side, the configuration of which differs from that of the top side at least as a result of a thickness variation of the tile in the direction of motion of the generatrix of the top side thereof, said apparatus being of the kind comprising:
- a horizontal supporting bed;
- a plurality of uniform molding trays each having a tile bearing top side surface which is complementary to the bottom side of the tile to be molded and each having a length at least approximately corresponding to the lengths of the tiles to be molded;
- an endless conveyor for moving said molding trays in close succession over and along said horizontal supporting bed;
- means mounted above said horizontal supporting bed for depositing a stiff concrete mass in a continuous layer on the molding trays moved by said conveyor and including a rapidly rotating pressing roller for heavily compacting the concrete mass deposited on said trays; and means for severing the continuous concrete mass layer into lengths corresponding to the trays;
- wherein
- (I) each of said molding trays comprises a sheet metal blank having a uniform thickness of at most about 3 millimeters and being shaped by pressing to present a lower side, the configuration of which is closely similar to that of the bottom side of the tile to be molded, and
- wherein
- (II) said conveyor comprises
- (A) a pair of separate but synchronously driven, endless driving chains extending in spaced parallel relationship along opposite sides of said horizontal supporting bed, and
- (B) a plurality of separate and mutually independent tray-carrying platforms placed between said two driving chains, each of said tray-carrying platforms
- (a) having a length closely corresponding to the length of each of said uniform molding trays, and
- (b) being connected to said driving chains by means of only one pair of coaxial pivots so as to be individually pulled over and along said horizontal supporting bed by said two chains, and
- (c) having a flat lower side adapted to rest on and in surface contact with said horizontal supporting bed when the tray-carrying platform is moved over the bed, and
- (d) having an upper side forming a seat for receiving one molding tray at a time in a predetermined position, in which the lower side of the molding tray is in extensive surface contact with the tray-carrying platform and hence effectively prevented from sagging under the pressure exerted by said mass compacting rapidly rotating pressing roller.
- 2. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein each tray-carrying platform is composed of at least two segments following after one another and being hingedly interconnected independently of said driving chains, only the foremost one of said platform segments being connected to said two driving chains by said one pair of coaxial pivots, and wherein means are provided to cause said platform segments to follow a path outside the ends of said supporting bed, which is nearly the same as, but not identical with, the paths followed by the two driving chains.
- 3. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said horizontal supporting bed comprises an endless, movable belt, on which said tray-carrying platforms are rested with their flat lower sides in spread out surface contact, means being provided to support said belt in a manner to let it follow the platforms while moving in a straight line.
- 4. An apparatus as set forth in claim 3 wherein said horizontal supporting bed further comprises a stationary, flat surface, over which said belt is movable, and means for introducing and distributing pressurized air between said flat surface and the belt.
- 5. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein each of said tray-carrying platforms has at least one longitudinally extending groove in its tray supporting seat, the grooves in the various platforms being aligned, and wherein a tray removing element, which at least bridges a gap between the outlet end of the conveyor and a device for carrying away the molding trays with their superposed, tile-forming concrete mass portions, is received in said aligned platform grooves.
- 6. An apparatus as set forth in claim 5 wherein said tray removing element is a flexible element forming an endless loop running over pulleys and having an active part following said tray carrying platforms over said supporting bed.
Priority Claims (1)
Number |
Date |
Country |
Kind |
8001614 |
Feb 1980 |
SEX |
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Parent Case Info
This a continuation of application Ser. No. 238,451, filed Feb. 26, 1981 now abandoned and the benefits of 35 USC 120 are claimed relative to it.
US Referenced Citations (1)
Number |
Name |
Date |
Kind |
3631574 |
Chapman |
Jan 1972 |
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Continuations (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
238451 |
Feb 1981 |
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