Flexible mat forming system and method
AssigneeMotz Enterprises, Inc.
InventorsJames G. Motz, Matthew J. Motz
Life of this patent
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Abstract
In an exemplary embodiment, a flexible mat forming system includes a rotating drum having a plurality of mold cavities about an outer periphery thereof; a hopper positioned adjacent the drum, the hopper shaped to receive a hardenable paste and deposit the hardenable paste into successive mold cavities of the plurality of mold cavities facing the hopper, as the drum rotates relative to the hopper; wherein the hopper includes an opening shaped and positioned to align with the mold cavities facing the hopper; and a sheet of mesh material that is fed between the hopper and the mold cavities facing the hopper.
Claims20
A flexible mat forming system, comprising:
- a rotating drum having a plurality of mold cavities about an outer periphery thereof;
- a hopper positioned adjacent the drum, the hopper shaped to receive a hardenable paste and deposit the hardenable paste into successive mold cavities of the plurality of mold cavities facing the hopper, as the drum rotates relative to the hopper, the hopper including a bottom panel having an arcuate shape corresponding to a curvature of the rotating drum;
- wherein the hopper includes an opening shaped and positioned to align with the mold cavities facing the hopper;
- and
- a sheet of mesh material that is fed between the hopper and the successive mold cavities facing the hopper.
A method for making a flexible mat, the method comprising:
- providing a plurality of mold cavities;
- providing a panel having an opening;
- positioning the panel above the mold cavities and aligning the opening with the mold cavities;
- varying a height of the panel above the mold cavities to a selected spacing;
- placing a sheet of mesh material between the panel and the mold cavities;
- depositing a hardenable paste through the opening and into the mold cavities such that the sheet of mesh material becomes embedded in the hardenable paste over the mold cavities;
- displacing the panel from the mold cavities as the hardenable paste hardens in the mold cavities into blocks held together by the mesh, thereby forming the flexible mat;
- and
- removing the flexible mat from the mold cavities.
A system for making a flexible mat, the system comprising:
- a form having a plurality of mold cavities;
- a panel having an opening;
- a support frame for adjustably supporting the panel above the plurality of mold cavities and aligning the opening with adjacent ones of the mold cavities;
- and
- the panel is spaced above the mold cavities a distance sufficient to receive a sheet of mesh material between the panel and the mold cavities.
A method for making a flexible mat, the method comprising:
- providing a plurality of mold cavities;
- providing a panel having an opening;
- positioning the panel above the mold cavities and aligning the opening with adjacent ones of the mold cavities, wherein positioning the panel above adjacent ones of the mold cavities includes adjusting a height of the panel above the mold cavities to a selected spacing;
- placing a sheet of mesh material between the panel and the mold cavities;
- depositing a hardenable paste through the opening and into the mold cavities such that the sheet of mesh material becomes embedded in the hardenable paste over the mold cavities;
- allowing the hardenable paste to harden into blocks held together by the sheet of mesh material, thereby forming the flexible mat;
- and
- removing the flexible mat from between the panel and the mold cavities.
A method for making a flexible mat, the method comprising:
- providing a plurality of mold cavities;
- providing a panel having an opening;
- positioning the panel above the mold cavities and aligning the opening with the mold cavities;
- placing a sheet of mesh material between the panel and the mold cavities;
- depositing a hardenable paste through the opening and into the mold cavities such that the sheet of mesh material becomes embedded in the hardenable paste over the mold cavities;
- preventing the hardenable paste from being deposited onto the sheet of mesh material between the mold cavities by separating the opening into a row of slots by dividers;
- displacing the panel from the mold cavities as the hardenable paste hardens in the mold cavities into blocks held together by the mesh, thereby forming the flexible mat;
- and
- removing the flexible mat from the mold cavities.
A flexible mat forming system, comprising:
- a rotating drum having a plurality of mold cavities about an outer periphery thereof;
- a hopper positioned adjacent the drum, the hopper shaped to receive a hardenable paste and deposit the hardenable paste into successive mold cavities of the plurality of mold cavities facing the hopper, as the drum rotates relative to the hopper, the hopper including an opening shaped and positioned to align with the mold cavities facing the hopper;
- an auger positioned in the hopper that distributes the hardenable paste along a length of the hopper;
- and
- a sheet of mesh material that is fed between the hopper and the successive mold cavities facing the hopper.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.