Method for exchanging molds in a concrete products forming machine

A method for moving a plurality of mold assemblies to a loading position adjacent a concrete products forming machine for selective installation of one of the plurality of mold assemblies along a mold-receiving path into the concrete products forming machine, the method including:

• mounting first and second mold assemblies in common to a carriage assembly;
• driving the carriage assembly along an overhead track via a drive motor so that the first and second mold assemblies move between a retracted position spaced from the concrete products forming machine and respective first and second positions adjacent the concrete products machine to thereby present the first and second mold assemblies one at a time to the loading position intersecting the mold-receiving path;
• and
• detecting positional movement of the carriage along the track and operating said drive motor in response to said detected positional movement.

A method for exchanging molds in a concrete products forming machine using a mold transfer assembly of a type having a track running on a mold-transfer path along which is mounted a carriage assembly coupled to first and second spaced mold cassette assemblies, the method comprising:

• moving the first mold cassette assembly along the mold-transfer path to a mold receiving position adjacent a concrete products forming machine;
• moving a first mold out of the concrete products forming machine along a mold-transfer path perpendicular to the mold-transfer path of the first mold cassette assembly to a mold-receiving position;
• mounting the first mold within the first mold cassette assembly;
• after mounting the first mold, moving the first mold cassette assembly along the mold-transfer path out of the mold-receiving position and moving a second mold cassette assembly and pre-mounted second mold along the mold-transfer path to the mold-receiving position;
• and
• demounting the second mold from the second mold cassette assembly and moving the second mold along the mold-transfer path to the concrete products forming machine.