Block splitter assembly and method of producing wall blocks

A block splitter assembly comprising first lower and second upper opposed splitter blade assemblies,

• the first splitter blade assembly having a first splitting blade and two first forming blades, one first forming blade disposed to the right of and one first forming blade disposed to the left of the first splitting blade, the two first forming blades have forming edges, the first splitting blade having a splitting edge that is straight, and the first splitting blade having a greater maximum vertical dimension than the maximum vertical dimension of the two first forming blades,
• the second splitter blade assembly having a second splitting blade and two second forming blades, one second forming blade disposed to the right of and one second forming blade disposed to the left of the second splitting blade, the two second forming blades have forming edges, the second splitting blade having a splitting edge that is straight, and the second splitting blade having a greater maximum vertical dimension than the maximum vertical dimension of the two second forming blades,
• the splitting edge of the first splitting blade being opposed to the splitting edge of the second splitting blade, and
• the forming edges of the first forming blades and the forming edges of the second forming blades are curved.

A block splitter assembly comprising first lower and second upper opposed splitter blade assemblies,

• the lower splitter blade assembly having a lower splitting blade and first, second, and third lower forming blades, the first lower forming blade disposed to the right of and the second and third lower forming blades disposed to the left of the lower splitting blade, the lower forming blades having forming edges, the lower splitting blade having a splitting edge that is straight, the lower splitting blade having a greater maximum vertical dimension than the maximum vertical dimension of the lower forming blades, the first, second, and third lower forming blades having longitudinal lengths, and the longitudinal length of the first lower forming blade being equal to or greater than the sum of the longitudinal lengths of the second and third lower forming blades,
• the upper splitter blade assembly having an upper splitting blade and first, second, and third upper forming blades, the first upper forming blade disposed to the right of and the second and third upper forming blades disposed to the left of the upper splitting blade, the upper forming blades having forming edges, the upper splitting blade having a splitting edge that is straight, the upper splitting blade having a greater maximum vertical dimension than the maximum vertical dimension of the upper forming blades, the first, second, and third upper forming blades having longitudinal lengths, and the longitudinal length of the first upper forming blade being equal to or greater than the sum of the longitudinal lengths of the second and third upper forming blades, and
• the splitting edge of the lower splitting blade being opposed to the splitting edge of the lower splitting blade.

A method of producing a concrete block comprising:

• (i) providing a block splitter assembly comprising first lower and second upper opposed splitter blade assemblies,
• the first splitter blade assembly having a single first splitting blade and exactly two first forming blades, one first forming blade disposed to the right of and one first forming blade disposed to the left of the first splitting blade, the two first forming blades have forming edges, the first splitting blade having a splitting edge that is straight, and the first splitting blade having a greater maximum vertical dimension than the maximum vertical dimension of the two first forming blades,
• the second splitter blade assembly having a single second splitting blade and exactly two second forming blades, one second forming blade disposed to the right of and one second forming blade disposed to the left of the second splitting blade, the two second forming blades have forming edges, the second splitting blade having a splitting edge that is straight, and the second splitting blade having a greater maximum vertical dimension than the maximum vertical dimension of the two second forming blades, and
• the splitting edge of the first splitting blade being opposed to the splitting edge of the second splitting blade;
• (ii) placing a concrete workpiece in the block splitter assembly at a splitting position to be engaged by the first and second splitter blade assemblies;
• and
• (iii) with the workpiece at the splitting position, activating the first and second splitter blade assemblies to engage the workpiece and thereby split and form the workpiece.

A method of producing a concrete block comprising:

• (i) providing a block splitter assembly comprising first lower and second upper opposed splitter blade assemblies,
• the lower splitter blade assembly having a lower splitting blade and first, second, and third lower forming blades, the first lower forming blade disposed to the right of and the second and third lower forming blades disposed to the left of the lower splitting blade, the lower forming blades having forming edges, the lower splitting blade having a splitting edge that is straight, the lower splitting blade having a greater maximum vertical dimension than the maximum vertical dimension of the lower forming blades, the first, second, and third lower forming blades having longitudinal lengths, and the longitudinal length of the first lower forming blade being equal to or greater than the sum of the longitudinal lengths of the second and third lower forming blades,
• the upper splitter blade assembly having an upper splitting blade and first, second, and third upper forming blades, the first upper forming blade disposed to the right of and the second and third upper forming blades disposed to the left of the upper splitting blade, the upper forming blades having forming edges, the upper splitting blade having a splitting edge that is straight, the upper splitting blade having a greater maximum vertical dimension than the maximum vertical dimension of the upper forming blades, the first, second, and third upper forming blades having longitudinal lengths, and the longitudinal length of the first upper forming blade being equal to or greater than the sum of the longitudinal lengths of the second and third upper forming blades, and
• the splitting edge of the lower splitting blade being opposed to the splitting edge of the lower splitting blade;
• (ii) placing a concrete workpiece in the block splitter assembly at a splitting position to be engaged by the lower and upper splitter blade assemblies;
• and
• (iii) with the workpiece at the splitting position, activating the lower and upper splitter blade assemblies to engage the workpiece and thereby split and form the workpiece.