Apparatus for molding a slurry of calcium silicate crystals

An apparatus for molding a slurry of calcium silicate crystals comprising:

• a base plate provided with drain passages on the upper surface,
• a net conveyor having meshes for dewatering the slurry and disposed on the upper surface of the base plate in contact therewith, said conveyor being movable from the upper surface of the base plate to enable discharge of the shaped product after the molding operation is completed,
• a frame-shaped lower mold movable between a position wherein said mold is disposed on said net conveyor immediately above said base plate, and a position above said net conveyor,
• an upper mold provided on the lower surface thereof with dewatering means for dewatering the slurry, located above and movable into engagement with the lower mold to press and dewater the slurry in cooperation with the lower mold and to thereby form a shaped product,
• first drive means operatively associated with said lower mold for lowering said lower mold onto the net conveyor immediately above said base plate and for raising said lower mold relative to said net conveyor,
• second drive means operatively associated with said upper mold for lowering said upper mold into contact with said lower mold and for raising said upper mold, and
• lower mold holder means operatively associated with said lower mold for pressing said lower mold downwardly during the molding operation independently of the movement of said upper mold and for holding said lower mold so that said upper and lower molds can be raised together by said first drive means, said lower mold holder means allowing relative movement between said molds subsequent to their being raised together to cause the discharge of the shaped product.