Apparatus and method for removing core mark material from molded concrete blocks
OwnerRoderick D. Adamsinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An apparatus and method utilizing pressurized air discharged through positionable outlets is adapted to blowing core mark material from freshly molded, uncured concrete blocks of either the rib or flute type designed to be split or conventional unsplit blocks so as to prevent the core mark material associated with such blocks from being trapped and hardening in recesses or on surfaces of the blocks.
Claims12
In the repetitive formation of concrete block machine molded of a semi-wet mixture of aggregate and cement utilizing a selected number of core bars to form with each core bar plural spaced-apart vertical core holes centered on a core bar line extending the length of the block, a method for removing excess core mark material left on the block's top surface along each such line and adjacent the core holes associated therewith after the block has been ejected from the molding machine and before the block has been cured to avoid such excess core mark material remaining on the surface of the block and in the case of core holes being along a split line from falling into and hardening in such split line core holes, said method comprising:
- (a) receiving each freshly molded block from the molding machine as each is successively ejected therefrom and depositing the block at a first station on a uniform size pallet board and positioned so as to orient each line of excess core material on the top surface of each successive block in a specific relation to the pallet board and repeating such positioning from block to block in a substantially uniform repetitive orientation;
- (b) conveying each said pallet board and each said molded block positioned thereon through a second station and along a predetermined path and length of travel which repeats itself from pallet board to pallet board;
- (c) bringing a selected portion of each said pallet board in continuous physical contact with the actuating portion of a normally open pressure actuated electrical switch fixedly stationed in the path of said pallet board travel through said second station to cause said switch to be closed for the time interval corresponding to said length of travel and to be open when not in such physical contact with a said pallet board;
- (d) passing each said block and pallet board while traveling through said second station and while said switch is closed below an air supply system associated with said machine and having:
- (i) an electrically actuated valve operatively associated with said switch and having an air inlet connected to a source of pressurized air and an air outlet for discharging such pressurized air while said switch is closed during travel of each said pallet through said second station;
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- (ii) for each said line of core mark material at least one positionable conduit communicating at one end to the said valve discharge outlet and having at an opposite end an air discharge port;
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- (e) while each said block and pallet board passes through said second station locating and fixing each said positionable conduit such that the air discharge port associated therewith is at an appropriate elevation, lateral position and angularly directed with respect to a selected said line of excess core material so as to continuously direct pressurized air from each respective said air discharge port toward a selected line of core mark material on the top surface of said block during the course of the block's travel through said second station while said switch is closed and said valve is open in a manner such that substantially all excess core material is blown clear of the top surface of said block and prevented from falling and hardening in any of such core holes associated with a split line.
An apparatus capable of being mounted on and used in conjunction with a conventional concrete block molding machine during repetitive formation of concrete blocks molded of a semi-wet mixture of aggregate and cement utilizing a selected number of core bars to form with each core bar plural spaced-apart vertical core holes centered on a core bar line extending the length of the block and with such apparatus being adapted for removing excess core mark material left on the block's top surface along each such line after the block has been ejected from the molding machine and before the block has been cured to avoid such excess core mark material remaining on the surface of the block and in the case of core holes being along a split line from falling into and hardening in such split line core holes, said apparatus comprising:
- (a) a conveyor integral with said block molding machine for receiving with each molded and ejected block a pallet board upon which the block is carried from said molding machine while said block is transferred on said conveyor away from said machine;
- (b) support means mounted above and extending across the path of said conveyor;
- (c) air supply means mounted on said support means above the path of said conveyor and having an electrically actuated valve with an air inlet connected to a source of pressurized air and an air outlet for discharging such pressurized air;
- (d) for each said line of core mark material at least one positionable conduit communicating at one end to the said valve discharge outlet and having at an opposite end an air discharge port located proximate the path of travel of the line of core mark material with which the respective conduit having such air discharge port is associated, such air discharge port being in elevation, laterally and with a direction and angular discharge adapted to blow core mark material passing such air discharge port from the top surface of said block such that once a complete line of such core mark material has passed such air discharge port it will have been blown off such top surface and in the case of core mark material associated with the split line will have been directed away from core holes associated therewith;
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- (e) pressure actuated switch means for activating said electrical valve and providing the supply of pressurized air to said valve air outlet, said switch means being positioned so that as each said block loaded pallet board passes along the path of said conveyor, said switch means is contacted by said pallet board and initiates the activation of said valve and effects delivery of said pressurized air to each said conduit and air discharge port associated therewith enabling said pressurized air to be directed onto the top surface of each successive said block and in a manner effective to blow each said line of core mark material off the top surface of said block on which such core mark material appears and in the case of core mark material along a split line blowing such split line of core mark material in a manner adapted to prevent any substantial amount of material associated therewith from entering any core hole associated with such split line, said switch means upon passage of said loaded pallet board past said switch being arranged to open and effectively cause a shut-off of said valve and thereby shut-off of said supply of pressurized air.
An apparatus adapted for use in conjunction with a conventional concrete block molding machine during repetitive formation of either splittable or non-splittable concrete blocks molded of a semi-wet mixture of aggregate and cement the composition of which varies according to the type block being molded, said machine utilizing a selected number of core bars to form with each core bar plural spaced-apart vertical core holes centered on a core bar line extending the length of the block and with such core holes being relatively small in size when associated with a split line and substantially larger in size when not so associated, said apparatus being adapted for removing core mark material left on the block's top surface along each such line after the block has been ejected from the molding machine and before the block has been cured to avoid such core mark material remaining on the top surface of the block or being deposited in any substantial amount in any of said relatively small core holes associated with a split line, said apparatus comprising:
- (a) a conveyor for receiving each freshly molded block from the molding machine at a first station at which the block is deposited on a uniform size pallet board and positioned so as to orient each line of core material on the top surface of each successive block in a specific relation to the pallet board with such positioning from block to block being repeated in a substantially uniform repetitive orientation and with the conveyor extending through a second station through which the pallet and block are transferred;
- (b) support means detachably mounted and extending above and across the path of said conveyor;
- (c) manifold means mounted on said support means and having an air inlet for receiving pressurized air and plural spaced-apart outlets for discharge of said pressurized air;
- (d) a pressurized air source means;
- (e) a normally closed electrical valve associated with said air source means and manifold inlet for controlling entry of pressurized air thereto;
- (f) a plurality of distribution conduits supported on said support means, each said conduit terminating in a discharge end having an air discharge port, each said conduit discharge end being positionable such that the air discharge port associated therewith is at an appropriate elevation, lateral position and angularly directed with respect to a selected said line of core material such that pressurized air from each respective said air discharge port may be continuously directed toward a selected line of core mark material on the top surface of said block during the course of the block's travel through said second station;
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- (g) pressure actuated switch means for activating said electrical valve and providing the supply of pressurized air to said manifold, said switch means being positioned so that as each block loaded pallet board passes along the path of said conveyor through said second station, said switch means is contacted by said pallet board and initiates the activation of said electrical valve and effects delivery of said pressurized air to said conduits thereby enabling said pressurized air to be directed through said air discharge ports and to the top surface of each successive said block and in a manner effective to blow said core mark material from each line of core mark material on the surface of said block in a manner allowing such core mark material to be blown into any said large core hole while preventing any substantial amount of such core mark material being blown into any relatively small core holes, said switch means upon passage of each said successive loaded pallet board beyond said switch means, being arranged to open and effectively cause a shut-off of said pressurized air such that a flow of said pressurized air is established through said conduit air discharge ports prior to passage of each successive block past such air dicharge ports while maintaining such flow of pressurized air established as each said successive block moves through said second station.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.