Automated mold changing system for concrete product molding machines and methods of constructing and operating the system

A concrete product mold removal and replacement mechanism in combination with a concrete product molding machine having a mold with at least one vertical through cavity supported on mold supports, a pallet receiver movable vertically for lifting a pallet to close the bottom of said mold cavity, and a stripper head assembly which is movable down to remove the molded product from said cavity conjunctively with downward movement of the pallet receiver and including:

• a. a frame and a transfer carriage movable thereon from a location longitudinally remote from said mold supports on the machine along a pathway leading longitudinally abeam of said mold supports, said pathway being defined by a pair of transversely spaced apart frame supported tracks and said transfer carriage having transversely spaced motor driven wheels riding thereon;
• b. a cross carriage and elevator assembly carried on said transfer carriage and incorporating a cross carriage carried for movement transversely to facilitate movement to and from said mold supports, and an elevator having a vertically movable member, said transfer carriage mounting a pair of longitudinally spaced transversely extending tracks and said cross carriage having longitudinally spaced wheels riding thereon;
• and said elevator comprising a vertically extending guide frame fixed to said cross carriage to depend therefrom and an elevator carriage with a pair of longitudinally spaced arms movable upwardly and downwardly on said guide frame ;
• and
• c. motor mechanism for moving said cross carriage transversely inwardly and raising said elevator member to remove a mold carried on said mold supports, returning said cross carriage transversely and moving said transfer carriage longitudinally outwardly;
• returning said transfer carriage after the mold is replaced, longitudinally toward said mold supports to a position abeam of them;
• and moving said cross carriage transversely inwardly and lowering said elevator member to deposit a replacement mold on said mold supports.

A method of operating a concrete product mold removal and replacement mechanism for a concrete product molding machine which includes a frame;

• a transfer carriage movable thereon from a location remote from mold supports on the machine along a pathway leading longitudinally abeam of said mold supports;
• a cross carriage carried on said transfer carriage for movement transversely to the transfer carriage;
• and an elevator carried by said cross carriage having a vertically movable transversely extending elevator mold support platform;
• the steps comprising:
• a. moving said transfer carriage longitudinally adjacent said machine and moving said cross carriage transversely inwardly to a position below a mold on said mold supports;
• b. raising said elevator platform to move said platform upwardly to deposit said mold thereon;
• c. returning said cross carriage transversely and moving said transfer carriage longitudinally to remove said mold to a position opposite a mold deposit and replacement station;
• d. moving said cross carriage transversely to deposit said mold at said deposit and replacement station and to receive a replacement mold;
• e. returning said cross carriage and moving said transfer carriage longitudinally toward said mold supports to a position abeam of said mold supports, and moving said cross carriage inwardly and lowering said elevator platform to deposit said replacement mold on said mold supports;
• and
• f. returning said cross carriage outwardly to said transfer carriage.

A method of constructing a concrete product mold removal and replacement mechanism for a concrete product molding machine, the mechanism including a frame and a transfer carriage movable thereon from a location remote from mold supports on the machine along a pathway leading longitudinally abeam of said mold supports, the steps comprising:

• a. mounting a cross carriage on said transfer carriage for movement transversely to the transfer carriage;
• b. mounting an elevator on said cross carriage having a vertically movable transversely extending elevator mold support platform;
• and
• c. connecting motor mechanism for moving said transfer carriage longitudinally adjacent said machine and moving said cross carriage transversely inwardly to a position below a mold on said mold supports, raising said elevator platform to deposit said mold thereon, returning said cross carriage transversely and moving said transfer carriage longitudinally outwardly to remove said mold to a remote location for mold replacement, moving the cross carriage transversely to deposit said mold being carried and to receive a replacement mold, returning said cross carriage and moving said transfer carriage longitudinally toward said mold supports to a position abeam of them, and moving said cross carriage inwardly and lowering said elevator platform to deposit said replacement mold on said mold supports.