System for making aerated concrete blocks having at least one passageway drilled therein

A drilling station for making aerated concrete blocks having at least one passageway extending therethrough, the drilling station comprising:

• a plurality of drills directed substantially vertically upward;
• a positioner for grasping and moving a group of aerated concrete blocks along a vertical path onto said drills to simultaneously drill passageways in each of the blocks of the group of aerated concrete blocks;
• and
• a waste collection system adjacent said drills for collecting waste generated from drilling.

A system for making aerated concrete blocks comprising:

• at least one processing station for making a plurality of aerated concrete blocks;
• a separating station downstream form said at least one processing station for separating the plurality of aerated concrete blocks into a plurality of groups of aerated concrete blocks;
• and
• a drilling station downstream from said separating station to drill at least one passageway extending through each of the blocks of one of the qroups of aerated concrete blocks, said drilling station comprising
• a plurality of drills, and
• a positioner for causing relative movement between the drills and the one group of aerated concrete blocks to simultaneously drill the at least one passageway extending through each of the blocks of the one group of aerated concrete blocks.

A system for making aerated concrete blocks comprising:

• a molding station for receiving materials for making aerated concrete and for allowing the materials to rise and stiffen into a body;
• a dividing station downstream from said molding station for dividing the body into an array of blocks;
• a curing station downstream from said dividing station for curing the array of blocks;
• a separating station downstream from said curing station for separating the array of blocks into a plurality of groups of blocks;
• and
• a drilling station downstream from said separating station to drill at least one passageway extending through each of the blocks of one of the groups of blocks, said drilling station comprising a plurality of drills and a positioner for causing relative movement between the drills and the one group of blocks to simultaneously drill the at least one passageway extending through each of the blocks of the one group of blocks.