Apparatus and method for molding blocks

In a method of cleaning accumulated block making material from problem areas of split mold tooling used in the manufacture of molded blocks having a set of mold parts supported below a top plate for movement between a first inward use position in which inner surfaces of the mold parts cooperate to provide a mold cavity that is open at a top and bottom of the mold along an axis thereof and a second position in which the mold parts are moved away from one another laterally of said mold axis to a position in which the mold surfaces are retracted beneath the top plate, said method comprising:

• moving the mold parts to the inward use position to form the mold cavity and positioning a pallet against the bottom of the mold to close the bottom of the cavity;
• supplying a charge of moldable block material into the cavity through the top opening of the mold;
• lowering a stripper head into the mold cavity while vibrating the mold to compact and shape the block material to the desired form;
• moving the mold parts laterally away from one another to release the molded block such that the mold surfaces are retracted beneath the top plate;
• the improvement comprising:
• providing a mold clean-out system having at least one fluid channel having an outlet in the top plate positioned so as to communicate with the mold surfaces when in the retracted positions;
• and
• directing a flow of pressurized clean-out fluid through the outlets against the mold surfaces while in the retracted position to remove any block material present on such surfaces.