Block mold having moveable liner

A mold assembly for producing masonry blocks and adapted for use in a masonry block machine, the mold assembly comprising:

• a plurality of liner plates defining a mold cavity, wherein at least one of the liner plates is moveable between a retracted position and an extended position;
• a first gear element selectively coupled to the at least one moveable liner plate and having a plurality of parallel angled channels;
• a second gear element including a plurality of parallel angled channels configured to slideably interlock with the parallel angled channels of the first gear element;
• and
• a screw drive system configured to move the at least one moveable liner plate to the extended position by driving the second gear element in a first direction through application of a force in a first rotational direction and to move the at least one moveable liner plate to the retracted position by driving the second gear element in a direction opposite the first direction through application of a force in a second rotational direction opposite the first rotational direction.

A mold assembly for producing masonry blocks and adapted for use in a masonry block machine, the mold assembly comprising:

• a plurality of liner plates, each liner plate having a major surface, the liner plates positioned within a mold box and configured such that the major surfaces form a mold cavity having a desired form, wherein at least one of the liner plates is moveable between a retracted position and a desired extended position toward an interior of the mold cavity;
• and
• drive means comprising:
• a first element selectively coupled to the at least one moveable liner plate;
• and
• means, operatively coupled to the first element, for pushing the at least one moveable liner plate in a first direction toward the extended position via the first element by applying a force in a second direction which is different from the first direction and for pulling the at least one moveable liner plate toward the retracted position via the first element by applying a force in a direction which is opposite to the second direction wherein the pushing and pulling means comprise the same means, wherein the pushing and pulling means and the first element are positioned substantially external to the mold box when the at least one moveable liner plate is in the retracted position.

A mold assembly for producing masonry blocks and adapted for use in a masonry block machine, the mold assembly comprising:

• a plurality of liner plates, each having a major surface and configured such that the major surfaces form a mold cavity having a desired form, wherein at least one of the liner plates is moveable between a retracted position and a desired extended position toward an interior of the mold cavity;
• and
• a gear drive assembly including:
• a first element selectively coupled to the at least one moveable liner plate;
• and
• an actuator operatively coupled to the first element and configured to push the at least one moveable liner plate in a first direction toward the extended position via the first element by applying a force in a second direction which is different from the first direction and configured to pull the at least one moveable liner plate from the extended position toward the retracted position via the first element by applying a force in a direction which is opposite to the second direction, wherein movement of the at least one moveable liner plate toward the extended position and toward the retracted position is substantially linear.