Process and apparatus for artificially ageing blocks

A method for artificial aging blocks, which have a treatment surface (1a) and adjoining edges (1b), the method comprising the steps of:

• supporting an entire bottom surface of the blocks (1) to be artificially aged solely on a base (2) in such a manner that the treatment surface (1a) and the adjoining edges (1b) of the blocks are exposed;
• arranging a retaining device (5) above the base (2) with the retaining device (5) having a plurality of retaining elements (7), supporting a movably striking body (3) on each of the plurality of retaining elements (7) such that the respective striking body (3) only moves within a defined region of the treatment surface (1a) of the blocks (1), between the retaining device (5) and the blocks (1), to facilitate artificial aging of the blocks (1);
• vibrating the base (2) upon which the blocks (1) are supported, via a vibrating device (6), such that the vibrating device (6) directly vibrates the base (2) and the base (2), in turn, vibrates and causes at least the blocks (1) to move relative to the base (2) and the striking bodies (3) such that the striking bodies (3) and the treatment surface (1a) and the adjoining edges (1b) of the blocks strike one another and facilitate artificial aging of the blocks (1);
• and oscillating the retaining elements (7) axially along a length of the retaining elements (7), via an oscillating means, so that the retaining elements (7) and the striking bodies (3) only oscillate back and forth within the defined region between the retaining elements and the base for abutting with the top surface of the blocks (1) while the vibrating device (6) vibrates the base (2) so that the striking bodies (3), and the blocks (1) both move relative to and strike one another and thereby facilitate irregular striking of the blocks (1) and the striking bodies (3) to artificially age of the blocks (1).