Process and apparatus for artificially ageing blocks

A process for artificially ageing blocks (1) including at least one of concrete blocks, vitrified blocks and natural stone blocks, the process comprising the steps of:

• placing the blocks to be worked (1) adjacent one another onto an underlying surface (2);
• applying substantially freely movable distressing bodies (4) to an upper surface (1a) of the blocks (1) to be worked;
• vibrating the underlying surface (2) thereby causing relative motion between the blocks to be worked (1) and the distressing bodies (4) such that at least one of vertical movement and horizontal movement of the distressing bodies (4), induced by the vibrating motion of the underlying surface (2) to the distressing bodies (4), via the blocks to be worked (1), on the upper surface (1a) and adjacent edges (1b) of the blocks to be worked (1) artificially ages the blocks (1);
• and
• transmitting the vertical component of the vibrating motion of the underlying surface (2), through the blocks to be worked (1), so as to cause the upper surface (1a) of the blocks to be worked (1) to propel the distressing bodies (4) upward away from the surface (1a) of the blocks to be worked (1) with a magnitude sufficient to distress at least one of the upper surface (1a) and the adjacent edges (1b) of the blocks to be worked (1) when the distressing bodies (4) fall back onto the upper surface (1a) of the blocks to be worked (1) due to gravity.

A process for artificially ageing at least one of concrete blocks, vitrified blocks and natural stone blocks, the process comprising the steps of:

• applying the blocks (1) to an underlying surface (2);
• applying substantially freely movable distressing bodies (4), formed of at least one of a hard metal, a metal and a steel, to an upper surface (1a) of the blocks to be worked (1);
• vibrating the underlying surface (2) thereby causing relative motion between the blocks to be worked (1) and the distressing bodies (4) such that at least one of vertical movement and horizontal movement of the distressing bodies (4), induced by the vibrating motion of the underlying surface (2) to the distressing bodies (4), via the blocks to be worked (1), on the upper surface (1a) and adjacent edges (1b) of the blocks to be worked (1) artificially ages the blocks (1);
• transmitting a vertical component of the vibrating motion of the underlying surface (2), through the blocks to be worked (1), so as to cause the underlying (1a) of the blocks to be worked (1) to propel the distressing bodies (4) upward, from the upper surface (la) of the blocks to be worked (1) and thereafter fall back onto the upper surface (1a) of the blocks to be worked (1) and act on the upper surface (1a) and adjacent edges (1b) of the blocks to be worked (1);
• and
• after the working of at least one of the upper surface (1a) and the adjacent edges (1b) of the blocks to be worked (1), magnetically removing the distressing bodies (4) from the upper surface (1a) of the aged blocks (1).

An apparatus for artificially ageing at least one of concrete blocks, vitrified bricks and natural stone blocks, the apparatus comprising:

• an underlying surface (2) onto which the blocks (1) can be placed in such a way that an upper surface (1a) of the blocks to be worked (1) and adjacent edges (1b) of the upper surface of the blocks to be worked (1) are exposed,
• a plurality of freely movable distressing bodies (4) for applying to the upper surface (1a) and adjacent edges (1b) of the blocks to be worked (I), and
• a vibration device (8) for causing vibrating motion of the underlying surface (2) to cause relative motion, comprising at least one of vertical movement and horizontal movement, between the blocks to be worked (1) and the distressing bodies (4) by transmission of the vibrating motion of the underlying surface (2), via the blocks to be worked (1), to the distressing bodies (2) such that the distressing bodies (4) move at least one of horizontally and vertically, relative to the blocks to be worked (1), and act on the upper surface (1a) and the adjacent edges (1b) of the blocks to be worked (1), and
• the vibration device (8) generates a vertical component which propels the distressing bodies (4) sufficiently vertically upward, away from the surface (1a) of the blocks to be worked (1), to distress at least one of the upper surface (1a) and the adjacent edges (1b) of the blocks to be worked (1) when the distressing bodies (4) fall back onto the upper surface (1a) of the blocks (1).