Apparatus for forming building blocks

Claim 2

Apparatus for forming a cementitious block comprising: supporting frame means; means thereon for forming a mold cavity including a relatively movable mold assembly and a pallet adjacent the lower end thereof for closing the lower end thereof, and a movably mounted longitudinally extending core movable between a removed position and a position in which it is disposed between said pallet and said mold assembly; means supported by said frame means mounting said longitudinally extending core for movement in a longitudinal and upward path of travel between said positions; means supported by said frame means for moving said longitudinally extending core in said path; means supported by said frame means for relatively vertically moving said pallet and said mold assembly to sandwich said core therebetween and form a closed mold cavity; means supported by said frame means for pouring cementitious material over said core and said pallet in said mold cavity to form the block; means supported by said frame means for relatively moving said core and said pallet to separate the core therefrom; and means supported by said frame means for relatively moving said block and pallet and said mold assembly to remove the block from the mold assembly.

Claim 3

Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said longitudinally extending core and said pallet are relatively moved generally horizontally; and said block and said mold assembly are relatively moved generally vertically.

Claim 4

Apparatus as set forth in claim 2 including vibrating means for simultaneously vibrating said mold assembly, longitudinally extending core, and pallet.

Claim 5

The apparatus set forth in claim 1 further including biasing means yieldably but constantly urging said longitudinally extending core upwardly.

Claim 6

The apparatus set forth in claim 1 including means for vibrating the mold assembly to compact said cementitious material; said core moving means including carriage means movable in a longitudinal to-and-fro path of travel; said core being mounted on said carriage means for movement therewith in said longitudinal path of travel and for movement relative thereto in a vertical to-and-fro path of travel; means for longitudinally moving said carriage means in said longitudinal to-and-fro path; and means on the carriage means for vertically moving said core downwardly in said vertical path when said core is in said remote position to move said core to a position below said mold assembly, and movable in a direction away from said core when the core is in said operative position to permit the core to enter the mold assembly.

Claim 7

The apparatus set forth in claim 4 including yieldable means on said carriage means urging said core upwardly, when the means for vertically moving the core moves in a direction away from the core, to move the core into the mold assembly.

Claim 8

The combination defined in claim 1 in which means is provided for vibrating said mold assembly.

Claim 9

The combination defined in claim 7 in which means is provided for isolating said supporting frame means from the vibration of said mold assembly.

Claim 10

The combination defined in claim 8 in which said core is mounted for travel on a longitudinally traveling carriage and supported thereon for vertical movement.

Claim 11

The combination defined in claim 9 in which yieldable means supports said core for vertical movement.

Claim 12

The combination defined in claim 10 in which said yieldable means comprises a spring.

Claim 13

The combination defined in claim 10 in which a fluid pressure operated cylinder assembly is provided on said carriage in engagement with said core in one position thereof for moving said core vertically.

Claim 14

The combination defined in claim 11 in which said cylinder assembly is withdrawable from said core to be out of engagement therewith.

Claim 15

The combination of claim 11 in which said spring is connected to bias said core upwardly as the core is moved beneatH said mold.

Claim 16

Apparatus for forming a cementitious block comprising: supporting frame means; means thereon for forming a mold cavity including a relatively movable mold assembly and a pallet adjacent the lower end thereof for closing the lower end thereof, and a movably mounted longitudinally extending core movable between a removed position and an operative position in which it is disposed between said pallet and said mold assembly when the pallet is in closed position; means supported by said frame means mounting said core for movement in a path longitudinally to a position below said mold assembly, thence upwardly to operative position, thence for longitudinal withdrawal movement, and thence downwardly before repeating the cycle; means supported by said frame means for moving said core in said path; means for moving said pallet to sandwich said core between the pallet and mold assembly when the core is in operative position to form a closed mold cavity; means supported by said frame means for pouring cementitious material over said core and said pallet in said mold cavity to form the block; means supported by said frame means for relatively moving said core and said pallet to separate the core therefrom; and means supported by said frame means for relatively moving said block and said mold assembly to remove the block from the mold assembly.

Claim 17

Apparatus for forming a cementitious block comprising: supporting frame means; means thereon for forming a mold cavity including a relatively movable mold assembly and a pallet adjacent the lower end thereof for closing the lower end thereof, and a movably mounted longitudinally extending core movable between a removed position and an operative position in which it is disposed between said pallet and said mold assembly when the pallet is in closed position; means supported by said frame means mounting said core for movement in a path longitudinally to a position below said mold assembly, thence upwardly to operative position, thence for longitudinal withdrawal movement, and thence downwardly before repeating the cycle; means supported by said frame means for moving said core in said path; means for moving said pallet to sandwich said core between the pallet and mold assembly when the core is in operative position to form a closed mold cavity; means supported by said frame means for pouring cementitious material over said core and said pallet in said mold cavity to form the block; means supported by said frame means for relatively moving said core and said pallet to separate the core therefrom; and means supported by said frame means for relatively moving said block and said mold assembly to remove the block from the mold assembly.

Claim 18

Apparatus for forming a cementitious block comprising: a support framework; means for forming a mold cavity including a mold assembly, a pallet adjacent the lower end thereof for closing the lower end thereof, and a longitudinally extending core mounted for movement between a remote position and an operative position between said pallet and said mold assembly; means for vibrating the mold assembly; carriage means mounted on said framework for movement in a longitudinal to-and-fro path of travel; core support means for supporting said core; means yieldably mounting said core support means and said core on said carriage means for movement relative thereto in to-and-fro vertical paths of travel to isolate the vibration which would otherwise be imparted to said carriage means and framework; means for longitudinally moving said carriage means to move said core between said remote and operative positions; and means engageable with said core support means for moving said core support means and core vertically against the bias of said yieldable mounting means when said core is in said remote position.

Claim 19

Apparatus for forming a cementitious block comprising: a support framework; means for forming a mold cavity including a mold assembly, a pallet adjacent the lower end thereof for closing the lower end thereof, and a longitudinally extending core mounted for movement between a remote position and an operative position between said pallet and said mold assembly; means for vibrating the mold assembly; carriage means mounted on said framework for movement in a longitudinal to-and-fro path of travel; core support means for supporting said core; means yieldably mounting said core support means and said core on said carriage means for movement relative thereto in to-and-fro vertical paths of travel to isolate the vibration which would otherwise be imparted to said carriage means and framework; means for longitudinally moving said carriage means to move said core between said remote and operative positions; and means engageable with said core support means for moving said core support means and core vertically against the bias of said yieldable mounting means when said core is in said remote position.

Claim 20

The apparatus set forth in claim 16 wherein said means for moving the core support means and core vertically is mounted on said support framework and is disengageable from said core support means when said core is in the adjacent position to isolate the vibration which would otherwise be transmitted to the carriage means and support framework.