Molding machine

Claim 2

A molding machine for molding a formable material on a precast floor into a room module having monolithic vertical intersecting walls joined perpendicularly to said floor and having corners at the intersection of said walls, said machine comprising: a. a hoistable frame having a superstructure including panel supporting rail means, b. interior wall forming panels movably suspended from said rail means of said superstructure, i. said interior wall forming panels being movable normal to said floor into a wall molding position within said room module, c. corner forming means including corner forming panels movably suspended from said rail means of said superstructure within said room module for movement normal to said floor into the intersections of said interior wall panels to define the interior corners of said room module when disposed in a molding position, d. exterior wall forming panels movably suspended from said rail means of said superstructure, i. said exterior panels being movable normal to said floor and disposed in spaced cooperative relationship to said interior wall forming panels and said corner panels when disposed in a molding position to derive a wall cavity of a predetermined width for receiving said formable material therebetween to mold said monolithic walls, e. signal responsive interlocking means connected to said frame for sequentially controlling said movement of said corner forming panels, said interior wall forming panels and said exterior forming panels, in a predetermined order into and out of said molding position, i. said signal responsive interlocking means includes interlocking means connected to said frame for interlocking said corner panels, said interior panels and said exterior panels in said molding position independently of said rail means, and f. hoisting means for raising and lowering said frame relative to said floor only when said interior panels, exterior panels and corner panels are disposed out of said molding position.

Claim 3

The invention defined in claim 1 wherein said signal responsive interlocking means includes hydraulic cylinders for moving all of said panels into and out of said molding position.

Claim 4

The invention defined in claim 2 further including tuning means connected between each of said hydraulic cylinders and said panels for eliminating distortion in said panels when disposed in said hydraulic molding position.

Claim 5

The invention defined in claim 1 wherein said hoisting means includes an overhead crane system for transporting said frame into a plurality of molding stations.

Claim 6

The inventioN defined in claim 1 further including vibrating means for vibrating said wall forming panels.

Claim 7

A molding apparatus comprising: a. a frame having a superstructure including panel supporting rail means, b. locating means for positioning said frame in a predetermined position relative to a precast floor, c. corner means including corner forming panels movably suspended in a vertical position on said panel supporting rail means of said superstructure contiguous to said precast floor, i. said corner panels being disposed normal to said precast floor at predetermined corner molding positions to define boundaries of an enclosure on said floor, ii. each of said corner panels being retractable within said boundaries of said enclosure in a stowed position, d. corner moving means connected to said frame for moving each of said corner forming panels on said rail means between said corner molding positions and said stowed position, e. interior wall forming means positioned in cooperative relationship with said floor and said corner means in said molding position to define a continuous wall around said boundaries of said enclosure, i. said interior forming means includes interior forming panels movably suspended from said rail means of said superstructure and contiguous to said floor, ii. said interior wall forming panels being movable within said boundaries between said stowed position and said molding position, f. interior wall moving means connected to said frame for moving said interior wall forming panels between said molding position and said stowed position, g. exterior wall forming means including movable exterior wall forming panels spaced from said corner means and said interior wall forming means to form a cavity the thickness of said contiguous wall to be molded on said boundaries when said exterior wall forming means are disposed in a molding position, i. said exterior panels being movably suspended from said rail means, h. exterior wall moving means connected to said frame for moving said exterior wall forming means outwardly from said interior wall forming means a predetermined distance, i. interlocking means positioned in cooperative relationship with said corner moving means, interior moving means and exterior moving means for interlocking said corner panels, said interior panels and said exterior panels in said molding position independently of said rail means, and j. lifting means connected to said frame for lifting said frame above said molded continuous wall.

Claim 8

A molding apparatus comprising: a. a frame having a superstructure including panel supporting rail means, b. locating means for positioning said frame in a predetermined position relative to a precast floor, c. corner means including corner forming panels movably suspended in a vertical position on said panel supporting rail means of said superstructure contiguous to said precast floor, i. said corner panels being disposed normal to said precast floor at predetermined corner molding positions to define boundaries of an enclosure on said floor, ii. each of said corner panels being retractable within said boundaries of said enclosure in a stowed position, d. corner moving means connected to said frame for moving each of said corner forming panels on said rail means between said corner molding positions and said stowed position, e. interior wall forming means positioned in cooperative relationship with said floor and said corner means in said molding position to define a continuous wall around said boundaries of said enclosure, i. said interior forming means includes interior forming panels movably suspended from said rail means of said superstructure and contiguous to said floor, ii. said interior wall forming panels being movable within said boundaries between said stowed position and said molding position, f. interior wall moving means connected to said frame for moving said interior wall forming panels between said molding position and said stowed position, g. exterior wall forming means including movable exterior wall forming panels spaced from said corner means and said interior wall forming means to form a cavity the thickness of said contiguous wall to be molded on said boundaries when said exterior wall forming means are disposed in a molding position, i. said exterior panels being movably suspended from said rail means, h. exterior wall moving means connected to said frame for moving said exterior wall forming means outwardly from said interior wall forming means a predetermined distance, i. interlocking means positioned in cooperative relationship with said corner moving means, interior moving means and exterior moving means for interlocking said corner panels, said interior panels and said exterior panels in said molding position independently of said rail means, and j. lifting means connected to said frame for lifting said frame above said molded continuous wall.

Claim 9

The invention defined in claim 6 wherein said wall forming means further includes a wall facing means on any one of said interior and exterior wall forming panels contiguous to said monolithic walls for forming simulated designs on said monolithic walls.

Claim 10

In a molding machine for molding an offset corner in a modular unit having at least two walls made of a formable material on a floor, the combination comprising: a. a frame having a superstructure, b. a first exterior wall forming panel movably mounted on said superstructure, c. an exterior corner forming panel having a contour corresponding to said offset corner pivotally mounted on said first exterior wall forming panel, d. a second exterior wall forming panel movably mounted on said superstructure and coacting with said exterior corner forming panel to define a continuous exterior wall panel, e. an interior corner forming panel means having a corner panel movably suspended from said superstructure, i. said corner panel being movable into and out of said offset corner on a rail connected to said superstructure, and f. lifting means for lifting said frame above said modular unit to release said modular unit from said machine.

Claim 11

In a molding machine for molding an offset corner in a modular unit having at least two walls made of a formable material on a floor, the combination comprising: a. a frame having a superstructure, b. a first exterior wall forming panel movably mounted on said superstructure, c. an exterior corner forming panel having a contour corresponding to said offset corner pivotally mounted on said first exterior wall forming panel, d. a second exterior wall forming panel movably mounted on said superstructure and coacting with said exterior corner forming panel to define a continuous exterior wall panel, e. an interior corner forming panel means having a corner panel movably suspended from said superstructure, i. said corner panel being movable into and out of said offset corner on a rail connected to said superstructure, and f. lifting means for lifting said frame above said modular unit to release said modular unit from said machine.