Machine for the production and cleaning of exposed aggregate slabs

Claim 2

In a machine for making exposed aggregate slabs of the type wherein at least the front side of each slab is formed by a layer of aggregate particles held together by a hardenable cementing agent, a combination comprising a form for reception of charges including particles of aggregate and cementing agent; a plurality of base plates, each including a top portion of elastomeric material; transporting means for moving said base plates along an endless path comprising a plurality of sections including a slab forming section where successive base plates register with and constitute the bottom wall of said form, and at least one second section; a conveyance for moving said form along said slab forming section and said transporting means including a drive which receives motion from said conveyance and which is arranged to move said base plates along said slab forming section and said second section of said path; means for feeding charges of cementing agent into said form and particles of aggregate onto that base plate which registers with said form so that the particles form a layer resting on the top portion of said registering base plate; compacting means including a press and agitating means actuatable to compact the charge in said form so that the charge is converted into a slab resting on said registering base plate; a supply of pallets; transfer means actuatable to transfer slabs from said base plates onto said pallets; and a cleaning unit arranged to clean the front sides of successive slabs on said pallets.

Claim 3

A combination as defined in claim 1, wherein said drive includes at least one flexible element having ends secured to said conveyance and a stretch extending along said slab forming section, said stretch being provided with entraining means for moving successive base plates in a predetermined direction in response to movement of said conveyance in one of two opposite directions.

Claim 4

A combination as defined in claim 1, wherein said drive comprises beams provided on said conveyance and entraining elements provided on said beams and arranged to move base plates along said slab forming section in response to movement of said conveyance in one of two opposite directions.

Claim 5

In a machine for making exposed aggregate slabs of the type wherein at least the front side of each slab is formed by a layer of aggregate particles held together by a hardenable cementing agent, a combination comprising a form for reception of charges including particles of aggregate and cementing agent; a plurality of base plates, respectively movable into registry with and then constituting the bottom wall of said form, each of said base plates including a top portion of elastomeric material; means for forming a slab on each base plate while the same registers with said form; a supply of pallets; transfer means actuatable to transfer slabs from said base plates onto said pallets in upright position so that one of several edge faces of a thus deposited slab rests on the respective pallet; a cleaning unit arranged to clean the front sides of successive slabs on said pallets and comprising means for directing against said front sides of successive slabs sprays of pressurized fluid; and shielding means for shielding the remaining sides of such slabs from said fluid and comprising a pair of gripper arms having strips moveable into engagement with two of the other edge faces of a slab whose front side is cleaned by pressurized fluid.

Claim 6

In a machine for making exposed aggregate slabs of the type wherein at least the front side of each slab is formed by a layer of aggregate particles held together by a hardenable cementing agent, a combination comprising a form for reception of charges including particles of aggregate and cementing agent; a plurality of base plates, respectively movable into registry with and then constituting the bottom wall of said form, each of said base plates including a top portion of elastomeric material; means for forming a slab on each base plate while the same registers with said form; a supply of pallets; transfer means actuatable to transfer slabs from said base plates onto said pallets in upright position so that one of several edge faces of a thus deposited slab rests on the respective pallet; a cleaning unit arranged to clean the front sides of successive slabs on said pallets and comprising means for directing against said front sides of successive slabs sprays of pressurized fluid; and shielding means for shielding the remaining sides of such slabs from said fluid and comprising a pair of gripper arms having strips moveable into engagement with two of the other edge faces of a slab whose front side is cleaned by pressurized fluid.

Claim 7

A combination as defined in claim 4, wherein said arms are pivotable about vertical axes and said shielding means further comprises means for pivoting said arms so as to move said strips into and from engagement with the respective edge faces of a slab therebetween.

Claim 8

A combination as defined in claim 4, wherein each of said gripper arms further comprises a plate-like shield arranged to overlie portions of slabs adjacent to that slab whose front side is cleaned by pressurized fluid.

Claim 9

In a machine for making exposed aggregate slabs of the type wherein at least the front side of each slab is formed by a layer of aggregate particles which are held together by a hardenable cementing agent, a combination comprising, a form for reception of charges including particles of aggregate and cementing agent; a series of base plates respectively movable into register with and then constituting the bottom wall of the form, each of said base plates including a top portion consisting of elastomeric material; means for feeding charges of cementing agent into said form and particles of aggregate onto the base plates so that the particles form a layer resting on said top portion, said feeding means comprising discrete first and second feeders for aggregate particles and cementing agent, said first feeder comprising a frame, a gate, movable into register with said frame to constitute the bottom wall thereof, means for moving said gate, and a conveyance for delivering metered quantities of aggregate particles into said frame and onto said gate, said base plates being movable seriatim in alignment with and below said frame and said gate to receive metered quantities of aggregate parTicles in response to movement of said gate from register with said frame whereby said particles descend onto said top portions of elastomeric material of the respective base plates; compacting means including a press and agitating means actuatable to compact the charge in said form so that the charge is converted into a slab resting on the respective base plate; a supply of pallets; transfer means actuatable to transfer slabs from said base plates onto said pallets; and a cleaning unit arranged to clean the front sides of successive slabs on said pallets.

Claim 10

In a machine for making exposed aggregate slabs of the type wherein at least the front side of each slab is formed by a layer of aggregate particles which are held together by a hardenable cementing agent, a combination comprising, a form for reception of charges including particles of aggregate and cementing agent; a series of base plates respectively movable into register with and then constituting the bottom wall of the form, each of said base plates including a top portion consisting of elastomeric material; means for feeding charges of cementing agent into said form and particles of aggregate onto the base plates so that the particles form a layer resting on said top portion, said feeding means comprising discrete first and second feeders for aggregate particles and cementing agent, said first feeder comprising a frame, a gate, movable into register with said frame to constitute the bottom wall thereof, means for moving said gate, and a conveyance for delivering metered quantities of aggregate particles into said frame and onto said gate, said base plates being movable seriatim in alignment with and below said frame and said gate to receive metered quantities of aggregate parTicles in response to movement of said gate from register with said frame whereby said particles descend onto said top portions of elastomeric material of the respective base plates; compacting means including a press and agitating means actuatable to compact the charge in said form so that the charge is converted into a slab resting on the respective base plate; a supply of pallets; transfer means actuatable to transfer slabs from said base plates onto said pallets; and a cleaning unit arranged to clean the front sides of successive slabs on said pallets.

Claim 11

A combination as defined in claim 7, wherein said agitating means comprises at least one vibrator mounted on said form.

Claim 12

A combination as defined in claim 7, wherein said press includes a ram movable into and from compressing engagement with charges in said form, said agitating means comprising at least one vibrator mounted on said ram.

Claim 13

A combination as defined in claim 7, wherein said second feeder is actuatable to introduce into said form metered quantities of cementing agent subsequent to actuation of said first feeder so that the cementing agent is deposited onto a layer of aggregate particles on said top portion of said base plate.

Claim 14

A combination as defined in claim 7, wherein said form is movable with the respective base plate between a first position of registry with at least one of said feeders and a second position of registry with said press.

Claim 15

A combination as defined in claim 11, wherein said form is located in a horizontal plane during movement between and in said first and second positions thereof.

Claim 16

A combination as defined in claim 11, wherein said one feeder is said first feeder and said form registers with said second feeder in said second position thereof.

Claim 17

A combination as defined in claim 11, further comprising a conveyance arranged to move said form between said first and second positions.

Claim 18

A combination as defined in claim 7, and transporting means for moving said base plates along an endless path including a portion where successive blase plates register with and constitute the bottom walls of said form.

Claim 19

A combination as defined in claim 15, wherein said endless path comprises a plurality of sections including a slab forming section wherein successive base plates are moved into register with said form to support charges of aggregate particles and cementing agent prior to, during and subsequent to actuation of said compacting means.

Claim 20

A combination as defined in claim 15, wherein said endless path comprises a plurality of sections including a slab forming section, a second section extending in parallelism with said slab forming section, and two additional sections along one of which the base plates advance from said slab forming section to said second section and along the other of which the base plates advance from said second section to said slab forming section.

Claim 21

A combination as defined in claim 17, wherein said transporting means comprises drive means operable to move said base plates along said sections of said path.

Claim 22

A combination as defined in claim 18, wherein said drive means includes discrete first and second drives for moving base plates along said additional sections.

Claim 23

A combination as defined in claim 19, wherein said first and second drives are independently operable chain drives.

Claim 24

A combination as defined in claim 7, wherein the cross-sectional area of said form exceeds the cross-sectional area of said frame.

Claim 25

A combination as defined in claim 7, further comprising means for lifting successive base plates into register with said frame.

Claim 26

A combination as defined in claim 7, further comprising means for moving said form between a position of alignment with said compacting means and a further position and including a second conveyance supporting said form, and means for lifting successive base plates into register with said frame, said means for lifting Being connected to and being movable with said second conveyance.

Claim 27

A combination as defined in claim 7, wherein said cleaning unit is movable in a horizontal plane.

Claim 28

A combination as defined in claim 7, wherein said cleaning unit comprises means for directing against the front sides of successively produced slabs sprays of a pressurized fluid and further comprising means for shielding the remaining sides of such slabs from said fluid.

Claim 29

A combination as defined in claim 7, wherein said transfer means is arranged to deposit slabs on said pallets in upright position so that one of several edge faces of a thus deposited slab rests on the respective pallet, said shielding means including means for covering the other edge faces of the slab whose front side is cleaned by pressurized fluid.

Claim 30

A combination as defined in claim 25, wherein said shielding means comprises a cover movable to and from a predetermined position in which it overlies the slab whose front side is cleaned by pressurized fluid.

Claim 31

A combination as defined in claim 27, wherein said cover has a front portion which is flush with the front side of the slab which is being cleaned by pressurized fluid in said predetermined position of said cover.

Claim 32

A combination as defined in claim 28, wherein said front portion of said cover includes a shroud extending vertically upwardly from the front side of the slab whose front side is being cleaned by pressurized fluid in said predetermined position of said cover.

Claim 33

A combination as defined in claim 27, wherein said cover is pivotable about a horizontal axis and said shielding means further comprises means for pivoting said cover about said axis.

Claim 34

A combination as defined in claim 26, wherein said means for covering includes sealing strips consisting of elasomeric material.

Claim 35

A combination as defined in claim 25, further comprising a first frame supporting said shielding means and a second frame supporting said cleaning unit, one of said frames being movable relative to the other of said frames.

Claim 36

A combination as defined in claim 7, wherein each of said pallets has a polygonal outline and includes a plurality of corner portions provided with plates having openings to facilitate stacking of loaded pallets.

Claim 37

A combination as defined in claim 7, wherein said cleaning unit comprises a rotary brush.