Apparatus for molding layered concrete slabs

Claim 1

An apparatus for the manufacture of molded concrete slabs comprising in combination: 1. a first hopper for holding a relatively small-diameter concrete making material adapted to produce a decorative surface, the first hopper having a. a first portion for receiving the material and b. a tunnel-shaped second portion extending from the first hopper portion, the second hopper portion defining a first opening extending therealong, 2. a second hopper for holding a concrete making material of larger diameter than the material in the first hopper, the second hopper having a. a first portion adjacent the first portion of the first hopper and b. a second portion on each side of the tunnel-shaped portion of the first hopper, the second hopper portion defining two second openings extending alongside the first opening on each side thereof and being substantially wider and coplanar therewith, 3. a screw conveyor disposed in the tunnel-shaped second portion of the first hopper and arranged to convey the small-diameter concrete making material from the first portion of the first hopper into the second portion thereof whereby the material is delivered to the first opening, 4. a mold having an upper opening mating in area with the total area of the first and second openings in the hoppers, 5. an auxiliary frame having an upper and lower end, a. the frame ends having openings mating in area with that of the openings in the mold and in the hoppers, and the frame comprising b. two partitions defining a central portion for alignment with the tunnel-shaped second portion of the first hopper and two outer portions for alignment with the second openings in the second hopper, 6. a platform disposed to support the auxiliary frame movably between a first position wherein the portions of the frame are in alignment with the openings in the hopper and a second position wherein the portions of the frame are in alignment with the opening in the mold, and 7. a shutter member disposed to open the openings in the hoppers in the first position of the frame and to close the openings in the hoppers in the second position of the frame, the materials in the hoppers passing through the openings therein into the aligned portions of the auxiliary frame to fill the same when the shutter member opens the openings in the hoppers, and the materials in the portions of the auxiliary frame passing into the mold to fill the same while the shutter member closes the openings in the hoppers.

Claim 2

An apparatus for the manufacture of molded concrete slabs comprising in combination: 1. a first hopper for holding a relatively small-diameter concrete making material adapted to produce a decorative surface, the first hopper having a. a first portion for receiving the material and b. a tunnel-shaped second portion extending from the first hopper portion, the second hopper portion defining a first opening extending therealong, 2. a second hopper for holding a concrete making material of larger diameter than the material in the first hopper, the second hopper having a. a first portion adjacent the first portion of the first hopper and b. a second portion on each side of the tunnel-shaped portion of the first hopper, the second hopper portion defining two second openings extending alongside the first opening on each side thereof and being substantially wider and coplanar therewith, 3. a screw conveyor disposed in the tunnel-shaped second portion of the first hopper and arranged to convey the small-diameter concrete making material from the first portion of the first hopper into the second portion thereof whereby the material is delivered to the first opening, 4. a mold having an upper opening mating in area with the total area of the first and second openings in the hoppers, 5. an auxiliary frame having an upper and lower end, a. the frame ends having openings mating in area with that of the openings in the mold and in the hoppers, and the frame comprising b. two partitions defining a central portion for alignment with the tunnel-shaped second portion of the first hopper and two outer portions for alignment with the second openings in the second hopper, 6. a platform disposed to support the auxiliary frame movably between a first position wherein the portions of the frame are in alignment with the openings in the hopper and a second position wherein the portions of the frame are in alignment with the opening in the mold, and 7. a shutter member disposed to open the openings in the hoppers in the first position of the frame and to close the openings in the hoppers in the second position of the frame, the materials in the hoppers passing through the openings therein into the aligned portions of the auxiliary frame to fill the same when the shutter member opens the openings in the hoppers, and the materials in the portions of the auxiliary frame passing into the mold to fill the same while the shutter member closes the openings in the hoppers.