Patent ID: 6425751
Filing Date: 2002-07-30
Classification: B28B

Abstract:
In apparatus for molding aggregate blocks, comprising:a mold having a mold cavity open at a top and bottom of said mold along an axis thereof; a top plate overlaying said mold having an opening therein aligned with said open top of said mold cavity for accommodating the charge of moldable aggregate block material into said cavity through said open top; a bottom pallet supported for movement into operative engagement with said open bottom of said mold for closing the bottom of said cavity to support the moldable material within said cavity during molding; a stripper head supported above said mold for movement into said cavity through said open top to engage and shape the top of the material in the mold; at least one retractable liner member of said mold having an inner shape-imparting surface supported for engagement with a side of the charge of moldable block material during molding when in a first use position and movable out of engagement with the block material following molding in a direction laterally of said mold axis to a retracted position beneath said top plate outwardly of said top plate opening for releasing the molded block, said shape-imparting surface of said liner member having at least one problem area thereof susceptible to the accumulation of the moldable block material between mold cycles; the improvement wherein: at least one fluid outlet is provided on said top plate laterally outwardly of said top plate opening in position to communicate with said problem area of said liner member when in said retracted position and operative for directing a flow of pressurized clean-out fluid at said problem area to remove any such accumulated block material from said liner member before return movement to said use position.