DEVICE FOR MANUFACTURING STONES

Abstract: Device for manufacturing stones, provided with a frame, with a mould (4) having boundary walls (6,7) defining moulding rooms inside the mould, with a stamp (5) movable up-and-down arranged above the mould (4) and with a table (2) arranged under the mould (4). Filling pieces (9) are movable between a first position, in which they are located under the mould and whereby, seen in top view, at least parts of the filling pieces (9) project from the walls for forming recesses, and a second position, in which the filling pieces are located beside the mould, seen in top view. Extensions (16) are connected to the filling pieces (9), said extensions (16) being movable forward and backward and co-operating with guide means (17) for guiding the filling pieces (9), whereby the extensions (16) project from the mould in the first position.

Description: The invention relates to a device for manufacturing stones, provided with a frame, with a mould having boundary walls defining moulding rooms inside the mould, with a stamp movable up-and-down arranged above the mould and with a table arranged under the mould, as well as with filling pieces which are movable between a first position, in which they are located under boundary walls and whereby, seen in plan view, at least parts of the filling pieces project from said boundary walls for forming recesses, and a second position, in which the filling pieces are located beside the mould, seen in plan view. Such a device is known from the European patent application 0214684. As is i.a. described in said patent application it is possible, using such filling pieces, to form bevelled edges or so-called chamfers in stones manufactured in an upright position in the mould by keeping the filling pieces in the first position during compression of the mass forming the stones, whilst after forming the stones and before pressing the stones out of the mould said filling pieces are put in the second position, so that subsequently the stones can be pressed out of the mould by the filling pieces without impediment. With regard to the operation of such a mould and the way of manufacturing stones while using such a mould reference is made to the contents of the above-mentioned European patent application 0214684, whose contents are considered to be part of the present application by this reference. In itself this known device is satisfactory, but in some cases putting the filling pieces in their correct position under the mould may present difficulties. From the US patent specification 3,679,340 there is furthermore known a similar construction provided with filling pieces, which are each connected, by means of gussets, with one end to a rigidly constructed supporting construction in order to oppose deviations in the position of the filling pieces aimed at as well as possible. Not only does this lead to a comparatively heavy construction, but also there is a great risk of crack formation in such a rigid construction caused by vibrations generated for compressing the material in the mould. US-A-4,427,355 discloses a core puller assembly to be used in conjuction with a mould assembly whereby by means of core puller rods there can be formed grooves in concrete blocks. In operation the core puller rods are arranged between and at some distance from boundary walls of the mould assembly. The purpose of the invention is to obtain an improved guiding of the filling pieces, such that it can be ensured in an effective manner that in particular in the first position the filling pieces are arranged in the correct position relatively to the mould esp. to the boundary walls for forming the stones in the mould in the correct manner. According to the invention this can be achieved because extensions are connected to the filling pieces, said extensions being movable forward and backward with the filling pieces and co-operating with guide means for guiding the filling pieces, whereby the extensions project from the mould in the first position and in the second position of the filling pieces the extensions are at least for the largest part located under a wall of the mould, whereby the extensions have such a section that they do not project in horizontal direction from the relevant boundary walls of the mould. By means of such extensions a correct guiding of the filling pieces relatively to the mould can be ensured at all times, whilst in the second position of the filling pieces the extensions do not interfere with pressing the stones out of the mould. The invention will be further explained hereinafter with reference to a few possible embodiments of the construction according to the invention diagrammatically illustrated in the accompanying figures. Fig.1 is a diagrammatic view of a part of a device according to the invention. Fig.2 illustrates on a larger scale the arrangement of a pair of guide walls with filling pieces arranged thereunder. Fig.3 is a section of the lower part of a further embodiment of a guide wall with a filling piece co-operating therewith. Fig.4 is a section of the lower part of a further embodiment of a guide wall with a filling piece co-operating therewith. Figs.5-8 illustrate further possible embodiments fo filling pieces. Fig.9 diagrammatically illustrates a further embodiment of a device according to the invention. Fig 10 diagrammatically illustrates a possible arrangement of filling pieces with extensions. Fig 11 diagrammatically illustrates a further possibility of an embodiment of a device according to the invention. Fig 12 diagrammatically illustrates a top view of a part of fig 11. Fig 13 diagrammatically illustrates a mould with various possible embodiments of filling pieces in section. Fig 14 diagrammatically illustrates a side view of further embodiment of a mould with filling pieces. Fig 15 is a top view of a filling piece used in the mould according to fig 14. Fig 16 is a side view of fig 14. Fig 17 is a section of fig 16, seen according to the line XVIII - XVIII. Fig 19 is a larger-scale view of fig 14, seen according to the arrow XIX - in fig 14. As also described in the above-mentioned European patent application 0214684 the device also comprises a.o. a table 2 movable up-and-down by means of setting cylinders 1. Plates 3 can successively be supplied, by means of means not shown, to said table, on which plates the products to be formed, more in particular stones, can be formed using a mould 4 arranged above the table 2. The moulding mass for the stones can be compressed in the mould by means of a stamp 5 arranged above the mould and being movable in vertical direction, whereby the mould and/or the stamp can be set into vibration. The mould is subdivided into moulding rooms 8 by means of boundary walls 6 and 7 extending in longitudinal and transverse direction, the shape of said moulding rooms corresponding with the shape of the stones to be manufactured. Under the boundary walls 6 extending in one direction there are provided filling pieces 9 extending under said boundary walls 6, seen in fig 2, which filling pieces have a truncated conical cross-section, as appears from fig 2, and project with their triangular ends from both sides of the boundary walls 6. The various filling pieces 9 extending parallel to each other are connected with one end to a connecting plate 10, which is attached, by means of a pair of connecting plates 11 and 12 made of a resilient material, e.g. rubber, to a strip-shaped connecting plate 13 corresponding with the strip-shaped connecting plate 10. The plate 13 is fitted to the end of a piston rod 14, which is fitted to a piston located in a Setting cylinder 15. It will be apparent that instead of the plates 11 and 12 also other pivoting and/or flexible connecting means may be provided. Also it will be possible that several setting cylinders 15 are provided. With the embodiment illustrated in figs 1 and 2 each filling piece 9 is provided, at its end facing away from the strip-shaped connecting plate 10, with an extension 16 located in the extension of the filling piece, which in this embodiment is formed by a round rod 16. Of course it will also be possible to use rods having an unround section, e.g. oval or quadrangular rods. At the side of the setting cylinder 15 facing away from the mould 4 each extension 16 is guided in a guide bush 17 fixed to the frame (not shown) of the moulding device. A appears in particular from fig 2 the extension 16 thereby has such a section that it is not wider than the thickness of a partition wall 6, at least measured in horizontal direction. As is also described in the above-mentioned European patent application 0214684 the filling pieces 9 will extend under the partition walls 6 along the entire length of said partition walls during filling of the mould 4 with the mass from which the stones are to be manufactured and during compression of said mass by means of the stamp 5, as a result of which recesses in the shape of bevelled edges will be formed at the bottom ends of the stones by means of the parts of the filling pieces 9 projecting from the partition walls 6, seen in plan view. After forming the stones the filling pieces 9 are moved to the left, seen in fig 1, by means of the setting cylinder 15, such that said filling pieces are completely retracted from their position under the partition walls 6 in order to enable pressing the stones formed in an upright position and resting on the plate 3 downward out of the mould 4 while the table 2 and the stamp 5 are moved downwards. During the retraction to the left, seen in fig 1, of the filling pieces 9 the extensions formed by the rods 16 and connected to said filling pieces are taken along, whereby said extensions are moved in the bushes 17 guiding said extensions 16. The construction is thereby such that in the completely retracted left-hand position of the filling pieces 9 the ends of the extensions 16 remain inside the guide bushes 17. Because of this it is ensured that when subsequently the filling pieces 9 are moved back to the right the filling pieces are guided under the partition walls 6 in the correct manner again, so that when the stones are being formed the filling pieces always assume their correct position relatively to said partition walls. As will be apparent from fig 2 the extensions 16 will be located under the partition walls 6 in the position where the filling pieces 9 are completely retracted to the left, seen in fig 1, and will thereby not project from the partition walls 6, seen in plan view, so that said extensions 16 do not interfere with pressing the stones downwards out of the mould. It is noted that of course it will also be possible to connect the setting cylinder 15 to the ends of the extensions facing away from the filling pieces 9, instead of connecting it to the ends of the filling pieces 9 facing away from the extensions 16, so that then the filling pieces 9 will be pushed away from and pulled under the mould respectively by means of the setting cylinder, via the extensions 16. In the embodiment illustrated in fig 3 the filling piece 9 is provided with an upright rib 18, which has a rectangular section in this embodiment and is accommodated in a correspondingly shaped groove 19 provided in the bottom edge of the boundary wall 6. Said rib 18 will have an extension projecting past an outer end of the filling piece 9, which extension will serve as a guide means for the relevant filling piece, in a similar manner as the extension 16. Said extension of the rib 18 projecting from the filling piece 9 may also be guided, in a similar manner as the extension 16 by means of the bush 17, in a bush fixed to the frame. It will also be conceivable, however, that said extension projecting from the filling piece 9 already provides sufficient guiding in the groove 19 of the boundary wall 6, so that it may be decided not to provide such an additional guiding corresponding with the guide bush 17. In order to obtain a better support of the guide rib thereby it may e.g. be constructed dovetailed, as is indicated for the guide rib 18′ in fig 4. because of this it is prevented that the guide rib 18′ has a tendency to give way downwards. Of course many variations to these embodiments of filling pieces and extensions will be possible. In the embodiment according to fig 5 the rib 18″, also forming an extension, being guided in a partition wall 6 and being connected to the filling piece 9, thus has a more or less keyhole-shaped section. In the embodiment according to fig 6 said ridge 18′′′ has a T-shaped section. In the embodiment according to fig 7 the filling piece 9 with a rib part 9′ located thereabove has a triangular section, whereby the upper part 9′ forming the rib, which is guided in a correspondingly shaped recess in the bottom edge of the wall 6, will project from said filling piece. In the embodiment according to fig 8 a rib 18 IV , connected to the filling piece and having a rectangular section, bears with its upper side against the bottom edge of the wall 6 and is guided through said bottom edge and boundary planes of the walls 7 being perpendicular to the wall 6, said boundary planes being shaped to correspond with the section of the filling piece 9 and the rib 18 IV . The embodiment of the device according to the invention illustrated in fig 9 largely corresponds with the embodiment illustrated in fig 1 and corresponding parts are therefore provided with the same reference numbers in both figures. In this embodiment there are provided extensions 20, which are each connected with one end to a filling piece 9 and with their other end to a joint strip-shaped connecting plate 21. The strip-shaped connecting plate is fitted to the end of a piston rod 22, which is connected to a piston arranged in a setting cylinder 23. The connecting pieces may e.g. be formed by rods but also by flexible cables or the like. In this embodiment use may be made of single-action setting cylinders, whereby the setting cylinder 15, in the manner described above, will retract the filling pieces 9 from under the mould for removing the stones from the mould, whereby the extensions 20 will be located under the boundary walls 6, as will be apparent from the above. Of course the extensions 20 are again constructed so thereby, that they do not project from the boundary walls, seen in top view. After the stones have been removed from the mould the filling pieces may be pulled under the partition walls 6 again by means of a single-action setting cylinder 15. Given a correct synchronisation it will also be possible to use double-action setting cylinders 15 and 23. Of course it will again be possible here, if considered necessary, to use several setting cylinders 15 and/or 23. As is further illustrated in this fig 9 further guide means 24 for the filling pieces 9 may be arranged near the mould, in which guide means said filling pieces are displaceable in their longitudinal direction. It will be apparent that many more additions and/or alterations to the possible embodiments of the construction according to the invention described above will be possible. Thus fig 10 illustrates an embodiment whereby rod-shaped filling pieces 25 are fixed with one end to a carrier 26 extending perpendicularly to the longitudinal direction of said filling pieces 25, which carrier is movable forward and backward in the longitudinal direction of the filling pieces 25 by means of setting cylinders 27, in a manner similar to the one described above. The connection between the filling pieces 25 and the carrier 26 and/or the connection between the carrier 26 and the setting cylinders 27 will preferably be flexible and/or pivotable thereby, as described with reference to the preceding embodiments. The filling pieces 25 are provided with extensions 28, which are connected with their ends facing away from the filling pieces 25 to a carrier 29 extending transversely to the longitudinal direction of said extensions. Bushes 30 are fitted to the ends of the carrier, which serve as guides and are slidable on rods or shafts 31 extending parallel to the longitudinal direction of the filling pieces 25. In the above embodiments the guide means comprise bush-shaped means, in which the filling pieces and/or extensions are slidable in their longitudinal direction. It will be apparent, however, that it will also be possible to guide the extensions and/or the filling pieces with guide wheels contacting the outer circumference of the extensions and/or the filling pieces. The embodiment of the construction according to the invention illustrated in figs 11 and 12 largely corresponds with the device illustrated in fig 1 and corresponding parts are therefore provided with the same reference numbers in the various figures. In this embodiment each filling piece 9 is provided with an extension 32, which projects from the mould 4 in the position illustrated in fig 11 in which the filling pieces are located under the mould 4, the co-operates thereby with a guide means 33, which, as will be apparent from the figs 11 and 12, is provided with a cavity for accommodating the extension 32, whereby the section of said cavity gradually becomes smaller in the direction in which the extension is inserted into the relevant cavity when moving the filling piece 9 under the mould 4 (moving to the right, seen in figs 11 and 12). Such an embodiment is particularly suitable for use with a mould 4, whereby filling pieces 34 extend parallel to and, seen in top view, between boundary walls 6 of the mould 4 (fig 13). Such moulds are e.g. used for manufacturing stones 35, which are provided with a recess at one end, the shape of said recess corresponding with the shape of a filling piece 34, whilst at the other end there is located a projection 36 having a correspondingly shaped section. As will be apparent from fig 13 thereby such a filling piece may have an arbitrary section, whilst it will also be possible that more than one filling piece extends between a pair of partition walls 6, as indicated in the left-hand part of fig 13. In the embodiment according to fig 14 U-shaped sliding blocks 37 are fixed to the mould 4 on opposed end walls 7, by means of bolts 38 for guiding filling pieces 9 V , which are provided, in a similar manner as in the embodiment according to fig 3, with upright ribs 18 V forming one unit therewith, said ribs being slidable in corresponding grooves provided in the partition walls 6, as will be apparent in particular from fig 19. The filling pieces 9 V and the guide ribs 18 V are at one end connected to a connecting piece 39 forming one unit therewith (figs 15, 16), said connecting piece being provided with a bore 40 for accommodating a pin by means of which the filling piece may be connected to a setting cylinder for moving the filling piece in its longitudinal direction relatively to the mould 4 in the manner described above. In this embodiment the filling piece is provided with an extension 16 V forming one unit therewith, said extension having a T-shaped section, as appears in particular from fig 18 and being shaped such that the vertical leg of said extension piece 16 V has the same dimensions in cross section as the guide rib 18 V , whilst the height of the horizontal leg is equal to the height of the filling piece 9 V and the width of the horizontal leg is equal to or slightly smaller than the width of a boundary wall 6. Because of this embodiment of the extension 16 a particularly solid construction of this extension is obtained, whilst also when the filling piece 9 V is retracted from under the mould 4 the rooms located directly under the partition walls 6 will remain filled by the horizontally extending legs of the extensions 16 V having a T-shaped section. Fig 14 illustrates the filling piece 9 with the extension 16 V forming one unit therewith in the position in which the filling pieces are located under the partition walls in a position suitable for forming stones provided with bevelled edges. As will be apparent from fig 14 the extension 16 V projecting from the mould 4 is thereby caught between a pair of freely rotatable rolls 41 and 42 fixed to the frame of the mould, said rolls being located above and under the extension respectively. Furthermore the construction is made such that when the filling pieces 9 V are retracted from under the walls 6 the right-hand end, seen in fig 14, of the extension 16 V will still be supported by the slide block located most to the right in fig 14. Thus many variations to and combinations of the above embodiments will be possible within the spirit and scope of the invention. Thus the above-mentioned European patent application 0214684 e.g. substantially relates to a device whereby the mould 4, except for the fact that it can be set into vibration, has a fixed arrangement relatively to the frame. It will be apparent, however, that the construction according to the present invention can also be used with a device whereby the mould is movable up-and-down relatively to the frame of the device, whereby the construction will have been made such that the filling pieces, the extensions of said filling pieces and the guides can also move up-and-down along with the up-and-down movable mould.

Claims: 1. Device for manufacturing stones, provided with a frame, with a mould (4) having boundary walls (6, 7) defining moulding rooms (8) inside the mould (4), with a stamp (5) movable up-and-down arranged above the mould (4) and with a table (2) arranged under the mould (4), as well as with filling pieces (9, 25, 9 V ) which are movable between a first position, in which they are located under boundary walls (6) and whereby, seen in plan view, at least parts of the filling pieces (9, 25, 9 V ) project from said boundary walls (6) for forming recesses, and a second position, in which the filling pieces are located beside the mould (4), seen in plan view, characterised in that extensions (16, 20, 28, 32, 16 V ) are connected to the filling pieces (9, 25, 9 V ), said extensions (16, 20, 28, 32, 16 V ) being movable forward and backward with the filling pieces and co-operating with guide means (18, 18″, 18′′′, 18 V ) for guiding the filling pieces (9, 25, 9 V ), whereby the extensions (16, 20, 28, 32, 16 V ) project from the mould (4) in the first position and in the second position of the filling pieces (9, 25, 9 V ) the extensions (16, 20, 28, 32, 16 V ) are at least for the larger part located under a wall (6) of the mould (4), whereby the extensions (16, 20, 28, 32, 16 V ) have such a section that they do not project in horizontal direction from the relevant boundary walls (6) of the mould (4). 2. Device according to claim 1, characterised in that the extensions (16), at the side of the mould (4) facing away from the side of the mould where the filling pieces (9) are present in the second position, are guided in guiding means (17) fixed to the frame of the device. 3. Device according to claim 2, characterised in that the extensions (16) have such a length that these extensions (16) are guided through the guiding means (17) over their entire stroke between the first and the second position. 4. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the extensions (16) form part of ribs (18) fixed to the filling pieces (9), said ribs (18) being guided in grooves (19) provided at the bottom sides of the boundary walls (6). 5. Device according claim 4, characterised in that, seen in cross-section, part of a rib (18′, 18″, 18′′′) guided in a recess of a boundary wall (6) is constructed wider than a part of the relevant rib located therebelow. 6. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that a guide means (33) for the free end of an extension (32) is arranged beside the mould (4), said guide means (33) being provided with a recess for accommodating the relevant end, whereby the size of the section of the recess gradually diminishes in the inserting direction of the extension. 7. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that setting cylinders (15, 23) are arranged on both sides of the mould (4), whereby the ends of the filling pieces (9) facing away from the extensions (20) are connected to the setting cylinder(s) (15) arranged on the one side and the ends of the extensions (20) facing away from the filling pieces (9) are connected to the setting cylinder(s) (23) arranged on the other side. 8. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the filling pieces (25) and/or the extensions (28) are at one end connected to a carrier (26, 29) extending transversely to the direction of movement of the filling pieces, said carrier being provided with guides (30) at its ends. 9. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that on both sides of the mould (4) there are provided guides (37) for the filling pieces (9 V ) and the extensions (16 V ). 10. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that an extension (16 V ) has a T-shaped section. 11. Device according to claim 10, characterised in that a section of a vertical leg of the extension (16 V ) is equal to the section of a rib (18 V ) fixed to the filling piece (9 V ) and located in the extensions of the relevant leg. 12. Device according to claims 10 or 11, characterised in that the width of the horizontal leg of the extension (16 V ) is at least substantially equal to the thickness of a partition wall (6) of the mould (4) and the height of the horizontal leg is at least substantially equal to the height of a filling piece (9 V ). 13. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that slide blocks (37) carrying the filling pieces (9 V ) and its extension (18 V ) respectively are fixed to two end walls (7) of the mould (4) extending perpendicularly to the longitudinal direction of a filling pieces (9 V ).

Inventors: KLEIN, WILLEM, ROOK, CORNELIS
Applicants: GEBROEDERS ROOK BEHEER B.V.
Application year: 1988
Main classification: B28B7
IPC codes: B28B7