Patent Publication Number: US-2023158709-A1

Title: System and method for producing concrete products by a casting method

Description:
This application is continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 15/999,342, filed Aug. 17, 2018, which claims benefit of 371 Application PCT/EP2017/053358, filed Feb. 15, 2018, which claims benefit of priority German Application DE 10 2016 202 411.6, filed on Feb. 17, 2016 the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     Description 
     The present invention relates to a system and method for producing concrete products, especially tubular concrete products or concrete tubes, by a casting method by means of casting moulds having an outer mould or by means of casting moulds having outer and inner moulds. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The prior art discloses semiautomated plants and systems for producing concrete products, especially concrete tubes. In this case, the semiautomated production of tubular concrete products, for example, is typically effected by an agitated compression method by means of vibration compaction units, or by a rotary compression method in which the compaction and inner shaping of the tubular concrete products is effected by means of a roller head. 
     However, production systems for producing tubular concrete products by an agitation compression method or by a rotation compression method are costly and require a large setup area since costly and space-demanding vibration compression units or rotary compression units have to be provided and, in addition, a large product store and a large amount of space for additionally required muff and mould stores are required. In addition, complex reassembly operations are required when products of different size dimensions are to be produced. 
     It is additionally known that individual tubular concrete products can be manufactured in high quality by a casting method in a fixed stationary mould. However, the relatively long hardening times required for the concrete make it significantly more difficult to provide an automated production system in which tubular concrete products can be manufactured in an automated manner by an inexpensive and high-quality casting method. 
     In this connection, the prior art includes proposals of automated systems for producing tubular concrete products, especially concrete tubes, in which concrete products, in an automated production cycle, are conveyed by means of a mould conveying unit between individual, fully automated manufacturing stations of a manufacturing area in a circulation system under program control and in a synchronized manner and are produced by a casting method. 
     A system of this kind is described, for example, in DE 10 2012 217 324 A1. The system of DE 10 2012 217 324 A1 comprises a manufacturing area having a multitude of fully automated manufacturing stations and a mould conveying unit for conveying the casting moulds or the outer mould and the mould core (inner mould) of casting moulds between the manufacturing stations. The manufacturing area has a demoulding station for removing an outer mould from a casting mould positioned at the demoulding station and for removing a hardened tubular concrete product from a mould core positioned at the demoulding station. 
     In addition, the manufacturing area has a cleaning station for cleaning a mould core positioned at the cleaning station and for cleaning an outer mould positioned at the at least one cleaning station, a mould assembly station for assembling a casting mould from an outer mould and a mould core, and a filling station for filling an assembled casting mould with concrete. 
     Proceeding from the above-described system of DE 10 2012 217 324 A1, a problem addressed by the present invention is that of providing a system and a method or further developing the method and system of DE 10 2012 217 324 A1, and of extending the variability of usability of the production system and simultaneously improving the usability, reliability and efficiency of the automated circulation cycle or the overall system. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     With regard to the aforementioned problem addressed by the present invention, what are proposed in accordance with the present invention are a system for producing concrete products, especially tubular concrete products or concrete tubes, by a casting method by means of preferably stationary casting moulds according to claim  1 , and a method of producing concrete products, especially tubular concrete products or concrete tubes, by a casting method according to claim  26 . Dependent claims relate to preferred working examples of the present invention. 
     In one aspect of the present invention, a system for producing concrete products by a casting method by means of casting moulds assembled from corresponding outer and inner moulds, having a program-controlled, automated circulation system is proposed. 
     The circulation system preferably comprises: a hardening area for storage of concrete products hardening in a respective casting mould; an automated manufacturing area having a multitude of automated manufacturing devices; and/or a conveying unit having automated circulation conveyor sections for conveying the casting moulds or the outer and inner moulds of the casting moulds from the hardening area to the automated manufacturing area, between the respective manufacturing units in the automated manufacturing area and from the automated manufacturing area into the hardening area. 
     The automated manufacturing area of the circulation system preferably has: an automated demoulding area for demoulding of a casting mould arriving from the hardening area and for removal of a hardened concrete product, an automated cleaning unit for cleaning of the outer and inner moulds of a casting mould demoulded in the demoulding unit, an automated mould assembly unit for assembly of a casting mould from corresponding outer and inner moulds that have been cleaned in the cleaning unit, and/or an automated filling unit for filling of one or more assembled casting moulds with concrete. 
     The system preferably further comprises a manually operable mould assembly unit having at least one mould assembly station for manually assisted assembly of a casting mould from corresponding outer and inner moulds. 
     The conveying unit preferably comprises an automated supply conveying section set up to supply a casting mould assembled in the manually operable mould assembly unit (for example upstream of the filling unit of the manufacturing area of the circulation system and especially preferably in program-controlled form) to the automated circulation system. 
     Preferably, the supply conveying section is set up to supply a casting mould assembled in the manually operable mould assembly unit to the automated circulation system upstream of the filling unit of the manufacturing area of the circulation system. Alternatively, the supply conveying section can be set up to supply a casting mould assembled in the manually operable mould assembly unit to a further filling unit and/or to supply it from the further filling unit to the hardening area of the automated circulation system. 
     Preferably, a further conveying section is set up to supply a casting mould from the hardening area of the automated circulation system to the manual assembly area. 
     Preferably, the system comprises an automated transfer unit set up to transfer both casting moulds supplied by means of the supply conveying section from the manually operable mould assembly unit and casting moulds supplied by means of a circulation conveying section from the automated mould assembly unit to one or more filling stations in the automated filling unit. 
     Preferably, the transfer unit has a program-controlled deflector system for controllable combination of the supply conveying section arriving from the manually operable mould assembly unit and the circulation conveying section arriving from the automated mould assembly unit upstream of the automated filling unit. 
     Preferably, the transfer unit has a program-controlled robot crane set up to accommodate a supplied casting mould from the supply conveying section arriving from the manually operable mould assembly unit and also to accommodate a supplied casting mould from the circulation conveying section arriving from the automated mould assembly unit, and/or to transfer an accommodated casting mould to the automated filling unit or to one or more of the circulation conveying sections that supply the automated filling unit. 
     Preferably, the transfer unit has a program-controlled, movable slide table set up to accommodate a supplied casting mould from the supply conveying section arriving from the manually operable mould assembly unit and also a supplied casting mould from the circulation conveying section arriving from the automated mould assembly unit, and/or to transfer an accommodated casting mould to the automated filling unit or to one or more of the circulation conveying sections that supplies the automated filling unit. 
     Preferably, the transfer unit is further set up to remove a casting mould filled in the automated filling unit and preferably to supply it to a release unit for releasing the filled casting mould into the hardening area. 
     Preferably, the release unit has an intermediate storage area for intermediate storage of filled casting moulds before release into the hardening area. 
     Preferably, the release unit has a program-controlled manipulator set up to transfer one casting mould and/or a group of two or more casting moulds into the hardening area and/or to a conveying section of the conveying unit that leads to the hardening area. 
     Preferably, the release unit has a program-controlled, automated fitting device for fitting a muff on a filled casting mould. 
     Preferably, the filling unit has a multitude of automated filling stations for parallel filling of multiple casting moulds with concrete in the filling unit. 
     Preferably, the system has a control unit for programmed control of the manufacturing units of the automated manufacturing area of the circulation system and the conveying unit. 
     Preferably, the control unit is set up to store an appropriate filling time for each concrete product or for each assembled casting mould, and to control the supply of casting moulds to the multitude of automated filling stations for parallel filling of multiple casting moulds with concrete at the filling unit depending on the corresponding filling times stored for the casting moulds. 
     Preferably, the control unit is set up to store an appropriate concrete formulation for each concrete product or for each assembled casting mould, and to control the filling of a casting mould at an automated filling station depending on a corresponding concrete formulation stored. 
     Preferably, a circulation conveying section that supplies from the automated mould assembly unit is set up to accommodate two or more of the multiple casting moulds arriving from the automated mould assembly unit preferably in order to intermediately store accommodated casting moulds prior to supply to the automated filling unit preferably in such a way that the circulation conveying section that supplies from the automated mould assembly unit has a first buffer area. 
     Preferably, the supply conveying section that supplies from the manually operable mould assembly unit is set up to accommodate two or more of the casting moulds arriving from the manually operable mould assembly unit preferably in order to intermediately store accommodated casting moulds prior to introduction into the circulation system or prior to supply to the automated filling unit, preferably in such a way that the supply conveying section that supplies from the manually operable mould assembly unit has a second buffer area. 
     Preferably, a control unit of the system or a control unit of the automated transfer unit is set up to control the automated transfer unit and/or, for the control of the automated transfer unit, is set up to decide under program control whether a next free filling station of the filling unit should be occupied by a casting mould arriving from the manually operable mould assembly unit or by a casting mould arriving from the automated mould assembly unit. 
     Preferably, the decision as to whether a next free filling station of the filling unit should be occupied by a casting mould arriving from the manually operable mould assembly unit or by a casting mould arriving from the automated mould assembly unit is made on the basis of one or more criteria. 
     The criteria may include, for example, one criterion or two or more criteria from the following enumeration: a criterion of whether a next casting mould arriving from the automated mould assembly unit is the last casting mould of a package series to be filled in succession, a criterion of whether a calculated time until a next-but-one filling station of the filling unit becomes free exceeds a predetermined buffer time, a criterion of whether a calculated introduction frequency of manually assembled casting moulds introduced into the circulation cycle exceeds a limit, a criterion of whether an instantaneous buffer zone occupation of a buffer area of the automated circulation exceeds a limit, and/or a criterion of whether a calculated function of the buffer zone occupation of a buffer area of the automated circulation cycle as a function of time over of a predetermined period of time exceeds a limit. 
     Preferably, the automated demoulding unit has a grab for removing a muff from a casting mould and/or a grab for removing a hardened concrete product from the casting mould. 
     In a further aspect, a process may be proposed for producing concrete products by a casting method by means of casting moulds assembled from corresponding outer and inner moulds, having a program-controlled, automated circulation system. 
     The method may comprise: automated demoulding of a casting mould arriving from the hardening area and removal of a hardened concrete product, automated cleaning of the outer and inner moulds of a casting mould demoulded in the demoulding unit, automated assembly of a casting mould from corresponding outer and inner moulds cleaned in the cleaning unit, and/or automated filling of one or more assembled casting moulds with concrete. 
     The method may preferably comprise: program-controlled supply of a casting mould assembled in the manually operable mould assembly unit from the filling unit of the manufacturing area of the circulation system to the automated circulation system, by means of an automated supply conveying section. 
     The method may additionally further comprise one or more of the above-described aspects of the system or steps conducted in the system or comprise one or more of the working examples of the system described hereinafter or steps conducted in the system or one or more steps of the methods described by way of example. 
     In addition, a computer program product having a computer program stored on a computer-readable data storage medium may be provided, which is executable in a data processing unit or a computer or a computer controller, in such a way that program control of a system according to any of the above aspects or working examples described hereinafter is executed, comprising the executing of the steps of an aforementioned method or one described hereinafter. 
     In summary, the present invention enables provision of a system and a method in which concrete products can be produced by a casting method in an automated and efficient manner at lower cost and with high quality and reliability both in fully automated and manually assembled form, and especially provision of a system and a method in which concrete products of different dimensions can be manufactured by a casting method in an automated and efficient manner with short cycle times, with extremely short or even without disadvantageous assembly times and, in particular, short holdup times, with firstly automated assembly of the casting moulds and secondly manually assembled casting moulds which can be introduced into the automatic circulation cycle in an optimized and automated manner. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
         FIG.  1 A  shows, by way of example, a schematic top view of a system for producing concrete products by casting method in a first working example of the invention. 
         FIG.  1 B  shows, by way of example, a schematic top view of a system for producing concrete products by casting method in a second working example of the invention. 
         FIG.  1 C  shows, by way of example, a schematic top view of a system for producing concrete products by casting method in a third working example of the invention. 
         FIG.  2 A  shows, by way of example, a schematic top view of a system for producing concrete products by casting method in a fourth working example of the invention. 
         FIG.  2 B  shows, by way of example, a schematic top view of a system for producing concrete products by casting method in a fifth working example of the invention. 
         FIG.  2 C  shows, by way of example, a schematic top view of a system for producing concrete products by casting method in a sixth working example of the invention. 
         FIG.  3    shows, by way of example, a schematic top view of a system for producing concrete products by casting method in a seventh working example of the invention. 
         FIG.  4    shows, by way of example, a schematic top view of a system for producing concrete products by casting method in an eighth working example of the invention. 
         FIG.  5    shows, by way of example, a schematic top view of a system for producing concrete products by casting method in a ninth working example of the invention. 
         FIG.  6    shows, by way of example, a flow diagram of a method for control of filling station supply in a production system in one working example of the invention. 
         FIG.  7    shows, by way of example, a flow diagram of a method for control of a production system in one working example of the invention. 
         FIG.  8    shows, by way of example, a flow diagram of a method for control of filling station supply in a production process in one working example of the invention. 
         FIG.  9    shows illustrative plots of control function values against time in a control method according to  FIGS.  7  and/or  8   . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES AND OF PREFERRED WORKING EXAMPLES OF THE INVENTION 
     There follows a detailed description of preferred working examples of the present invention with reference to the appended figures. However, the present invention is not restricted to the working examples described. The present invention is defined by the scope of the claims. 
     Identical or similar features of the working examples are identified by identical reference numerals in the figures. If differences are not explicitly specified or are apparent from the figures, it can be assumed that, the description of the features with identical reference numerals in reference to a working example is likewise applicable to another working example, without repetition of the description in order to keep the description concise. 
     In addition, the working examples should not be considered to be self-limiting, since it is possible to combine features of the working examples of the present invention described hereinafter or to modify working examples with features of other working examples in order to obtain further working examples of the present invention. 
     If modifications or combinations of features of this kind are covered by the scope of the claims, they should be regarded as part of the invention, and modifications or combinations of features of this kind should still implicitly be regarded as part of the disclosure of this description. 
     It is pointed out that terms used hereinafter such as “mould intake position” or “mould release position”, for example, are used purely according to viewing angle or perspective, but from a technical point of view, in a closed cycle, may have the same function or be used in an equivalent manner. It would be equally be possible to refer to a “mould release position” in which a casting mould can be positioned for releasing to a further region or to another unit, from the point of view of the receiving region or the receiving unit, for example, as a “mould intake position” as well. 
     First Working Example 
       FIG.  1 A  shows a schematic top view of a system for producing tubular concrete products by way of example by a casting method by way of example by means of upright casting moulds by way of example in a first working example of the invention. 
     In general, all casting moulds used in the system have an outer mould and optionally an inner mould that can be positioned within the outer mould. By way of example, casting moulds, in the automated circulation cycle, may each have an upright outer mould and a mould core (inner mould) arranged (optionally vertically) within the upright outer mould. Analogously, it is also possible for manually assembled casting moulds to have an outer mould and an inner mould that can optionally be positioned within the outer mould. 
     Optionally, the casting moulds assembled in an automated manner and/or the manually assembled casting moulds may, for example, also have a lower muff on the underside, which serves, for example, as a base for standing up the casting moulds and/or else for locking the outer mould to the mould core. Lower muffs of this kind may be removably or firmly secured to the mould core. 
     It is likewise possible for the casting moulds assembled in an automated manner and/or the manually assembled casting moulds to be sealed in working examples from the top with upper muffs, for example, in which case, in further working examples, it is possible to provide respective manufacturing stations that are preferably arranged downstream of the filling stations and where upper muffs can be placed (preferably in a fully automated manner) onto already concrete-filled casting moulds. 
     In addition, according to the demands on the concrete product, further mouldings and/or reinforcements or reinforcement cages may be provided in the casting moulds on or in casting moulds assembled in an automated manner and/or on or in manually assembled casting moulds. As well as reinforcements or reinforcement cages, it is also possible to secure or mount further structural parts remaining in or on the finished concrete product on the casting moulds, for example in order to introduce climbing aids or stirrups or else transport anchors that remain in the product. In the case of specialty concrete products, these may also be other installed parts, for example valves or frames and/or grids for road gullies. 
     The system for producing concrete products according to  FIG.  1 A  comprises an automated or fully automated and optionally program-controlled circulation cycle having a manufacturing area having a multitude of automated manufacturing stations  110 ,  120 ,  130  of an automated demoulding and assembly area  100  and a multitude of automated manufacturing stations or filling stations F 1  to F 3  of a mould filling region  300  and a mould conveying unit  200  with mould conveying sections  211 ,  212 ,  213 ,  214 ,  241 ,  242 ,  243 ,  244  and  251 , which run between the manufacturing stations for the respective automated production lines of the circulation cycle. 
     The manufacturing stations of the system and any further working examples with further configurations of manufacturing stations are described in more detail later on in the description. 
     The system for producing concrete products by a casting method according to  FIG.  1 A  further comprises a (preferably automated, fully automated or program-controlled) hardening area  420  of a mould store  400  for storing a multitude of filled casting moulds and an automated transport unit  410 , wherein the transport unit  410  is set up to transport casting moulds from a mould release position P 5  to storage positions in storage areas  421  in the hardening area  420  and from storage positions in storage areas  421  in the hardening area  420  to a mould intake position P 1 . 
     The mould intake position P 1  serves here by way of example as transfer position of casting moulds from the hardening area  420  to the manufacturing area of the circulation cycle, and the mould intake position P 1  serves here as transfer position of casting moulds from the manufacturing area to the hardening area  420 . 
     The storage areas  421  (for example the areas of the dotted rectangles  421  in the hardening area  420 ) may, in working examples, take the form of simple positioning areas or hall floor areas of a factory hall. In further working examples, storage areas  421  of this kind may also be provided as climate-controlled chambers (maturing chambers) or climate-controlled areas in which stored, filled casting moulds can be stored in climate-controlled environments that have been brought to desired temperatures for faster or better hardening (for example heated in relation to ambient temperature or heated by comparison with room temperature in the manufacturing area). In this case, different storage areas  421  may accommodate one or more casting moulds and may optionally also have mutually different temperatures or temperature profiles against time, for example according to the concrete formulation and/or product type or size. 
     The climate-controlled chambers/maturing chambers may be units for controlled climatic conditions in relation to temperature and/or air humidity, where this usually comprises heating units, for example more particularly for heating generally at the start of a hardening cycle, especially in order to accelerate the chemical hardening reaction of the concrete by supply of heat. Furthermore, it is also possible to control air humidity (high air humidity advantageously prevents, for example, the formation of cracks during hardening). 
     Preferably, the multitude of casting moulds stored in the hardening area  420  has a multitude of groups of casting moulds, where casting moulds in a group have an equal mould size and casting moulds of different groups have different mould sizes, and where the casting moulds stored in the hardening area  420  are arranged by groups, and casting moulds of one group may be arranged in a coherent common sub-area of the hardening area  420 . 
     This advantageously enables storage of casting moulds of multiple different dimensions simultaneously in the hardening area  420 . In this case, it is thus possible for casting moulds of different dimensions to be present simultaneously in the circulation of the production system, such that the production of tubular concrete products of very different size and possibly even different shape becomes possible in the same circulation cycle without the requirement for assembly times or holdup times, and so a considerable gain in efficiency and time is achievable. 
     The transport unit  410  comprises, by way of example, a grab unit  414  (manipulator) which is guided by way of example on a first guiding device with guides  413 , which is guided by way of example on a second guiding device that runs transverse thereto with guide blocks  412  guided on guides  411 . The transport unit  410  is set up, by way of example, to move the grab unit  414  by means of the guide units  411 ,  412  and  413  within the region of the hardening area  420  and hence to be able to accommodate casting moulds by means of the grab unit  414  over the entire hardening area  420 , and to transport accommodated casting moulds within the region of the hardening area  420 . 
     More particularly, the transport unit  410  is set up by way of example to accommodate a casting mould stored in the hardening area  420  in an automated or program-controlled manner and to transport it in an automated or program-controlled manner to the mould intake position P 1  or to accommodate a casting mould disposed at the mould release position P 5  in an automated or program-controlled manner, and to transport it in an automated or program-controlled manner to the corresponding storage position in a corresponding storage area  421  in the hardening area  420 . 
     The manufacturing area of the system has, by way of example, the following manufacturing stations: a demoulding station  110  is set up by way of example for automated or program-controlled removal of an outer mould from a casting mould positioned at the demoulding station  110  and/or for automated or program-controlled removal of a hardened tubular concrete product from a mould core (inner mould) positioned at the demoulding station  110 . A cleaning station  120  is set up by way of example for automated or program-controlled cleaning of a mould core positioned at the cleaning station  120  and/or an outer mould positioned at the cleaning station  120 . A mould assembly station  130  is set up by way of example for automated or program-controlled assembly of a casting mould from a cleaned outer mould and a cleaned mould core, and the filling stations F 1 , F 2  and F 3  are set up for automated or program-controlled filling of a casting mould of the respective composition with concrete. 
     In this case, by way of example, an automated demoulding and assembly area  100  is provided, in which introduced moulds with an already cured concrete product can be demoulded by way of example (disassembly of the casting mould and removal of the concrete product), for automated release of the finished concrete product, wherein the mouldings (outer and/or inner mould) of the casting mould, by way of example, after removal and release of the finished concrete product, can be cleaned and assembled to form a newly assembled casting mould, in order to be fed back to the filling region  300  in an automated or program-controlled circulation cycle, where casting moulds can be filled with concrete at a respective filling station F 1 , F 2  or F 3  in the casting method, in order then to send them back to the hardening area  420  for hardening. 
     Consequently, the manufacturing area has, by way of example, a production line of an automated or program-controlled circulation cycle, which comprises, by way of example, the automated or program-controlled operations of demoulding the casting mould (demoulding station  110 ), of cleaning the casting mould (cleaning station  120 ), of assembling/mating the cleaned casting mould (mould assembly station  130 ) and of filling/casting with concrete (filling stations F 1  to F 3 ), wherein the hardening area  420  under automated control and the transport unit  410  thereof can provide a closed-loop system for use or re-use of casting moulds in the circulation cycle for production of the concrete products. 
     By way of example, it is possible to use shrink cores, for example, as mould cores, which are shrunk at the demoulding station  110  in order to be able to remove the concrete product at the demoulding station  110 . In addition, any lower muffs may be secured firmly to the mould cores and may also be cleaned in the cleaning station  120 . At the mould assembly station  130 , the outer moulds may be put over the mould cores and optionally locked to any lower muffs. However, it is also possible to use other kinds of inner moulds. 
     The manufacturing stations  110  to  130  and F 1  to F 3  according to the working example in  FIG.  1 A  are set up by way of example to execute the respective operations simultaneously, such that, by way of example, two or more casting moulds may simultaneously be present in the circulation cycle of the manufacturing stations  110  to  130  and F 1  to F 3 , for example one casting mould in the demoulding station  110 , one casting mould in the cleaning station  120 , one casting mould in the mould assembly station  130  and respective casting moulds in the respective filling stations F 1  to F 3 . 
     In the case of optional provision of intermediate positions, it would optionally be possible for even more casting moulds to be present simultaneously in the circulation cycle of the manufacturing stations  110  to  130  and F 1  to F 3 . For example, further casting moulds may be present in respective mould conveying sections of the mould conveying unit  20 , for example in any of the buffer areas provided before, between or beyond the respective manufacturing stations  110  to  120  (see, for example, buffer area  701  after the mould assembly station  130  in the mould conveying section  214 ). 
     The mould conveying unit  200  is set up by way of example to transport casting moulds from the mould intake position P 1  in an automated, fully automated or preferably program-controlled manner to the respective manufacturing stations  110  to  130  or F 1  to F 3  and between the respective manufacturing stations  110  to  130  or F 1  to F 3 , and to convey casting moulds from the filling stations or F 1  to F 3  to the mould release position P 5 . 
     In the working example according to  FIG.  1 A , the mould conveying unit  200  comprises, by way of example, a mould conveying section  211  for automated conveying of a filled and hardened casting mould from the mould intake position P 1  to the demoulding station  110 , especially in relation to a casting mould which has been accommodated by the transport unit  410  in the hardening area  420  from a storage position of a storage area  421  and positioned or placed at the mould intake position P 1 . The mould conveying section  211  can accommodate multiple casting moulds and hence optionally also be used as a buffer area before the demoulding station  110 . 
     In addition, the mould conveying unit  200  comprises, by way of example, a mould conveying section  212  for automated conveying of a casting mould demoulded at the demoulding station  110  from the demoulding station  110  to the cleaning station  120  and a mould conveying section  231  for automated conveying of a hardened concrete product removed at the demoulding station  110  from the casting mould to a product release position P 2  at which finished concrete products can be removed from the cycle. The mould conveying section  212  may optionally accommodate one or more casting moulds and hence also be used as buffer area between the demoulding station  110  and the cleaning station  120 . 
     In addition, the mould conveying unit  200  comprises, by way of example, a mould conveying section  213  for automated conveying of a casting mould cleaned at the cleaning station  120  from the cleaning station  120  to the mould assembly station  130  and a mould conveying section  214  for automated conveying of a mould assembled at the mould assembly station  130  from the mould assembly station  130  to a transfer unit  310  for transfer/supply of casting moulds to the filling stations F 1  to F 3 . 
     The mould conveying section  213  can thus accommodate one or more casting moulds and hence optionally also be used as buffer area between the cleaning station  120  and the mould assembly station  130 . The mould conveying section  214  can accommodate multiple casting moulds and hence optionally also be used as buffer area  701  between the mould assembly station  130  and the transfer unit  310 . 
     In the working example according to  FIG.  1 A , the circulation cycle or the manufacturing area further comprises an automated or program-controlled filling area  300  having, by way of example, three parallel filling stations F 1  to F 3 . The filling area  300  comprises, by way of example, an automated or program-controlled transfer unit  310  set up to accommodate casting moulds conveyed by the mould conveying section  214  from the assembly station  130  and to supply them in an automated, fully automated or preferably program-controlled manner to one of the filling stations F 1  to F 3  for filling with concrete by a casting method. 
     In this context, it is preferably a programmed controller of the system (not shown) that decides when a further casting mould for filling with concrete is transferred and to which filling station F 1  to F 3 , preferably in general as soon as a filling station becomes free in the circulation cycle, when a casting mould that has been transferred beforehand is fully filled and has been transported away. However, it is possible to prestore individual pouring times for respective casting moulds, and for the transfer unit  310  to be controlled, in working examples, with the provision of altering a sequence of the casting moulds to be filled on the basis of the prestored pouring times. 
     In the working example according to  FIG.  1 A , the transfer unit  310  has, by way of example, a slide table  311  (displacement slide) movable, by way of example, transverse to the conveying direction of the mould conveying section  214  in order to supply a casting mould accommodated by the mould conveying section  214  to one of the mould conveying sections  241 ,  242  or  243 , where the mould conveying sections  241 ,  242  or  243  are each set up to supply the respective casting mould from the slide table  311  of the respective filling station F 1 , F 2  or F 3  for filling of the casting mould at the respective filling station F 1 , F 2  or F 3 . 
     After the casting moulds have been filled, the mould conveying sections  241 ,  242  or  243  are each set up to supply the respective casting mould from the respective filling station F 1 , F 2  or F 3  back to the slide table  311  of the transfer unit  310 , preferably in such a way that the slide table  311  can convey the casting mould to the mould conveying section  244  by movement thereto, where the mould conveying section  244  is set up to accommodate the already filled casting mould from the slide table  311  and supply it to the mould release position or intermediate position P 3 . Alternatively (or additionally), it would be possible to set up the mould conveying section  244  to supply the already filled casting mould directly to a release position arranged in the hardening area. 
     By way of example, in the system according to  FIG.  1 A , a further mould intake position P 4  is provided, from which a further mould conveying section  251  conveys each of the casting moulds to the release position P 5  disposed in the hardening area  420 , whence the grab unit  414  of the transport device  410  can accommodate the respective casting mould and transport it to the predetermined storage area  421  in the hardening area  420 . 
     To convey the casting moulds between the intermediate position P 3  and the mould intake position P 4 , in  FIG.  1 A , a further transport unit  610  is provided by way of example in order to be able to place casting moulds, if appropriate, in an intermediate storage area  600  (optional). 
     The transport unit  610  comprises, by way of example, a grab unit  614  (manipulator) which is guided by way of example on a first guide unit with guides  613 , which is guided by way of example on a second guide unit that runs transverse thereto with guide blocks  612  guided on guides  611 . The transport unit  610  is set up by way of example to be able to move the grab unit  614  by means of the guide units  611 ,  612  and  613  in the region of the intermediate storage area  600  and to accommodate casting moulds by means of the grab unit  414 , and to be able to transport accommodated casting moulds between the intermediate storage area  600  and the respective positions P 3  and P 4 . 
     More particularly, the transport unit  610  is set up by way of example to accommodate a casting mould at the intermediate position P 3  in an automated or program-controlled manner and transport it in an automated or program-controlled manner to the mould intake position P 4  or to the intermediate storage area  600  or to accommodate a casting mould disposed within the intermediate storage area  600  in an automated or program-controlled manner and transport it in an automated or program-controlled manner to the mould intake position P 4 . 
     The intermediate storage area  600  can be used, for example, to allow release of air from casting moulds prior to closure with muffs after filling, manual checking of casting moulds and/or else mounting of upper muffs on the casting moulds for closure of the casting moulds. Alternatively, it is also possible to provide an automated or program-controlled muff indentation station for automated application of the upper muffs on the casting moulds for closure of the casting moulds. 
     According to the working example from  FIG.  1 A , by way of example, as well as the automated circulation cycle, a manual assembly area  500  is provided, where casting moulds or else individual casting moulds can be manually assembled, where the manual assembly area  500  is integrated or connected to the system in such a way that, for the manufacture of concrete products with manually assembled casting moulds, at least the automated filling area  300  and the automated hardening area  420  of the system are also used. 
     For this purpose, the hardening area  420  further comprises a mould intake position P 6  to which casting moulds can be transported by means of the transport unit  410 . The mould conveying unit  200  additionally further comprises, by way of example, a mould conveying section  221  for automated or program-controlled conveying of casting moulds from the mould intake position P 6  in the hardening area  420  to the mould intake position P 7  of the manual assembly area  500 . 
     The manual assembly area comprises, by way of example, four manual assembly stations M 1  to M 4 , each of which is set up for manual users to be able to manually assemble casting moulds at these manual assembly stations M 1  to M 4 , i.e. especially to be able to manually assemble casting moulds from mouldings, outer moulds, inner moulds, muff parts and/or reinforcement parts. For this purpose, the assembly stations M 1  to M 4  may have, by way of example, manually controllable manipulators or manually controllable cranes or crane arms in order to assemble heavy components. 
     In addition, each assembly station M 1  to M 4  or the manual assembly area  500  may comprise a computer or a control unit connected to the system controller where the user can confirm in each case when a casting mould has been assembled to completion at one of the assembly stations M 1  to M 4  and can be supplied to the automated filling area  300  and can optionally also serve for input of an individual pouring time/filling time of the manually assembled casting mould and/or for input of an individual concrete formulation for the automated filling of the manually assembled casting mould. 
     To convey the casting moulds between the mould release position P 7  of the manual assembly region  500  and the mould intake position P 8  of the manual assembly region  500 , a further transport unit  510  is provided by way of example in  FIG.  1 A  in order to transport casting moulds, if necessary, within the manual assembly area  500 . 
     The transport unit  510  comprises, by way of example, a grab unit  514  (manipulator) which is guided by way of example on a first guide unit with guides  513 , which is guided by way of example on a second guide unit that runs transverse thereto with guide blocks  512  guided on guides  511 . The transport unit  510  is set up by way of example to move the grab unit  514  by means of the guide units  511 ,  512  and  513  in the region of the manual assembly region  500  or to be able to accommodate casting moulds by means of the grab unit  514 , and to be able to transport accommodated casting moulds between the respective positions P 7  and P 8  and the manual assembly stations M 1  to M 4 . 
     More particularly, the transport unit  510  is set up by way of example to accommodate a casting mould at the mould release position P 7  in an automated or program-controlled manner and to transport it in an automated or program-controlled manner to one of the manual assembly stations M 1  to M 4  or to accommodate a casting mould disposed at one of the manual assembly stations M 1  to M 4  in an automated or program-controlled manner and to transport it in an automated or program-controlled manner to the mould intake position P 8 . 
     Finally, the system according to  FIG.  1 A  additionally comprises, by way of example, a mould conveying section  222  of the mould conveying unit  200  for conveying a casting mould manually assembled in the manual assembly area  500  from the mould intake position P 8  to the transfer unit  310 . In this case, the mould conveying section  222  may accommodate, by way of example, multiple casting moulds and hence be used as buffer area  702  in order to intermediately store casting moulds in a buffering manner before they are conveyed by means of the transfer unit  310  to one of the filling stations F 1  to F 3  in each case and hence supplied to the automated circulation cycle. 
     The slide table  311  (displacement slide) of the transfer unit  310  is set up by way of example to be moved transverse to the conveying direction of the mould conveying section  222  in order to supply a casting mould accommodated by the mould conveying section  222  to one of the mould conveying sections  241 ,  242  or  243 , where the mould conveying sections  241 ,  242  or  243  are each set up to supply the respective casting mould from the slide table  311  to the respective filling station F 1 , F 2  or F 3  for filling of the casting mould at the respective filling station F 1 , F 2  or F 3 . 
     In this case, it is preferably the programmed system controller (not shown) that decides when a further casting mould from which of the mould conveying sections  214  or  222  is supplied and to which filling station F 1  to F 3  for filling with concrete, preferably in general as soon as a filling station becomes free in the circulation cycle, when a casting mould that has been transferred beforehand is fully filled and has been transported away. More particularly, it is the programmed system controller (not shown) that preferably decides when a manually assembled casting mould arriving from the manual assembly area  500  is accommodated by the mould conveying section  222  and supplied by the transfer unit  310  to one of the filling stations F 1  to F 3 , especially in order to supply a manually assembled casting mould to the circulation cycle in an automated or program-controlled manner. 
     In this case, it is optionally possible to use a controller in the filling station supply in a production system according to an illustrative process described later on. 
     For example, the controller, in working examples, can be set up to occupy the N filling positions (in  FIG.  1 A  by way of example with N=3 corresponding to the number of filling stations F 1  to F 3 ) in an automated manner. The controller can occupy the filling stations with casting moulds in such a way that the production program that may have been defined layer by layer is optimized. Illustrative boundary conditions may be, for example: the controller may know the individual casting durations per casting mould; the system has N filling stations; and/or each filling station can fill each mould in the system. In the normal case, the moulds from the automatic line of the circulation system can be filled preferentially, for example in order not to cause a backlog in the synchronized region of the automatic line. However, the reverse case is also conceivable, in which moulds from the manual line are processed preferentially. 
     By way of example, the condition can be imposed on the system computer controller that only when it is possible to calculate by a numerical preliminary calculation or simulation calculation (for example based on the number of buffer positions of the circulation cycle, the pouring times of the casting moulds and/or the cycle time x of the circulation cycle, i.e. an automatically assembled mould is provided by the assembly station  130  every x minutes) that the automated manufacture of the circulation cycle is not being blocked is a decision made to convey a mould from the manual assembly area to one of the filling stations or supply it to the circulation cycle, and hence not block the circulation cycle or to bring it to a halt. 
     In this context, in the decision as to whether a manually assembled casting mould from the manual assembly area  500  or a casting mould assembled in an automated manner is the next to be supplied to the filling area  300  from the automated circulation cycle, the occupation of the buffer positions in the buffer areas  701  and/or  702  is also taken into account. Specifically, the buffer  701  (conveying unit section  214 ) from the automated line, but also the buffer  702  from the manual line, can be included in the consideration. 
     The system or system controller can use a programmed algorithm to make the decision in each case as to whether the next mould is brought to the filling stations from the automated line or from the manual line. For example, on the basis of the moulds present in the filling stations and their residual pouring times and, for example, on the basis of the pouring time/filling duration of the next mould in the manual line, it is possible to calculate whether a backup would arise in the automated line in the buffer area  701  if the mould from the manual line were to be the next mould brought to the casting station. 
     1st practical example: casting position  1  (filling station F 1 ) is currently occupied with residual pouring time 5 minutes, casting position  2  (filling station F 2 ) is currently occupied with residual pouring time 7 minutes and casting position  3  (filling station F 3 ) became free, meaning that an automated decision can be made as to whether a mould is taken from the automated area from the buffer area  701  or from the mould conveying section  214  or whether a mould is taken from the manual assembly area from the buffer area  702  or from the mould conveying section  222  to be the next to be supplied by means of the transfer unit  310  to the free filling station F 3 . 
     The free buffer time in the automated line in the buffer area  701  before a holdup, calculated on the basis of the current buffer occupation in the buffer area  701  and the cycle time, is currently 3 minutes. The pouring time for the next mould from the automated line has been prestored as 6 minutes and the pouring time for the next mould from the manual line has been prestored as 12 minutes. The outcome in this practical example is preferably that the decision is made to fill the free casting position of filling station F 3  with a mould from the automated line since a holdup in the circulation cycle would otherwise be brought about. 
     2nd practical example: casting position  1  (filling station F 1 ) is currently occupied with residual pouring time 5 minutes, casting position  2  (filling station F 2 ) is currently occupied with residual pouring time 3 minutes and casting position  3  (filling station F 3 ) became free, meaning that an automated decision can be made as to whether a mould is taken from the automated area from the buffer area  701  or from the mould conveying section  214  or whether a mould is taken from the manual assembly area from the buffer area  702  or from the mould conveying section  222  to be the next to be supplied by means of the transfer unit  310  to the free filling station F 3 . The free buffer time in the automated line in the buffer area  701  before a holdup, calculated on the basis of the current buffer occupation in the buffer area  701  and the cycle time, is currently 8 minutes. The pouring time for the next mould from the automated line has been prestored as 6 minutes and the pouring time for the next mould from the manual line has been prestored as 5 minutes. The outcome in this practical example is preferably that the decision is made to fill the free casting position of filling station F 3  with a mould from the manual line, since there is no threat of a holdup in the circulation cycle. 
     In general, it is possible here to use a decision algorithm in which, on the basis of the current buffer occupation in the buffer area  701  and the cycle time, it is possible to calculate a free buffer time in the automated line in the buffer area  701  before a holdup. If a filling station then becomes free, it is possible on the basis of the shortest residual pouring time in the other filling stations and the calculated free buffer time to calculate whether there is a threat of a holdup if the next mould is supplied to the filling area from the manual line. If the calculated free buffer time is, for example, less than or equal to the shortest residual pouring time of the other filling stations, the filling station that has become free should be occupied directly with a casting mould from the automated line. Otherwise, if the calculated free buffer time is, for example, greater than the shortest residual pouring time of the other filling stations, the filling station that has become free can optionally be occupied with a casting mould from the manual line. 
     In further examples, it would nevertheless be possible here to take the next mould from the automated line if this is part of a package series to be concluded, meaning that, for example, filling of this mould will complete a package of a mould series of a group of moulds in a predetermined number, in which case the moulds of the package series can optionally be taken up together by the grab unit  414  from the mould release position P 5  in order to be supplied in a package together to a storage area  421  in the hardening area  420 , in order to harden together (for example in the case of identical products of the same size and concrete formulation with the same hardening time), for example when the proposed manipulator of the grab unit  414  for the hardening area  420  advantageously works with packages of moulds (e.g. 3-mould package, 4-mould package or 5-mould package), it would then be possible for the algorithm by way of example to take account of the fact that the whole package in each case (or even a whole series of moulds of the same type) are preferentially cast by the automated line in series (without interruption by a mould from the manual line). 
     The features of this execution may, in further working examples, be combined individually or as a whole with features of the working examples described above and below. 
     Second Working Example 
       FIG.  1 B  shows a schematic top view of a system for producing tubular concrete products by way of example by a casting method by way of example by means of upright casting moulds by way of example in a second working example of the invention. 
     In contradistinction with the working example according to  FIG.  1 A , in this case, in the region of the conveying section of the mould conveying unit  200 , between the mould intake position P 6  in the hardening area  420  and the mould release position P 7  in the manual assembly area P 7 , a further automated or program-controlled demoulding station  110 ′ is provided, which is set up to demould, in an automated manner, casting moulds that have been transported by the mould conveying section  221   a  from the mould intake position P 6  (analogously to the demoulding station  110  in  FIG.  1 A ) and to remove finished concrete products and then to convey them via the mould conveying section  231  to the product release position P 2 . 
     In this case, it is thus possible, in the working example according to  FIG.  1 B , in the system, for a casting mould that has been conveyed from the hardening area  420  in the conveying section  221   a  to the manual assembly area  500  to also be demoulded in an automated or program-controlled manner at the demoulding station  110 ′, for example in order firstly to disassemble the mould parts, for example outer and inner moulds, or to release the finished concrete product for release at position P 2 , analogously to casting moulds in the circulation cycle that are conveyed by means of the conveying section  211  to the demoulding station  110 . 
     This means that, in the system according to  FIG.  1 B , by way of example, the manual line (i.e. the production line to and from the manual assembly area  500 ), as well as the automated filling area  300  and the automated hardening area  420 , as in  FIG.  1 A , also includes/also uses an automated demoulding area in the demoulding stations  110  and  110 ′, and hence the demoulding, filling and hardening of the casting moulds in the manual line, i.e. the casting moulds manually assembled in the manual assembly area  500 , can advantageously be conducted in an automated or program-controlled manner. 
     In this case, at the demoulding stations  110  and  110 ′, separate and independently operating demoulding manipulators may be provided. For complete separation of the two lines, it is thus possible by way of example to use two demoulding manipulators. Alternatively, it is also possible to use a single demoulding manipulator set up to demould casting moulds at both demoulding stations  110  and  110 ′. In a preferred embodiment, the demoulding manipulator(s) has/each have two, three or more grabs, for example one grab for outer moulds, one grab for upper muffs and/or one grab for the finished product. 
     The features of this execution may, in further working examples, be combined individually or as a whole with features of the working examples described above and below. 
     Third Working Example 
       FIG.  1 C  shows, by way of example, a schematic top view of a system for producing concrete products by casting method in a third working example of the invention. 
     In this case—as in all illustrative embodiments—preferably at least the hardening area  420  of the automated circulation system is also additionally utilized efficiently for the casting moulds supplied from the manual assembly area  500 . 
     By contrast with the above-described working examples and especially in contradistinction to the working example according to  FIG.  1 B , however, by way of example, in  FIG.  1 C , a dedicated filling station F 3  is provided for casting moulds supplied from the manual assembly area  500 . 
     A supply conveying section  222  of the conveying unit  200  supplies casting moulds from the mould intake position P 8  of the manual assembly area  500  of the filling station F 3  (or, if desired, a multitude of filling stations with a dedicated transfer unit analogously to the further working examples), in order to fill the manually assembled casting mould in filling station F 3  with concrete, preferably in an automated manner. A further conveying section  223  supplies, by way of example, the concrete-filled casting mould from the filling station F 3  to a mould release position P 5 ′ for the hardening area  420  of the automated circulation system. 
     The features of this execution may, in further working examples, be combined individually or as a whole with features of the working examples described above and below. 
     Fourth Working Example 
       FIG.  2 A  shows a schematic top view of a system for producing tubular concrete products by way of example by casting method by way of example by means of upright casting mould by way of example in a fourth working example of the invention. 
     In contradistinction with the working example according to  FIG.  1 A , in this case, in the manufacturing area  100 , a conveying line for the inner moulds and a parallel conveying line for outer moulds are shown. In this case, the respective mould cores (inner moulds) and outer moulds of the casting moulds, in this working example, between the demoulding station  111  and the mould assembly station  130 , are conveyed in parallel lines for production purposes and are cleaned in the separately provided cleaning stations  121  and  122 . 
     A first demoulding station  111  is set up by way of example to accept an outer mould of casting moulds to supply this separately by means of the conveying section  216  to the corresponding outer mould cleaning station  121 , and the respective inner moulds and the product still disposed in the respective inner moulds are supplied by means of the conveying section  215  to the corresponding second demoulding station  112  that accepts the product and finally demoulds the casting mould. 
     In the working example according to  FIG.  2 A , the mould conveying unit  200  comprises by way of example especially a mould conveying section  211  by way of example for automated conveying of a filled and hardened casting mould from the mould intake position P 1  to the first demoulding station  111 . 
     In addition, the mould conveying unit  200  is set up by way of example to convey an outer mould removed at the first demoulding station  111  by means of a mould conveying section  216  to the outer mould cleaning station  121 , to convey a mould core (inner mould) containing cured concrete product by means of a mould conveying section  215  from the first demoulding station  111  to the second demoulding station  112 , to convey a hardened tubular concrete product removed at the second demoulding station  112  by means of a mould conveying section  231  to the product release position P 2  (in order to release the finished concrete product and optionally supply it to further processing), and to convey a mould core (inner mould) from the second demoulding station  112  by means of a mould conveying section  212  to the mould core cleaning station  122  (inner mould cleaning station). 
     In addition, the mould conveying unit  200  is set up by way of example to convey a mould core (inner mould) from the mould core cleaning station  122  (inner mould cleaning station) by means of the mould conveying sections  213  and  218  (via an optional pre-assembly station  140 ) to the mould assembly station  130 , and to convey an outer mould from the outer mould cleaning station  121  by means of a mould conveying section  217  to the mould assembly station  130 . 
     This advantageously enables reduction in the cycle times of the system since the cleaning operations for mould core (inner mould) and outer moulds can be conducted separately and independently of one another and especially simultaneously. 
     The optional pre-assembly station  140  can be utilized here in order to assemble an inner mould from parts, or to assemble lower muffs and inner moulds. Alternatively or additionally, the pre-assembly station  140  can be utilized to fit or insert reinforcements or reinforcement cages onto inner moulds. 
     The features of this execution may, in further working examples, be combined individually or as a whole with features of the working examples described above and below. 
     Fifth Working Example 
       FIG.  2 B  shows a schematic top view of a system for producing tubular concrete products by way of example by a casting method by way of example by means of upright casting moulds by way of example in a fifth working example of the invention. 
     In contradistinction to the working example according to  FIG.  2 A , in this case, automated or program-controlled manufacturing stations  151  and  152  respectively are provided downstream of the respective cleaning stations  121  and  122  in the manufacturing area  100 , with corresponding conveying sections  213   a  and  213   b,  and  217   a  and  217   b  respectively. The manufacturing stations  151  and  152  can be utilized for pre-assembly of inner or outer moulds, or preferably for preparation or oiling of inner and outer moulds (i.e. by way of example an outer mould oiling station  151  and/or an inner mould oiling station  152 ). 
     The features of this execution may, in further working examples, be combined individually or as a whole with features of the working examples described above and below. 
     Sixth Working Example 
       FIG.  2 C  shows a schematic top view of a system for producing tubular concrete products by way of example by a casting method by way of example by means of upright casting moulds by way of example in a sixth working example of the invention. 
     In contradistinction to the working example according to  FIG.  2 A , in this case, the optional pre-assembly station  140  is absent and two outer mould cleaning stations  121   a  and  121   b  are provided in series, with corresponding conveying sections  216 ,  219  and  217 , such that the cleaning of the outer moulds can be conducted by way of example at two successive manufacturing stations  121   a  and  121   b.    
     This has the advantage that the line for the outer moulds and the line for the inner moulds have the same number of manufacturing stations and therefore respective inner moulds and outer moulds that belong to one another in pairs can be conveyed in parallel in the cycle of the synchronized circulation cycle from manufacturing station to manufacturing station in order to be simultaneously transported to the mould assembly station  130 . In other working examples, it is also possible here for different numbers of manufacturing stations to be provided in the parallel lines for the inner and outer moulds, in which case any conveying sections can be used as buffers between manufacturing stations in order to transport inner and outer moulds in each case simultaneously to the mould assembly station  130 . 
     The features of this execution may, in further working examples, be combined individually or as a whole with features of the working examples described above and below. 
     Seventh Working Example 
       FIG.  3    shows a schematic top view of a system for producing tubular concrete products by way of example by a casting method by way of example by means of upright casting moulds by way of example in a seventh working example of the invention. 
     In contradistinction to the working example according to  FIG.  1   , in this case, the transfer unit  310  has been provided by way of example with a double slide table  313  having two slide tables  311  and  312  that are arranged alongside one another and movable together, where each slide table  311  and  312  is set up to accommodate casting moulds from the conveying sections  214  and  222  and supply the conveying sections  241  to  243  to the filling stations F 1  to F 3  and to accept these again after filling with concrete. The slide table  311  is additionally set up to supply casting moulds to the conveying section  244  for the mould release position or intermediate position P 3 . 
     This has the advantage that supplying of casting stations to the filling stations and the accommodation of filled casting moulds can be parallelized and hence conducted more efficiently. 
     The features of this execution may, in further working examples, be combined individually or as a whole with features of the working examples described above and below. 
     Eighth Working Example 
       FIG.  4    shows a schematic top view of a system for producing tubular concrete products by way of example by a casting method by way of example by means of upright casting moulds by way of example in an eighth working example of the invention. 
     In contradistinction to the working example according to  FIG.  1 A , in this case, five filling stations F 1  to F 5  are provided. The conveying section  214  comprises, by way of example, one mould intake position P 3  and the conveying section  222  comprises, by way of example, one mould intake position P 12 . 
     The mould conveying unit  200  additionally comprises, by way of example, one mould conveying section  245  for conveying a casting mould from the intermediate position P 4  to the filling station F 1  and a mould conveying section  255  for conveying a casting mould from the filling station F 1  to the mould release position P 4 ′ in the hardening area  420 , a mould conveying section  244  for conveying a casting mould from the intermediate position P 5  to the filling station F 2  and a mould conveying section  254  for conveying a casting mould from the filling station F 2  to the mould release position P 5 ′ in the hardening area  420 , a mould conveying section  243  for conveying a casting mould from the intermediate position P 6  to the filling station F 3  and a mould conveying section  253  for conveying a casting mould from the filling station F 3  to the mould release position P 6 ′ in the hardening area  420 , a mould conveying section  242  for conveying a casting mould from the intermediate position P 7  to the filling station F 4  and a mould conveying section  252  for conveying a casting mould from the filling station F 4  to the mould release position P 2 ′ in the hardening area  420 , and a mould conveying section  241  for conveying a casting mould from the intermediate position P 8  to the filling station F 5  and a mould conveying section  251  for conveying a casting mould from the filling station F 5  to the mould release position P 8 ′ in the hardening area  420 . 
     The mould conveying sections  241  to  245  here form a further buffer area  703  in which respective casting moulds, in addition to the buffer areas  701  and  702 , can also be intermediately stored in a buffering manner individually upstream of the respective filling stations. 
     In addition, in this working example, the transfer unit provided, rather than a slide table, by way of example, was a transport unit  320  in order to transport casting moulds in the filling area  300 . Alternatively or additionally, it is of course also possible here to provide a transfer unit with a slide table or double slide table (or else multiple slide table with more than two slide tables). 
     The transport unit  320  comprises, by way of example, a grab unit  324  (manipulator) which is guided by way of example on a first guide unit with guides  323 , which is guided by way of example on a second guide unit that runs transverse thereto with guide blocks  322  guided on guides  321 . 
     The transport unit  320  is set up by way of example to move the grab unit  324  by means of the guide units  321 ,  322  and  323  in the filling area  300  and to be able to accommodate casting moulds by means of the grab unit  324 , and to be to transport accommodated casting moulds between the respective positions P 3  or P 21  and P 4  to P 8  in order to supply casting moulds from the mould conveying sections  214  or  222  to the respective filling station F 1 , F 2 , F 3 , F 4  or F 5 , according to occupation control. 
     More particularly, the transport unit  320  is set up by way of example to accommodate a casting mould at the mould release position P 3  or P 12  in an automated or program-controlled manner and to transport it in an automated or program-controlled manner to one of positions P 4  to P 8 . 
     The features of this execution may, in further working examples, be combined individually or as a whole with features of the working examples described above and below. 
     Ninth Working Example 
       FIG.  5    shows a schematic top view of a system for producing tubular concrete products by way of example by a casting method by way of example by means of upright casting moulds by way of example in a ninth working example of the invention. 
     In contradistinction to the working example according to  FIG.  1 A , in this case, five filling stations F 1  to F 5  are provided. In addition, rather than the transfer unit  310  with a slide table  311 , by way of example, an automated or program-controlled conveying section deflector system  800  with deflector sections  801  and  802  is provided. 
     The deflector section  801  is set up to consolidate the conveying sections  214  and  222  in the manner of a deflector system, and especially to convey, by automated or program-controlled deflector control of the deflector section  801 , casting moulds in each case from the conveying section  214  from the automatic circulation cycle or from the conveying section  222  from the manual assembly area  500  to the deflector section  802 . 
     The mould conveying unit  200  additionally comprises, by way of example, a mould conveying section  245  for conveying a casting mould from the deflector section  802  to the filling station F 1  and a mould conveying section  255  for conveying a casting mould from the filling station F 1  to the mould release position P 3  in the hardening area  420 , a mould conveying section  244  for conveying a casting mould from the deflector section  802  to the filling station F 2  and a mould conveying section  254  for conveying a casting mould from the filling station F 2  to the mould release position P 4  in the hardening area  420 , a mould conveying section  243  for conveying a casting mould from the deflector section  802  to the filling station F 3  and a mould conveying section  253  for conveying a casting mould from the filling station F 3  to the mould release position P 5  in the hardening area  420 , a mould conveying section  242  for conveying a casting mould from the deflector section  802  to the filling station F 4  and a mould conveying section  252  for conveying a casting mould from the filling station F 4  to the mould release position P 6  in the hardening area  420 , and a mould conveying section  241  for conveying a casting mould from the deflector section  802  to the filling station F 5  and a mould conveying section  251  for conveying a casting mould from the filling station F 5  to the mould release position P 7  in the hardening area  420 . 
     The mould conveying sections  241  to  245  here, with the deflector section  802  and also the deflector section  801 , form a further buffer area  704  in which respective casting moulds, in addition to the buffer areas  701  and  702 , can also be intermediately stored individually in a buffering manner upstream of the respective filling stations or in the deflector sections  801  or  802 . 
     The deflector section  802  is set up to combine the deflector section  801  and the conveying sections  241  to  245  in the manner of a deflector system, and especially to convey, by automated or program-controlled deflector control of the deflector section  802 , casting moulds in each case from the deflector section  801  to one of the mould conveying sections  241  to  245  in each case. 
     The features of this execution may, in further working examples, be combined individually or as a whole with features of the working examples described above and below. More particularly, the deflector section  801  and/or the deflector section  802  may individually or together be provided alternatively or additionally in any of the other working examples, for example in the form of a combination of a slide table and/or a transport unit in one of the above working examples with a deflector section  801 , or in the form of a combination of a slide table and/or a transport unit in one of the above working examples with a deflector section  802 . 
     System Control 
     There follows a description of function controls and system controls or occupation controls in a production system, where the system may be implemented according to one of the above execution features or in the form of a combination of features of the above execution features. The flow diagrams which follow may correspond to a program controller or a program execution by a programmed controller. Such control processes may be implemented by a commercial computer with a CPU or one or more processors, or else with internal or external storage media programmed correspondingly. 
       FIG.  6    shows, by way of example, a diagram of a method of controlling the filling station supply in a production system in one working example of the invention. 
     In a system with one or more filling stations (e.g. F 1  to F 3  or F 1  to F 5 ), a step S 601  checks, determines or detects whether one of the filling stations is free or has become free. A filling station becomes free or is considered to have become free, for example, when a casting mould that has been poured there or a filled casting mould has been filled completely with free-flowing concrete, i.e. especially when the residual pouring time has expired and the filling with concrete is stopped, for example in an automated manner, and the filled casting mould is transported away in order to be supplied to the hardening area  420 . If the step gives NO (i.e. when all filling stations are occupied or filled and casting moulds are being filled in each case), the operation is repeated until step S 601  gives YES and a filling station has become free. 
     Step S 602  checks, determines or detects whether a manually assembled casting mould is available, i.e., for example, whether a manually assembled casting mould has been brought from the manual assembly area  500  to the transfer unit or is awaiting automated filling in the buffer area  702  or  703 . If step S 602  gives NO, when no manually assembled casting mould is ready for filling, a step S 609  checks, determines or detects whether a casting mould assembled in an automated manner (called a cycle mould) is available, i.e., for example, whether a casting mould assembled in an automated manner has been brought from the manufacturing area  100  to the transfer unit or is awaiting automated filling in the buffer area  701 . 
     If step S 609  gives NO, step S 601  is conducted again. If step S 609  gives YES, the next available cycle mould is supplied in step S 610  from the buffer area  701  from the filling station that has become free in order to be filled there with pourable concrete in an automated manner. The controller here controls step S 610  in which the filling station that has become free is occupied by the available cycle mould. For this purpose, the controller can control the predetermined filling time and/or the predetermined concrete formulation in the filling station, optionally on the basis of shift data or casting mould data that are stored in or have to be input into the controller. 
     If step S 602  gives YES, i.e. when a manually assembled casting mould is ready for filling, a step S 603  calculates, checks, determines or detects whether an introduction frequency (for example in units of the number of manually assembled moulds introduced per unit time) of manually assembled casting moulds is greater than a first limit, and when the first limit is exceeded by the introduction frequency ascertained (step S 603  gives YES), step S 609  is conducted again and, more particularly, the manually assembled mould is not sent to one of the filling stations at present. 
     In this case, the introduction frequency may be a parameter that can directly or indirectly specify how many manually assembled moulds have been introduced into the circulation cycle or into the filling area in a particular past time interval or on average over a predetermined period of time. 
     The first limit here may preferably have been predetermined in such a way that, during a predetermined period of time, for example in the course of the current shift, it can be guaranteed that the automated circulation cycle does not have to stop, or at least a probability that the circulation cycle has to stop in the course of the shift or period of time is below a limit when the introduction frequency of the manually assembled casting moulds remains below the first limit. 
     Practical example: in the case of a shift duration T with a cycle time T 1  (or average cycle time T 1 ) in the automated circulation cycle (i.e. when exactly or an average of one further cycle mould is transferred from the mould assembly station  130  to the buffer area  701  after each period of time T 1 ), let us assume that the system comprises N&gt;0 filling stations and the pouring time (the average if appropriate) of the cycle moulds is T 2 , the pouring time (the average if appropriate) of the manually assembled casting moulds is T 3  and the times T 1 , T 2  and T 3  are each much smaller than the shift duration T (e.g. T 1 , T 2  and T 3  are each less than 20 min and the shift duration T is greater 2 to 8 hours). 
     Thus, the number of cycle moulds provided in the shift duration T is about T/T 1  given a (supply) frequency (the average if appropriate) of 1/T 1 , and the number of pourable cycle moulds in the shift duration T is about (N×T)/T 2  given a (pouring) frequency (the average if appropriate) of N/T 2 . In order to ensure that the cycle need not be interrupted, the number N of filling stations should preferably be chosen such that T/T 1  is less than (N×T)/T 2  (i.e. the number of cycle moulds provided is less than the number of cycle moulds pourable in the same period of time T), or the frequency (the average if appropriate) 1/T 1  is less than the frequency (the average if appropriate) N/T 2 . More particularly, the number N of filling stations should preferably be chosen such that N&gt;T 2 /T 1 . 
     Thus, however, potentially T/T 1  cycle moulds are provided (and poured) during the shift, although actually (N×T)/T 2 &gt;T/T 1  cycle moulds could be poured, such that, on average, a total holdup time in the filling stations of the filling area of T×[1−(T 2 /(N×T 1 ))] can be expected since it would be possible in the shift T, on average, to pour about [((N×T)/T 2 )−(T/T 1 )] more cycle moulds than are provided and poured by the circulation cycle. The fraction of the shift duration T in which the filling stations, i.e. at least one of the filling stations in each case, are expected to remain unutilized is thus about [1−(T 2 /(N×T 1 ))], and so this enables a maximum value of a potential window for the filling/casting of manually assembled casting moulds without causing a holdup in the circulation cycle or the cycle of the manufacturing stations in the manufacturing area  100 . 
     In addition, the pouring frequency (the average if appropriate) of the manually assembled stations is potentially N/T 3 , such that, in the maximum available time T×[1−(T 2 /(N×T 1 ))] per shift duration T, a maximum of (T/T 3 )×[N−(T 2 /T 1 )] manually assembled moulds may be poured, i.e., on average, with a maximum introduction frequency of [N−(T 2 /T 1 )]/T 3  (as the maximum of the first limit). Overall, it would thus be possible in the shift duration T to introduce a maximum of (T/T 3 )×[N−(T 2 /T 1 )] by means of the transfer unit into the circulation cycle without causing a holdup in the circulation cycle or in the cycle of the manufacturing stations in the manufacturing area  100 . For safety reasons, the first limit may optionally be set lower than the maximum introduction frequency of [N−(T 2 /T 1 )]/T 3  and may be stored or calculated in the controller, and/or else displayed on any display screens in the manual assembly stations. 
     Alternatively or additionally to the above-described step S 603 , it is possible to check, in a further step S 604 , whether the time until the next free filling station (i.e., for example, the minimum residual pouring time of the filling stations that are currently filling) is greater than a predetermined buffer time that can be predetermined, for example, on the basis of the times T 1  and/or T 2  or can be ascertained on the basis of the current buffer occupation in the buffer area  701  and on the basis of the times T 1  and T 2 , on the basis of the proviso that the time until the next free filling station is less than the time before maximum occupation in the buffer area  701 . In this case, it is possible, for example, in simple working examples to calculate the buffer time as buffer time=T 1  or as n×T 1  with n&gt;1. 
     If at least one of steps S 603  and S 604  gives YES, step S 609  is conducted in order to supply any available cycle mould rather than the manually assembled casting mould to the filling area or to the filling station that has become free. 
     If both steps S 603  and S 604  give NO, step S 605  checks, determines or detects whether a casting mould assembled in an automated manner (called a cycle mould) is available, i.e., for example, whether a casting mould assembled in an automated manner has been brought from the manufacturing area  100  to the transfer unit or is awaiting automated filling in the buffer area  701 . If step S 605  gives NO, it is then possible, in step S 608 , to directly supply the available manually assembled casting moulds to the filling station that has become free. 
     The next available manually assembled casting mould is supplied in step S 608  from the buffer area  702  from the filling station that has become free in order to be filled there with pourable concrete in an automated manner. The controller here controls step S 608  in which the filling station that has become free is occupied by the available casting mould. For this purpose, the controller can control the predetermined filling time and/or the predetermined concrete formulation at the filling station, optionally on the basis of shift data or casting mould data that are stored in or have to be input into the controller, or on the basis of data that a user has input into a computer controller or input station in the manual assembly of the casting mould at the respective assembly station M 1  to M 4  of the manual assembly region  500 . 
     If step S 605  gives YES, it is optionally possible for one or two further steps to check, determine or detect whether the available cycle mould is nevertheless supplied to the filling area  300  or the filling station that has become free instead of the available manually assembled casting mould. 
     By way of example, a step S 606  can check, determine or detect whether a cycle buffer zone occupation is greater than a second limit, especially in order to ascertain, for example, whether there is still at least a predeterminable number of K&gt;0 free buffer zone positions available in the buffer area  701  or whether the number of occupied buffer zone positions in the buffer area  701  does not exceed a maximum value or maximum percentage in relation to the total number of buffer positions. 
     In a further optional step S 608 , it is preferably possible to check whether the available cycle mould is the last (and/or second-from-last and/or third-from-last) casting mould in a cycle mould package series, i.e. in order not to interrupt the package series that has already started and preferably to conclude it before the manually assembled casting mould is supplied to the filling stations. 
     Only when both optional steps S 606  and S 607  give NO is step S 608  executed, and the available manually assembled casting mould is supplied from the buffer area  702  from the filling station that has become free in order to be filled there with pourable concrete in an automated manner. Otherwise, rather than the manually assembled casting mould, the available cycle mould is nevertheless supplied to the filling station that has become free (step S 610 ). 
       FIG.  7    shows, by way of example, a diagram of a method of controlling a production system in one working example of the invention. 
     In step S 701 , prior to commencement of the shift and prior to activation of the automated circulation cycle, cycle shift plan data of a shift with t 0  (or 0)≤t≤tE are loaded. The shift plan data can be prestored by a shift manager or input by an automated controller. The shift plan data preferably contain data that specify the total shift duration, the number N of available filling stations, the cycle time(s), the pourable cycle moulds, optionally with their predetermined sequence, the respective pouring times and/or pouring volumes and/or, if appropriate, their predetermined concrete formulations. 
     In step S 702 , the loaded cycle shift plan data are used to determine the cycle time T in the cycle (or, in the case of different cycle times over the shift duration, the course of the cycle time T(t) against time). 
     In step S 703 , a control function Z(t) variable with time or control function values Z(t) variable with time for the total buffer zone supply number Z is determined as a function of time t during the shift. This corresponds to the total number Z of cycle moulds supplied from the automated manufacturing area to the buffer area  701  up to the time t since the start of the shift (if appropriate plus the casting moulds/cycle moulds from the preceding shift that were already disposed in the buffer area  701  at the start of the shift). The control function values Z(t) of the total buffer zone supply number Z as a function of time t during the shift grows monotonously with time t, since the number supplied to the buffer area  701  grows by the number one after each cycle time without holdup in the circulation cycle. 
       FIG.  9    shows illustrative plots of control function values against time in a control method according to  FIGS.  7  and/or  8   . 
     In this figure, the upper plot shows an illustrative evolution of the total buffer zone supply number Z(t) against time as a function of time t during the shift from an illustrative juncture t 0  with an illustrative starting number of z 0  casting moulds in the buffer area  701 . 
     The cycle time T is constant by way of example and, after each time t, Z(t) grows by the number one. 
     In step S 704  in  FIG.  7   , the number N of available filling stations is determined and, in step S 705 , the respective filling times x_i of the cycle moulds i (with illustratively predetermined sequence i=1, 2, 3, . . . ) are read out or determined from the shift data plan. Assuming that the N filling stations are each constantly filled repeatedly with cycle moulds i as soon as a filling station has become free, in step S 706 , a residual filling time function D(t) is ascertained as a function of N and respective filling times x_i as a function of time, where the residual filling time function D(t) preferably states the time before the next free filling station at each time t. This residual filling time function D(t) in each case falls monotonously with time t and, at each zero point, jumps to x_i when the next cycle mould i is then supplied to the filling station that has become free. 
     In this context, it is possible to use the corresponding filling times x_i and the juncture of occupation of a filling station with the respective cycle mould i for each filling station j (j=1, 2, . . . , N) to ascertain a residual pouring time α_j or α_j(t), where the residual filling time function D(t) is given each case by the minimum residual pouring time α_j before the next filling station becomes free. Thus, the residual filling time function D(t) is given as D(t)=min(α_1, . . . , α_j, . . . , α_N). 
     In  FIG.  9   , the second plot from the top shows an illustrative evolution of the residual filling time function D(t) as a function of time t during the shift from an illustrative juncture t 0 . At any juncture when the residual filling time function D(t) drops to zero, a casting mould has been completely filled and a next casting mould can be supplied to the filling station that has become free, and at this juncture the residual filling time function D(t) jumps to the value corresponding to the residual filling time at the next filling station that becomes free. 
     In step S 708  in  FIG.  7   , a total buffer zone removal number G(t) is determined as a function of the residual filling time function D(t). The total buffer zone removal number G(t) corresponds to the total number G of cycle moulds supplied from the buffer area  701  to the filling area at the time t since the start of the shift (if appropriate plus the moulds already transferred out of buffer area  701  into the filling area at the start of the shift). The control function values G(t) of the total buffer zone removal number G as a function of time t during the shift grow monotonously with time t since the number removed from the buffer area  701  grows by the number one every time the residual filling time function D(t) drops to zero, and a casting mould has been completely filled and a next casting mould can be supplied to the filling station that has become free. 
     The third plot from the top in  FIG.  9    shows an illustrative evolution of the total buffer zone removal number G(t) as a function of time t during the shift from an illustrative juncture t 0  with an illustrative starting number of g 0 . The control function values G(t) of the total buffer zone removal number G grow by the number one every time the residual filling time function D(t) drops to zero. 
     In step S 709 , in  FIG.  7   , a buffer zone occupation number P(t) is determined as a function of time t, on the basis of the difference between Z(t) and G(t) according to steps S 706  and S 708 . Buffer zone occupation number P(t) corresponds here by way of example to the number of casting moulds from the automated circulation cycle that are being stored intermediately in the buffer area  701 . 
     The lower plot in  FIG.  9    shows an illustrative evolution of the buffer zone occupation number P(t) as a function of time t during the shift from an illustrative juncture t 0  with an illustrative starting number of p 0  of casting moulds present in the buffer area  701  before time t 0 . The control function values P(t) of the buffer zone occupation number P grow by the number one every time the total buffer zone supply number Z(t) grows by the number one, and fall by the number one every time the total buffer zone removal number G(t) grows by the number one. 
     Step S 710  in  FIG.  7    ascertains, checks or detects whether the buffer zone occupation number P(t) ascertained, for the total relevant period of time, for example in the shift from the start of the shift to the end of the shift or from t 0  to tE, exceeds a maximum buffer zone occupation number P_MAX, or whether the buffer zone occupation number P(t) ascertained for the total relevant period of time, for example in the shift from the start of the shift to the end of the shift or from t 0  to tE, remains less than or equal to the maximum buffer zone occupation number P_MAX, i.e. whether P(t)≤P_MAX for all t. 
     If step S 710  gives NO, i.e. when the buffer zone occupation number P exceeds the maximum buffer zone occupation number P_MAX at least at one juncture, an at least potential cycle stop has to be expected owing to full occupation of the available buffer space, and, in step S 711 , a warning message is issued. This can stop the controller or alternatively lead to checking or determination in an optional further step S 712  as to whether a cycle stop is tolerable in the shift, for example on the basis of presettings in the cycle shift plan data. 
     If step S 712  or step S 710  gives YES, in step S 713 , the time is set to reset t 0  and the circulation cycle is started automatically, meaning that, in the manufacturing area  100  and in the filling area  300 , cycle moulds are processed in an automated manner and guided from manufacturing station to manufacturing station. 
     If the time t is less than the shift duration tE (step S 716  gives NO), steps S 714  of the control of the cycle functions (e.g. conveying sections, synchronization cycles, manufacturing stations) and S 715  of the control of the filling station supply by means of the transfer unit (for example according to  FIG.  6    or  FIG.  8   ) are controlled. 
       FIG.  8    shows, by way of example, a flow diagram of a method of controlling the filling station supply in a production system in one working example of the invention. 
     In a system having one or more filling stations (e.g. F 1  to F 3  or F 1  to F 5 ), a step S 801  checks, determines or detects whether one of the filling stations is free or has become free. A filling station becomes free or is considered to have become free when a casting mould that has been poured there or filled casting mould has been filled completely with free-flowing concrete, i.e. more particularly when the residual pouring time has elapsed and the filling with concrete is stopped, for example in an automated manner, and the filled casting mould is transported away in order to be supplied to the hardening area  420 . If the step gives NO (i.e. when all filling stations are occupied and filled and casting moulds are being filled in each case), the operation is repeated until step S 801  gives YES and a filling station has become free. 
     Step S 802  checks, determines or detects whether a manually assembled casting mould is available, i.e., for example, whether a manually equipped casting mould has been brought from the manual assembly area  500  to the transfer unit or is awaiting automated filling in the buffer area  702  or  703 . If step S 802  gives NO, when no manually assembled casting mould is ready for filling, a step S 811  checks, determines or detects whether a casting mould assembled in an automated manner (called a cycle mould) is available, i.e., for example, whether a casting mould assembled in an automated manner has been brought from the manufacturing area  100  to the transfer unit or is awaiting automated filling in the buffer area  701 . 
     If step S 811  gives NO, step S 801  is conducted again. If step S 811  gives YES, the next available cycle mould is supplied in step S 812  from the buffer area  701  from the filling station that has become free in order to be filled there with pourable concrete in an automated manner. The controller here controls step S 812 , in which the filling station that has become free is occupied with the available cycle mould. For this purpose, the controller can control the predetermined filling time and/or the predetermined concrete formulation at the filling station, optionally on the basis of shift data or casting mould data that have been recorded in or have to be input into the controller. 
     If step S 802  gives YES, i.e. when a manually assembled casting mould is ready for filling, a step S 803  ascertains a filling time or pouring time y for this manually assembled mould, for example on the basis of data that have been input by the manual user in the manual assembly station, or on the basis of data that have been calculated on the basis of an internal volume of the manually assembled casting mould. 
     A step S 804 , on the basis of the number N of available filling stations, the pouring time y ascertained for this manually assembled mould and the filling times x_i of the cycle moulds i that have been specified in shift plan data (with illustratively predetermined sequence i=1, 2, 3, . . . ), calculates a potential residual filling time function D′(t) from the current juncture t until the end of the shift or until a predetermined duration T with end time tE has elapsed, assuming that the manually assembled casting mould is conveyed to the next filling station that becomes free and supplied thereto for filling. This corresponds essentially to a calculated simulation of the residual filling time function D′(t) assuming that the next filling station that becomes free, rather than being occupied by the next cycle mould, would instead be occupied by the manually assembled casting mould. 
     Analogously to steps S 706  to S 710 , in step S 805 , assuming that the N filling stations are first filled with the manually assembled casting mould and then constantly filled repeatedly with cycle moulds i as soon as a filling station has become free, step S 805  ascertains the residual filling time function D′(t) as a function of N and respective filling times y and x_i as a function of time, where the residual filling time function D(t) again preferably states the duration until the next free filling station at each time t. 
     Step S 805  in  FIG.  8    determines the potential total buffer zone removal number G′(t) as a function of the plot of the residual filling time function D′(t), and step S 806  in  FIG.  8    determines the potential buffer zone occupation number P′(t) as a function of time t, on the basis of the difference between Z(t) and G′(t) according to steps S 706  and S 805 . 
     Step S 807  in  FIG.  8    ascertains, checks or detects whether the potential buffer zone occupation number P′(t) ascertained exceeds the maximum buffer zone occupation number P_MAX for the entire period of relevance, for example until the end of the shift or until tE, or whether the buffer zone occupation number P′(t) ascertained remains less than or equal to the maximum buffer zone occupation number P_MAX, i.e. whether P′(t)≤P_MAX for all t for the entire period of relevance. 
     If step S 807  gives NO and a cycle mould is available (step S 811  gives YES), step S 812  determines that the next filling station that becomes free or the filling station that has become free should be occupied by the cycle mould. If no cycle mould is available, the method begins again by way of example with step S 801 . It is ensured here that a potential cycle stop can be avoided since the manually assembled casting mould is not, or at least not yet, supplied to the filling area. In addition, by way of example, analogously to  FIG.  6    (steps S 605  and S 607 ) another check is made, if step S 807  gives YES, as to whether a cycle mould is available and, if so, whether it is part of a package series in order then nevertheless to transport the cycle mould into the filling area to conclude the package series (steps S 808 , S 809  and S 812 ), rather than the manually assembled casting mould. 
     Otherwise, especially since it is possible to ensure by means of step S 807  that a potential cycle stop can be avoided until time tE or until the end of the shift even if the filling station that has become free or becomes free were occupied by the manually assembled filling station, if step S 807  gives YES (or optionally when step S 808  gives NO or step S 809  gives NO), step S 810  determines that the next filling station that becomes free or the filling station that has become free should be occupied by the manually assembled casting mould. 
     It is thus possible for manually assembled casting moulds to be supplied efficiently and in an automated manner to the automated circulation cycle without causing a holdup or a cycle stop therein owing to a risk of buffer zone overoccupation. 
     The above-described working examples should not be regarded as being self-limiting, since it is possible to combine features of the above-described working examples of the present invention or to modify working examples with features of other working examples in order to obtain further working examples of the present invention. If modifications or combinations of features of this kind are covered by the scope of the claims, they should be regarded as part of the invention, and, if they are apparent to the person skilled in the art, modifications or combinations of features of this kind should still implicitly be regarded as part of the disclosure of this description. 
     In the above-described working examples, the mould conveying unit  200  may be executed, for example, as a chain conveyor, but the present invention is not limited to chain conveyors. The transport units  320 ,  410 ,  510  and  610  may take the form, for example, of a robot crane. 
     The concrete products that have been produced by means of a system of the present invention may be produced in a wide variety of different executions and forms (if appropriate, according to the optional manufacturing stations and casting moulds provided, even without additional assembly times in a single circulation system). This includes concrete tubes of all forms, profiles and sizes, and tubes with and without reinforcements or inner tubes, for example made of plastic. 
     In summary, the present invention enables provision of a system and a method in which concrete products can be produced at lower cost and with high quality and reliability in automated manner and efficiently by a casting method, and especially provision of a system and a method in which concrete products of different dimensions can be manufactured by a casting method in an automated and efficient manner with short cycle times, with no requirement for assembly times and in particular with short holdup times, with firstly automated assembly of the casting moulds and secondly also manually assembled casting moulds which can be introduced into the automatic circulation cycle in an optimized and automated manner. 
     Further aspects of the disclosure may include one or more of the following aspects: 
     According to a first aspect, a system for producing concrete products by a casting method by means of casting moulds assembled from corresponding outer and inner moulds, may have an automated, especially program-controlled, circulation system may have:
         a hardening area  420  for storage of concrete products hardening in a respective casting mould;   an automated manufacturing area  100 ,  300  having a multitude of automated manufacturing devices; and   a conveying unit  200  having automated circulation conveyor sections for conveying the casting moulds or the outer and inner moulds of the casting moulds from the hardening area  420  to the automated manufacturing area  100 ,  300 , between the respective manufacturing units in the automated manufacturing area  100 ,  300  and from the automated manufacturing area  100 ,  300  into the hardening area  420 ;
 
wherein the automated manufacturing area  100 ,  300  of the circulation system has:
   an automated mould assembly unit  130  for assembly of a casting mould from corresponding outer and inner moulds that have been cleaned in the cleaning unit  120 ;  121 ,  122 , and   an automated filling unit F 1 , F 2 , F 3 ; F 1 -F 5  for filling of one or more assembled casting moulds with concrete;
           wherein the system also has a manually operable mould assembly unit having at least one mould assembly station M 1 , M 2 , M 3 , M 4  for manually assisted assembly of a casting mould from corresponding outer and inner moulds; and
 
wherein the conveying unit has a supply conveying section  222  set up to supply a casting mould assembled in the manually operable mould assembly unit to the automated circulation system.
   
               

     According to a second aspect, the system may be characterized in that the supply conveying section  222  is set up to supply a casting mould assembled in the manually operable mould assembly unit to the automated circulation system upstream of the filling unit of the manufacturing area of the circulation system; or the supply conveying section  222 ,  223  is set up to supply a casting mould assembled in the manually operable mould assembly unit to a further filling unit and to supply it from the further filling unit to the hardening area of the automated circulation system. 
     According to another aspect a further conveying section  221 ;  221   a,    221   b  is set up to supply a casting mould from the hardening area of the automated circulation system to the manual assembly area. 
     According to another aspect, the supply conveying section  222  is set up to supply a casting mould assembled in the manually operable mould assembly unit to the automated circulation system in an automated manner, especially in a program-controlled manner. 
     According to another aspect, the automated manufacturing area  100 ,  300  of the circulation system also has: an automated demoulding area  110 ;  111 ,  112  for demoulding of a casting mould arriving from the hardening area and for removal of a hardened concrete product, and an automated cleaning unit  120 ;  121 ,  122  for cleaning of the outer and inner moulds of a casting mould demoulded in the demoulding unit. 
     According to another aspect, a transfer unit  310 ;  320 ;  800  is set up to transfer both casting moulds supplied by means of the supply conveying section  222  from the manually operable mould assembly unit and casting moulds supplied by means of a circulation conveying section  214  from the automated mould assembly unit to one or more filling stations F 1 -F 3 ; F 1 -F 5  in the automated filling unit. 
     According to another aspect, the transfer unit  310 ;  320 ;  800  is set up to transfer casting moulds supplied by means of the feed conveying section  222  and casting moulds supplied by means of the circulation conveying section  214  to one or more filling stations F 1 -F 3 ; F 1 -F 5  of the automated filling unit in an automated manner, especially program-controlled manner. 
     According to another aspect, the transfer unit has a deflector system  800  for controllable combination of the supply conveying section  222  arriving from the manually operable mould assembly unit and the circulation conveying section  214  arriving from the automated mould assembly unit upstream of the automated filling unit. 
     According to another aspect, the transfer unit has a transport unit  320  is set up to accommodate a supplied casting mould from the supply conveying section  222  arriving from the manually operable mould assembly unit and also to accommodate a supplied casting mould from the circulation conveying section  214  arriving from the automated mould assembly unit, and to transfer an accommodated casting mould to the automated filling unit or to one or more of the circulation conveying sections  241 - 245  that supply the automated filling unit. 
     According to another aspect, the transport unit  320  comprises a manipulator and especially a program-controlled robot crane. 
     According to another aspect, the transfer unit has a movable slide table  310  set up to accommodate a supplied casting mould from the supply conveying section  222  arriving from the manually operable mould assembly unit and also a supplied casting mould from the circulation conveying section  214  arriving from the automated mould assembly unit, and to transfer an accommodated casting mould to the automated filling unit or to one or more of the circulation conveying sections  241 - 243  that supplies the automated filling unit. 
     According to another aspect, the transfer unit is further set up to remove a casting mould filled in the automated filling unit and to supply it to a release unit  410 ;  610  for releasing the filled casting mould into the hardening area  420 ;  600 . 
     According to another aspect, the release unit has an intermediate storage area  600  for intermediate storage of filled casting moulds before release into the hardening area  420 . 
     According to another aspect, the release unit has a manipulator  414 ;  614 , especially a robot crane, set up to transfer one casting mould and/or a group of two or more casting moulds into the hardening area  420  or to a conveying section  251  of the conveying unit that leads to the hardening area. 
     According to another aspect, the release unit has a program-controlled, automated fitting device for fitting a muff on a filled casting mould. 
     According to another aspect, the filling unit has a multitude of automated filling stations F 1 -F 3 ; F 1 -F 5  for parallel filling of multiple casting moulds with concrete in the filling unit. 
     According to another aspect, a control unit for programmed control of the manufacturing units of the automated manufacturing area of the circulation system and the conveying unit. 
     According to another aspect, the control unit is set up to store an appropriate filling time for each concrete product or for each assembled casting mould, and to control the supply of casting moulds to the multitude of automated filling stations for parallel filling of multiple casting moulds with concrete at the filling unit depending on the corresponding filling times stored for the casting moulds. 
     According to another aspect, the control unit is set up to store an appropriate concrete formulation for each concrete product or for each assembled casting mould, and to control the filling of a casting mould at an automated filling station depending on a corresponding concrete formulation stored. 
     According to another aspect, a circulation conveying section  214  that supplies from the automated mould assembly unit is set up to accommodate two or more of the casting moulds arriving from the automated mould assembly unit in order to intermediately store accommodated casting moulds prior to supply to the automated filling unit in such a way that the circulation conveying section  214  that supplies from the automated mould assembly unit has a first buffer area  701 . 
     According to another aspect, the supply conveying section that supplies from the manually operable mould assembly unit is set up to accommodate two or more casting moulds arriving from the manually operable mould assembly unit in order to intermediately store accommodated casting moulds prior to introduction into the circulation system or prior to supply to the automated filling unit, in such a way that the supply conveying section that supplies from the manually operable mould assembly unit has a second buffer area  702 . 
     According to another aspect, a control unit of the system or a control unit of the automated transfer unit is set up to control the transfer unit and, for the control of the transfer unit, is set up to decide under program control whether a next free filling station of the filling unit should be occupied by a casting mould arriving from the manually operable mould assembly unit or by a casting mould arriving from the automated mould assembly unit. 
     According to another aspect, the decision as to whether a next free filling station of the filling unit should be occupied by a casting mould arriving from the manually operable mould assembly unit or by a casting mould arriving from the automated mould assembly unit is made on the basis of one or more criteria. 
     According to another aspect, the criteria include:
         a criterion of whether a next casting mould arriving from the automated mould assembly unit is the last casting mould of a package series to be filled in succession,   a criterion of whether a calculated time until a next-but-one filling station of the filling unit becomes free exceeds a predetermined buffer time,   a criterion of whether a calculated introduction frequency of manually assembled casting moulds introduced into the circulation cycle exceeds a limit,   a criterion of whether an instantaneous buffer zone occupation of a buffer area of the automated circulation exceeds a limit, and/or   a criterion of whether a calculated function of the buffer zone occupation of a buffer area of the automated circulation cycle as a function of time over of a predetermined period of time exceeds a limit.       

     According to another aspect, an automated demoulding unit has a grab for removing a muff from a casting mould and/or a grab for removing a hardened concrete product from the casting mould. 
     According to another aspect, a method of producing concrete products by a casting method by means of casting moulds assembled from corresponding outer and inner moulds in a system according to any of the preceding aspects, comprises:
         automated assembly of a casting mould from corresponding outer and inner moulds cleaned in the cleaning unit  120 ;  121 ,  122  and   automated filling of one or more assembled casting moulds with concrete;
           wherein the method further comprises: supply, especially program-controlled supply, of a casting mould assembled in the manually operable mould assembly unit to the automated circulation system by means of an automated supply conveying section  222 .   
               

     According to another aspect, a computer program product has a computer program stored in a computer-readable data storage medium, executable in a data processing unit in such a way that the data processing unit executes program control of a system according to any of previous aspects, comprising the executing of the steps of the mentioned method.