Patent ID: 7674155

Claim:
A process for artificially ageing blocks ( 1 ) including at least one of concrete blocks, vitrified blocks and natural stone blocks, the process comprising the steps of: placing the blocks to be worked ( 1 ) adjacent one another onto an underlying surface ( 2 ), applying substantially freely movable distressing bodies ( 4 ) to an upper surface ( 1 a ) of the blocks ( 1 ) to be worked, vibrating the underlying surface ( 2 ) thereby causing relative motion between the blocks to be worked ( 1 ) and the distressing bodies ( 4 ) such that at least one of vertical movement and horizontal movement of the distressing bodies ( 4 ), induced by the vibrating motion of the underlying surface ( 2 ) to the distressing bodies ( 4 ), via the blocks to be worked ( 1 ), on the upper surface ( 1 a ) and adjacent edges ( 1 b ) of the blocks to be worked ( 1 ) artificially ages the blocks ( 1 ), and transmitting a vertical component of the vibrating motion of the underlying surface ( 2 ), through the blocks to be worked ( 1 ), so as to cause the upper surfaces ( 1 a ) of the blocks to be worked ( 1 ) to propel the distressing bodies ( 4 ) upward, from the upper surface ( 1 a ) of the blocks to be worked ( 1 ) and thereafter fall back onto the upper surface ( 1 a ) of the blocks to be worked ( 1 ) and act on the upper surface ( 1 a ) and adjacent edges ( 1 b ) of the blocks to be worked ( 1 ).