Patent ID: 7651328

Claim:
An apparatus for artificial aging blocks ( 1 ) which each have a treatment surface ( 1 a ) and adjoining edges ( 1 b ), the apparatus comprising: a base ( 2 ) supporting an entire bottom surface the blocks ( 1 ) to be artificially aged in such a manner that the treatment surface ( 1 a ) and the adjoining edges ( 1 b ) of the blocks are exposed; a retaining device ( 5 ) being arranged above the base ( 2 ) with the retaining device ( 5 ) having a plurality of retaining elements ( 7 ), each of the plurality of retaining elements ( 7 ) supporting a movably striking body ( 3 ) such that the respective striking body ( 3 ) moves within a defined region of the treatment surface ( 1 a ) of the blocks ( 1 ) to facilitate artificial aging of the blocks ( 1 ); a vibrating device ( 6 ) for vibrating the base ( 2 ) upon which the blocks ( 1 ) are supported, and the vibrating device ( 6 ) vibrating the base ( 2 ) and the base ( 2 ), in turn, vibrating and causing at least the blocks ( 1 ) to move relative to the base ( 2 ) and the striking bodies ( 3 ) such that the striking bodies ( 3 ) and the treatment surface ( 1 a ) and the adjoining edges ( 1 b ) of the blocks strike one another and facilitate artificial aging of the blocks ( 1 ); and an oscillating means for oscillating the retaining elements ( 7 ) back and forth at least axially along the retaining elements ( 7 ) just between the base and the retaining elements so that the striking bodies ( 3 ) only oscillate within the defined region for abutting with the top surface of the blocks ( 1 ) while the vibrating device ( 6 ) vibrates the base ( 2 ) so that the striking bodies ( 3 ) and the blocks ( 1 ) both move relative to and strike one another and thereby facilitate irregular striking of the blocks ( 1 ) and the striking bodies ( 3 ) to artificially age of the blocks ( 1 ).