Patent ID: 7404755

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: applying the blocks ( 1 ) onto an underlying surface ( 2 ), suspending substantially freely movable distressing bodies ( 4 ) above an upper surface ( 1 a ) of the blocks ( 1 ) to be worked, vibrating the underlying surface ( 2 ) to cause relative motion between the blocks ( 1 ) and the distressing bodies ( 4 ) by at least one of vertical movement and horizontal movement of the distressing bodies ( 4 ) caused by transmission of the vibrating motion of the underlying surface ( 2 ) to the distressing bodies ( 4 ), via the blocks ( 1 ), such that the distressing bodies ( 4 ) are repelled upward away from the upper surface ( 1 a ) of the blocks ( 1 ) and subsequently fall back toward and collide, due to gravity, with at least one of the upper surface ( 1 a ) and the adjacent edges ( 1 b ) of the blocks ( 1 ) to artificially age the upper surface ( 1 a ) and the adjacent edges ( 1 b ) of the blocks ( 1 ).