GB682304A - Improvements in or relating to machines for manufacturing artificial stone - Google Patents

Abstract

682,304. Moulding roofing tiles &c. ABRAHAM, Ltd., R., and ABRAHAM, R. A. April 25, 1950 [May 4, 1949], No. 5936/49. Class 87 (ii). [Also in Group XXX] Moulds charged with artificial stone are moved continuously end-to-end underneath a compressing mechanism consisting of a freely running endless belt of rubber or the like within which the pressure applying means is located. The belt 39, Fig. 3, under which the moulds are fed on a conveyor 29, passes around rollers 40, some of which are mounted in a frame 31. This frame is resiliently mounted in a further frame 33 which is continuously reciprocated by a mechanism 34, 35. In order, at the beginning of operations, to introduce the first mould of a train under the compressor, the frame 31, Fig. 4, is temporarily raised with respect to the upper frame 33 by means of arms 43, mounted on shafts 44 in the upper frame 33 and connected by a linkage 46, 47. The arms are actuated by means of a lever 44a and bear against members 43a on the lower frame 31. The moulds 11, Fig. 2, which are of the type having a loose pallet, are fed to the conveyor 29 by means of a feeding mechanism comprising a number of mould-propelling fingers 17 each pivoted at 18a to endless chain 18. The fingers are provided with rollers 21, 22 which run along upper and lower tracks 24, 26 and up or down ramps 23, 25. The ramp 23 is hinged at 27 to allow the passage of fingers travelling in a reverse direction. The moulds are filled with concrete and finishing material from hoppers 12, 13 which have rollers 12a, 13a arranged to operate in the manner described in Specification 462,019. After passing under the compressor, the moulds are emptied and returned upon a lower belt 48 onto or from which they are raised or lowered at either end of the machine by hinged frames (not shown), of the type described in Specification 460,278. Simultaneous raising of one frame and lowering of'the other is effected by a crank 51, Fig. 6, connected to the frames by rods or chains 53. The crank is moved in steps of 180 degrees by means of a pulley 57 to which it is connected by a belt 55. The pulley 57 is mounted in a frame 58 hinged at 59 in such a manner that, by operation of a mechanism 62, 66, 66a, it can be moved clear of a brake 61 and brought into contact with a continuously running pulley 65. Shaft 54, carrying the crank 51, also carries a cam 64 which co-operates with a roller 63 on the lever 62 in such a manner that, after the shaft 54 has made half a revolution, the roller 63 drops into one of the recesses of the cam 64 and the pulley 57 disengages the driving wheel 65.