MXPA97007149A - Apparatus and method for adjustable mounting a mol box - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to in a machine forming molded concrete products, a molding box assembly for adjustably mounting a molding box for receiving concrete, the assembly is characterized in that it comprises: a substantially rectangular rectangle molding box having a pair of substantially parallel, opposite side plates, and a pair of opposite substantially parallel clamps, placed on opposite ends of the side plates; a support frame, for receiving the molding box, having a pair of substantially parallel side beams , opposite, and a pair of end clamps substantially parallel, opposite, placed on the opposite ends of the side beams, which together with the beams form substantially rectangular framework, a separator to accommodate adjustable mold boxes of different sizes, placed in the middle of one of the clamps finesels of the frame and one of the clamps mount e of the molding box and moving between the two, and a retractor coupled to the separator to move the separator to place and accommodate the molding box in the frame

Description

APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR ADJUSTABLE MOUNTING A MOLDING BOX BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to molding box assemblies and, more particularly, to an apparatus and method for adjustably mounting a molding box in a machine to form molded concrete products. There are several problems that occur with "prior art machines to form vtion concrete products." One of the main problems is with the vtor system.When the vtor system shakes the mold assembly, such vtion causes the whole machine to shake , thus dampening the vtion in the mold assembly and causing an uneven distribution of the cement material In addition, the parts of the machine are fatigued by vtion and alter the spaces between the main parts in the machine. The operating life of the machine and the mold box are reduced, the quality of the product is adversely affected, deteriorating even more with the age of the machine.Another problem associated with the prior art machines for forming concrete products is related to the fact that REF boxes are exchanged: 25419 molding of various sizes constantly on the machine to produce prod forms Different types When a new molding box is mounted on the machine, larger adjustments or alignments are necessary, so that the machine can properly accommodate molding boxes of different heights. The head assembly and mold assembly must also be forced into proper alignment. Thus, with prior art machines, when molding boxes are exchanged, a significant amount of time is required to assemble and properly align a new mold box in the machine. This results in downtimes in the machine and reduces the overall performance of the product. To overcome the problems described above with the prior art machines, a novel apparatus and method was designed to form concrete products for the high speed manufacture of a wide variety of high quality products. This novel method and apparatus were described in U.S. Patent No. 5,395,228 to Aeseth et al., For apparatus for forming concrete products and is incorporated herein by reference. That invention increased the control of vtion in a concrete product forming machine, reduced the amount of time required to mold concrete products, increased the homogeneous consistency of concrete products and reduced the amount of time required to exchange and align the concrete. molds in a concrete product forming machine. A novel self-aligning mold box assembly 5 for use in a machine for forming concrete products, such as the machine described in US Patent No. 5,395,228 to Aeseth et al., Is described in my North American Patent Application Serial No. 08 / 361,790, filed at the United States Patent and Trademark Office on December 21, 1994, and incorporated herein by reference. Another novel molding box assembly for use in a machine for forming concrete products, such as the machine described in U.S. Patent No. 5,395,228 to Aeseth et al., Is described in my Patent Application.

V ^ M 15 North American Serial No. 08 / 373,936 for ün (í? Etodo y? P p A device for securing partition plates in a mold), filed with the United States Patent and Trademark Office United on January 13, 1995, and incorporated here as a reference. Although both the concrete product forming machine described in US Patent No. 5,395,228 to Aeseth et al., As well as the two novel molding box assemblies described in my North American Patent Application Serial No. 08 / 361,790, and my Patent Application have substantial advantages over prior art, a practical problem has been encountered in converting the novel machine and box moldings. A user who buys the new machine to form concrete products also has to buy new molds designed to be used in the new machine. Although some manufacturing operations produce only a limited number of products and, consequently, require only a few types of molds, other manufacturing operations have a broad spectrum of concrete products and, consequently, can use up to 50 different types of molds. for a single machine to make different products. Obviously buying a new machine and buying up to 50 new molds creates a substantial expense for a business.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, a general object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus and a method that is. They fit into a smaller molding box for use in a machine to form concrete products that are designed to be used with a larger molding box. A further object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus and a method for facilitating the use of old molds with the new machines for forming concrete products, such as that described in US Patent No. 5,395,228 to Aeseth et al. Still another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus and method that are adapted to old molds for use with new machines to form concrete products, but still retaining the advantages associated with the use of new machines. A further object of this invention is to provide an apparatus and a method for adapting such old molds for use with new machines, which are easy and economical to use. These and other objects and advantages are achieved by providing an apparatus for mounting a molding box on a machine to form molded gate products, which comprises a mold defining a cavity for receiving cement, having a pair of opposite side plates and a pair of opposite mounting clamps. The apparatus further includes a mold support frame having a pair of opposite side beams and a pair of opposite end clamps, with a connection device for mounting the support frame on the machine. A pair of opposed substantially parallel slots are formed on the side plates of the support frame and a slidable plate is received in the slots and slides therethrough. A groove is also formed on one of the mold mounting brackets, so that the sliding plate is received in the groove formed in the mold mounting bracket. The present invention also provides a method for mounting a molding box for use in a machine for forming molding products, having a substantially rectangular molding box with a pair of opposite side plates and a pair of opposite mounting clamps having a groove formed on the clamps and further having a substantially rectangular support frame for receiving the molding box with a pair of opposite side beams, a groove formed on one side of one of the side beams, and a pair of opposite end clamps placed at the opposite ends of the side beams, with the method designed to adapt a support frame having lateral beams substantially longer than the side doors of the molding box. The method includes the steps of removing one of the end brackets of the frame, installing on the frame a pair of substantially sliding rectangular dividers, with each spacer having an elongation placed adjacent one of its ends that can be received in the groove on a beam lateral and that can slide through it. The next step is to firmly mount a final clamp to the ends of the side beams and place the molding box in the block. Next, the last step is to slide the spacers into the slots on the mounting bracket. Thus, it can be appreciated that the novel apparatus and method described above can be used to adapt smaller size mold boxes for use in any concrete product forming machine having a larger mold box support frame. The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be more readily apparent from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment which proceeds with reference to the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 is a perspective view of a molding box assembly, shown in a mounted condition, constructed in accordance with the present invention, with portions of the molding box shown in discussed lines. Figure 2 is a partial exploded view of the molding box assembly of Figure 1, with the molding box shown removed from the molding box assembly and portions thereof shown in dashed lines.

Figure 3 is a top plan view of the molding box assembly shown in Figure 1, shown in cross section, illustrating a condition wherein a slidable plate is in a fully retracted position to accommodate the exchange of box assembly. molding Figure 4 is a top plan view, similar to that of Figure 3, of the molding box assembly shown in partial cross section showing the slidable plate in a fully extended position received completely in a slot formed in the mounting bracket of the molding box, in a condition when the molding box is assembled ready to receive the cement product.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED MODALITY Returning now to Figures 1 and 2, generally indicated at 10 in Figure 1, there is a molding box assembly embodying the present invention, with a molding box, generally shown at 12, received in a frame of molding box support, generally shown at 14. As best seen in Figure 2, the molding box 12 includes a pair of substantially parallel, opposite side plates 16, 18 shown in dashed lines, and a pair of mounting brackets substantially parallel, opposite 20, 22 which are placed on the opposite ends of the side plates 16, 18. The mounting brackets 20, 22 are secured to the side plates 16, 18 by the screws indicated generally at 24. partition plates 26, 28, shown in dashed lines, extend between the side plates 16, 18 and include the end surfaces, such as the surfaces 30, 32 shown in Figure 1, which are n in uniform contact with an inner side of each side plate. The spaces between the partition plates, such as plates 26, 28, provide cavities in which the bonded cement is compressed and subsequently separated therefrom to form a molded concrete product. A pair of elongated slots or couplers 34, 36 are formed in the center on the flat outer surfaces or sides of the mounting brackets 20, 22. The coupler 34 includes the slot 34a, 34b, 34c. The coupler 36 is substantially identical to the coupler 34. The mounting bracket 22 is substantially identical to the mounting bracket 20. The coupler 36 is substantially identical to the coupler 34. As illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, the support frame 14 includes a pair of substantially parallel, opposite side beams 42, 44 and a pair of substantially parallel, opposite end clamps 46, 48 positioned at the opposite ends of the side beams 42, 44, which together define a substantially rectangular frame having 4 Corner portions as shown. An alignment bolt, such as the bolt 58 shown in Figure 2, is mounted on the end bracket at each corner portion and an alignment bore, such as the bore 60, coaxial with the bolt, is formed on the lateral beam. The perforations are dimensioned and positioned so that, when each perforation has its associated alignment pin therein, the support frame of the mold box is sufficiently aligned to form molded products, all as described more fully in the Application Patent No. 08 / 361,790 for Assembly of Self-Aligning Molding Box. As seen in Figure 2, a pair of elongated slots 62, 64 are formed on the inner sides of the side beams 42, 44. A pair of spacers or substantially rectangular plates 66, 68, shown in Figures 1, are provided. and 2, for the assembly 10. The separator 66, has an elongation, generally shown in Figure 2 at 70, 72, placed adjacent to each of the sides 74, 76. The separator 68 also has an elongation 78., 80 (not shown) placed adjacent to each of its ends. The elongations 70, 72 and 78, 80 of the spacers 66, 68 are received in the grooves 62, 64 respectively, of the side beams 42, 44 and move slidably therethrough. The sides 82, 84 of the spacers 66, 68 respectively, are provided with elongated lip portions 86, 88, which engage the elongated slots or couplers 34, 36 on the mounting brackets 20, 22. As best seen in Figures 3 and 4, a pair of retractors, one of which is the retractor 90, are included in the assembly 10 to move the spacers 66, 68 to interchange and accommodate in a more adjustable manner smaller mold boxes, such as the box 12 in the assembly 10. The other retractor, not visible in the drawings, is located at the opposite end of the molding box assembly 10 and is substantially identical to the retractor 90. The retractor 90 includes a perforation 94 placed in the center of the final clamp of the frame 46, and a threaded bore 96, placed in the center of one side of the spacer 66, with the bore and the bore threaded being coaxial with respect to each other. The retractor 90 further includes an associated screw 98, which is threaded adjacent its end to engage the spacer 66 when the screw extends completely through the perforations. Each end clamp of the frame, such as the final clamp 46, further includes a pair of threaded holes, such as the perforations 100, 102 (Figures 3 and 4), spaced apart, and each spacer, such as the spacer 66, has a pair of ends having corresponding perforations, such as perforations 104, 106, placed in the separator, with the threaded holes in the end clamps and the perforations in the spacers being coaxial with respect to each other. A pair of threaded associated screws adjacent their heads, such as screws 108, 110, are provided to engage threaded holes, such as holes 100, 102, in the end clamps, such as the final clamp 46, when screws extend completely through the end clamps with the ends of the screws in contact with the ends of the spacer holes, such as the spacer holes 104, 106. The lock washers, such as the washers 112, 114, are provided for each screw, each of the screws 108, 110, locks the screws in place, as shown in Figure 4. A molding box having side plates substantially shorter than the side beams of the box support frame Molding can be adapted by the method of the invention by removing one of the end clamps of the frame, such as the final clamp 46, and installing in the frame a pair of spacers, such as the spacers 66, 68, with the elongations of each spacer received in the slots, such as the slots 62, 64, of the side beams 42, 44 to move slidably therethrough. The final clamp is then traced steadily over the ends of the side beams of the frame. The retractor 90 retractably moves the separator 66 to accommodate placement or exchange of the molding boxes, such as the box 12, in the assembly 10. The screw 98 is screwed through the central hole 94 on the final clamp of the frame and towards the threaded bore 96 to engage in the spacer 66, and move the spacer outward from the end brackets of the frame, as best seen in FIG. 3. The mold box is placed in the frame, and the spacers they slide into the slots on the mounting brackets of the molding box by the movement of the screws, such as the screws 108, 110 through the threaded holes 100, 102 in the end clamps, such as the final clamp 46, with the ends of the screws in contact with the ends of the separating perforations, such as the separating perforations 104, 106. The closing washers, such as the washers 112, 114 are then engaged to lock the screws in place, as shown in Figure 4. Positioned like this, the spacers are received uniformly in the slots in the mounting brackets of the box and the mold is easy to fill with the wet cement material. It can be seen in this way that the structure and method provided by the present invention produce important advantages. First, the vertical vibration forces imparted to the molding box assembly 10 during operation are distributed over a relatively larger area. Specifically, the upper and lower surfaces of the separator 66 are substantially in uniform contact against the upper and lower surfaces of the grooves 34a, 34b, 34c. Similarly, the upper and lower surfaces of the separator 66 are in substantially uniform contact against the upper and lower edges of the grooves 62, 64. The vertical vibration forces placed in the mold box 12 are thus distributed over an area greater than if the molding box 12 were, for example, simply screwed to the support frame of the molding box 14 in several places. When screws are used, as in the prior art adapters, only the screw heads resist the upward forces imparted to the mold box.

Another advantage of the present invention relates to the ease of changing a mold box, such as the mold box 12, out of the support frame of the mold box and assembling a different mold box thereon. To achieve the same, the screws 108, 110 are unscrewed from the position of Figure 4 to that of Figure 3 and the screw 98 is inserted through the bore 94 and into the threaded bore 96. The threaded screw 98 moves the separator 66 of the configuration of Figure 4 to that of Figure 3. When the same procedure is performed on the structure associated with the separator 68 at the opposite end of the assembly, both spacers are pulled to the position of Figure 3, allowing therefore, the molding box 12 is removed by pulling it through the supporting frame of the upper or lower molding box 14. The molding box to be installed, which includes the mounting clamps substantially identical to the clamps 20, 22, is inserted into the frame 14 in the same position as the molding box 12 described in Figure 1. Subsequently, the screw 98 (in Figure 3) is removed, the screws 108, 110 are screwed in he slidable separator 66 in the perforations 100, 102 of the configuration shown in Figure 4. Substantially the same procedure is performed on the structure at the opposite end of the assembly 14 to push the separator 68 toward the slots causing the coupler 36 therein so that the separator 66 is pushed towards the slots 34a, 34b, 34c. Although the preferred construction for, and methods for practicing the invention have been described herein, it should be appreciated that variations and modifications may take place without departing from the spirit of the invention. It is noted that in relation to this date, the best method known by the applicant to carry out the aforementioned invention is the conventional one for the manufacture of the objects to which it refers. Having described the invention as above, property is claimed as contained in the following:

Claims (17)

RETflMflCaCEONS

1. In a machine for forming molded concrete products, a mold box assembly for adjustably mounting a molding box for receiving concrete, the assembly is characterized in that it comprises: a substantially rectangular mold box having a pair of side plates substantially parallel, opposite, and a pair of mounting clamps substantially parallel, opposite, placed at opposite ends of the side plates; a support frame, for receiving the molding box, having a pair of substantially parallel, opposite side beams, and a pair of end clamps substantially parallel, opposite, placed on the opposite ends of the side beams, which together with the beams form a substantially rectangular framework; a spacer for accommodating in an adjustable manner molding boxes of different size, placed in the middle of one of the end clamps of the frame and one of the mounting clamps of the molding box and moving between the two; and a retractor coupled to the spacer to move the spacer to position and accommodate the molding box in the frame.

2. The assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that the pair of side beams are longer than the pair of side plates of the mold box.

3. The assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that it further comprises a coupler for coupling the separator with one of the mounting brackets of the box.

4. The molding box assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that at least one of the pairs of mounting brackets of the molding box includes an external flat surface and the separator includes an elongated lip placed adjacent to one of the sides of the mold box. separator, and wherein the coupler comprises an elongated slot on the outer side of one of the mounting brackets of the molding box for coupling the lip of the separator.

5. The molding box assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that the assembly further comprises a second separator for adjustably accommodating molding boxes of different sizes, placed in the middle of one of the final clamps of the frame and the other of the mounting brackets of the molding box, and including a coupler for coupling the second spacer with the other mounting bracket, and the second spacer moving between the two.

6. The assembly according to claim 5, characterized in that it further includes a retractor coupled to the second separator for moving the second separator to place and accommodate the molding box in the frame.

7. The molding box assembly of conformity with claim 1, characterized in that the retractor includes a bore placed in the center of a final bracket of the frame, a threaded bore placed in the center of one side of the spacer, with the bore and the threaded bore being coaxial with respect to each other, and a threaded screw associated adjacent the end of the screw to engage the spacer when the screw is fully extended through the bores.

8. The molding box assembly according to claim 7, characterized in that one of the mounting brackets further includes a pair of threaded bores spaced apart from each other and a pair of bores having ends placed in the spacer, with the threaded bores and the bores. perforations in the separator being coaxial with respect to each other, and a pair of associated threaded screws adjacent their heads to engage the threaded holes in the final clamp when the screws extend completely through the end clamp with the ends of the screws in contact with the ends of the perforations of the separator.

9. In a machine for forming molded concrete products having a substantially rectangular mold box positioned in a substantially rectangular support frame, wherein the sides of the mold box are substantially shorter than the sides of the frame, an adapter for supporting fixedly such a mold box of smaller size in the frame, the adapter characterized in that it comprises: an elongated slot formed on the inner surface of one of the sides of the frame; a mounting bracket fixedly mounted adjacent to at least one outer end of the mold box; a substantially rectangular member having an elongation extending from one of its ends, with the elongation being received in the groove and slidably traveling therethrough; a retractor coupled to the member to slidably retract the member to exchange mold boxes without removing the sides or ends of the frame; and means for coupling the mounting bracket and member during a product molding operation.

10. The adapter according to claim 9, characterized in that the adapter further comprises a second elongated groove positioned substantially parallel to the first groove and formed on the internal inner side of an opposite side of the frame, and wherein the member further includes a second groove. elongation extending from the other end of the member, with the second elongation being received in the second groove and slidably traveling therethrough.

11. An apparatus for mounting a molding box on a machine for forming molded concrete products, characterized in that it comprises: a mold defining a cavity for receiving concrete, the mold has a pair of opposite side plates and a pair of opposite mounting clamps; a mold support frame having a pair of opposite side beams and a pair of opposite end clamps; a connecting device for mounting the support frame on the machine; a pair of opposed substantially parallel grooves formed on the side beams of the support frame; a sliding plate that can be received in the slots and slid through it; a groove formed on one of the mold mounting brackets, the sliding plate is received in a groove of the mounting bracket; and a retractor coupled to the slidable plate for retracting the slidable plate to place and accommodate the molding box in the frame.

12. The apparatus according to claim 11, characterized in that the retractor comprises a bore placed in the center of one of the end plates of the block, a threaded bore placed in the center on one side of the slidable plate, with the borehole and the borehole threaded being coaxial with respect to each other, and an associated threaded screw adjacent one end of the screw for coupling the slidable plate when the screw extends completely through the perforations.

13. For use in a machine for forming molded concrete products, having a substantially rectangular molding box with a pair of opposed side plates and a pair of opposite mounting clamps having a groove formed on the clamps and having in addition a frame of substantially rectangular support for receiving the molding box with a pair of opposite side beams, a slot formed on one side of the side beams, and a pair of opposite end clamps placed on the opposite ends of the beams, a method for adapting a frame of support having lateral beams substantially longer than the side plates of the molding box, the method characterized in that it comprises: removing one of the final clamps of the frame; installing in the frame a pair of substantially rectangular, slidable spacers, with each spacer having an elongation positioned adjacent one of its ends that can be received in the slot on a side beam and slide therethrough; Fix a final clamp to the ends of the side beams of the frame; retract one of the separators; place a molding box in the frame; and sliding the spacers into the slots on the mounting brackets against the molding box to thereby hold the molding box in place within the frame.

14. In a machine for forming molded concrete products, a molding box assembly for adjustably mounting a molding box for receiving concrete, is characterized in that it comprises: a substantially rectangular mold box having a pair of substantially parallel side plates, opposite, and a pair of opposite substantially parallel mounting brackets, placed on the opposite ends of the plates, a support frame, for receiving the molding box, having a pair of substantially parallel, opposite lateral beams, and a pair of end clamps substantially parallel, opposite, placed on the opposite ends of the side beams, which together with the side beams form a substantially rectangular frame; and a separator for accommodating in an adjustable manner molding boxes of different sizes, placed in the middle of one of the end clamps of the frame and one of the mounting clamps of the molding box and moving between the two, a coupler for join the spacer with one of the clamps; and wherein at least one of the pairs of molding cassette clamps includes an outer flat surface and the separator includes an elongated lip positioned adjacent one of the sides of the separator, and wherein the coupler comprises an elongated slot. on the outer side of one of the mounting clamps of the molding box to be coupled with the separating lip. fifteen .

The assembly according to claim 14, characterized in that the pair of side beams are longer than the pair of side plates of the molding box.

The assembly according to claim 14, characterized in that it further comprises a retractor coupled to the spacer to move the latter until it accommodates the mold box in the frame, where the retractor includes a hole placed in the center of a frame. end clamp of the frame, a threaded hole placed centrally on one side of the spacer, the hole and threaded hole being coaxial with respect to each other and a threaded associated screw or bolt adjacent the end of the screw so as to engage the spacer when the screw is fully extended through the holes.

17. The molding box assembly according to claim 16 characterized in that the mounting bracket further includes a pair of threaded bores spaced apart from each other and a pair of bores having ends placed in the spacer, with the threaded bores and the bores in the bore. separator being coaxial with respect to each other, and a pair of associated threaded screws adjacent their heads to engage the threaded holes in the final clamp when the screws extend completely through the end clamp with the ends of the screws in contact with the ends of the perforations of the separator.