US3128522A - Concrete block making machine - Google Patents

Description

April 14, 1964 w. e. BENJEY ETAL CONCRETE BLOCK MAKING MACHINE 5 Sheets$heet 1 Filed May 24, 1962 w. u v g $054M 1 3 M; @Iri r I'TIE INVENTOR. Reynolds William 6. Ben 'ey 8. WzY/famD.

A TTORNEY.

5 Sheets-Shet 2 w. e. BENJE Y ETAL CONCRETE BLOCK MAKING MACHINE April 14, 1964 Filed May 24, 1962 IN V EN TOR. Reyna/0's ATIDRNEY.

William 6. Ben 35y & William 0.

April 1964 w. G. BENJEY ETAL 3,128,522

CONCRETE BLOCK MAKING MACHINE Filed May 24, 1962 5 Sheets-Sheet s A- INVENTOR. William 6. fienjey Mf /5am 17. Reynolds ATTORNEY April 14, 1964 w. G. BENJEY ETAL CONCRETE BLOCK MAKING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed May 24, 1962 llll 1 I l P I INVENTOR.

William Ben 'ey W17/1'am D. Reynolds ATTORNEY.

April 14, 1964 wl G. BENJEY ETAL 3,128,522

CONCRETE BLOCK MAKING MACHINE 3 2 23: :"n 'LE 1N VENTOR.

14/17/1'0/72 6. fier/ey & 14 17/127: 0. Reyna/a3 I ATTORNEY.

United States Patent 3,128,522 CONCRETE BLOCK MAKING MACHINE William G. Eenjey and William D. Reynolds, Alpena, Micln, assignors to Alpena Research & Development Company, Alpena, Mich, a corporation of Michigan Filed May 24, 1962, Ser. No. 197,452 6 Claims. (CI. 25-41) This invention relates to a concrete block making machine and more particularly to a machine incorporating several novel features which contribute to the rapid and efiicient production of concrete masonry blocks.

The principal object of the invention is the provision of a concrete block making machine that will accurately compact, shape and surface finish one or more concrete blocks of uniform size, Weight and density.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a concrete block making machine that will feed finished concrete blocks from a moldbox portion to platens and convey the same from the concrete block making machine.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a concrete block making machine that incorporates a novel mold box and means for oscillating the same on different planes.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a concrete block making machine incorporating a novel packer head arranged to move into the mold box to compress mixed concrete aggregate therein in conjunction with the vertical oscillation of the mold box.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a concrete block making machine having means for supplying a measured amount of block forming material to a block forming device including a mold box and a packer head and means for operating said mold box and packer head so as to comprise the block forming material and provide a trowelling effect on the sides of the block being formed.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a concrete block making machine in which block making material is automatically measured and supplied to a block forming portion and wherein means are provided for removing the formed blocks from the block forming portion in an automatic sequence of operations.

The concrete block forming machine disclosed herein incorporates several novel devices and functions which are particularly advantageous in the art. The novel devices and functions are such that they may be applied to other forms of material molding such as briqueting. The block making machine is designed so that it may be operated continuously by relatively unskilled labor and it will operate efliciently and rapidly as long as suitable material is supplied to its material hopper and the completed blocks are removed from the block receiving pallets thereof. There are no parts that require critical adjustment and the construction is such that little lubrication is necessary and the machines components are so arranged that they will operate in their desired cycle without manual assistance.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being the intention herein to cover all changes an dmodifications of the example of the invention herein chosen for purposes of the disclosure, which do not constitute departures from the spirit and scope of the invention. The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the concrete block making machine.

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of the concrete block "Ice making machine of FIGURE 1 taken on lines 2--2 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a front plan elevation of the left half of the concrete block making machine shown in FIGURE 1, showing the various parts of the machine in position prior to the formation of a block or blocks.

FIGURE 4 is a front plan elevation of the right half of the concrete block making machine shown in FIG- URES l and 3 showing the various parts of the machine in position after the formation of a block or blocks.

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged front elevation of a packer head portion of the concrete block machine shown in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 6 is an end elevation of the packer head portion shown in FIGURE 5 and taken on lines 6-6 thereof.

FIGURE 7 is a bottom elevation of the packer head portion shown in FIGURE 6 and taken on lines 7-7 thereof.

FIGURE 8 is a front elevation of a mold box portion of the concrete block machine shown in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 9 is a top elevation of the mold box shown in FIGURE 8 and taken on lines 9-9 thereof.

FIGURE 10 is an end elevation of the mold box shown in FIGURES 8 and 9 and taken on lines 19-10 of FIGURE 9.

FIGURE 11 is a front elevation of a core mounting body portion of the concrete block machine shown in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 12 is an end elevation of the core mounting body taken on lines 1212 of FIGURE 11.

FIGURE 13 is a wiring diagram of the electrical circuits controlling the operation of the concrete block making machine.

By referring to the drawings and FIGURE 1 in particular, it will be seen that the concrete block making machine comprises a framework preferably formed of two vertically positioned, horizontally spaced side panels 10 and 11. A transverse frame member 12 is positioned between the panels 10 and 11 in the upper front portion thereof and a secondary frame member 13 is positioned between the panel members 10 and 11 adjacent their lower ends and on the same vertical plane as the frame member 12. The frame members 12 and 13 are apertured inwardly from their ends and resilient bushings 14, 14 are positioned in the apertures in vertically aligned pairs and a pair of support rods 15, 15 are positioned vertically through the resilient bushings 14, 14 and form a resilient sub frame which is capable of movement relative to the remainder of the machine as will be hereinafter explained.

A plurality of tie rods or second frame members 16, 16 are positioned transversely of the side panels 10 and 11 and support various mechanisms incorporated in the machine.

In the upper rear portion of the machine as best seen in FIGURES l and 4, a pair of said secondary frame members 16 are arranged to support a hopper 17 which is open at its upper and lowermost ends and adapted to receive the mixed concrete aggregate used in making concrete blocks. Longitudinal frame members 18, 18 secured at their ends to the secondary frame members 16, 16 carry journals 19, 19 which in turn support a pair of rollers 20, 20 over which a continuous conveyor feed belt 21 is positioned. It will be observed that the conveyer belt 21 has its upper surface disposed adjacent the open bottom end of the hopper 17 so that material in hopper will be continuously deposited on the conveyer belt 21 and moved, when the conveyer belt 21 is operating, longitudinally thereof and off the forward edge thereof as seen in FIGURE 1 of the drawings.

Means for moving the conveyer belt 21 comprises a motor 22 driving right angular gear box which in turn supports a sprocket 24 over which a chain 25 is trained. The chain 25 is also trained over a sprocket on one of the rollers 20, the motor 22 is connected in an electrical circuit and controlled by a mercury switch as hereinafter described. There are a pair of secondary longitudinal frame members 26, 26 which are spaced horizontally a distance greater than the longitudinal frame members 18, 18 heretofore referred to and which are supported intermediate their ends by brackets 27, 27 which in turn are pivotally mounted on another one of the sub frame members 16, 16. Journals 28, 28 on the secondary longitudinal frame members 26, 26 support a pair of secondary rollers 29, 29 which in turn have a secondary conveyer weighing belt 30 trained thereover. One of the rollers 29 has a sprocket 31 on one end thereof and one of the brackets 27 has a horizontal extension 32 thereon which carries a motor 33 having an attached gear box 34. A sprocket 35 on the gear box 34 drives a chain 36 which is trained over the sprocket 31, This assembly is pivotally balanced on the sub frame 16 with the forward end (the right end in FIGURES 1 and 2 of the drawings) of the secondary conveyer weighing belt 31) positioned above a chute 39. Solid lines in FIGURE 2 show the tilted position of the tiltable conveyer weighing belt assembly. A mercury switch 40 is located on one of the brackets 27 and wired into the electrical circuit controlling and supplying the motor 22 heretofore referred to. Thus, when the concrete block making machine is operating and the lower or secondary conveyer weighing belt 30 is stationary, the upper conveyer feed belt 21 is started and material in the hopper 17 is fed onto the feed belt 21 and deposited thereby on the weighing belt 36 at a point forward or to the right of the secondary frame 16 on which the weighing belt 30, its support arms 26 and its drive motor 33 are pivotally mounted. When a predetermined amount of material, by weight, accumulates on the weighing belt 30 the entire assembly tilts and which action tilts the mercury switch 40 which in turn breaks the circuit to the motor 22 and stops the feed belt 21. Simultaneously, the weighing belt 30 starts to move by reason of the energization of the motor 33 and deposits the predetermined amount of material in the chute 39 from whence it falls directly into a mold box 41 as best seen in FIGURES 1 and 2 of the drawings.

By referring now to FIGURES 3, 4, 8, 9, and 10, it will be seen that the mold box 41 is preferably a rectangular open top and bottom box with several transverse partitions 42, 42 which are secured at their ends to the front and back members 43 and 44 respectively of the mold box 41. The partitions 42 define several cavities arranged to produce several cement blocks simultaneously. As disclosed herein, the cavities are generally indicated at A, B and C, and it will be observed that they are spaced inwardly from the ends of the mold box 41. The partitions 42, 42 comprise dividers between the cavities A, B and C as well as end plates at either end of the cavities A and C. The partitions 42, 42 are positioned with their ends engaged in slots in the front and back members 43 and 44. Bolts positioned through the front and back members 43 and 44 respectively engage the ends of said partitions so that they can be disengaged and removed and replaced. Mold blocks 43A and 43B are also located in the cavities A, B and C for desirably shaping the ends of the concrete blocks being formed.

The mold box is provided at its opposite ends with brackets 45, 45 which are apertured vertically and through which the support rods 15, 15 are positioned as best seen in FIGURES 3, 4 and 8 of the drawings. It will thus be seen that the mold box is capable of being moved vertically on the vertical support rods 15, 15. Both hori- 'zontal and vertical motion are imparted to the mold box 41 during the operation of the cement block making machine. Two pairs of eccentric mechanisms 46, 46 and 47,

47 as best seen in FIGURES 2, 3, and 4 of the drawings are secured to the side panels 10 and 11 in vertically and horizontally spaced relation to one another. Stub shafts 48, 48 extend outwardly from each of the brackets 45, 45 on the ends of the mold box 41, 41 and are engaged by fittings 49, 49 and 50, 50 which in turn are connected by rods 51, 51 and rods 52, 52 with the pairs of eccentric mechanisms 46, 46 and 47, 47 respectively. Means to drive the eccentric mechanisms 46, 46 and 47, 47 comprises a vibrator motor 53 mounted on a transverse support member 16. A chain 54 is trained over a sheave 55 on the vibrator motor 53 and over appropriate sheaves on one of each of the eccentric mechanisms 46 and 47. Shafts 56 and 57 interconnect the pairs of eccentric mechanisms 47, 47 and 46, 46 respectively so that both pairs of eccentric mechanisms can operate and impart vibratory action to the mold box 41.

Above the mold box 41 there is a packer head which includes a transverse packer head frame 58 as best seen in FIGURES 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 of the drawings and by referring thereto, it will be observed that the packer head frame 58 has brackets 59, 59 on its opposite ends which are apertured vertically and engaged on the vertical shafts '15, 15 above the mold box 41. In FIGURE 2 of the drawings, the packer head frame 58 is shown in solid lines in elevated position relative to the mold box 41 and in broken lines in lowered position engaged within the upper portion of the mold box 41. In FIGURE 3 of the drawings, the packer head frame 58 is shown in elevated relation while in FIGURE 4 of the drawings the packer head frame 58 is shown in lowered position.

By referring to these figures and to FIGURE 5, it will be seen that the packer head frame 58 includes a plurality of apertured depending packer head members 60, 60 which are spaced transversely with respect to one another and thereby capable of engaging the cavities A, B and C in the mold box 41 heretofore described when the packer head frame 58 is moved downwardly. In order that vertical motion may be imparted to the packer head frame 58, a pair of arms 61, 61 are pivoted intermediate their ends to the brackets 59, 59 on the ends of the packer head frame 58 and at their outermost ends to the ends of secondary arms 62, 62 which in turn are pivoted at their innermost ends to support pieces 63, 63 which are secured to the vertical rods 15, 15. The arms 61, 61 and secondary arms 62, 62 are arranged to be moved to over center position as shown in FIGURE 4, when the packer head members are in lowermost position and engaged in the mold box 41. Extensions of pivot members 62A, 62A limit the over-center position by engaging the vertical support rods 15,15.

A shaft 64 interconnects the support pieces 63, 63 and forms the pivotal mounting for the arms 62, 62. The opposite ends of the arms 61, 61 are bifurcated and are adapted to engage actuating pins 65, 65 on a pair of actuating chains 66, 66 which extend vertically in the cement block making machine adjacent the inner sides of the panels 10 and 11 as best seen in FIGURES l and 2 of the drawings. The actuating chains 66, 66 are positioned over vertically spaced sprockets 67, 67 which are secured to the panels 10 and 11 respectively. The actuating pins 65 secured to the chains 66 therefore move vertically during the operation of the machine and impart motion to the packer head members 60, 60 just described so as to cause them to move from the position shown in FIGURE 3 of the drawings to the position shown in FIGURE 4 where the packer head assemblies 60, 61) are partially engaged in the moldbox 41.

In order that the concrete introduced into the moldbox 41 as heretofore described may be retained therein and compressed and appropriately shaped therein, a core mounting body 68 as best seen in FIGURES 11 and 12 of the drawings is provided with vertically apertured bracket 69, 69 on its opposite ends which are slidably engaged on the vertical support rods 15, 15 as best seen in FIGURES 3 and 4 of the drawings. In FIGURE 3 of the drawings, it will be observed that the core mounting body 68 is shown in elevated relation, in close proximity to the bottom of the mold box 41 and in which position a plurality of cores 70, 70 are positioned within the mold box 41 and specifically within the cavities A, B and C heretofore referred to. It will be seen that the cores 70, '70 are arranged in individually spaced pairs and that they are secured directly to the core mounting body 68 by fasteners 71. Surrounding each pair of the cores 70, 70 there is an apertured stripper plate '72. Each stripper plate 72 is mounted in elevated relation to the upper surface of the core support member 68 and supported in such position by a pair of coil springs 73, 73 which are attached to the core support body 68 and the stripper plate 72. When the cores '70 are engaged within the mold box 41 as seen in FIGURES 2 and 3 of the drawings, the stripper plates engage the mold box 41 and form false bottoms for the cavities A, B and C and thereby hold concrete in position in the mold box 41 while the same is vibrated horizontally and vertically by the vibrator mechanisms heretofore referred to. As the packer head members 66, 60 move downwardly into the mold box 41 the material (concrete) in the mold box 41 must be compressed and positioned to fill the mold box completely, if this action takes more than the normal time cycle of the machine, as determined by the movement of the chains 66, 66, the chain drive mechanism, hereinafter described, will cause the drive mechanism to lift on its mountings and open a limit switch to stop the motor of the chain drive mechanism. This limit switch will remain open until the material is completely compressed and the packer head actuating arms 61 and 62 have gone over center and locked. This allows a gear reducer in the chain drive mechanism to move to normal position and reset the limit switch, thus starting the drive motor and moving the machine into the next cycle which strips the cores 70, 70 from the mold box, as just described.

At such time as the concrete blocks are finished, the core support member 68 moves downwardly out of the mold box 41 while the coil springs 73 hold the stripper plates 72, '72 upwardly in the mold. Thus, the cores 70, '76 move downwardly while the stripper plates exert tension against the bottom of the newly formed blocks and support the same while the cores are freed therefrom. As the cycle continues, the stripper plates 72, 72 pull free from the bottom of the newly formed blocks which are left in position in the mold box 41 while the core support member 68 and the cores 70 thereon move downwardly to the position shown in FIGURE 4 of the drawings. While the core stripping action is taking place, a pallet 74 is moved under the mold box 41 to receive the blocks as hereinafter described. The pallet is moved into position beneath the newly formed cement blocks in the core box by a pair of kicker arms 75, 75 that move the pallet 74 from its elevated position in the machine as hereafter described.

In order that the core support member 68 will be moved downwardly out of the mold box 41 as just described, secondary bifurcated actuating arms '76, 76 are pivoted intermediate their ends to pivot members 77, 77 with their bifurcated ends positioned adjacent the vertical paths of the actuating chains 66 so that they will be engaged by the actuating pins 65, 65 on the chains 66, 66 as the adjacent portions of these chains move downwardly. The bifurcated secondary arms 76, 76 are pivoted at their outer, lower ends by pivots 78, 78 to links 79, 79 which are in turn secured to their opposite ends to a transverse shaft 80 which in turn is journalled in a pair of body members 81, 81 and which body members 81, 81 are apertured vertically and engaged on the support rods 15, heretofore referred to and as best seen in FIGURES l, 2 and 3 of the drawings. The body members 81, 81 also support a secondary transverse shaft 82 and the outer ends of the shaft 82 form pivots for a third pair of bifurcated arms 83, 83. The bifurcated ends of the third pair of bifurcated arms 83, 83 are positioned adjacent the vertical paths of the actuating chains 66, 66 so that the actuating pins 65, 65 thereon may be engaged thereby as shown in FIGURE 1 of the drawings. It will thus be seen that the entire cycling operation of the packer head support frame 58 and packer head member 60, the core support members 68, and the cores 70, 70 thereon is actuated in sequence by the vertical movement of the actuating pins 65, 65 as they move vertically on the actuating chains 66, 66. Thus, initially the pins 65, 65 are at their uppermost positions where they have engaged the bifurcated arms 61, 61 and as heretofore explained moved the packer head frame 58 and packer head members 60 away from the mold box. After the concrete material is positioned in the mold box 41 as hereinbefore described, the actuating chains 66, 66 reverse their motion and the part of the cycle comprising the actual formation of the cement blocks begins.

The means for driving the actuating chains 66, 66 comprises a main drive motor 84 which is energized by a switch controlling a power circuit and it, in turn, drives a 'gear reducer 85 by way of a chain 86. A secondary chain 87 connects the gear reducer 85 with a procket 88 on the 'stub shaft 89 supporting this lowermost sprocket 67 over which one of the actuating chains 66 is trained. The drive chain 87 also engages an intermediate sprocket 90 on a transverse drive shaft 91 which conveys the motion to the opposite side of the machine as best shown in FIG- URE 1 so that the second actuating chain 66, adjacent the panel 11, may be driven in synchrony with the actuating chain 66 adjacent the panel 10. The main drive motor 84 is carried on a vertical support 92 which in turn is mounted on a tiltable base 93 and a limit switch heretofore referred to is positioned on the base 93 and is therefore actuated by tilting motion which may be imparted thereto as heretofore described in connection with the operation of the packer head frame 58 and the packer head members 60, 60. Control switches are positioned along the path of the actuating chains 66 and are actuated by the pins 65, 65 thereon to properly cycle the machine and its operation. It will thus be seen that when the actuating pins have moved the bifurcated arms 61 so as to move the packer head frame 58 and the packer head members 60, 60 downwardly into the top of the mold box 41, the pins 65, 65 engage limit switches which actuate the electric motor 53 which in turn drives the vibratory mechanisms 46 and 47 heretofore referred to first imparting vertical motion to the mold box way of the rods 52, 52 to assist the packer head members 60, 60 in compressing the concrete material whereupon the packer head members 60, 60 move into lowermost position actuating a control switch, reversing the electric motor 53 and thereby energizing the eccentrics 46, 46 which impart horizontal oscillation to the mold box 41 by way of the rods 51, 51. As hereinbefore described, the continued movement of the main drive chains 66, 66 next engage the bifurcated ends of the arms 76, 76 which move the core support body 68 and the cores 70 downwardly and out of the mold box 41 leaving the finished compressed concrete blocks therein as hereinbefore described. As the chains 66, 66 continues to move downwardly, the actuating pins 65, 65 thereon engage the bifurcated ends of the arms 83, 83 as the links 79, 79 rotate their pivot shaft 80 they cause a crank 92 on the shaft 80 to move to engage a bifurcated actuating lever 93 which is pivoted on a transverse shaft 94 between a forward extending pair of secondary panels 95 and 96 as best seen inFIGURE 1 of the drawings so that pallet receiving arms 97 and 98 attached thereto are extended upwardly to receive the pallet 74 and the blocks as heretofore described and move them downwardly where the pallet 74 is deposited on conveyer chains 99, 99 trained over sprockets 100, 100 and conveyed forwardly and away from the machine. As this action begins the body members 81, 81 are moved downwardly by the actuating pins 65, engage the bifurcated arms 83, 83 and cause the downward movement of the body members 81, 81 and the support rods 15, 15 which in turn moves the packer head frame 58 and packer head members 60, 60 further and into the mold box 41 to force the finished blocks out of the same and onto the pallet 74. After this action has occurred, the actuating pins 65, 65 continue to move downwardly until they reach a limit switch which stops the drive motor 84 and the machine has then completed a cycle. In connection with the removal of the blocks from the mold box 41 onto the pallet 74, it will be observed that a pair of vertical rods 101, 101 supported on sideward extensions 102, 102 of the members 81, 81 have been in upward position as best seen in FIGURE 3 of the drawings where their upper ends are positioned to engage and support the pallet 74 as it is moved into position beneath the mold box 41 and that when the members 81, 81 move downwardly as hereinbefore described, the arms 101, 101 also move downwardly with the pallet and carry the completed concrete blocks and bring the same into the position shown in FIGURE 4 where the arms 97 and 9S heretofore described engage the pallet 74 and move it downwardly and forwardly to the conveyor chains 99, 99 hereinbefore described. In setting the machine for a subsequent cycle, the motor 84 is reversed causing the actuating chains 66, 66 to reverse their motion whereupon the actuating pins 65, 65 will move upwardly first actuating the arms 83 and moving the members 81, 81 and the support rods 15 vertically to reposition the core mounting body 68 beneath the mold box 41 and to elevate the packer head frame 58 and the packer head members 60, 60 relative to the mold box 41 so that additional concrete or other material may be introduced into the mold box and the cycle repeated. In connection with the elevation of the members 81 and the support rods 15, 15, it will be seen that the lower ends of the bifurcated arms 83, 83 are pivoted as at 103 to a body member 104 which in turn is pivoted on a transverse shaft 105 extending between forward extensions of the panels and 11 as best seen in FIGURES 1 and 2 of the drawings. The desirable vertical motion of the body members 81 is thus assured by the movable positioning of the pivots 103 as will be understood by those skilled in the art.

The preceding description includes reference to the pallet 74 and is positioning beneath the mold box 41 when the core support body 68 moves downwardly away therefrom. In order that the pallet '74 can be so positioned to receive the newely formed blocks as hereinbefore described, it is moved from the extreme lower front portion of the machine as best seen in FIGURE 1 of the drawings downwardly between horizontally spaced pairs of supporting rollers 106, 106 and which permit it to roll downwardly on an incline into a position above the transverse shaft 91 where it is deposited in a pallet carriage 107 which is shown in FIGURE 2 of the drawings in elevated position with broken lines thereon showing the positioning of the pallet 74 prior to its positioning below the mold box 41. The pallet carriages 107 are suspended between a pair of pallet carriage actuating chains 108, 108 which are trained over sprockets 109, 109 on the shaft 91 adjacent the lower portion of the machine and over sprockets 110, 110 on a shaft 111 in a location inwardly from the mold box 41 and below the feed belt 30. The shaft 111 serves as a support for the kicker arms 75, 75 which are secured thereto and also serves as a support for a kicker arm actuating lever 112 and which, as best seen in FIGURE 2 of the drawings, is arranged to be engaged by the actuating pin 65 on one of the main actuating chains 66 and moved into retracted position where it engages plunger 113 and compresses a spring 114 normally urging the plunger in the opposite direction. It will thus be seen that when a pallet 74 has been fed into the machine from the lower front portion thereof on the pallet support rollers 106, 106 it will move downwardly and rearwardly and into the pallet carriage 107 when the same is in lowermost position. During the operation of the machine the pallet carriage 107 moves upwardly to the position shown in FIGURE 2 of the drawings where upon the subsequent actuation of the machine trips a pallet basket release dog 115 and permits the spring 114 to swing the kicker arm actuating lever 112 and the kicker arms 75 which then engage the pallet and move the same from the carriage 107 into position immediately beneath the mold box 41. It will be observed that the drive chain 87 trained over the sprocket 90 on the shaft 91 imparts simultaneous motion to the pallet carriage actuating chains 108, 108 so that the entire machine completes its cycle of operation. Guide members 116 formed on a transverse shaft 117 extending between the panels 10 and 11 insure the proper positioning of the pallet elevating carriage 107 and the lower back portion of the mold box 101 is provided with roller guides 117A which guide the forward edge of the pallet 74 in under the mold box 41.

It will occur to those skilled in the art that the several electric motors heretofore referred to and the several limit switches and reversing switches necessary in the operation of the concrete block machine require suitable eletrical circuits for their interdependent operation and by referring to FIGURE 13 of the drawings, a diagrammatic wiring diagram of the electric circuits of the machine may be seen. In the uppermost part of FIGURE 13 it will be observed that the feed conveyer belt motor 22 is a three-phase motor in a three line circuit including circuit breakers 118, three-phase starter contacts 119 and incorporating overload switches 120 so arranged that two of the circuit Wires are controlled by a control circuit section including a control transformer 121, fuse 122 and manual and automatic selector switches 123 and 124 respectively. A limit switch 125 is included in the circuit and the mercury switch 40, the position of which is controlled by the tiltable mounting 27, is positioned adjacent a starter magnetic coil 126 and overload controls 127 to complete the circuit which will be understood by those skilled in the art as necessary for the timed sequence or cycling operation of the feed belt 21. By referring now to the next lower portion of the wiring diagram comprising FIGURE 13, the three-phase motor 33 of the weighing belt 30 will be seen together with the three-phase wiring necessary and incorporating overload switches 128, three-phase starter contacts 129 and three-phase circuit breakers 130. The control section of the three-phase circuit includes a control transformer 131, a control circuit fuse 132 and manual and automatic selector switches 133 and 134 respectively. This position of the control circuit includes a remote switch 135, starter magnetic coil 136 and overload contacts 137. The next lower portion of the diagram comprising FIGURE 13 includes the threephase main drive motor 84, overload switches 138, reverse three-phase starter contacts 139, reverse three-stage starter contacts 140, three-phase circuit breakers 141, control transformer 142, fuse 143, manual and automatic selector switches 144 and 145, a starter magnetic coil auxiliary contact 146, limit switches 147 and 148, forward starter and magnetic coil 149, a feed drive overload mercury switch 150, starter coil magnetic interlocks 151, a reverse starter magnetic coil 152, a relay coil 153, and its associated relay contacts 154. The next lower or fourth portion of the circuit diagram comprising FIG- URE 13 relates to the control of the vibrator motor 53; three-phase circuit wires therefore incorporate overload switches 155, forward three-phase starter contacts 156, reverse three-phase starter contacts 157, three-phase circuit breaker 158, control transformer 150 and fuse 160, manual and automatic selector switches 161 and 162, an interlock contact from the chain drive relay 163, starter magnetic coil contacts 164 and 165, a forward starter magnetic coil 166, relay coil 167, starter coil magnetic interlocks 168 and overload contacts 169.

It will thus be seen that a concrete block making machine has been disclosed which incorporates several completely novel structures and devices in a complete machine which are interconnected and interrelated so that the various devices co-operate in an appropriate time cycle for the efiicient operation of the machine as hereinbefore described. The principal point of novelty in the present disclosure is the portion or portions of the concrete block making machine which receive the concrete material, compress and shape the same and operate to permit the finished compressed blocks to be removed therefrom for delivery from the machine by other portions thereof, and having thus described our invention, what we claim is:

1. A machine for making concrete blocks comprising a rigid frame, a pair of rods, resilient means resiliently connecting said rods to said frame in substantially parallel and vertically extending relationship so that said rods may move both axially and radially relative to said frame, a mold box extending between said rods, a core assembly including a support base beneath said mold box for vertical movement into and out of said mold box, a packer head above said mold box for vertical movement into and out of said mold box, means mounting said mold box, core assembly and packer head on said rods for vertical movement relative thereto, support means connected between said frame and mold box supporting said mold box on a portion of said rods, vibration means adapted to virate said mold box mounted on said frame, a packer head operating means connected to said packer head so as to move it down into and up out of said mold box, said packer head operating means adapted to selectively fix said packer head to said rods so as to prevent relative vertical movement therebetween, core operating means connected to said core assembly so as to move it up into and downwardly out of said mold box, said core operating means adapted to selectively fix said core assembly to said rods so as to prevent relative vertical movement therebetween, a pallet movably mounted on said frame, a pallet operating means connected to said pallet and adapted to move said pallet under and adjacent the bottom of said mold box so as to receive said concrete blocks thereon from said mold box, rod operating means connected to said rods adapted to move said rods downwardly when said packer head means fixes said packer head to said rods whereby said packer head is moved into said mold box and forces said concrete blocks downwardly therefrom onto said pallet.

2. A machine as defined in claim 1, wherein said vibration means comprises a vertical vibrator mounted on said frame above said mold box and a horizontal vibrator mounted on said frame laterally of said mold box, said support means including a generally vertical member connected between said mold box and vertical vibrator, and a generally horizontal member connected between said horizontal vibrator and said mold box.

3. A machine as defined in claim 2, wherein said packer head operating means and said core assembly operating means each include a toggle lever assembly comprising a pair of levers pivotally connected together, one of said toggle lever assemblies being pivotally connected to an upper portion of one of said rods and to said packer head, another of said toggle lever assemblies being pivo'tally connected to a lower portion of one of said rods and to said core assembly, and said toggle lever assemblies being operable to an overcenter locking position to selectively secure said packer head and said core assembly to said one rod.

4-. A machine as defined in claim 2, wherein said rod operating means is connected to said pallet operating means so that operation of said rod operating means automatically operates said pallet operating means.

5. A machine as defined in claim 2, wherein said core assembly includes a plurality of cores mounted on said support base, a stripper plate movably mounted on each of said cores, spring means supporting each stripper plate on said support base.

6. A machine as defined in claim 3, wherein said packer head operating means, said rod operating means and said core assembly operating means includes a vertically extending chain movably mounted on said frame, means on said chain adapted to engage said toggle lever assemblies and power means connected to said chain so as to move it relative to said toggle lever assemblies.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,058,227 Ellendt Apr. 8, 1913 1,372,861 Birdsey Mar. 29, 1921 1,699,017 Poore Jan. 15, 1929 1,925,050 lagdmann et a1. Aug. 29, 1933 2,264,948 McKenzie Dec. 2, 1941 2,298,074 Straub Oct. 6, 1942 2,400,631 Darden May 21, 1946 2,589,115 Nelson et al Mar. 11, 1952 2,706,320 Davies et al Apr. 19, 1955 2,985,935 Wellnitz May 30, 1961 2,996,782 Kovach et a1. Aug. 22, 1961

Claims (1)

1. A MACHINE FOR MAKING CONCRETE BLOCKS COMPRISING A RIGID FRAME, A PAIR OF RODS, RESILIENT MEANS RESILIENTLY CONNECTING SAID RODS TO SAID FRAME IN SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL AND VERTICALLY EXTENDING RELATIONSHIP SO THAT SAID RODS MAY MOVE BOTH AXIALLY AND RADIALLY RELATIVE TO SAID FRAME, A MOLD BOX EXTENDING BETWEEN SAID RODS, A CORE ASSEMBLY INCLUDING A SUPPORT BASE BENEATH SAID MOLD BOX FOR VERTICAL MOVEMENT INTO AND OUT OF SAID MOLD BOX, A PACKER HEAD ABOVE SAID MOLD BOX FOR VERTICAL MOVEMENT INTO AND OUT OF SAID MOLD BOX, MEANS MOUNTING SAID MOLD BOX, CORE ASSEMBLY AND PACKER HEAD ON SAID RODS FOR VERTICAL MOVEMENT RELATIVE THERETO, SUPPORT MEANS CONNECTED BETWEEN SAID FRAME AND MOLD BOX SUPPORTING SAID MOLD BOX ON A PORTION OF SAID RODS, VIBRATION MEANS ADAPTED TO VIRATE SAID MOLD BOX MOUNTED ON SAID FRAME, A PACKER HEAD OPERATING MEANS CONNECTED TO SAID PACKER HEAD SO AS TO MOVE IT DOWN INTO AND UP OUT OF SAID MOLD BOX, SAID PACKER HEAD OPERATING MEANS ADAPTED TO SELECTIVELY FIX SAID PACKER HEAD TO SAID RODS SO AS TO PREVENT RELATIVE VERTICAL MOVEMENT THEREBETWEEN, CORE OPERATING MEANS CONNECTED TO SAID CORE ASSEMBLY SO AS TO MOVE IT UP INTO AND DOWNWARDLY OUT OF SAID MOLD BOX, SAID CORE OPERATING MEANS ADAPTED TO SELECTIVELY FIX SAID CORE AS-

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