![]() The now-full production pallet is then transferred with the concrete products forward and out of the CPM onto a receiving conveyor. The pallet is then lowered down to the pallet feeder assembly with the newly formed concrete products supported by the production pallet. #Undock pallets inventor 2018 series#The production pallet is raised up to the bottom of the mold assembly by the CPM and a series of concrete products are formed within the mold assembly and on the production pallet. The present invention deals with the process of receiving an empty production pallet and moving that pallet to a position under the mold assembly in the concrete products machine (CPM). Because of this complexity, the resulting wear on these mechanical components has been found to adversely affect the performance of the pallet feeder assembly over the long term and lack the flexibility, accuracy, and control to adequately overcome some or all of the disadvantages noted above.Īccordingly, there is need for an improved system and method for better automating the process for conveying pallets to and from a concrete products machine that minimizes these drawbacks. Finally, the speed at which the pallets are fed to and from the CPM can be important to avoid collisions with adjacent pallets on the production line or damage to the just-formed molded products as they are carried away from the CPM to the cubing station.Ĭonventional methods and systems for feeding pallets to CPMs within the concrete products industry use complex mechanical methods for moving and positioning pallets, including the use of pusher dogs, walking beams, and shuttle or chain conveyors. Furthermore, the pallets must be accurately positioned to receive the molded product, but this can be complicated by slippage of the pallet on the conveyors due to oily surfaces. Delays in moving the production pallet into a load position beneath the mold box slow the entire production process down. After molding is complete, the molded product is typically pushed out of the mold cavities onto the pallet as the pallet is separated from the underside of the mold box and is transported on the pallet away from the CPM.Īn important part of this production process is how efficiently these production pallets are moved into position to properly receive and carry away the molded concrete products from the CPM. To retain the concrete within the cavities during the molding process, therefore, a pallet (typically a metal plate) is moved up against the underside of the mold box. The cavities of the mold box are typically open at both the top-for receiving the concrete-and at the bottom-for ejecting the molded product therefrom. 5,807,591 which describes an improved concrete products forming machine (CPM) assigned in common to the assignee of the present application and herein incorporated by reference for all purposes. An example of such a system is shown in U.S. The mold assembly includes a head assembly that is mounted on the compression beam, and a mold box that is mounted on the frame and receives concrete material from a feed drawer. Prior art machines for forming concrete products within a mold assembly include a product forming section comprising a stationary frame, an upper compression beam and a lower stripper beam. Once these molded concrete products are adequately cured, the production pallets transport the cured concrete products to a secondary processing and cubing area, and the production pallets are cleaned and conditioned before being returned back to the CPM to begin the cycle anew. Description of the Prior ArtĬoncrete products machines (CPM) use production pallets in the concrete products forming process to receive and then transport the molded products output from such machines to a curing area. This invention relates generally to concrete products machines (CPM) and more particularly to pallet feed conveyors and control systems used with such machines. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |