BLOCK, BLOCK SYSTEM AND METHOD OF MAKING A BLOCK

摘要

A block, block system and method of making a wall block. A block with multiple embodiments of a visually exposed surface having three dimensional shaped areas and three dimensional angular valleys or joints that can be used to construct a patio, wall, fence or the like; the multiple embodiments creating a more random and natural appearance. A mold box having a moveable liner and a stripper shoe that impart three dimensional shaped areas and three dimensional angular valleys or joints onto an exposed surface of a block. The moveable liner and stripper shoe also impart a parting line onto the exposed surface of the block.

主权项

1. A method of producing blocks in a mold assembly which includes a production pallet, the method comprising:
providing a mold box including opposed side walls and opposed front and rear walls which together form a perimeter of at least one mold cavity shaped to form a block during a block forming process, the front wall being moveable from a molding position to a retracted position, the at least one mold cavity having an open top and an open bottom, and a stripper shoe; positioning the production pallet beneath the mold box to enclose the bottom of the at least one mold cavity; depositing block forming material into the at least one mold cavity with the front wall in the molding position; lowering the stripper shoe to enclose the open top of the at least one mold cavity and to compress the block forming material within the at least one mold cavity to form a block, the stripper shoe having a planar molding surface shaped for forming a top planar surface of the block and a first contoured molding surface shaped for forming a first portion of the front face of the block, the first contoured molding surface of the stripper shoe having an irregular front edge which is non-linear horizontally and vertically, the front wall having a contoured molding surface shaped to form a second portion of the front face of the block, the first and second portions of the front face of the block being separated by a parting line formed along the irregular front edge of the first contoured molding surface of the stripper shoe, at least a portion of the first contoured molding surface of the stripper shoe extending further into the at least one mold cavity than the planar surface of the stripper shoe to thereby provide an area of increased compression within the at least one mold cavity adjacent the contoured molding surface of the front wall, the contoured molding surface of the front wall having an irregular bottom edge, at least a portion of the irregular bottom edge being closer to the rear wall of the mold box than a vertically adjacent portion of the irregular front edge of the first contoured molding surface of the stripper shoe; moving the front wall of the mold box from the molding position to the retracted position; and removing the block forming material from the at least one mold cavity after moving the front wall to the retracted position.