Abstract: A method for producing a patterned shaped article includes the steps of disposing on a base surface a retainer having a plurality of particle-retaining spaces; filling the spaces with pre-filling particles having a particle size of not more than 600 .mu.m and easy to remove; removing the pre-filling particles from part of the spaces to form at least one empty space; filling the at least one empty space with shaped article-forming particles; repeating the step of removing the pre-filling particles and the step of filling the shaped article-forming particles until the shaped particle-forming particles are substituted for all the pre-filling particles, the shaped article-forming particles including at least two kinds of particles; removing the retainer to form a pattern course on the base surface; and allowing the pattern course to set into an integral mass.

Abstract: A molding apparatus for a patterned shaped article includes a retainer having a plurality of retaining portions for retaining particles, a supply tank for charging particles into the retainer, a remover for removing the particles from some of the retaining portions of the retainer, and another supply tank for charging particles of a different kind into the retaining portions from which the particles were removed. The apparatus produces a patterned shaped article by conducting at least one cycle of operation in which particles are charged into the retainer, the charged particles are removed from some of the retaining portions of the retainer and particles of a different kind are charged into the retaining portions from which the particles were removed, and the particles retained are released by the retainer to form a course of prescribed thickness on a base surface.

Abstract: A method for producing a patterned shaped article. A prescribed amount of dry particles are supplied onto a position on a base surface. The particles are applied according to a pattern which is desired. A formation device is used to form the particles into a course which corresponds to the pattern desired. The side face of the device has a constant produced angle slope. A different type of dry particles is then supplied onto the remaining portion of the base surface. The particles are allowed to set into an integral mass either as they are or after being overlaid with backing.

Abstract: A patterned shaped article is produced on a given surface by a method including the steps of disposing a partition body on the given surface, temporarily fixing a plurality of cut pattern pieces to the upper surface of the partition body or the upper surface of a mesh member disposed on the partition body so that the cut pattern pieces are disposed adjacent to each other to constitute a pattern to be formed, unfixing one of the cut pattern pieces from a portion of the upper surface to which a pattern-course material is to be supplied, supplying the pattern course material to the portion, repeating the unfixing and supplying steps until the partition body is filled with a prescribed amount of pattern-course materials, removing the partition body alone or together with the mesh member from the pattern-course materials, and allowing the pattern-course materials to set into the patterned shaped article on the given surface.

Abstract: An apparatus for simultaneously supplying at least two kinds of particles onto a given surface, includes a movable supply head having at least one partition member for partitioning the at least two kinds of particles and defining at least two supply ports in conjunction with the supply head; and a device for introducing the at least two kinds of particles into the supply head. A patterned shaped article is produced by a method using the apparatus. The method includes simultaneously supplying the two supply ports of the supply head, with the one partition member abutting on the given surface, thereby forming a pattern course on the given surface, and allowing the pattern course to set into an integral mass.

Abstract: An apparatus for supplying particles and/or granules to form a layer of prescribed thickness onto a given surface includes endless pattern-forming device having a plurality of spaces, a device for supplying particles and/or granules into the spaces via a control member provided on the particle or granule-supplying device, a device for temporarily retaining the supplied particles and/or granules in the spaces, and a device for releasing the temporarily retained particles and/or granules onto the given surface. A patterned shaped article is produced by a method using the apparatus. The method includes supplying dry particles and/or granules for a pattern course into the spaces, temporarily retaining the supplied particles and/or granules in the spaces, releasing the temporarily retained particles and/or granules onto the given surface, and allowing the released particles and/or granules to set on the given surface.

Abstract: Disclosed is a shaped article made from concrete, artificial stone, ceramic, metal, plastic, etc. and having a minute and beautiful pattern expressed on part or all of the surface thereof by a pattern course of a prescribed thickness. This shaped article is produced by forming at least two superposed courses of different dry particles on a base surface, moving a scraper located at a prescribed position above the base surface in accordance with a pattern to be expressed so as to scrape at least the lowermost course, allowing the dry particles of the upper course to cave into a cavity thus formed, thereby expressing the pattern on the bottom surface of the lowermost course, and allowing all the particles to set into an integral mass, either as they are or after the top surface of the uppermost course is made even or overlaid with a backing course.

Abstract: An apparatus for simultaneously supplying at least two kinds of particles onto a given surface, includes a movable supply head having at least one partition member for partitioning the at least two kinds of particles and defining at least two supply ports in conjunction with the supply head; and a device for introducing the at least two kinds of particles into the supply head. A patterned shaped article is produced by a method using the apparatus. The method includes simultaneously supplying the two supply ports of the supply head, with the one partition member abutting on the given surface, thereby forming a pattern course on the given surface, and allowing the pattern course to set into an integral mass.

Abstract: A method of producing a patterned shaped article which includes the steps of placing on a base surface, a form made of at least one partition member defining the boundary of the patterned to be produced, a peripheral frame surrounding the partition member at a prescribed spacing therefrom and a cover closing the upper ends of the partition member and the peripheral frame. The method also includes the steps of supplying dry particles to a pattern space enclosed by the partition member and a pattern space between the partition member and the peripheral frame, removing the form from the base surface forming a particle course having a prescribed pattern and causing the particles to set into an integral mask.

Abstract: A method of producing shaped articles of artificial stone, ceramics, metal, plastic and the like, each having a fine, attractive pattern on part or all of the surface thereof formed in a pattern course of a prescribed thickness. The shaped article is produced by forming a dry particle course on a base surface, positioning a scraper at a prescribed point on the base surface, moving the scraper in accordance with the pattern to be expressed, and using a different type of particles to fill the cavity thus formed by the scraper, and allowing the particles to set into an integral mass, either as they are or after being overlaid with a backing course.

Abstract: A patterned shaped article is produced by a method which includes the steps of supplying a first material onto a given surface until the first material forms a layer of predetermined thickness, removing part of the layer to form at least one concave portion in the layer, filling the at least one concave portion with at least one kind of second material different in color and quality from the first material, and causing the first and second materials to set into an integral mass. When the first material is dry, the second material may be either dry or wet. When the first material is wet, the second material is dry and the moisture of the first wet material is absorbed before the step of removing part of the layer of the first material.

Abstract: A method of producing a patterned shaped circle includes the steps of forming a course of dry particles on a base surface; using an air flow controller having either a suction port or a blow port or both a suction port and a blow port to cause an air flow to form a cavity in the dry particle course by removing a part of the particles thereof under the control of at least one parameter among air pressure, air flow rate, air flow speed, air flow direction, air flow pulsation, air flow intermittence, suction port size, blow port size, suction port position and blow port position; charging the cavity with a different type of dry particles; and allowing the particles to set into an integral mass.

Abstract: A molding apparatus for patterned shaped articles includes a form constituted of at least one partition member defining the boundary of the pattern to be produced, a peripheral frame surrounding the partition member at a prescribed spacing therefrom and a cover for closing the upper ends of the partition member and the peripheral frame; at least one feed port for supplying particles into a pattern space enclosed by the partition member: at least one suction port for sucking particles out of the pattern space; at least one feed port for supplying particles into a pattern space between the partition member and the peripheral frame; at least one suction port for sucking particle out of the pattern space; a charging mechanism for supplying particles to at least one of the pattern spaces by compressed air, and a suction mechanism for sucking particles from the pattern spaces.

Abstract: Mechanical foam fire fighting equipment and method wherein an inert gas is delivered to a foaming chamber of a mechanical foam making assembly, the foaming chamber also receiving a liquid and foam concentrate, the inert gas in some embodiments being supplied by the exhaust of an engine.

Abstract: An apparatus for supplying particles and/or granules to form a layer of prescribed thickness onto a given surface includes an endless pattern-forming device having a plurality of spaces, a device for supplying particles and/or granules into the spaces via a control member provided on the particle or granule-supplying device, a device for temporarily retaining the supplied particles and/or granules in the spaces and for releasing the temporarily retained particles and/or granules onto the given surface. A patterned shaped article is produced by a method using the apparatus. The method includes supplying dry particles and/or granules for a pattern course into the spaces, temporarily retaining the supplied particles and/or granules in the spaces, releasing the temporarily retained particles and/or granules onto the given surface, and allowing the released particles and/or granules to set on the given surface.

Abstract: A method of producing a pattern shaped article includes the steps of forming at least two different courses of dry particles overlaid on a base surface; using an air flow controller having either a suction port or a blow port or both a suction port and a blow port to effect an air flow to form a cavity corresponding to a pattern expression in at least a lower dry particle course by removing a portion of the lower dry particle course under control of at least one parameter among air pressure, air flow rate, air flow speed, air flow direction, air flow pulsation, air flow intermittence, suction port size, blow port size, suction port position and blow port position; collapsing particles of an upper dry particle course of a different type of dry particles into the cavity and allowing the particles to set into an integral mass.

Abstract: A method of producing a patterned shaped article includes the steps of disposing at a prescribed position within a main form for molding the shaped article a projection-bristling form having a support member and a plurality of projections standing upright from the support member, charging a prescribed amount of dry pattern-course material for forming the pattern course of the shaped article into spaces defined by a prescribed number of projections of the bristling form, charging a base-course material for forming the base course of the shaped article into the main form including the remaining space of the bristling form not filled with the pattern-course material, removing the bristling form, causing the charged pattern-course material and base-course material to set into a shaped article, removing the shaped article from the main form and, optionally, sintering the shaped article.

Abstract: An apparatus for simultaneously supplying at least two kinds of particles onto a given surface, includes a movable supply head having at least one partition member for partitioning the at least two kinds of particles and defining at least two supply ports in conjunction with the supply head; and a device for introducing the at least two kinds of particles into the supply head. A patterned shaped article is produced by a method using the apparatus. The method includes simultaneously supplying the two supply ports of the supply head, with the one partition member abutting on the given surface, thereby forming a pattern course on the given surface, and allowing the pattern course to set into an integral mass.

Abstract: A method of producing a patterned shaped article includes the steps of constituting a patterning form by disposing at a prescribed position within a main form for molding the shaped article an auxiliary form of a configuration appropriate for a pattern to be formed, charging a dry material for pattern formation into the patterning form at a prescribed form cavity portion thereof, charging a base-course material for forming the base course of the shaped article into the remaining space of the patterning form not filled with the pattern material, removing the auxiliary form, causing the pattern material and base-course material charged into the patterning form to set into a shaped article, removing the shaped article from the main form and, optionally, sintering the shaped article.

Abstract: A method of producing a patterned shaped article includes the steps of disposing at a prescribed position within a main form for molding the shaped article a cell form having a plurality of cells arranged in a contiguous manner, charging a prescribed amount of dry pattern-course material for forming the pattern course of the shaped article into prescribed cells of the cell form, charging a base-course material for forming the base course of the shaped article into the remaining space of the main form not filled with the pattern-course material, removing the cell form, causing the charged pattern-course material and base-course material to set into a shaped article, removing the shaped article from the main form and, optionally, sintering the shaped article.