Abstract: A machine makes blocks from pressed earth. A feed drawer having an open lower end and filled with loose earth is moved laterally across a planar surface into registration over a breech. A press foot is lowered to a level in the breech to receive loose earth from the feed drawer. The press foot is raised to a third level against a bucking foot to compress the loose earth in the breech into a block. Upon moving the feed drawer laterally into registration over the breech, the block will be pushed out of the path of the bucking foot. The feed drawer, and likewise a screed, having a lower edge notched to pass over a three dimensional surface of the press foot for pushing the block out of registration and for clearing above the three dimensional surface of the press foot.

Abstract: A makes blocks from pressed earth. A press foot is raised to a first level even with an open upper end of a breech. A feed drawer having an open lower end and filled with loose earth is moved laterally across a planar surface into registration over the breech. The press foot is lowered to a second level in the breech to receive loose earth from the feed drawer. The feed drawer is withdrawn laterally across the planar surface out of registration with the breech to screed excess loose earth from the breech. A bucking foot is lowered to close the upper end of the breech. The press foot is raised to a third level to compress the loose earth in the breech into a block. The bucking foot is raised to a level higher than the top of the feed drawer to permit vertical ejection of the block from the open upper end of the breech into the lateral path of the feed drawer. Upon raising the press foot to the first level, a previously-made block will be raised into the lateral path of the feed drawer.