Abstract: An adaptable spacer roping installation system includes a robot for positioning adjacent a palletizing surface, and a rope-positioning bar for positioning adjacent the palletizing surface. The robot is equipped with a tool head that allows receiving and dispensing a plurality of ropes from different dispensing positions along the tool head. The rope-positioning bar includes at least a same number of grippers than the number of dispensing positions along the tool head. The grippers is so positioned along the rope-positioning bar to allow grippers thereon gripping in unison the plurality of ropes dispensed by the tool head. The robot is movable from a first position, wherein the tool head is so positioned relative to the rope-positioning bar that each of the dispensing positions is registered and adjacent one of the grippers, to a second position, wherein the tool head is positioned distanced from the rope-positioning bar, parallel thereto, above the palletizing surface.

Abstract: The problem of wet-cast concrete products getting stuck in a flexible mold during demolding is solved, prior to demolding the wet-cast concrete products, by removing a vacuum on the flexible mold by moving at least one side edge of the flexible mold away from a part of the flexible mold that is adjacent to the at least one side edge in a direction opposite the open side of the flexible mold.

Abstract: The problem of wet-cast concrete products getting stuck or being uncontrollably ejected from a flexible mold during demolding is solved by moving the flexible mold through a passage, defined by both a mold-receiving surface and a rotatable mold-support distanced therefrom, while moving an edge of the flexible mold along an unsmooth path that includes at least one sharp point.

Abstract: The problem of wet-cast concrete products getting stuck or being uncontrollably ejected from a flexible mold during demolding is solved by moving the flexible mold through a passage, defined by both a mold-receiving surface and a rotatable mold-support distanced therefrom, while moving an edge of the flexible mold along an unsmooth path that includes at least one sharp point.

Abstract: The problem of wet-cast concrete products getting stuck in a flexible mold during demolding is solved, prior to demolding the wet-cast concrete products, by removing a vacuum on the flexible mold by moving at least one side edge of the flexible mold away from a part of the flexible mold that is adjacent to the at least one side edge in a direction opposite the open side of the flexible mold.

Abstract: A brick layering system includes an infeed conveyor that brings layers of bricks, one or more brick layer compacting systems that remove unwanted gaps in the layers of bricks, an outfeed carousel for receiving compacted piles of bricks and a robot arms that moves the brick layer between the infeed, outfeed and compacting systems. The brick layer compacting system includes a table top having a generally flat surface for receiving the brick layer; and two mechanical stops secured to the table top on the generally flat surface so as to define two straight edges on the table top that are perpendicular to each other. The table top is oriented so that a virtual intersection of both straight edges is lower than any other parts of the two straight edges. Bricks received on the flat surface are moved by gravity towards the virtual intersection of the two straight edges, thereby removing gaps between the bricks and indexing the bricks relative to both straight edges.

Abstract: A brick layering system includes an infeed conveyor that brings layers of bricks, one or more brick layer compacting systems that remove unwanted gaps in the layers of bricks, an outfeed carousel for receiving compacted piles of bricks and a robot arms that moves the brick layer between the infeed, outfeed and compacting systems. The brick layer compacting system includes a table top having a generally flat surface for receiving the brick layer; and two mechanical stops secured to the table top on the generally flat surface so as to define two straight edges on the table top that are perpendicular to each other. The table top is oriented so that a virtual intersection of both straight edges is lower than any other parts of the two straight edges. Bricks received on the flat surface are moved by gravity towards the virtual intersection of the two straight edges, thereby removing gaps between the bricks and indexing the bricks relative to both straight edges.

Abstract: Blocks for wall constructions described herein are in the form of casted one-piece concrete hollow bodies. The blocks include front and back walls which are generally parallel to a first axis and have top and bottom ends and two inner walls integral to both front and back walls therebetween that are generally parallel to a second axis which is perpendicular to the first axis. One of the end side faces of the two inner walls includes male connector portions that are offset from a first distance from the front wall. The other end side face includes female connector portions that are registered along the first axis with the male connector portions and are offset from the first distance from the back wall. The male connector portion is for insertion in the female connector portion of another block when the other block is mounted thereon so as to yield a straight or a shifted retaining wall portion.

Abstract: Blocks for wall constructions described herein are in the form of casted one-piece concrete hollow bodies. The blocks include front and back walls which are generally parallel to a first axis and have top and bottom ends and two inner walls integral to both front and back walls therebetween that are generally parallel to a second axis which is perpendicular to the first axis. One of the end side faces of the two inner walls includes male connector portions that are offset from a first distance from the front wall. The other end side face includes female connector portions that are registered along the first axis with the male connector portions and are offset from the first distance from the back wall. The male connector portion is for insertion in the female connector portion of another block when the other block is mounted thereon so as to yield a straight or a shifted retaining wall portion.

Abstract: A brick having a peripheral shoulder defining a flange allowing fasteners to be inserted therein when two adjacent bricks have facing indentations is described herein. The peripheral shoulder of the bricks allows mortar to be inserted therein to create a conventional brick look and to hide the fasteners. The shoulder is optionally provided with indentations allowing fasteners therethrough. Also described herein is a machine to manufacture such bricks.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for roughing the surface and edges of concrete casted blocks, such as concrete pavers is described herein. The apparatus comprises an elongated block-receiving surface having first and second longitudinal end portions and provided with block-tilting elements for sequentially tilting up at least two upper edges of a block moving on the surface from a first end portion to a second end portion; means for moving blocks on the block-receiving surface from the first to second end portions; and a plurality of impacting elements located above the block-receiving surface for reciprocating movement towards and away the block-receiving surface for impacting blocks on the block-receiving surface. The tilting elements may be in the form of wheels rotatably mounted to the block-receiving surface and positioned for sequentially tilting up each of the four upper edges of the block moving on the surface.

Abstract: A feeder to supply blocks to a tumbler having a block inlet from a generally horizontal platform, the feeder comprising a frame and a shelf assembly so mounted to the frame as to reciprocate between a block receiving position and a block dumping position; the shelf assembly generally aligned with the platform when the shelf assembly is in the block receiving position to receive at least one block thereupon from the platform; the shelf assembly being so movable as to be angled into a block dumping position to cause the blocks to slide from the shelf assembly to the inlet of the tumbler.