Abstract: A mold box is flexibly mounted to a product forming machine having upper and lower vertically displaceable beams. A feed drawer dispenses concrete material into the mold box while a vibration system vertically vibrates the mold box while dampening horizontal vibration. The vibration system is driven by a single drive shaft that actuates first and second vibrator rods while at the same rotating a counter-weight in a counter-rotating direction. A set of alignment brackets lock the mold box into a predetermined aligned relationship while being mounted in the product forming machine. The bottom side of each mold box is mounted to the product forming machine in the same relative position to reduce machine readjustments. A set of telescoping legs hold the feed drawer assembly variable distances above the mold box. A unitized pallet feeder quickly moves pallets one at a time from an "on-deck" position to a "receiving" position underneath the mold box.

Abstract: A mold box is flexibly mounted to a product forming machine having upper and lower vertically displaceable beams. A feed drawer dispenses concrete material into the mold box while a vibration system vertically vibrates the mold box while dampening horizontal vibration. The vibration system is driven by a single drive shaft that actuates first and second vibrator rods while at the same rotating a counter-weight in a counter-rotating direction. A set of alignment brackets lock the mold box into a predetermined aligned relationship while being mounted in the product forming machine. The bottom side of each mold box is mounted to the product forming machine in the same relative position to reduce machine readjustments. A set of telescoping legs hold the feed drawer assembly variable distances above the mold box. A unitized pallet feeder quickly moves pallets one at a time from an on-deck position to a receiving position underneath the mold box.

Abstract: Method for continuously forming concrete blocks or pavers includes a frame for defining a supporting structure with a mold box flexibly mounted thereon, the mold box having internal cavities contoured to define preselected block patterns, wherein a feed device for receiving concrete material is operable for selective positioning over an upper surface of the mold box for investing concrete material into the cavities. First and second sets of vibrators are mounted, respectively, generally at opposite ends of the mold box means and are operable for being selectively driven by associated first and second power drives. The first and second power drives are selectively operable for synchronizing or independently actuated the first and second sets of vibrators, respectively, so that concrete material invested into the cavities of the mold box may be vibrated so that the concrete material is evenly distributed in substantially equal masses throughout the cavities in the mold box.

Abstract: Apparatus for continuously forming concrete blocks or pavers comprises a frame for defining a supporting structure with a mold box flexibly mounted thereon, the mold box having internal cavities contoured to define preselected block patterns, wherein a feed device for receiving concrete material is operable for selective positioning over an upper surface of the mold box for investing concrete material into the cavities. First and second sets of vibrators are mounted, respectively, generally at opposite ends of the mold box means and are operable for being selectively driven by associated first and second power drives. The first and second power drives are selectively operable for synchronizing or independently actuated the first and second sets of vibrators, respectively, so that concrete material invested into the cavities of the mold box may be vibrated so that the concrete material is evenly distributed in substantially equal masses throughout the cavities in the mold box.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for continuously forming concrete blocks or pavers comprises a frame for defining a supporting structure with a mold box flexibly mounted thereon, the mold box having internal cavities contoured to define preselected block patterns, wherein a feed device for receiving concrete material is operable for selective positioning over an upper surface of the mold box for investing concrete material into the cavities. First and second sets of vibrators are mounted, respectively, generally at opposite ends of the mold box and are operable for being selectively driven by associated first and second power drives. The first and second power drives are selectively operable for synchronizing or independently actuated the first and second sets of vibrators, respectively, so that concrete material invested into the cavities of the mold box may be vibrated so that the concrete material is evenly distributed in substantially equal masses throughout the cavities in the mold box.

Abstract: In a method for the elimination of the d.c. voltage components of a capacitive a.c. voltage divider whose a.c. measuring voltage which may include a d.c. voltage component, is fed to a measurement transformer, the task is to be solved to remove as quickly as possible the d.c. voltage component of the a.c. measuring voltage also to the greatest extent possible without falsification of the reproduction of the middle or high voltage to be measured. This is achieved in that the a.c. measuring voltage (U.sub.M) is fed to a measuring amplifier (14) by way of two parallel lines (L1, L2) via a d.c. voltage blocking element (6). The a.c. measuring voltage (U.sub.M) is thereby fed directly by way of one line (L1) and the d.c. voltage component (U.sub.G) of the a.c. measuring voltage (U.sub.M) is determined in the other line (L2) in that the a.c. measuring voltage (U.sub.M) is subdivided into such small time sections (t) that an equal number of time sections is coordinated per cycle (T) or half cycle (T/2) and the a.c.

Abstract: Palletizing apparatus having extendable/retractable pusher arms. The apparatus includes a frame on which are mounted a layer-arranging table, a horizontally shiftable transfer carriage which mounts the pusher arms, a vertically shiftable stacking platform, and a vertically shiftable finger rake. The surfaces of the table and carriage are each formed from a plurality of laterally-spaced elongate members, with the table and carriage elongate members being interspersed to permit the carriage to shift longitudinally within the surface region of the table. The pusher arms, when extended, positively engage articles arranged on the layer-arranging table, thus serving to push the articles from the layer-arranging table to a position vertically adjacent the stacking platform when the transfer carriage is shifted downstream. At the latter position, the finger rake is lowered to positively engage the sheet articles and the pusher arms are retracted.

Abstract: A palletizer for stacking articles. The apparatus comprises a vertically shiftable layer-arranging table, a vertically shiftable stacking platform and a transfer carriage horizontally shiftable between positions overlying the layer-arranging table and the stacking platform. The upper surfaces of the layer-arranging table and the transfer carriage are formed of a plurality of laterally-spaced members, these members defining therebetween table and carriage channels, respectively. Also disclosed is a horizontally shiftable rake having a plurality of laterally-spaced, downwardly projecting tines positioned to be received within the table and carriage channels. The layer-arranging table is initially adjusted to a lowered position for receiving articles thereon. The table is then raised to a position horizontally adjacent the transfer carriage and rake shifted downstream, raking the articles onto the carriage.

Abstract: Apparatus for arranging and stacking articles including an infeed conveyor in which a rotator is mounted, operable to physically lift an article from the conveyor and rotate it to a desired orientation. Downstream from the rotator is a layer arranging table including elongate rollers powered for rotation in the same direction as the infeed conveyor to carry articles onto the arranging table. A plurality of endless conveyor chains are interposed between the rollers with their upper reaches driven in a direction transversely of the direction of movement of an article on the infeed conveyor. The rollers and chains are shiftable vertically relative to each other so that an article is supported on its underside and positively carried either in the direction of the infeed conveyor or transversely thereof. An elongate carriage is mounted for vertical shifting relative to the arranging table at the downstream and thereof.

Abstract: Article orienting apparatus including a first, or infeed, conveyor, a second, or outfeed, conveyor and an arcuate guide member swingable between a first article engaging position and a second non-article engaging position for selectively orienting predetermined sides of an article to face in the downstream direction of travel of the second conveyor after the article has been transferred thereto from said first conveyor. An extendible-retractable ram selectively actuates an alignment roller for contacting an incompletely turned article for substantially completing a turning sequence when said arcuate guide member is disposed in said first article engaging position.

Abstract: Apparatus for receiving a stack of articles, such as rectangular cartons, disposed in a plurality of substantially horizontal layers and successively removing layers from the stack. The apparatus includes a bottom support onto which the stack may be conveyed, and an upright side support against which one side of the stack is supported. A top support is mounted on the side support in a position overlying the bottom support and is shiftable under power toward and away from the bottom support to clamp against the top of the stack. The bottom support, side support, and top support may be swung, concurrently, about a common, substantially horizontal axis 90.degree. in the direction of the side support to lay the stack over on its side with the same being supported by the bottom, side and top supports.