Device for surface processing of concrete and natural stone products

Abstract

 The device (10) for processing of the surface of the concrete products and natural stones consisting of the external supporting frame (12), whose part is the conveyor (11) and the sliding internal frame (13), while its sliding motion towards the external carrying frame (12) is enabled by the drive (36). At least two holders (15), which carry one rotary-mounted rotor (16), are mounted to the inner frame (13) with the pins (14). Each of the rotors (16) is equipped with the independent gear-box (17) which provides for its drive. The individual rotors (16) consist from two or more flanges (27), which carry two or more pins (24); these pins carry the working tools (26). As the working tool (26) may serve either a disc (28) with smooth surface (29), or discs (27) with rough or rugged surface (30), or discs (27) of the shape of star (31). Another type of the working tool (26) is made from a steel chain-belt (34) in the shape of endless loop (35).

Description

Field of Technology

[0001] This invention concerns an arrangement of device for concrete and natural stone products surface processing.

Present Level of Technology

[0002] Recently has gained in significance production of various concrete building elements, which in many ways replace natural stone. Development of the technology of concrete mixture production has contributed to automatization of the concrete elements production. However, the appearance of the classical pressed concrete products with smooth surface is often unacceptable for architectonic purposes. According to the known formulae of the concrete mixtures, the concrete product has got with its inner structure quite close to that of natural stone. There are known methods and devices, which make possible to modify the appearance of the surface of the concrete product to the appearance of natural stones.

[0003] There are known devices which utilize such processing technology that enables to reach such appearance, that the edges and surfaces seem to be split off, while the fracture looks very similar to that of natural stone. A significant disadvantage is, that such fracture looks "too new". The market requirement however is, that the fracture surface more authentically imitates the surface of old natural stone.

[0004] There are also known devices which attempt to remove this disadvantage by causing "artificial aging" of the concrete product surface. This desirable effect is reached by several known procedures.

[0005] The most widespread solution of artificial aging is banging of the concrete products in a device consisting of a rotating drum in whose inner space the products are placed. With the drum turning, the concrete products inside turn also, bang upon another, thereby all surfaces and edges get banged up. After a certain interval the operator stops the machine and removes the concrete products from the drum. The principle of this known method of artificial aging of concrete products enables to build such devices with small drum for small quantities, or large devices with spacious drum for cases, when high operational output is crucial.
A principal disadvantage of such known devices is, that they are very noisy and dusty. Another disadvantage is that by the concrete products banging one upon another even the edges of the concrete products get banged up, which is undesirable and causes the concrete products depreciation. In case that a concrete product processed in this said device is used i.e. for a pavement, then in the points where the edges meet appear undesirable gaps or holes in the pavement.

[0006] Another known devices designated for processing of surfaces of concrete products use solution, whose principle is based on a rotating set of steel chain-belts that are fixed to a driven rotating shaft. Various versions of this said known solution are the subject of patents quoted below. One of them is the US patent No. 6 109 906, whose principle is a vertical driven shaft, on which there are in several rows fixed steel chain-belts, on whose free ends there are fitted the work tools, either ball- or roller-shaped. Rotation of the free ends of the chains fitted with the said tools improves the final effect of the concrete products processing.
Another known solution utilizing the principle of a rotating set of steel chain-belts is represented by the US patent No. 6 540 501, which is based on a horizontally placed shaft fitted with steel chain-belts that are fixed in several rows upon in. The advantage of the said solution is, that the blocks of concrete products are shifted along both sides of the rotating shaft with chains, thus increasing the productivity of this said device.
Another known device, which is based on the rotating set of steel chain-belts is represented by the US patent No. 6 561 786, whose principle is a driven shaft with steel chain-belts, which is located transversally above the working area of the device. Another distinguishing mark of this US patent is a set of driven cams placed in various positions below the working area pf the device. The lobes of the cams get one by one in contact with pins that pass through the working area. As the cams rotate, their lobes lift the said pins, which causes the concrete products to change their height towards the free ends of the chains. The advantage of this solution is, that it is capable of more intense processing of the concrete product surfaces.
Another known solution as per the US patent No. 6 575 727 is also utilizing the principle of rotating set of steel chain-belts. The principle of this US patent is a device consisting of several driven shafts with several rows of steel chain-belts fitted to them, which are placed transversally above the working area of the device. Another distinguishing mark of the device according to this US patent is, that the working area consists of several stepped parts. The stepped arrangement enables more intense processing of the front part of the concrete product shifted along.
Similar device, which uses equal members for processing of the concrete products surface as the device described above, is known from the US patent No. 6 843 947. A substantial disadvantage of this know device as per the US patent No. 6 843 947 is, that is doesn't enable such vertical shifting, which would enable regulation of the individual cylinders bearing the steel chain-belts in order to eliminate uneven wear of these steel chain-belts.
Disadvantage of all devices which utilize steel chain-belts for processing of concrete products surface is, that with respect to size, weight and structure of the concrete products or natural stones, the used chain-belts must be of various weight, resulting in their uneven wearing, even though the size and weight of the chains is dependent on the size and weight of the concrete products to be processed.

[0007] Another method of processing the concrete products surface is described in the solution know from the US patent No. 5 133 915, which is based on a driven grinding tool of cylindrical shape, located askew transversally above the working area. The said grinding tool is exchangeable and can be replaced with a similar working tool, whose surface is fitted with protrusions for more intense processing of the concrete products surface.

[0008] Another method of processing of the concrete products surface is known from the US patent No. 4 147 491, whose principle is several holders located transversally above the working area. At the said holders there are rotary-mounted idle roller-shaped working tools. The concrete products are pushed under the said rollers, while the motion of the concrete products develops rotation of the rollers, causing gradual processing of the concrete products surface.

[0009] Yet another method of the concrete products surface processing is the solution, known from the US patent application No. 2004/0104511, whose substance is an "U" shaped frame. The fourth side of the frame consists of a sieve-like working tool, which is of the same width and length as the other three sides of the said frame. The concrete product or natural stone to be processed is inserted to inside of the frame.

[0010] Another method of processing of the concrete products surface is known from the US patent application No. 2004/0150131, which is based on a yoke with two pairs of swinging holders. All the said swinging holders are arranged into the shape of a blunt "V" shape. On the said swinging holders, there are mounted rotary-mounted discs in several rows one above another, with their inner diameter larger than the diameter of the swinging holders, which hold the discs. The concrete products traveling along the working area of the device get in contact with the vertically mounted swinging holders and the discs. Due to rapid swinging motion of the said "V" shaped holders, the fitted discs begin to vibrate and gradually process the sides of the concrete products.

Disclosure of the Invention

[0011] The above-mentioned disadvantages will be removed by a new arrangement of a device for processing of concrete products and natural stones surface, whose principle is that at least two holders are mounted through pins to the inner frame equipped with a linear drive, which is each holder there is rotary-mounted one rotor with a working tool. Further, each holder bears an independent arm on whose free ends there are mounted joints, through whose a regulating rod is passing, having threads with nuts at the points of the joints. Further, each individual rotor contains flanges and is equipped with a independent gear-box. Further, the working tools are disc-shaped with smooth or rough surface, or star-shaped, or consist of an endless loop of steel chain-belt. Or further, the disc-shaped working tools have the central hole whose size is larger than the size of the pin. And further, the working tools are fitted on the rotor on shafts in rows side by side.

Layout of Illustrations at the Drawings

[0012] The invention shall be further more closely explained with reference to the drawings, where

Fig. 1 shows schematically one of many possible versions of the device for processing of the concrete products and natural stones surface in such position, which allows processing the surface of higher concrete products and natural stones.

Fig. 2 shows a schematic side-view of the same device for processing of the concrete products and natural stones surface.

Fig. 3 shows a schematic illustration of one of many possible versions of the device for processing of the concrete products and natural stones surface in such position, which enables processing of rather lower concrete products and natural stones.

Fig. 4 shows a schematic illustration of a detail of the device according to this invention, with one rotor 14.

Fig. 5 shows a schematic illustration of the rotor 14 with several installed disc-shaped working tools 28.

Fig. 6 shows a schematic illustration of several other versions of the working tool 26 shaped like discs 28.

Fig. 7 shows a schematic illustration on another version of the working tools 26 consisting of a steel chain-belt 34, shaped to endless loop 35.

Examples of Implementation of the Invention

[0013] As illustrated at the Fig. 1, the device 10 for processing of the concrete products and natural stones surface according to this invention consists of the external frame 12, which includes a conveyor 11 and a sliding inner frame 13. Shifting of the inner frame 13 towards the external frame 12 is enabled by the drive 36. At least two holders 15 are mounted to the inner frame 13 via pins 14, while each of them bears a rotary-mounted rotor 16. Each rotor 16 is equipped with an independent gear-box 17 which provides its drive. The inner frame 13 also carries a shifting device 18, which enables shifting and adjustment of the individual rotors 16 to the optimal position above the conveyor 11.
An independent arm 19 is fitted to every single holder 15; the free ends of these arms are fitted with a joint 20. The regulating rod 21 is passing through the individual joints 20; the rod is shifted in horizontal direction by means of the drive 22. Shifting motion of the regulating rod 21 by a certain distance in horizontal direction causes the desirable swinging of the holders 15 and thus vertical motion of each individual rotor 16 along a circle. Such arrangement enables common height regulation of the rotors 16 towards the surface 33 of the processed concrete products and natural stones.

[0014] Each individual rotor 16 consists of two or more flanges 27, which carry two or more pins 24; these pins hold the working tools 26 located in rows side by side. For long rotors 16, it is advantageous to divide it with more flanges 27, in order to avoid deflection and consequent bending of the pins 24 due to centrifugal forces invoked by rotation of the rotor 16.

[0015] The said regulating rod 21 is fitted with threads 22 on both sides of points, where the joints 20 of the arms 19 are mounted on it. The position of the individual joints 20 of the arms 19 on the regulation rod 21 is adjusted by shifting the nuts 23 along the threads 22. By changing the position of the nuts 23 holding the individual arms 19 it is possible to carry out both the basic and additional adjustment of the individual rotors 16 to their optimal position. It is necessary to change the position of the rotors 16 due to uneven wearing of the working tools 26, which are held on the said pins 24 of the rotors 16.

[0016] As per Fig. 6, the individual rotors 16 are fitted with working tools 26, shaped like discs 28 with smooth surface 29, discs 27 with rough or rugged surface 30, or discs 27 of the shape of star 31. The said working tools 26, shaped like discs 27 have central holes 25, through whose they are rotary-mounted on the pins 24 of the rotors 16.

[0017] The size of the central hole 25 of all said types of discs 27 is larger than is the diameter of the pins 24, upon which the discs 27 are placed. By turning of the rotors 16, the individual working tools 26 are forced by centrifugal force from the axis 32 of their location of the pins 24. In that instant, when the respective working tool 26 gets into contact with the surface 33 or the edges 37 of concrete product or natural stone to be processed, the said working tool 26 as said above gets knocked off and rotated at the same time. The contact of the surface of the working tool 26 with the surface 33 and the edges 37 of the concrete products or natural stone to be processed together with the larger size of the central hole 25 as well as the rotation of the rotor 16 causes the known phenomenon of undefined rotary vibration of the working tool 26. As the working tools 26 are placed along the whole width of the rotor 16, the desired effect of processing the surface 33 and edges 37 along the whole width of the transported concrete products or natural stones is reached.

[0018] Fig. 7 shows another of possible types of working tool 26, which is also rotary-mounted on the pin 24 of the rotor 16. This another type of working tool 26 is made of a steel chain-belt 34 shaped in endless loop 35. By rotation of the rotor 24, the steel chain-belt 34 shaped in endless loop 35 is tensioned in radial direction from the axis 32 of the rotor 16, due to acting centrifugal force.
The contact between the steel chain-belt 34 shaped in the endless loop 35 and the surface 33 and edges 37 of the concrete product or natural stone to be processed shall cause undefined turning of this type of working tool 26 and at the same time the desirable banging of the surface 33 of the concrete product or natural stone to be processed in the contact point. Repeated contact of the steel chain-belt 34 shaped in the endless loop 35, caused by rotation of the rotor 16, develops advantageous utilization of this working tool 26 along all its length, which means substantial prolongation of its service life and economical savings.
It is possible to utilize various sizes of the steel chain-belt 34 shaped in the endless loop 35, in order to reach optimal processing of the surface 33 and edges 37 of the concrete product or natural stone. When choosing the size of the steel chain-belt 34 shaped in the endless loop 35, it is necessary to take into account the size and weight of the concrete product or natural stone, whose surface 33 and edges 37 are to be processed. It is possible and advantageous to use different size of the steel chain-link 34 shaped in the endless loop 35 on each rotor 16.

[0019] The resulting effect reached by using the device 10 with the working tools 26 is such a processing of the surface 33 and edges 37 of the concrete product or natural stone, which is known at manual roughing.

Claims

1. The device for processing of the surface of the concrete products and natural stones consisting of a external supporting frame, which is connected to a conveyor and further from an internal frame, which contains pins and holders carrying a rotor with working tools, is characterized in that to the inner frame (13), which is equipped with drive (36), are through pins (14) fastened at least two holders (15), while in each of them is rotary-mounted one rotor (16) carrying the working tools (26).

2. The device (10) according to paragraph 1, is characterized in that to each holder (15) an independent arm (19) is mounted; in the free ends of such arms there are located joints (20), through whole the regulating rod (21) is passing; the regulating rod is fitted with threads (22) at the points of location of the joints (20), and on them are mounted nuts (23).

3. The device (10) according to paragraphs 1 to 2, is characterized in that each individual rotor (16) is equipped with its independent gear-box (17).

4. The device (10) according to paragraphs 1 to 3, is characterized in that the rotor (16) contains flanges (27).

5. The device (10) according to paragraphs 1 to 4, is characterized in that the working tools (26) are made in the shape of a disc (28) with smooth surface (29) or with rough surface (30) as well as in the shape of a star (31).

6. The device (10) according to paragraphs 1 to 5, is characterized in that the working tools (26) shaped like discs (28) have central hole (25), whose size is larger than the size of the pin (24).

7. The device (10) according to paragraphs 1 to 6, is characterized in that the working tools (26) is made from the steel chain-link (34) shaped in an endless loop (35).

8. The device (10) according to paragraphs 1 to 7, is characterized in that the working tools (26) is mounted in the rotor (16) in rows (36) side by side, on axes (32).

Amended claims

Amended claims in accordance with Rule 86(2) EPC.

1. The device for processing of the surface of concrete products and natural stones consisting of the external supporting frame equipped with the drive, while the external supporting frame is connected with the conveyor on which are placed the concrete products or natural stones ready for processing, further from the inner frame also equipped with drive, while in the said inner frame there is through pins and arms movably fitted holder carrying rotor, which contains axes on whose there are fitted working tools, is characterized in that the horizontal motion of the inner frame (13) to the right or to the left towards the external carrying frame (12) is enabled by the drive (35), while the inner frame (13) is equipped with linear drive (18), which is connected to the regulating rod (21), thus enabling this regulating rod (21) to move horizontally to the right and to the left, while to the said regulating rod (21) are through joints (20) swing-mounted the arms (19), which carry the holder (15), which contains the shaft (42), on which is rotary-mounted one rotor (16) equipped with axes (31), on which there are fitted the working tools (26), while the rotor (16) is driven by the gear-box (17) and where every individual rotor (16) can be fitted with different type of working tools (26).

2. The device (10) according to the paragraph 1, is characterized in that in the inner frame (13) there are mounted at least two holders (15), while in each single holder (15) there is fitted always one rotor (16) carrying the working tools (26) and where every such rotor (16) is driven by the independent gear-box (17),

3. The device (10) according to paragraph 1, is characterized in that the linear drive (18) can be placed upright to the upper part of the inner frame (13) and the driving effect of the said linear drive (18) is then transferred directly onto arms (19), which are connected with joints (20) to the holder (15) containing the rotor (16) with the working tools (26);
and also in that the linear drive (18) is placed also upright towards the upper part of the inner frame (13), while the driving effect of the said linear drive (18) is transferred through its unmarked shaft onto the regulating rod (21), which is through arms (19), joints (20) and holders (15) pivot-mounted to at least two rotors (16) with the working tools (26);
and also in that the linear drive (18) is placed askew towards the upper part of the inner frame (13), while the driving effect of the said linear drive (18) is transferred directly onto arms (19) that are connected through the joints (20) with the holder (15) containing the rotor (16) with the working tools (26);
and also in that the linear drive (18) is connected through its unmarked shaft directly onto the holder (15) carrying the rotor (16) with the working tools (26).

4. The device (10) according to paragraphs 1 to 3, is characterized in that each individual regulating rod (21) mounted in the joints (20) of the arms (19) is shifted in the horizontal direction by means of the linear drive (18), which enables turning of each individual holder (15) and thus also develops vertical motion of each individual rotor (16) which is mounted in the individual holders (15) up or down along circle.

5. The device (10) according to paragraphs 1 to 4, is characterized in that each regulating rod (21) is equipped with threads (22) on both sides of the points, where are fitted the individual joints (20), while on each individual thread (22) there is placed independent nut (23).

6. The device (10) according to paragraphs 1 to 5, is characterized in that only one regulating rod (21) interconnects and controls all holders (15) carrying through the arms (15) the individual rotors (16) with the working tools (26), while this regulating rod (21) is driven by means of one linear drive (18) and each individual rotor (16) is driven by the independent gear-box (17);
or in that the device (10) is equipped with two regulating rods (21), while each individual regulating rod (21) interconnects and controls always one pair of holders (15), in which are mounted the rotors (16) with the working tools (26), while each of the two regulating rods (21) is driven independently by means of the linear drive (18) and while each individual rotor (16) is driven by the independent gear-box (17);
and also in that the device (10) is equipped with four regulating rods (21), from which each of them is driven by independent linear drive (18) and the driving effect is transferred always onto one pair of arms (19) with the holder (15), in which there is mounted the rotor (16) with the working tools (26), while each individual rotor (16) is driven by the independent gear-box (17);

7. The device (10) according to paragraphs 1 to 6, is characterized in that each individual rotor (16) is through the bearing (39), which is mounted in the splined coupling (41) and the bearing (40), which is mounted in the sliding bush (38) rotary-mounted on the shaft (42), while each individual rotor (16) consists of at least one partition (38) in which there are fitted at least two pins (24).

8. The device (10) according to paragraphs 1 to 7, is characterized in that the working tools (26) are disc-shaped (28) with smooth surface (29) or with rough surface (30) and also star-shaped (31).

9. The device (10) according to paragraphs 1 to 8, is characterized in that each individual working tool (26) made up of steel chain-belt (34) is shaped like an endless loop (35).

Drawing