Disclosed herein is a method and apparatus for back end control of translation and rotation of green ware (e.g., producible from ceramic extrudate). A green ware handling system (102) includes a back end assembly (129) that contacts a back end face (118B) of a green ware (116) and moves to push the green ware (116) along the support channel (114). In certain embodiments, the green ware handling assembly (102) includes a leading end assembly (128) to pull the green ware (116) and then transfer control to the back end assembly (129), which translates and also optionally rotates the green ware (116). This handoff increases the overall production rate of the green ware (116). In certain embodiments, the back end assembly (129) penetrates the back end face (118B) of the green ware (116) with cleat penetration features (312) to provide a secure engagement with the green ware (116) to rotate and translate the green ware (116) while also decreasing a depth of damage to the green ware (116).

A molded concrete U-wall construction block including a molded concrete U-wall construction block structure formed from cured concrete poured about a block cage made from reinforcing material during a block manufacturing process. The block cage includes an open aperture formed in each of its stem reinforcing portions. During the block manufacturing process, the first and second support members of a support mechanism are inserted within the open apertures formed in the stem reinforcing sections of the block cage, and cooperate with the open apertures of the block cage so as to (i) support the block cage when being loaded into a block manufacturing machine, (ii) define central apertures molded in each stem portion of the concrete U-wall construction block structure, and (iii) lift the molded concrete U-wall construction block when being unloaded from the machine.

The invention relates to an additive production method involving the production of a layer of geometrically compact particles, having the following steps: a) providing a particle layer depositing arrangement, comprising a first and a second semi-chamber, wherein a partition separates the first semi-chamber from the second semi-chamber, and the partition is permeable for a dispersion medium and impermeable for particles dispersed in the dispersion medium; b) providing a particle dispersion comprising the dispersion medium and particles dispersed therein in the first semi-chamber, the particle dispersion being distributed substantially homogenously in the first semi-chamber; c) generating a pressure gradient between the first and the second semi-chamber such that the pressure gradient in the first semi-chamber causes a particle dispersion flow directed towards the partition; and d) depositing a particle aggregate material comprising geometrically compact particles on the partition by transporting a dispersion agent into the second semi-chamber.

The invention relates to an additive production method involving the production of a layer of geometrically compact particles, having the following steps: a) providing a particle layer depositing arrangement, comprising a first and a second semi-chamber, wherein a partition separates the first semi-chamber from the second semi-chamber, and the partition is permeable for a dispersion medium and impermeable for particles dispersed in the dispersion medium; b) providing a particle dispersion comprising the dispersion medium and particles dispersed therein in the first semi-chamber, the particle dispersion being distributed substantially homogenously in the first semi-chamber; c) generating a pressure gradient between the first and the second semi-chamber such that the pressure gradient in the first semi-chamber causes a particle dispersion flow directed towards the partition; and d) depositing a particle aggregate material comprising geometrically compact particles on the partition by transporting a dispersion agent into the second semi-chamber.

An extrudate transport apparatus comprises a free floating roller assembly, wherein the roller assembly controls a rotational pitch of a cylindrical green ceramic extrudate as the green ceramic extrudate moves longitudinally from a first location to a second location within the extrudate transport apparatus. The free floating roller assembly has a predetermined effective weight and comprises a contact roller having a deformable outer surface for frictionally contacting an outer surface of the green ceramic extrudate in motion adjacent thereto, while maintaining a constant contact force upon said green ceramic extrudate.

An extrudate transport apparatus comprises a free floating roller assembly, wherein the roller assembly controls a rotational pitch of a cylindrical green ceramic extrudate as the green ceramic extrudate moves longitudinally from a first location to a second location within the extrudate transport apparatus. The free floating roller assembly has a predetermined effective weight and comprises a contact roller having a deformable outer surface for frictionally contacting an outer surface of the green ceramic extrudate in motion adjacent thereto, while maintaining a constant contact force upon said green ceramic extrudate.

A machine for and method of manufacturing concrete U-wall type construction blocks by molding each concrete u-wall construction block from concrete poured about a block cage made from reinforcing material while said block cage is loaded within the machine. The method involves providing a system of molding jacket panels, including a core molding assembly having a pair of inside stem jacket panels that are adjustably supportable in a substantially parallel manner during a molding process, and arranged is such a manner that the front wall portion is molded in downwardly facing direction toward a horizontal support surface and completely enclosed in one or more molding jacket panels. Before block molding operations, the thickness of the front wall portion of the U-wall construction block is set by determining the thickness of a front wall surface liner and installing the front wall surface forming liner within the system of molding jacket panels.

A machine for and method of manufacturing concrete U-wall type construction blocks by molding each concrete u-wall construction block from concrete poured about a block cage made from reinforcing material while said block cage is loaded within the machine. The method involves providing a system of molding jacket panels, including a core molding assembly having a pair of inside stem jacket panels that are adjustably supportable in a substantially parallel manner during a molding process, and arranged is such a manner that the front wall portion is molded in downwardly facing direction toward a horizontal support surface and completely enclosed in one or more molding jacket panels. Before block molding operations, the thickness of the front wall portion of the U-wall construction block is set by determining the thickness of a front wall surface liner and installing the front wall surface forming liner within the system of molding jacket panels.

There is disclosed a method capable of effectively suppressing deformation when a honeycomb formed body formed by horizontal extrusion is supported by a cradle, and supporting even a large honeycomb formed body so that cell wall buckling hardly occur and a high shape accuracy is kept, wherein the lowermost end of a supporting surface of the cradle is located below the lowermost end of the honeycomb formed body immediately after extruded through the die during the horizontal movement, and a distance in a vertical direction between the lowermost end of the honeycomb formed body immediately after extruded through the die and the lowermost end of the supporting surface of the cradle is from 5 to 15 mm during the horizontal movement when a honeycomb formed body extruded through a die in a horizontal direction by extrusion is supported by a cradle.

There is disclosed a method capable of effectively suppressing deformation when a honeycomb formed body formed by horizontal extrusion is supported by a cradle, and supporting even a large honeycomb formed body so that cell wall buckling hardly occur and a high shape accuracy is kept, wherein the lowermost end of a supporting surface of the cradle is located below the lowermost end of the honeycomb formed body immediately after extruded through the die during the horizontal movement, and a distance in a vertical direction between the lowermost end of the honeycomb formed body immediately after extruded through the die and the lowermost end of the supporting surface of the cradle is from 5 to 15 mm during the horizontal movement when a honeycomb formed body extruded through a die in a horizontal direction by extrusion is supported by a cradle.