An additive manufacturing apparatus includes: a table defining a planar worksurface having an opening therein, the opening communicating with a build enclosure having a vertically slidable build platform therein; and a first slide having a first powder transfer window therein, the first slide being moveable across the worksurface between a loading position away from the opening where the first powder transfer window is exposed to receive powder, and a supply position where the first powder transfer window is aligned over the opening.

A product leveling device mounted to the front of a feeder box of a tile machine. The device includes a scraper mechanism with a plate having an edge to manufacture tile products of predetermined dimensions from material contained in a lower mold. A production board cooperates with the lower mold to receive the material. The thickness of the tile product can be selectively reduced without affecting the structure of the tile machine. Optionally, fingers can be added to the edge to form longitudinally channels in the material. Shoes are mounted to the end of the tamper head that coact with the material, including any channels, to produce a uniform pressure to the material.

A method for making reconstituted limestone blocks includes using a batching plant to make a mixture comprising crushed limestone and cement. The mixture may additionally include water and an additive, such as a plasticizer. The batching plant has been modified to be compatible with the mixture. Next, the mixture is transferred from the batching plant to a mobile stamping machine having a mold box, a hopper, and a feed apparatus configured for transferring the mixture from the hopper to the mold box. Finally, the mobile stamping machine is activated so that the mobile stamping machine forms a construction block by transferring the mixture from the hopper to the mold box, depositing the construction block out of the mold box, and then moving to a next location. The mobile stamping machine is configured to produce approximately 100 construction blocks per hour.

A multi-zone cementitious product, which includes a base zone made of a first cementitious material composition and forming a portion of the product. At least one facing zone is adjacent to and bonded to the base zone, the facing zone made of a second cementitious material composition and forming at least one exterior face of said product which is visible when the product is installed. A disrupted boundary layer is between the facing zone and the base zone, and includes material from both the facing zone and the base zone. The disrupted boundary layer bonds the facing zone to the base zone. The facing zone has a thickness sufficient to prevent the base zone from being visible when the product is installed.

A method for making reconstituted limestone blocks includes using a batching plant to make a mixture comprising crushed limestone and cement. The mixture may additionally include water and an additive, such as a plasticizer. The batching plant has been modified to be compatible with the mixture. Next, the mixture is transferred from the batching plant to a mobile stamping machine having a mold box, a hopper, and a feed apparatus configured for transferring the mixture from the hopper to the mold box. Finally, the mobile stamping machine is activated so that the mobile stamping machine forms a construction block by transferring the mixture from the hopper to the mold box, depositing the construction block out of the mold box, and then moving to a next location. The mobile stamping machine is configured to produce approximately 100 construction blocks per hour.

A casted block molding apparatus, including a mold, first and second filler boxes, and a pressing mechanism. The first filler box is displaceable along opposed directions between an overlapping position where a first bottom opening is located over the mold cavities and a retracted position away from the mold cavities. The first bottom opening is closed by a first cover in the retracted position and is open over the mold cavities. The second filler box is mounted to the first filler box and displaceable therewith along the opposed directions. The bottom opening of the second filler box is closed by a second cover when the filler boxes are displaced from the retracted position to the overlapping position. The second bottom opening is open after the first filler box reaches the overlapping position. A method for molding casted blocks is also discussed.

Fresh concrete is treated with carbon dioxide prior to delivery to a product mold for forming concrete products. Carbon dioxide gas is directed through a manifold, which may be coupled to a feedbox or a hopper, upstream from the product mold. Treating the fresh concrete with the carbon dioxide gas while it is in a loose state prior to placement in the product mold may generally promote uniform and enhanced carbon dioxide uptake.

A method of retrofitting an existing apparatus for forming concrete products, where the apparatus comprises an existing component located upstream of a product mold and adapted to deliver treated concrete to the product mold, adapts the existing component to treat fresh concrete to be delivered to the product mold by a new component with treated water infused with a concentration of carbon dioxide nanobubbles. The step of adapting comprises adding to the existing component a water delivery system that is configured to direct the treated water into the fresh concrete, where the water delivery system is provided with one or more liquid manifolds configured to dispense the treated water into the fresh concrete to form treated concrete.

An apparatus for delivering a wet concrete mix to a product mold, where the apparatus comprises a hopper configured to retain a fresh concrete mix, a source of treated water having a concentration of nanobubbles of a gas at least double a natural concentration of nanobubbles of the gas within a natural state of the water, a water transport coupling the source of treated water with the hopper, a valve interposed within the water transport for selectively releasing the treated water into the hopper, and a mixer in communication with the hopper for mixing the treated water with the fresh concrete mix to yield an infused wet concrete.

A method and apparatus for producing paving blocks having ornamented surface, and the apparatus includes a starting table, a filling carriage movable along a guide rail towards and above a forming having at least one mold cavity, and connected to the starting table is arranged, and in an interior space of the filling carriage a first chamber for receiving base material, and at least one second chamber for receiving ornamenting material are formed and separated by a septum, and a feeding device, for dispensing a mixture of ornamenting material is arranged in the second chamber and wherein the feeding device is formed by a metering plate provided with holes and a metering member fitted to and movable along the metering plate and further provided by an actuator for moving the metering member.