Mold for paving stone production and production process using such a mold

Abstract

Mold for producing paving stones and a production method implementing such a mold. The invention relates to a mold for the simultaneous production of an assortment (3) of individual paving stones (1), characterized in that the paving stone forming cavities (1) are of at least two different sizes, the proportions in the mold of the cavities according to each size being determined to be adapted to the proportions of the paving stones (1) according to each size (11, 12, 13) in at least one paving arrangement. Figure to be published with the abstract: Fig. 1

Description

Title of the invention: Mold for producing paving stones and production method using such a mold

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of building blocks for floor coverings, such as slabs or paving stones, and more particularly to the field of manufacturing such building blocks.

[0002] It is common practice to cover ground surfaces in such a way as to make them more easily passable and to limit their degradation under the effect of various constraints such as bad weather or the development of traffic. One solution for the realization of this covering consists of laying juxtaposed paving stones and joining them with a binder. In the context of a paving operation, decorative effects are likely to be sought by creating patterns through a particular distribution of the paving stones during their installation, playing, on the one hand, on the shape, the dimensions, or even the colors of the paving stones and, on the other hand, on their respective positions relative to each other. Depending on the desired paving pattern, paving stones of different types are necessary in sometimes different proportions. Also, the creation of such patterns requires that batches of each type of paving stones be brought to the paving site.However, the storage and sale of construction materials such as paving stones is not carried out individually but in the form of predefined volumes which, for ease of handling, are generally based on pallets. These predefined volumes thus force construction sites to order floor volumes and delivery costs for each type of paving stone required to create the desired pattern. Consequently, when creating certain paving patterns where the paving stones of different types have divergent proportions, it is common for the type(s) of paving stones with the smallest proportions to be found in excess at the end of a project. This surplus of paving elements which will not be used is thus likely to represent a high cost in the price of the project, especially when recovery and / or disposal processes for these materials complete this project.

[0003] The present invention aims to overcome these drawbacks by providing a solution which makes it possible to limit, or even eliminate, material losses when creating different paving patterns using a mixture of paving stones of different formats.

[0004] The present invention relates to a mold for the simultaneous production of an assortment of individual paving stones, characterized in that the paving stone-forming recesses are of at least two different formats, the proportions in the mold of the recesses according to each format being determined to be adapted to the proportions of the paving stones according to each format in at least one arrangement or laying pattern.

[0005] The invention also relates to a method for producing a set of paving stones for producing at least one paving arrangement or pattern formed by paving stones of at least two different formats, characterized in that the method comprises: - at least one step of producing an assortment of paving stones by a molding operation using a mold according to the invention, - a step of storing the assortment of paving stones.

[0006] The invention will be better understood from the following description, which relates to preferred embodiments, given by way of non-limiting example, and explained with reference to the appended schematic drawings, in which:

[0007] [Fig-1] is a schematic representation of an example of an assortment of paving stones in individual ones of three different formats,

[0008] [Fig.2] is a schematic representation of five examples of arrangements or different paving patterns present in different proportions and capable of being made from individual paving stones of two, three or four different sizes.

[0009] The invention relates to a mold for the simultaneous production of an assortment 3 of individual paving stones 1 characterized in that the paving stone forming recesses 1 are of at least two different formats, the proportions in the mold of the recesses according to each format being determined to be adapted to the proportions of the paving stones 1 according to each format 11, 12, 13, 14 in at least one paving arrangement or pattern 21, 22, 23.

[0010] The mold according to the invention is thus designed to operate a production of an assortment 3 of paving stones 1 of different formats 11, 12, 13, 14 and this in proportions required to best meet, if not perfectly, the need for paving materials required for the production of at least one paving pattern 21, 22, 23 of these paving stones 1. The implementation of such a mold thus makes it possible, during the same process, to produce a batch of independent paving stones 1 of different formats 11, 12, 13, 14 and whose respective proportions are adapted for the production of a repeated paving pattern 21, 22, 23 or a part of the repeated pattern 21, 22, 23.The successive production of such an assortment 3 of paving stones 1 by the mold of the invention then makes it possible to prepare a set of paving stones 1 forming a minimal storage volume which is specifically adapted to the production of at least one particular paving pattern 21, 22, 23 imposing particular proportions of paving stones 1 of different formats 11, 12, 13, 14.

[0011] In the mold of the invention, each of the different recesses has a shape complementary to that of one of the blocks 1 of the assortment 3 intended to be produced. The mold of the invention is made of a material or a combination of materials of the type known. The portions of the mold of the invention which correspond to the recesses intended for the individual moldings of the paving stones 1 are also capable of having an internal coating specifically adapted to the material or mixture of materials cast or introduced into the mold of the invention for the production of the assortment 3 of paving stones 1. The construction of the mold according to the invention is of the conventional type. It should be noted that each of the recesses of the mold according to the invention is capable of corresponding to a hollow embossing so as to produce a blind hole with a simple opening on one of the faces of the mold for the casting or introduction of the material or mixture of materials intended to produce the paving stones 1. The opening of each of the recesses is also capable of being covered by a surface for the partitioning of the interior volume of these recesses.Alternatively, when the material or mixture of materials intended to produce the paving stones 1 is sufficiently compact, each of the recesses of the mold according to the invention is likely to have the shape of a through hole. The mold then interposed between two flat surfaces makes it possible to define an interior volume for each of the recesses corresponding to the volume of the corresponding paving stones 1.

[0012] According to an example relating to an alternative embodiment of the mold according to the invention, the paving stone forming recesses 1 are of substantially rectangular and / or square shapes. This substantially rectangular arrangement of the recesses allows a distribution of the recesses so as to optimize the surface corresponding to the recesses for a given mold surface and thus optimize the size of the mold as a function of the number of paving stones 1 and the assortment 3 to be produced. Indeed, by their substantially rectangular shapes, the recesses are more likely to be nested together to optimize the molding surface of the mold. According to a preferred construction example, the substantially rectangular formats of the recesses are made so that the rectangular paving stones produced by these recesses have a side of shorter length which corresponds to half of the side of longer length.Thus, such paving stones allow the creation of a paving pattern in which the shorter edges of two identical paving stones juxtaposed by their longer edges can be placed against the longer edge of a third identical paving stone or one which has an edge of the same length as the longer edge of the first two paving stones. The juxtaposition of the first two paving stones against the third can thus be achieved without there being any overhang at either end of the longer edge.

[0013] According to another example relating to a particular variant of the previously detailed variant, the recesses for the formation of paving stones 1, without being rectangular and / or square in shape, are included in volumes of substantially rectangular and / or square shapes. The paving stones 1 obtained by the mold according to the invention being intended to be combined with each other for the production of one or more patterns, the respective edges or lateral surfaces of these blocks 1 are then arranged to allow cooperation and compatibility of shape between them. Also, the recesses intended for the production of these different blocks 1 also comprise lateral edges of complementary shapes which allow an optimized distribution of the recesses facilitating the optimization of the molding surface of the mold; this complementarity of shape allowing a possible nesting of the recesses between them on the surface of the mold.

[0014] According to an example relating to another variant embodiment of the mold according to the invention and capable of being combined with one or other of the variant embodiments detailed above, the different recesses are distributed in the mold according to an arrangement similar to the distribution of the paving stones 1 of different formats 11, 12, 13, 14 in the context of the production of at least one pattern 21, 22, 23 capable of being obtained by the assortment of paving stones of different formats produced by the mold.

[0015] According to an example relating to another alternative embodiment of the mold according to the invention and capable of being combined with one or other of the previously detailed alternative embodiments, the lateral edge of at least one first recess format for paving stones of the mold has a length identical to that of a lateral edge of at least one second recess format for paving stones of the mold. This dimensional feature of the recesses allows the production of an assortment 3 of paving stones 1 of at least two different formats 11, 12, 13, 14 adapted to be juxtaposed with each other so that their lateral surfaces are easily complementary and allow easy combinations to be implemented in the context of the production of paving patterns 21, 22, 23.Indeed, the juxtaposition of paving stones 1 of different formats 11, 12, 13, 14 along their respective lateral edges of the same length allows geometrically perfect contact between two paving stones 1 of different formats 11, 12, 13, 14. Furthermore, when the contact between the two paving stones 1 has an offset along the axis of the lateral edges in contact, this offset is then identical on each side of the paving stones 1 so that the offset is able to be repeated geometrically in the context of the production of paving patterns 21, 22, 23.

[0016] According to an example relating to another alternative embodiment of the mold according to the invention and capable of being combined with one or other of the previously detailed alternative embodiments, the lateral edge of at least one first format of recesses for paving stones of the mold has a length which corresponds to half the length of at least one lateral edge of at least one second format of recesses for paving stones of the mold. This other dimensional feature of the recesses allows the production of an assortment 3 of paving stones 1 of at least two different formats 11, 12, 13, 14 adapted to be juxtaposed with each other so that two respective aligned lateral surfaces of two paving stones of a first paving stone format is easily complementary to the lateral surface of a second paving stone format. Furthermore, here too, when the contact between the paving stones 1 has an offset along the axis of the lateral edges in contact, this offset is identical on each side of the lateral surface which has the greatest length, that is to say the lateral surface of the paving stone of the second format. Thus, here too, the offset is able to be repeated geometrically in the context of the creation of paving patterns.

[0017] According to an example relating to another variant embodiment of the mold according to the invention and capable of being combined with one or other of the variant embodiments detailed above, the recesses for paving stones 1 are distributed in the mold by grouping the recesses according to their formats. This distribution of the different recesses in the mold makes it possible to produce an assortment 3 of paving stones 1 of different formats 11, 12, 13, 14 so that these paving stones 1 are grouped by format 11, 12, 13, 14. Also, at the end of production, this grouping makes it possible to facilitate the logistical processing of each of the different formats 11, 12, 13, 14 of paving stones 1. Thus, during the storage of the assortment 3 and the distribution of the paving stones 1, the different formats 11, 12, 13, 14 of paving stones 1 are able to be grouped together within the same unit or the same volume stored on the same tray or handling pallet.On site, once a unit of the assortment has been delivered, the selection of the different formats 11, 12, 13, 14 of paving stones 1 is also made easier.

[0018] According to an example relating to another variant embodiment of the mold according to the invention and capable of being combined with one or other of the previously detailed variant embodiments, the paving stone forming recesses 1 are of at least three different formats. Increasing the number of formats 11, 12, 13, 14 of paving stones 1 capable of being produced for the same assortment 3 produced from a mold according to the invention then makes it possible to make the paving patterns 21, 22, 23 more complex.

[0019] The invention also relates to a method for producing a set of paving stones 1 for producing at least one arrangement or pattern 21, 22, 23 of paving formed by paving stones 1 of at least two different formats 11, 12, 13, 14, characterized in that the method comprises: - at least one step of producing an assortment 3 of paving stones 1 by a molding operation using a mold according to the invention, - a storage stage of assortment 3 of paving stones 1.

[0020] According to an example relating to an alternative embodiment of the method according to the invention, the storage of the assortment 3 of paving stones 1 is carried out on the same handling or shipping tray or pallet. This step of storing the paving stones 1 of different formats 11, 12, 13, 14 of the same assortment 3 on the same storage unit formed by a tray or a handling or shipping pallet creates a unit grouping of an assortment 3 of paving stones 1 for the production of one or more patterns 21, 22, 23 on a specifically determined paving surface. Also, when one of the paving patterns 21, 22, 23 is desired for a particular construction site surface, the number of unit groupings of the same assortment 3 of paving stones 1 required for the production can be easily determined. This solution thus avoids the risk that one or more formats of paving stones 1 of the pattern with the smallest proportions will be in excess at the end of a construction site.

[0021] According to an example relating to another variant embodiment of the method according to the invention and capable of being combined with one or other of the previously detailed variant embodiments, the method also comprises a preliminary step of determining the proportion of each paving stone 1 having the same format 11, 12, 13, 14 in the desired paving arrangement or pattern 21, 22, 23. This preliminary step thus makes it possible to evaluate the quantities of each format 11, 12, 13, 14 of paving stone 1 necessary for the production of a particular paving pattern 21, 22, 23 and to select the assortment 3 of paving stones 1 obtained by a mold according to the invention which is capable of allowing the production of the desired particular paving pattern 21, 22, 23. Also, depending on the paving surface concerned by the desired pattern 21, 22, 23, the quantity or number of assortments 3 to be produced by the adapted mold of the invention can be determined and prepared.

[0022] According to an example relating to another variant embodiment of the method according to the invention and capable of being combined with one or other of the previously detailed variant embodiments, the method also comprises, prior to the molding operation, a step of selecting a mold having, on the one hand, the same recess formats for the formation of paving stones 1 identical to the formats 11, 12, 13, 14 of paving stones 1 in the desired paving arrangement 21, 22, 23 and, on the other hand, proportions of the recesses according to each format similar to the proportions of paving stones 1 according to each format 11, 12, 13, 14 in the desired paving arrangement 21, 22, 23.Thus, the selection of a mold of the invention adapted to the desired paving pattern makes it possible to produce an assortment 3 of paving stones 1 of different formats 11, 12, 13, 14 according to an adequate volume while limiting, or even eliminating, the intermediate step of storing the paving stones 1 of different formats 11, 12, 13, 14 obtained by the mold of the invention.

[0023] Of course, the invention is not limited to the embodiments described and shown in the attached drawings. Modifications remain possible, in particular from the point of view of the constitution of the various elements or by substitution of technical equivalents, without departing from the scope of protection of the invention.

Claims

Claims

1. Mould for the simultaneous production of an assortment (3) of individual paving stones (1) characterised in that the paving stone forming recesses (1) are of at least two different formats, the proportions in the mould of the recesses according to each format being determined to be adapted to the proportions of the paving stones (1) according to each format (11, 12, 13, 14) in at least one paving arrangement or pattern (21, 22, 23).

2. Production mold according to claim 1, characterized in that the paving stone forming recesses (1) are of substantially rectangular and / or square shapes.

3. Production mold according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the lateral edge of at least one first format of paving stone recesses of the mold has a length identical to that of a lateral edge of at least one second format of paving stone recesses of the mold.

4. Production mold according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the lateral edge of at least one first format of paving stone recesses of the mold has a length which corresponds to half the length of at least one lateral edge of at least one second format of paving stone recesses of the mold.

5. Production mold according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the recesses for paving stones (1) are distributed in the mold by grouping the recesses according to their formats.

6. Production mold according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the paving stone forming recesses (1) are of at least three different formats.

7. Method for producing a set of paving stones (1) for producing at least one arrangement or pattern (21, 22, 23) of paving formed by paving stones (1) of at least two different formats (11, 12, 13, 14), characterized in that the method comprises: - at least one step of producing an assortment (3) of paving stones (1) by a molding operation using a mold according to one of claims 1 to 5, - a step of storing the assortment (3) of paving stones (1).

8. Method according to claim 7, characterized in that the storage of the assortment (3) of paving stones (1) is operated on the same handling or shipping tray or pallet.

9. Method according to one of claims 7 or 8, characterized in that the method also comprises a prior step of determining the proportion of each paving stone (1) having the same format (11, 12, 13, 14) in the desired paving arrangement or pattern (21, 22, 23).

10. Method according to claim 9, characterized in that the method also comprises, prior to the molding operation, a step of selecting a mold having, on the one hand, the same recess formats for the formation of paving stones (1) identical to the formats (11, 12, 13, 14) of paving stones (1) in the desired paving arrangement (21, 22, 23) and, on the other hand, proportions of the recesses according to each format similar to the proportions of paving stones (1) according to each format (11, 12, 13, 14) in the desired paving arrangement (21, 22, 23).

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