Concrete Pouring Reservoir With Fixed Wall Separator

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for manufacturing concrete articles, such as tiles, are not suitable for combining different types of concrete with a sharp and fixed separation line, as they require complex mechanisms and are primarily designed for producing building bricks with color zones, rather than tiles with defined top surface zones.

Innovation Solution

A device with a reservoir having separate spaces divided by a fixed wall that protrudes beyond the exit, allowing for the simultaneous pouring of different types of concrete into a mould, where the wall ensures a sharp separation line by sliding into a groove in the mould, eliminating the need for complex mechanisms and ensuring complete filling of the mould cavities.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a complex mechanism with movable base and separators is used to combine different sorts of concrete, then different colour zones can be achieved, but the device complexity increases and it is less suitable for manufacturing tiles with sharp separation lines

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveability to combine different sorts of concreteVSAvoidnumber of moving parts
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The reservoir is divided into multiple separate spaces for different sorts of concrete, with a fixed wall creating a protruding section that segments the exit into separate exits for each space. This segmentation allows different concretes to be poured separately while maintaining a simple device structure without complex moving parts.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

A fixed wall with a protruding section acts as an intermediary element between different concrete spaces and the mould cavity. This protruding section slides into a groove in the mould during pouring, serving as a mediator that creates sharp separation lines between different concrete sorts without requiring complex movable mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If movable separators are used to create colour zones in concrete articles, then different colour zones can be achieved, but the manufacturing precision for sharp separation lines deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveability to create colour zonesVSAvoidsharpness of separation line
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of using movable separators that move within the mould, the invention inverts the approach by having a fixed protruding section in the reservoir that remains stationary during pouring. This fixed element, combined with a groove in the mould, ensures precise and sharp separation lines are created automatically during the pouring process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The protruding section of the fixed wall serves as an intermediary that interfaces between the reservoir and mould. By sliding into a groove in the mould during pouring, it acts as a precision guide that ensures sharp, well-defined separation lines between different concrete sorts are created with high manufacturing precision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Adaptability or versatility

If multiple movable parts are used in the pouring mechanism, then different sorts of concrete can be combined, but the ease of operation decreases due to complex mechanisms that must be moved up and down

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveability to pour different sorts of concreteVSAvoidsimplicity of operation
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The invention merges the functions of multiple movable parts (base plate, movable separators) into a single fixed reservoir structure with separate spaces. The reservoir itself is movable and is filled with different sorts of concrete in separate spaces, eliminating the need for complex mechanisms to be moved up and down during operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The fixed wall with its protruding section automatically performs the separation function during pouring. As the reservoir is moved to the pouring position, the protruding section slides into the groove in the mould, automatically creating sharp separation lines without requiring additional movable parts or complex operational mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

4Manufacturing precision

If a fixed wall with protruding section is used to divide the exit, then sharp separation lines are achieved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesharpness of separation lineVSAvoidstructure of reservoir
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The fixed wall with the protruding section serves multiple functions simultaneously: it divides the reservoir into separate spaces for different concretes, creates sharp separation lines during pouring, and acts as a guide element that slides into the mould groove. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional separate components, thereby not increasing overall device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP3730261B1Device and method for the production of concrete articles
Publication Date: 2021.12.08 EBEMA
  • EP3730261B1 patent drawingFigure 1~3
  • EP3730261B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5
  • EP3730261B1 patent drawingFigure 6~8

AI summary

Device for pouring concrete articles (25) such as tiles or the like, said device (1) comprising a reservoir (2) for concrete (3) with an open base which forms an exit (6) through which the concrete (3) can leave the reservoir (2), characterised in that the reservoir (2) comprises at least two spaces (7a, 7b) for concrete (3) separated from each other, whereby the spaces (7a, 7b) are separated by a fixed wall (8) which extends with a protruding section downward beyond or outside the exit (6) and divides said exit into an exit (6a, 6b) for each space (7a, 7b) on either side of the wall (8), whereby the device (1) is provided with a supporting platform (11) and a mould (4) with cavities (5), said supporting platform (11) containing a continuous groove (15) for guiding the bottom edge (14) of the fixed wall (8) with a sharp downward pointing tip, said groove (15) continuing into a mould (4) to form a separation in the upper surface of the poured article (25).