System and method for producing concrete products by a casting method

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method and system for producing concrete products by casting method by means of casting moulds having outer and inner moulds, having an automated circulation system having a hardening area; an automated manufacturing area; and a conveying unit comprising automated circulation conveyor sections configured to convey the casting moulds from the hardening area to the automated manufacturing area, wherein the automated manufacturing area of the circulation system comprises an automated filling unit configured to fill one or more casting moulds with concrete and a manufacturing station for placing an upper muff onto an already concrete-filled casting mould, wherein the manufacturing station is arranged downstream of the filling unit.

1 . A system for producing concrete products by casting moulds having outer and inner moulds, the system comprising an automated circulation system comprising:
 a hardening area configured to store concrete products hardening in a respective casting mould;   an automated manufacturing area comprising a plurality of automated manufacturing devices; and   a conveying unit comprising automated circulation conveyor sections configured to convey the casting moulds or the outer and inner moulds of the casting moulds from the hardening area to the automated manufacturing area, between the respective manufacturing units in the automated manufacturing area and from the automated manufacturing area into the hardening area;   wherein the automated manufacturing area of the circulation system comprises:   an automated filling unit configured to fill one or more casting moulds with concrete and   a manufacturing station for placing an upper muff onto an already concrete-filled casting mould, wherein the manufacturing station is arranged downstream of the filling unit.   
     
     
         2 . The system according to  claim 1 , with a muff indentation station for automated application of an upper muff on the casting moulds, in particular for closure of the casting mould. 
     
     
         3 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the automated manufacturing area comprises an intermediate storage area for intermediate storage of filled casting moulds before release into the hardening area. 
     
     
         4 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the intermediate storage area is provided for allowing release of air from a filled casting mould prior to closure with a muff. 
     
     
         5 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein a release unit is provided for releasing a casting mould filled in the automated filling unit into the hardening area. 
     
     
         6 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the release unit has a program-controlled, automated fitting device for fitting a muff on a filled casting mould. 
     
     
         7 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the automated manufacturing area of the circulation system has an automated demoulding unit for demoulding of a casting mould arriving from the hardening area and for removal of a hardened concrete product. 
     
     
         8 . The system according to  claim 7 , wherein the automated demoulding unit has a grab for removing a muff from a casting mould. 
     
     
         9 . The system according to  claim 7 , wherein the automated demoulding unit has a grab for removing a hardened concrete product from a casting mould. 
     
     
         10 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the filling unit has a multitude of automated filling stations for parallel filling of multiple casting moulds with concrete in the filling unit. 
     
     
         11 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the system has a control unit for programmed control of the manufacturing units of the automated manufacturing area of the circulation system and the conveying unit. 
     
     
         12 . A method of producing concrete products by casting moulds having outer and inner moulds in a system according to  claim 1 , wherein the method comprises:
 automated filling of a casting mould with concrete by the automated filling unit; and   placing, by the manufacturing station, an upper muff onto an already concrete-filled casting mould, wherein the manufacturing station is arranged downstream of the filling unit.   
     
     
         13 . A non-transitory computer-readable data storage medium, storing instructions executable in a data processing unit in such a way that the data processing unit executes program control of a system according to  claim 1 , the instructions comprising:
 automated filling of a casting mould with concrete by the automated filling unit; and   placing, by the manufacturing station, an upper muff onto an already concrete-filled casting mould, wherein the manufacturing station is arranged downstream of the filling unit.