Method for random coloring of roof tiles

Abstract

Methods and apparatus are described for the random coloring of concrete roof tiles during the manufacture of such tiles. This enables the tiles to be installed in random fashion and without following any particular sequence. At the same time a roof is achieved which has an aesthetically pleasing random variation of the tile colors and which is absent the displeasing color patterns which often occur when tiles colored by a simple and frequently repeating pattern are not installed in proper sequence. Newly formed concrete tiles are sequentially advanced by a conveyor beneath a base applicator which sprays a base coat of coloring slurry over essentially the entire top surface of each tile. One or more overspray applicators located downstream from the base applicator then spray additional colors over different portions of the top surfaces of the tiles in intermittent, randomly varying fashion so that the color pattern on each tile is essentially unique and is not repeated on any other tile. The overspray applicator includes a blade which is gated into contact with a rotating drum to apply coloring slurry to a rotating cylindrical brush in intermittent, randomly varying fashion and which is moved across the brush to vary the spray pattern across the width of the passing tiles in intermittent, randomly varying fashion.