Block feeding apparatus

Claim 2

Apparatus for feeding elongated blocks from the top of a support means adapted for supporting a plurality of such blocks, said support means having a major, generally horizontal axis, the blocks being arranged on the support means in generally parallel, side-by-side relationship relative to one another to extend transversely of said axis, said apparatus comprising: a rotatable spike roll disposed above said support means, said roll having an axis of rotation extending generally parallel to the major axis of the support means; means for relatively moving said spike roll and said blocks in a direction generally along the major axis of the support means; means for rotating said spike roll about its axis of rotation as the roll and the blocks are moved relatively in said direction; and said spike roll being positionable for contacting the upper portion of a block on said support means while the roll is rotating and while the roll and the blocks are moving relatively in said direction, whereby to propel the contacted block away from the remainder of the blocks in a direction transverse to said major axis of the support means.

Claim 3

Apparatus as recited in claim 1, which comprises, means for lowering the spike roll into contact with a block and then raising the spike roll to contact only momentarily a block on the conveyor.

Claim 4

Apparatus as recited in claim 2, wherein said means for lowering and raising said spike roll includes: an arm pivotally mounted at one end and having the spike roll secured to the other end; and means for arcuately moving said arm around the pivoted end to lower the spike roll into contact with a block and then raise the spike roll away from the conveyor.

Claim 5

Apparatus as recited in claim 1, which comprises, means for lowering the spike roll into contact with a block and then raising the spike roll to contact only momentarily a block on the conveyor.

Claim 6

Apparatus as recited in claim 2, wherein said means for lowering and raising said spike roll includes: an arm pivotally mounted at one end and having the spike roll secured to the other end; and means for arcuately moving said arm around the pivoted end to lower the spike roll into contact with a block and then raise the spike roll away from the conveyor.

Claim 7

Apparatus as recited in claim 3, wherein said means for arcuately moving said arm includes, a fluid operated cylinder and piston attached to the arm at a position between the spike roll and the pivoted end of the arm.

Claim 8

Apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said spike roll includes a plurality of rows of circumferentially spaced spikes with the rows axially spaced from one another.

Claim 9

Apparatus as recited in claim 5, wherein the inner rows of circumferentially spaced spikes have larger spikes than the spikes in the outer rows.

Claim 10

Apparatus as recited in claim 1, which further comprises: a second spike roll mounted for rotation on a horizontal axis parallel to the axis of said first spike roll; and means for rotating said second spike roll independently from said first spike roll.

Claim 11

Apparatus as recited in claim 7, which further comprises, means for lowering and raising said second spike roll independently of said first spike roll.

Claim 12

Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said support means comprises a conveyor mechanism thereby presenting said means for relatively moving said spike roll and said blocks.

Claim 13

Apparatus as set forth in claim 9 wherein said means for relatively moving said spike roll and said blocks further comprises a carriage movable in said direction generally parallel to the major axis of the support means, said spike roll being mounted on said carriage.

Claim 14

Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said means for relatively moving said spike roll and said blocks comprises a carriage movable in said direction generally parallel to the major axis of the support means, said spike roll being mounted on said carriage.

Claim 15

Apparatus as set forth in claim 11, said carriage comprising: a wheeled carriage including means for moving the carriage in forward and reverse directions generally parallel to the major axis of the support means, there being a boom mounted on said carriage, said boom having an inner end mounted for rotation in a vertical plane above the blocks; said spike roll being mounted at the outer end of said boom, said apparatus further including means for rotating said boom in the vertical plane for raising and lowering the spike roll into engagement with the blocks.

Claim 16

Apparatus as recited in claim 12, which further comprises: a second spike roll mountEd on a parallel, horizontal axis spaced from the axis of the first spike roll; and means for independently rotating said second spike roll on its horizontal axis.

Claim 17

Apparatus as recited in claim 13, which further includes, means for independently raising and lowering each of said spike rolls with respect to said boom to position the rolls on a slope.

Claim 18

Apparatus as recited in claim 12, wherein said spike roll comprises, a plurality of rows of circumferentially spaced spikes with the rows axially spaced from one another.

Claim 19

Apparatus as recited in claim 15, wherein the inner rows have spikes which are larger than those in the outer rows.

Claim 20

Apparatus as recited in claim 16, which further comprises, an outer inclined spike row at the outer edge of the roll.

Claim 21

Apparatus for selectively feeding blocks from the top of a conveyor or rack loaded with a plurality of such blocks, which comprises: a spike roll mounted for rotation on a horizontal axis generally normal to the longitudinal axes of the blocks; means for moving said spike roll and blocks relative to one another to contact momentarily blocks on said conveyor with the spike roll; means for rotating said spike roll as said spike roll contacts a block to propel the contacted block away from the remainder of said blocks; said spike roll including a plurality of rows of circumferentially spaced spikes with the rows axially spaced from one another; and the outermost row of spikes being inclined at an acute angle to the longitudinal axis of the spike roll.

Claim 22

Apparatus for selectively feeding blocks from the top of a conveyor or rack loaded with a plurality of such blocks, which comprises: a spike roll mounted for rotation on a horizontal axis generally normal to the longitudinal axes of the blocks; means for moving said spike roll and blocks relative to one another to contact momentarily blocks on said conveyor with the spike roll; means for rotating said spike roll as said spike roll contacts a block to propel the contacted block away from the remainder of said blocks; said spike roll including a plurality of rows of circumferentially spaced spikes with the rows axially spaced from one another; and the outermost row of spikes being inclined at an acute angle to the longitudinal axis of the spike roll.

Claim 23

Apparatus as recited in claim 18, wherein the spikes of the inclined rows extend at approximately a 45* angle from the longitudinal axis of the spike roll.

Claim 24

Apparatus for selectively feeding blocks from the top of a conveyor or rack loaded with a plurality of such blocks, which comprises: a spike roll mounted for rotation on a horizontal axis generally normal to the longitudinal axes of the blocks; means for moving said spike roll and blocks relative to one another to contact momentarily blocks on said conveyor with the spike roll; means for rotating said spike roll as said spike roll contacts a block to propel the contacted block away from the remainder of said blocks; and said spike roll comprising an outer shell in the shape of a truncated cone and a plurality of axially spaced rows of circumferentially spaced spikes, the smaller end of said truncated cone facing the oncoming blocks.

Claim 25

Apparatus for selectively feeding blocks from the top of a conveyor or rack loaded with a plurality of such blocks, which comprises: a spike roll mounted for rotation on a horizontal axis generally normal to the longitudinal axes of the blocks; means for moving said spike roll and blocks relative to one another to contact momentarily blocks on said conveyor with the spike roll; means for rotating said spike roll as said spike roll contacts a block to propel the contacted block away from the remainder of said blocks; and said spike roll comprising an outer shell in the shape of a truncated cone and a plurality of axially spaced rows of circumferentially spaced spikes, the smaller end of said truncated cone facing the oncoming blocks.

Claim 26

Apparatus for feeding blocks which are aligned in generally parallel relationship, which comprises: a wheeled carriage including means for moving the carriage in a forward and reverse direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axes of the blocks; a boom mounted on said carriage and having an inner end mounted for rotation in a vertical plane above the blocks; a spike roll having a horizontal axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of the carriage; means for connecting the spike roll to the outer end of said boom; means for rotating said boom in the vertical plane for raising and lowering the spike roll into engagement with the blocks; means for rotating the spike roll on its horizontal axis as the roll engages a block to propel said block away from the remainder of said blocks; a moving conveyor for advancing blocks in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the carriage; and said spike roll comprising an outer shell having an end portion which is in the shape of a truncated cone and a plurality of axially spaced rows of circumferential spikes, the smaller end of said shell facing the oncoming blocks advancing on the conveyor.

Claim 27

Apparatus for feeding blocks which are aligned in generally parallel relationship, which comprises: a wheeled carriage including means for moving the carriage in a forward and reverse direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axes of the blocks; a boom mounted on said carriage and having an inner end mounted for rotation in a vertical plane above the blocks; a spike roll having a horizontal axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of the carriage; means for connecting the spike roll to the outer end of said boom; means for rotating said boom in the vertical plane for raising and lowering the spike roll into engagement with the blocks; means for rotating the spike roll on its horizontal axis as the roll engages a block to propel said block away from the remainder of said blocks; a moving conveyor for advancing blocks in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the carriage; and said spike roll comprising an outer shell having an end portion which is in the shape of a truncated cone and a plurality of axially spaced rows of circumferential spikes, the smaller end of said shell facing the oncoming blocks advancing on the conveyor.

Claim 28

Apparatus as recited in claim 21 wherein said spikes are all of the same size.

Claim 29

Apparatus for feeding blocks, which comprises: a moving conveyor loading with blocks on the top thereof; a spike roll mounted for rotation on a horizontal axis above the conveyor and the axis being generally parallel to The direction of advancement of said conveyor, said spike roll including an outer shell in the shape of a truncated cone; and a plurality of rows of circumferentially spaced spikes with the rows axially spaced from one another, the smaller end of said truncated, conical shell facing the oncoming blocks on said conveyor; and means for rotating said spike roll to contact momentarily a block as it is fed thereagainst by the conveyor to propel said block from the conveyor.

Claim 30

Apparatus for feeding blocks, which comprises: a moving conveyor loading with blocks on the top thereof; a spike roll mounted for rotation on a horizontal axis above the conveyor and the axis being generally parallel to The direction of advancement of said conveyor, said spike roll including an outer shell in the shape of a truncated cone; and a plurality of rows of circumferentially spaced spikes with the rows axially spaced from one another, the smaller end of said truncated, conical shell facing the oncoming blocks on said conveyor; and means for rotating said spike roll to contact momentarily a block as it is fed thereagainst by the conveyor to propel said block from the conveyor.

Claim 31

Apparatus as recited in claim 23, wherein all the spikes in all of said rows are of the same size.